Russia-Ukraine conflict: UK, Ukraine sign digital trade deal to aid post-war reconstruction

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch LONDON, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain signed a digital trade deal with Ukraine granting the war-torn country access to financial services “crucial” for its reconstruction efforts. The deal facilitates cross-border data flows between the two countries, allowing Ukrainian businesses to trade more efficiently and…

Five Ecuador TV stations receive letter bombs, one explodes injuring a journalist

QUITO, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Letter bombs were sent to at least five journalists working in TV and radio stations in violence-plagued Ecuador Monday, one of which exploded without causing serious injury, Interior Minister Juan Zapata said. The prosecutor’s office said it had opened an investigation into the crime of…

French journalist, US aid worker kidnapped in Sahel are freed

NIAMEY, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A French journalist kidnapped nearly two years ago by jihadists in the Sahel and a US aid worker held by them for six years arrived in the Niger capital Niamey on Monday after being released. French freelancer Olivier Dubois and American aid worker Jeffery Woodke…

France: Government survives no-confidence votes in pension fight

PARIS, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The French National Assembly rejected a no-confidence motion against the government of President Emmanuel Macron, ensuring that a fiercely contested bill raising the retirement age to 64 from 62 becomes the law of the land. The motion received 278 votes, nine short of the 287…

UK strikes: Striking rail workers accept pay deal

LONDON, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Union members working for the company that owns Britain´s rail infrastructure have voted unanimously to accept a pay deal to end long-running strike action, the union said. The government called the Monday deal, which was backed by just over three-quarters of RMT members, “good news”…

US: Pres Biden issues first veto, overriding Republican investment bill

WASHINGTON, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden wielded his veto pen for the first time on Monday, overriding a Republican-led bill that would bar retirement fund asset managers from taking into account environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. Biden tweeted that the bill would threaten “retirement savings by…

Colombia suspends ceasefire with drug cartel; accusing it of attacking civilians

 BOGOTÁ, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Gustavo Petro suspended a ceasefire with Colombia’s biggest drug trafficking group, accusing it of attacking civilians.  “I ordered the security forces to resume all military operations against the Gulf Clan,” he said on Twitter. “I will not allow them to keep sowing distress and…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Pres Putin says ready to discuss China’s Ukraine plan at Xi talks

 MOSCOW, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping he was ready to discuss Beijing’s Ukraine peace proposal. “We are always open to negotiations,” Putin told Xi. “We will certainly discuss all these issues, including your initiatives which we treat with respect, of course.”…

Nine Chinese mine workers killed in Central African Republic

 BAMBARI (Central African Republic), March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine Chinese mine workers were killed in an attack in the Central African Republic, sparking a rare call on Monday from China’s President Xi Jinping for the perpetrators to be “severely” punished. The attack by “armed men” happened at about 5 am…

Red Cross says two kidnapped workers released in Mali

 BAMAKO, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two International Committee of the Red Cross employees kidnapped in early March in northern Mali were released on Sunday, the organisation’s Malian branch announced. “We confirm that the two ICRC employees kidnapped on March 4 between (the cities of) Gao and Kidal in northern Mali…