UN Security Council condemns drone attacks on UN peacekeepers in Sudan

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — The UN Security Council strongly condemned last week’s drone attacks against a UN logistics base in Sudan, which killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers and injured nine others. In a press statement, members of the Security Council expressed deep condolences to the families of the fallen…

Italian police arrest 384, seize 1.5 tons of drugs in nationwide crackdown

ROME, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italian police said on Saturday they had arrested 384 people and seized 1.4 tonnes (1.54 tons) of drugs in a large-scale operation against drug trafficking.In addition to the arrests, officers had put under investigation 655 individuals, including 39 minors, and confiscated 35 kilograms of cocaine…

UNSC condemns Rwanda, M23 rebels for offensive in eastern DR Congo

M23 rebels have seized control of key cities in the eastern DRC, despite a US-brokered peace deal UNITED NATIONS, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned Rwanda for backing a rebel offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and urged it to withdraw its…

US gun violence: 3 police officers injured after being shot ‘at close range’; suspect shot dead

NEW YORK, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities say a suspect was fatally shot by police after he opened fire on three police officers and another victim in Rochester, New York. The shooting happened as police responded to a domestic incident late Friday, Dec. 19. The officers and other victim faced…

US seizes second oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast

WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has seized an oil tanker that had recently departed from Venezuela, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. It is the second time this month that the US has seized an oil-carrying ship off the country’s coast. The move comes after US…

Sudan PM heads to New York for UN talks: govt sources

Sudan’s PM Kamil Idris PORT SUDAN (Sudan), Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudan’s Prime Minister Kamil Idris left for New York Saturday to meet the UN chief and other officials and discuss humanitarian access and a possible ceasefire, two government sources said. The trip comes as fighting between Sudan’s army and…

Armed conflict in Venezuela would be ‘humanitarian catastrophe’: Brazilian Pres Lula

FOZ DO IGUA€U (Brazil), Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Saturday that US military action in Venezuela would spark a “humanitarian catastrophe,” as he opened a summit of the South American Mercosur bloc. Lula’s comments come amid spiraling tensions between Washington and Caracas —…

Mexico: A pilot in Mexico City refuses to take off over unpaid wages – reports

MEXICO CITY, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A pilot refused to take off and barricaded himself in the cockpit of a plane in Mexico City on Friday, staging what he said was a protest over unpaid wages, local media reported. “This plane isn’t leaving until they pay us what they owe…

Superflu makes it to Argentina and Brazil

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 20 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Health authorities across South America are on high alert following the confirmed detection of the Influenza A (H3N2) “K subclade” in Argentina and Brazil. The variant, which has already triggered emergency protocols in Chile and Bolivia, is characterized by genetic mutations that may increase…

Honduras on edge as vote count drags into third week

TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a warehouse the size of two basketball courts, hundreds of electoral staff and political delegates on Friday pored over thousands of votes cast nearly three weeks ago in the presidential election in Honduras, where tensions are sky-high. The manual recount of nearly 2,800 tally…