Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 21

ABUJA -- The number of schoolgirls who were released on Wednesday by terror group Boko Haram after their abduction last month in the northeastern town of Dapchi has increased from 76 to 101, the Nigerian government said.

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed gave the update in a statement, saying the number could still increase as security agencies had commenced the profiling of the freed schoolgirls. (Nigeria-Boko Haram)

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KIGALI -- Some 44 African countries on Wednesday signed an agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, capital city of Rwanda.

The signing took place during the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) on the AfCFTA. According the AU, 19 African heads of state and government attended the summit. (Rwanda-AU-Free Trade Area)

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BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Wednesday that EU would take unambiguous countermeasures against the United States' tariff surges if necessary.

Speaking to lawmakers in the Bundestag, lower house of the parliament, Merkel mentioned that the United States has just introduced punitive tariffs. (Germany-US-Tariffs)

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UNITED NATIONS -- The UN Security Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted Resolution 2407 extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 1718 Democratic People's Republic of Korea Sanctions Committee until April 24, 2019.

This adoption comes shortly after the circulation of the final report of the Panel of Experts to the Council on March 1. (UN-DPRK)

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YANGON -- Myanmar authorities have voiced acceptance of repatriation of 556 refugees from Bangladesh verified as having lived in Myanmar, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.

The 556 refugees were scrutinized as acceptable from the first group of 8,032 proposed by the Bangladesh side and the process is continuing. (Myanmar-Repatriation-Bangladesh) Enditem