Afghanistan: Expectations surge ahead of new US-Taliban talks

KABUL, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The US and the Taliban are meeting inQatar for fresh talks Monday seeking an end to 17 years of grinding conflictin Afghanistan, with the stakes ratcheting higher as the spring fightingseason approaches. Marathon talks held in Doha last month have stoked hopes of a breakthrough…

UN: Civilian deaths in Afghan war hit record in 2018

KABUL, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – More civilians were killed in the Afghanwar in 2018 than during any other year on record after nearly two decades of fighting, according to a UN report. Civilian deaths jumped by 11 percent from 2017 with 3,804 people killed and another 7,189 wounded, according to…

British PM Theresa May hoping for Brexit progress at Egypt summit

LONDON, Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – British Prime Minister Theresa May is making headway in efforts to amend the terms of Brexit and is hoping for further progress when she meets EU leaders in Egypt. Environment Secretary Michael Gove downplayed the prospect of abreakthrough that could allow the House of Commons…

India toxic alcohol deaths jump to 133: police

GUWAHATI (India), Feb 25 (NNN-AGENCIES) – At least 35 more workers have died in northeastern India after drinking toxic liquor, police said Sunday, taking the death toll from the latest mass alcohol poisoning beyond 130. The deaths in Assam state came less than two weeks after tainted liquorkilled about 100…

Bangladesh: Lone hijacker killed attempting to skyjack national carrier Biman

DHAKA/CHATTOGRAM, Feb 25 (NNN-BSS) – Bangladesh army said a suspected plane hijacker was killed in commando operations after he made an abortive attempt to hijack a Dubai-bound flight via Chattogram of Biman airlines. “He (hijacker) succumbed to his wounds after the military commandos captured him,” army’s Chattagram area commander Major…

Malawi minister under fire for remarks on albino killings

LILONGWE, Feb 23 (NNN-Xinhua) — Malawi Minister of Homeland Security Nicholas Dausi has come under fire for downplaying the killings of people with albinism in the country, saying “there is no need to complain because the albinos are being killed by their relatives.” The remarks have been strongly blasted by…

Mexican president endorses lawmakers’ changes to National Guard

MEXICO CITY, Feb 23 (NNN-EFE) — President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hailed the Mexican Senate’s unanimous approval of a proposed constitutional amendment authorizing the establishment of a National Guard under civilian command. “We are very pleased with the approval of the creation of a National Guard,” he said during his…

6 Suspected criminals killed by mob in Mexico

VERACRUZ (Mexico), Feb 23 (NNN-EFE) — Six suspected criminals were killed by residents of a town in the highlands of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, Mexican authorities said. The events took place in the municipality of Soledad Atzompa, located in the Sierra de Zongolica mountains of central Veracruz. The…

Update: Venezuela says its troops didn’t kill anyone

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 23 (NNN-EFE) — Venezuela’s foreign minister said that the military played no role in the deaths of two indigenous people near his country’s border with Brazil. “What happened this morning has nothing to do with the versions that have circulated. In fact, some of the wounded are…

Botswana Mulls Lifting Big Game Hunting Ban

Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa. GABORONE, Feb 23 (NNN-ALLAFRICA) — Botswana’s government is considering lifting a ban on big game hunting, saying it might be necessary to prevent conflict with humans. Botswana is home to about 130,000 elephants — almost a third of Africa’s elephant population —…