US accuses Venezuela of bribes to rig opposition vote

US Special Representative for Venezuela Elliott Abrams (right) and Charge d’Affaires for Venezuela James Story WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States on Friday promised further sanctions to pressure Venezuela’s leader Nicolas Maduro, accusing him of bribing lawmakers to block the re-election of his opponent Juan Guaido. The National…

US removes Sudan from religious freedom blacklist

A Sudanese Christian woman prays during a Sunday service at the All Saints Cathedral in Khartoum WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States lifted fast-changing Sudan from a blacklist for religious freedom violations as it issued warnings to Nigeria, Cuba and Nicaragua. Sudan was the only nation removed from…

US won’t levy threatened tariffs on Brazil steel, Pres Trump told Pres Bolsonaro

BRASILIA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said that US President Donald Trump told him in a Friday phone conversation that his administration will not levy new tariffs on Brazilian steel and aluminium as threatened earlier this month. “I had a phone conversation a few moments ago with Donald…

US Pres Trump says had ‘very good talk’ with China’s Pres Xi on trade deal

US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping WASHINGTON/BEIJING, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said he’d had a “very good talk” with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on a partial resolution of the countries’ huge trade war. Trump tweeted that China “already started large scale”…

Eyeing combat in outer space, US creates Pentagon Space Force

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Gen. Jay Raymond, after signing the letter of his appointment as the chief of space operations for U.S. Space Command WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump signed l egislation Friday to create a full-fledged Pentagon force for combat in outer space – the first…

At the US-Mexican border, migrants give up hope of crossing

CIUDAD JUAREZ (Mexico), Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — In a muddy makeshift camp in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, more than 1,000 migrants had waited for weeks for a chance to request asylum in the United States, enduring cold nights and long days of uncertainty. Frustrated, many are giving…

US crew spacecraft Starliner starts unmanned flight test

WASHINGTON, Dec 21 (NNN-XINHUA) — A US spacecraft designed to fly astronauts to the International Space Station from the United States was launched on Friday morning for its maiden unmanned flight. Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft lifted off on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 6:36 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time…

Ethiopia aims to cut sugar tax ahead of privatization plan

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ethiopia plans to cut an excise tax on sugar to 20% from 33%, according to a draft law in parliament, proposing the move ahead of plans to privatize the sugar industry as part of a government drive to open up the economy. A trader…

First Ebola relapse recorded in DR Congo outbreak, WHO says

A Congolese health worker administers ebola vaccination to a resident at a centre in Goma, DR Congo GENEVA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Health officials in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have documented the first relapse in the current Ebola epidemic, the World Health Organization said. The Ebola outbreak in…

Eskom crisis: Arrests over $50m South Africa power station ‘fraud’

 PRETORIA, Dec 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two former managers at Eskom, South Africa’s ailing power firm, have been arrested for alleged corruption and fraud worth 745m rand. Prosecutors said an investigation had revealed “gross manipulation” of contracts related to the construction of two new large power stations. Two business directors and seven…