WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States has recorded more than 20 million cases of Covid-19, Johns Hopkins University said, as the New Year brought another grim milestone underlining the country’s struggle to quell the virus. The US has so far registered 20,007,149 cases and 346,408 deaths in the…

WASHINGTON, Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump has extended a suspension on issuing certain work visas and green cards through the end of March, justifying the measure as a means to shore up jobs for US citizens amid the coronavirus pandemic.Allowing immigrant workers into the country would “pose…

MILWAUKEE (Wisconsin, US), Jan 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A since-fired Wisconsin hospital worker was arrested for removing more than 500 doses of Covid-19 vaccine from refrigeration, causing them to spoil, police said.A police statement said the suspect was charged after “tampering with and causing the destruction of 57 vials containing approximately…

QUITO, Jan 1 (NNN-TELESUR) — Ecuador’s National Electoral Council (CNE) approved 799 people who will participate as national observers to the elections set to take place on Feb. 7.   CNE officials noted that 789 citizens, two foreigners residing in the country, and eight Ecuadorians residing abroad, were selected as observers, while 139 media…

SANTO DOMINGO, Jan 1 (NNN-TELESUR) — Dominican Republic’s Congress Wednesday passed a bill to prohibit child marriage in the Caribbean nation. The document catalogs early marriage as “a harmful practice that limits children’s s opportunities for development and access to education.” The Executive Branch will discuss the norm that states…

OTTAWA, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Canadian lawmaker resigned afterbeing caught taking a family vacation in the sunny Caribbean while hiscompatriots were urged to avoid non-essential travel during a strict pandemic lockdown. Ontario’s finance minister, Rod Phillips, apologized for his “dumb, dumbmistake,” telling reporters upon arrival at the Toronto airport:…

WEST PALM BEACH (Florida, US), Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump wound up his vacation at his Florida resort, isolated,angry and with his power slipping away. Two months after losing the US presidential election to Joe Biden, the 74-year-old Trump is still refusing to admit his defeat. He spent…

CHICAGO, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Demonstrators marched through the frigid streets of Chicago Thursday in memory of victims of gun violence, which rose dramatically in the third-largest US city in 2020. Police in the Windy City recorded 762 homicides in 2020, up 55 percent from 2019, according to a Dec…

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil rang in the New Year withRio de Janeiro’s famed Copacabana beach nearly empty — the usual swarms of revelers kept away by police because of the pandemic — and pot-banging protests against President Jair Bolsonaro. Rio usually hosts one of the world’s…

Joe Biden, US president-elect WASHINGTON, Jan 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President-elect Joe Biden announced additional nominations to fill the posts in the Department of Defense, days after he blamed current Pentagon officials for obstructing the presidential transition.The Biden transition team announced on its website that Kathleen Hicks has been nominated…