Covid-19: Paris cancels New Year fireworks over Omicron fears

PARIS, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France said it was cancelling its traditional New Year fireworks as Europe braced for tighter curbs to rein in the spread of the new strain of the coronavirus fuelling a resurgence in COVID-19 cases worldwide. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen has warned the Omicron…

Spanish ex-king Juan Carlos makes rare public appearance in UAE

ABU DHABI, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s former king Juan Carlos I was spotted at a tennis tournament in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, days after Swiss prosecutors closed a US$100 million corruption case against him for lack of evidence. Juan Carlos was seen at a match featuring Spain’s Rafael Nadal…

Covid-19: London declares ‘major incident’ to help hospitals cope with pandemic

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan visits a COVID-19 pop-up vaccination centre at Chelsea football ground, Stamford Bridge in London LONDON, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared a “major incident” to help the capital’s hospitals cope with a surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus…

South African court to hear ex-president Zuma’s plea to appeal parole ruling on Tuesday

JOHANNESBURG, Dec 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa’s high court will on Tuesday hear former president Jacob Zuma’s request to appeal against a ruling that set aside his medical parole and said he should return to jail, his foundation said on Saturday. The court said on Wednesday Zuma should go back…

Covid-19: Canada’s cases continue to soar

People line up to pick up free COVID-19 antigen rapid test kits in Mississauga, Ontario OTTAWA, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — COVID-19 cases are continuing to soar across Canada fueled by the Omicron variant, with confirmation of 7,566 new cases as of Saturday afternoon. The new cases brought the cumulative caseload…

Regional bloc in Latin America ratifies commitment to integration

HAVANA, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — Latin American countries attending the 20th Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) in Havana approved a final declaration that ratified the bloc’s commitment to regional integration. “We ratify our commitment to genuine Latin American and Caribbean integration,…

4 killed, 12 injured in train collision in Ghana

ACCRA, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — At least four people were killed and 12 others injured after two trains collided head-on in the Western Region of Ghana, police confirmed on Saturday. Sebastian Folivie, an officer of the Western Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service, told Xinhua that the incident involved…

Republic of Congo’s president in self-isolation after contact with COVID-19 patient

BRAZZAVILLE, Dec 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso is currently observing self-isolation after being in contact with COVID-19 patient, the Congolese government announced on Saturday, noting that the president tested negative for COVID-19. The president is “required to observe a period of self-isolation,”…

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…