Chicken pox outbreak forces migrant shelter to shutter in northern Mexico

Mexican officials turned an empty factory in Ciudad Juárez into a temporary shelter to hold migrants who have been arriving in large numbers to the border city across from El Paso CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico), Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An outbreak of chicken pox has forced the temporary closure of a…

Uruguay seizes record haul of cocaine

MONTEVIDEO, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uruguayan authorities seized a record haul of 4.4 tonnes of cocaine at the port of Montevideo in what the navy described as “the biggest blow to drug trafficking in the country’s history.” In a joint operation between the navy and customs, four soy flour containers packed…

Union boss defiant as record French strike enters fourth week

PARIS, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The head of a hardline French trade union vowed to press on with a crippling strike that has cast a shadow over Christmas celebrations, with the stoppages entering a fourth week and becoming the longest-lasting such action since the 1980s. The strike against pension reforms championed…

Russia challenges WADA doping ban

Russia has been banned from all sporting events for the next four years, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and 2022 FIFA World Cup MOSCOW, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia on Friday formally contested a four-year ban from major sporting events over doping violations that President Vladimir Putin has condemned as “unjust”, the…

UN backs Russia on internet convention, alarming rights advocates

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations approved a Russian-led bid that aims to create a new convention on cybercrime, alarming rights groups and Western powers that fear a bid to restrict online freedom. The General Assembly approved the resolution sponsored by Russia and backed by China, which…

Russia says first hypersonic missiles enter service

Vladimir Putin (5L) visited Moscow’s national defence control centre to oversee the test launch of the Avangard hypersonic missile on Thursday MOSCOW, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s defence minister told President Vladimir Putin the first Avangard hypersonic missiles had been put into service, in a move hailed as a major coup…

Morocco jails one man, detains another over criticism of authorities on social media

RABAT, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Morocco sentenced a man to four years in prison on charges he insulted the king on YouTube, and authorities arrested a rights activist who on Twitter criticized long jail terms for protesters seeking social justice. Mohamed Sekkaki, who has a popular following on YouTube, shared…

Tunisia’s presidency denies alliance with any party in Libya as Egypt warns against any foreign intervention

TUNIS/CAIRO, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Tunisian presidency denied that the North African country is involved in any alliance with any party in Libya. “Tunisia will not accept to be a member of any alliance,” the presidential statement said. “The head of state is determined to preserve Tunisia’s sovereignty, independence…

Ethiopia, Eritrea eye socio-economic integration amid rapprochement of ties

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — The Ethiopian and Eritrean leaders vowed to cement recent gains in the rapprochement of bilateral ties as the two former arch-rivals seek to deepen socio-economic integration. This came as the visiting Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki arrived in Ethiopia, accompanied by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy…

Avalanches hit Austrian, Swiss ski resorts, at least two injured

VIENNA, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescuers hunted for possible victims of three avalanches that hit the Austrian ski resort of Ankogel and one at the Swiss resort of Andermatt on Thursday, injuring at least two people. After a large avalanche spilled onto the piste at Andermatt, two people were pulled from…