Brazil: Vale loses license to operate key dam after disaster

BRASILIA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Brazilian mining giant Vale has lost its license to operate the Lanjeiras dam, vital to its biggest mine in southeastern Minas Gerais state, the firm said. The decision comes two weeks after another dam storing mining wastecollapsed in the village of Brumadinho — 160 kilometers…

Canadian diplomats hit by mystery symptoms in Cuba sue Ottawa: report

OTTAWA, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian diplomats who suffered frommysterious health complaints while they were posted to Cuba in 2017 are suing Ottawa for taking too long to evacuate them and provide them treatment, reports said Wednesday. Fourteen people, including current and former diplomats and their families, are seeking Can$28…

Yemen: Key pro-govt forces fighting rebels

ADEN, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forces loyal to the internationally-recognised Yemen government — backed by the Saudi-led coalition — are made up of different groups, some of which have been accused of being “largely unaccountable” by Amnesty International. The London-based rights group accused the United Arab Emirates, a key partner…

Aid reaches displaced Syrians near Jordan border: Red Crescent

DAMASCUS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An aid convoy has reacheddisplaced Syrians in desperate need of assistance near the Jordanian border, in the first such delivery in three months, the Red Crescent said. The convoy of 133 trucks carrying aid including food and clothes forchildren reached the outskirts of the Rukban…

IPCC authors meet in Colombia for final stages of climate change and land report

DHAKA, Feb 7 (NNN-BSS) — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) authors will meet in Cali, Colombia, on Feb 11-15 to make final preparations for the special report on Climate Change and Land to be released later this year. Around 125 authors and IPCC Bureau members from 45 countries will…

Poland to invest $1b in Bangladesh mining sector

DHAKA, Feb 7 (NNN-BSS) — Visiting Poland’s First Deputy Minister of Energy Grzegorz Tobiszowski said his government is keen to make an investment of US$ one billion in Bangladesh mainly in mining sector. He stated this at a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the latter’s office…

Macedonia signs NATO accession accord

BRUSSELS, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Macedonia signed accession papers with NATO on Wednesday, a key step on the way to joining the alliance after resolving a long-running name row with Greece. The Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and representatives of all current NATO members signed the protocol at alliance headquarters…

Bangladesh virtually seals off border with Myanmar: FM Momen

DHAKA, Feb 7 (NNN-BSS) — Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen saidBangladesh almost sealed off its borders with Myanmar amid fresh influxagainst the backdrop reported military clampdown in Rakhine state, this time Buddhists and Hindus being its victims. “We can’t take anymore (new nationals from Myanmar). The border withMyanmar is…

Peru: Inbound tourism to grow 10% in 2019

LIMA, Feb 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — Around 4.8 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Peru this year, up nearly 10% compared to 2018, Scotiabank said in its latest weekly report. This growth will be underpinned by the hosting of sporting events such as the 2019 Dakar Rally, the Lima 2019 Pan American…

President Vizcarra announces govt support to 15 irrigation projects across Peru

CAJAMARCA (Peru), Feb 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra affirmed his administration will support 15 major irrigation projects across the country so as to improve agricultural sector and further stimulate economic growth. Speaking at a Muni-Executive meeting in Cajamarca region —the first one with newly-elected local authorities— he said that one of…