UN fears for Myanmar Rohingya after coup, Security Council due to meet Tuesday

People stock up rice in Yangon, Myanmar, on Feb 1 UNITED NATIONS, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United Nations fears the coup in Myanmar will worsen the plight of some 600,000 Rohingya Muslims still in the country, a UN spokesman said as the Security Council planned to meet on the latest developments…

US Pres Biden demands Myanmar military cede power, orders sanctions review

US Pres Joe Biden called on Myanmar’s military to relinquish power immediately WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Joe Biden called on Myanmar’s military to relinquish power immediately and ordered a review to consider re-imposing sanctions lifted due to the nation’s transition to democracy. “The international community should come together…

Covid-19: In Peru, people line up day and night for life-saving oxygen

LIMA, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — While loved ones are fighting for breath athome, hundreds of Peruvians have taken to sleeping on the street, sometimes for days on end, in queues of people desperate for oxygen amid a deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. In the night chill, they take…

US racism: Police officers who pepper-sprayed 9-year-old Black girl suspended as anger mounts

NEW YORK, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police officers who handcuffed andpepper-sprayed a nine-year-old girl in the US city of Rochester weresuspended at the mayor’s request. “What happened Friday was simply horrible, and has rightly outraged, all of our community,” said Mayor Lovely Warren. “Unfortunately, (New York) state law and union…

Covid-19: EU aims to boost vaccination rollout as variants spread

BRUSSELS, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The European Union put on a brave face, defending its troubled vaccination programme and insisting thatrenewed pledges of vaccine deliveries would make up for a productionshortfall. Pharmaceutical giants have scrambled to ramp up production and deliveries as Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks in Berlin with…

Covid-19: UK detects South African variant in people with no travel links

Cases with no links to travel to Africa could indicate the new variant may be more widespread than previously thought LONDON, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Eleven people in different regions of England have tested positive for the South African coronavirus variant without having any links to people who have travelled,…

US: Huge snowstorm hits east coast disrupting virus vaccinations; 3 dead in argument about moving snow

A person walks across the Brooklyn Bridge during a snowstorm, in New York City, on Feb 1 NEW YORK, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A huge snowstorm brought chaos to the United States’ east coast Monday, cancelling thousands of flights, closing schools and forcing the postponement of coronavirus vaccinations as New…

Over 200,000 displaced by conflict in Central African Republic – UNHCR

CAR security forces have been battling rebels seeking to overturn a Dec 27 presidential vote BANGUI, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) has displaced more than 200,000 people since violence erupted over a December election result, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said.Nearly half of those…

US racism: Police pepper-spray 9-year-old Black girl, sparking outrage

The police department in Rochester, N.Y., released body-camera footage that showed a 9-year-old girl being handcuffed and pepper-sprayed by officers who responded to a family disturbance ROCHESTER (NEW YORK, US), Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A 9-year-old Black girl was handcuffed and pepper-sprayed by police in the US city of Rochester,…

Venezuelans hit the streets, demand Cape Verde release Alex Saab, the country special envoy

CARACAS, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 200,000 protestors stormed the streets in Venezuela, to demand the release of Alex Saab, a special envoy for the South American country, who is under house arrest in Cape Verde, Africa on charges of money laundering.The protests held across numerous cities of the Bolivarian…