UN urges more water cooperation to build peace

GENEVA, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cooperation across borders on shared water resources can help avert conflicts and build peace, the United Nations said Friday, urging all countries to join its Water Convention. The UN stressed that with climate change and rising water scarcity worldwide, cross-border water cooperation was increasingly crucial…

France: Hundreds march in Paris suburb after youth killed in police chase

BOBIGNY (France), March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several hundred marched peacefully in a Paris suburb Thursday to demand justice for a teenager killed last week in a collision with a police car. The death of Wanys R. has sparked tensions in the town of La Courneuve near major venues for this…

Mozambican poacher found guilty of killing 42 lions gets 30 years jail

MAPUTO, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chabane Assuba, a Mozambican poacher, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after he was convicted of committing crimes against animals protected by law, Mozambique’s national Radio report. Assuba, the defendant, was accused of slaughtering at least 42 lions, 20 elephants and four rhinos, and…

Brazil: Pres Lula to present plan with racial equality policies

BRASILIA, March 22 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will present in Ceilandia, an administrative region of the Federal District, the “Plan Juventud Negra Viva” (lit. “Living Black Youth Plan”), which contains a series of racial equality policies. The initiative groups 43 goals and 217 concrete actions…

UK economy to ‘bounce back’ in 2024, says PM Sunak

 LONDON, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — This year will “prove to be the year that the economy bounces back”, Rishi Sunak has told the BBC after figures showed inflation fell to its lowest level in almost two and half years. “We have turned a corner after the shocks of the past…

Uganda’s President Museveni promotes son to army chief

KAMPALA, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda’s veteran leader Yoweri Museveni has appointed his son to head the country’s defence forces, the East African nation’s government said, capping a dizzying rise for Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The announcement by the defence ministry late Thursday followed years of speculation that Kainerugaba, whose social media…

Panama Canal administrator hopes traffic normalizes by February 2025

PANAMA CITY, March 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Traffic through the Panama Canal could return to normal by next February, its administrator said, after record-low water levels limited the number of ships able to transit through the global pipeline. Since last year, authorities have had to limit vessel traffic through the canal,…

Over 1,000 evacuated in Uruguay after heavy rains, floods

MONTEVIDEO, March 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Uruguay’s southern department of Florida after heavy rains caused floods, local authorities said. Guillermo Lopez, governor of the department, said that the Santa Lucia Chico River in the department’s namesake capital city Florida has…

UN food agency concludes seasonal lean food aid distribution in Zimbabwe

HARARE, March 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — The World Food Program (WFP) has concluded its lean season food aid distribution in Zimbabwe after last year’s cereal harvest amid rising food insecurity due to the El-Nino-induced drought. The Zimbabwean government, along with the WFP, has been providing lean season food assistance to the…

EU agrees to open accession talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina

European Council President Charles Michel (R) and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen BRUSSELS, March 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — Leaders from the European Union (EU) on Thursday agreed to open accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina. “The European Council has just decided to open accession negotiations with Bosnia…