Prime Minister Johnson tells UK to ‘get ready’ for no-deal Brexit collapse

LONDON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson vowed to go the “extra mile” for a Brexit trade deal but instructed his government to prepare for Britain to crash out of the European Union’s single market at the end of this year. The gloom deepened over the drawn-out Brexit saga…

Singapore to unilaterally lift border restrictions to travellers from Taiwan from Dec 18

Visitors from Taiwan will now be able to apply for an air travel pass for entry into Singapore from Dec 18 SINGAPORE, Dec 11 (NNN-CNA) — Singapore will lift border restrictions for visitors from Taiwan from Dec 18, said the Civil Aviation Authority (CAAS). With immediate effect, travellers can apply…

Libya, UK discuss cooperation, support for peace path

TRIPOLI, Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Thursday met with British Ambassador to Libya Nicholas Hopton here on strengthening cooperation and support for Libya’s peace path. The meeting addressed multiple issues, “particularly the contribution of British companies and institutions in fields of health, education, human…

Afghanistan, Iran inaugurate cross-border railway

HERAT (Afghanistan), Dec 11 (NNN-Xinhua) — Afghanistan and Iran jointly inaugurated a main railway after two freight trains officially traveled along Herat-Khaf railway project, linking Afghanistan’s western Herat province with Khaf city of Iran, general director of Afghanistan railway authority said. “The Herat-Khaf railway project is inaugurated Thursday with a…

South Sudan’s presidency okays completion of unity government

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar after their peace talk at the State House in Juba JUBA, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Representatives of South Sudan’s parties to the 2018 revitalized peace agreement have agreed to end the prolonged stalemate on formation of states governments and reconstitution of the…

Covid-19: Pres Bolsonaro says Brazil at ‘tail end’ of pandemic

BRASILIA, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Jair Bolsonaro said Brazil was at the “tail end” of the coronavirus pandemic, despite a surge ininfections and deaths that many experts are calling a second wave. “We’re at the tail end of the pandemic. Compared to other countries in theworld, our government was…

Cuba will unify its two currencies as of Jan 1: president

HAVANA, Dec 11 (NNN AGENCIES) — Cuba will unify its two currencies, theCuban peso and convertible peso, as of Jan 1, ending a unique system thathas existed for nearly three decades, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said. “We consider the conditions met to announce the start of this reformbeginning January 1, 2021,…

Covid-18: US experts vote to approve Pfizer vaccine

WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US experts voted Thursday to recommend granting emergency approval for Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine, paving the way for America to become the next country to move ahead with mass immunization. It comes as the worst-hit country in the world logged more than 3,000 virusdeaths in one…

US Pres-elect Joe Biden and Vice-Pres-elect Kamala Harris named Time ‘Person of the Year’

NEW YORK, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have been chosen as Time magazine’s 2020“Person of the Year,” the publication announced. The pair were chosen ahead of three other finalists: frontline health careworkers and Anthony Fauci, the racial justice movement, and President Donald…

Guinea-Bissau: Death Of 2,000 rare vultures linked to rituals

Guinea-Bissau is home to around 22% of the critically endangered hooded vultures  BISSAU, Dec 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The deaths of more than 2,000 hooded vultures in Guinea-Bissau this year has been linked to superstitious rituals. A researcher Mohammed Henriques told the French public radio, RFI, that heads, legs and claws of the vultures…