US trade negotiator hails ‘remarkable’ deal with China

Robert Lighthizer (centre) chats with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, looking on WASHINGTON, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US-China trade deal is “remarkable” in scope but it won’t solve all the problems between the world’s two biggest economies, the top US negotiator said. “This is…

General election 2019: PM Johnson to welcome new MPs to Westminster

Prime Minister Boris Johnson LONDON, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address his new intake of Conservative MPs as they arrive in Westminster to take their seats in Parliament.Many of the 109 new MPs won in areas traditionally held by Labour in Thursday’s election, which saw the…

Botswana bans hunters after killing of research elephant

Botswana’s government has revoked the licences of two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and then destroyed its collar that gave it protected status GABERONE, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Botswana’s government has revoked the licences of two professional hunters who shot dead a research elephant and then destroyed…

West African leaders meet over Niger Army Base attack

Niger President Mahamadou Issoufou received the bodies of the dead soldiers on Friday  NIAMEY, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Leaders from west African countries fighting the jihadist insurgency in the Sahel have held a short prayer service in Niger beside the graves of 71 soldiers who were killed last week during an attack on…

Brazil: Bodies of 7 men found in vehicle in Rio

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — Authorities found the bodies of seven men inside a vehicle in southern Rio de Janeiro state early Sunday, the Military Police said. The victims were discovered in the town of Angra dos Reis, in a vehicle parked outside the local Fire Department. Authorities…

Argentina: New government hikes export taxes on disgruntled farmers

People grab lettuce during a farmers’ protest against low prices outside the Casa Rosada BUENOS AIRES, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES0 – Argentina’s new government has hiked export levies on soy, wheat and corn, according to an official decree, hitting farmers in the grains exporting nation to raise the revenue needed to…

Albania earthquake: Arrests over deaths in collapsed buildings

Several buildings collapsed in the coastal city of Durres TIRANA, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine people have been arrested in Albania on suspicion of murder and abuse of power over the collapse of buildings in last month’s earthquake.Two of those arrested on murder charges owned hotels that collapsed in the…

Kenya: Newly married couple commits suicide over wedding debt; blame guests for coming without gifts

In a letter, they blamed those who attended their wedding without gifts NAIROBI, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two Kenyan families in Kisumu are mourning their two children who together committed suicide 4 days after their beautiful wedding. According to Sources, the newly married couples allegedly killed themselves because of the…

Two dead, tens of thousands of homes without power as storms hit France

PARIS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two pensioners have beenkilled and tens of thousand of homes left without electricity as gale forcewinds and flooding hit southwestern France over the weekend. Eleven departments remained on orange alert weather warnings. A 70-year-old man died in the Pyrenees-Atlantique in the Basque Country on Friday…

French transport strikes enter third week with slight improvement in Monday services

Eight Metro lines remain closed PARIS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French transport strikes enter their third week, Paris residents and train passengers will see some improvement after a badly disrupted weekend. The mass transport strikes over pension reform show no sign of being speedily resolved, and instead discussions have moved…