Covid-19: Italy says face masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors from June 28

 ROME, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Facemasks will no longer be compulsory outdoors in Italy, one of the countries in Europe worst hit by the coronavirus, from June 28, the health ministry said. The lifting of the mask requirement would come into effect in regions labelled “white” under Italy’s classification system…

Brazil Congress green-lights Eletrobras privatization

  BRASILIA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s Congress passed a billMonday paving the way to privatize the biggest electric utility in LatinAmerica, state-controlled company Eletrobras, a victory for President Jair Bolsonaro’s privatization agenda.    The bill, which sets up a share issue that will dilute the government’sstake in the company,…

Covid-19: Cuban vaccine Abdala 92 percent ‘effective’, maker says

 HAVANA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cuba’s Abdala coronavirus candidate vaccine showed “efficacy” of more than 92 percent after three doses, its maker said, though it did not specify whether this was measured against infection, disease, or death. Cuba is working on five coronavirus vaccines, and last month started immunizing its…

El Salvador orders probe into people who disappeared in 1980-92 civil war

 SAN SALVADOR, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — El Salvador’s Supreme Court ordered the attorney general’s office to investigate the forced disappearance of three people during the 12-year civil war (1980-1992) and to punish those responsible. The decision by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court came after a writ of habeas…

Covid-19: Colombia death toll tops 100,000

 BOGOTA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Colombia’s death toll from Covid-19 passed the 100,000 mark on Monday with a new 24-hour record of almost 650 deaths, the health ministry said. After three weeks of demonstrations that have brought thousands of people into the streets to protest the government of conservative President…

Covid-19: British scientists warn further lockdowns possible in tough winter

LONDON, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An emergence of new respiratory viruses means a “pretty miserable winter” is ahead for the UK with further lockdowns a possibility, scientists have warned.Professor Calum Semple, member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which advises the Government, has said that children and elderly…

Chile will draft new constitution from July 4 – Pres Pinera

Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera SANTIAGO, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Constitutional Convention of Chile will be installed on July 4, with the first session of its 155 members, who will begin drafting the new Magna Carta, which will replace the current one, inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990).President Sebastián Piñera…

Nicaraguan police announces arrest of fifth presidential candidate

f Presidential candidate of Nicaragua, Miguel Mora MANAGUA, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The pre-candidate for the presidency of Nicaragua, Miguel Mora, was arrested on Sunday in an investigation for crimes against sovereignty, the fifth candidate for the position of head of state in the November elections to experience the situation,…

Gunmen kill 15 in Mexico-US border town

State police, the army and the National Guard were all mobilized following the killings CIUDAD VICTORIA (MEXICO), June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fear has invaded the Mexican border city of Reynosa after gunmen in vehicles killed 14 people, including taxis drivers, workers and a nursing student, and security forces responded with…

Libya reopens highway linking its east and west, closed since 2019

Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah (C) attends a reopening ceremony of a coastal road in Sirte TRIPOLI, June 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Libya’s interim authorities reopened the Mediterranean coastal highway linking the country’s long-divided eastern and western cities on Sunday in the latest bid to reunite the land after years…