Taliban announces launch of annual offensive in Afghanistan

KABUL, April 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Afghan Taliban militants on Friday announced the start of their yearly rebel offensive in Afghanistan as fighting rages in the country. The group has codenamed their offensive “operation al-Fath”, or operation of victory, according to a statement shared with media by Zabiullah Mujahid, a…

UN, Iranian Red Crescent jointly aid victims of flood

UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (NNN-Xinhua) — The United Nations and the Iranian Red Crescent (IRC) society are working to provide assistance to those in need among the 10 million people affected by heavy rains and flash flooding in Iran, a UN spokesman said. Published reports said scores of people have…

South Africa celebrates 25 years of democracy Friday, April 12

PRETORIA, April 12 (NNN-SANEWS) — Government has urged South Africans to join in on this year’s national Freedom Month celebration that coincides with the country’s 25 years of Freedom and Democracy. The celebration is a month before South Africans take to the polls on May 8. The theme for this…

Philippines: News site asks top court to scrap Pres Duterte’s ban on its reporters

MANILA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A news website, bitterly opposed by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn a ban on coverage of his events, calling it an unconstitutional assault on the freedom of press. Rappler, a media startup known for its tough investigative reporting of one…

Russian MPs approve controversial bill restricting Internet

MOSCOW, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russian lawmakers has approved a bill that would allow Moscow to cut the country’s internet traffic from foreign servers, in a key second reading paving the way for legislation that activists fear is a step towards online isolation.  It is set to take effect on…

Indonesia: Prosecutors demand 10 years’ jail for Polish man in Papua rebel case

JAKARTA, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indonesian prosecutors have demanded 10 years’ jail for a Polish man accused of having links to Papuan rebels. Jakub Fabian Skrzypski was charged in August after meeting separatist fighters in the restive region, which has seen a decades-long insurgency over independence and Papuans’ share of…

‘Confidence in Mexico’: US and Mexican top brass to talk business, border

MERIDA (Mexico), April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A meeting of U.S. and Mexican government and business leaders aims to shore up investor confidence in Mexico and defuse U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to close their shared border if illegal immigration is not halted. Part of regular business forum the U.S.-Mexico CEO…

Historic water levels at Iraq reservoirs and dams: Officials

SAMARRA (Iraq), April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Water levels in Iraq’s reservoirs and dams have reached historic heights, officials said, with thousands of families facing possible displacement by more flooding. Weeks of rain compounded by melting snowcaps in neighbouring Turkey and Iran have almost filled Iraq’s four main reservoirs and swelled…

Nepal to send team to clean Mount Everest

KATHMANDU, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nepal will send a dedicated team to Mount Everest this climbing season to collect garbage and retrieve bodies littering the world’s highest peak, officials said. Decades of commercial mountaineering have turned the mountain into the world’s highest rubbish dump as an increasing number of big-spending…

Indian government to probe Jet Airways as airline teeters

MUMBAI, April 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India’s government said Friday it would investigate Jet Airways’ ability to keep flying as the debt-stricken carrier fights for survival. The announcement came after Jet cancelled most of its international flights Thursday and as lenders desperately seek a buyer to keep the beleaguered airline running.…