Macron, Sanchez to ink Franco-Spanish friendship treaty

BARCELONA, Jan 19 (NNN-BSS/AFP) – French President Emmanuel Macron meets Spain’s Pedro Sanchez for a joint summit in Barcelona Thursday, with Paris seeking Spanish support for its uncompromising stance on a dispute over US protectionism. The summit takes place as France braces for a disruptive nationwide strike over a controversial…

Spanish woman tipped as ‘world’s oldest person’ at 115

BARCELONA, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Spanish great-grandmother who was born in the United States has likely become the world’s oldest living person at 115, a Guinness World Records consultant said Wednesday. Maria Branyas Morera is believed to have assumed the title following the death on Tuesday of French nun…

At least 15 dead in fire at Armenia military barracks: ministry

YEREVAN, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An overnight fire that broke out in the barracks of an Armenian military unit left 15 servicemen dead and three others in serious condition, the country’s defence ministry said Thursday. “According to preliminary information, 15 servicemen were killed as a result of a fire that…

Ukraine investigates helicopter crash that killed interior minister

BROVARY (Ukraine), Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ukrainian authorities on Thursday were investigating the circumstances surrounding a helicopter crash that killed the country’s interior minister and 13 others. Wednesday’s crash outside Kyiv came as the head of NATO said at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos that allies were set…

US: Polar bear kills woman and baby in remote Alaskan village

WALES (Alaska, US), Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A polar bear killed a young woman and her baby son in a remote area of Alaska, police said, in a rare attack by an animal battling the worst effects of human-caused climate change. Police said the bear roamed into the tiny community…

Brazil riots: Pres Lula fires 13 from his security team

BRASILIA, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government has fired 13 soldiers from his security detail following violent anti-government riots for which he pointed the finger again Wednesday at his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. A notice in the official gazette said the 13 troops were dismissed…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: UN wants to increase aid to frontline areas of Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The United Nations said it aims to increase convoys carrying aid to parts of Ukraine “close to the frontlines,” supporting local volunteers and organizations. The UN humanitarian coordination office, OCHA, said in a press release that a seven-truck convoy had reached Vovchansk in the…

CELAC Summit seeks to bolster “unity in diversity,” says host Argentina

BUENOS AIRES, Jan 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The upcoming 7th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of the Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will seek to strengthen “unity in diversity” and consolidate the region as a zone of “peace,” an Argentine official organizing the event said…

Ecuadorian beaches affected by strong waves from northwestern Pacific Ocean

Ecuador’s coast registers strong swell coming from the northwest Pacific Ocean QUITO, Jan 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Some 40 beaches of Ecuador, including four of the Galapagos Islands, located 1,000 kilometers from the mainland coast of the South American country, are affected by a swell of considerable energy coming from the…

South Sudan’s central bank restricts commercial transactions in foreign currencies

JUBA, Jan 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — The central bank of South Sudan restricted public institutions and the private sector to transact business only in the local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP), amid the current volatile exchange rate which has seen the local pound depreciates against the US dollar. Johnny Damian…