UK Brexit supremo Frost resigns in blow to PM Johnson

British Brexit Minister David Frost LONDON, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Brexit minister David Frost has resigned from the cabinet and will depart in the new year, local media reported on Saturday. Mail on Sunday said in an exclusive that “Frost has sensationally resigned from Boris Johnson’s government,” due to…

3rd Turkey-Africa summit commits to boosting cooperation in various fields

ISTANBUL, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — The heads of Turkey and African countries agreed on Saturday to boost their partnership and cooperation in a wide range of areas, including the establishment of peace and security, as well as improvement of infrastructure investments in Africa. The Third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul…

Kenya approved for $258 million IMF disbursement after review

WASHINGTON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund approved a disbursement of $258.1 million for Kenya after completing a second review under a 38-month program to address debt vulnerabilities, the Covid-19 response and enhancing governance. The delivery of IMF funds brings total disbursements to $972.6 million out of a…

Covid-19: Canada lifts travel ban on South Africa and nine other African countries

Travellers queue at a check-in counter at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa OTTAWA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada has announced that it will be lifting its travel ban on South Africa and nine other African countries following criticism.The ban was imposed last month to curb the transmission…

Argentina: Chubut’s provincial capital on fire after demonstrations against mining law

RAWSON (Chubut, Argentina), Dec 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Demonstrators in the Argentine province of Chubut set the Government House and other public buildings in the capital city of Rawson on fire to express their opposition to a mega-mining bill passed by the local legislature. However, these protests achieved very little beyond…

Covid-19: Argentina to donate 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Bolivia

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina has announced one million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be sent to Bolivia next Monday, making it “the largest donation of doses between countries in South America since the global pandemic was declared,” according to a Health Ministry statement. The doses…

China lifts ban on Brazilian beef, but UK and EU retailers will stop purchases because of deforestation

BRASILIA, Dec 18 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Good and bad news for Brazil’s beef exports. China finally lifted the ban on Brazilian beef and allowed the resumption of shipments to the great Asian market. But several of the main retailers in Britain and the European Union have announced the banning of Brazilian…

US: Man gets 5 years in prison for Capitol assault

WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Donald Trump supporter was sentenced to five years in prison for assaulting police officers during the attack on the US Capitol, the harshest punishment yet handed down in the investigation into the Jan 6 violence. Robert Scott Palmer, 54, was seen in videos and…

Covid-19: Denmark to shut cinemas, theatres over surge – PM

Denmark’s Health Minister Magnus Heunicke and Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen COPENHAGEN, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Denmark announced it would close cinemas, theatres and concert halls and restrict restaurant opening hours over a record number of daily Covid-19 cases, accelerated by the Omicron variant. The government also plans to close…

Covid-19: UK reports 93,045 new cases in third consecutive daily record

People wait in a queue outside University College London Hospital vaccination centre to receive their the Covid-19 vaccine or booster in London LONDON, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government on Friday reported 93,045 new coronavirus cases, a third consecutive record daily tally, as the Omicron variant fuels a surge…