Spain: Endangered lagoon to become legal entity with own rights – the first in Europe

The heavily polluted saltwater lagoon Mar Menor MADRID, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The heavily polluted saltwater lagoon Mar Menor on the Spanish Mediterranean coast near Murcia is to become a legal entity with its own rights.A large majority of lawmakers voted in favour of the move, according to a Wednesday…

IGAD welcomes South Sudan deal on unification of forces

Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of South Sudan JUBA, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has welcomed the agreement signed by South Sudan’s main peace parties on the unification of command forces, in a move to form one professional army.In a statement, IGAD’s Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu…

Rwanda, Zambia sign seven trade and cooperation deals

Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s President LUSAKA, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rwanda and Zambia signed seven cooperation agreements that will boost trade between them. The deals signed cover areas of investment, trade, agriculture, and migration.The agreements were signed by Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanley Kakubo and his Rwandan…

Burkina Faso: Former president Blaise Compaore jailed for life over 1987 killing of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara

Blaise Compaore, Former Burkina Faso President OUAGADOUGOU, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore has been jailed for life for his role in the assassination of revolutionary leader Thomas Sankara 35 years ago.The sentencing of Compaore by a military court on Wednesday crowns a six-month trial of…

Namibian Health ministry confirms thousands of scabies cases

WINDHOEK, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services has cautioned the public after receiving reports of the increasing number of human scabies cases, mainly in the Kunene region.Health minister Kalumbi Shangula said the most affected populations are communities living along the northern borders, pupils in…

Nigeria atheist Mubarak Bala jailed 24 years for blaspheming Islam

Mubarak Bala renounced Islam in 2014  KANO (Nigeria), April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Nigerian atheist has been sentenced to 24 years in prison by a high court in the northern state of Kano after being convicted of blaspheming Islam. Mubarak Bala, the 37-year-old president of the Humanist Association of Nigeria,…

Russia: Population Of world’s rarest cat more than tripled

The census, taken with camera traps, collected thousands of photographs that scientists used to identify the animals VLADIVOSTOK (Russia), April 7 (NNN-XINHUA) — The population of Far Eastern leopard in the wild has exceeded 120 this year, up from 35 in the early 2000s, moving away from the extinction line,…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Portugal, Spain, Greece latest to expel Russian diplomats; Kremlin says expulsions are ‘short-sighted move’

 LISBON, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Portugal has decided to declare ten Russian embassy staffers personae non gratae, the country’s foreign ministry said.   “The foreign ministry is announcing that the government of Portugal notified the Russian ambassador about its decision to declare personae non gratae ten staffers…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: EU eyes sanctions on Putin’s daughters over Ukraine war

BRUSSELS, April 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU is looking to add two of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s daughters to its sanctions blacklist over Moscow’s war on Ukraine. The move, under discussion by EU diplomats, is part of a wave of fresh measures being planned after Ukrainian and Western leaders accused the…

Nigeria: 9,000 doctors moved to UK, US, Canada in 2 years – NMA

ABUJA, April 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over 9,000 medical doctors of Nigerian origin left the shores of the country in search of greener pastures in the United Kingdom, United States of America and Canada in two years, the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, said. The emigration of the medical experts which the…