Montevideo Mechanism viable initiative to address crisis, says Venezuelan official

CARACAS, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Sunday lauded the Montevideo Mechanism as a viable way to address his country’s political crisis and avoid armed conflicts. “The Montevideo Mechanism … is the most sincere and rigorous initiative that has been proposed,” Arreaza said via Twitter. “President…

Nigeria bans mining activities in the northern state of Zamfara

ABUJA, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Nigerian government suspended all forms of mining activities in Zamfara, a northwestern state of the country. The government also ordered all foreigners engaged in mining activities to leave the area within 48 hours, acting Inspector General of Police Muhammed Adamu told reporters in the…

Yemen expects Kuwait’s contribution to help economic recovery: FM

Yemeni Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani KUWAIT CITY, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Yemen hopes that Kuwait could contribute to its economic recovery, Khaled al-Yamani, the Yemeni foreign minister, said in Kuwait City, capital of Kuwait. The Yemeni minister is paying an official visit to Kuwait. At a press conference held in…

UAE-backed Yemeni security forces raid al-Qaida hideouts in south Yemen

ADEN, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Yemeni security forces carried out on Sunday an anti-terror operation against hideouts of the al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in the southern province of Abyan, a security official said. The local source based in Abyan said on condition of anonymity that newly-recruited security forces…

Syria war: More civilians leave rebel-held Rukban camp

DAMASCUS, April 8 (NNN-Xinhua) — Another batch of civilians reached a crossing point in the Syrian desert on Sunday from the rebel-held Rukban refugee camp in southeastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported. The evacuees from the camp reached the Jlaighem crossing in the eastern countryside of Homs Province in…

Sudan security forces tear gas protesters outside army HQ: witnesses

Sudanese protesters chant slogans as they respond to a call to march on the army headquarters in Khartoum. Photo courtesy of standardmedia KHARTOUM, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Sudanese security forces on Monday fired tear gas at thousands of protesters who had massed outside the army headquarters in Khartoum for a…

Malaysia: 11 killed after factory bus plunges into drain near international airport

KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (NNN-BERNAMA) — A bus carrying workers plunged into a drain near the MASKargo area in Sepang on Sunday night, killing 11 people on board. The crash occurred at about 11.10pm. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) district police chief assistant commissioner Zulkifli Adamshah said nine of the victims –…

Turkey slams Netanyahu’s ‘irresponsible’ remarks on settlements

ISTANBUL, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey condemned what it called Benjamin Netanyahu’s “irresponsible” remarks after the Israeli leader said he planned to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank if he wins upcoming elections. “West Bank is Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in violation of int’l law,” Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on…

Two dead as gunmen attack Egypt police vehicle

CAIRO, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Gunmen opened fire on a police vehicle in a Cairo suburb at dawn Sunday, killing a police officer and the driver and wounding two others, the interior ministry said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the latest attack on security forces in Egypt, which…

Syria war: Russia calls for closure of IDP camp near US base

AMMAN, April 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Russia’s top diplomat called Sunday for the immediate closure of a desert camp near Syria’s border with Jordan housing tens of thousands of displaced people in dire conditions. Speaking during a visit to Amman, Sergei Lavrov called for the Rukban camp to be closed “as…