Peru: Defense Minister tenders resignation

LIMA, Dec 4 (NNN-ADNINA) — Peruvian Defense Minister Daniel Barragan on Saturday submitted his irrevocable resignation from office and expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic Pedro Castillo. In a letter addressed to the Head of State, the former Air Force officer explained that his resignation is due to “strictly personal”…

Fifth wave of COVID-19 reported having started in Paraguay

ASUNCION, Dec 3 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Paraguayan health authorities Friday reported the beginning of the fifth wave of COVID-19 in the country, where 621 new cases have been confirmed.  Epidemiological Surveillance Director Guillermo Sequera said in a press conference that at least one person had died recently from causes associated with…

Ecuador seeks to protect unique Galapagos birds from flu

QUITO, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ecuador has put in place a plan to try and protect its unique wild bird species on the Galapagos islands from the H5N1 virus also rampaging through Europe and North America. The bird flu virus reached South America via migratory wild birds in recent weeks,…

US adds Cuba, Nicaragua, Wagner Group to religious freedom blacklist

Secretary of State Antony Blinken WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States added Latin American adversaries Cuba and Nicaragua as well as Russia’s Wagner Group to a blacklist on international religious freedom, opening the path to potential sanctions. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Wagner Group was being…

French railroad controllers go on strike for better work conditions

PARIS, Dec 3 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — France’s state-owned railway company (SNFC) canceled 60 percent of long-distance trains for this weekend due to the controllers’ strike in demand of better work conditions.     About 10,000 controllers are called to the strike, which will last in principle until Sunday, and will affect high-speed…

Cuba reports increase in tourist arrivals, according to ONEI

HAVANA, Dec 3 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — The National Office of Statistics and Information of Cuba (ONEI) reported an increase in tourist arrivals that justifies authorities’ efforts to boost tourism.     The report points out that up to October, 1,729,098 foreign visitors arrived in Cuba, accounting for 540.4 percent compared to the…

El Salvador reports an increase in Covid-19-related deaths; Dom Rep to resume wearing facemasks

SAN SALVADOR, Dec 3 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — El Salvador has reported an increase in Covid-19-related deaths in the last few weeks, as 36 deaths were reported in November, authorities said on Friday.     Sources from the Ministry of Health (MINSAL) reported 36 deaths, 18 of which occurred in the last week…

Peru enters fifth wave of COVID-19 pandemic

LIMA, Dec 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peru entered into its fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic after an increase of infectious cases in most regions in the past three weeks, Peruvian Health Minister Kelly Portalatino said. A total of 6,541 new infections were detected, and nine deaths were reported between Tuesday…

Czech detects 1st African swine fever case in 5 yrs

PRAGUE, Dec 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Czech Republic confirmed its first case of African swine fever for the first time in almost five years and veterinarians were taking measures to prevent its spread, the Czech Ministry of Agriculture said on Friday. The disease was detected in a dead wild piglet…

Nigeria confirms resumption of passenger train service suspended following attack

ABUJA, Dec 3 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Nigerian government has announced that passenger train service between the capital city Abuja and the northern city Kaduna would resume early next week, about eight months after it was suspended after an attack on a train along the route at the end of March.…