9 die in house fire in Philippines

MANILA, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Nine people died when fire razed a house in Pasay City in the Philippine capital on Thursday morning, the Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said. The bureau said the fire, which broke out at around 2:10 a.m., razed a house in Maricaban, Pasay City,…

Russia hopes Eurasian bloc signs FTA agreements with more countries

MOSCOW, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Russia expects the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) to sign agreements on free trade areas (FTAs) with Israel, Singapore, India, Egypt and Iran, a senior Russian official said. “In our opinion, it would be very productive if we actively move towards the conclusion of agreements on…

Iraq president says keen to establish effective ties with Italy, EU

BAGHDAD, Feb 7 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iraq’s President Barham Salih said that Iraq is keen to establish effective relations with Italy and the European Union. During his meeting with the visiting Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Baghdad, Salih asserted the importance of strengthening ties with Italy, and reaffirmed Iraq’s willingness…

Turkey condemns French declaration of Armenian genocide commemoration day

ANKARA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey said it strongly condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to declare April 24 as a day for the commemoration of the Armenian genocide, an issue that caused regular friction between Turkey and European Union nations. “We condemn and reject attempts by Mr Macron, who…

South Africa says playing its part to curb maritime crime

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa says it is actively playing its part to combat transnational organised maritime crime, while remaining committed to its international obligations aimed at combating lawlessness at sea. Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi, the Deputy Director-General of Global Governance and Continental Agenda at the Department of…

British PM Theresa May brings Brexit tour back to Brussels

BRUSSELS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Theresa Mayheads back to meet EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday as she seeks a way to avoid a no deal Brexit in 50 days time. Expectations for the visit were already modest when, on Wednesday, EUkingpins Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker…

Pakistan: Supreme Court tells military ‘Stay out of politics’

ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pakistan’s Supreme Court warned the military and intelligence agencies they must not exceed their mandate and meddle in politics, an apparent rebuke over their handling of Islamist protests in 2017. The judges’ comments were a rare public ticking off for the powerful armed forces, which…

Body recovered from wreckage of plane carrying footballer Emiliano Sala

LONDON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — : A body has been recovered from the wreckage of the plane that was carrying Argentina-born footballer Emiliano Sala and pilot David Ibbotson, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in Britain said. The agency did not disclose the identity of the body. Sala, 28, had…

Qatar says committed to labour reform after Amnesty criticism

DOHA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Qatar said it is committed to labour reform following an Amnesty International report that the 2022 World Cup host is failing to stop widespread labour abuse. Doha said it was on course to deliver “lasting” change after the London-based human rights group accused the energy-rich…

‘The world trusts us’: Vietnamese proud to host Trump-Kim summit

HANOI, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Vietnamese young and old expressed their delight after hearing their country had been chosen for the second face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The communist-run Southeast Asian country was announced during Trump’s State of the Union address as the…