Ukraine will host a key summit with the European Union on Friday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he wants to hold talks "this year" on his war-battered country joining the bloc.. "Only together a strong Ukraine and a strong European Union can protect the life we value."
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday alleged that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro actively participated in planning for his supporters to storm government buildings on January 8.. "I am certain that Bolsonaro actively participated in that and is still trying to participate," Lula added when questioned about his predecessor's role in the assault.
Peru's Congress on Thursday voted down another proposal to advance elections to this year, a day after a similar proposal aimed at quelling deadly nationwide unrest also failed.. Before Wednesday's vote, two previous bills to advance the election had also faltered in Congress.
Pope Francis is due to wind up his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and arrive in South Sudan on Friday on a three-day visit to promote peace and reconciliation in a country still bearing the scars of civil war.. Peace has eluded South Sudan in statehood too, with a five-year civil war leaving 380,000 people dead, four million displaced, and the young country deeply impoverished.
The trial of 47 of Hong Kong's most prominent pro-democracy figures begins on Monday, in the largest prosecution under a national security law that has crushed dissent in the city.. In December, Beijing said Hong Kong's leader could also bar foreign lawyers from taking part in national security trials.
Peru's Congress on Thursday voted down another proposal to advance elections to this year, a day after a similar proposal aimed at quelling deadly nationwide unrest also failed.. Before Wednesday's vote, two previous bills to advance the election had also faltered in Congress.
Thousands of Egyptian bibliophiles weave through a labyrinthine display of books, reviving an annual tradition at the Arab world's largest book fair, but this year it comes at a steep cost.. A steep currency devaluation has compounded costs for import-dependent publishers, leading many to hike the price of books by up to double.
A handful of unhygienic pranks at sushi conveyor belt restaurants in Japan have sparked stock slumps, venue overhauls and legal action, along with furious social media commentary.. Two other affected chains, Hama-sushi and Kura Sushi have both also reportedly said they plan to take legal action, with the latter now planning to install cameras above conveyor belts to monitor customers, Jiji press agency reported.
Cypriots in the divided island's south will vote Sunday for a new president, tasked with tackling a cost-of-living crisis, corruption scandals, irregular migration and a derailed peace process.. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish forces occupied the island's northern third in response to a Greek-sponsored coup.
From the army helicopter circling overhead, Colombian security forces are able to spot several illegal gold mines in the jungle below.. - Gold hard to trace - Illegal mining and drug trafficking are the two main sources of income for Colombia's armed groups that have waged a near-six-decade conflict against the security forces.
