US blocks UN move to defend Hebron mission

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Wednesday blocked a proposed UN Security Council statement expressing regret over Israel’s decision to end an international observer force in the West Bank city of Hebron, diplomats said. Kuwait and Indonesia had circulated the draft statement following a closed-door council…

Colombia: ELN Urges a Return to Peace Agreement Negotiations

BOGOTA, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — The National Liberation Army (ELN) is willing to continue peace negotiations with the Colombia government, the ELN head of the Cuban delegation talks, Pablo Beltran, said. s Colombia’s second largest insurgent group is willing to concede to select demands in order to reach an agreement with President Ivan…

UN Warns Against Politicizing Humanitarian Aid in Venezuela

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — The United Nations warned on Wednesday against using aid as a pawn in Venezuela after the United States sent food and medicine to the country’s border and accused President Nicolas Maduro of blocking its delivery with trucks and shipping containers.k U.S. officials claimed trucks carrying aid…

Russia Approves 38 M Loan for Cuban Military Defense

HAVANA, Feb 7 (NNN-TELESUR) — A loan of US$43 million dollars is being given for the “sustainable development” of Cuba’s military, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said. “The agreement has been finalized and the documents signed. All parameters, such as interest, the payment schedule and the currency in which refunds…

President Kenyatta holds talks with visiting DRC leader Tshisekedi

During their talks the two leaders explored ways and means of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. NAIROBI, Feb 7 (NNN-KBC) — President Uhuru Kenyatta Wednesday afternoon at State House Nairobi held talks with the visiting Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Felix Tshisekedi. During their talks the two…

Israel, Japan to open first direct flights in September

JERUSALEM, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The first direct flights between Israel and Japan are scheduled to operate from September, Israel’s foreign ministry announced. At the first stage, there will be charter flights in each direction between Ben Gurion Airport near Israel’s coastal city of Tel Aviv and Narita Airport near…

Death toll from Brazil dam collapse climbs to 150

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — The death toll from the collapse of a tailings dam in Brumadinho in Brazil’s southeastern state of Minas Gerais climbed to 150 on Wednesday, the national civil defense agency said. Another 182 people have been reportedly missing since the tailings dam owned by…

Classes suspended as 3 South Africa university protests continue

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Lectures remain suspended in three South African universities following violent protests that have claimed a student’s life. Classes at University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Mangosuthu University of Technology are suspended as protests go on, demanding that students who owe universities money…

Sri Lankan president says death penalty for drug convicts to resume in 2 months

COLOMBO, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena will impose the death penalty on convicted drug traffickers within the next two months after he vowed to free the country from the drug menace by 2020, local media reports said on Thursday. Sirisena informed parliament on Wednesday evening that…

16 killed in road accident in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least 16 people were killed when a passenger van slammed into a pick-up truck in Karak district of Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Wednesday, local reports said. The crash took place on a busy highway when the van, which departed from provincial capital…