Venezuela: Pres Maduro shuts border with Brazil as opposition leader Guaido goes in search of aid

CARACAS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – President Nicolas Maduro ordered theclosure of Venezuela’s border with Brazil on Thursday in an increasinglyfraught power struggle with Juan Guaido, the opposition leader spearheading efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country despite a military blockade. Guaido set out in a convoy of vehicles to…

Around 200 US troops to remain in Syria after pullout: White House

WASHINGTON, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US military will keep around 200 troops in Syria after President Donald Trump’s pullout from the war-torn country, the White House said. “A small peace-keeping group of about 200 will remain in Syria for a periodof time,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on…

Bolivia: Opposition protesters march against Pres Evo Morales reelection bid

LA PAZ, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Opposition supporters and communityorganizations took to the streets of several Bolivian cities toprotest against President Evo Morales’ plans to stand for a fourth term ofoffice. Demonstrators were on Thursday out on the streets of major cities such as La Paz, Sucre, Santa Cruz and…

UN council calls for peaceful protests in Haiti

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The UN SecurityCouncil appealed to Haitians to hold peaceful protests aftermeeting behind closed doors to discuss the violence that has killed at leastseven people. In a unanimous statement, the council on Thursday expressed concern and “urged all citizens to express themselves peacefully”, said Equatorial…

China Pumps US$2.5 Billion Into Zimbabwe

China has invested more than two billion dollars in Zimbabwe, according to comments made by the charge d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Zhao Baogang, at the 2019 Spring Festival Gala in Harare. “Some US$2.5 billion [in] loans, investments and grants have been provided by the Chinese government, financial institutions and enterprises to Zimbabwe,…

Third Migrant Dies in US Border Patrol Custody

MCALLEN (Texas, US), Feb 20 (NNN-TELESUR) — A 45-year-old man from Mexico died Monday after being taken into United States Border Patrol custody last month on suspicion of illegal entry at the United States-Mexico border, officials said. It is the third death in recent months, following those of two Guatemalan children, who died…

Argentine Protesters, Workers Tell US Pres Trump, ‘Hands Off Venezuela’

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 20 (NNN-TELESUR) — Hundreds filed through the streets of Buenos Aires, protesting outside the U.S. embassy to demand President Trump end attempts of interventionism in Venezuela.  “Venezuela is not alone,” protesters cried, answering the call of the Argentine Committee of Solidarity with Venezuela as part of an international…

Argentina: Pro-abortion protests return to the streets of Buenos Aires

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 20 (NNN-EFE) — Several hundred people protested in Buenos Aires to demand once again, but for the first time this year, a law establishing legal abortion, a demand that feminist groups consider “irrepressible”. After the year 2018 saw intense public debate in Argentina, when the Senate rejected…

Mexico urges US to do more to discourage drug use

MEXICO CITY, Feb 20 (NNN-EFE) —  Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he plans to ask the US to promote a campaign against drug use among young people, insisting that demand from Americans enriches the cartels in the Aztec nation. “We are going to respectfully ask the government of the US to pay attention…

U.N. says fighting, instability have displaced 100,000 in Burkina Faso

GENEVA, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 100,000 people have been displaced by factional fighting and lawlessness in Burkina Faso, most within the past two months, according to a U.N. report. “Burkina Faso is, for the first time in its history, facing massive internal displacement,” the report said. “Repeated raids…