Myanmar army chief denies systematic persecution of Rohingya

YANGON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar’s army chief, who is facing international calls to be prosecuted for genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority, has denied any systematic army persecution and said such accusations were an insult to his country’s honour. In his first detailed interview since the Myanmar military launched…

Brazil arrests 8 Vale employees over mining dam disaster

SAO PAULO, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian authorities arrested eight employees of mining giant Vale on Friday over a dam collapse at one of its mines three weeks ago that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing, presumed dead. Those apprehended – two executives, two managers and four members of teams…

US may trim more than 1,000 troops from Afghanistan

KABUL, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Even before any peace push-related drawdowns, the US military is expected to trim troop levels in Afghanistan as part of an efficiency drive by the new commander, a US general said on Friday (Feb 15), estimating the cuts may exceed 1,000 forces. US President Donald Trump told Congress…

Turkey bans rally for Kurdish MP on hunger strike

DIYARBAKIR (Turkey), Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkish police on Friday prevented supporters from rallying outside the home of a pro-Kurdish lawmaker on hunger strike for 100 days. The protest bid coincides with the 20th anniversary of the capture of Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is jailed in a prison island…

US sanctions Venezuela officials close to ‘former President’ Maduro

WASHINGTON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Treasury announced it was imposing sanctions on five intelligence and security officials close to Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro. Those targeted are “aligned with President Nicolas Maduro, who continue to repress democracy and democratic actors in Venezuela”, a Treasury Department statement read. Among the five…

Yemen FM says seated next to Israeli PM Netanyahu in ‘error’

WARSAW, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Yemen’s Foreign Minister Khaled al-Yamani said a “protocol error” landed him next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a conference in the Polish capital Warsaw and that his country’s stance on the Palestinian issue remained unchanged. “Protocol errors are the responsibility of the organisers,…

Update: Frustrated relatives lose hope of finding trapped Zimbabwean miners alive

HARARE, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Relatives of trapped illegal Zimbabwean gold miners expressed frustration at the slow pace of rescue efforts, saying they were losing hope of finding up to 70 people alive as the government declared the accident a disaster. Rescuers in Battlefields, 175 km west of Harare, had…

Prince Charles to make first British royal trip to Cuba

LONDON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prince Charles will make the first-ever official British royal visit to Cuba in March, his office announced on Friday, to mark improving ties between the two nations. The heir to the throne and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will make a four-day visit to…

Venezuela: Pres Maduro blasts US for ‘stealing’ billions and offering ‘crumbs’

CARACAS, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro hit out at the United States for “stealing” billions of dollars and offering “crumbs” in return as humanitarian aid. Tons of US aid is piling up in Colombia close to the border with Venezuela as opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed…

UK says Brexit defeat in parliament ‘a hiccup’

LONDON, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The British government has dismissed as a “hiccup” its latest parliamentary defeat over Brexit, saying it would press on with trying to renegotiate its EU divorce deal as exit day looms in just six weeks. But as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to return to Brussels next week,…