Zimbabwe police arrest self-proclaimed prophet Ishmael and rescue 251 children

Unicef estimates more than two million people follow the Apostolic churches in Zimbabwe HARARE, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A self-proclaimed Apostolic prophet who kept more than 250 children on his property has been arrested in Zimbabwe. Police said that Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, led a sect with more than 1,000 members in…

Nine drown in Gabon after exceptionally high tides

LIBREVILLE, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least nine people, including four teenagers, drowned in Gabon following exceptionally high sea tides, the government said. Rescuers found the victims’ bodies on beaches by the capital Libreville, the interior ministry said. The drownings were caused by an “increase in the tides linked to…

Haiti works at govt transition as gang leader vows to fight on

PORT-AU-PRINCE, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful Haitian gang leader pledged to continue the fighting that has plunged the country into chaos, as stakeholders work toward establishing a transitional governing body to replace the outgoing prime minister. Gangs that control most of the capital Port-au-Prince launched an armed campaign almost…

World oil demand grows amid Red Sea shipping disruptions: IEA

 PARIS, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Global oil demand is forecast to grow more than expected due to a brighter US economic outlook and rising fuel needs of ships rerouted away from the Red Sea, the International Energy Agency said. Commercial ships have been taking longer and costlier journeys around the…

Explosion at Tunisian gas depot injures 35

      TUNIS, March 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An explosion on Thursday at a gas depot near Tunisia’s capital injured 35 people, four of them severely, civil protection services said. “Around 6:15 am, a gas leak caused the explosion of gas cylinders in the premises of a distribution company in the…

Russia says army cargo plane with 15 on board crashes

An Ilyushin IL-76, a military transport plane used by Russia’s armed forces. (File photo: AFP/Fadel Senna) MOSCOW, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia said on Tuesday (Mar 12) that a military cargo plane with 15 people on board had crashed while taking off from an airfield for a scheduled flight. Moscow…

Mexico successfully rescued 200 people in the back of a truck

Migrants locked in the back of a truck are rescued on the Villahermosa-Coatzacoalcos highway, Veracruz state, Mexico MEXICO CITY, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican authorities announced they had successfully rescued 200 people, including children, crammed into the trunk of a truck in the city of Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila state, northern…

Zimbabwe: 13 Zimbabweans killed, 26 injured in bus, truck collision in South Africa’s Cape Town

CAPE TOWN (South Africa), March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thirteen Zimbabweans have reportedly died after a bus they were travelling in from Harare was involved in a fatal accident 130 kilometres from their Cape Town destination in South Africa. According to media reports the accident between a Simplex Bus Company coach…

Paraguay strikes deal with FBI to tackle organized crime

ASUNCION, March 12 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Paraguayan authorities signed an agreement with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) of the United States to fight organized crime in “an unprecedented event” of cooperation between the two countries, it was reported. The deal provides for the creation of a group specialized in identifying…

Venezuelan exports to US rose 770% in 2023, mainly oil: chamber

 CARACAS, March 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuelan exports to the United States, mainly of oil, rose 770 percent in 2023 from the previous year, after Washington eased some sanctions on the country, according to a report from a US-based business chamber.    Overall trade more than doubled in 2023 to over $6…