Pres Biden says US not seeking conflict with China, despite balloon flap

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden said the United States is not looking for conflict with China despite heightened tensions over last week’s downing of a Chinese balloon that US officials say was part of a spy fleet spanning five continents. “We’re going to compete fully with China,…

US Navy releases first photos of China balloon debris

This picture provided by the US Navy shows sailors recovering a high-altitude surveillance balloon off the coast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in the Atlantic ocean WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States Navy has released photos of a suspected Chinese spy balloon that was shot down on Saturday. The US…

Weekend avalanches kill 10 in Austria and Switzerland

Some 30 avalanches were reported in western Austria VIENNA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ten people have been killed in several avalanches across the Austrian and Swiss Alps over the weekend. Tourists from New Zealand, China and Germany were among the dead at a number of different ski resorts. Austrian authorities put…

Peruvian exports reach US$63.2 billion, hit record high in 2022

LIMA, Feb 9 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian exports reached US$63.2 billion in 2022, marking a record high for the country, Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Teresa Mera reported. He stressed that the amount represents an expansion of close to 4% compared to exports in 2021 (US$60.92 billion). “This significant growth shows the resilience of the Peruvian…

Mali: Two police officers, gendarme killed at a checkpoint in western attack; 15 attackers neutralised

BAMAKO, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Malian police officers and a gendarme were killed in an attack on a checkpoint in western Mali, a country facing militant violence, sources said. The attack was carried out at a checkpoint in the western town of Nara, near the border with Mauritania, a…

UK’s Royal Mail unveils first King Charles stamps

 LONDON, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s Royal Mail on Wednesday unveiled the first postage stamps to feature the image of King Charles III, following his ascension to the throne last September. The new so-called “definitive stamp” — intended for everyday use and consisting solely of the monarch’s head, the stamp’s…

Cuba: Elian Gonzalez, rescued at sea as boy, now running for parliament

HAVANA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Now age 29, Elian Gonzalez has grown up from the child whose 1999 family crisis became the unwitting symbol for the breakdown of Washington-Havana relations to this week becoming a candidate for a seat in Cuba’s parliament. State newspaper Granma released the list of the…

Colombia: Teachers try to overrun Congress demanding improvements to the health care system

BOGOTÁ, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of members of a teachers union in Colombia tried to overrun the congress building in Bogota in a protest demanding improvements to the health care system, officials said. Around 500 men and women wearing red ponchos sought to force their way into the legislature,…

Peru reports 585 sea lions, 55,000 wild birds dead due to bird flu; government announce”biological vigilance protocol”

 LIMA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru said that 585 sea lions and 55,000 wild birds have died of the H5N1 bird flu virus in recent weeks, the latest report on the disease’s impacts. Following the discovery of 55,000 dead birds in eight protected coastal areas, rangers found the bird flu…

Peru’s president inspects area ravaged by mudslides; 15 killed, thousands affected

 LIMA, Feb 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peru’s embattled President Dina Boluarte inspected a southern region ravaged by mudslides that killed at least 15 people and affected thousands. Authorities fear the latest official toll of 15 could be much higher after rock and mud slides caused by torrential rains buried homes and…