Somalia, UN ink deal to preserve culture heritage

MOGADISHU, Feb 13 (NNN-XINHUA) — Somalia and the United Nations culture and education agency UNESCO signed an agreement aimed at strengthening efforts to preserve the country’s cultural heritage and improve its educational sector. Audrey Azoulay, Director-general of UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) said this will enable them to…

IMF chief sees ‘mild’ virus impact on global economy

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — It is too early to tell the economictoll from the Covid-19 outbreak in China, but the hit to global growth should be mild,” International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said. The death toll from the new coronavirus epidemic in China has climbed past 1,350, but…

US military begins adjusting presence in Africa

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States announcedan initial plan for adjusting its military presence in Africa amid concernsthe country will reduce forces fighting radical jihadists on the continent. The first change will see part of one infantry unit, around 800 troops,replaced with a similar number of military trainers…

Covid-19: US airlines extend China flight cancellations into late April

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Airlines (UAL.O) said it will extend cancellations of all US flights to China through late April due to the Covid-19 epidemic. With the announcement by Chicago-based United, all US passenger carriers flying to China have now cancelled flights into late April. Carriers say part…

Italy: Senate votes for far-right leader Salvini to face trial over migrants

Matteo Salvini ROME, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s Senate has voted to allow prosecutors to put far-right leader Matteo Salvini on trial over charges of holding migrants at sea. Some 116 migrants remained aboard the Gregoretti for close to a week. On Wednesday, a majority of senators voted for the…

Venezuela: Opposition leader Guaido defends sanctions against Pres Maduro government

CARACAS, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido defended foreign sanctions against his country 24 hours after he was attacked at the Caracas international airport by state airline employees shouting “fascist”.Guaido returned on Tuesday from a three-week international tour that took him to the US, Canada, Colombia and…

US House panel advances bill to repeal Pres Trump’s travel ban targetting Muslims

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States House Judiciary Committee voted to advance a bill that would repeal Donald Trump’s travel ban that targets several Muslim majority countries, and would limit the president from imposing future restrictions based on religion.The House of Representatives panel voted along party lines in…

60% of Zimbabwe water sources unsafe – UNICEF

NEW YORK, Feb 13 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — At least 60% of water sources in the country are unsafe, leaving most families at risk of diarrhoeal disease outbreaks, UNICEF has said.In its latest update on the humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, UNICEF said over 1.9 million people were in urgent need of safe…

AfDB gives Uganda $1m for Ebola response programme

ABIDJAN, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Development Bank (AfDB) has released a $1 million to help Uganda in its efforts to prevent transmission of Ebola. Uganda last year asked the bank to support its National Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) Preparedness and Response Plan, following an outbreak of the disease…

Portugal freezes Isabel’s accounts at request of Angola govt

Isabel was head of the country’s oil firm, SONANGOL. LUANDA, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Angolan government’s request to freeze overseas accounts of Isabel dos Santos has been granted by the Portuguese authorities, media outlets reported.This is the latest leg in a resolve by Luanda to bring the billionaire daughter…