Tunisia opposition condemns extension of parliament freeze

   TUNIS, Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Opponents of Tunisian President Kais Saied slammed his decision to extend a months-long suspension of parliament, accusing him of dealing another blow to the country’s nascent democracy.    Saied had on Monday vowed to press on with reforms to Tunisia’s political system, months after…

Latest: Haiti gas truck explosion deaths rises to 62

  CAP-HAITIEN (Haiti), Dec 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A massive gas truck explosion killed at least 62 people in Haiti on Tuesday, after bystanders swarmed the vehicle to collect spilled fuel — a precious commodity in a nation plaguedby acute shortages.   The blast in Haiti’s second city of Cap-Haitien is…

13 killed in boat accident in western DR Congo

KINSHASA, Dec 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — Thirteen people have been killed and 17 others were rescued following a shipwreck overnight from Saturday to Sunday on the Congo River near the Ibali village, Mai-Ndombe province, in the Western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to Crispin Ipondo Bonda, provincial minister in…

Culture day on Beijing Winter Olympics held in New York

People participate in a flash mob on Jan 20, 2020 during the “Chinese Lantern, Highlight 2022” Cultural Day for the Beijing Winter Olympics in New York NEW YORK, Dec 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — A Winter Olympics-themed Day was celebrated at Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden in New York on…

Update: Four dead, five missing in Sicily apartment collapse; 2 women rescued alive

  ROME, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Four people were killed and five were missing after an explosion caused a four-storey apartment building to collapse on the Italian island of Sicily, authorities said Sunday.    Two women were recovered alive from the building in the town of Ravanusa after the collapse…

Serbia: Thousands block roads to protest lithium mine project

Environmental activists block the E-75 highway to protest against Rio Tinto’s plans to open a lithium mine, in Belgrade BELGRADE, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Environmental protesters have blocked roads in Serbia for a third consecutive weekend to oppose plans for lithium mining, despite a bid by the country’s populist government…

‘Headed for disaster’: Argentinians protest against IMF debt deal

Protesters hold a banner that says ‘The debt is with the people, not the IMF’ as they rally in Buenos Aires, Argentina BUENOS AIRES, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thousands of people have rallied in Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, urging their government not to sign any kind of debt restructuring deal…

Kidnapped Red Cross workers freed in eastern DRC

KINSHASA, Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two staff members of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) abducted last month in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have been freed, the humanitarian organisation has said. The ICRC said in late November that one Congolese citizen and an international staff member had…

Twelve missing in Sicily as building collapses: Report

 Rescuers are trying to find people missing in collapsed buildings after a gas blast RAVANUSA (Sicily, Italy), Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A four-storey building collapsed in the Sicilian town of Ravanusa following a gas explosion and rescuers were searching for 12 missing residents, including three children, ANSA news agency reported.…

Update: Six people killed in Illinois Amazon warehouse collapse after tornado

  EDWARDSVILLE (Illinois, US), Dec 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least six people were killed when a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, firefighters said, bringing the death toll from storms that devastated parts of theUnited States overnight to more than 80.   “We identified 45 personnel who made it…