Singapore: Man jailed, fined S$34 million in record contraband cigarette case

SINGAPORE, Feb 2 (NNN-CNA) — A middleman involved in the largest case of smuggling contraband cigarettes in Singapore has been sentenced to four years behind bars and fined S$34 million. If Ng Ghim Hong cannot pay the fine, he will be jailed for another two years and four months, the…

Trans-Gambia bridge a boon for trade

FARAFFENI/BARRA (Gambia), Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A gleaming new bridge across the Gambia River in West Africa is transforming transport between Gambia and Senegal. Gambia is a sliver of land on either side of the river cutting through the middle of the much larger Senegal, the product of a colonial-era…

Nigerian opposition candidate to consider amnesty for corruption suspects

ABUJA, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nigerian opposition presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar said he would consider an amnesty for corruption suspects in order to help recover billions of dollars stashed abroad by the country’s politicians and government officials. Abubakar is the main challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb 16…

US Imposes Visa Restrictions On Ghana Over Deportee Row

The US accuses 7,000 Ghanaians of abusing the terms of their visas  ACCRA, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has imposed visa restrictions on Ghana for refusing to accept the return of 7,000 Ghanaian nationals that it wants to deport. The US embassy in Accra will limit the awarding of…

US Stops All Aid To Palestinians In West Bank And Gaza

WASHINGTON/RAMALLAH, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US has confirmed it stopped all aid to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, in a step linked to new anti-terrorism legislation. More than $60m (£46m) in annual funds for the Palestinian security services has now ended, and – while Israel has…

France Puts Up Food And Drink Prices Under New Law

 PARIS, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Nutella, Président Camembert, Ricard Pastis and Carte Noire coffee are among the brands set to cost more in France as a law on food prices takes effect. It means big food and drink brands can no longer be sold at cost price. Shops’ profit margin…

Singapore: S$32m In Outstanding Fines Chalked Up By Foreign Motorists

SINGAPORE, Feb 2 (NNN-TODAY) —Motorists of foreign vehicles have chalked up S$32 million in unpaid fines, five government agencies said on Friday (Feb 1) as they announced that foreign vehicles with “a number” of outstanding fines may be denied entry into Singapore from April 1. The outstanding fines were from about 400,000 traffic, parking…

India: DAC nods construction of six submarines for Navy

NEW DELHI, Feb 2 (NNN-BSS) — In a land mark decision, the DefenceAcquisition Council (DAC) approved indigenous construction of six submarines for the Indian Navy involving over Rs 40,000 crore. This is the second project under the MoD’s ambitious Strategic Partnership(SP) model that aims at providing a significant fillip to…

India: Two pilots dead as fighter jet crashes in Bengaluru

NEW DELHI, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two pilots were killed as a twin-seater Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 crashed at Yemlur Airport in the southern city of Bengaluru immediately after taking off. “Two pilots were killed after they ejected from a Mirage 2000 fighterduring its take-off run at the Hindustan…

Death toll hits 58 after Djbouti migrant boat tragedy

DJIBOUTI, Feb 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The number of people who died when two migrant boats foundered after setting sail from Djibouti to Yemen has risen to 58, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. The overloaded boats went down on Tuesday about half an hour after setting sail from Djibouti’s…