Covid-19: Libya’s UN-backed government says nation has no coronavirus cases

TRIPOLI, March 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Health Ministry of the UN-backed Libyan government denied that coronavirus infections have been detected in the country. “We deny the completely untrue rumors circulated by some news agencies and television channels about detecting confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus in Libya,” the ministry said…

Sudan’s PM says US strategic partner to “overcome challenges”

KHARTOUM, March 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok said the US is a strategic partner in working with Sudan to “overcome challenges.” Hamdok made the remarks in Khartoum during a meeting with visiting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing in the US Department of Treasury Marshall Billingslea, according to…

UN: Over 20,000 migrant deaths on Mediterranean since 2014

GENEVA, March 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN migration agency said that a shipwreck off Libya and other recent maritime incidents have raised its estimated death toll among migrants who tried to cross the Mediterranean past the “grim milestone” of 20,000 deaths since 2014. Paul Dillon, spokesman for the International Organization…

Covid-19: Italy death toll soars amid travel ban

Passengers wearing protective face masks enter Milano Centrale railway station in Milan.  ROME, March 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people to have died from the coronavirus in Italy has shot up by 133 in a day to 366, officials say. The total number of infections leapt 25% to 7,375…

Somalia: US air strike kills al-Shabaab commander

The Dayah hotel after an attack by Al Shabab militants MOGADISHU, March 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US air strike in Somalia has killed a senior commander of militant group al-Shabaab, state radio reports. The US issued a reward of $5m in 2008 for information on the whereabouts of Bashir Mohamed…

Chemical spray attacks: Zambia’s leader blames church officials for mob reprisal violence

Zambian Pres Edgar Lungu LUSAKA, March 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 50 people in Zambia have been killed in mob violence triggered in response to attacks in which people were sprayed with poisonous substances, President Edgar Lungu said, blaming church leaders for some of the reprisals. The chemical attacks began…

French parliament records third coronavirus case as death toll mounts in France

Members of emergency and intensive care services at work at Etienne Marie de la Hante retirement home in Crepy-en-Valois PARIS, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A French lawmaker has been hospitalised after contracting coronavirus, the National Assembly announced Saturday, bringing the number of proven cases in the lower house of parliament…

Russia: Pres Putin wishes women love and happiness on International Women’s Day

MOSCOW, March 8 (NNN-TASS) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated women on International Women’s Day, wishing them love, happiness and health. “This holiday is always filled with joy, flowers, gifts and sincere hearty feelings. We hurry to congratulate our mothers, wives, daughters, female friends and colleagues and tell them…

UK to deliver post-Brexit budget under virus cloud

LONDON, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain unveils its first post-Brexit budget on Wednesday and analysts expect Prime Minister Boris Johnson to press ahead with major spending on infrastructure, despite the economic fallout from the coronavirus. Finance minister Rishi Sunak, who will present the budget after his predecessor Sajid Javid resigned…

Nine killed in Mexico shootout with police

GUADALAJARA (Mexico), March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine people were killed in a bloody confrontation in western Mexico between a criminal gang and agents investigating a suspected kidnapping, officials said. The dead included two officers and six people believed to have been held captive in a house in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state,…