PM Johnson faces UK election test as Brexit battle looms

LONDON, Aug 2 (NNN-BSS/AFP) – Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces his first test at the ballot box in a by-election that could reduce his parliamentary majority to one, making it harder to enact his Brexit plan. Just over a week after he took office as prime minister, Johnson’s governing…

Yemen: 17 police killed in rebel attack on Aden – medics

ADEN, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 17 Yemeni police were killed and scores wounded in a Shiite rebel attack on a military camp near the government-held second city of Aden, a medical source said. The Shiites who control the capital said that the attack on Al-Jala camp, about 20…

US poised to formally abandon INF missile treaty

WASHINGTON, Aug 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States will officially withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty on Friday, clearing the way for a new arms race with Russia — and throwing China into the mix. The treaty — concluded by then US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader…

Saudi Arabia: 1,336,426 foreign pilgrims arrive for Hajj

RIYADH, Aug 2 (NNN-SPA) — The number of pilgrims who have so far arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj rituals from abroad through air, land and sea ports, stood at 1,336,426 pilgrims, according to statistics issued by the General Directorate of Passports. The Directorate said that…

Eid celebrations: Bangladesh cancels leave for shipping ministry officials

DHAKA, Aug 2 (NNN-BSS) — The Bangladesh government cancelled Eid leave for all the officials of the shipping ministry and its three agencies to ensure hassle-free journey of the holidaymakers through waterway and due to the countrywide flood situation. Leave of all the officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority…

Peru confident on double digit growth in foreign tourism for 2020

LIMA, July 31 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Tourism in Peru is bound to experience a double-digit growth thanks to President Martín Vizcarra’s policies, according to the country’s Chamber of Turism CEO Carlos Canales.  “This government has taken more actions to boost the growth of the tourism sector. Thanks to the installation of…

Pres Maduro’s government keeps flying voluntary refugees back to Venezuela

CARACAS, July 31 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Return to the Fatherland flights for migrants who want to return to Venezuela will resume Tuesday and Wednesday, Pres Nicolás Maduro administration announced.  A total 79 flights have been carried out since the beginning of the emergency plan, mainly 34 from Ecuador and 32 from…

U.S. move to resume death penalty bucks trend – U.N

GENEVA, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations human rights office said the Trump administration’s decision to reinstate the death penalty at the federal level goes against the domestic and international trend to abolish or halt executions. The U.S. Justice Department last Thursday reinstated a two-decades-long dormant policy allowing the…

Nicaragua grants citizenship to embattled ex-Salvadoran president

Former president of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes MANAGUA, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes has been granted Nicaraguan citizenship, according to a decree published on Tuesday in the Nicaraguan government registry. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who began his term in June, vowed to bring Funes back to…

Mexico says migrant numbers at U.S. border down 40% since May

MEXICO CITY, July 31 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of migrants reaching Mexico’s border with the United States has fallen almost 40% since May, the Mexican government said. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that according to a preliminary estimate, 87,648 people would reach the U.S. border during July. That would represent…