North Korea ends test moratoriums, threatens ‘new’ weapon

SEOUL, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has declared an end to moratoriums on nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile tests and threatened a demonstration of a “new strategic weapon” soon. Analysts said the announcement, reported by state media, amounted to Kim putting a missile “to Donald…

Indonesia New Year flood death toll doubles to 18: official

JAKARTA, Jan 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from floods that hit Indonesia’s capital region jumped to 18, authorities said, as torrential rains on New Year’s Eve caused landslides and left vast swathes of the megalopolis submerged. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters, and the…

Greece says eight abducted as tanker stormed off Cameroon

ATHENS, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight people were abducted and one person injured during an armed raid overnight on a Greek-registered tanker anchored off Cameroon, Greek authorities said. Greece’s shipping ministry said the ‘Happy Lady’ tanker was two nautical miles off the port of Limboh in Cameroon when it was…

Slovakia: Middleman gets 15 years for journalist’s murder

A woman kneels by a memorial on the first anniversary of the murder of investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova in Bratislava, Slovakia BRATISLAVA, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An intermediary in the 2018 double murder of a Slovak investigative journalist and his fiancee has been sentenced to…

French tourist injured in Seychelles shark attack

VICTORIA (Seychelles), Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A French tourist was seriously injured after being attacked by a shark while swimming in the Seychelles, a popular tourist destination, the French ambassador said. The attack on the 45-year-old woman took place Sunday night off the island of Praslin, the second-largest in the…

Cuban president tours refurbished Havana facilities

HAVANA, Dec 31 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel toured newly inaugurated works in the capital, where the construction and rehabilitation program continues after celebrating the 500th anniversary of its foundation. President Diaz-Canel begins a tour of works in the capital at the Marcelo Salado Recreational Complex, nestled in…

Brazil: Rio expects 3 million people to attend New Year celebration

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — Rio de Janeiro expects 3 million people to attend a grand celebration including a fireworks show and music concerts on New Year’s Eve, local media reported. The New Year celebration on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro is among the most famous ones…

US: 1 killed in shooting in state of Tennessee

NASHVILLE (Tennessee, US), Dec 31 (NNN-Xinhua) — A young African American man was killed in a shooting incident in Nashville, capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S. media reported, citing local police. Police identified the victim as 22-year-old Montae Gray. Local media reported that when police arrived, they found…

US says Iraq failed to ‘protect’ Americans: State Dept

WASHINGTON, Dept 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US accused Iraqi authorities of having failed to “protect” American interests, the day after deadly American air strikes against a pro-Iran group sparked anger.At least 25 fighters were killed in Sunday night’s attacks, which were in retaliation for the death last week of a US…

Russia, Ukraine sign gas transit deal ahead of deadline

KIEV, Dec 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian and Ukrainian gas companies have reached a deal to ensure the flow of Russian natural gas through Ukraine to Europe for the next five years, the two sides said.Ukraine is set to collect more than €6.25 billion in gas transit fees by 2024 under…