Covid-19: Norway aims to lift most restrictions in September

OSLO, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Norway will lift the majority of its remaining Covid restrictions once all adults have been offered a vaccine, which is expected to be around Sept 6, the government said. The final step in the lifting of domestic restrictions, already postponed from the start of July,…

Algeria wildfires: Fire crews make headway as the nation holds second day of mourning for the 71 killed

         ALGIERS, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters battled wildfires still raging across northern Algeria Friday assisted by volunteers, but the deadly blazes in the worst-hit province of Tizi Ouzou were largely extinguished, the emergency services said. The North African country was observing a second day of national mourning for…

Spain wildfires: Firefighters bring northeastern blaze under control

MADRID, Aug 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Firefighters brought a wildfire in a forest in Spain’s northeastern region of Catalonia under control as scorching temperatures put most of the country at risk for blazes. A punishing heatwave has fanned wildfires across southern European in recent weeks, claiming lives in Greece, Italy and…

Haiti: General elections postponed to Nov 7

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Aug 13 (NNN-TELESUR) — Haiti’s Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced that the date of the first round of the presidential elections will change from Sept 26 to Nov 7. On this day, the parliamentary elections and the constitutional referendum will also take place. The elections for local authorities will…

Mexico declares drought emergency

MEXICO CITY, Aug 13 (NNN-EFE) — The National Water Commission (CONAGUA) declared the beginning of an emergency because of the occurrence of severe, extreme, or exceptional drought in the Mexican watersheds. This declaration will allow the authorities to establish transitory measures to guarantee the provision of water for domestic use,…

Covid-19: Cuba administered over 11 million doses of its vaccines

HAVANA, Aug 13 (NNN-TELESUR) — Cuba’s Ministry of Health reported that over 11 million doses have been administered in the country as its COVID-19 vaccination campaign advances. According to Ministry 4,705,414 people have received the first dose of the vaccines, which accounts for 42 percent of the population. Also, 25.9…

Covid-19: Argentina starts distributing Sputnik V vaccines produced locally

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 13 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Distribution of the Russian developed Sputnik V vaccine manufactured in Argentina started Thursday with the first batch of 1.14 million doses, it was reported. The lot includes 995,125 doses of component 1 and 152,500 doses of component 2 produced locally with ingredients supplied by…

Chile: Punta Arenas hit by hurricane force winds, half the city with no power

SANTIAGO, Aug 13 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Punta Arenas extreme south of Chile was hit on Thursday by hurricane-force winds that left a trail of blown roofs, half the city without power, the collapse of several walls, and uprooted trees in city streets.  Apparently the violent climate event took off at 11:00…

Covid-19: Opposition lawmakers to seek impeachment of Argentine President for violating quarantine he had decreed

BUENOS AIRES, Aug 13 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Argentine opposition lawmakers announced they would be seeking the impeachment of President Alberto Fernández after the image of him holding a party in violation of his own urgency emergency decree (DNU) capping attendants and mandating distancing protocols became public knowledge. A picture taken in…

Russia: WWF sounds alarm over ‘colossal’ Black Sea oil slick

Oil covers the beach on the Black Sea shore in Port Kavkaz MOSCOW, Aug 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian scientists sounded the alarm over a huge oil slick in the Black Sea, with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) saying at least 100 tonnes of oil have leaked off the city of…