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…

At least 24 dead in Indonesia bus plunge

PALEMBANG, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — AAt 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-meter ravine in South Sumatra province just before midnight on Monday and ended up…

Uzbekistan announces preliminary results in parliamentary elections

Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan TASHKENT, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — In Sunday’s vote, 128 deputies of the 150-seat lower house of the Uzbek parliament were elected and the second round of the elections will be held in two weeks, the Central Election Commission (CEC) said.…

8 die from H1N1 flu in Yemen’s capital

A Yemeni patient infected with H1N1 flu receives treatment in an isolation room at a hospital in Sanaa, Yemen SANAA, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Yemeni public health authorities said in a statement that eight Yemenis died from the H1N1 flu in Sanaa in the past weeks, a local media…

DR Congo: Ex premier calls for war on Rwanda to end militia violence

KINSHASA, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former DR Congo prime minister and opposition leader called for the government to wage war on neighbouring Rwanda as a way to end militia violence. The Democratic Republic of Congo was at the heart of two bitter regional wars between 1997-2003 involving its neighbours…

New Zealand police suspend volcano body search

WELLINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Zealand police on Tuesday called off the search for two people missing after the White Island volcanic eruption. There were 47 people, mainly Australian tourists, on the island when it erupted on Dec 9, and 25 remain in hospital. Many are still in a…

US: House speaker not ready to name team for Pres Trump Senate trial

Nancy Pelosi WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — House speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she is not yet ready to name her team for President Donald Trump’s trial in the US Senate on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.“The House cannot choose our impeachment managers until we know…

Tens of thousands flee as Syrian forces continue Idlib advance

Some 200,000 people fled their homes since Nov 1, when Russian and Syrian jets stepped up attacks in the region IDLIB (Syria), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Tens of thousands of civilians have fled parts of Syria’s northern Idlib province towards the border with Turkey as Russian-backed Syrian forces gain ground…

Daesh in Iraq: Militants ‘getting stronger again’

Daesh was uprooted after a long fight in Iraq, but it was never completely defeated BAGHDAD, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — There are growing indications that the Daesh group is re-organising in Iraq, two years after losing the last of its territory in the country. Kurdish and Western intelligence officials said…