Brazilian Amazon sees worst June in 13 years for forest fires

A part of the Amazon rainforest burns near a highway in Brazil’s Para state last September BRASILIA, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Amazon forest fires in Brazil increased by 19.5 per cent in June compared to the same month last year, making it the worst June in 13 years, authorities said.…

US unrest: New York cuts police budget amid ‘defund’ calls

NEW YORK, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — New York City lawmakers have approved a disputed budget that purports to slash $1 billion from the NYPD’s annual budget as calls by anti-racism protesters to defund law enforcement sweep the United States. “Defund the police” has become a rallying cry of the Black…

Covid-19: US buys nearly all of Gilead’s drug Remdesivir

 WASHINGTON, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US is buying nearly all the next three months’ projected production of Covid-19 treatment remdesivir from US manufacturer Gilead. The US health department announced it had agreed to buy 500,000 doses for use in American hospitals. Tests suggest remdesivir cuts recovery times, though it…

US House moves to toughen sanctions over Hong Kong law

WASHINGTON, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US House of Representatives agreed unanimously to seek tough sanctions on Chinese officials and Hong Kong police after Beijing imposed a security law that clamps down on the city. After a day in which Hong Kong authorities arrested hundreds of protesters, the House quickly…

UN Security Council adopts resolution on COVID-19

The United Nations headquarters in New York UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (NNN-XINHUA) — The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution on COVID-19, demanding a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all situations on its agenda. Resolution 2532, which won the unanimous support of the 15 members of…

Venezuela parliamentary elections set for Dec 6

CARACAS, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s National Electoral Council on Wednesday called parliamentary elections for Dec 6, with the opposition already vowing to boycott. The National Assembly parliament is the only government branch controlled by the opposition. But it has been left powerless since 2017 when the Supreme Court, which…

Covid-19: Brazil surpasses 60,000 deaths – official

BRASILIA, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazil topped 60,000 deaths from the novel coronavirus after recording more than 1,000 fatalities over the last 24 hours, the health ministry said. The South American country has suffered the largest number of daily deaths globally for the last week, and is the second worst…

Gun attack leaves 24 dead in central Mexico

GUANAJUATO (Mexico), July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen attacked a drug rehabilitation center in central Mexico killing at least 24 people and leaving seven wounded on Wednesday, local authorities said. According to preliminary information, the attackers “entered the scene, forced (the victims) on to the ground and shot them,” said Pedro…

US F-16 crashes in South Carolina, killing pilot

WASHINGTON, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft crashed during a training mission in South Carolina, killing the pilot, the Pentagon said. The plane went down about 11:30 pm Tuesday (0330 GMT Wednesday) at Shaw Air Force Base, about 160 kilometers north of Charleston, the base…

Covid-19: US Pres Trump says he’d have ‘no problem’ using mask in ‘tight’ quarters

WASHINGTON, July 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump, who has yet to be seen in public wearing a face mask during the coronavirus pandemic, said he would have “no problem” doing so, while reiterating his belief that the contagion will just “disappear.” “If I were in a tight situation…
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