US: 3 dead, 7 injured in 4 shootings in city of Baltimore

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Three people died and another seven people were injured in four separate shootings in Baltimore, the U.S. state of Maryland, over the weekend, local media reported. One of the shootings happened at 1:45 ET (0645 GMT) on Sunday and involved two unidentified suspects — one…

China congratulates new Cuban prime minister

BEIJING, Dec 23 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang congratulated his newly elected Cuban counterpart, Manuel Marrero, on Sunday and proposed to take advantage of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations to strengthen them and give greater impetus to cooperation efforts. In his congratulatory message, the Chinese leader…

German cabin crew union threatens Lufthansa strikes after ‘failed’ talks

A Lufthansa Airbus A380-800 aircraft BERLIN, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — German cabin crew union UFO said arbitration talks with Lufthansa had failed and its members could stage strikes any time from now on, though they would spare passengers industrial action on Dec 24, 25 and 26. In addition to a dispute…

Update: Ecuador says Galapagos fuel spill ‘under control’

QUITO, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador officials announced that a fuel spill in the Galapagos Islands, caused when a barge sank carrying 600 gallons of diesel fuel, was “under control”. Authorities had activated emergency protocols earlier Sunday to contain the environmental impact of the spill in the Galapagos archipelago, a…

US Pres Trump says Phase One trade deal with China to be signed ‘very shortly’

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump said the United States and China would “very shortly” sign their so-called Phase One trade pact. “We just achieved a breakthrough on the trade deal and we will be signing it very shortly,” Trump said at a Turning Point USA event in…

Ecuador declares emergency after Galapagos fuel spill

QUITO, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador activated emergency protocolsSunday to contain the environmental impact of a fuel spill in the GalapagosIslands, after a barge carrying 600 gallons of diesel fuel sank, officialssaid. The Galapagos archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to one of the most fragile ecosystems on…

Venezuelan soldier dies in attack: government

CARACAS, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Venezuelan soldier died Sunday during an assault on a military unit in the south of the country, the government said, blaming the attack on Brazil-backed political foes. “Early today, a military unit was attacked in the south of the country byextremist opposition factions, with…

Another 18 prisoners dead in new Honduras jail clash: military

60 TEGUCIGALPA, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eighteen people were killed inSunday afternoon clashes between prisoners at a jail in central Honduras,less than two days after another 18 died in violence at a separate facility,a military spokesman told local media. The spokesman for the combined national security force known as Fusinareleased…

DR Congo most displacement-affected country in Africa: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — With more than five million displaced people, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the African country most affected by internal displacement, according to the UN. The displacement is mainly due to violence, and the country is home to some 517,000 refugees from…

Bolivia: MAS party, founded by ousted Pres Morales, leads pre-election poll

LA PAZ, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Andronico Rodriguez, leader of Bolivia’s Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) party, led a pre-election poll released on Sunday. According to a survey by pollster Mercados y Muestras on the country’s news website Pagina Siete, the party founded by Evo Morales came out ahead with 23…