UK to expand drone no-fly zones near airports next month

LONDON, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) – No-fly zones for drones within 5 kilometres of British airports will come into force next month, the government said on Wednesday, after drone sightings caused severe disruption at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. “The enlarged zone will better protect the UK’s airports from those misusing drones,…

Peru: Law enforcement agents carry out operation against illegal mining

LIMA, Feb 20 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian National Police’s (PNP) and Armed Forces’ patrols launched the 2019 Mercury Operation aimed at fighting illegal mining in Madre de Dios region’s La Pampa area. PNP General Luis Vera explained this action will be carried out in two stages.  According to the official, the…

Pilot dead as 2 aircraft crash in India during aerobatics practice

NEW DELHI, Feb 19 (NNN-Xinhua) — A pilot belonging to the Indian Air Force (IAF) died, while another two were reportedly safe on Tuesday as two aircraft collided and crashed in India’s southern city of Bengaluru during a practice sortie. According to media reports, one pilot succumbed to his injuries…

Ethiopia contracts Chinese companies to complete Nile dam construction

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — In a bid to accelerate the pace of the construction of Ethiopia’s strategic dam, the country has contracted the services of two Chinese companies. The Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) on Tuesday signed a contract worth $40m with China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd (CGGC). CGCG will henceforth…

Burundi, Somali presidents discuss security amidst AMISOM withdrawal plan

GITEGA (Burundi), Feb 19 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Burundi’s president Pierre Nkurunziza hosted a state banquet in honour of his Somali counterpart, Mohamed Farmaajo, who is in the East African nation on an official visit. His Excellency @M_Farmaajo attends dinner banquet hosted by His Excellency @pnkurunziza, President of Republic of Burundi, in…

Pres Bolsonaro confirms privatization of 12 Brazil airports this March

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro SAO PAULO, Feb 19 (NNN-EFE) — Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro confirmed the government’s intention to privatize 12 airports this March 15, and said the measure will take in some 3,500 reais (some $945 million), to be reinvested in the air terminals sold at auction. On his…

Mexico’s Caribbean region needs to win back tourists

A view of the beaches of the recreation center of Cancun, in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico CANCUN (MEXICO), Feb 19 (NNN-EFE) — The state of Quintana Roo, home to Mexico’s most popular Caribbean tourist destinations, faces the challenge of counteracting a perception that it is unsafe and persuading…

Petrobras settling financial disputes: agrees to pay petroleum regulator US$ 940m

BRASILIA, Feb 19 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Brazil state-run oil firm Petrobras said it had concluded a long-running dispute with the country’s ANP petroleum regulator, agreeing to pay 3.5 billion reais (US$ 940 million) to end an oil-royalty spat. Dating back to 2014, the dispute over the so-called Whale Park offshore oilfields…

Palestine, Jordan condemns Israeli closure of al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem

RAMALLAH, Feb 19 (NNN-WAFA) – The Palestinian presidency strongly condemned the Israeli closure of the Golden Gate (Bab al-Rahmeh) with locks and chains, warning against Israeli plans aimed at imposing the temporal and spatial division of the mosque. The presidency in a statement held the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible…

Haiti capital slowly returning to normal after protests

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Eleven days after the strong protests that shook Haiti, this capital is slowly returning to normal, after the government on Monday called on the population to resume normal activities. Although some streets barricades were reported very early in the southern part of Port-au-Prince, vehicle…