UN pauses aid flights in east DR Congo after helicopter attack

KINSHASA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations announced it was suspending humanitarian flights across much of conflict-torn eastern Democratic Republic Congo after one of its helicopters came under attack. Unidentified militants fired on a UN helicopter “10 minutes” from the trade hub of Goma in North Kivu province on…

Cuba to host international forum on African culture

African culture HAVANA, Feb 28 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Under the slogan Connected to our roots, the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba will host the 21st International Conference on African and Afro-American Culture from April 12 to 16.     The forum aims to create a space for debate where experts and…

USAID donates Ksh 16B towards Kenya’s drought relief efforts

USAID will also support programs to prevent and treat child malnutrition. NAIROBI, Feb 28 (NNN-KBC) — The United States government, through the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) said it will give Kenya Ksh 16 billion to tackle severe drought. The announcement by USAID comes following a visit to the…

Worry, frustration as UN tries to finally agree high seas treaty

    UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN member states have much work to do to finally agree a treaty to protect the high seas before scheduled negotiations close in five days, participants and observers say. After 15 years of formal and informal talks, delegates have been meeting in New York…

US requests extradition of drug kingpin’s son, Mexico says

MEXICO CITY, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has asked Mexico to extradite a son of jailed drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman accused of following in his father’s footsteps, a Mexican government spokesman said. Ovidio Guzman, who was captured in January, has allegedly helped to run his father’s…

EU publishes Kosovo-Serbia plan after tough talks

 BRUSSELS, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union published its peace plan for Serbia and Kosovo on Monday, ramping up pressure on their leaders to come to a deal after tense talks in Brussels ended without a clear breakthrough. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said a next meeting with…

Mexico prepares Solidarity Brigade to travel to Venezuela

MEXICO CITY, Feb 28 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The Mexican Coordinating Committee of Solidarity with Venezuela and the Embassy of the Bolivarian nation on Monday called for participation in a Solidarity Brigade that will travel to Caracas by late June.    February 27, 2023 In a press release, the Coordinating Committee points out…

Nigeria: Opposition boycott election announcement; accused electoral commission’s lack of transparency

ABUJA, Feb 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Opposition parties have walked out of the venue where results from Nigeria’s tightly contested presidential elections are being announced. The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have claimed there is a lack of transparency with the new electronic voter system. This…

Kenya: Clinicians threaten to stage nationwide mass demonstrations

NAIROBI, Feb 28 (NNN-KBC) — Kenyan clinical officers have threatened to hold nationwide demonstrations for what they termed as negligence and failure to meet their agreed demands by the Ministry of Health. Under the Kenya Union of Clinical Officers, the health workers say they want medical interns to be recognized…

Brazil begins to apply bivalent vaccine against COVID-19

BRASILIA, Feb 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazil on Monday began to apply a bivalent vaccine against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), starting with vulnerable groups including people over 70 years of age, the Health Ministry said. During this initial phase, the vaccine will also be available for those who are immunocompromised…