Avalanches hit Austrian, Swiss ski resorts, at least two injured

VIENNA, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Rescuers hunted for possible victims of three avalanches that hit the Austrian ski resort of Ankogel and one at the Swiss resort of Andermatt on Thursday, injuring at least two people. After a large avalanche spilled onto the piste at Andermatt, two people were pulled from…

71 migrants intercepted in English Channel: Authorities

British rescuers helping some 20 migrants on a semi-rigid boat trying make their way from France across the English Channel LILLE (France), Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Seventy-one migrants were intercepted on several boats in the English Channel overnight, with some needing hospitalisation for hypothermia, French and British authorities said. French sea…

Update: Wildfire in Chilean port city of Valparaiso leaves 700 homeless

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following the spread of wildfires in Valparaiso, Chile VALPARAISO, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 245 homes have been destroyed and 700 people left destitute after a forest fire tore through a low-income area of the Chilean seaside city of Valparaiso on Christmas Eve.…

About 10 million Americans face workplace sexual violence: Study

ATLANTA (Georgia, US), Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Almost 1 in 18 women and 1 in 40 men have experienced sexual harassment in and related to the workplace, according to a U.S. study. That represents almost 7 million women and 3 million men who have reported assault, unwanted sexual contact or…

Peru McDonald’s fined US$250,000 after worker deaths

Police stand guard outside a closed McDonald’s restaurant, during a protest after the deaths of two teenaged employees, in Lima LIMA, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvian authorities on Thursday fined the local owner of a McDonald’s franchise US$250,000 for serious safety violations after two employees were electrocuted to death. Two workers, an…

Archaeologists discover ancient Mayan palace in eastern Mexico

An archeologist works cleaning the stucco of the Temple of the U, located in the archaelogy area of Kuluba, in Tizimin, Yucatan state, Mexico MEXICO CITY, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Archaeologists have discovered a large palace likely used by the Mayan elite more than 1,000 years ago in the ancient…

UN rebuffs Russia accusation that US visa delays being ignored

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres UNITED NATIONS, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly expressed concern to Washington over US visa delays for officials from Russia and other countries, a UN spokesman said after Moscow accused Guterres of turning a blind eye. Moscow says Washington has deliberately delayed issuing visas…

France: On day 22, transport strike heads for record

PARIS, Dec 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — : A transport stoppage that has caused daily travel misery for millions of people in France entered its 22nd day on Thursday, equalling the duration of a 1995 strike whose success against government reforms unions are hoping to repeat. With no end in sight, train…

Ukraine signs contracts with U.S. for more Javelin anti-tank missile systems

KIEV, Dec 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said that it has signed contracts for more U.S. anti-tank missile systems, the advanced fire-and-forget portable anti-tank missiles. “During the 4th quarter … the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine managed to sign contracts for the supply of the second batch of anti-tank…

Libya: UN-backed government condemns deadly airstrike on Zawiya

A man walks on a street after an airstrike in Zawiya, Libya, on Dec 26. TRIPOLI, Dec 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — The UN-backed Libyan government on Thursday condemned an airstrike carried out by the rival eastern-based army on the city of Zawiya. The airstrike on Zawiya, some 45 km west of…