Covid-19: Pres Bolsonaro tells Brazil not to deal with pandemic ‘like fags’

BRASÍLIA, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Jair Bolsonaro drew criticism for telling Brazilians not to deal with Covid-19 like “a country of fags,” the far-right leader’s latest controversial outburst on the pandemic. Bolsonaro, who has consistently downplayed the virus even as it has killed 163,000 people in Brazil — the…

Peru’s speaker of congress takes over as 3rd president in 4 years

LIMA, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Speaker of Congress Manuel Merino assumed office as Peru’s third president in four years, amid street protests and market jitters after the impeachment of Martin Vizcarra over corruption allegations. Police clashed with demonstrators in the streets outside the Congress building in Lima as the little-known…

Covid-19: EU could see first vaccinations in early 2021 – health agency

STOCKHOLM, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The first vaccinations in the European Union against Covid-19 could take place in the first quarter of 2021 in an optimistic scenario, the head of the EU health agency said. “I think optimistically first quarter next year, but I can’t be more precise,” Andrea Ammon,…

Sec of State Pompeo confirms US sale of F-35 jets to UAE

WASHINGTON, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that the United States planned to sell top-of-the-line F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates as part of a $23.37 billion package. The State Department sent a formal notice to Congress on the sale of the stealth precision…

Russian peacekeepers head to Nagorno-Karabakh after peace deal

YEREVAN/BAKU, Nov 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian began deploying 2,000 peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh after Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed a peace deal to end weeks of fierce fighting over the disputed region. The Moscow-brokered agreement came after a string of Azerbaijani victories in its fight to retake the ethnic Armenian enclave. It…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro’s support in main cities eroding show latest surveys

BRASILIA, Nov 10 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s support has fallen in some of Brazil’s biggest cities, surveys said, suggesting a previous bump may be short-lived as the country still grapples with a brutal coronavirus outbreak. Previous polls have seen the conservative former army captain’s support rise, despite what…

S. Africa launches third COVID-19 vaccine trial

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — South Africa launched the country’s third COVID-19 vaccine trial, which tests whether an experimental vaccine can protect people from contracting the novel coronavirus or developing serious symptoms. Phase 3 ENSEMBLE trial with Janssen Pharmaceutica, owned by American multinational corporation Johnson & Johnson, is expected to…

Peruvian president says to leave office following Congress’s impeachment vote

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra, surrounded by members of his cabinet, spoke in front of the presidential palace in Lima after lawmakers voted to remove him from office on Monday LIMA, Nov 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said that he will not challenge the Congress’s impeachment decision and will…

EU hits US with tariffs, while hoping Pres-elect Biden will bring better ties

European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis BRUSSELS, Nov 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union will impose tariffs on imports of US$4 billion in US goods from Tuesday, while hoping that president-elect Joe Biden will foster a sharp improvement in transatlantic ties. The bloc will exercise the right to counter-measures awarded to it…

Spain Tuesday start trial of extremists linked to deadly 2017 van attack

People gather at an impromptu memorial where a van crashed into pedestrians at Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain Aug 24, 2017 MADRID, Nov 10 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s High Court on Tuesday open the trial of three suspected militants linked to a 2017 attack in Barcelona which killed 14 people: Spain’s…