Cuban migrants kidnapped at Mexican border released – newspaper

MEXICO CITY, March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A group of Cuban migrants reported as kidnapped at Mexico’s northern border has been released, a newspaper reported on Monday, as officials continued probing the disappearances of other migrants in the region. Thirteen Cubans kidnapped in the border city of Reynosa in Tamaulipas were…

Update: Uganda probes UN relief food after three deaths – police

KAMPALA, March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Uganda is investigating a supply of food from the World Food Programme (WFP) after three people died and more than 150 others became sick in recent days, police said. The food was part of a community feeding programme in northeast Karamoja region, a semi-arid area…

Thai tycoon gets 16 months in jail for poaching

Premchai Karnasuta BANGKOK, March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Thai court sentenced a construction tycoon to 16 months in prison without probation after finding him guilty of charges related to poaching of protected animals. A provincial court sentenced Premchai Karnasuta, president of Thailand’s largest construction company Italian-Thai Development (ITD) Pcl, for…

Myanmar court jails Rakhine leader for 20 years for treason

Dr Aye Maung, a sitting lawmaker and Rakhine nationalist SITTWE (Myanmar), March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Myanmar court sentenced a prominent ethnic Rakhine leader to 20 years in jail for treason, a verdict likely to intensify anger amid fighting between the ethnic group and the army. Security forces tried to…

Claims of 100 Daesh foreign terrorists in Philippines unlikely: Defence minister

MANILA, March 19 (NNN-PNA) — Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday dismissed reports claiming that an estimated 100 Daesh-inspired foreign terrorists are already in the country. He made this comment on the sidelines of the UH-IH spare parts turnover ceremony at the Haribon Hangar, Clark Air Base, Pampanga. “I would…

Gaza protest leaders call for a two-day general strike

GAZA, March 19 (NNN-WAFA) – Leaders of the popular protests in Gaza have called for a two-day general strike from Wednesday to keep up pressure on the Hamas authorities in their call for better living conditions in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Youth Movement whose motto is “ we want…

Malaysia will return as Asian tiger in three years — Finance Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia will return to its Asian tiger status in three years, says Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. He said the 48 per cent jump in foreign direct investments to RM80.5 billion in 2018, compared with RM54.4 billion in 2017, reflected investor confidence in Malaysia’s…

Pence, Iraqi PM talk over phone regarding security, economy issues

WASHINGTON, March 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Monday talked with Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi over phone regarding security and economic issues. According to a statement issued by the White House, Pence and Abdul Mahdi “discussed opportunities to advance the strategic partnership between the U.S.…

Syria, Iran, Iraq discuss counter-terror, opening borders, restoring Syrian areas

DAMASCUS, March 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — The military commanders of Syria, Iran and Iraq discussed in the capital Damascus on Monday issues, including the coordination to counter terrorism, opening borders, and restoring all Syrian areas. The meeting was attended by Ali Abdullah Ayyoub, the Syrian defense minister, Othman al-Ghanmi, chief of…

No sign of imminent North Korea missile launch: South Korea defence chief

SEOUL, March 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — It is too soon to tell if recent activity at some of North Korea’s rocket facilities is preparation for a missile launch, South Korea’s defence minister told a parliamentary hearing. Early in March, several American think-tanks and South Korean officials reported that satellite imagery showed possible…