US: Pres Trump says he wants “immediate” impeachment trial

US President Donald Trump  WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — U.S. President Donald Trump said he wanted “an immediate trial” in the Senate, after the House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to pass two articles of impeachment against him. “So after the Democrats gave me no Due Process in the House,…

US slaps sanctions on drug trafficking group in Guatemala

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The US Treasury said Thursday that it has blacklisted a Guatemalan mayor and a drug trafficking organization related to him. The blacklisted mayor, Erik Salvador Suniga Rodriguez, and his drug trafficking organization have been identified as significant foreign narcotics traffickers, said the Treasury in a…

Brazil registers over 13,000 cases of measles in 2019

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil registered 13,489 confirmed cases of measles from January to late November of this year, the country’s Ministry of Health announced. The country had two outbreaks in 2019: one early in the year, concentrated in the northern part of the country, and another…

Israeli warplanes strike Gaza in response to rocket attack: sources

GAZA, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Israeli warplanes struck the Gaza Strip on Thursday evening after a rocket was launched from the coastal enclave into southern Israel, Palestinian security sources said. The sources said that the airstrike targeted training sites that belong to Palestinian factions in northern and southern Gaza, with…

Iraqi leaders meet with US senior official over bilateral ties, political situation

BAGHDAD, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Iraqi leaders on Thursday held meetings with visiting US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale over bilateral relations and the political situation in Iraq. During a meeting between Iraqi President Barham Salih and Hale at the presidential palace in the capital Baghdad,…

First British flight arrives in Egyptian resort city after 4-year ban

Sharm El Sheik: Flights to the region have resumed following the 2015 Russian aviation disaster  CAIRO, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh on Thursday received the first British flight, after Britain lifted a four-year ban on flights to the Red Sea resort, Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry announced. The ministry…

Thousands protest against appointment of new Lebanese PM

BEIRUT, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — Thousands of demonstrators on Thursday evening protested against the appointment of Hassan Diab as Lebanese prime minister, the National News Agency reported. Protesters blocked roads in Beirut, Akkar, Sidon, Nehme, Tripoli and other regions, burning tires and clashing with security forces. People in some of…

US, India sign defense cooperation agreements

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (2nd R), U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (1st R), Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (2nd L), and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh (1st L) WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States and India have signed two Defense Technology and Trade Initiative…

Brexit priority for UK government, Queen tells Parliament

LONDON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Queen Elizabeth II announced Thursday that Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU) will be a priority for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government. The British monarch, at the State Opening of Parliament, announced new bills and measures planned by Johnson’s government after the Conservatives…

Hong Kong protesters seek international support on rights

HONG KONG, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hong Kong protesters rallied outside diplomatic missions on Thursday to urge foreign governments to follow the United States and pass human rights bills to raise pressure on Beijing and support their pro-democracy campaign. U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation last month requiring the State…