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…

Covid-19: PM says Omicron to be ‘dominant’ in France from start of 2022

France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex PARIS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French Prime Minister Jean Castex likened the spread of the Omicron variant in Europe to “lightning”, adding it would be the dominant strain in France from the start of 2022. Castex added that while much remains unknown about the variant…

US violence: FBI investigating TikTok school shooting ‘threat ‘

The FBI said that it was investigating a school shooting threat on the popular social media platform TikTok as schools across the country sent alerts to parents WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The FBI said that it was investigating an apparent school shooting threat on the popular social media platform…

France rescues 138 UK-bound migrants in Channel

   LILLE (France), Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French boats have rescued 138 migrants stranded in the Channel as they tried to reach Britain from France on makeshift vessels, authorities said on Friday.    French authorities released a statement saying they were informed on Thursday that “many boats trying to cross…

Pres Bolsonaro directly spread disinformation on Brazil’s voting system, police report says

President Jair Bolsonaro BRASILIA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro had a “direct and relevant” role in spreading disinformation about the country’s electoral process during live streams on social media, a federal police document revealed. Federal police commissioner Denisse Ribeiro wrote in the document that Bolsonaro’s streams had…

EU may involve WTO to resolve China-Lithuania trade row, commission says

European Union and Lithuanian flags flutter at border crossing point in Medininkai, Lithuania BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union may take the trade row between China and Lithuania to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) if it finds evidence that Beijing is violating international trade rules, the bloc’s executive…

US Olympians to be briefed on Chinese law before Beijing Games

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee said that it is preparing athletes and officials for a 2022 Beijing Winter Games “unlike any other” amid continuing coronavirus concerns and criticism of China’s human rights record. Acknowledging “logistical complexities” and “political discussions that we know will…