Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon down 22% in a year

BRASILIA, Nov 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian Amazon deforestation fell 22.3 percent in the year through July, hitting a five-year low, officials said, as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government fights to curb destruction of the world’s biggest rainforest.    Satellite monitoring found 9,001 square kilometers of forest cover was…

43 million went hungry in Latam, Caribbean last year: UN

 SANTIAGO, Nov 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hunger affected some 43.2 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022, about 6.5 percent of the region’s population, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization said.    While an improvement from 2021, the figure was higher than pre-Covid — representing some six million…

Nigerian man killed in test on bullet-proof charm

Some people in Nigeria believe charms protect them BAUCHI (Nigeria), Nov 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man has been shot dead in Nigeria’s north-eastern Bauchi state while a so-called bullet-proof charm – or “gun medicine” – was being tested on him by a traditional healer, police spokesman Ahmed Wakil has said.The…

Africa Investment Forum: Connectivity critical for growth, Tanzania President Samia says

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan speaks during the Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech MARRAKECH (Morocco), Nov 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has emphasised the urgent need to close connectivity gaps in Africa to fast-track economic growth. She also acknowledged the critical role of the private sector in…

South Africa: Battle against illegal mining receives a boost

PRETORIA, Nov 9 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the employment of 3,300 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) for service in cooperation with the South African Police Service to prevent and combat crime and maintain and preserve law and order under Operation Prosper. “Members of…

Putin, Erdogan and Raisi make visits in Central Asia

ASTANA (Kazakhstan), Nov 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Kazakhstan on Thursday, while Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi are expected in Uzbekistan, amid renewed diplomatic interest in the region. Central Asia’s former Soviet republics have sought to diversify their partnerships as Moscow’s…

Libya: ICC Prosecutor notes positive progress in probes into crimes against migrants

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — On Wednesday, the International Criminal court Prosecutor updated the United Nations Security Council on the progress in human trafficking investigations. Speaking via videoconference to the Council gathered in New York, Karim Khan said his Office has undertaken over 15 investigation missions and collected more…

Brazil turns 100 pct soybean oil into biofuel in historic first

BRASILIA, Nov 9 (NNN-XINHUA) — In a historic first, Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras has succeeded in processing 100 percent soybean oil into biofuel, the company announced Wednesday. “The Riograndense Petroleum Refinery (RPR) has accomplished a historic achievement by successfully processing 100 percent soybean oil in a fluid catalytic cracking…

Haitian Court postpones hearings after kidnapping of employees

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Nov 9 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The High Court of Accounts and Administrative Litigation of Haiti (CSCCA) announced the postponement of judicial and financial hearings in protest against the kidnapping of five of its employees. Workers were held by armed individuals while they were on their way to the Court,…

US: Seven people killed, including migrants, in car crash in Texas

HOUSTON, Nov 9 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least seven people, including four migrants and a suspected smuggler, were killed in a car crash on Wednesday near Batesville, US state of Texas, authorities said. Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers confirmed several of the dead were from Honduras, reported local media…