Saudi raps oil producers over flouting of output cuts

ABU DHABI, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia urged oil producers to comply with output cuts decided last year in a bid to stabilise a slumping oil market and support prices.“Every country should live up to its commitments,” new Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said as…

UK: PM Johnson denies lying to Queen over Parliament suspension

Boris Johnson says he did not lie to the Queen LONDON, Sept 13 NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied lying to the Queen over the advice he gave her over the five-week suspension of Parliament.The prime minister was speaking after Scotland’s highest civil court ruled on Wednesday…

Bahamas: After Dorian, disease is next threat on shattered Abaco island

NASSAU, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Piles of debris, decaying human and animal corpses and fetid water on storm-hammered Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas are posing a new risk for those who survived Hurricane Dorian’s wrath: Disease. As the insect population temporarily cleared when Dorian slammed into the islands on…

Hungary: PM Orban hopeful on ties with new EU Commission after migration disputes

PRAGUE, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said he was optimistic that the new European Commission would improve ties with the EU’s eastern members, long strained by disagreements over migration and multi-culturalism. The Visegrad Four group (V4) – Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia – has…

With Gaza war talk, Russia visit, Netanyahu fights on in election race

JERUSALEM, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday threatened war in Gaza and then flew to Russia to discuss Israeli freedom of action in Syria with President Vladimir Putin as a frenetic election race neared its end. Before Netanyahu embarked on a visit to the Black…

Nigeria plans VAT increase in push to raise non-oil revenues

ABUJA, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria plans to increase value-added tax on goods, the finance minister said, as Africa’s biggest oil exporter seeks to reduce its reliance on crude sales. Zainab Ahmed, addressing journalists after a cabinet meeting, said the government proposed raising VAT next year to 7.2% – up…

Kenya targets officials’ overseas trips in “brutal” spending cuts

NAIROBI, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya plans “brutal” cuts to spending, including on government officials’ overseas trips, in an effort to rein in the fiscal deficit, its acting finance minister said. The government in its annual budget in June set a target to bring the fiscal deficit down to 5.6%…

China urges US to ‘make efforts’ on North Korea

BEIJING, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the United States to make efforts to resolve the North Koreannuclear issue, warning that applying “maximum pressure” would never work. Wang also repeated Beijing’s suggestion that the United Nations SecurityCouncil should consider discussions on easing sanctions against the…

Paris, four other French cities ban use of pesticides

PARIS, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Paris and four other French cities on Thursday banned the use of synthetic pesticides within their boundaries as an anti-chemicals movement that began in the countryside gains momentum. Lille in the north, Nantes in the west, Grenoble in the southeast and the central city of…

50 killed in train derailment in southeast DR Congo

LUBUMBASHI (DR Congo), Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifty people were killed early Thursday when a train derailed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the minister for humanitarian action, Steve Mbikayi, said in a tweet. “Another disaster! Derailing at 3am in Tanganyika (province) nearMayibaridi. Provisional toll: 50 dead and several injured,”…