US: Winter storm hits Northeast region, snarls thousands of flights; Rare tornado warning issued for California

NEW YORK, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — A strong winter storm slammed across the US Northeast and Great Lakes regions from Friday evening to Saturday, dumping snow, crippling holiday travel and leaving tens of thousands out of power. As of 2 pm Eastern Time on Saturday, more than 5,580 flights within,…

Libya honours late army chief as bodies repatriated from Türkiye

TRIPOLI, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Libya held official ceremonies on Saturday to receive the bodies of its late army chief of staff Mohammed al-Haddad and his companions, who were killed in a plane crash in Türkiye earlier this week. The remains were flown to Tripoli International Airport, where they were…

Guatemala: At least 15 dead, 19 injured as bus plunges into ravine

Members of the Public Prosecutor’s Office work near the bodies of victims of a road accident at Cumbre de Alaska in Totonicapan GUATEMALA CITY, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 15 people have been killed and 19 injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine on the Inter-American Highway…

Brazil: 1 dead after ultralight aircraft crashes off Copacabana Beach; Highway accident kills 10 in northeast Bahia state

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) — At least one person was killed on Saturday after an ultralight aircraft pulling an advertising banner crashed into the sea off the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, local authorities said. According to the Fire Department, the small aircraft, a Cessna 170A…

Storm causes runway incidents at Finland’s Kittila Airport, no injuries

HELSINKI, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — A commercial aircraft carrying about 150 people slid off the runway while landing at Kittila Airport in Finland’s Lapland region on Saturday afternoon amid stormy weather, Finnish airport operator Finavia said. The aircraft came to a stop in deep snow, and no injuries were reported,…

US: New York state reports record flu surge: 71,000+ cases in one week

NEW YORK, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York State had 71,123 cases of flu last week. That’s the highest number of weekly cases since the state began keeping track in 2004. The New York State Health Department says cases rose 38% for the week ending Dec 20. There have now been…

UN Security Council to convene emergency meeting on Israel’s Somaliland recognition

Residents wave Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel’s recognition of Somaliland in Hargeisa UNITED NATIONS, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday to discuss Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, with members slated to condemn Jerusalem’s move. Israel announced the step on Friday,…

Somalia demands Israel withdraw Somaliland recognition

Israel’s Netanyahu made a video call to Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi to announce the recognition MOGADISHU, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Somalia has demanded Israel reverse its recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland, condemning the move as an act of “aggression that will never be tolerated”. Ali Omar, Somalia’s…

UK restricts DR Congo visas over migrant return policy

The home secretary announced an overhaul of the UK’s asylum rules in November LONDON, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UK is to impose visa restrictions against people arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo after its government failed to agree to measures allowing the return of illegal migrants and foreign…

Italy arrests nine over alleged Hamas funding through charities

ROME, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian prosecutors said they had arrested nine people on suspicion of financing Hamas through charities based in Italy, in an operation coordinated by anti-mafia and anti-terrorism units. The suspects are accused of “belonging to and having financed” the Palestinian group, which the European Union designates ‌as…