Iceland whaling: Fisheries Minister signals end from 2024

Iceland’s whaling boats rarely set sail these days  REYKJAVIK, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Commercial whaling in Iceland could be banned within two years, after a government minister said there was little justification for the practice. The northern European country, an island in the North Atlantic, is one of few places…

Coups and Covid loom large at African Union summit

 ADDIS ABABA, Feb 5 (BSS-AGENCIES) — Heads of state gathered Saturday at the African Union headquarters to kick off a two-day summit as the continent reels from a spate of military coups and the coronavirus pandemic.   The summit also comes as the 55-member bloc faces pressure to push for…

Argentina pays IMF $370 mn in debt interest

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Argentina on Friday paid $370 million to the IMF as interest on a $44 billion debt that was rescheduled late last month, officials said.    The Central Bank’s bulletin showed international reserves of $37.18 billion at the end of the day, a difference from…

DR Congo machete attack toll rises to 62

BULE (DR Congo), Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The toll of a machete attack at a camp for displaced people in eastern DR Congo this week has increased to 62 people killed, including 17 children, an official said Friday at a mass funeral.    Grief-stricken relatives cried as men shovelled orange…

Argentina: Death toll from laced cocaine climbs to 24

   BUENOS AIRES, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll among dozens of people who consumed cocaine likely laced with opioids in Buenos Aires rose to 24 on Friday, with 23 still in hospital, health officials said.    Eight of the hospitalized are in serious condition and on mechanical ventilation.…

US waives sanctions for Iran civil nuclear program

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US State Department is waiving sanctions on Iran’s civilian nuclear program in a technical step necessary to return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, a senior official said.    The resumption of the waiver, ended by the Donald Trump administration in 2020, “would be essential…

Peru president sacks PM accused of domestic violence, just 3 days after appointment

 LIMA, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Peruvian President Pedro Castillo dumped his prime minister Friday just three days after appointing him, amid outrage over revelations he was accused of domestic violence in 2016.    “I have decided to recompose the cabinet,” the president said, meaning Prime Minister Hector Valer Pinto is…

Covid-19: Ottawa police promise crackdown against ‘dangerous’ trucker protest against vaccine mandate

OTTAWA, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ottawa police vowed to crack down on an “increasingly dangerous” protest by hundreds of truckers who have shut down the center of the Canadian capital for eight days to demand an end to COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The well-organised blockade – which police say has relied…

Covid-19: Austrian vaccine mandate come into force Saturday

 lowest rates in western Europe Reuters+ FOLLOW Published: 1:23am, 5 Feb, 2022Why you can trust SCMP TOP PICKShttps://8f92eaa6c0024e7f14bb70b3e66cf7e3.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlCoronavirusHong Kong to buy millions of rapid tests amid ‘worst wave’ of Covid-19 cases5 Feb 2022NewsIs Hong Kong heading for ‘living with Covid’ after latest strategy changes?5 Feb 2022CoronavirusHong Kong urged to tackle…

Colombian charged in Haiti president’s killing pleads not guilty in US court

MIAMI, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Colombian soldier charged in the United States with participating in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise pleaded not guilty Friday, his lawyer in Miami said. Accused by the US courts of having participated in the “conspiracy to kidnap or assassinate” Moise, Mario…