Covid-19: Namibia signs up for global vaccine scheme COVAX

WINDHOEK, Nov 28 (NNN-XINHUA) — Namibia has approved an upfront payment of 26.4 million Namibian dollars (1.7 million U.S. dollars) to the COVAX global COVID-19 vaccine distribution scheme, senior health ministry official Ben Nangombe said. Nangombe said the arid Southwest African nation plans to make the payment next week, which will give it access to…

Covid-19: Belgium to reopen shops from Dec 1

BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Belgium will allow shops to reopen from Dec 1, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said, but the country’ssemi-lockdown will remain in place to bring down coronavirus infections. “The situation in our country is improving… but it’s important to keep alid on things,” De Croo said,…

US sanctions Chinese, Russian firms over Iran dealings

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US announced economicsanctions on Chinese and Russian companies that Washington said had supported the development of Iran’s missile program. The four firms, accused of “transferring sensitive technology and items toIran’s missile program,” will be subject to restrictions on US government aidand on their exports…

US Pres Trump says he will leave office — if President-elect Biden victory is confirmed

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump said for the first time that he would leave the White House if Joe Biden isofficially confirmed the winner of the US election, even as he railed againstthe “rigged” vote. Trump has made an unprecedented attempt to defy the results of the…

Covid-19: Americans celebrate Thanksgiving under pall of pandemic

The Macy’s Turkey leads the parade during the Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Millions of Americans defied Covid-19 guidelines to spend a subdued Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. About a million people were screened at US airports each day over the lastweek, as…

CIA officer killed in Somalia: US media

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A CIA officer was killed in combat in Somalia in recent days, US media said without releasing details ofhow the agent died. The veteran officer was a member of the CIA’s Special Activities Center, aparamilitary branch that carries out some of the US intelligence agency’smost…

Ethiopia unrest: PM Abiy orders ‘final’ offensive against Tigray leaders

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Abiy Ahmedordered Ethiopia’s army to launch a “final” offensive against Tigray’sdissident leaders in their regional capital Mekele, saying the deadline fortheir surrender had expired. Abiy late Sunday gave the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) 72 hours to lay down their arms. The…

Belgium tries Iranian diplomat over bomb plot

BRUSSELS, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Iranian diplomat goes on trial inBelgium accused of plotting to bomb an opposition rally outsideParis, in a case that has stoked tensions with Tehran. In June 2018 Belgian authorities thwarted what they said was an attempt tosmuggle explosives to France to attack a meeting…

Battered by virus and oil slump, biofuels fall out of favour

LONDON, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Hit by the coronavirus pandemic and a sharp drop in oil prices, biofuel demand has declined for the first time intwo decades and may struggle to recover, according to experts. The production of biofuels for transport in 2020 is expected to decline11.6 percent on 2019…

Covid-19: Latest global developments

PARIS, Nov 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are some of the latest developments in the covid-19 crisis. More than 60.4 million people have been infected by Covid-19 and 1.4million died, according to official sources. More than 12,350 people died in the previous 24 hours, with 635,138 newcases reported worldwide. The US…