Record 500,000+ migrants crossed into Panama this year: minister

PANAMA CITY, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A record of over half a million US-bound migrants have crossed the dangerous Darien jungle from Colombia to Panama so far this year, the government in Panama said. The number was double that of 2022, when some 248,000 people made the arduous journey, Security…

UK minister quits over Rwanda bill, heaping pressure on PM Sunak

LONDON, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s ruling Conservative party was in disarray Wednesday after its immigration minister quit over legislation regarding sending migrants to Rwanda as hardliners turned the screw on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The UK leader’s position looked increasingly vulnerable after Robert Jenrick said he had resigned due…

Switzerland returns 2,000-year-old Libyan sculpture

BERN (Switzerland), Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Switzerland’s government has handed over a prehistoric Libyan marble sculpture believed to be more than 2,000 years old to Libya’s embassy in the Swiss’ capital, Bern.The sculpture of a young woman’s head measures 19cm (seven inches) high and “dates to the period between the…

Five killed, three injured in Ethiopia after drone strike hits ambulance: Witnesses

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Five civilians have been killed in Ethiopia’s Amhara region after a drone strike hit an ambulance, witnesses said.Three other people, including the head of a local hospital, were injured in the incident that happened in Wogel Tena town in north-eastern Amhara.The attack occurred last…

Gender-based violence in DRC is increasing, UN says

War-displaced women gather at a small roadside market in the Kalinga IDP camp WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) says it is working with other humanitarian agencies to help mitigate and respond to increasing incidents of gender-based violence in the…

Military-ruled Mali and Niger to end tax agreements with France

BAMAKO, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The military Governments of Mali and Niger have announced plans to end their decades-long tax agreements with France within the next three months.The ruling juntas of the two countries said in a joint statement that they were ending the tax pacts due to “France’s persistent…

Uganda accuses US of pushing ‘LGBT agenda’ after new round of sanctions

Uganda president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and US president Joe Biden KAMPALA, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda denounced the United States’ expansion of visa restrictions against its officials, accusing Washington of pushing an “LGBT agenda” in Africa.The new visa restrictions announced on Monday target unidentified officials the U.S. deems responsible for…

Essequibo: Venezuela moves to claim Guyana-controlled region

President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the approval of a referendum on Essequibo on Sunday CARACAS/GEORGETOWN, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is plunging ahead with its plans to take over Essequibo, the oil-rich region controlled by neighbouring Guyana. He has ordered the state oil company to issue extraction licences…

South Africa: Township economy remains critical engine of cities’ growth – Minister

SOWETO (South Africa), Dec 7 (NNN-SANEWS) — As South Africa continues to experience rapid urbanisation, the township economy has emerged as a critical engine of growth for many cities in the country, says Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande. The Minister officially opened the South-West Gauteng TVET College…

UN Sec-Gen Guterres rings alarm bell on global security threat from Gaza war

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made a rare move to formally warn the Security Council of a global threat from the Gaza war as Arab states seek to leverage that to renew a push for the council to call for a ceasefire.The United States, one of…