14 missing in deadly Ukraine fire: President

KIEV, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fourteen people remain missing from a fire that claimed a student’s life in Ukraine’s southern port city of Odessa, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. The fire broke out in a college building in central Odessa on Wednesday, killing a 16-year-old female student and injuring 27 others. The…

Australia: ‘Mega fire’ forms north of Sydney

Officials have issued fresh warnings for blazes around Sydney SYDNEY, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Several Australian bushfires have combined to form a “mega fire” that is burning out of control across a swathe of land north of Sydney, authorities said Friday, warning they cannot contain the blaze. New South Wales Rural Fire…

US vaping-related deaths rise to 48, cases of illness to 2,291

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US health officials on Thursday reported one new case and one more death from a respiratory illness tied to vaping, taking the total death toll to 48. As of Dec 4, 2019, there were 2,291 cases of hospitalised cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and…

Brazil’s Bolsonaro urges Mercosur to push on with reforms

BENTO GONCALVES (Brazil), Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro urged South America’s four-nation trade bloc Mercosur to push ahead with reforms “without accepting ideological setbacks,” in a swipe at Argentina’s incoming leftist government. Far-right Bolsonaro made the remarks at the start of a meeting with leaders from Argentina,…

In rare legal test, Myanmar faces genocide hearings at The Hague

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) THE HAGUE, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will head a team of lawyers to hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague next week to defend the country against accusations of genocide against the Rohingya Muslims.…

Iraq: 2 mortar rounds hit air base housing US troops

BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Two mortar rounds hit an air base that houses U.S. troops in Iraq’s central province of Salahudin, a provincial police source said. The incident took place on Thursday evening when the two mortar rounds landed in Balad air base, some 80 km north of the…

Iranian top commander says Iran self-sufficient in producing military hardware

Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chief of Staff of Iran Armed Forces Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said that the Islamic republic has achieved self-sufficiency in building military equipment needed to defend the country. Iran is becoming less dependent on foreigners in producing defense-related hardware thanks to…

Delay in USMCA not to impact Mexican economy: finance minister

MEXICO CITY, Dec 6 (NNN-Xinhua) — A delay in the ratification of a revised North American free trade agreement will not have any impact on Mexico’s 2020 trade outlook, Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) has been approved by Mexico’s Congress, but needs to be ratified…

US Sec of State Pompeo brings Iran pressure campaign to Morocco

RABAT, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States and Morocco discussedefforts to isolate Iran, officials said Thursday, as Secretary of State MikePompeo paid a visit to the kingdom. Pompeo had been due to have an audience with King Mohammed VI but themeeting was dropped, apparently after the top US diplomat…

Mexico: 23 kidnapped from rehab clinic

IRAPUATO (Mexico), Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen kidnapped 23 people from a rehabilitation clinic for drug addicts in central Mexico, later freeing 13 of them, some with injuries, officials said. Witnesses said the large group of gunmen arrived at the rehab clinic inIrapuato, in the state of Guanajuato, in several…