US says Vietnam meets international aviation standards

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Federal Aviation Administration declared Vietnam complies with international safety standards, giving its airlines the opportunity to fly to the United States and codeshare with American carriers. The US aviation safety agency said it was awarding Vietnam a “Category 1” rating two weeks after…

Afghanistan: Taliban confront fake news and social media in propaganda war

ISLAMABAD, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Fighting “fake” news, wrestling with social media, and deploying an intern army – the Taliban’s sprawling propaganda machine embraces modernity even as the group vows to enforce extremist controls on journalists if it returns to power. Notorious for banning TV and radio under its iron-fisted 1996-2001…

Haiti: president breaks silence after week of violent unrest

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Haitian President Jovenel Moise on Thursday broke his silence after a week of violent protests demanding his resignation as the US announced it was pulling “non-emergency personnel” from the country over the deadly unrest. “I will not leave the country in the hands of armed…

Two radicalised Singaporeans detained under Internal Security Act

SINGAPORE, Feb 15 (NNN-CNA) — Two Singaporean men have been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their involvement in terrorism-related activities, the Ministry of Home Affairs said. Mohamed Kazali Salleh and Hazim Syahmi Mahfoot were both detained in January. Kazali, a 48-year-old businessman based in Malaysia, was deported to…

Brexit: British PM Theresa May Suffers Fresh Commons Defeat

LONDON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered another Commons defeat after MPs voted down her approach to Brexit talks. MPs voted by 303 to 258 – a majority of 45 – against a motion endorsing the government’s negotiating strategy. The defeat has no legal force and…

US Pres Trump To Declare ‘Emergency’ Over Mexico Border Wall

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump is to declare a national emergency to fund his planned border wall with Mexico, the White House has said. He will sign a border security bill to avert a government shutdown – but also act to bypass Congress and use military…

Liberia Illicit Gold Mine Collapse: Five Bodies Found

MONROVIA, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) —The bodies of five people have been recovered from a collapsed pit in an illicit gold mine in north-eastern Liberia, a local official has said. Around 35 people are still believed to be missing after the walls of the pit caved in on Saturday. The search…

Spain Budget Failure Puts Snap Election On The Cards

MADRID, Feb 15 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Spain’s Socialist government is widely expected to call a snap general election after failing to get its budget through parliament. Catalan separatists rejected Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s bill after the government refused to discuss the region’s right to self-determination. They voted with the conservatives, despite their…

Death Toll From Brazil Dam Disaster Climbs To 166, 155 Still Missing

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 15 (NNN-XINHUA) — The death toll from Brazil’s tragic dam disaster in southeast Minas Gerais state has climbed to 166, the state civil defense agency said. The agency’s Lt. Col. Flavio Godinho told the press that another 155 people are still missing since the tailings dam that contained tons of toxic…

WHO Seeks 43.5 Mln USD For Urgent Health Aid In Libya In 2019

TRIPOLI, Feb 15 (NNN-XINHUA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) said it needed 43.5 million U.S. dollars to provide life-saving medical assistance for 388,000 people affected by armed conflict in Libya. According to an assessment by WHO and the Libyan Health Ministry in 2017, 17.5 percent of the country’s hospitals, 20 percent of the primary…