UK says Brexit defeat in parliament ‘a hiccup’

LONDON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government has dismissed as a “hiccup” its latest parliamentary defeat over Brexit, saying it would press on with trying to renegotiate its EU divorce deal as exit day looms in just six weeks. But as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to return to Brussels next week,…

Archaeologists discover Incan tomb in Peru

LIMA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvian archaeologists discovered an Incan tomb in the north of the country where an elite member of the pre-Columbian empire was buried, one of the investigators announced on Friday. The discovery was made on the Mata Indio dig site in the northern Lambayeque region, archaeologist Luis…

US struggles to convince anti-Daesh allies to secure Syria after it leaves

MUNICH (Germany), Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan struggled on Friday to convince sceptical allies in the coalition fighting the Daesh militia to help secure Syria once American soldiers pull out. President Donald Trump said the United States will announce the end of the Daesh group’s once-sprawling “caliphate”…

Ex-Mozambique finance minister denied bail in South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang was denied bail by a South African court on Friday, meaning he will remain in custody for now pending an extradition hearing over charges relating to $2 billion in fraudulent loans. One of his legal team, who asked not…

South African’s ex-ambassador to Iran arrested in MTN investigation

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – South Africa’s former ambassador to Iran has been arrested on charges he took a bribe to help telecoms company MTN win a $31.6 billion licence to operate in Iran. Yusuf Saloojee, now retired, was arrested on Thursday, police said on Friday, in the latest legal…

MTN Uganda CEO deported over national security – police

KAMPALA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The chief executive officer of telecoms group MTN Uganda, a unit of South Africa’s MTN Group, has been deported from the East African country over national security concerns, Ugandan police said on Friday. The development is the latest headache for the largest telecommunications firm in…

South Africa withdraws arrest warrant for Zuma friend Gupta

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Africa has provisionally withdrawn an arrest warrant for Ajay Gupta, a businessman and friend of former president Jacob Zuma, police said on Friday. Former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas accused Gupta of offering him a large bribe and the position of finance minister if…

US-Backed Syrian Fighters Battle To Clear Final Two Daesh Villages

Fighter from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they are facing fierce resistance  BAGHUZ (Syria), Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US-backed Syrian fighters are clearing Daesh militants from the last two villages the group controls, military officials say. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance launched an assault at the weekend on Shajalah…

Dozens Of Bodies Found In North-West Nigeria

ABUJA, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Officials in north-west Nigeria have reported the discovery of the bodies of 66 people, 22 of them children and 12 women, killed by “criminal elements”. The victims were found in eight villages in the Kujuru area of Kaduna state, the state government said. Security forces have…

Budget defeat: Spain PM Sánchez Sets Snap Election For April 28

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez  MADRID, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) —  Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called a snap general election for April 28, after Catalan nationalist MPs withdrew support for the Socialist government’s budget. It is just eight months since Sánchez took office, heading a minority government reliant on Catalan…