Venezuelan court sentenced two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison over a failed coup to oust Maduro

CARACAS, Aug 12 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — A Venezuelan court sentenced two former US soldiers to 20 years in prison for their role in a failed incursion aimed at ousting President Nicolas Maduro in early May, chief prosecutor Tarek Saab said. Former Green Berets Luke Denman, 34, and Airan Berry, 41, admitted…

Covid-19: US announces sixth vaccine contract, for 100 mn doses

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — President Donald Trump announced a $1.5 billion contract with US biotech company Moderna for 100 million doses of an eventual coronavirus vaccine, the sixth such deal reached since May. “I’m pleased to announce that we have reached an agreement with Moderna to manufacture and deliver…

Brazil: Pres Bolsonaro calls surging Amazon fires a ‘lie’

Smoke rises from an illegal fire in Amazon rainforest reserve, north of Sinop in Mato Grosso state BRASILIA, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro angrily denied the existence of fires in the Amazon rainforest, calling it a “lie”, despite data produced by his own government showing that thousands…

Germany, Russia reject US sanctions threat against Nord Stream 2 pipeline

Heiko Maas is Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. MOSCOW, Aug 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — German and Russian foreign ministers rejected US sanctions threat against the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. “No state has the right to dictate Europe’s energy policy with threats, and this will not succeed,” German Foreign Minister Heiko…

Covid-19: Colombia surpasses 400,000 cases as neighbour Ecuador registers 862 more cases, 19 new deaths

BOGOTA/QUITO, Aug 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Colombia has reached 410,453, with 13,475 deaths, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection said. The ministry reported that over the last 24 hours, 12,830 new cases were registered, the highest daily addition since the first…

Brazil economy minister lost two more top deputies as ‘stampede’ of resignations continues

BRASILIA, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian economy minister Paulo Guedes said two of his top deputies had resigned in a “stampede,” news that could rattle market confidence in his reform agenda for Latin America’s biggest economy. Guedes, the powerful free-market guru to far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, is battling to steer…

US Pres Trump says coronavirus changed ‘great’ relationship with China’s Xi

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump said his relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping has frayed in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic and that he has not spoken to his Chinese counterpart for a long time. “I used to have a very good relationship with…

Covid-19: Dozens of Mexican centenarians beat coronavirus

MEXICO CITY, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Experts agree that the elderly areat greater risk of dying from the coronavirus, but in Mexico dozens ofcentenarians have beaten the odds and overcome the disease, authorities say. While the Latin American country has registered 53,000 deaths from thevirus, the survivors include at least…

US: Democratic presidential hopeful Biden picks Kamala Harris to be his running mate, first black woman as VP

WASHINGTON, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Presidential hopeful Joe Biden named Senator Kamala Harris, a former rival in the White House race, as his running mate, marking a historic first for American women of color. Biden’s announcement capped a months-long search for a Democratic partner to challenge President Donald Trump in…

Covid-19: Latest global developments

PARIS, Aug 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Here are some of the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: – WORLD TOPS 20 MILLION CASES: A horrific milestone of 20 million recorded cases of infection is reached, with another staggering landmark looming in a matter of days of surpassing 750,000 deaths. The pandemic…
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