Cuba prioritizes cooperation links with Pacific small island states

HAVANA, Dec 21 (NNN-ACN) — Cuba highly prioritizes relations of friendship and cooperation with Pacific small island states, said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez.In the context of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cuba and The Solomon Islands, Minister Rodriguez stressed on Twitter the relationship of…

Vietnam ratified as Cuba’s strategic partner: Trade Minister Malmierca

 HAVANA, Dec 21 (NNN-ACN) — Cuban foreign trade and investment minister Rodrigo Malmierca said that by 2023 Cuba is counting on the effective participation of Vietnam, a strategic partner, in its priorities of productive reactivation and exports.At the 40th Session of the Intergovernmental Commission for Economic and Scientific-Technical Collaboration, both…

Rabies: South African govt issues warning in high risk areas

PRETORIA, Dec 21 (NNN-SANEWS) — South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development has warned local residents and holidaymakers to be alert in rabies high risk areas. In a statement, the department said rabies is particularly common in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, as well as…

UN eases weapons embargo on DR Congo

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution Tuesday that eases a weapons embargo on the Democratic Republic of Congo, a move hailed by Kinshasa as an “injustice repaired.” The resolution removes a stipulation that previously required countries to inform the 15-member council of…

Vega-C rocket lost shortly after lift-off in French Guiana

 KOUROU, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European light launcher rocket Vega-C was lost shortly after lift-off from French Guiana on Tuesday with two Airbus satellites on board, the company behind the launch said. The rocket had been trying to bring into orbit two Earth observation satellites built by Airbus, intended…

Morocco World Cup team arrives home to heroes’ welcome

 RABAT, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of Moroccans thronged the capital on Tuesday to welcome home their national football team, the first Arab or African squad ever to reach the semi-final of a World Cup. The team and their coach Walid Regragui waved from an open-topped bus as they…

Panama mourns US invasion 33 years ago

PANAMA CITY, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Panama on Tuesday observed a day of national mourning for the first time ever to mark the anniversary of the US invasion in 1989 to oust dictator Manuel Antonio Noriega. “We pray for the fallen, looking upward and moving forward together,” President Laurentino Cortizo said…

Taliban free two Americans in ‘goodwill gesture’: US

WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Taliban have freed two Americans in detention in Afghanistan, the State Department said, on the same day that the militant regime faced condemnation for banning women at universities. “This, we understand, to have been a goodwill gesture on the part of the Taliban. This was…

Covid-19: US offers vaccines to China to stem outbreak

WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States offered to share vaccines with China to stem soaring Covid cases, saying containing the outbreak was in the interest of the world. It is unlikely that China would accept the offer from the United States, its frequent adversary, after Beijing invested heavily in…

US quake: Two dead after powerful tremor hits California; 11 injured

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least two people died after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of northern California on Tuesday, triggering rockslides and cutting power to tens of thousands. The relatively shallow 6.4-magnitude quake hit overnight, 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of the port city of Eureka,…