Colombia beefs up offensive against drug cartel

Colombian police and army carrying out checks at the La Sierra neighbourhood in Medellin, Colombia BOGOTA, May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Colombian government reinforced a nearly 50,000-strong military deployment against a drug cartel that has burned cars and threatened people as reprisal for the extradition of its leader to the…

Mexican president presses for end to US sanctions on Cuba

HAVANA, May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador called for an end to US sanctions against Cuba as he concluded a migration-themed tour of Central America and the Caribbean. During the trip, which has also taken him to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize, Lopez Obrador urged…

US: Wildfires continue to burn across New Mexico; about 275 square miles scorched, fueled by strong winds and high temperatures

Aircraft known as “super scoopers” battle the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon Fires in the Santa Fe National Forest in New Mexico SANTA FE, (New Mexico, US), May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Strong winds, high temperatures, and low humidity continued fanning the flames of a devastating wildfire that has already scorched more than 275…

South Sudan: First cholera outbreak since 2017 kills one

  JUBA, May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cholera has killed one child and infected 30 people in South Sudan, the first resurgence of the illness in nearly five years, health officials said. “The Ministry of Health would like to inform the public that the cholera outbreak has been declared in Rubkona county, Unity State,”…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: New US sanctions target Russian media, consultant services; G7 nations condemn Russia as Pres Putin says ” victory will be ours”

 WASHINGTON/MOSCOW, May 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States will sanction three major Russian television stations, and deny all Russian companies access to consulting and accounting services offered by US firms, according to a statement by the White House. The moves against Joint Stock Company Channel One Russia, Television Station Russia-1,…

Brazilian Pres Bolsonaro makes trip to Guyana to expand business opportunities

GEORGETOWN, May 8 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his Guyana counterpart Mohamed Irfaan Ali signed a series of cooperation agreements on mutual legal assistance in civil and criminal matters in Georgetown. The two leaders also discussed trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, defense, security, and regional and global issues as…

Covid-19: New lineage of Omicron variant circulating in Peru

LIMA, May 8 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Peru’s Health Ministry officials reported this week the finding of a new lineage of the SARS.CoV-2 Omicron variant called BA.1.22. “The new BA.1.22 lineage is a product of the natural evolution of the virus in the Peruvian population and has been identified mainly in the…

Eight cases of new hepatitis detected in Argentina, one in critical condition

BUENOS AIRES, May 8 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s health authorities are investigating 8 cases of acute hepatitis which are suspected of belonging to the new variant of unknown origin, Health Minister Carla Vizzotti confirmed. “There is an alert about cases of hepatitis that are emerging in the world,” Vizzotti said in…

Russia-Ukraine conflict: Global scramble for metals thrusts Africa into mining spotlight

CAPE TOWN, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The need to secure new sources of metals for the energy transition amid sanctions on top producer Russia has increased the Africa risk appetite for major miners, who have few alternatives to the resource-rich continent. Companies and investors are considering projects they may have…

Greek coastguard rescues over 100 migrants at sea

 ATHENS, May 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greece’s coastguard on Sunday said it had rescued 106 migrants including many children from a half-sunken sailing boat on the Aegean Sea.   A coastguard statement said the migrants were found late on Saturday near the southeastern island of Kos, a short distance from the…