Taiwan blames Chinese ‘bullying’ for Guyana revoking representative office

TAIPEI, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Taiwan on Friday blamed Chinese “bullying” for Guyana’s decision to revoke a deal for the island to open a representative office in the South American country, saying it had tried without success to get Guyana to change its mind. Taiwan had already begun initial operations at the…

Trump refuses to testify in ‘unconstitutional’ impeachment trial

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former president Donald Trump refused to testify in his looming impeachment trial after being called byHouse prosecutors to give evidence, branding the process “unconstitutional.” Trump’s lawyers ridiculed the request in a letter by lead House prosecutorJamie Raskin to answer questions over the Jan 6 attack…

US could see employment recovery in January

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A nationwide drop in Covid-19 cases and improvements in economic indicators have raised hopes that the US labor market is on the upswing, and government data due out Friday could show how strong that recovery is. The Labor Department is set to release its January…

Mexico arrests ex-governor accused of torturing journalist

MEXICO CITY, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A former Mexican governor appeared in court Thursday on charges of ordering the torture of a journalist who accused him of links to a child pornography ring. Mario Marin was detained on Wednesday in Acapulco and transferred to Cancun in connection with the allegations…

US freezes troop withdrawal from Germany, ends support for Yemen conflict

WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — US President Joe Biden said that the United States is freezing troop withdrawal from Germany and ending its support for offensive operations in the Yemen conflict. Biden in the speech also unveiled several policy changes regarding the Yemen conflict, US forces posture in Germany, and…

Covid-19: Britain has given 10 million people a first vaccine dose

Government data showed 10,021,471 had received a first jab LONDON, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — More than 10 million people in Britain have received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, describing the milestone as “hugely significant”.Britain is aiming to offer a shot to all over-70s, highly vulnerable…

Belgian court jails Iranian diplomat for 20 years over bomb plot in France

Assadolah Assadi ANTWERP, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Belgian court has convicted an Iranian diplomat for plotting a thwarted 2018 bombing of an exiled opposition group outside the French capital, Paris, and ordered him jailed for 20 years.Belgian prosecution lawyers and civil parties to the prosecution on Thursday said the…

DR Congo: 79-year-old MP elected new speaker of parliament

Christophe Mboso is the new speaker of parliament KINSHASA, Feb 5 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Lawmakers in the Democratic Republic of Congo elected a speaker loyal to President Felix Tshisekedi, after a string of moves to break his predecessor Joseph Kabila’s grip on the legislature.Almost 400 of the 500 members supported Christophe…

ICC: Ugandan LRA rebel commander convicted for sex crimes, forced pregnancy

Dominic Ongwen says he was abducted by the LRA and became a child soldier THE HAGUE, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Ex-Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen has been convicted of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Thursday’s historic ruling also saw him convicted of forced pregnancy – a legal first…

Covid-19: Scepticism as vaccination campaigns begin across Africa

Coronavirus active cases are rising in Africa ADDIS ABABA, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Conspiracy theories, mistrust and patchy communication have contributed to a flourishing of scepticism about Covid-19 vaccines in African countries, experts say, posing potential dangers to future immunisation campaigns.The anti-vaccine sentiment, often fed by rumours spread on social…