Covid-19: US trade gap soars in 2020 amid pandemic disruptions

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US trade deficit surged in 2020 to its highest level since 2008, the government reported, in the pandemic-roiled year that upended the global economy. Business shutdowns and global shipping disruptions caused by Covid-19 were a major factor for most of last year, leading to…

Covid-19: Spain detects first case of Brazilian variant

The announcement came 3 days after Spain restricted arrivals by air from Brazil and South Africa MADRID, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Madrid health authorities on Friday confirmed the first case of the Brazilian variant of COVID-19 in the region, three days after Spain restricted air travel with Brazil and South…

Path clears for Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala as first woman WTO chief after support from US president

GENEVA, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden’s administration offered its “strong support” to Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO), clearing a path for her to become the body’s first female and first African leader. The move marks another sharp split with former president Donald…

Germany, France, UK, US agree ‘to revive transatlantic ties’

BERLIN, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain and the United States on Friday said they wanted “to revive” the transatlantic relationship, following their first in-depth talks since President Joe Biden took office. “The foreign ministers agreed that they want to revive the traditionally close transatlantic…

Covid-19: Pres Biden says will ‘act fast’ on Covid relief, Americans near ‘breaking point’

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) – President Joe Biden said he has to “act fast” to push a huge new economic relief package through Congress, even without Republican support, because many Americans are near the “breaking point.” “I see enormous pain in this country, a lot of folks out of work,…

ICC rules its ‘territorial jurisdiction’ extends to Palestinian areas

THE HAGUE, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Criminal Court ruled that it had jurisdiction over the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, paving the way for the tribunal’s prosecutor to open a war crimes investigation. Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked the court for its legal opinion on whether its…

Russia expels European diplomats over Navalny protests – Foreign Ministry

MOSCOW, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia will expel diplomats from Sweden, Poland and Germany over their alleged participation in recent “unauthorized” rallies in support of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the Foreign Ministry said. The expulsions come amid European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell’s visit to Moscow, where he lamented to his…

UN chief welcomes agreement on Libya interim executive authority

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 6 (NNN-XINHUA) — UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement on a new interim executive authority for Libya. “Today we have very good news in our search for peace. I welcome the selection by members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) of a unified, temporary executive…

Nigerian central bank bans cryptocurrency

Nigeria’s cryptocurrency market was booming ABUJA, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and Other Financial Institutions (OFls) to close the accounts used for cryptocurrency operations.The CBN in a circular issued on Friday, ordered all financial…

Denmark to build world’s ‘first energy island’ in North Sea

An impression of the island, surrounded by offshore wind turbines, 260m in height COPENHAGEN, Feb 6 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A project to build a giant island providing enough energy for three million households has been given the green light by Denmark’s politicians. The world’s first energy island will be as big as 18 football pitches…