South Africa: President Ramaphosa engages youth ahead of SONA

CAPE TOWN, Feb 7 (NNN-SANEWS) — President Cyril Ramaphosa has held a pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) engagement with young people at the Belhar Sports Complex in Cape Town. The engagement was aimed at taking stock – together with the youth – of the past three years since the…

South Sudan: 18 killed in attack over land rights

  JUBA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Armed attackers from a neighbouring state killed or burned to death 18 people, including eight soldiers, in South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Gazal state, the state’s interim governor said Tuesday. Arkenjelo Anyar Anyar said armed youths from the neighbouring Warrap state torched a local…

Chile ex-president Pinera dies in helicopter crash, aged 74

SANTIAGO, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chile’s former president Sebastian Pinera, a billionaire tycoon who twice held the South American nation’s top job, died Tuesday in a helicopter crash, his office said in a statement. The 74-year-old Pinera often flew himself around in his own helicopter, and was a former shareholder…

National Geographic nominates Peru as Best International Destination 2024 finalist

LIMA, Feb 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — National Geographic’s Spanish edition magazine entitled “Viajes National Geographic” has nominated Peru as a finalist for Best International Destination at “Premios de los Lectores 2024” (2024 Readers’ Awards). Once again, the beauty and richness of our country make people talk worldwide, Marca Peru’s (Peru Brand) social media channels highlight…

Peru: Defense Min expresses indignation at unlawful weapon sales to criminal groups

LIMA, Feb 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — Defense Minister Jorge Chavez Cresta expressed indignation at the participation of a Peruvian Army non-commissioned officer in the illegal sale of weapons to criminal groups such as the so-called “Los Patrones de Ventanilla.” “As a soldier, I am outraged,” Chavez Cresta emphasized, as he noted that…

UN chief names independent panel to assess UNRWA agency in Gaza

  UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — United Nations chief Antonio Guterres announced the creation of an independent panel to assess UNRWA, its embattled agency tasked with helping Palestinian refugees.    UNRWA is under fire over accusations by Israel that 12 staff members were involved in the Hamas attack on Israel…

US: Deadly California storm brings unrelenting rain, flooding

 LOS ANGELES, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful storm lashing California has left at least three people dead and caused devastating mudslides and flooding, after dumping months’ worth of rain in a single day. More than 25 centimeters of rain was recorded on Monday in one part of Los Angeles…

Senegal: Clashes outside parliament ahead of election delay debate

DAKAR, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Security forces used tear gas to disperse an opposition rally outside Senegal’s parliament, shortly before the start of a contentious debate on postponing this month’s presidential election. Several dozen protesters could be heard chanting “Macky Sall dictator” referring to the incumbent president after being scattered…

EU eyes 90% cut to greenhouse gases by 2040

STRASBOURG (France), Feb 7(NNN-AGENCIES) — The EU urged a 90-percent cut to its greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, even as the bloc’s transition to a greener future was clouded by a widespread farmers’ revolt. “Based on the best available science, and a detailed impact assessment, we are recommending that the…

Human footprints 100,000 years old found in Morocco

LARACHE (Morocco), Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Archaeologists in Morocco have unearthed more than 80 human footprints dating back around 100,000 years and believed to be the oldest in North Africa. The footprints, probably left by five homo sapiens, including children, were discovered on the coast of Larache, a city 90…