South Africa: Doornkop building collapse to be investigated; 3 dead, 3 injured

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 30 (NNN-SANEWS) — Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has requested an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collapse of a building in Doornkop, Johannesburg. The tragic incident claimed the lives of three people, including a child. Three others have been taken to hospital with injuries.…

Monument honouring China’s contribution to Panama Canal torn down

The site where a Chinese monument once stood before it was demolished in Arraijan, Panama on Dec 28 PANAMA CITY, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Near the entrance to the Panama Canal, a monument to China’s contributions to the interoceanic waterway was torn down Saturday night (Dec 27) by order of…

Pres Trump says US hit dock for Venezuela drug boats; another alleged drug boat destroyed off Pacific killing 2

PALM BEACH (Florida, US), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has hit and destroyed a docking area for alleged Venezuela drug boats, President Donald Trump said Monday, in what could amount to the first land strike of the military campaign against trafficking from Latin America. The US leader’s confirmation…

US pledges $2 bn for UN aid, with ‘adapt, shrink or die’ warning

GENEVA, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Washington on Monday pledged an initial $2 billion for United Nations humanitarian aid in 2026 — far less than it has provided in recent years — warning UN agencies to “adapt, shrink or die”. With its pledge, announced at the US mission in Geneva alongside…

UN Sec-Gen Guterres says ‘get serious’ in grim New Year message

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations urged global leaders Monday to focus on people and the planet in a New Year’s message depicting the world in chaos. “As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads. Chaos and uncertainty surround us. Division. Violence. Climate…

Caretaker PM’s party leads Kosovo vote: preliminary results

PRISTINA, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Preliminary results in Kosovo’s parliamentary elections Sunday suggested that caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s party was nearing 50 percent, potentially ending the country’s long-running political deadlock. The Central Election Commission (CEC) said Kurti’s Vetevendosje (VV) party was projected to win 49.79 percent, after processing about…

Body found in Spain flooding takes death toll to two

MADRID, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Search teams on Monday found the body of a man missing after torrential rains caused flooding in southern Spain, authorities said, raising the death toll to two. Spain’s Guardia Civil police said the body was found some three kilometres from the spot where he was…

Suriname stabbings: Man fatally stabs nine people, including five children; suspect with mental health issues arrested

PARAMARIBO, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man stabbed to death nine people, including five children, overnight in Suriname’s capital Paramaribo, police said Sunday, adding that the suspect was wounded and arrested. The man appeared to be suffering from mental health issues, and four of his own children were killed in…

Ecuador gun violence: Six killed in popular whale-watching destination Puerto Lopez

QUITO, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Multiple gunmen killed six people on Sunday, including a two-year-old girl, after shooting up a beachside boardwalk in southwestern Ecuador, police said. Three others were wounded in the attack in popular whale-watching destination Puerto Lopez, after men in a van and on two motorcycles opened…

Mexico: 13 killed, 98 injured in train derailment in southern Oaxaca state

MEXICO CITY, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A train carrying 250 people derailed partially on Sunday in Mexico, killing 13 people and injuring 98, officials said. The train’s locomotive left the tracks during a trip in southern Oaxaca state, said the Mexican navy, which operates this particular rail line. The navy…