Twelve dead in Colombia after boats sink

BOGOTA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 12 people have died, including seven children, after two vessels sank close to a port on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Naval authorities say the causes of the incident are still being investigated. The vessels sank on Saturday close to Tumaco, Colombia’s second most-important Pacific…

Update: Nine dead in Sunday hotel attack in Somali capital – police

Paramedics at the Madina hospital push a gurney with a civilian injured in a car bomb explosion in Mogadishu MOGADISHU, Feb 1 NNN-AGENCIES) — Nine people died in a weekend attack at a hotel in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, and security forces ended the assault by al Qaeda-linked al…

Major storm to hit eastern US after dumping snow on capital

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A powerful winter storm is expected to dump deep snow on parts of the northeastern United States that are home to major cities like New York, after blanketing the nation’s capital on Sunday. The National Weather Service issued storm warnings from Virginia to Maine —…

Brazil: New protests seek Pres Bolsonaro’s removal over COVID-19 response

Demonstrators stand next to police officers during a protest against President Jair Bolsonaro BRASILIA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hundreds of people took part in fresh protests across Brazil against President Jair Bolsonaro’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, with many demanding his resignation or impeachment. COVID-19 has claimed more than 223,000…

Covid-19: Canada bans flights to Caribbean and Mexico

OTTAWA, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced a new agreement with airlines to suspend travel to the Caribbean and Mexico due to Covid-19. The country’s main airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet, will end service immediately and organise return travel for those currently abroad. The government will also…

Britain to apply to join Asia-Pacific free trade bloc

  LONDON, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain said it is to apply to join a massive 11-nation free-trade bloc of Asia-Pacific countries this week, not long after quitting the European Union’s single market. International Trade Secretary Liz Truss will formally request Monday for Britain to join the Comprehensive and Progressive…

US warns of response after military detains Myanmar officials; UN condemns detention

WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) –– The United States urged Myanmar’s military to release detained officials, including de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and warned of a response from Washington. “The United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar’s democratic transition, and will…

Covid-19: Brazil registers 27,756 cases, bringing total to over 9.2 million as Cuba sees surge

BRASILIA, Feb 1 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil has registered 27,756 cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), for a total of 9,204,731, as well as another 559 deaths, bringing the death toll to 224,504, the Ministry of Health reported. Brazil is second in the world in number of deaths from the disease,…

Covid-19: AstraZeneca to increase EU vaccine deliveries by 30 percent as Germany threatens legal action over vaccine delays

BERLIN, Feb 1 (NNN-BSS/AFP) – AstraZeneca will deliver 30 percent more coronavirus vaccine doses to the EU than it pledged last week, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said. The company will send 9 million additional doses and “will start deliveries one week earlier than scheduled”, Von der Leyen…

At least 3 killed, 6 injured in Mogadishu hotel attack: security sources

23 MOGADISHU, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A militant attack on a hotel in the Somali capital Mogadishu Sunday has left at least three people dead, a security source said. “So far three people, two of them civilians, and a security guard ware confirmed dead, but the death toll could be…