Serbia troops on ‘highest level’ of alert in latest Kosovo tensions

 BELGRADE, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Serbian armed forces were on “the highest level” of alert, Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said late Monday evening, highlighting the Balkan country’s increasingly strained relations with neighbouring Kosovo over recent shootings and blockades. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade refuses to recognise it…

US: Pres Biden speaks to New York governor on deadly impacts of winter storm; offered federal support

WASHINGTON, Dec 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Joe Biden spoke to New York Governor Kathy Hochul by phone on Monday on the deadly impacts of “a historic winter storm.” Biden offered “the full force of the federal government in support of the people of New York,” as the state continues…

100 mln people displaced globally in 2022, UN efforts underway to assist

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 27 (NNN-UNNS) — A hundred million people across the world were forced to leave their homes in 2022 and the United Nations is continuing to help those in need in a myriad of ways, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said. Filippo Grandi, head of the agency, described…

Three die in military helicopter crash at army base in Niger

NIAMEY, Dec 27 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Three Nigerien soldiers were killed after a military helicopter crashed at an army base in Niger’s capital Niamey on Monday, Niger’s Defence Ministry said. “A Niger Armed Forces MI-17 helicopter, returning from a routine training flight, crashed while landing on the military airstrip from Niamey…

Cuba acknowledges US progress in implementing migration agreements

HAVANA, Dec 27 (NNN-ACN) — After five years of sustained non-compliance by Washington of the migratory agreements with Cuba, at this moment progress can be appreciated, assured Johana Tablada, deputy director general of the United States at the Cuban foreign ministry.In statements to Radio Reloj radio station, the diplomat mentioned…

Russian government donates wheat to Cuba

 HAVANA, Dec 27 (NNN-ACN) — Russia earmarked more than 800 million rubles to the Ministry of Emergencies for the purchase and delivery to Cuba of 25,000 tons of wheat.  According to a Russian government decree, the shipment, classified as humanitarian aid, will be in two parts between now and 2023, based…

Covid-19 in Peru: Fifth wave recedes, people advised not to relax measures

LIMS, Dec 27 (NNN-ANDINA) — The fifth wave of COVID-19 is probably coming to an end in Peru, but the population must continue to adhere to preventive measures as new outbreaks are not ruled out, said Cesar Munayco, Director of Public Health Surveillance at Minsa’s National Center for Epidemiology, Disease Prevention…

Kenya’s Pres William Ruto urges South Sudan counterpart President Kiir to end war in Upper Nile, Jonglei

Kenyan President William Ruto NAIROBI, Dec 27 (NNN-GNA) — Kenyan President William Ruto has appealed to his South Sudanese counterpart Salva Kiir Mayardiit to de-escalate the conflict in Upper Nile and Jonglei states and deploy humanitarian efforts.“The increasing insecurity, violence, displacement and unfolding humanitarian crisis is detrimental to the peace…

Chinese firms ink deal for final phase of Tanzania’s SGR

DAR ES SALAAM, Dec 27 (NNN-GNA) — Tanzania is beaming with hope that cargo transportation within the country and to neighbouring nations will be cheaper by 2027 once it completes the standard gauge railway (SGR) construction after two Chinese firms inked a deal to construct the final phase of the…

Seventh body found after deadly Spain bus crash

MADRID, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescuers found the body of a woman in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region on Monday, raising to seven the number who died after a bus plunged into a river on Christmas Eve, police said. The accident happened on Saturday as the bus was crossing a bridge…