Russia-Ukraine conflict: US-EU first high-level dialogue looks at further sanctions against Moscow

 WASHINGTON, March 31 (NNN-TASS) — The first meeting of the US-EU High-Level Dialogue on Russia was held in Washington to consider further steps to “isolate Russia further from the U.S. and EU economies and the international financial system,” according to a joint statement of the US Department of State and…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Fighting rages in Ukraine, US says Putin being ‘misled’

KYIV, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighting raged in Ukraine despite Russia’s indication that it planned to deescalate, and US intelligence claimed Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is angry after being misled by his own military.    Hopes that negotiations in Istanbul could open the door to relative calm in pro-Western Ukraine…

Senegal’s water-stressed capital faces difficult future

DAKAR, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Many residents of the Senegalese metropolis Dakar get up in the middle of the night hoping to collect water from their taps, which mostly run dry.   “We wake up at 4 or 5 am to get water,” says Sidy Fall, 44, in her kitchen…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Oil prices sink as US considers tapping reserves, stocks struggle

LONDON, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Oil prices tumbled Thursday on reports that the United States is considering tapping its reserves to combat a supply crisis sparked by the Ukraine war.   However, equities struggled to build on the week’s rally after Russia poured cold water on hopes that ceasefire talks…

World Cup qualifiers: Mexico, USA clinch Qatar berths

LOS ANGELES, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and Mexico booked their tickets to the World Cup finals in Qatar after securing the results needed to claim the last two automatic qualifying places from the CONCACAF region.    The USA were beaten 2-0 by Costa Rica in San Jose…

Covid-19: South Africa’s death toll tops 100,000

 JOHANNESBURG, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has registered a total of more than 100,000 Covid deaths, according to official figures released Wednesday, but actual fatalities are believed to be much higher.    Data released by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases showed a total of 100,020 fatalities had occurred…

Civilians among 11 killed by army in Colombia raid: rights groups

BOGOTA, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four civilians, including an Indigenous governor and a teenager, were among 11 people the Colombian army killed in what it said was a military operation against suspected guerrillas involvedin drugs trafficking, human rights groups said Wednesday.   “Those killed by the army were not guerrillas,…

Russian-American astronauts returning from ISS land safely in Kazakhstan: NASA

, Anton Shkaplerov, Mark Vande Hei and Pyotr Dubrov WASHINGTON, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Soyuz space capsule transporting two Russian cosmonauts and a US astronaut back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) landed safely in central Kazakhstan on Wednesday, live images broadcast by NASA showed.Astronaut Mark Vande Hei joined…

World Cup qualifiers: How Ghana and Cameroon upset their hosts to qualify for Qatar 2022

Cameroon and Ghana book their places thanks to away goals rule ABUJA/ALGIERS, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African line up for the 2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup has been concluded with the return leg matches of the play-off round completed in sensational and exciting fashion.African champions Senegal headline the five…

World Cup qualifier: FIFA, CAF to punish Nigeria after stadium invasion by irate fans; a CAF official from Zambia dead

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick ABUJA, March 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria is facing sanctions from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after fans invaded the Moshood Abiola Stadium pitch following the 1-1 draw with Ghana on Tuesday.The result ultimately meant the Super Eagles will miss out…