21 journalists victims of ‘reprisal’ killings in 2020: Watchdog

NEW YORK, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  At least 21 journalists have been victims of reprisal killings so far this year, more than double the number from last year, the Committee to Protect Journalists said in a report. A total of 30 journalists were killed in the line of duty in…

Update: EU starts to ease bans over UK virus strain; WHO to meet

LONDON, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Europe on Wednesday began lifting travel bans on Britain put in place to contain a new fast-spreading Covid strain while WHO experts were set to meet on a response to it. The new coronavirus variant has swept the UK and spurred global panic just as…

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro’s Mayor Marcelo Crivella arrested for corruption

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — The mayor of Rio de Janeiro and evangelist pastor, Marcelo Crivella, who is accused of corruption linked to the municipal tourism company Riotur, was arrested on Tuesday in a joint police operation with the participation of the state prosecutor’s office. Marcelo Crivella, an ally…

Covid-19: Panama installs freezers to protect vaccines

PANAMA CITY, Dec 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — Panama’s Health Ministry (Minsa) on Tuesday announced the purchase of four freezers to store the first batch of the  Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. Minsa informed that two of those freezers are located at the Gorgas Memorial Institute for Health Research (Icges), another in Divisa central region, and the fourth…

Over 5,000 Guatemalans remain in shelters after hurricanes ETA and Iota

GUATEMALA CITY, Dec 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conred) offered an update on damages caused by hurricanes Iota and Eta, highlighting that over 5,000 people are still in public shelters since November. Heavy rain and flooding caused by hurricanes Eta and Iota left 61 dead and 99 people…

Covid-19: Venezuela receives Chinese medical supplies to fight pandemic

Vice President Delcy Rodriguez (R) and Ambassador Li Baorong (L) CARACCAS, Dec 23 (NNN-TELESUR) — Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez on Tuesday welcomed the arrival of medical supplies donated by China to support the fight against the pandemic. After pointing out that it was the ninth shipment sent by Chinese authorities, she recalled…

Covid-19: Brazil’s trials indicate Chinese vaccine is effective, according to US media

SAO PAULO, Dec 23 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Chinese vaccine maker Sinovac Biotech Ltd’s Covid-19 vaccine has shown to be effective in late-stage trials in Brazil, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people involved in the vaccine’s development. Sao Paulo state’s Butantan Institute, which is organizing the late-stage trials of…

Covid-19: Chilean army base in Antarctica detects 36 positive cases; Navy support vessel blamed

SANTIAGO, Dec 23 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — A coronavirus outbreak with 36 positive tests was reported at a Chilean Army base in Antarctica, the only continent, up to now, free of the virus. The army’s Monday release said that at the Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme base, following suspicions, swabbing testing was practiced in…

US: Pres Trump pardons two linked to Russia probe, list of others

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump granted pardons to two people linked to a probe into alleged collusion between his campaign and Russia along with a list of others. The moves come as the outgoing Republican continues to refuse to concede defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in…

Pakistani human rights activist found dead in Canada; no suspicious circmstances, says police

TORONTO, Dec 23 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Pakistani human rights activist who had fled to Canada has been found dead in Toronto, Canadian police said. Karima Mehrab, who was also known as Karima Baloch, had escaped to Canada in 2015 after the Pakistani government accused her of terrorism. “It is currently…