Syria: 25 killed in ambush in eastern desert region

DAMASCUS, Jan 1 (NNN-XINHUA) — At least 25 people were killed when armed men attacked a passenger bus in the desert area in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported. The “terrorist” attack targeted the bus on the Palmyra-Deir al-Zour road in the area of Kabajebon Wednesday, said SANA, adding…

US imposes new tariffs on French, German products in Airbus-Boeing spat

WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States announced that it will impose additional tariffs on French and German products as part of a long-running dispute over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. The tariffs are on “aircraft manufacturing parts from France and Germany, certain non-sparkling wine from France…

Brexit sparks fears of disrupted food, drug supplies in UK

LONDON, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Despite the free trade deal signed by London and Brussels, suppliers of food and medicine fear the rapidly introduced changes will disrupt supplies and increase costs, undercutting government claims of a post-Brexit dividend. While Boris Johnson had promised an “oven-ready” deal a year ago, the…

World begins ushering in locked-down New Year

SYDNEY, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The world began ushering in the New Year Thursday, with pandemic controls muting celebrations for billions of people eager to bid farewell to a virus-ridden 2020. After a grinding year that has seen at least 1.7 million people die from Covid-19, fresh waves of infection…

Covid-19: Algerian President Tebboune returns after treatment in Germany

ALGIERS, Dec 30 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune returned Tuesday after a two-month stay in Germany, where he was treated with Covid-19, ending a long period of uncertainty in a country facing a health, political and economic crisis. Tebboune landed 6 pm local time in Algiers and was met…

Cuban migrants protest at Mexico border, seeking entry to US

CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of Cubans protested at the US border in the northern Mexican city of Ciudad Juarez on Tuesday night, demanding they be allowed to cross and claim asylum in the United States. US authorities, including police in anti-riot gear, closed off the bridge…

Migrants wait in the cold to be bussed from burnt Bosnia camp

A migrant rests in a temporary shelter at migrant center “Lipa” during freezing temperatures in Bihac SARAJEVO, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of migrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East waited in the cold on Tuesday to be bussed out of a burned camp about to be dismantled in…

Storm brings heavy snow, closes Nebraska COVID-19 testing sites

A cyclist walks his bike across Bever Avenue SE as snow falls in southeast Cedar Rapids, Iowa DES MOINES (Iowa, US). Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A strong winter storm made its way across the Upper Midwest on Tuesday, creating treacherous travel conditions, spurring warnings urging people to stay off the…

Covid-19: Biden says Trump’s vaccine roll out ‘falling far behind’ as first Congress member dies of covid

WILMINGTON (Delaware, US), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden vowed a relentless effort to fight COVID-19 the moment he takes office, as he warned that Donald Trump’s vaccination drive was falling dangerously short. Speaking after a briefing by experts, Biden promised that as president he will undertake the “greatest…

Covid-19: Brazilian vice president recovering well after being diagnosed with covid

Vice President Hamilton Mourão BRASILIA, Dec 30 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil’s Vice President Hamilton Mourao is recovering well after being diagnosed with COVID-19, his press office said. “The Vice President of the Republic Hamilton Mourao is in good health. He has no fever, only minor body aches, and is recovering well,”…