Covid-19: Pandemic to cost global tourism $2.0 trillion in 2021 – UNWTO

  MADRID, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic will cost the global tourism sector $2.0 trillion in lost revenue in 2021, the UN’s tourism body said Monday, calling the sector’s recovery “fragile” and “slow”.   The forecast from the Madrid-based World Tourism Organization comes as Europe is grappling with…

22 die in attack on DR Congo displaced people’s camp

  BUNIA (DR Congo), Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A new attack on the Ivo displaced people’s camp in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday claimed the lives of 22 civilians, an aid worker said.    The same camp was attacked less than a week ago when…

Brazil burns boats in crackdown on wildcat Amazon gold miners

Accommodations and mining structures on the Madeira River, near the Rosarinho community, in Autazes, Amazonas state, Brazil BRASÍLIA, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian authorities burned more than 60 river-dredging boats in a crackdown on wildcat miners drawn to a major Amazon tributary by rumuors of a gold find, the government…

Covid-19: Morocco suspends all regular int’l passenger flights over Omicron variant

Morocco, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, had announced a ban on entry to travellers from South Africa and six other African nations ABAT, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — Morocco will suspend all regular international passenger flights for two weeks over concern about the new COVID-19 variant Omicron. The suspension will…

Tanzania to acquire spray plane to fight locusts’ invasions

DAR ES SALAAM, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — The government of Tanzania has set aside 3 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 1.3 million U.S. dollars) for buying a spray plane to fight invasions of locusts, the Minister for Agriculture, Adolf Mkenda, said. Mkenda told a press conference in the capital Dodoma the…

Covid-19: South African president warns of fourth wave as Omicron spreads to all provinces

People sit outside a bar on a commercial street in Cape Town, South Africa JOHANNESBURG, Nov 29 (NNN-Xinhua) — With the Omicron variant now present in all provinces of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa has raised the possibility that the country could enter the fourth wave soon if new cases…

AU engages Gambian stakeholders ahead of the Presidential Election

AU reps met with Gambian president Adama Barrow (middle) BANJUL, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, paid a three-day working visit to The Gambia ahead of Dec 4, 2021, Presidential Election.During a meeting with President Adama Barrow, the…

COVID-positive Czech president appoints new PM from plexiglass cubicle

Czech President Milos Zeman, separated by a transparent wall after testing positive for the coronavirus disease, appoints Civic Democratic Party leader Petr Fiala as the new prime minister, at the Lany Chateau, near Prague PRAGUE, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Czech President Milos Zeman appointed the leader of a centre-right alliance…

Opposition, ruling party claim Honduras election win, as turnout fuels hope of change

Xiomara Castro, presidential candidate for the opposition Libre Party TEGUCIGALPA, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The opposition and the ruling party both claimed victory in Honduras’ presidential election on Sunday as strong turnout lifted the leftist contender’s hopes of ending a dozen years of conservative National Party rule. If opposition standard-bearer…

France says it will not be held hostage by British politics on migration

Protesters hold ‘Refugees Welcome’ placards during a demonstration outside Downing Street, London CALAIS (France), Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — France is ready for a serious discussion with Britain on issues relating to illegal migration, but will not be held hostage to London’s domestic politics, the country’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.…