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…

Sudan, South Sudan agree to extend oil deal until March 2022

One of the main oil refineries in Al-Geili, some 100 kms north of the Sudanese capital Khartoum KHARTOUM, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Sudan and South Sudan on Monday signed an agreement to extend an oil deal and related economic arrangements until March 2022, official SUNA news agency reported. The agreement,…

UN voices concern over civilian safety in Syria’s Idlib

A completely destroyed unit of the Orient Hospital after airstrikes hit residential areas of Idlib UNITED NATIONS, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations remains deeply concerned about the safety and protection of more than 3 million civilians in Idlib in northwest Syria, said a UN spokesman. Over half of…

UN official condemns attacks on premises of international humanitarian agencies in Yemen

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock condemned the attacks over the weekend on the premises of three international humanitarian organizations in Yemen. The attacks by unknown individuals in the early hours of Saturday and Sunday in Al Dhale in southwest Yemen represent an…

Palestinian president conveys message of peace to world ahead of Christmas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas addresses the United Nations General Assembly. RAMALLAH, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday conveyed a message of peace to the world ahead of Christmas, official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported. “Despite the suffering, injustice and oppression because of the Israeli military occupation…