Brexit: UK to do “everything” to secure good trade deal with EU – senior official

Boris Johnson on a call with Ursula von der Leyen LONDON, Dec 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said that the British government “will be doing everything” to secure a good post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union (EU). “Even if sometimes results are coming later than…

India launches communication satellite CMS-01

NEW DELHI, Dec 18 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Indian space research organisation ( ISRO) Thursday successfully launched a communication satellite CMS-01 onboard Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle — PSLV-C50, officials said. The satellite was launched from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, off the Bay of…

Covid-19: Asia-Pacific not expected to have early access to coronavirus vaccines – WHO

MANILA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Asia-Pacific region was not expected to have early access to COVID-19 vaccines and should continue to practice health and safety precautions as protection against the coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.Only a limited number of COVID-19 vaccines would be initially available, and most countries in Asia-Pacific might…

Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda rank top for rapid digital growth, demand: report

Sub-Saharan Africa has recorded high mobile payment adoption in the past decade NAIROBI, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya ranked top within the region in digital growth and demand, according to the latest Digital Intelligence Index payments firm Mastercard and the Fletcher School at Tufts University.In the survey titled Digital Intelligence…

Ethiopia unrest: More than 63,000 people internally displaced in Tigray – UN spokesman

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A UN spokesman said that more than 63,000 people have been recorded as “internally displaced” in Tigray, but the UN hopes to know the true number once the world body has more access.Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,…

Iraq: Anti-Government activist ‘killed by gunmen in Baghdad’

Anti-government protesters have been taking to the streets of Baghdad since October 2019  BAGHDAD, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) —A well-known Iraqi activist has been killed in Baghdad, fellow activists and local media say. Salah al-Iraqi was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Baghdad al-Jadida area on Tuesday evening. Iraqi played an…

Tropical Cyclone Yasa hits Fiji, Government declares state of disaster

There are already reports of damage to homes and trees being uprooted SUVA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful “super storm” has hit the Pacific Island nation of Fiji Thursday evening, bringing with it destructive hurricane-force winds, flooding and massive waves. The severe category five Cyclone Yasa was carrying wind…

Venezuelan migrant shipwreck death toll rises to 28

CARACAS, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 28 Venezuelan migrantsdied when a boat heading for Trinidad and Tobago sank, AttorneyGeneral Tarek William Saab said. The boat left Guiria in the northeastern state of Sucre on Dec6 but never reached its destination. The first bodies started appearing last Friday while coastguardsperformed…

Army deployed as record snowfall blankets parts of Japan

TOKYO, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japan deployed the military tohelp residents trapped by record snowfall that has blanketed parts of thecountry, with 10,000 homes losing power in the north and west. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga called an emergency cabinet meeting and urged the public to be cautious, as local media…

Covid-19: International team seeking coronavirus origin to go to China in January – WHO

GENEVA, Dec 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– The World Health Organization said that a team of international experts would travel to China next month to help investigate the animal origins of Covid-19. “I can confirm that this will take place in January,” WHO spokesman Hedinn Halldorsson said. A year into the novel…