Austria avalanche kills three

  VIENNA, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An avalanche in the Salzburg region killed three people and injured two while they were skiing off-piste, Austria’s Red Cross said Saturday.   The accident happened Saturday about 2,400 metres up in the Lungau district, soon after 1:45 pm local time, Red Cross spokesman…

Update: Million-dollar bond as US school shooter parents plead not guilty

  WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The parents of a 15-year-old who shot dead four students at a US high school with a gun bought by his father pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter Saturday, as a Michigan judgeset a combined million-dollar bond for their release.   James and Jennifer…

Covid-19: Brazil’s Rio cancels New Year celebration as pandemic continues

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The mayor of Rio de Janeiro canceled New Year’s Eve celebrations after Brazil confirmed the first known cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant in Latin America’s biggest country. Eduardo Paes tweeted on Saturday that he would follow the recommendations of Rio de Janeiro…

Covid-19: Thousands march in Austria, Netherlands against coronavirus lockdown

VIENNA, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people marched through Vienna on Saturday to protest against restrictions on public life designed to curb the coronavirus pandemic. Faced with surging daily infections, the government last month made Austria the first country in Western Europe to reimpose a lockdown and said it…

Covid-19: Chile says detects first case of Omicron variant

SANTIAGO, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chilean health authorities reported on Saturday that they detected the first case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in a person who had arrived in the copper-producing South American country from Africa. The foreign patient residing in Chile arrived in the country on Nov…

Thousands block roads across Serbia in anti-government protest

Anti-government protesters wear masks during a protest in Belgrade, Serbia BELGRADE, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people blocked roads across Serbia in an anti-government protest against two new laws that environmentalists say will let foreign companies exploit local resources. Serbia’s government has offered mineral resources to companies including China’s…

US, West blast Taliban over reported ‘summary killings’ of ex-security forces

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States led a group of Western nations and allies in condemnation of the Taliban over the “summary killings” of former members of the Afghan security forces reported by rights groups, demanding quick investigations. “We are deeply concerned by reports of summary killings and enforced…

Covid-19: Finnish foreign minister tests positive

HELSINKI, Dec 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto has tested positive for COVID-19, the ministry said on Saturday evening. According to a press release, 63-year-old Haavisto has shown no symptoms and currently works in his residence. The Finnish government and parliament have been informed of Haavisto’s conditions, Paivi…

UN extends mandate for int’l forces fighting piracy off coast of Somalia

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations (UN) Security Council renewed for an additional three months its authorization for states and regional organizations cooperating with Somalia to use all necessary means to fight piracy off the coast of the East African country. Unanimously adopting Resolution 2608, the council…

Oxford High School shooting suspect’s parents arrested following manhunt

James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a teen accused of killing four students in a shooting at Oxford High School, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charges on Saturday OXFORD (Michigan, US), Dec 5 (NNN-XINHUA) — The parents of a 15-year-old suspect accused of killing four and injuring seven…