UN biodiversity talks open, billed as ‘last chance’ for nature

Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres MONTREAL, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — High-stakes UN biodiversity talks open in Montreal Wednesday, in what is being billed as the “last best chance” to save the planet’s species and ecosystems from irreversible human destruction. Delegates from across the world gathered for the Dec 7…

Bird flu in Peru: Municipalities will limit access to beaches to avoid human infection

LIMA, Dec 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — Municipalities across the country will limit access to beaches littered with dead and sick birds due to avian influenza, in order to prevent the spread of the disease to the detriment of human health. The information was confirmed by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) after a meeting…

Peru, Switzerland sign agreement to support management of local governments

LIMA, Dec 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru and Switzerland have signed an agreement on the “Decentralized Budget Support for Local Governments” program, whose objective is to support the strengthening of decentralized, transparent, and inclusive public finance management in local governments. In addition, the agreement aims to prioritize the needs of citizens,…

Peru: Budget 2023 amounts to US$55.818 billion, the highest in last five years

LIMA, Dec 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Executive Branch on Tuesday gave official status —in the Official Gazette El Peruano— to the three laws on public budget, financial balance, and indebtedness for fiscal year 2023, which had been approved last week by the Congress of the Republic. The first is Law No. 31638…

Peru: President rules out corruption, reiterates call for dialogue

LIMA, Dec 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — President Pedro Castillo on Tuesday ruled out corruption and reiterated his call for dialogue with all political forces so as to avoid chaos and crisis in a country that clamors for the unity of its authorities to achieve the development that it continues seeking for centuries.…

Cyril Ramaphosa: ANC backs South African President over corruption report

 PRETORIA, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Leaders of South Africa’s governing party have backed President Cyril Ramaphosa as he faces corruption allegations and a possible vote in parliament on impeachment. He came to power pledging to tackle corruption but has now been caught up in his own crisis. An independent report…

Croatian fighter jet crashes, pilots survive: ministry

     ZAGREB, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The pilots of a Croatian fighter jet that crashed during a training flight on Tuesday have been found alive after ejecting from the plane, the defence ministry said. The Russian-made MiG-21 crashed around 2pm in an uninhabited forested area near the eastern town…

Italy: Last body found after Ischia Island landslide; final death toll 12

  ROME, Dec  7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescuers on Tuesday recovered the body of the last person missing after a landslide on the Italian island of Ischia last month, bringing the final death toll to 12.  A wave of mud and debris swept through the small town of Casamicciola Terme on…

Colombia: La Nina-triggered landslide kills 34

BOGOTÁ, Dec 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Heavy rains in northwest Colombia sent a wall of earth crashing onto a winding road, swallowing up a bus and other vehicles and killing 34 people, emergency services said. The landslide Sunday evening prompted a large rescue effort, with dozens of people in hard hats using…

Peru’s president says impeachment motion against him “part of political game”

LIMA, Dec 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peruvian President Pedro Castillo said that an impeachment motion approved by the opposition-led Congress “is part of the political game” against him. Castillo made his remarks in the northern region of Cajamarca, where he voted during the second round of elections that have been taking…