Kenya and UK sign trade deal following Britain departure from EU

UK’s Trade Minister Ranil Jayawardena and Kenya’s Trade Cabinet Secretary Betty Maina in London LONDON, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Kenya and the United Kingdom formally signed a trade agreement ending an era of doing business through protocols of the European Union, from which London will be exiting by the end…

Ethiopia-Tigray unrest: Govt admits forces ‘shot at’ UN team in Tigray

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ADDIS ABABA, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Ethiopian spokesman admitted that government forces fired on a UN team for ignoring instructions and driving through government checkpoints in the northern region of Tigray.“Some of the UN staff were actually detained and some were shot at,” said…

Liberians voted Tuesday in crucial mid-term elections, referendum on president term

Liberia’s President George Weah MONROVIA, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberians went to the polls on Tuesday to vote on a series of issues, including a referendum to reduce the number of years per term for the president.The vote is part of the midterm election in the West African country, which…

Ghana elections: Two political parties claim early lead as Ghanaians await poll results

ACCRA, Dec 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — As Ghanaians anxiously awaited the results of presidential and parliamentary elections, the two top political parties claimed victory, even as the Electoral Commission warned parties and the media against declaring results.Me Jean Mensa, the head of the Electoral Commission, said the agency is the only one allowed by law…

Ethiopia: ‘Active’ army campaign in Tigray over, says Ethiopia’s PM

ADDIS ABABA, Dec 8 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — The Ethiopian government says the “active phase” of military operations in Tigray is over, following the capture of the regional capital Mekelle. Addis Ababa on Monday questioned the ability of the rebel administration to mount a guerrilla war, while a UN security team was…

Curbing Amazon deforestation conditions EU/Mercosur trade deal: EU envoy

BRASILIA, Dec 8 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Until Brazil makes a political commitment to curb deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, the trade deal between the European Union and South America’s Mercosur trade bloc will not advance toward ratification in Europe, the EU’s envoy in Brasilia said. Ambassador Ignacio Ybañez said in an…

Update: British grandmother is first in the world to get Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine outside trial

LONDON, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Margaret Keenan, a 90-year-old grandmother from Britain, has become the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine outside of a trial following its rapid clinical approval. She received the jab at her local hospital in Coventry, England, on Tuesday (Dec 8) morning…

Tanania: Zanzibar opposition agrees to serve in unity government

President John Magufuli ZANZIBAR, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Zanzibar’s opposition agreed to join the ruling party in a unity government on Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago, saying it wanted to promote peace despite its criticism of a recent election.The opposition ACT-Wazalendo party had disputed the results of the Oct 28 elections on…

Covid-19: Italy’s interior minister tests positive; two other ministers in self-isolation

Italy’s Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese ROME, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy’s Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Monday, the government said. Lamorgese submitted to a routine test in the morning and learned the results while attending a meeting of government ministers in the afternoon, said…

Update: Boycott-tainted poll win gives Pres Maduro total control in Venezuela

CARACAS, Dec 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Nicolas Maduro hailed a “new dawn” in Venezuela as he celebrated his now total grip on power following a predictable triumph in polls boycotted by the opposition and slammed as a farce by international powers. Victory for Maduro’s ruling Socialist Party in Sunday’s legislative…