Anti-corruption activist set to win Slovakia presidential run-off

BRATISLAVA, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A liberal environmental lawyer known for fighting graft is poised for a thumping victory in Slovakia’s presidential run-off, polls showed, amid a strong public backlash against the murder of a journalist probing high-level corruption. Political greenhorn Zuzana Caputova could command at least 60 per cent…

Brazil court to decide on release of former president on Wednesday

Brazil’s former president, Michel Temer BRASILIA, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Brazilian appeals court will decide on Wednesday whether to grant a request for the release of former President Michel Temer, a judge at the court said. Judge Ivan Athié said that the Regional Federal Court of the 2nd Region…

Italy bus hijacker wanted kids as human shields for Africa escape: Reports

ROME, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: The driver of a school bus who torched the vehicle to protest Mediterranean migrant deaths planned to use his young passengers as human shields and escape to Africa, Italian media quoted him as saying. “I wanted to get to the runway at (Milan’s) Linate airport…

At New York mosque, UN chief pledges to help protect religious sites

NEW YORK, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged action to help protect religious sites worldwide, during a visit to a New York Islamic center one week after the New Zealand mosque shootings that shocked the world. “Mosques and all places of prayer and contemplation should be safe…

US Pres Trump drops new North Korea sanctions because he ‘likes’ Kim: White House

WASHINGTON, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) –: President Donald Trump on Friday said he was cancelling sanctions imposed by his own Treasury Department to tighten international pressure on North Korea. “It was announced today by the US Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North…

Algeria: Hundreds protest again, demanding ailing Pres Bouteflika resign immediately

ALGIERS, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of Algerians took to the streets of the capital on Friday to demand President Abdelaziz Bouteflika quit immediately. Protesters gathered in the city center defying rain, carrying Algerian flags and pamphlets, gathering in the same spot where a wave of demonstrations erupted a month…

23 Chadian soldiers killed in Boko Haram ambush: local media

N’DJAMENA, March 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 23 Chadian soldiers lost their lives in an ambush by the terror group Boko Haram in the night from Thursday to Friday, on the shores of Lake Chad, according to military sources. According to the sources, the jihadists crossed the Niger-Chad border before…

Peru’s corruption scandal: Citizens deserve to know the truth – PM

LIMA, March 23 (NNN-ANDINA) — Prime Minister Salvador del Solar has affirmed Justice Minister Vicente Zeballos’ presentation to Congress was impeccable, adding Peru deserves to know the truth about the Odebrecht case in order to defeat corruption. Via Twitter, the official expressed his gratitude towards Zeballos for answering the 21 questions during an…

Cyclone Idai: Cholera Cases Reported In Storm-Hit Mozambique – IFRC, Unicef

Thousands of people are still awaiting rescue from flooded areas BEIRA (Mozambique), March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A week after the flooded Mozambican port of Beira was hit by Cyclone Idai, cases of cholera have been recorded, a humanitarian aid group said. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies…

Malawi: 17 killed, 25 injured when truck plunges into local market

NTCHEU (MALAWI), March 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 17 people have died while 25 were seriously injured in a road accident that occurred Friday morning in Ntcheu district along Malawi’s backbone road, M1. According to eyewitnesses, a truck coming from the direction of Lilongwe heading towards Balaka plunged into stationary commuter minibuses and traders at…