Peru unrest: Entry to famed tourist site Machu Picchu suspended until further notice

CUSCO (Peru), Jan 22 (NNN-ANDINA) — Starting Saturday, the entry of tourists to the llaqta or Machu Picchu Citadel and the Inca Trail Network will be suspended until further notice due to the current situation and to safeguard the integrity of visitors, the Decentralized Culture Directorate (DDC) in Cusco and the Machu Picchu Historic…

Peru unrest: Defense Minister calls for establishment of humanitarian aid corridors

CALLAO (Peru), Jan 22 (NNN-ANDINA) — Defense Minister Jorge Chavez Cresta morning called for the establishment of humanitarian aid corridors in various areas of Peru due to roadblocks and in order to meet the population’s demands. Remarks were made before the transfer of more than 13 tons of goods, including supplies for…

British PM fined for not wearing seatbelt in car video

LONDON, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British police fined Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for failing to wear a seatbelt in a moving car while filming a social media video. Lancashire Police said in a Twitter statement not directly naming Sunak: “We have today issued a 42-year-old man from London with a…

Gabon foreign minister dies of heart attack ahead of cabinet meeting

 LIBREVILLE, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gabon’s Foreign Minister Michael Moussa Adamo died on Friday after suffering a heart attack while waiting to go into a cabinet meeting, the government and a presidential source said. Moussa Adamo, 62, a long-standing ally of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, suffered a heart attack and…

No direct armed forces involvement in Brazil riots: minister

BRASILIA, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s Defense Minister Jose Mucio acknowledged that the armed forces were not directly involved in riots in Brasilia earlier this month when supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro stormed the seats of power. Mucio spoke to reporters following a meeting between President Luiz Inacio Lula da…

Ukraine holds funeral for minister killed in helicopter crash

       KYIV, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The seven coffins were hoisted into the echoing hall in central Kyiv on Saturday by military pallbearers in full ceremonial dress, to the sound of a lone trumpet and army-style snare drum.       Mourners in black and clutching roses had earlier gathered near Maidan square in…

Brazil begins first operations to protect Amazon

 BRASILIA, Jan 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil this week began the first operations against Amazon deforestation since veteran Pres Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office, the Ibama environmental agency said. On the campaign trail before his October election victory — when he defeated climate change skeptic Jair Bolsonaro — Lula…

Covid-19: New Omicron subvariant accounts for nearly half US new COVID infections

WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (NNN-XINHUA) — New Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 is estimated to account for 49.1 percent of the COVID-19 cases in the United States for the week ending Jan. 21, according to data released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The subvariant XBB.1.5 is spreading…

Ruslan Obiang Nsue: Equatorial Guinea President’s son arrested over unauthorised plane’s sale; pocketed the proceeds himself

Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue MALABO, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president personally ordered the arrest of his half-brother over allegations he sold a plane owned by the state airline, a government statement says. Both the vice-president and his half-brother are sons of President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. He…

Germany says it is no longer reliant on Russian energy

Germany’s Finance Minister, Christian Lindner  BERLIN, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Germany no longer depends on Russian imports for its energy supply, the country’s finance minister said. Christian Lindner said Germany had completely diversified its energy infrastructure since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Following the invasion, Russia turned off the…