Trump, Russia issue denials as new meddling charges hit US election

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Pres Donald Trump and Russia both angrily dismissed US intelligence’s account that Moscow is meddling in this year’s election as Democrats accused the president of betraying democracy. US intelligence chief Joseph Maguire, whom Trump replaced on Wednesday with a loyal partisan lacking direct experience…

Venezuela: Opposition leader Guaido calls anti-Maduro rally for March 10

CARACAS, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido called a demonstration in a bid to reignite the protest movement he hopes will force President Nicolas Maduro from office. He called on “women, students [and] unions” to join him in a demonstration outside parliament on March 10 “to find…

Thousands march in Peru in support of bull, cock fighting

Bull and cock fighting have been popular activities in Peru since the Spanish colonization LIMA, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Around 10,000 people demonstrated in support of bull and cock fighting in Lima ahead of a supreme court decision on their future. Animal rights activists have brought a case to the…

France begins shutting down oldest nuclear plant

FESSENHEIM (France), Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French state-owned energy giant EDF on Saturday began shutting down the country’s oldest nuclear power plant after 43 years in operation. EDF said it had disconnected one of two reactors at Fessenheim, along the Rhine near France’s eastern border with Germany and Switzerland, at…

UK: London police charges man in mosque stabbing

The victim was stabbed at London Central Mosque near Regent’s Park in London LONDON, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — London police said that they had charged a 29-year-old man in the stabbing of a prayer leader at a mosque in Park Road. Daniel Horton, 29, charged with section 18 GBH and possession of…

Update: Brazil’s Carnival kicks off with political divisions front and centre

Revellers take part in the annual block party known as “Gigantes da Lira,” during Carnival festivities in Rio de Janeiro RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s famed Carnival kicked off in earnest on Saturday, as millions of scantily-clad revellers poured into the streets, many of whom took…

Argentina, IMF say their talks on new debt agreement “fruitful”

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that progress has been made in their talks about a new agreement to address the South American country’s debt. The Saturday announcement came after a meeting between Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman and IMF Managing Director…

Russia denies spreading coronavirus misinformation

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has flatly denied allegations that it is spreading disinformation about the new coronavirus outbreak on social media.US officials said Russian-linked accounts were making unfounded claims that America started the outbreak.Thousands of profiles on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram were peddling the theory, the officials said.Responding…

France says ‘not sure’ EU-UK trade deal possible before end of 2020

PARIS, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “not sure” it would be possible for the European Unionand Britain to reach a trade deal by the end of the year. Britain and the EU are about to embark on negotiations aiming to hammerout a trade agreement…

WHO sounds alarm over Africa’s COVID-19 preparedness

An Egyptian Quarantine Authority employee holds out a health form to be filled in by incoming travellers at Cairo International Airport amidst efforts to detect possible cases of coronavirus ADDIS ABABA, Feb 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization warned that African health systems would be ill-equipped to respond to…