Saudi Arabia shivers in worst cold spell since 2016

RIYADH, Feb 14 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Saudi Arabia is experiencing its coldest weather since 2016, meteorologists said, with night temperatures dropping below zero in the country’s north over the past two days. In Tarif, on the border with Jordan, the temperature hit minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit), according to…

Climate change cooling Australia’s economy: RBA governor

SYDNEY, Feb 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor Philip Lowe warned that climate change is having an effect on the country’s economy and that more should be done to tap into renewable industries. Speaking at an economic forum in Melbourne, Lowe explained that occurrences linked to climate…

Drug lab found in farm of the family of Colombian ambassador to Uruguay

BOGOTA, Feb 14 (NNN-TELESUR) — The Police narcotics unit found drugs during a raid at a farm belonging to the family of Colombia’s ambassador to Uruguay Fernando Sanclemente. During the Wednesday operation, the police inspected warehouses, mangers, offices, and forests, where they “allegedly found drugs.” On Thursday, Colombia’s Foreign Minister published…

US, Taliban agree 7-day reduction in violence in Afghanistan

BRUSSELS, Feb 14 (NNN-TELESUR) — United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper announced that they’ve secured a seven-day reduction in violence in talks with the Taliban to help seek a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan. “It is our view that seven days, for now, is sufficient but in all things, our…

US Pres Trump asks $3.8 billion from military for Mexico border wall

WASHINGTON, Feb 14 (NNN-TELESUR) — The US Defense Department asked Congress to reprogram more than $3.8 billion from funding for the National Guard and weapons programs to pay for a wall on the border with Mexico, setting another possible confrontation with Democrats. Three years after arriving at the presidency, Donald…

Malawi leader loses election court challenge

President Peter Mutharika LILONGWE, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The Constitutional Court in Malawi has rejected an appeal, brought by President Peter Mutharika and Malawi’s electoral commission, to suspend the judgement it made last week annulling May’s presidential election. The court also dismissed the electoral body’s claim that another election would…

WHO extends emergency status of Ebola in DR Congo

Ebola outbreak GENEVA, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has extended its global emergency designation for the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but said the sharp decline in cases was “extremely positive”.“As long as there is a single case of Ebola in an…

Islamist militant Krekar to be extradited from Norway to Italy

Controversial Norway-based fundamentalist preacher Mullah Krekar in court in Oslo last year OSLO, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — An Iraqi Kurdish Islamist suspected of plotting attacks in Europe and the Middle East will be extradited from Norway to Italy, the Justice Ministry in Oslo said. Najmuddin Faraj Ahmad, better known as Mullah…

IMF due in Argentina for debt restructuring talks

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Recession-hit Argentina opens talks this week with a team from the International Monetary Fund, seeking relief from what President Alberto Fernandez says is an unsustainable foreign debt. The government hopes to renegotiate US$195 billion of the country’s US$311 billion foreign debt – including a deeply…

Pres Trump brushes aside Philippines’ decision to end military pact with US

WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (NNN-AGENCIES) — US President Donald Trump brushed aside the decision of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte to end a decades-old military agreement with United States, saying he didn’t really mind and it would save money. Duterte announced the termination of the two-decade-old Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) on Tuesday, a move…