Pres Bolsonaro directly spread disinformation on Brazil’s voting system, police report says

President Jair Bolsonaro BRASILIA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro had a “direct and relevant” role in spreading disinformation about the country’s electoral process during live streams on social media, a federal police document revealed. Federal police commissioner Denisse Ribeiro wrote in the document that Bolsonaro’s streams had…

EU may involve WTO to resolve China-Lithuania trade row, commission says

European Union and Lithuanian flags flutter at border crossing point in Medininkai, Lithuania BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union may take the trade row between China and Lithuania to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if it finds evidence that Beijing is violating international trade rules, the bloc’s executive…

US Olympians to be briefed on Chinese law before Beijing Games

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said that it is preparing athletes and officials for a 2022 Beijing Winter Games “unlike any other” amid continuing coronavirus concerns and criticism of China’s human rights record. Acknowledging “logistical complexities” and “political discussions that we know will…

US: San Francisco declares downtown emergency over drug deaths

Tenderloin, a downtown San Francisco district, is in a state of emergency over a severe spike in fatal drug overdoses driven mainly by fentanyl SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — San Francisco’s mayor on Friday declared a state of emergency in a downtown district reeling from a severe spike in…

Covid-19: US appeals court reinstates vaccine-or-test rule for workplaces

A general view of the skyline of Manhattan as seen from the One World Trade Center Tower in New York City WILMINGTON (Cincinnati, US), Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US appeals court reinstated a nationwide vaccine-or-testing COVID-19 mandate for large businesses, a federal government rule that covers 80 million American workers. The…

7th round of Iran nuclear talks concludes in Vienna

A meeting of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Joint Commission in Vienna, Austria VIENNA, Dec 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The seventh round of the Iran nuclear talks concluded here on Friday. The latest round, started on Nov 29, brought together the representatives of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United…

Covid-19: South Africa sees fewer hospitalisations as Omicron cases surge

Authorities in South Africa say, few people have died from the new Omicron variant PRETORIA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — COVID-19 infection rates are soaring across South Africa as a result of the highly mutated Omicron variant of the coronavirus, but fewer people have died or required hospital treatment compared with previous…

UN rights council orders international probe into Ethiopia abuses

The 47-member council voted with 21 in favor, 15 opposed GENEVA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN Human Rights Council has voted to launch an international investigation into abuses in Ethiopia, despite protests from Addis Ababa, amid warnings of looming generalized violence.The 47-member council voted with 21 in favor, 15…

Hundreds protests in Tunisia on anniversary of revolution

 TUNIS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds rallied for and against Tunisian President Kais Saied in central Tunis on Friday, on the eleventh anniversary of the start of a revolution that sparked the Arab Spring uprisings.   Saied in July this year sacked the government, froze parliament and seized far-reaching powers.…

US says will discuss Russia proposals but warns on Ukraine

 WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is willing to discuss security proposals put forward by Russia but disagrees with parts of them and will impose “massive consequences” over any “aggression” on Ukraine, a senior official said.   “We are prepared to discuss them. That said, there are some…