UN envoys in Kabul to press for women’s rights

   UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Senior UN officials have arrived in Kabul for talks as the United Nations chief voiced concern over the Taliban’s creation of “gender-based apartheid,” a UN spokesman said. Since returning to power 17 months ago, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women, keeping them out…

Nurses in England launch fresh strikes over pay

   LONDON, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nurses in England began two days of strikes over pay Wednesday, as officials warned of disruption for thousands of patients in the UK’s state-run health service. It comes after nurses held an unprecedented strike last month, joining a wave of industrial action by public sector workers…

Germany: Three dead, 10 injured in fire at care home for residents with psychiatric problems

   FRANKFURT (Germany), Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three people died and more than 10 were injured Tuesday in a fire at a care home in southwest Germany for residents with psychiatric problems, police said. The fire occurred at the specialised care home housing about three dozen people in the city of Reutlingen,…

World’s oldest known person dies aged 118: nursing home spokesman

MARSEILLE, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world’s oldest known person, French nun Lucile Randon, has died aged 118, a spokesman of a nursing home announced Tuesday. Randon, known as Sister Andre, was born in southern France on Feb 11, 1904, when World War I was still a decade away. She died…

Peru: New species of lizard discovered in Otishi National Park

LIMA, Jan 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Scientists have discovered a new species of lizard in a protected natural area in Cusco, southeastern Peru, national park officials said. “Otishi National Park reveals a new species of lizard to science,” the National Service of State-Protected Natural Areas said in a statement. The new species,…

Tunisia sees sharp rise in tourism revenues: ministry statement

Great Mosque of Kairouan TUNIS, Jan 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — Tunisia’s tourism revenues grew by 110.4 percent during the first 10 days of 2023, compared to the same period last year, said the Tunisian Ministry of Tourism and Handicrafts. “In the first 10 days of this year, the number of tourists…

Kenya’s birth rate drops amid greater adoption of modern contraceptive methods

NAIROBI, Jan 18 (NNN-XINHUA) — The average number of children a Kenyan woman is bearing has dropped from 6.7 in 1989 to 3.4 in 2022, thanks to greater use of modern contraceptive methods, according to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS). Compiled by the Kenya National Bureau of…

UN calls for immediate release of 50 abducted Burkinabe women, girls

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations called for the immediate release of 50 women and girls who were abducted in Burkina Faso last week while looking for food. Unidentified armed groups reportedly kidnapped the women and girls on Thursday and Friday near the town of Arbinda, located…

Cuban Parliament continues preparations to strengthen the system of People’s Power

HAVANA, Jan 18 (NNN-ACN) –The Cuban Parliament continues the preparation process to strengthen the system of People’s Power, with a meeting at the National Capitol, headquarters of the legislature, headed by its secretary, Homero Acosta.As reported on Twitter by the highest power body of the Cuban State, the exchange was…

US Coast Guard returns irregular Cuban migrants

HAVANA, Jan 18 (NNN-ACN) — The US Coast Guard Service returned to Cuba a new group of 82 irregular migrants to the western Cuban Orozco harbor.According to the Cuban Interior Ministry, this has been the seventh Cuba-US joint operation this year amounting to 1,052 returned persons.The most recent return of…