Djibouti death toll from migrant boat continues to rise: UN

DJIBOUTI, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The death toll after two migrant boats sank in heavy seas off the coast of Djibouti continues to rise past 50, the UN migration agency said.The international organization for migration (IOM) also confirmed the disappearance of approximately 130 others based on the testimonies of survivors.“Our…

Stranded migrants on German rescue ship arrive in Italy

ROME, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Forty-seven stranded migrants finally came to shore in Italy’s Catania in the early hours of Thursday morning after been blocked at sea off Sicily for 12 days.The latest migrant stand-off finally came to an end after some nine EU countries including Italy agreed to take…

Cameroon opposition leader Maurice Kamto ‘charged with insurrection’

YAOUNDE, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Cameroon’s main opposition leader, Maurice Kamto, has been charged with insurrection, his lawyers say.If found guilty, Kamto, who was arrested on Monday, could face a prison term of five years to life.The Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC) leader lost to long-time ruler Paul Biya in last…

South Africa: SABC’s retrenchment plan put on ice

PRETORIA, Feb 1 (NNN-SANEWS) — The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced that it has put on hold its retrenchment plan. This follows constructive and extensive engagements with various stakeholders, including the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, organised labour and its own employees, the SABC said on Thursday. The…

Qatar Airways upgrades Airbus A321 order to include longer range jets

DUBAI, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Qatar Airways has upgraded an existing order for 50 Airbus A321neo jets to include 10 long-range models, as a regional diplomatic rift has forced the airline to fly longer routes. The airline said on Thursday that 10 of those 50 aircraft would now be the…

Thai party ousted in 2014 coup picks Thaksin loyalist for PM in elections

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thailand’s Pheu Thai Party, which was ousted from power by the military in a 2014 coup, on Thursday picked a close ally of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra as its main candidate for prime minister in elections set for March 24. Pheu Thai’s Sudarat Keyuraphan could face…

Bangladesh sues Philippine bank over cyberheist at New York Fed

NEW YORK, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Bangladesh’s central bank sued a Philippine bank on Thursday to recoup losses it suffered when unidentified hackers stole US$81 million from its account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York nearly three years ago. In a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court…

India’s buffalo meat exports to plunge amid China clampdown on illegal imports

MUMBAI (India), Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — India’s buffalo meat exports are set to plunge 15 per cent to their lowest in six years, a leading industry body said, as world No 1 meat consumer China clamps down on food smuggling. China does not allow imports of Indian buffalo beef due…

Thai court to hear Bahraini extradition request for footballer

BANGKOK, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A Thai public prosecutor on Friday submitted to a criminal court Bahrain’s extradition request for jailed footballer Hakeem Al Araibi, who fled his country amid political upheaval and has refugee status in Australia. Araibi will have to appear at Thailand’s Criminal Court in Bangkok on…

US lifts UN freeze on North Korea aid

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The United States is moving quickly to lift a freeze at the United Nations on humanitarian aid to North Korea, just weeks before a planned second US-North Korean summit, according to diplomats. At Washington’s request, several applications from aid groups for exemptions to tough…