Myanmar airstrikes displace more people along Thai-Myanmar border

A Thai soldier sits in front of a blocked road leading to the Thailand-Myanmar border BANGKOK, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar’s military carried out more airstrikes on a rebel-controlled area near the Thai border, the rebel group said on Friday, in the latest escalation of violence that has sent hundreds fleeing…

Two US women lawmakers carjacked at gunpoint in Philadelphia and Chicago

Mary Gay Scanlon has been in Washington since 2018  WASHINGTON, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two US women lawmakers have had their cars and possessions snatched from them at gunpoint in separate carjacking in the city of Philadelphia and Chicago. Congresswomen Mary Gay Scanlon’s car was later found about 72km away…

Toll in migrant shipwreck off Greece rises to 11

 ATHENS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll from a migrant boat sinking of Greece rose to 11 on Friday, as scores of others, including dozens of children, were rescued following the shipwreck, the coastguard said.    The boat carrying migrants ran aground on an islet north of the Greek…

Palestine calls for UN protection against Israeli settlers’ assaults in West Bank

RAMALLAH, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Palestine called on the United Nations Security Council to protect the Palestinian people against the Israeli settlers’ assaults in the West Bank. The Palestinian presidency said in a press statement that it urges the international community, especially the UN Security Council, “to urgently intervene to…

DR Congo declares end of meningitis outbreak in northeastern region

KINSHASA, Dec 24 (NNN-Xinhua) — Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared Thursday the end of a meningitis outbreak in the territory of Banalia, in northeastern Tshopo province, according to Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani. Declared in early September of 2021, the meningitis outbreak has killed 205 out of a total…

Covid-19: 55 people test positive on US cruise ship

MIAMI, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fifty-five people have tested positive for Covid-19 aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship that set sail Saturday from the southeastern US state of Florida, the company said.    The infections on the “Odyssey of the Seas” involved passengers and crew members, even though 95 percent…

UN seeks US$6.5 million in aid after Philippine typhoon

A ‘help’ sign is painted on the roof beside homes damaged by Typhoon Rai in Siargao Island UNITED NATIONS, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations kicked off a campaign on Friday (Dec 24) to raise US$107.2 million in aid for victims of Typhoon Rai, which ravaged the Philippines last week.…

Cambodia’s ruling party endorses PM Hun Sen’s son as future leader

Cambodian army chief Gen Hun Manet , Prime Minister Hun Sen’s son, was endorsed by the Cambodia People’s Party on Friday to be a future prime ministerial candidate PHNOM PENH, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cambodia’s longtime ruling party voted to endorse Prime Minister Hun Sen’s eldest son as “future prime…

Covid-19: Thailand reports first Omicron cluster, cancels some New Year events

Thailand’s capital city Bangkok canceled government-sponsored New Year activity, including midnight prayers BANGKOK, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand reported on Friday its first domestic cluster of coronavirus infections from the Omicron variant in Kalasin province in north-eastern Thailand, officials said. “From the Kalasin cluster, there are 21 new infections,” said…

World Bank pledges $37 mn to help Lebanon teachers

 BEIRUT, Dec 24 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Bank said it agreed with its partners to repurpose $37 million in funds to help Lebanon’s public school teachers survive a crushing economic crisis.    The World Bank and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office would divert the money from the Lebanon…