Danish patrol kills four pirates in Gulf of Guinea: Navy

  Danish naval patrol forces onboard the frigate Esbern Snare have killed four pirates and wounded a fifth in an exchange of fire in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of Nigeria COPENHAGEN, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Danish naval patrol killed four pirates in an exchange of fire in the…

Brazil health regulator calls for Africa travel restrictions, Bolsonaro dismissive

BRASILIA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian health regulator Anvisa recommended on Friday that travel be restricted from some African countries due to the detection of a new COVID-19 variant, but President Jair Bolsonaro appeared to dismiss such measures. Anvisa said its recommendation, which would need government approval to be implemented,…

Covid-19: WHO says new variant is of ‘concern’, names it Omicron

WASHINGTON, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The discovery of a new coronavirus variant triggered global alarm on Friday as countries rushed to suspend travel from southern Africa and stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic suffered their biggest falls in more than a year. The United States will restrict travel…

Covid-19: Belgium detects first case of new variant in Europe

BRUSSELS, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgium detected Europe’s first confirmed case of the new variant of COVID-19 on Friday, and at the same time announced measures aimed at curbing a rapidly spreading fourth wave of coronavirus infections. Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke told a news conference that a case of variant…

Covid-19: Dutch PM Rutte orders nighttime lockdown to fight surge

AMSTERDAM, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Dutch government on Friday ordered further restrictions including a nighttime closure of bars, restaurants and most stores to stem a record-breaking wave of COVID-19 cases that is threatening to overwhelm the country’s healthcare system. The surge in the Netherlands, the worst in Western Europe,…

French fishermen disrupt UK trade routes over fishing licence row

CALAIS (France), Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — French fishermen temporarily blockaded the port of Calais and Channel Tunnel rail link in an effort to disrupt trade between Britain and the continent on Friday, escalating a row over licences to fish in British waters. Fishing rights plagued Brexit talks for years, not…

‘We need to work’: Hundreds of migrants form new US-bound caravan in Mexico

TAPACHULA (Mexico), Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of Central American and Haitian migrants formed a new caravan on Friday in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, near the Guatemala border, and began walking north toward the United States. The migrants said they wanted to leave Chiapas as they had not…

Covid-19: WTO postpones major meeting after new variant outbreak

GENEVA, Nov 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Trade Organization (WTO) became the first major diplomatic casualty of the new coronavirus variant on Friday when it postponed its first ministerial meeting in four years due to the deteriorating health situation. Ministers from WTO members were due to have gathered next week for a…

Romania has new gov’t with overwhelming majority in Parliament

Members of Romania’s new government attend a swearing-in ceremony in Bucharest, Romania BUCHAREST, Nov 26 (NNN-Xinhua) — Romania’s new government led by ex-general Nicolae Ciuca took the oath of office on Thursday soon after winning a vote of confidence in Parliament with overwhelming support. The official installment of the three-party…

Update: UK PM asks France to take back Channel-crossing migrants

  CALAIS (France), Nov 26 (NNN-AGENCIES) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday asking France to immediately start taking back all migrants who land in England after crossing the Channel, after at least 27 died when their boat foundered off Calais.   Taking…