Brazilian president swears in three new ministers

BRASILIA, Sept 14 (NNN-XINHUA) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva swore in three new ministers Wednesday in the first reform of his cabinet to broaden the government’s allied base. The new cabinet members, Andre Fufuca (Progressives Party) and Silvio Costa Filho (Republicans Party), assumed the posts of Minister…

10 dead, 9 injured in minivan-truck collision in southern Peru

LIMA, Sept 14 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 10 people were killed and nine others injured after a minivan and a dump truck collided head-on on Tuesday night in southern Peru’s Arequipa region, media reported Wednesday. The accident took place at the entrance of a tunnel at about 9:10 p.m. local…

More representatives confirm their attendance to G-77+China Summit

HAVANA, Sept 14 (NNN-ACN) — The Cuban Foreign Ministry reported that China and Seychelles will have high-level representatives in the G77+China Summit, to be held in this city on Sept 15-16, organized by Cuba in its capacity as president pro tempore of the group on the theme “Current development challenges:…

Updates: Putin, Kim discuss sending North Korean into space

  MOSCOW, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Presidents Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un discussed the possibility of sending a North Korean into space, Russian news agencies quoted Putin’s spokesman as saying.    President Putin and the North Korean leader held talks on Wednesday at a spaceport in Russia’s far east.    “We…

Updates: Last-ditch hunt for Morocco quake survivors

RABAT, Sept 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescue teams stepped up a massive effort to bring relief to devastated Moroccan mountain villages Wednesday as the chances faded fast for finding survivors from the powerful earthquake which killed 2,900 people and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Vehicles packed with supplies were inching up…

Updates: Global aid effort intensifies for flood-stricken Libya

BENGHAZI (Libya), Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A global effort to assist stricken Libya gathered pace Thursday after a tsunami-like flood killed nearly 4,000 people and left thousands missing. Military transport aircraft from Middle Eastern and European nations, along with ships, have been ferrying emergency aid to the North African country…

France sets out plan to ban disposable vapes

PARIS, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France is set to ban disposable e-cigarettes – known locally as “puffs” – because of the danger they pose to the environment and public health. Speaking recently on RTL radio, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said the measure was part of a new anti-smoking plan being drawn…

UN Chief to hold meetings with Lavrov, Zelensky, Erdogan next week to discuss grain deal

 UNITED NATIONS, Sept 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will discuss the renewal of the grain deal with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as well as with presidents of Turkiye and Ukraine Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Zelensky next week. The discussions will be held at personal meetings as part of…

Cuba and Iraq agree to strengthen bilateral ties

HAVANA, Sept 14 (NNN-ACN) — Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuban foreign minister, and his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, agreed on strengthening bilateral ties and multilateral coordination in the framework of the Summit of the Group of 77 and China that will take place this week in Havana, in order to face…

Cuba State Budget to finance home reconstruction after storm Idalia

HAVANA, Sept 14 (NNN-ACN) — The Cuban government agreed to use the state budget to finance 50 percent of the construction materials needed by citizens whose homes were partially or totally affected by the recent passage of tropical storm Idalia on Pinar del Rio province. The governmental accord also establishes…