US imposes sanctions on Venezuela election firm

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States imposed sanctions on a biometrics company that assisted voting in Venezuela’s parliamentary elections, which President Donald Trump’s administration says were rigged. Ex-Cle CA, the Venezuelan subsidiary of a company by a similar name in Argentina, has “millions of…

Update: UK coronavirus cases top 2 million as another 27,052 confirmed

LONDON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The number of coronavirus cases in Britain has surpassed 2 million as another 27,052 new cases were confirmed, according to official figures released Saturday. The total number of coronavirus cases in Britain now stands at 2,004,219, the data showed. The coronavirus-related deaths in Britain rose…

Covid-19: US reports all-time high daily case count of over 400,000

The soaring cases, deaths, hospitalizations came amid massive vaccine rollout in the country. WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United States has reported over 400,000 new COVID-19 cases in a single day on Friday, setting a gloomy new world record as the country is preparing distribution of second COVID-19 vaccine…

UN chief condemns attack in Somalia’s Galkayo

Violent extremists have carried out bombings in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on various occasions UNITED NATIONS, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the attack that took place in Galkayo on Friday, which resulted in heavy casualties. At least 10 people were reportedly…

Covid-19: UK PM announces new tighter restrictions for London, parts of England

Pedestrians and shoppers walks past shops on Piccadilly LONDON, Dec 20 (NNN-Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a new Tier Four of coronavirus restrictions for London and other parts of England to combat an alarming surge in infections linked to a new virulent strain. The planned…

Covid-19: German factory races to churn out virus syringes

BERLIN, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The battle against Covid-19has delivered not just a vaccine at record speed but also a spike in demandfor the billions of syringes needed to administer it. One German factory is already busily churning out the little plastic tubesand is confident global needs can be met.…

Covid-19: Canada surpasses 500,000 cases

MONTREAL, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada surpassed 500,000 coronavirus cases Saturday, according to official figures, recording a 25 percent increase in just two weeks. The country’s death toll since the beginning of the pandemic stands at14,128, according to regional figures quoted by broadcaster CBC. As in other countries, the pandemic…

US Pres-elect Biden and Mexico leader discuss migration

WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden toldMexico’s president he was committed to addressing the root causes ofpoor Latino migrants crossing the border into America. Outgoing President Donald Trump made tightening the southern frontieragainst what he called the free and dangerous flow of people entering the US from…

Nigeria: Gunmen attack Emir’s convoy, kill eight as another attack kill seven including six-year-old

Among those killed are three policemen and the driver of the Toyota Hilux ABUJA, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Unidentified gunmen have attacked the convoy of the Emir of Kaura Namoda in Nigeria’s Zamfara State, Alhaji Sanusi Muhammad, killing eight people and injuring others.The accident, according to an eyewitness who escaped…

Sudan receives $20 million food donation from US

The US government has donated 65,000 tonnes of wheat to Sudan to help alleviate shortage of low-cost WASHINGTON, Dec 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government has fulfilled its November pledge of providing 65,000 tonnes of wheat to the Republic of Sudan.In a press statement, United States Agency for International Development…