Italian Alps avalanche kills woman and two girls; two other skiers injured

Val Senales is a popular glacier for skiers. VAL SENALES (Italy), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A woman and two seven-year-old girls have died in an avalanche while skiing in Val Senales in the Italian Alps. The woman, aged 35, was the mother of one of the girls, according to reports…

US saw highest number of mass killings on record in 2019, database reveals

Mass killings are often followed by public outpourings of grief, such as in El Paso in August. WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The US suffered more mass killings in 2019 than any year on record, according to researchers. A database compiled by the Associated Press (AP), USA Today and Northeastern University recorded…

Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists exchange prisoners

 KIEV, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Pro-Russian separatists and Ukraine have concluded a long-awaited prisoner exchange of 200 prisoners, the office of the Ukrainian president said. Ukraine’s government received 76 captives, with the pro-Russian separatists reportedly taking 124. Russian and Ukrainian authorities agreed to the swap – which is aimed at improving ties…

US tariffs lead to job losses, higher prices for American manufacturing: Study

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-XINHUA) — The unprecedented increase in tariffs imposed by the United States against its major trading partners since early 2018 has led to job losses and higher prices for the American manufacturing sector, according to a just-released Federal Reserve study. “Since the beginning of 2018, the United States has undertaken unprecedented tariff…

US: Air strikes on Iran-backed group ‘successful’ – Defence Secretary

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Sunday said air strikes against a pro-Iran militant group in Iraq and Syria succeeded, and he did not rule out additional action “as necessary.” “The strikes were successful. The pilots and aircraft returned back to base safely,” Esper told…

US: Suspect denies stabbing five at New York rabbi’s home

MONSEY (US), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A suspect appeared in a New York court on Sunday charged with five counts of attempted murder after a stabbing spree at a rabbi’s suburban house that left Hanukkah celebrants throwing furniture to defend themselves. It was the latest in a spate of attacks…

Tourists among 11 dead in southern Mexico road accident

59 SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (Mexico), Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 11 people died and seven were injured on Sunday when a car and a van carrying tourists crashed on a highway in Mexico’s southern Chiapas state, local prosecutors said. “Eleven people were killed and seven more were…

US strikes in Somalia kill four militants: AFRICOM

WASHINGTON/MOGADISHU, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US military launched airstrikes against the Al-Shabaab militant group in Somalia on Sunday, US Africa Command said, killing four “terrorists.” The strikes came one day after Somalia’s deadliest attack in two years, when a car bomb killed at least 90 people in a busy…

Somalia forms emergency response team after deadly Mogadishu attack

MOGADISHU, Dec 30 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The Somali government has announced a national-level response committee to handle the aftermath of a terrorist bombing that rocked a busy junction in the capital Mogadishu on Saturday morning.Prime Minister Ali Hassan Khaire in a message posted on Twitter said the committee will comprise of…

Algeria appoints university professor Abdelaziz Djerad as prime minister

Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad was tasked with forming Algeria’s next government ALGIERS, Dec 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday named a university professor and former diplomat as prime minister as he builds a new government to handle political unrest and a looming economic challenge. Abdelaziz Djerad, 65, served…