Indonesia ends mine collapse search as death toll reaches 27

JAKARTA, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Indonesia ended the search Thursday for victims of last week’s mine collapse on the island of Sulawesi as the death toll climbed to 27, an official said, even as dozens are still fearedmissing. Rescuers were forced to stop using excavators as conditions deterioratedand it was…

Somali: Four dead in capital car bombing – police

MOGADISHU, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Four people were killed and ninewounded when a car bomb exploded near a restaurant in central Mogadishu on Thursday, police said, as the Al-Shabaab jihadist group claimed responsibility. The blast “was caused by a car loaded with explosives, we perceive that itwas parked near a…

US positive on N. Korea denuclearization despite ‘operational’ rocket site

WASHINGTON, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US still believes the “fullyverified denuclearization” of North Korea is possible by the end of President Donald Trump’s “first term,” a senior official said, despitewarnings a key rocket launch site appears to have resumed operations. The specialized website 38 North and the Center for…

Eight Nicaraguan ‘political prisoners’ on hunger strike

MANAGUA, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Eight jailed opponents of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega have been on hunger strike for a week in protest at being used as “a bargaining chip,” the father of one of the detainees said. They were among more than 750 people detained for taking part in…

US military asked to house 5,000 child migrants: Pentagon

WASHINGTON, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US administration has asked the Department of Defense to prepare to house up to 5,000 unaccompanied migrant children amid what it calls a mounting “crisis” at the US-Mexico border, the Pentagon said. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “requested DoD support to…

Nigeria not probing soldiers’ alleged sex abuse of refugees: Amnesty

LAGOS, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Nigerian government has failed toinvestigate the alleged sexual abuse by security forces of thousands of women who have fled Boko Haram jihadists to aid camps around the country, Amnesty International said Friday. Amnesty, in a report coinciding with International Women’s Day, reiteratedallegations that security…

Cameroon opposition figure charged with rebellion: lawyer

YAOUNDE, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – A prominent lawyer close to detained Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto was charged Thursday with rebellion, her lawyer said, after the country shrugged off international concern over a wave of arrests targeting government critics. Michele Ndoki was “placed in custody” and charged with the same…

British PM piles pressure on Brussels for Brexit deal

LONDON, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Prime Minister Theresa May was to pile the pressure on Brussels on Friday, saying their willingness to budge could determine whether British MPs finally back a Brexit deal next week. May was to say the European Union had some choices to make if it wanted…

Venezuela plunged into darkness after huge power cut

CARACAS, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Most of Venezuela was plunged intodarkness on Thursday evening after a huge power cut that the government of President Nicolas Maduro blamed on “sabotage.” Apart from a few buildings with electricity supplied from a privategenerator, the capital Caracas was hit by a total blackout at…

Russia’s MTS to pay $850 mn in US graft case as Islam Karimov’s daughter charged

NEW YORK, March 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US prosecutors Thursday reached an $850 million settlement with Russia’s leading telecoms firm over huge bribes paid to the family of Uzbekistan’s former president — and charged the late leader’s daughter in related proceedings. The case shed light on massive corruption in Uzbekistan under…