Argentine Lower House passes bill legalizing abortion; a harder battle forecasted in the Senate

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 14 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentina’s lower house of Congress has approved a bill to legalize abortion, a big step forward for the legislation that could set the tone for a wider shift in conservative Latin America. The draft law, which would allow the legal termination of pregnancies up…

UK and Brazil to boost economic relationship

LONDON, Dec 14 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — The UK and Brazil made agreements on financial services, taxation, sustainable growth and Green Finance, helping to boost jobs and investments for UK companies. The fourth Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) between the UK and Brazil saw the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and the Brazilian Economy…

Covid-19: Italy suffers 484 new deaths after surpassing Britain

A worker wearing protective garments sanitises the Duomo square ROME, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Italy reported 484 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday after surpassing Britain the previous day as the European country with the worst toll of fatalities. Sunday’s tally was down from 649 deaths reported on Saturday. There were 152,697…

Panama suspends flights by Venezuelan airlines in tit-for-tat measure

PANAMA CITY, Dec 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Flights by Venezuelan airlines to Panama would be cancelled beginning on Sunday until Panama receives “fair and equal” treatment, Panama’s aviation authority said in a statement. The authority said it took the measure after Venezuela restricted access to Panama’s Copa Airlines, saying that flights…

Covid-19: Algerian President says to “return home soon” from recovery in Germany

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune ALGIERS, Dec 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced that he “will soon return home” from his recovery process in Germany following contracting COVID-19 in October. The announcement came in a five-minute video Tebboune posted on his official Twitter account, the first appearance of the…

Covid-19: France sees slowdown in new cases, rise in hospitalization

A man wearing a face mask walks on the street in Paris PARIS, Dec 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Another 11,533 people in France tested positive for COVID-19 in a 24-hour span, the lowest daily tally this week, while more patients were admitted to hospital, ending a week-long decline in coronavirus-related hospitalization,…

Celebration in Laayoune after US adopts map of Morocco that includes Western Sahara

RABAT, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States adopted a “new official” map of Morocco that includes the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the ambassador to Rabat said.“This map is a tangible representation of President Trump’s bold proclamation two days ago — recognising Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara,” Ambassador David…

Nigeria: Pres Buhari condemns attack on Katsina school, students abducted

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ABUJA, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari condemned the bandits’ attack at the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State, where students were reportedly abducted.He has also directed men of the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force to go after the attackers…

African Union sides with Western Sahara on autonomy despite US decision

A man poses with a Western Saharan flag as he takes part in a demonstration in support of the Sahraw ADDIS ABABA, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The African Union has maintained that the fate of Western Sahara must be decided by a referendum, even after the US endorsed Morocco’s control…

Covid-19 roundup: US to start vaccinating as Germany returns to partial lockdown

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States prepared to start its Covid-19 vaccination program on Monday as the nation’s death toll edged towards 300,000, while Germany announced a partial lockdown over the holidays due to an explosion of cases. Delivery trucks with special refrigeration equipment rolled out of a…