French transport strike casts pall on Christmas

Striking workers demonstrated at the Gare de Lyon train station in Paris against the govenrment’s proposed pension overhaul PARIS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French train and metro drivers took their crippling transport strike into its 19th straight day on Monday in a standoff with the government over pension reform, casting a…

US: 69-vehicle chain collision leaves 51 people injured

YORK COUNTY (Virginia, US), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A chain collision involving 69 vehicles in the United States left 51 people injured, some seriously. The accident happened just before 8am on Sunday on Interstate 64 in York County and, for a time, shut down traffic in both directions, Virginia State…

Saudi Arabia: Khashoggi’s son welcomes court verdict over father’s murder

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met relatives of Jamal Khashoggi in Riyadh weeks after the journalist’s murder in October 2018 RIYADH, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The son of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi welcomed a court verdict on Monday that saw five people sentenced to death over the killing,…

Update: China hosts Japan, South Korea with eyes on nuclear North

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (centre) flanked by Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (right) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, posing before the trilateral meeting in Chengdu CHENGDU (China), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — China hosts the leaders of squabbling neighbours South Korea and Japan on Tuesday, flexing its diplomatic muscle with…

Update: At least 24 dead in Indonesia bus plunge

PALEMBANG (Indonesia), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least two dozen people died and 13 others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in Indonesia, police said. The bus carrying dozens of passengers careered into a 150-metre ravine in South Sumatra province just before midnight on Monday and ended…

PM Johnson urges Britons ‘not to argue’ in Christmas message

LONDON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged the public “not to have too many arguments” over Christmas in a festive message in which he managed to avoid the word Brexit. “Hi folks, Boris Johnson here, taking a moment to wish you all a merry little Christmas,”…

Fijians urged to prepare for cyclone Winston after Christmas

Tracking map for Tropical cyclone Winston  SUVA, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has urged Fijians to stay alert in this festive season and focus on disaster preparedness as a tropical cyclone is anticipated to develop and affect Fiji after Christmas. NDMO said the Divisional Emergency…

Lebanese hotels suffer heavy losses during Christmas amid nationwide protests

 Protesters flee tear gas in clashes with security forces in Beirut BEIRUT, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Lebanon’s hotels are suffering heavy losses because of the absence of tourists during the festive season of Christmas and New Year amid protests. Most of the hotels in the capital Beirut and other areas…

Libyan tribal council seeks Tunisian president help to resolve Libyan crisis

Kais Saied, Tunisia’s new president TUNIS, Dec 24 (NNN-TAP) — President Kais Saied met, on Monday at the Carthage Palace, with representatives of the Libyan Cities and Tribes Supreme Council “to explore possibilities for finding an initiative to end the crisis,” said a statement from the Presidency. The meeting was…

Chile’s president paves way for poll on changing Constitution in wake of unrest

After a month of protests and unrest in Chile, the government agreed to hold a referendum in April 2020, allowing voters to decide if a new constitution is needed SANTIAGO, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera enacted a law that calls for an April 26 plebiscite on whether…