Bangladesh: Four Ansarullah militants arrested in city

DHAKA, Feb 2 (NNN-BSS) — A team of the Rapid Action Battalion(RAB) arrested four members of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) from city’s Uttara area early Friday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-1 conducted drive at city’s Uttara areaaround 2am and arrested the four active members…

India allocates 3 lakh crore rupee interim budget for defence 216

NEW DELHI, Feb 2 (NNN-BSS) — In the run to general election of India due in May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government presented a budget in parliament announcing incentives for small and marginal farmers, workers in the unorganized sector and giving tax relief to the salaried middle class. The budget…

Peru FA Min to attend Lima Group meeting in Canada

LIMA, Feb 2 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian Foreign Affairs Minister Nestor Popolizio will travel to Canada to participate in a Lima Group’s ministerial meeting convened to address Venezuela’s situation following Juan Guaido’s self-proclamation as interim president of such country. The 10th ministerial meeting of the Lima Group will take place in Ottawa, Ontario,…

Saudi Arabia: Corruption crackdown ‘ends with $106bn recovered’

RIYADH, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia has ended a sweeping crackdown on corruption ordered by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, that it said had recovered more than $106bn through settlements with scores of senior princes, ministers and top businessmen.In a statement, a royal court said…

Djibouti death toll from migrant boat continues to rise: UN

DJIBOUTI, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll after two migrant boats sank in heavy seas off the coast of Djibouti continues to rise past 50, the UN migration agency said.The international organization for migration (IOM) also confirmed the disappearance of approximately 130 others based on the testimonies of survivors.“Our…

Stranded migrants on German rescue ship arrive in Italy

ROME, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forty-seven stranded migrants finally came to shore in Italy’s Catania in the early hours of Thursday morning after been blocked at sea off Sicily for 12 days.The latest migrant stand-off finally came to an end after some nine EU countries including Italy agreed to take…

Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto ‘charged with insurrection’

YAOUNDE, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has been charged with insurrection, his lawyers say.If found guilty, Kamto, who was arrested on Monday, could face a prison term of five years to life.The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) leader lost to long-time ruler Paul Biya in last…

South Africa: SABC’s retrenchment plan put on ice

PRETORIA, Feb 1 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced that it has put on hold its retrenchment plan. This follows constructive and extensive engagements with various stakeholders, including the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, organised labour and its own employees, the SABC said on Thursday. The…

Qatar Airways upgrades Airbus A321 order to include longer range jets

DUBAI, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Qatar Airways has upgraded an existing order for 50 Airbus A321neo jets to include 10 long-range models, as a regional diplomatic rift has forced the airline to fly longer routes. The airline said on Thursday that 10 of those 50 aircraft would now be the…

Thai party ousted in 2014 coup picks Thaksin loyalist for PM in elections

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party, which was ousted from power by the military in a 2014 coup, on Thursday picked a close ally of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as its main candidate for prime minister in elections set for March 24. Pheu Thai’s Sudarat Keyuraphan could face…