US hits Myanmar ministers, central bank chief with sanctions

WASHINGTON, May 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Treasury slapped sanctions on 16 senior Myanmar officials and family members, citing their support for the government’s “violent and lethal attacks” against the country’s pro-democracy movement. Among those placed on the Treasury’s blacklist were four members of the military junta’s State Administration Council,…

Argentina ready to host Copa America: Pres Fernandez

BUENOS AIRES, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina is ready to host the Copa America, President Alberto Fernandez confirmed, despite the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed more than 70,000 people in his country. The tournament is due to kick off on June 13 even as the coronavirus is…

Covid-19: UNICEF says rich countries can afford to donate Covax jabs

GENEVA, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Countries belonging to the G7 and the European Union can afford to donate more than 150 million vaccines to countries in need without compromising their own goals, UNICEF said Monday. The world’s seven richest states and the EU could help close the world’s vaccine gap…

Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease, stroke: WHO, ILO

GENEVA, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Long working hours led to 745,000 deaths from stroke and ischemic heart disease in 2016, a 29 per cent increase since 2000, according to the latest estimates by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.   In a first global analysis of the loss…

UN General Assembly to consider call for Myanmar arms embargo

Protesters march in Yangon, Myanmar UNITED NATIONS, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday (May 18) is set to consider a draft non-binding resolution calling for “an immediate suspension” of the transfer of weapons to the military junta of Myanmar, a UN official said. Unlike Security Council resolutions,…

Miss Mexico crowned Miss Universe 2021

WASHINGTON, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Miss Mexico was crowned Miss Universe on Sunday in Florida, after fellow contestant Miss Myanmar used her stage time to draw attention to the bloody military coup in her country. Sunday night marked the Miss Universe competition’s return to television, after the pageant was cancelled…

EU chief diplomat criticizes Russia’s list of ‘unfriendly states’

High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell BRUSSELS, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s decision to categorize the United States and the Czech Republic as “unfriendly” states is not justified in the view of the European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell.In remarks made in Brussels,…

Russia seeks to outlaw Navalny movement

MOSCOW, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Russian court is set to hear an “extremism” case against the political network of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny on Monday as Moscow seeks to outlaw the opposition to President Vladimir Putin. The closed court hearing is part of a sweeping crackdown on Putin’s…

Chileans choose body to rewrite dictatorship-era constitution

SANTIAGO, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Independent candidates and leftist parties in Chile were in the lead Sunday, with just over half of ballots counted after two days of voting for a body of 155 people to rewrite the country’s dictatorship-era constitution. A new constitution was a key demand of protesters…

Covid-19: South Africa targets 5 million elderly people in phase 2 of vaccine rollout

Dr Zweli Mkhize JOHANNESBURG, May 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa will launch phase two of its vaccine rollout on Monday with the aim of inoculating five million citizens aged over 60 by the end of June, its health minister said. “This is provided that the supply of vaccines flows as…