France: Eiffel Tower closes as staff go on strike

PARIS, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s prime tourist attractions, was closed after staff went on strike, the tower’s operator said. The strike on the 100th anniversary of the death of engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built the tower, was to protest about “the current way…

Six dead, tens of thousands hit by southern Thailand flooding

BANGKOK, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Floods in southern Thailand have killed at least six people and affected tens of thousands of households, authorities said. The floods, which began on Dec 22, have hit more than 70,000 homes across the provinces of Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat, regional officials said. Six people…

Russia says redirected most oil exports to China, India

MOSCOW, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia has redirected its oil exports from Europe to China and India, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, almost two years after Moscow was hit by Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. After President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, Western countries…

Singapore crosses record 3 billion gross tonnage mark in ship arrivals

The arrival of container ship ONE OLYMPUS at Singapore’s Pasir Panjang Terminal on Dec 25, 2023, marked a record three billion gross tonnage in annual vessel arrival tonnage. SINGAPORE, Dec 28 (NNN-CNA) — Christmas came in more ways than one for the Port of Singapore, as it crossed a landmark…

Seven dead after storms pound eastern Australia

SYDNEY, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescue crews were Wednesday searching for survivors after seven people died in heavy storms across Australia’s eastern seaboard, including a 40-year-old woman sucked into a stormwater drain. Thunderstorms and destructive winds have in recent days pounded the Australian states of Victoria and Queensland — capsizing…

Bangladesh: Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to be signed with Japan by Dec 2025, says Commerce Secretary

DHAKA, Dec 28 (NNN-BSS) — Bangladesh will complete the  signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with  Japan, the world’s 3rd largest economy, by December 2025 to strengthen bilateral economic relations alongside availing  duty-free market facilities to that country. “Both the countries are also committed to sign the EPA within …

Greek pilot killed in training accident: airforce

ATHENS, Dec 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Greek airforce pilot was killed Wednesday in a training aircraft accident near the southern city of Kalamata, officials said. His US-made T-2 Buckeye crashed near Kalamata airport on its return from a solo training flight, the airforce said in a statement. The two-seat Buckeyes…

Palestine-Israel conflict: Gaza deaths soar as Israel says war to last ‘many more months’

     GAZA STRIP, Palestinian Territories, Dec  28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Hamas-run Gaza Strip’s health ministry said the death toll from the war with Israel now tops 21,000, with a spokesman reporting 195 deaths over 24 hours.        Israel again pounded Gaza with air strikes and shelling after its military…

Peru: Exports projected to total US$63 billion at end of 2023

LIMA, Dec 28 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) forecast that Peruvian exports might reach around US$63 billion at the end of this year. “We would be at a level close to last year in terms of total exports value, approximately US$63 billion, but opening new markets,” Minister Juan…

DR Congo presidential election: partial results give Pres Tshisekedi a clear lead

President Felix Tshisekedi casting his ballot at the St Georges Kitambo polling station in Kinshasa  KINSHASA, Dec 27 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission (Céni) continued to release partial results from the Dec 20-21 presidential election, with incumbent leader Félix Tshisekedi leading by a wide margin -over…