US renews calls for talks with North Korea

  WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US envoy made a new appeal for talks with North Korea, insisting the United States has no hostile intent following a spike in tensions.   Sung Kim, the US special representative on North Korea, met in Washingtonwith his South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk,…

EU says ready to implement sanctions on Belarusian airline to curb migrant flow

BRUSSELS, Oct 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — The European Union (EU) was ready to implement sanctions against the national airline of Belarus in a bid to partially curb the flow of migrants entering the EU, an EU official said. This was one of the measures discussed by EU foreign ministers and would…

At least 11 passengers killed, 12 injured after bus plunged down a 328-foot slope in Ecuador

QUITO, Oct. 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As many as 11 passengers have been confirmed dead after a bus plunged down a 328-foot deep slope in Ecuador on Monday. The Integrated Security Service also reported that 12 other people, including the driver, were taken to area hospitals near Colta, Chimborazo. The driver’s…

Czech President Zeman unable to perform duties due to ill health, says Senate head

Zeman’s office has disregarded calls to give any details on the 77-year-old president’s condition or diagnosis PRAGUE, Oct 19 (NNN-XINHUA) — Czech President Milos Zeman is currently unable to carry out his duties, the head of parliament’s upper house has said, citing a report he had requested from the hospital…

US will not join Afghanistan talks hosted by Russia

A Taliban fighter sits guard on a vehicle while his comrades are praying at Deh Bori square in Kabul WASHINGTON, Oct 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States will not join international talks on Afghanistan organized by Russia this week due to logistical reasons, but is open to participating in the…

Government of Zimbabwe projects 10% growth in agricultural sector

The country’s agricultural growth rate is expected to increase HARARE, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The government of Zimbabwe has projected a 10% growth in the agricultural sector during the 2021/22 farming season, an official has said.Agriculture has been contributing 34% to Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product (GDP), and Lands and Agriculture…

Footballer Didier Drogba appointed WHO ambassador for Sports and Health

Didier Drogba GENEVA, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Football legend Didier Drogba was appointed as the World Health Organization’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health.Drogba, from Ivory Coast, will support WHO to promote the Organization’s guidance on the benefits of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles, and highlight the value of…

Russia cuts diplomatic ties with NATO in latest row

   MOSCOW, Oct 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow was suspending its mission to NATO and closing the  Western military bloc’s liaison mission in Russia, in a new diplomatic row.     “We are suspending the work of our official mission to NATO, including the  work of…

Covid-19: WHO confirms gradual decline in covid deaths

GENEVA, Oct 18 (NNN-TELESUR) — Director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that the number of deaths per week in the world due to COVID-19 continues to fall and stands at 50,000, the lowest figure recorded in almost a year. However, the head of the…

Covid-19: Haiti to return soon-to-expire 250,000 vaccines to COVAX facility

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Oct 18 (NNN-TELESUR) — Haiti’s Multisectoral Pandemic Management Commission (MPMC) announced that it will return 250,000 Moderna vaccines that will expire on Nov 6 to the COVAX facility since health authorities have not been able to implement a massive immunization campaign. “We wish that other countries with more advanced immunization…