EU backs Nigerian or South Korean for WTO job: diplomats

BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU member states have thrown their weight behind two women candidates to lead the World Trade Organization, one from Nigeria and the other from South Korea, diplomats said. European envoys gave their support to Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, and Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s…

Covid-19: Zambian miners ‘quarantined by Chinese employer freed’

Chinese managers are reported to have left the mine when a delegation of govt officials arrived LUSAKA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of Zambian miners held by their Chinese employer for five months as a safety measure against coronavirus have been released, the Lusaka Times website reports. Their release…

Djibouti, nation of one million, is building the largest free trade zone in Africa

Djibouti launches Africa’s largest free-trade zone DJIBOUTI, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Djibouti is capitalizing on its strategic location on one of the world’s busiest trade routes to build Africa’s largest free trade zone area. The Horn of Africa nation controls the Bab el-Mandeb (“Gate of Tears” in Arabic) which is…

Eight killed in attack targeting Afghan governor

JALALABAD (Afghanistan), Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A suicide attack targeting an Afghan provincial governor killed at least eight people,officials said, as the president travelled to Qatar where peace talks withthe Taliban have stalled. Twenty eight people were wounded when the attacker rammed his explosives-filled vehicle into the convoy of Rahmatullah…

Europe’s pushback of migrants ‘shameful’: UN refugee chief

GENEVA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN refugee chief lambastedcountries which close their doors to desperate migrants and Europe’s“shameful” refusal to allow migrants stranded at sea to disembark quickly. Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said migrants andrefugees around the world were continuing to take dangerous routes towards…

Covid-19: Mental health toll of pandemic ‘devastating’ – WHO

GENEVA, Oct 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Covid-19 pandemic is having a“devastating impact” on mental health services globally, the World HealthOrganization said, ahead of a large fundraising push. It warned that mental health had been overlooked in the crisis, pointingto a survey conducted between June and August that revealed severedisruptions to…

Thailand names new Finance Minister

BANGKOK, Oct 5 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Former Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has been appointed as Thailand’s new finance minister effective today. The appointment was published in the Royal Gazette today. His appointment came after former banker Predee Daochai resigned on Sept 1, less than a month into the job. Arkhom, 64, was transport…

India’s Health Minister Says 250 Million People To Get First COVID-19 Vaccine Shot By July 2021

NEW DELHI, Oct 5 (NNN-PTI) – India’s federal health minister, Harsh Vardhan, said that, the government plans to provide COVID-19 vaccines to around 250 million people in the country by July, 2021. According to the minister, the government would receive 400-500 million vaccine doses by July next year, and it…

5.6-Magnitude Quake Rattles Central Philippines

MANILA, Oct 5 (NNN-PNA) – A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit off Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines early today, the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs) said. The institute raised the magnitude from a preliminary 5.4 for the quake, which struck at 2:16 a.m. local time, with the epicentre in the…

Australia Announces 5.3-Billion-USD Infrastructure Funding For COVID-19 Recovery

CANBERRA, Oct 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian government will fast-track infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars, to stimulate economic growth amid the COVID-19 recession. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, today announced a 7.5-billion-Australian dollar (5.3-billion-U.S. dollar) investment, in “shovel-ready” transport infrastructure projects, to create thousands…
Load More