Venezuela: Pres Maduro shuffles military high command

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro (center) takes part in a ceremony to hand out promotions to military officersHandout CARACAS, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has shuffled his military high command but Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, a general, kept his post. Maduro’s political dominance in Venezuela is widely attributed…

US sees progress in reopening travel with EU

Tourists arrive in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in June 2020 as the European Union eased coronavirus travel restrictions that remain in place for Americans WASHINGTON, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he saw progress in reopening travel with the European Union shut by the coronavirus…

Update: Ukraine pins hopes on weather to beat deadly forest fires

More than 1,200 firefighters, rescue workers and National Guard are fighting fires in three locations SMOLYANYNOVE (Ukraine), July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forest fires in eastern Ukraine that have killed five people and left dozens homeless are being brought under control by firefighters, officials said. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said the situation…

US launches talks with Kenya on free trade pact

US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer WASHINGTON/NAIROBI, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US government formally launched talks with Kenya aimed at setting up a free trade agreement that could form the basis for deals with other African nations. “Kenya is a recognized leader across the continent, an important strategic partner of…

Update: US Pres Trump hails ‘outstanding relationship’ with Mexico president

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico and US President Donald Trump before a working dinner at the White House in Washington WASHINGTON, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump hailed his “outstanding relationship” with his Mexican counterpart Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as he welcomed him to the White House…

Covid-19: Brazil’s Pres Bolsonaro vetoes plans to offer support to indigenous people

A member of the Brazilian Armed Forces medical team examines a man from the Indigenous Yanomami ethnic group BRASILIA, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro vetoed provisions of a law that obligated the federal government to provide drinking water, disinfectants and a guarantee of hospital beds to indigenous…

Cholera outbreak kills 12 in South Cameroonian village

Red Cross volunteers mobilised to contain the spread of infection YAOUNDE, July 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — A cholera outbreak has killed 12 people in the fishing village of Londji in south Cameroon, local health authorities said Wednesday. Officials also announced 62 confirmed cases out of 83 suspected ones in the village…

Peru’s air force locates 7 victims of helicopter crash

Peru’s air force locates 7 victims of helicopter crash LIMA, July 9 (NNN-Xinhua) — Peru’s Air Force (FAP) said it located the remains of seven people whose MI-17 military helicopter disappeared over the Peruvian Amazon on Tuesday. After resuming the search and rescue operation earlier in the day, the FAP found…

Jihadists kill 23 soldiers in Nigeria ambush: sources

KANO (Nigeria), July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Militants killed 23 Nigerian soldiers in an ambush on a key road in the restive northeast of the country, security sources said. The troops were attacked on Tuesday by militants linked to the Daesh group some 40 kilometres outside regional capital Maiduguri. “On Tuesday…

Peru’s president calls general election for April 2021

LIMA, July 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra on Wednesday called a general election for April 11 of next year when he will step down as his country’s leader. His announcement formally marks the beginning of the process to hold presidential and legislative elections. “Fulfilling my commitment, here is…