US, North Korea talks ‘more important than anything’, South Korea tells China

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (left) shaking hands with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of their meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing BEIJING, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — It is “more important than anything” to keep up the momentum for talks between the United States and…

China hands over modern eye surgery equipment to Zambia

LUSAKA, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) — China handed over modern eye surgery equipment to a Zambian hospital aimed at improving eye surgery in the southern African nation. The equipment was donated to the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital under the “Bright Journey” program being conducted by Chinese doctors who have been…

Somalia’s militant group Al-shabaab torch four tractors at construction site in northern Kenya

NAIROBI, Dec 24 (NNN-XINHUA) — Somalia based al-Shabaab militants raided a construction site in Kenya’s northern county of Mandera and burnt down four construction equipment. The equipment that was destroyed at a construction site near Kenyan border with Somalia, included an excavator, flat roller machine, shift foot roller and a…

Mayor says landslides kill at least 15 in Burundi’s capital

BUJUMBURA, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The mayor of Burundi’s capital says at least 15 people have been killed by landslides caused by heavy rains over the weekend. Bujumbura Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa said another 30 people were injured and dozens of homes were damaged or destroyed in the landslides earlier in…

US: Boeing chief fired in bid to restore confidence following two air crashes

WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Boeing has fired its chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, in a bid to restore confidence in the firm after two deadly crashes involving its 737 Max plane. More than 340 people died in the disasters, prompting accusations that Boeing put profit before safety. Families of the victims welcomed Muilenberg’s…

Algeria: Military chief Ahmed Gaid Salah dies

 ALGIERS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Algerian strongman military chief Ahmed Gaid Salah, known for telling veteran leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign, has died aged 79, official media say. One of the last veterans of the 1954-62 independence war against France still in power, Gen Salah, head of the army since 2004, died of…

Russia: Pres Putin launched new Crimea rail link condemned by EU, Ukraine

The direct train service is due to take 43 hours and 30 minutes KERCH (Crimea), Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) —President Vladimir Putin has heralded the opening of a railway bridge to the Russian-annexed Crimea peninsula by posing in the driver’s cab and praising construction workers. But the opening of the railway was…

Argentina appoints team for talks with creditors to renegotiate massive sovereign debt

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina appointed a government team to kick off talks with creditors to renegotiate about US$100 billion in sovereign debt as the new center-left administration of President Alberto Fernandez postponed payments on some of its short-term debt. The “external debt sustainability management unit” was created…

US: 3 dead, 7 injured in 4 shootings in city of Baltimore

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Three people died and another seven people were injured in four separate shootings in Baltimore, the U.S. state of Maryland, over the weekend, local media reported. One of the shootings happened at 1:45 ET (0645 GMT) on Sunday and involved two unidentified suspects — one…

China congratulates new Cuban prime minister

BEIJING, Dec 23 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang congratulated his newly elected Cuban counterpart, Manuel Marrero, on Sunday and proposed to take advantage of the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations to strengthen them and give greater impetus to cooperation efforts. In his congratulatory message, the Chinese leader…