ICJ: Rwanda genocide trial halted over dementia claims

Félicien Kabuga, who made his fortune in the tea trade, avoided capture for decades THE HAGUE, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The trial of a suspected financier of the Rwandan genocide in 1994 has been put on hold at The Hague. Félicien Kabuga, who is 90, was set to face trial…

Kenyan Government launches Blue Economy projects worth Ksh10B

Cabinet Secretary Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Salim Mvurya with the Principal Secretary Blue Economy and Fisheries Betsy Njagi NAIROBI, March 12 (NNN-KBC) — The Kenyan government has launched the implementation of a series of projects worth 10 billion shillings across five counties in a bid to boost the…

Venezuelan president optimistic about future of LatAm, Caribbean

CARACAS, March 12 (NNN-XINHUA) — Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed his optimism about integrating Latin America and the Caribbean and affirmed his country’s commitment to various regional cooperation mechanisms. “We are experiencing a second progressive wave in Latin America. We are very attentive to the evolution of the Community of…

3 escaped terrorists killed, 1 arrested after prison break in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, March 12 (NNN-ANADOLU) — The Mauritanian government said Saturday that three terrorist prisoners who escaped from prison were killed during a recapture operation. “Three terrorists were killed while the fourth was arrested in an operation,” the defense and interior ministries announced in a statement. The three were part of…

Three American women missing in Mexico

HOUSTON (Texas, US), March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three American women who went to Mexico to sell clothes at a market have been missing for more than two weeks, the police chief in a small Texas town said. Marina Perez Rios, 48, her sister Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, and their…

Rights group accuses Burkina forces of ‘massacring’ 21 civilians

 OUAGADOUGOU, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A human rights group has accused government forces of “massacring” at least 21 civilians in a raid on a village in northern Burkina Faso. Children were among those killed when more than 100 hooded attackers in military fatigues descended on Toessin-Foulbe earlier this week, shooting…

More migrants brought ashore to Italy as locals march for victims

ROME, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three boats overcrowded with migrants were brought safely to Italian ports on Saturday, the coastguard said, as thousands of marchers remembered the victims of last month’s deadly shipwreck off Calabria’s coast. The rescue of more than 1,300 migrants came the same day as three more…

South Africa: Watchdog ‘clears’ Pres Ramaphosa over cover-up scandal

 JOHANNESBURG, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in a preliminary report into a cover-up scandal that has tarnished his reputation, local media reported on Saturday. The Public Protector said it has notified implicated parties of the preliminary findings of its probe…

Update: French Senate approves pensions reform as protests appear to lose steam

    PARIS, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France’s Senate voted to approve a deeply unpopular reform to the country’s pension system, hours after demonstrators took to the streets to oppose the cornerstone policy of President Emmanuel Macron’s second term in office. Senators on Saturday passed the reforms by 195 votes to 112,…

US: Latest California storm leaves at least two dead, breaks levee

    PAJARO (California, US), March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Another powerful storm pummeled California overnight into Saturday, forcing thousands to evacuate and resulting in at least two deaths, while causing a levee to give way in coastal Monterey County. “We were hoping to avoid and prevent this situation, but the worst case…