Bangladesh to ink agreement with Algeria to increase bilateral trade

DHAKA, Aug 14 (NNN-BSS) –Bangladeshi Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said Bangladesh and Algeria have agreed to ink an agreement to increase bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two friendly nations. “Algeria is a friend of Bangladesh. An agreement was inked between the two countries in 1973 to increase trade…

US Pres Trump says Hong Kong can ‘never succeed’ under China control

WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump saidthat Hong Kong’s global financial center will “go to hell”under tightened Chinese rule. “Hong Kong can never succeed having China as opposed to thethousands of geniuses that ran it, having China run it,” Trump toldFox Business news. “The Hong Kong markets…

Covid-19: European virus surge due to relaxed behaviour – WHO

COPENHAGEN, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A combination of easedrestrictions, less strict rule-following in summer and increasedtesting explains the rising number of COVID-19 cases seen aroundEurope, the European chapter of the World Health Organization (WHO)said. Nevertheless, deaths have not kept pace even as countries aroundEurope have seen an increase in cases.…

Covid-19: Global coronavirus deaths top 750,000

PARIS, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The coronavirus pandemic has killedmore than 750,000 people worldwide since it first emerged in China inDecember. A total of 750,003 deaths have been recorded, out of 20,667,684cases across the globe. The Americas and the Caribbean were the hardest hit region with228,572 fatalities. Almost half of…

Over 60 journalists detained after election in Belarus

MINSK, August 14 (NNN-TASS) — Belarusian security agencies have detained 64 journalists covering protests following the Aug 9 presidential election, the Belarusian Association of Journalists said. According to the NGO, 24 reporters were held on Aug 9, 20 others on Aug 10, 12 more on Aug 11 and another eight…

Lebanon lawmakers debate emergency imposed after blast

A Lebanese man talking on the phone while seated by the rubble of a destroyed building in Beirut. BEIRUT, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lebanon’s parliament convened Thursday to approve a two-week state of emergency in Beirut declared by the government following a deadly explosion that has reignited angry street protests.…

Flight warning as Indonesia’s Mt Sinabung erupts again

JAKARTA, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indonesia’s Mount Sinabung erupted again with a string of blasts that sent plumes of ash two kilometres into the sky, triggering a flight warning and fears of lava flows. The activity marked at least the eighth time that the rumbling volcano on Sumatra island has…

Bangladesh proposes to host D-8 summit virtually in December or January

DHAKA, Aug 14 (NNN-BSS) — Dhaka has conveyed that Bangladesh would like to host the 10th D-8 Summit and its ancillary events ‘virtually’ in December 2020 or January 2021 in the context of COVID-19 pandemic scenario. The proposal was placed at the Special Session of the D-8 Commissioners’ Meeting preparatory…

Covid-19: Argentina and Mexico will produce and distribute the Oxford University vaccine in Latin America

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 13 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — President Alberto Fernández, announced that Argentina together with Mexico, will produce for Latin America the coronavirus vaccine developed by the AstraZeneca laboratory in collaboration with the British University of Oxford. “We hope as soon as possible to start the production process” Fernández said at…

Ecuador expects shrimp exports to China to resume soon after Covid-19 dispute

QUITO, Aug 13 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Ecuador expects a quick resolution to a trade dispute with China over traces of coronavirus in a container of exported shrimp that led Beijing to suspend imports from three companies, Ecuador’s production and trade minister said. Chinese officials last month said they found six positive…