Bernama among signatories of “News Agencies” Tolerance Charter

By M. Saraswathi DUBAI, Feb 10 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) is among the signatories of the “News Agencies” Tolerance Charter. Bernama Chief Executive Officer, Nurini Kassim signed the charter initiated by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on behalf of the news agency on the sidelines of…

Afghan forces destroy 4 heroin labs in restive province

KABUL, Feb 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Afghan security forces have destroyed four heroin manufacturing labs following a joint operation in eastern province of Nangarhar, in a latest effort to fight illegal drugs, Ministry of Interior Affairs reported on Sunday. “The Counter-Narcotics Police of Afghanistan (CNPA) backed by Afghan Air Force conducted…

Mongolia to hold ice festival to attract foreign tourists

ULAN BATOR, Feb 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Mongolia will hold an annual ice festival called “The Blue Pearl 2019” on March 2-4 at Khuvsgul Lake, local media reported on Saturday, citing the Governor’s Office of Khuvsgul Aimag. Aiming to develop winter tourism and attract more foreign tourists to Mongolia, the three-day…

Pakistani gov’t to initiate process for wildlife protection

ISLAMABAD, Feb 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — The Pakistani government is pondering to make strict laws to ensure wildlife protection and stop illegal hunting in the country, local reports said. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government has sought recommendations from the ministry of climate change, and experts working on protection of wildlife, for forming…

S.Korea, U.S. sign cost-sharing deal for U.S. forces in S.Korea

SEOUL, Feb 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — South Korea and the United States on Sunday signed a deal to share defense costs for U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, according to local media reports. The signing ceremony was held at the South Korean foreign ministry’s headquarters in Seoul, with Chang Won-sam and…

Cambodia set to hold local council election in May

PHNOM PENH, Feb 10 (NNN-Xinhua) — Cambodia is scheduled to hold the third election for 4,114 municipal, provincial and district councilors on May 26, the National Election Committee (NEC) said. The non-universal election will be voted by 11,572 sitting commune chiefs and councilors – typically along party lines – for…

US: Border Arrests of Migrant Families Rose 290% Since October

WASHINGTON, Feb 10 (NNN-TELESUR) — The arrests of immigrant families on the U.S.-Mexico border increased 290% in the period Oct. 2018-Jan.-2019 with respect to a similar period in the year before, according to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). “The arrests of family units by Border Patrolagents, so far, [in] the 2019 fiscal year have increased by 290%,” a CBP…

US Blockade on Venezuela Has Cost US$350 Billion: Report

CARACAS, Feb 10 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Economic Debates Unit of the Latin American Geopolitical Strategic Center (CELAG) released a report on “the economic consequences of the boycott against Venezuela,” in which it is proved that the “international financial blockade to Venezuela since 2013 is the main responsible for the economic…

Bolivia: ‘El Niño’ Phenomenon Kills 18

LA PAZ, Feb 10 (NNN-TELESUR) — At least 18 people have died and 12 are missing due to the “El Niño” phenomenon in Bolivia. The Bolivian Vice-minister of Civil Defense, Carlos Bru, said that approximately 8,000 families have been affected by the inundations, flooding and mudslides in the Andean country. “At least 21 municipalities were declared as emergency situations,…

Sierra Leone declares rape ‘national emergency,’ life sentence for culprits

FREETOWN, Feb 10 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — The brutal rape of a young girl by her uncle in Sierra Leone became the rallying point for a campaign that pushed President Julius Maada Bio to declare the prevalence of sexual violence a national emergency. The five-year-old girl, whose identity has been kept secret…