South Africa busts cocaine haul worth over US$15 million

The haul was concealed in a shipment from South America DURBAN, Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Authorities in South Africa have announced the seizure of drugs worth more than 240 million rands (equivalent to US$15 million) at the Durban habour.The Hawks, the country’s intelligence agency said in a statement that its…

Lesotho ex-PM Thomas Thabane charged with murdering wife

Thabane appeared at his 2017 inauguration with his current wife Maesaiah, two days after the killing of his estranged wife  MASERU, Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Lesotho’s former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has been charged with the 2017 murder of his estranged wife Lipolelo Thabane. His current wife, Maesaiah, was charged…

Covid-19:: Greece to fine over-60s who refuse vaccine

Greece will be the first country in the EU to target a specific age group  ATHENS, Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greece is to make Covid vaccinations mandatory for people aged 60 and over. Fines of €100 will be imposed at monthly intervals from mid-January on those who refuse, Prime Minister…

US warns Russia of ‘high-impact’ sanctions if invades Ukraine

RIGA (Latvia), Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington had seen “evidence” Russia could be planning an invasion on Ukraine, threatening Moscow with painful economic sanctions if it attacks.     Blinken accused Moscow of massing “tens of thousands of additional combat forces” near Ukraine’s…

Covid-19: Countries agree to negotiate WHO pandemic accord

  GENEVA, Dec 2 (NNN-AGENCIES) — World Health Organization member states agreed to start building a new international accord on how to handle future pandemics and ensure there can be no repeat of Covid-19.    The economic turmoil and millions of lives lost during the coronavirus crisis triggered calls for new international defences…

US violence: Man charged with killing his four children, mother-in-law in shooting

LOS ANGELES, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A man was charged with killing his four children and mother-in-law over the weekend inside a home in the western US state of California, authorities said. Germarcus Lamar David, 29, faces five counts of murder and three counts of assault on a child causing…

Canada bans travelers from Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi over Omicron fears

   MONTREAL, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canada on Tuesday banned travellers from Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi over fears of the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant, bringing to 10 the number of African countries targetedby Ottawa.    “Foreign nationals who have transited or stayed in these 10 countries cannot…

Poland extends migrant crisis border restrictions

 WARSAW, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Poland on Tuesday extended emergency measures restricting access to its border with Belarus which is at the centre of a migrant crisis the West blames on Minsk.   The interior ministry announced the extension of a controversial state of emergency that bars all non-residents —…

Germany: Cocaine worth 2.7 million euros found in car in Bavaria

BERLIN, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police officers have found 27 kilograms of cocaine in a car during a check on a motorway in southern Bavaria.The police estimate it would have a street value of at least 2.7 million euros.The car was stopped on the A8 motorway on Sunday, near the…

US lifts Colombia’s FARC ‘foreign terrorist’ designation

Members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) patrol a roadway near San Vicente del Caguan, Colombia, in 1999 WASHINGTON, Dec 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States revoked its designation of the Colombian group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia as a “foreign terrorist organization”, allowing US officials to…