Brasil: Pres Bolsonaro’s approval ratings on the rise while disapproval plunges ten points

BRASILIA, Aug 17 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro received the best approval rating of his term, boosted by his popularity among recipients of COVID-19 stimulus payments despite the carnage the pandemic has caused in Brazil. The far-right leader’s approval rating surged five points from June, to 37%, while his…

Covid-19: ‘Virus does not exists” hundreds protest in Madrid against restrictions

MADRID, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chanting “freedom”, hundreds of people rallied in Madrid to protest against the mandatory use of facemasks and other restrictions imposed by the Spanish government to contain the coronavirus pandemic. A crowd of clapping and cheering people gathered beneath an enormous yellow and red Spanish flag…

Covid-19: Ghana announces reopening of tertiary institutions amid pandemic

President Nana Akufo-Addo ACCRA, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that tertiary institutions in the country will reopen on Aug 24 for students who have yet to complete the academic year. The government will put in place necessary preventive measures to allow students to return…

Covid-19: Over 30 countries’ daily cases surpass 1,000 – WHO

GENEVA, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — More than 30 countries reported a daily COVID-19 caseload over 1,000, according to a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Among the countries, four topped the list with over 10,000 new daily cases, according to the data received by the WHO from national…

Dominican Republic’s new president pledges to fight pandemic, corruption

 Luis Abinader has been sworn in as the new Dominican Republic president SANTO DOMINGO, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — Luis Abinader, the Dominican Republic’s new president, pledged to strengthen healthcare amid the COVID-19 pandemic and fight corruption, during his first presidential speech. “COVID-19 has exposed the country’s serious institutional weakness ……

Covid-19: US cases surpass 5.4 mln – Johns Hopkins University

People wearing face masks walk on a street in Washington NEW YORK, Aug 17 (NNN-Xinhua) — The total number of COVID-19 cases in the United States surpassed 5.4 million on Sunday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. The US case count rose…

Covid-19: Italy shuts discos, orders mask wearing at night in public

ROME, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Faced with an uptick in coronavirus cases blamed in part on young partygoers, Italy ordered the three-week closure of all dance venues. In a decree signed by Health Minister Roberto Speranza, the government also said that from 6 pm to 6 am, the wearing of…

Russia, US discuss 7-state summit on Iran

MOSCOW, Aug 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the proposal of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a seven-state summit on Iran. On Friday, Putin proposed holding an urgent online meeting of the heads of the five permanent members of…

EU urges Turkey to halt gas hunt in east Mediterranean

BRUSSELS, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union urged Turkey to “immediately” stop exploring for gas in a disputed area of the eastern Mediterranean, as tensions rise with other countries in the region. The call came after Ankara said it planned to extend its search by drilling off the southwestern…

Ship that oozed oil off Mauritius coast splits in two

PORT LOUIS, Aug 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A ship that has leaked more than 1,000 tonnes of oil in pristine waters off the Mauritius coast has split into two, its Japanese operator said. The bulk carrier MK Wakashio ran aground on a coral reef off the southeastern coast of Mauritius on…