The Venezuelan Supreme Court "in exile" on Wednesday in Bogota sentenced President Nicolas Maduro in absentia to 18 years and three months in prison for the crimes of corruption and money laundering in a case involving Brazil's Odebrecht construction company.

Egyptians began preparations for the holy feast of Eid al-Adha as vendors started gathering on Wednesday in the markets, selling all kinds of sacrificial animals.

Pop queen Madonna is getting ready to celebrate her 60th birthday, going over the top in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, where she has been posting photos on her Instagram account.

The Panamanian financial industry "is not afraid" of the appearance of new digital technologies to do business, which is why it welcomes a plan to reform the country's financial laws, Carlos Troetsch, chairman of the board of the Banking Association of Panama (ABP) told EFE here Wednesday.

Argentine soccer club San Lorenzo on Wednesday lost to Chilean Deportes Temuco 1-0 but managed to qualify for the round of 16 of the Copa Sudamericana.

A subtropical depression that formed Wednesday in the central Atlantic transformed itself into Subtropical Storm Ernesto, although it poses no risk at present for populated areas, the US National Hurricane Center reported.