At least 14 killed by flash floods in Somalia – UN

MOGADISHU, March 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — Flash floods caused by heavy rains have killed at least 14 people, displaced thousands more, and destroyed property in southern Somalia, the United Nations humanitarian agency said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said lives were lost in the Bardhere district, Gedo…

Brazil: Pres Lula’s trip to China postponed due to illness

BRASILIA, March 26 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Based on medical guidance, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva decided to postpone his trip to China this weekend, a postponement communicated to the authorities of that country.     A medical note indicates that Lula was admitted to the Sirio-Libanés hospital in Brasilia on…

Over 20% of Finnish citizens vote early in Parliamentary elections

HELSINKI, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 20% of eligible Finnish citizens voted on the fourth day of early voting in the parliamentary elections, according to preliminary data released by the country’s Ministry of Justice. Early voting in the parliamentary elections kicked off in Finland on March 22. Advance voting…

Honduras breaks diplomatic ties with Taiwan

TEGUCIGALPA, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Honduras announced that it had broken off diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a move that drew an immediate rebuke from Taipei as Tegucigalpa switches allegiances to China. Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said that upon instructions from President Xiomara Castro he “has communicated to Taiwan the…

Death toll of migrant shipwreck off Tunisian coast rises to 9

TUNIS, March 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — The death toll from the shipwreck of four immigrants boats off Tunisia’s southeastern coast on Wednesday rises to 9, the Tunisian National Guard said on Saturday. “The bodies retrieved belong to sub-Saharan immigrants, including four adults, four children, and one baby,” Tunisian National Guard’s Spokesman…

Spanish wildfire burns 4,000 hectares, forces evacuation of 1,500

MADRID, March 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — A recent wildfire in eastern Spain has burnt around 4,000 hectares of natural landscape and forced 1,500 people to evacuate from their homes. The wildfire, began on Thursday between the provinces of Castellon and Teruel, is slowly being brought under control. Eight small towns and…

UN agency says over 9.5 mln livestock died across drought-affected Horn of Africa countries

ADDIS ABABA, March 26 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 9.5 million livestock have died across the drought-affected Horn of Africa (HOA) countries of Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has disclosed. “Over 9.5 million livestock have died since the drought started, eroding the primary source of…

Why crocodiles are considered sacred in the Burkina Faso community of Bazoule

BAZOULE (Burkina Faso), March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Deep in the heart of Burkina Faso lies the small village of Bazoule, where an unusual bond between humans and crocodiles exists. One that started from the Herculean task of women trekking long distances in search of water.Oral history has it that humans…

US VP Kamala Harris to discuss China influence, debt distress in Africa

US Vice President Kamala Harris WASHINGTON, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — This weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris begins a three-country tour of Africa as the United States seeks to pitch itself as a better partner than China, which has invested heavily in the continent over several decades.Harris will be in Ghana…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Russia to station nuclear weapons in Belarus – Pres Putin

MOSCOW, March 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin has said. He said the move would not violate nuclear non-proliferation agreements and compared it to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, according to Russian state media. Moscow would not be transferring control…