Covid-19: US House on cusp of passing $1.9 tn plan but wage hike falters

WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Democratic leaders expressedconfidence that US President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief packagewould pass the US House, after a key Senate official ruled that the final version will not include a minimum wage hike. Biden had campaigned extensively on raising the national minimum wage to…

Update: Haiti prison breakout leaves 25 dead as 400 escape – official

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 400 prisoners were on the run in Haiti after they escaped from jail in a violent breakout that left 25 people dead, including the prison director, officials said. Media photographs showed at least three dead bodies lying outside the prison on Thursday and…

Covid-19: Slovenia confirms first case of South Africa variant

Minister of Health Janez Poklukar LJUBLJANA, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Slovenia has detected its first case of the coronavirus variant initially discovered in South Africa, Health Minister Janez Poklukar said. Poklukar told a news conference that the person from the area of Maribor in the northeast of the country has…

Covid-19: Argentina receives first batch of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines

Argentina received the first batch of vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm on Thursday night BUENOS AIRES, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina received its first batch of vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm on Thursday night. Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers Santiago Cafiero was on hand to receive the…

US report says Saudi crown prince approved operation to “capture or kill” Khashoggi

Oct 15, 2018: A Turkish team entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to conduct a search over the disappearance of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi WASHINGTON, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — A declassified US intelligence report released on Friday assessed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud…

South American cocaine ‘worth billions’ seized in Germany and Belgium; one of largest single seizure worldwide

The cocaine discovered in Germany was hidden in more than 1,700 tins of wall filler  HAMBURG (Germany), Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) —Customs authorities in Germany and Belgium have seized a record amount of cocaine – more than 23 tonnes – that was destined for the Netherlands. German officials discovered 16 tonnes in five…

Covid-19: Chile receives third shipment of Chinese vaccines

Workers unload containers with the third shipment of Chinese COVID-19 vaccines at the Santiago international airport SANTIAGO, Feb 27 (NNN-Xinhua) — Chile received another shipment of anti-COVID-19 CoronaVac vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac, following two earlier batches that arrived on Jan 28 and 31. Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera, accompanied by his health…

Covid-19: Global deaths reach 2,508,786

PARIS, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The novel coronavirus has killed at least 2,508,786 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019. At least 112,955,460 cases of coronavirus have been registered. Of these, at least 69,278,500 are now considered recovered. These figures are based on daily tolls provided by…

Russian diplomats arrive from virus-hit North Korea on hand-pushed rail trolley

MOSCOW, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eight Russian diplomats and family members — the youngest of them a three-year-old girl — have arrived home from North Korea on a hand-pushed rail trolley due to Pyongyang’s coronavirus restrictions. Video posted on Russia’s foreign ministry’s verified Telegram accountshowed the trolley, laden with suitcases…

Covid-19: UK to focus on age, not occupation for next vaccines

LONDON, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain’s next phase of coronavirusvaccines will be administered based on age rather than occupational risk, an advisory group said, sparking anger from police and teachers who saidthey should get priority. Britain has already vaccinated 18 million people with at least one dose andsays it plans…