Russian FM Lavrov visit to South Africa: Foreign Minister Pandor defends joint Russia-China military exercise

 PRETORIA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has defended its decision to hold a joint military exercise with Russia and China next month. Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor condemned the “double-standard” which says some countries can perform such exercises but others are not. “All countries conduct military exercises with friends worldwide,”…

Peru unrest: Ombudsman’s Office condemns acts of violence against two farms in Ica

LIMA, Jan 24 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Ombudsman’s Office condemned the acts of violence perpetrated against two agro-exporting companies located in the region of Ica, south of Lima. “We condemn acts of violence against two farms. We reiterate that nothing justifies acts of vandalism and, on the contrary, they delegitimize citizens’ right to…

Peru unrest: Foreign Affairs Ministry issues protest notes to Colombia, Bolivia for interference

LIMA, Jan 24 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday handed a note to the Colombian Embassy, in which it conveys an energetic protest for the new act of interference by President Gustavo Petro on domestic political issues. Via Twitter, the government agency stated that the conduct of the…

Latvia, Estonia tell Russian ambassadors to leave

  TALLINN, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Latvia said Monday it had asked the Russian ambassador to leave the country, just hours after a similar move by fellow Baltic state Estonia.    “The ambassador of Russia shall leave by 24 February 2023,” Latvia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, adding that…

WHO seeks $2.5 bn for health emergency responses in 2023

 GENEVA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization on Monday appealed for $2.54 billion for its work in 2023 to help millions of people facing health emergencies around the world.    The UN health agency said that it was currently responding to an unprecedented number of intersecting health emergencies.…

Brazil pins murders of UK reporter, activist on alleged drug lord, who is already in custody

MANAUS (Brazil), Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Brazil have strong evidence that an alleged drug trafficker ordered the murders of a British journalist and an Indigenous activist in the Amazon last June, a police chief said on Monday. Police believe Ruben da Silva Villar, who uses the nickname “Colombia”…

IMF approves $105 mn in emergency aid to Haiti

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday approved emergency aid of $105 million for Haiti, which has long been mired in a humanitarian crisis that has been exacerbated by recent global inflation. The funds should enable the Caribbean country to “support those most affected by…

Around 20 treated after new safety scare in Mexico metro

MEXICO CITY, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Another safety scare hit the Mexico City metro on Monday, when around 20 people were treated for smoke inhalation following a short circuit, officials said. The incident came around two weeks after two trains collided in a tunnel, killing one person, injuring dozens and…

Peru unrest: Protesters brave tear gas to demand ouster of embattled president

 LIMA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Riot police tossed tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in new unrest in Peru’s capital on Monday, and the nation’s interior minister said there was no end in sight to the tumult gripping the nation. Several hundred protesters marched in colonial central Lima to demand…

US shooting violence: Seven dead in two incidents in northern California; two dead in Iowa state

 LOS ANGELES, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seven people were killed and one critically injured Monday in two shootings in Half Moon Bay in northern California, US media reported. “The Sheriff’s Office is responding to a shooting incident with multiple victims in the area of (Highway) 92 and the (Half Moon…