Briefly

IRAN

French institute shut in response to cartoons

Iran announced on Thursday the closure of a Teheran-based French research institute in protest against cartoons of the Islamic republic's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published by French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. "In reviewing cultural relations with France and examining the possibility of continuing French cultural activities in Iran, the ministry is ending the activities of the French Institute for Research in Iran as a first step," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

PERU

Protests resume with partial blockades

After a fortnight-long break, Peruvians took to the streets again on Wednesday, blocking roads countrywide to demand the resignation of President Dina Boluarte, who took over from her ousted predecessor in December. Protesters used stones and burning tires to barricade main routes in the southern regions of Puno, Cusco, Apurimac and Arequipa, as well as Junin in the center, chanting for Boluarte to leave. Thirty of the country's 195 provinces have been affected, according to the country's rights ombudsman. In downtown Lima, the capital, police dispersed dozens of demonstrators with tear gas as they tried to reach Congress, with some journalists hurt in the scuffles.

SERBIA

Vucic rejects EU calls for Russia sanctions

Serbia's president said on Wednesday that the European Union's calls for his country to join sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine represent "a brutal" interference in the internal affairs of the Balkan state, which has asked to join the EU. In his wide-ranging year-end address to the nation, Aleksandar Vucic praised his country's economic and political achievements, comparing himself to a wolf that cannot be tamed under international pressure. "Thank you very much for meddling in our internal affairs in such a brutal way," he said, referring to the Western appeals. Serbia remains the only European country besides Belarus that has refused to introduce curbs against Russia.

JAPAN

Tuna price soars past $270,000 at auction

The top-selling tuna at Tokyo's traditional New Year auction sold for more than $270,000 on Thursday, nearly double last year's price, breaking a pandemic trend of slumping demand. Michelin-starred sushi restaurant Onodera Group and Japanese wholesaler Yamayuki forked out 36.04 million yen ($273,000) for the 212-kilogram bluefin tuna in the auction at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market. For years, the top bid came from self-proclaimed "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura, who paid a record $3.1 million in 2019.

Agencies Via Xinhua