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…

Middle East: US considering troop boost to counter Iran

WASHINGTON, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States said it wasconsidering deploying fresh forces in the Middle East to counter Iran, with an official saying some 5,000 to 7,000 troops could head to the region. Testifying before Congress, John Rood, the under secretary of defense forpolicy, said that the United…

180 more Daesh militants surrender in Afghanistan province

KABUL, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Over 600 Daesh militants, including Pakistanis, Central Asians and Iranians, surrendered over the past two weeks in Afghanistan, said the country’s Defense Ministry.  Days after Afghan officials announced clearing the long-held bastions of Daesh in the country’s east, along the disputed Durand Line border with Pakistan,…

OPEC and allies prepare to deepen oil output cuts

VIENNA, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — OPEC and its allies led by Russia on Thursday were moving closer to agreeing one of the deepest output cuts this decade to support crude prices and prevent a glut, sources from OPEC and its allied producers said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries…

Chile’s lower house passes “anti-looting, anti-roadblock” bill

SANTIAGO, Dec 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — Chile’s Chamber of Deputies has approved a bill aimed at stamping out violent protests such as looting and roadblocking. The bill makes it a crime to paralyze or disrupt basic services such as public or emergency transportation, hurl “sharp or cutting” objects such as knives,…

Nigerian minister pushes for tougher penalties on sexual abusers

LAGOS, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigeria’s Women Affairs Minister Pauline Tallen called for stricter penalties for sexual offenders with an aim to curb rape and all forms of abuse against women and children. She made the appeal a week after the country’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in…

South African cash-strapped national carrier placed under business rescue

CAPE TOWN, Dec 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — South African Airways (SAA) announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a resolution to place the company into business rescue at the earliest opportunity. As previously announced, the SAA Board of Directors and the Executive Committee have been in consultations with the shareholder,…

Iran protests: State TV acknowledges deaths during unrest

A minister said 731 banks and 70 petrol stations were set ablaze during the unrest TEHRAN, Dec 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iranian state TV has said security forces killed what it called “thugs and rioters” during last month’s mass protests against a petrol price rise. Activists have accused the authorities of deliberately…