Mexico calls for cooperation between LatAm, EU in response to COVID-19

MEXICO CITY, Dec 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mexico, the president pro tempore of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), called for cooperation between the region and the European Union (EU) to mitigate economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, speaking on…

Almost 2 bln people depend on health care facilities without basic water services: WHO, UNICEF

UNITED NATIONS, Dec 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Around 1.8 billion people are at heightened risk of COVID-19 and other diseases because they use or work in health care facilities without basic water services, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said. The report – Global progress…

Technical meeting on critical Libyan economic reforms held in Geneva

Technical meeting on critical reforms of the Libyan economy kicks off in Geneva TRIPOLI, Dec 15 (NNN-Xinhua) — Acting Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General for Libya, Stephanie Williams, held a technical meeting on critical reforms of the Libyan economy in Geneva, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)…

Update: Biden says Trump ‘refused to respect the will of the people’

WILMINGTON (Delaware, US), Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President-elect Joe Biden tore into Donald Trump with his strongest criticism since the election, saying the Republican had defied the constitution and the “will of the people” in not accepting the results. “It’s a position so extreme we’ve never seen it before. A…

South African Airways prepares to relaunch in 2021

PRETORIA, Dec 15 (NNN-SANEWS) — The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has announced an interim six-member South African Airways (SAA) board as the airline prepares to relaunch in 2021.In a statement, the department said Geoff Qhena will chair the board. The six are expected to restore proper governance and oversight…

US removes Sudan from ‘state sponsors of terrorism’ list

Sudan’s removal is effective Dec 14, 2020 KHARTOUM, Dec 15 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum said that Sudan had been removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that could help the African country get international loans to revive its battered economy and end…

Ivory Coast’s Ouattara sworn in for third term

Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara ABIDJAN, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara took the oath of office for a third term on Monday, urging the opposition to help “defuse tensions” ahead of general elections early next year.The solemn ceremony was attended by 13 African counterparts as well as former…

Covid-19: Nurse gets first shot as US begins vaccinations

NEW YORK, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States kicked off a mass vaccination drive Monday hoping to turn the tide on the world’s biggest coronavirus outbreak, as the country’s death toll neared a staggering 300,000. A nurse in New York became the first person in America to receive the…

Brexit: EU chief says there is ‘movement’ in talks

PARIS, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — EU chief Ursula von der Leyen expressedsatisfaction over talks with Britain to agree a post-Brexit tradepact, saying there was progress as negotiators entered the “last mile”. “First of all there is movement. That is good… We are talking about anew beginning with old friends,” she…

Electoral college: key states confirm Joe Biden’s victory in presidential election

 Georgia Democratic electors cast their electoral college votes at the state capitol on Dec 14 in Atlanta, Georgia WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Joe Biden was formally elected as the next president of the United States by members of the electoral college on Monday, all but ending Donald Trump’s unprecedented bid…