Brazil, Paraguay gradually reopening common border

 International Friendship Bridge BRASILIA, Oct 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Brazil and Paraguay have begun the process of gradually reopening the common border, according to a joint statement released by the Brazilian and Paraguayan governments. The border posts of Foz do Iguacu-Ciudad del Este, Ponta Pora-Pedro Juan Caballero, and Mundo Novo-Saltos del…

Covid-19: Iran’s cases near 520,000; Israel to partially lift month-long lockdown

CAIRO, Oct 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — IRAN reported 4,616 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, raising the total confirmed cases in the country to 517,835. Meanwhile, the Israeli government decided to partially lift the nationwide lockdown on Oct. 18. The pandemic has so far claimed 29,605 lives in Iran, the hardest-hit country…

UN welcomes arrest of Libyan smuggler

TRIPOLI, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday welcomed the arrest of a Libyan human and fuel smuggler by Libya’s UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA). “UNSMIL welcomes yesterday’s arrest of Abd Al-Rahman Milad, commonly known as ‘al-Bija’ by GNA law enforcement agencies.…

Cambodia: 13 killed, over 12,000 evacuated due to flash floods

A flooded street in Dangkor district in the Southwestern suburb of Phnom Penh PHNOM PENH, Oct 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — Thirteen people have been killed and 12,376 others evacuated in Cambodia after tropical storm-triggered rains caused floods in 19 of the kingdom’s 25 cities and provinces, a spokesman said. Seak Vichet,…

China to strike back at US threat of sanctions on int’l financial institutions over Hong Kong

BEIJING, Oct 16 (NNN-Xinhua) — China expressed firm opposition to and denunciation of the US side creating the so-called “Hong Kong Autonomy Act,” and sanctioning Chinese personnel based on it, vowing countermeasures “if the US is bent on going this way.” That came after the US State Department’s recent warning…

EU leaders tell London to budge on post-Brexit deal, drawing UK anger

BRUSSELS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — European leaders on Thursday demanded Britain urgently give ground on fair trade rules to unblock stalled post-Brexit negotiations, angering London and putting the fate of the talks in jeopardy. The 27 bloc leaders arrived for a summit in Brussels expressing cautiousoptimism but, in their written…

Ex-Mexican defense minister arrested in US: FM

Salvador Cienfuegos was Mexican defense minister from 2012 to 2018 under ex-president Enrique Pena Nieto MEXICO CITY, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Mexican defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos has been arrested in the United States on undisclosed charges, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said. Ebrard said on Twitter that he had been…

Covid-19: Singapore Airlines sells out meals on parked plane – new business model to make up for lost revenues

SINGAPORE, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Singapore diners have jumped at the opportunity to have lunch on a stationary Airbus A380 parked at the city’s main airport. Despite a price tag of up to $496, the first two seating dates sold out within half an hour. The airline has added two…

EU can impose around US$4 billion in tariffs on US goods – WTO

The European Union won the right to impose tariffs on about US$4 billion of US goods GENEVA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled the EU can impose tariffs on about US$4 billion worth of US goods in retaliation for subsidies granted to aircraft maker Boeing. The…

Covid-19: Uganda reopens schools for final year students

Learners are maintaining social distance in classrooms KAMPALA, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Schools in Uganda have reopened for final year students, seven months after all education institutions in the country were closed as a coronavirus preventive measure. Final year students in higher education institutions are also resuming face-to-face learning. The…