Urgent: Fire Breaks Out In Apartment Building In Seoul, Two In Cardiac Arrest

SEOUL, Dec 24 (NNN-YONHAP) – A fire broke out in an apartment building in Seoul, capital of South Korea, early this morning, leaving two people in cardiac arrest. The blaze erupted at about 5:36 a.m. local time. Four residents were rescued from the scene, two of whom were found in…

French Parliament Passes Special Law To Ensure State Funding Pending 2026 Budget

PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – Lawmakers in France’s National Assembly and Senate, yesterday, adopted a “special law” proposed by the government, to extend the 2025 budget into next year, before resuming work on a final 2026 budget in January. The move followed the failure of a joint committee of lawmakers…

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index Falls To 89.1 This Month

NEW YORK, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index fell to 89.1 this month, down from November’s revised 92.9, The Conference Board reported, yesterday. The figure is also lower than market expectations of 91.9, showing that, U.S. consumers are more pessimistic about current business and labour conditions, amid…

Kazakh President Calls For Patience, Flexibility In Resolving Ukraine Crisis

ALMATY, Dec 24 (NNN-KTA) – Kazakh President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, yesterday called on all sides involved in the Ukraine crisis, to demonstrate patience, flexibility and professionalism, and continue pursuing a peace formula. Tokayev made the remarks, while holding a phone conversation with U.S. President, Donald Trump, earlier in the day, during…

Egypt Begins Reassembling Ancient Pharaoh’s Boat At New Museum

CAIRO, Dec 24 (NNN-MENA) – Egypt, yesterday, began reassembling ancient King Khufu’s second solar boat, at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), a restoration process expected to take about four years, and open for visitors to watch live. Tourism and Antiquities Minister, Sherif Fathy, said, the assembly follows years…

Macron Joins European Partners In Expressing Solidarity Over Greenland Issue

PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) – French President, Emmanuel Macron, yesterday, joined European partners in expressing “full solidarity” over the Greenland issue, after U.S. President, Donald Trump, recently reiterated his call to take over the Danish autonomous territory. “Greenland belongs to its people. Denmark stands as its guarantor. I join my…

Eight Injured After Car Collision In Afghanistan’s Badakhshan

KABUL, Dec 23 (NNN-BNA) – Eight people were injured, some in critical condition, after two cars collided yesterday, in the northern Afghan province of Badakhshan, provincial police spokesman, Ehsanullah Kamgar, confirmed today. Blaming the drivers’ irresponsible driving for the mishap, the official added that, both drivers and six travellers were…

Cyclone Ditwah Causes 4.1 Billion USD In Damage In Sri Lanka: World Bank

COLOMBO, Dec 23 (NNN-LNW) – The direct physical damage caused by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka is estimated at 4.1 billion U.S. dollars, about four percent of the country’s GDP, according to a report released by the World Bank, yesterday. The Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE) report, provides an…

Pakistan Vaccinated Over 44 Million Children In Final Nationwide Polio Campaign Of 2025

ISLAMABAD, Dec 23 (NNN-APP) – Pakistan has successfully vaccinated more than 44.6 million children, in its final nationwide polio campaign of 2025, the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), said, yesterday. The campaign, conducted from Dec 15 to 21, vaccinated nearly 22.9 million children in eastern Punjab province, around 10.6 million…

Venezuelan President Condemns Escalation Of U.S. Actions In Caribbean

CARACAS, Dec 23 (NNN-ABN) – Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, sent a letter to heads of state of countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, denouncing the escalation of U.S. aggression against Venezuela, and their impact on the region, Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil, said, yesterday. “I am writing to…