DR Congo: One dead, 14 wounded in clash involving Pygmies near gorilla sanctuary

KINSHASA, July 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One person was killed and 14 injured in clashes near a gorilla sanctuary in DR Congo where there has been mounting friction between park guards and local Pygmies.  The violence occurred near the Kahuzi Biega National Park, a UNESCO heritage site in eastern Democratic Republic…

Iceland tops Europe as most expensive

REYKJAVIK, July 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: The hot springs of Iceland are not the only thing making tourists sweat, as a look at the hotel or lunch bill will tell you that most things cost more, sometimes much more, than anywhere else in Europe. On the subarctic island, consumer prices were…

Wildfires hit central Portugal, 1,000 firefighters mobilised

LISBON, July 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 1,000 firefighters battled three blazes sweeping across central Portugal early on Sunday, prompting authorities to partially evacuate a village and leaving one person with severe injuries. Strong winds are making it tougher for firefighters to put out the blazes, which started on Saturday…

Catholic priest urges end to sanctions against Nicaragua

MANAGUA, July 21 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Nicaraguan Catholic priest Antonio Castro called for the end of external sanctions that affect his country, which are considered by the government of President Daniel Ortega illegal and in violation of human rights. Castro addressed US evangelical pastors invited to the celebrations for the…

Russia rejects meddling in Nicaragua’s internal affairs

MOSCOW, July 21 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Russia rejected meddling in the internal affairs of Nicaragua and highlighted to cooperate with that country, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution. “We restate the inadmissible nature of destructive external meddling and illegal restrictions, both against Nicaragua and against…

Mexico: Nuevo Laredo with thousands of migrants returned by US

MEXICO CITY, July 21 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Nuevo Laredo, the most important border city in the state of Tamaulipas, in northeastern Mexico, registers this Saturday the presence of thousands of Central Americans returned by the United States waiting for visas. The U.S. government announced on Friday that it will extend…

Bolivia insists on its interests in joining Mercosur

LA PAZ, July 21 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Bolivia insists on its interest in becoming a full member of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), an initiative supported by Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, with only Brazil still pending. Bolivian President Evo Morales thanked his Paraguayan counterpart Mario Abdo Benitez for his…

Kenya: President Kenyatta commissions Africa’s largest wind power project

NAIROBI, July 21 (NNN-KBC) — President Uhuru Kenyatta commissioned the Lake Turkana Wind Power farm, Africa’s largest wind power project, with an installed capacity of 310 megawatts of clean, reliable and low-cost electricity.   At the same time, the President commissioned the 428-kilometre high voltage power transmission line as well as…

South Africa: Ruling party ANC voices “full confidence” in president implicated in election donation scandal

CAPE TOWN, July 21 (NNN-Xinhua) — The ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Saturday voiced “full confidence” in President Cyril Ramaphosa who is implicated in an election donation scandal. Ramaphosa has the ANC’s full confidence in his ability to champion efforts of building South Africa free from disunity and underdevelopment,…

UN-backed Libyan gov’t warns against new military escalation in Tripoli

TRIPOLI, July 21 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libya’s UN-backed government on Saturday warned against a new military escalation by the rival eastern-based army in the capital Tripoli. “The Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord is following up media and UN reports about preparations for a new military escalation by the…