US farmers see another bleak year despite Phase 1 trade deal with China

US farmers are stuck with fields full of weather-damaged corn WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Across snow-covered North Dakota, US farmers are stuck with fields full of weather-damaged corn – a crop they planted after the US-China trade war killed their soybean market. In Texas, Kansas and Colorado, farmers are…

India: Facing criticism, Delhi police probe attack on students at elite university

NEW DELHI, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New Delhi police are investigating how masked men burst into a leading university and attacked student protesters with sticks and rods, the latest incident to ignite criticism of India’s ruling Hindu nationalists. Sunday’s attack at a university long seen as a bastion of left-wing…

Years of drought threaten South Africa’s wildlife industry

Parts of the country have been affected by consecutive years of abnormally hot weather and below average rainfall PRETORIA, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A severe drought is threatening South Africa’s wildlife industry, with game farmers keeping fewer animals and tourists visiting game lodges in smaller numbers. Parts of the country…

Egypt shuts two Mediterranean ports because of bad weather

Container trucks stand in line on the road due to bad weather in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria ALEXANDRIA (Egypt), Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Egypt shut the harbours of two of its Mediterranean ports, Alexandria and Dekheila, as bad weather forced the second closure within a few days. High waves…

Italian Alps: Six German tourists killed by ‘drunk driver’

A field hospital was set up on the roadside to provide first aid LUTTACH (Italy), Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Six German tourists were killed and 11 injured in the Italian Alps when a car crashed into them, police say. A suspected drunk driver collided with a group of people in…

Puerto Rico earthquake: Punta Ventana collapses as powerful tremor hits

The Punta Ventana stone arch, situated along Puerto Rico’s southern coast, was popular with tourists SAN JUAN, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A popular tourist rock formation in Puerto Rico has collapsed after a strong earthquake shook the island, damaging homes and causing power cuts. The stone arch, known as Punta Ventana, was destroyed…

South Korea’s Moon seeks Kim Jong Un visit to Seoul

SEOUL, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Korean President Moon Jae-in called for better relations with the North so leader Kim Jong Un can visit Seoul, despite Pyongyang’s abandonment of its nuclear and missile test moratoriums. Moon’s appeal came after Kim threatened a demonstration of a “new strategic weapon” at a…

Britain’s first post-Brexit budget set for March 11

LONDON, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain is to unveil its first post-Brexit budget on March 11, the government said, promising increased public service spending and an end to a decade of austerity. The government cancelled its previous budget scheduled for Nov 6 after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called an early…

Letter on US pullout from Iraq a ‘mistake’: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — America’s military strategy in Iraq was thrown into confusion Monday as the Pentagon admitted a letter from a general informing the Iraqi government of an imminent US troop pullout was sent by “mistake.” The latest developments came as a sea of black-clad mourners in Tehran…

Iranians report being stopped, facing delays at US border

LOS ANGELES, Jan 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens of Iranians and Iranian-Americans have reported being harassed or questioned for hours at the US border following heightened tensions over the US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy group, said it had provided assistance…