US imposes sanctions on two more ICC judges for Israel probe

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on two more judges of the International Criminal Court after they rejected an attempt by Israel to end a war crimes probe in Gaza.Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had already ordered sanctions on judges and prosecutors in the case, explicitly linked the new…

Germany to take in more than 500 stranded Afghans from Pakistan

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt BERLIN, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The German government said it would take in 535 Afghans who had been promised refuge in Germany but have been stuck in limbo in Pakistan. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the RND media network Berlin wanted to complete the processing of…

Denmark wants to ban burqas, niqabs in schools and universities

COPENHAGEN, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Danish government said that it is proposing to extend the country’s ban on full-face veils in public places to schools and universities. “Burqas, niqabs, or other clothing that hides people’s faces have no place in a Danish classroom,” Minister for Immigration and Integration Rasmus…

UK police make arrests for alleged ‘intifada’ protest chants

LONDON, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK police made their first arrests Wednesday since announcing officers will detain people who publicly chant pro-Palestinian calls to “globalise the intifada”, in a change prompted by Australia’s Bondi Beach attack. London’s Metropolitan Police said two people “who shouted slogans involving calls for intifada were…

ALBA-TCP advances on strategic objectives despite threats and aggression

HAVANA, Dec 18 (NNN-ACN) — The will of the heads of state and government of ALBA-TCP to advance and overcome threats and adversity was evident at the recently concluded 25th Summit of the Latin American and Caribbean integration bloc. This meeting, held virtually with its nine member countries, was inspired…

Tunisians revive protests in Gabes over pollution from state chemical plant

People march on the 15th anniversary of the 2011 uprising to protest over pollution GABES (Tunisia), Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Around 2,500 Tunisians marched through the coastal city of Gabes on Wednesday, reviving protests over pollution from a state-owned phosphate complex amid rising anger over perceived failures to protect public…

Seven Kenyan nationals arrested for working illegally in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 18 (NNN-SANEWS) — Seven Kenyan nationals were arrested for allegedly working at a centre, despite entering the country on a tourist visa. They were arrested after the Department of Home Affairs, in collaboration with other arms of law enforcement, executed a routine, lawful operation in Johannesburg, targeted at…

US deploys troops to Ecuador for anti-drugs operation

QUITO, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States announced Wednesday a temporary deployment of Air Force personnel to Ecuador to combat drug trafficking in one of Latin America’s biggest narcotics smuggling hubs. The deployment comes amid a deepening standoff between the United States and Latin American oil producer Venezuela, whose…

Sudan crisis: Drone attack kills 8 displaced people, all women, in South Kordofan state – witnesses

PORT SUDAN (Sudan), Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A drone attack on Wednesday killed eight people as they fled the besieged Sudanese city of Kadugli in South Kordofan state, the new epicentre of the country’s long-running war. The strike was in Kurkal, about 15 kilometres north of state capital Kadugli, which…

Brazilian Pres Lula advocates for dialogue as Venezuela-US tensions escalate

BRASILIA, Dec 18 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reiterated his support for dialogue as a tool of international politics, as the crisis between Venezuela and the United States enters a more tense phase. During a meeting with his entire cabinet, Lula revealed that in his…