US House Speaker Pelosi in Central America as Trump seeks asylum deals

GUATEMALA CITY, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a congressional delegation to Central America on Thursday as the Trump administration presses countries there to stop US-bound asylum seekers before they reach the US border. Pelosi, a Democrat, began in Guatemala, which late last month under threat…

Venezuela’s hyperinflation slowing, says opposition-controlled parliament

CARACAS, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela’s rampant hyperinflation slowed down in July, the opposition-controlled parliament said, calculating its figure for the last 12 months at just over 250,000 per cent. July’s inflation was 33.8 per cent, taking the total for the last 12 months to 265,000 per cent, compared with…

Serbia grants citizenship to Thailand’s fugitive ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra

BELGRADE, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Serbian government has granted citizenship to Thailand’s former Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who fled her homeland in 2017 to avoid negligence charges. Shinawatra, 52, went to Dubai and joined her brother Thaksin, another former Thai prime minister who also fled in 2006 to avoid…

Puerto Rico’s new governor says she intends to remain in office

SAN JUAN, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The revolving door at the governor’s office in Puerto Rico may finally stop with Wanda Vazquez, the newly sworn-in chief executive of the bankrupt US territory, who said she has no plans to resign. In a series of interviews with local media, Puerto Rico’s former…

Libya deports 141 Sudanese migrants

TRIPOLI, Aug 9 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Libya deported 141 Sudanese migrants from Benghazi’s Benina airport Thursday. It’s part of a voluntary return programme, but children were not included, an official said. “The trip starts from the Benina airport and ends in the Khartoum airport’‘, said Ashraf Ahweidy, Head of Benghazi Department…

U.S. not ready to remove Sudan from terrorism list: State Dept official

KHARTOUM, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States still needs to resolve longstanding issues with Sudan before it can consider removing it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a senior State Department official said.Earlier this week, Sudan’s military rulers and the main opposition coalition initialled a constitutional declaration…

Mass arrest of foreigners in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 600 foreign nationals were arrested by police on Wednesday, South African media reports.In the targeted search operation carried out in the main city, Johannesburg, police also confiscated firearms and a “large consignment” of counterfeit goods in various buildings.David Makhura, premier of the Gauteng…

US sanctions may worsen Venezuela suffering, says UN

GENEVA, Aug 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The UN’s human rights chief has criticised the latest US sanctions against Venezuela saying they would intensify the suffering of millions. Michelle Bachelet, a former president of Chile, said the sanctions were “extremely broad” and would hit the most vulnerable sections of society. The unilateral…

Nigeria’s security forces repel Boko Haram attack on village in Borno – Official

ABUJA, Aug 9 (NNN-XINHUA) — Nigeria’s government forces repelled an attack by Boko Haram insurgents on Tuesday night on a village in the restive northeastern state of Borno, a senior official has said. A group of Boko Haram insurgents attempted to infiltrate Kotori village in Konduga area, but they were…

Zimbabwe experiencing its worst hunger emergency – WFP

GENEVA, Aug 9 (NNN-XINHUA) — Zimbabwe is experiencing its worst hunger emergency, the World Food Programme (WFP) has said, while boosting food assistance to the people most affected by drought, flooding, and economic crisis.“With Zimbabwe experiencing its worst-ever hunger emergency, WFP is stepping up food assistance. At the same time,…