US Pres Trump to sign trade accord with Mexico, Canada next week: White House

WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said. The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key tradingpartners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North…

Update: Two more people test positive for Wuhan virus in Singapore; total of 3 confirmed cases – MOH

SINGAPORE, Jan 24 (NNN-CNA) — Two more people have tested positive for the Wuhan virus in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases to three, the Ministry of Health said. The new patients include the 37-year-old son of the first confirmed case, MOH said in a media briefing on Friday afternoon. …

Mexican security forces detain 800 Central American migrants

FRONTERA HIDALGO (Mexico), Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexican authorities adopted tougher measures against Central American migrants, detaining 800 of them who had entered Mexico illegally from Guatemala intending to reach the border with the United States. Mexico is under intense pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to contain mass movements…

Iraq protester gunned down in second night of violence

A demonstrator carries an Iraqi flag during ongoing anti-government protests BASRA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Iraqi demonstrator was shot dead in the southern city of Basra overnight, a security source and the human rights commission said, the latest in a string of protester deaths. The anti-government demonstrations rocking the Iraqi…

Australia to probe crash that killed three US firefighters

NSW Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian confirming to the media that three US residents died in a firefighting aircraft crash in the Snowy Mountains region SYDNEY, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police investigators will join a probe into the crash of a firefighting plane that killed three American crew helping to battle…

Update: US investigating second suspected case of Chinese virus

Security guards patrol outside the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China HOUSTON, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in Texas are investigating a second suspected case on US soil of a deadly Chinese virus, namely a college student who had recently returned from the city at the heart of the outbreak.…

Spain: Death toll rises to 11 as Storm Gloria ebbs

Storm Gloria ebbs BARCELONA, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a violent storm that has wrought havoc across huge swathes of Spain’s eastern and southern coastline rose to 11, with rescue workers still searching for four people. The latest victim was a 50-year-old man who was fishing in…

Search suspended for South Koreans, Nepalis hit by avalanche

The valley in the Annapurna mountain region where the avalanche struck KATHMANDU, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The search for four South Korean trekkers and three Nepalis swept away by an avalanche in the Himalayas almost a week ago was suspended Thursday as conditions made further operations too risky. The trekkers…

Greek island mayors press government to lighten migrants overload

ATHENS, Jan 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mayors of three Greek islands bearing the brunt of intensely overcrowded refugee and migrant camps demanded the transfer of thousands to the country’s mainland during a meeting with the new migration minister. During a second day of protests over the plight of the camps and the…

Singapore confirms first case of Wuhan virus

SINGAPORE, Jan 24 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore on Thursday announced a confirmed case of the Wuhan virus, a new coronavirus that has sickened hundreds of people and killed at least 25.  In a media briefing, the Ministry of Health said the patient is a 66-year-old Chinese man. The Wuhan resident, who arrived in Singapore…