Bolivia resumes diplomatic ties with Iran, Venezuela

Bolivia’s President Luis Arce LA PAZ, Nov 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Bolivian government of President Luis Arce resumed diplomatic relations with Iran and Venezuela, Bolivia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed on Wednesday. Both Iran and Venezuela have immediately appointed their ambassadors to Bolivia, a year after Bolivia’s opposition-backed interim government, led…

Covid-19: Chinese peacekeepers donate supplies to South Sudan’s police for pandemic fight

Airport workers unload medical supplies donated by Chinese government at Juba International Airport, South Sudan JUBA, Nov 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Chinese peacekeepers donated materials to help South Sudan’s Central Equatoria regional police boost the fight against COVID-19, the Chinese embassy in South Sudan said. Chinese UN police (UNPOL) serving…

Covid-19: Confirmed cases in Italy exceeds 1 million

People wearing face masks talk on a street in Rome as COVID-19 cases in Italy exceeded one million on Wednesday ROME, Nov 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The COVID-19 cases in Italy exceeded one million on Wednesday, official statistics by the Health Ministry showed. Some 32,961 new cases were registered on a…

Covid-19: Czechs open schools for youngest kids in first easing after infections slow down

PRAGUE, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Czech government said it would reopen elementary schools for first and second graders next week as the growth in the number of coronavirus infections has started to slow down. “On November 18, the pupils of first and second grades will return to schools,” Education…

Covid-19: US reports record daily increase of 134,383 cases

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The United States reported 134,383 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, a record daily increase since the onset of the pandemic in the country, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday. The figure refreshed the previous nationwide record of 117,988 cases set on…

US: Pres-elect Biden presses ahead with transition, names chief of staff

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden pressed ahead with his transition despite Donald Trump’s refusal to acknowledge defeat, naming a seasoned Democratic operative as chief of staff in his first public White House personnel choice. Biden tapped longtime aide Ron Klain, who previously served as his first…

EU slaps tariffs on US ketchup, rum and tractors in aircraft dispute

BRUSSELS, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union impose tit-for-tat tariffs on US products worth 4 billion dollars (3.37 billion euros) in the long-running battle surrounding aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. A recent World Trade Organization ruling permitted the EU to impose tariffs, European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said.…

Mexican journalist gunned down while covering a news story, 3rd in a month

Vazquez suffered a perforated lung and underwent surgery but did not survive SALAMANCA (Mexico), Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Mexican journalist was gunned down while covering a news story in the city of Salamanca on Monday and died in hospital several hours later, his publishers confirmed.Israel Vazquez worked for the…

Long sentences for smuggling cocaine into Germany via banana crates

Six men were found guilty of smuggling almost 500 kilograms of cocaine into Germany BERLIN, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A German court handed down lengthy prison sentences to six men found guilty of smuggling almost 500 kilograms of cocaine into the country in banana crates.Five of the men were caught…

Bolivia’s ex-president Evo Morales returns from exile

Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales LA PAZ, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales returned from exile in Argentina on Monday, shortly after his ally Luis Arce was sworn in as Bolivia’s president.“I was sure I would return but not so soon,” Morales was quoted as saying by…