Massive strikes to hit Britain during Christmas season

LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Kingdom (UK) faces weeks of massive strikes during the Christmas season by transport and postal workers, nurses, and border guards. A wave of industrial action began on Tuesday, with more than 40,000 members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers…

Belgium: Over 16,000 demonstrate in Brussels for higher wages

BRUSSELS, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — An estimated 16,500 people took to the streets in the capital of Belgium on Friday to demand higher wages to cope with rising energy costs. They also denounced the 1996 Wage Margin Act that establishes a strict procedure to negotiate a maximum average wage increase.…

US aircrash: Oil sheen, debris spotted as search for downed medical transport plane continues off Hawaii

HONOLULU (Hawaii, US), Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A sprawling search by air and sea is continuing for a medical transport plane that crashed off Maui with three people onboard. Crews have spotted oil sheen and recovered aircraft debris. But Coast Guard officials said it hasn’t been confirmed the debris is…

Peru crisis: Two ministers quit in wake of protesters’ deaths

Minister of Education Patricia Correa LIMA, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peru’s ministers of education and culture handed in their irrevocable resignations to President Dina Boluarte on Friday, in protest against the deaths of anti-government demonstrators. The first to resign was Minister of Education Patricia Correa, whose resignation letter, posted on…

West, Central Africa floods kill 1,400 people, displace 2.9 mln: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Heavy rains and flooding across West and Central Africa have killed 1,400 people and displaced another 2.9 million, UN humanitarians said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the worst flooding in years has impacted the lives of 8.2 million…

Power cuts in seven states as deadly winter storm and tornadoes hit US

A tornado is seen in New Iberia, Louisiana  NEW ORLEANS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A fierce winter storm has left a trail of destruction across the southern US, devastating communities and killing three people in Louisiana. The weather has also left tens of thousands without power across six states. Several…

Cuba and Cambodia boost medical cooperation

HAVANA, Dec 17 (NNN-ACN) — The willingness of the Cuban Government to strengthen medical collaboration with the Kingdom of Cambodia was ratified by meeting between José Angel Portal Miranda, Cuban Minister of Public Health, and Or Vandine, Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministry of Health. Vandine said she was glad…

Peru: Congress does not approve bill to bring general elections forward

LIMA, Dec 17 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peru Parliament on Friday did not approve a bill on constitutional reform that would have allowed bringing general elections forward to 2023, as well as reducing the presidential and parliamentary mandates. During a plenary session, the bill obtained 49 votes in favor, 33 against, and 25…

Peru: President Boluarte will travel to interior regions to listen to demands

LIMA, Dec 17 (NNN-ANDINA) — Pres Dina Boluarte announced that she will be traveling to Peru’s interior regions to listen to the demands of the population —after lamenting the loss of human lives due to the protests held over recent days. In view of these events, the Head of State said…

Exploding gift sends Polish police chief to hospital after Ukraine visit

Poland’s police chief Jaroslaw Szymczyk WARSAW, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Poland’s police chief Jaroslaw Szymczyk was hospitalized with minor injuries on Wednesday after a gift that he had received in Ukraine exploded, according to a government statement.“Yesterday (Wednesday) at 7:50 a.m., an explosion occurred in a room adjacent to the…