Venezuela reports 2020 inflation of 3,000 percent

CARACAS, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela ended 2020 with inflation of nearly 3,000 percent, the central bank said. The oil-rich country is mired in the worst economic crisis of its modernhistory and struggling through its seventh straight year of recession. Venezuelans endure acute shortages of food and medicine and even…

Covid-19: US acquires 200 mn new doses as vaccine drive begins in pharmacies

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US President Joe Biden announced plans to vaccinate most Americans by the end of July with the help of 200 million newly acquired doses, as the country’s inoculation campaign kicked off a new phase in drugstores and supermarket pharmacies, some of which will offer shots…

House rests Trump impeachment case, defense begins Friday

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — House prosecutors wrapped up their impeachment case against Donald Trump on Thursday with an impassioned appeal to the Senate to convict the former president of inciting the deadly Jan 6 attack on the US Capitol and bar him from ever holding office again. “We humbly,…

Haiti judge accused of alleged coup plot released from prison: lawyer

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Haitian Supreme Court judge who was arrested on charges of taking part in an alleged coup plot has been released from prison, his attorney said. Judge Yvickel Dieujuste Dabresil “was just freed” and has returned home,his lawyer Marc-Antoine Maisonneuve said. With Haiti in another…

Covid-19: Argentina opens healthcare centers at tourism resorts to treat virus

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez unveiled a series of new modular healthcare centers at 19 tourism resorts to treat the novel coronavirus disease. “Argentines have once and for all understood the importance of public healthcare just when the pandemic hit us,” Fernandez said via videoconference…

UN reports 79 pct rise in Haitians needing aid over last February

Haitians line up for food assistance UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — Humanitarians at the United Nations on Thursday reported a 79 percent increase over last February in the number of people needing assistance in Haiti, including 4.4 million who are food insecure. The UN Office for the Coordination of…

Covid-19: Latvia’s leaders get vaccine to send message

A medical worker prepares the COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Riga, Latvia RIGA, Feb 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — Latvia’s top state officials whose office duties involve ensuring national security and the functioning of the state received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, local media reported. The officials…

Majority of US senators urge Pres Biden to press Turkey on rights

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A bipartisan majority of the US Senate urged President Joe Biden’s administration to push Turkey to do more to protect human rights.Fifty-four of the 100 senators signed the letter, which accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of marginalizing domestic opposition, silencing critical media, jailing journalists…

Covid-19: Equatorial Guinea veep to be first vaccinee as China donates vaccines

Equatorial Guinea VP, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue MALABO, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Equatorial Guinea vice-president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, has announced that he will be the first citizen to receive the coronavirus vaccine.He made the disclosure when he on Thursday received a consignment of 100,000 doses of China’s Sinopharm vaccines.…

Namibia’s national carrier folds up over losses, debts

Air Namibia WINDHOEK, Feb 12 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Namibia’s national carrier announced it was ending operations after the Southern African country’s government approved the loss-making airline’s liquidation.“Effective Thursday, 11 February 2021, all flight operations will be canceled with all aircraft returning to base”, read a notice from the company.Customers with outstanding…