Congress vote averts US Government shutdown

 WASHINGTON, March 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Senate has agreed a $1.2tn spending package that will fund the US government through September. Legislators narrowly averted a partial shutdown of the government with minutes to go before a midnight deadline. While votes on a series of amendments are expected to continue…

Peru: Pres Boluarte announces creation of Transnational Crime Investigation Unit

LIMA, March 24 (NNN-ANDINA) — Pres Dina Boluarte announced the creation of the Transnational Crime Investigation Unit, as part of her firm fight against delinquency and organized crime. Said unit will consist of 300 elite troops and will be provided with exceptional resources to confront and dismantle foreign mafias that threaten the population’s peace…

Peru: Net International Reserves total US$76.893 bn on March 20

LIMA, March 24 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru’s net international reserves amounted to US$76.893 billion as of March 20, the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) has reported. This level of reserves is equivalent to 29% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). International reserves guarantee the foreign currency availability in unusual situations that might occur…

Russia: Pres Putin vows retribution on concert hall attacks, as death toll climbs to 133

People gather at a makeshift memorial to the victims of a shooting attack set up outside the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the Moscow Region, Saturday MOSCOW, March 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to punish those behind a “barbaric terrorist attack” on a Moscow concert hall…

Senegal’s presidential frontrunners end campaigns amid ahead of vote

Bassirou Diomaye Faye, left, and Amadou Ba, right, are seen as main contenders in a long list of candidates DAKAR, March 23 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Friday was the last day of campaigning allowed in Senegal’s tightly contested election, which will take place on Sunday. Large crowds came out in Dakar and…

Update: Russia says death toll in Moscow concert attack rises to 93

MOSCOW, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people killed in the attack on a Moscow concert hall has risen to 93, Russia’s Investigative Committee which probes major crimes said Saturday, warning the toll could rise. “At the moment, it has been established that 93 people are dead. The death…

Ecuadorian VP’s son arrested on charges of influence peddling

QUITO, March 23 (NNN-XINHUA) — The son of Ecuadorian Vice President Veronica Abad was arrested on charges of influence peddling, the Attorney General’s Office said. Francisco Sebastian Barreiro Abad was arrested on Thursday as part of an investigation, and following several raids by its Transparency and Fight Against Corruption Unit…

Corruption-accused South African parliament speaker hands herself in to police

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting bribes when she served as defence minister PRETORIA, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The speaker of South Africa’s parliament has turned herself into the police amid an ongoing corruption investigation against her.Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over to the Pretoria Central Police on Friday morning and…

Tanzanian VP threatens to resign over water shortage

Tanzania’s Vice-President Philip Mpango DAR ES SALAAM, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tanzania’s Vice-President Philip Mpango has threatened to resign over a prolonged water crisis affecting residents from the northern Mwanga district.Mpango accused contractors working on a major project aimed at supplying water in the region of taking too long to…

Rwanda receives dozens of refugees from Libya

The refugees and asylum seekers were evacuated under the Emergency Transit Mechanism programme KIGALI, March 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rwanda has received 91 refugees and asylum seekers from Libya under a programme supported by the UN’s refugee agency, African Union and European Union.The arrivals include 38 Sudanese people, 33 Eritreans, 11…