Thai PM Prayut decries coup conjecture as ‘fake news’

BANGKOK, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand’s prime minister on Monday dismissed rumours of an impending coup as “fake news”, as speculation ricocheted across a kingdom unsettled by the ill-fated political union between a princess and a party allied to the powerful Shinawatra clan. Conjecture has coursed through Thailand since Friday when…

At least 99 dead after consuming toxic alcohol in India

NEW DELHI, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – At least 99 people have died andscores have been hospitalised in northern India after drinking toxic alcohol,triggering a crackdown against bootleggers, officials said Monday. News of the deaths in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand hastrickled in over the past three days, with…

Algeria’s President Bouteflika to seek fifth term: state news agency

ALGIERS, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIEs) — Algeria’s President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he would seek a fifth term in a presidential election set for April 18, putting an end to months of uncertainty caused by his poor health. Bouteflika, 81, who has been in office since 1999 but has been seen in…

U.N. says grain stores in Yemen’s Hodeidah ‘at risk of rotting’

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The U.N. special envoy to Yemen on Monday said the urgency of accessing grain stores trapped in a frontline position in the port city of Hodeidah was increasing as the food was “at risk of rotting”. The World Food Programme grain stores at the…

Ugandan President Museveni reassures EU on regional peace

President Museveni during talks with the European Union’s Federica Mogherini in Addis Ababa. ADDIS ABABA (Ethiopia), Feb 11 (NNN-NEW VISION) — Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assured the European Union (EU) that peace in the entire East African region will prevail as member countries’ leadership continues to strengthen their…

14 illegal immigrants bound for Malaysia nabbed in Myanmar

YANGON, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Myanmar authorities have detained 14 illegal migrants bound for Malaysia and two brokers assisting them. With the 14 illegal migrants on board, a vessel was captured by a Myanmar navy vessel patrolling 4.8 km west of Thaechaung village in Sittway, Rakhine state last Wednesday. The…

President Abbas holds talks with world leaders in Addis Ababa

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 11 (NNN-WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas held separate talks in Addis Ababa with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi during which he briefed them on the latest political developments related to Palestine. He also briefed them on the Israeli violations against the…

Iran FM visits Lebanon, offers support for new government

BEIRUT, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran’s foreign minister says his country is ready to cooperate with the new Lebanese government, offering support in all sectors. Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke to reporters Sunday at Beirut’s airport shortly after his arrival in the Lebanese capital. The two-day visit comes days after the leader of…

Nigeria signs $30 bn export-financing deal – local media

ABUJA, Feb 11 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) –The federal government of Nigeria has reached a 30 billion US dollar export-financing deal with investment partners, local media reports.Among the partners are the African Export-Import Bank, Africa Finance Corp., the African Development Bank, the Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.Africa’s biggest oil…

South Sudan government announces return to pre-war oil production levels

NEW DELHI, Feb 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) — South Sudan will return to producing more than 350,000 barrels of crude per day by the middle of 2020, up from current levels of just over 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) currently, the country’s oil minister said. Production is expected to rise to 270,000…