28 UN peacekeepers killed, 165 wounded in Mali in 2021

BAMAKO, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Twenty-eight peacekeepers were killed and 165 wounded in Mali in 2021, according to the United Nations. During a video conference here on Thursday, El-Ghassim Wane, head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, said that “50 percent of all incidents” behind these…

Fallen Afghan government’s UN envoy leaves post

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Afghan ambassador appointed by the country’s overthrown government has left his post at the United Nations, the UN said. Ghulam Isaczai “relinquished his position as of Dec 15”, according to a letter received Thursday, assistant UN spokesman Farhan Haq said. With Afghanistan in…

UK PM Johnson suffers by-election disaster

 LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday suffered a crushing by-election defeat in a constituency never previously lost by his Conservative Party, a result which raises serious questions about his leadership.   His party won the seat in North Shropshire, central England, by a massive…

US ends talks on compensation with families separated at Mexico border

Children line up to enter a tent at the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children in Florida WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government has abandoned negotiations to financially compensate migrant families separated at the southern border with Mexico during the “zero tolerance” policy of former president Donald Trump,…

Britain and Australia conclude free trade deal

LONDON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain and Australia finalised in a virtual ceremony on Thursday a free trade deal that is expected to unlock more than 10 billion pound in trade annually.    The deal, which was agreed in principle in June, is the first free trade deal that Britain negotiated…

Covid-19: US Pres Biden warns Omicron variant will ‘spread much more rapidly’

  WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Joe Biden warned that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus will start to spread much more rapidly in the United States and urged Americans to get vaccinated or boosted.    “The only real protection is to get your shot,” he said, predicting “a winter…

Storms leave over 510,000 without power in central US

NEW YORK, Dec 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — A powerful storm system swept through the central United States with high winds that kicked up dust storms, fueled wildfires and knocked down power lines, leaving more than 510,000 customers without power, with no mass casualties reported as of early Thursday, according to major…

Unrest in Libya fuels doubts over planned election

Libya has been wracked by chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled Muammar Gadhafi in 2011 TRIPOLI, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tensions have mounted in Libya in the past few days, raising doubts that an election, seen as crucial to restoring stability to the conflict-ridden country, will be held as scheduled…

Ebola outbreak in DRC’s east declared over

The DRC had announced its 13th outbreak of Ebola KINSHASA, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Ebola outbreak that emerged in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) east more than two months ago, infecting 11 people and killing six, has been declared over.The DRC had announced its 13th outbreak of…

Spain: Cautious clean-up on La Palma as hopes rise for end to volcano eruption

LA PALMA (Spain), Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities on Spain’s La Palma island allowed evacuated residents to return to clear their ash-covered houses on Thursday as scientists suggested solidifying lava vents beneath the Cumbre Vieja volcano could herald an end to the three-month eruption. Deep banks of black ash had…