Feature: What Tanzanian President Samia has achieved in her first year

The president is affectionately known as Mama Samia in Tanzania, to reflect the respect people hold her in DAR ES SALAAM, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — If a happiness index was taken within the last few weeks, it would have shown Tanzanians to be the happiest people in the world, according…

Mexico City’s new airport set for bumpy takeoff

MEXICO CITY, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three weeks before facing a midterm recall referendum, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will on Monday inaugurate his first major infrastructure pet project — acontroversial new airport for Mexico City.   Built at a military air base outside the capital, Felipe Angeles International…

Covid-19: England to roll out fourth shot – NHS

LONDON, March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — England will begin rolling out its fourth coronavirus vaccine shot this week, the National Health Service (NHS) announced, with millions of the country’s most vulnerable people being offered jabs.    The latest booster shot will be made available to care home residents, people aged over…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Turkey says Russia, Ukraine ‘close to agreement’ as 10m have fled their homes in Ukraine

  ANTALYA (Turkey), March 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey said Russia and Ukraine made progress on their negotiations to halt the invasion and the two warring sides were close to an agreement.  “Of course, it is not an easy thing to come to terms with while the war is going on, while civilians are…

Mozambique cyclone death toll rises to 53

  MAPUTO, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a cyclone that lashed northern Mozambique last week has risen to 53, authorities in the northern Nampula province said.   The last official toll was 22 but 31 more bodies have been found in Mossuril district in the wake of…

Drug trafficking: Judge rules former Honduran President may be extradited to US

TEGUCIGALPA, March 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — A Honduran judge ruled in favor of extraditing former President Juan Orlando Hernández to the United States, where he is wanted for alleged drug trafficking and illegal use of weapons. “Extradition Judge of First Instance resolves: to grant request for Extradition sent by the Court…

Corruption charges: Peruvian President claims his innocence before Congress

LIMA, March 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Peru’s President Pedro Castillo Terrones denied his alleged involvement in acts of corruption and denounced opposition politicians for their campaign to remove him from office. The left-wing Castillo made those remarks before Congress as part of his defense strategy. The one-house Parliament is to debate…

Covid-19: Ireland PM tests positive while visiting Washington

Ireland’s prime minister Micheal Martin  WASHINGTON, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ireland’s prime minister Micheal Martin tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday while visiting Washington, the country’s ambassador to the United States said, forcing him to leave a gala event attended by Pres Joe Biden. Martin, who holds the position known…

Attack on bus, truck kills 21 in Niger: sources

NIAMEY, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Suspected jihadists attacked a bus and a truck in Niger, killing 21 people in the southwestern Tillaberi region near Burkina Faso, local and security sources said Thursday.   “A terrorist attack on Wednesday afternoon by heavily armed men travelling on motorcycles and in a vehicle…

US gov’t pays 127.5 mln USD to settle 2018 Parkland school shooting civil cases

Flowers, candles and mementos sit outside one of the makeshift memorials at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida WASHINGTON, March 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said that it had settled the 40 civil cases that arose following the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, southeastern…