UN prepares to start pulling peacekeepers from DR Congo

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council is expected to accede to a demand from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and launch a gradual withdrawal of peacekeepers, starting later this month. The drawdown would come despite United Nations concern about violence in the eastern part of…

South Africa: Hundreds battle wildfire threatening Simon’s Town naval base

SIMON’S TOWN (Cape Town, South Africa), Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of firefighters on Wednesday battled a wildfire that has spread across a mountain near Cape Town and threatened South Africa’s biggest naval base. Five out of more than 300 firefighters deployed for the operation on hills overlooking Simon’s Town…

Icelandic volcano eruption eases as evacuated village remains off limits

     REYKJAVIK, Dec  21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A volcanic eruption that rocked Iceland this week diminished in intensity for a second day Wednesday, though media reports said a nearby evacuated fishing village would remain off limits for at least another week.          The eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula has…

Guinea deals with disaster after a petroleum warehouse explosion that injured 178 people

Smoke and fire rose from the scene of a petroleum warehouse explosion in the capital Conakry, Guinea on December 18, 2023. Photo: AFP/TTXVN CONAKRY, Dec 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Guniea officials announced that 14 victims were killed and 178 others were injured in a petroleum warehouse explosion that occurred in the…

Argentina to buy electricity from Brazil due to storm

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 19 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Following the disruption caused by last weekend’s storms to the country’s grid, Argentina will import electricity from Brazil on a transitory basis, it was reported Sunday, in addition to other emergency measures adopted to face the crisis and restore supply in parts of the…

Guatemalan protesters will carry out a new march for democracy

GUATEMALA CITY, Dec 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Protesters will begin a new march in the capital of Guatemala in defense of the results of the elections last June and August. Indigenous organizations and groups joining the peaceful resistance support the arrival of Bernardo Arévalo to presidency on Jan 14 in…

Venezuela and Spain lay the foundation to boost oil production

The Venezuelan-flagged Fiorella oil tanker docked in front of the Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) Bajo Grande Refinery CARACAS, Dec 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The president of the state company Petróleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa), Rafael Tellechea, stated that with the signing of an agreement with the Spanish oil company Repsol…

Kenya: Pres Ruto promises more opportunities for minorities and marginalized communities

PRETORIA, Dec 19 (NNN-KBC) — President William Ruto has reiterated his commitment to fostering inclusivity and protecting the rights of ethnic minorities and marginalized communities in the country. The President’s remarks were conveyed by the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi during…

Panama says its canal produced record revenue despite drought

PANAMA CITY, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Panama Canal delivered $2.5 billion to the national treasury for last year’s operations, the government said Monday, despite record-low water levels that limited ship transits. About six percent of global maritime trade passes through the canal each year, and the Panama Canal Authority…

Costa Rica to reach 900 homicide cases in 2023

SAN JOSE, Dec 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The toll of homicides in Costa Rica surged in 881, after a weekend where 11 more violent deaths were reported. For several years, homicide statistics in Costa Rica have been on the rise and local authorities estimate this number will rise to 900…