Algeria military plane crash kills two – ministry

ALGIERS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Algerian military plane crashed during a training flight, killing two people on board, the defence ministry said. The Russian SU 24 aircraft crashed late on Wednesday in an inhabited agricultural area in the northern province of Tiaret, the ministry said in a statement. It…

Angola and Congo Republic discuss strengthening of oil cooperation

BRAZZAVILLE, Feb 22 (NNN-ANGOP) — Angola’s ambassador to Republic of Congo, Vicente Muanda, discussed, in Brazzaville, during an audience with Congolese minister of Hydrocarbons, Jean Marc Thystere Tchicaya, the mechanism to strengthen oil cooperation between the two countries. The meeting analysed the state of the Lianzi Joint-Utilisdation Commission, which conducts…

Syria War: Civilians evacuated from last Daesh group enclave

The UN had warned some 200 families were trapped BAGHUZ (Syria), Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Civilians have been evacuated from the last village in Syria still held by the Daesh group. A convoy on Wednesday carried hundreds of men, women and children from Baghuz, near the Iraqi border. The US-backed…

Saudi crown prince arrives in China, part of high-profile Asian tour

Photo courtesy SPA Twitter BEIJING, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Beijing Thursday as the monarch aims to seal partnerships on a high-profile Asia tour. Mohammed is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on his two-day trip to the Chinese capital following visits…

Nairobi attack highlights ‘new generation’ of Shabaab recruits

NAIROBI, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Profiles of key suspects in January’s terror attack in Nairobi point to the worrying rise of a new generation of Kenyan jihadists, analysts say. Police are hunting Ali Salim Gichunge, the suspected mastermind of the Jan 15 attack on the Dusit hotel and office complex…

British PM Theresa May hails Brexit talks ‘progress’ but no breakthrough

BRUSSELS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – British Prime Minister Theresa May said she had made “progress” in talks with the EU as she sought to extract concessions on the terms of Britain’s divorce, but as expected there was no major breakthrough. With less than six weeks until Brexit day, May met…

Israeli minister not backing down over Polish remarks

JERUSALEM, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Thursday refused to apologise for allegations he made that Poles are anti-Semitic and many of them collaborated with the Nazis during World War II. Senior Polish officials on Tuesday demanded Israel apologise for thecomments in a row that led…

US Sec of State Pompeo discusses Yemen, Venezuela in talks with UN chief

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – US Secretary ofState Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis inVenezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday,a UN spokesman said. The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo. Pompeo and the UN chief “discussed the situation in Yemen,…

Bangladesh: Authorities wrap up rescue campaign as inferno kills 68

DHAKA, Feb 22 (NNN-BSS) – Authorities wrapped up the rescue campaign as the toll in the inferno in the old part of Dhaka stood at 68 people while it tore through crumbling densely packed buildings. “The salvage campaign is ending here,” mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Sayeed Khokon…

US military intervention in Venezuela ‘wouldn’t make sense’: Brazil VP

BRASILIA, Feb 22 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Brazil Vice President Hamilton Mourao on Thursday dismissed US threats of military intervention in Venezuela as “premature” and said it “wouldn’t make sense.” “I think they’re more in the realm of rhetoric than action,” Mourao said,referring to the threats. “The Venezuela question needs to be…