Pakistan PM calls meeting NCA responsible for command and control of nuclear arsenals

Islamabad, Feb 27 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called a meeting of the top decision making body on nuclear issues after India targeted terrorist camp in the country.

The National Command Authority controls policy formulation, exercises, deployment, research and development, employment and operational command and control of the country's nuclear arsenals.

The decision to call the NCA meeting was taken on Tuesday in the meeting of National Security Committee - a civil-military top level body that discussed the situation after the Indian attack.

India: WB govt shifts Pak inmates to high-security cells

Kolkata, Feb 27 (PTI) The West Bengal government has shifted 14 Pakistani prisoners, lodged in two correctional homes here, to separate barracks and "high-security" cells, amid soaring tension between India and its western neighbour, a senior official said.

The state government's move comes days after a 50-year-old Pakistani convict was allegedly killed by fellow inmates in Rajasthan's Jaipur Central jail.

40 percent of New Zealand's low income households face low wealth

WELLINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Of New Zealand households on a low income, 4 in 10 also have the smallest safety-net of household wealth to fall back on if they lose a job or face unexpected costs, Stats NZ said Wednesday.

"Many households with a low income have little wealth behind them," labour market and household statistics senior manager Jason Attewell said.

"But perhaps surprisingly, a low income doesn't always mean low wealth. About 1 in 10 households with a low income is in the wealthiest group in society."

Russian vaccine stops measles virus in its tracks

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. The Russian measles vaccine makes it possible to prevent that disease from circulating, Head of Russia’s Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being and Chief State Sanitary Physician Anna Popova told reporters on Tuesday.

Earlier reports said that most measles cases in Russia were because the infection was brought into the country from overseas. A timely inoculation makes it possible to nip 80% of measles infection cases in the bud.

Pakistan violates Indian air space in Nowshera

Jammu, Feb 27 (PTI) Pakistani fighter jets Wednesday violated Indian air space in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district but were pushed back by Indian aircraft, a top official said.

"The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning," the official said.

They were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol.

Dutch buy Air-France KLM stake to counter French influence

27 Feb 2019; AFP: The Netherlands announced Tuesday the surprise purchase of a stake in Air France-KLM, saying it needed to protect Dutch interests after a series of rows about the alliance's management.

Paris reacted testily to the Dutch purchase of the 12.68 percent share -- which puts it on course to match France's own holding -- saying that Air France-KLM must be free of "state interference".

Russia may fully resume flights to Egyptian resorts soon

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. Flights from Russia to popular Egyptian resorts may be fully resumed in the near future, Russian Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachev said at a meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Ihab Nasr on Tuesday.

"Now the flights, at least en route from Moscow to Cairo, have been fully resumed. As for other popular routes, we are close to also resuming these routes in full in accordance with the sides’ interests," Kosachev said.

UN food agency revisits Yemen wheat silos after months of suspension

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the UN food agency briefly visited the Red Sea mills of Yemen on Tuesday but were unable to determine if the wheat in storage was all fit for feeding starving Yemenis, a UN spokesman said.

"A team from the World Food Program (WFP) visited the Red Sea mills," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general. "This visit was the first by WFP to these vital wheat stores since September of 2018."

India: Srinagar, Jammu, Leh airports closed for civilian air traffic

Srinagar, Feb 27 (PTI) Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were Wednesday closed for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Budgam district and amid escalation of cross-Line of Control shelling between armies of India and Pakistan.

"The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency," an official of the Airport Authority of India told PTI.

Trump hails North Korea's 'awesome' potential

27 Feb 2019; DW: Ahead of talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said there was "awesome" potential and "great opportunity" for North Korea, which would be sooner realized if it committed to denuclearization.

"Vietnam is thriving like few places on earth. North Korea would be the same, and very quickly, if it would denuclearize," Trump wrote on Twitter.

American consular official visits incarcerated US investor in Moscow jail

MOSCOW, February 26. /TASS/. A representative of the US Embassy in Moscow on Tuesday visited Michael Calvey, founder of the Baring Vostok fund, who was arrested on charges of embezzling 2.5 bln rubles ($37.5 mln) from Vostochny Bank. This is according to a statement by the US diplomatic mission posted on Twitter.

"On the 12th day after the detention of Michael Calvey, a US citizen, we finally received permission from the Russian authorities to visit him. Today, an embassy representative visited Calvey to support him and offer him embassy assistance," the tweet says.

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