World News

S.Africa's Ramaphosa future fragile despite party backing

The threat of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's immediate exit from office over a cash-in-sofas scandal has temporarily faded after his party vowed to rally around him at next week's impeachment vote, but his woes are far from over.. Ruling African National Congress (ANC) party lawmakers vowed to close ranks around him at an impeachment vote in parliament next week, but Ramaphosa remains embroiled in the worst scandal of his career that could yet bring him down.

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Scepticism greets Sudan's post-coup political deal

The signing of an initial deal by Sudan's military regime and civilians has been widely hailed by the international community, but many at home eye it with deep scepticism.. Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, has been mired in deep turmoil since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan carried out a military coup in October last year, derailing a transition to civilian rule. 

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Spain's former king wins partial victory in UK harassment case

Three appeal judges in London on Tuesday ruled that the former mistress of Spain's ex-king Juan Carlos I could not sue him for harassment in the English courts for the period while he was on the throne.. He challenged the ruling and took the case to the Court of Appeal.

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Croatia sets sights on Europe's border-free club

If Croatia gets approval this week to join the world's largest visa-free area, the massive queues of vehicles at the borders with its European neighbours will become history.. If on Thursday Croatia gets the green light to join Schengen -- potentially alongside Bulgaria and Romania -- the kilometres-long (miles-long) vehicle queues at the Bregana border crossing with Slovenia will become a thing of the past.

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 4 mins read

World News

Macron tackles French immigration 'anxieties' with new law

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to make a second attempt at increasing expulsions of illegal immigrants after a series of scandals and under fierce pressure from his far-right opponents.. In her third bid for the presidency this year, she proposed changing the constitution via a referendum to speed up expulsions, set immigration targets and ensure French people got priority over foreigners for all state services. 

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Iran sentences five to hang over protest-linked killing

Iran has sentenced to death five people over the killing of a Basij paramilitary force member during nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death, the judiciary said Tuesday.. Oslo-based non-government group Iran Human Rights said at least 448 people had been "killed by security forces in the ongoing nationwide protests".

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Xi visit spotlights warming Saudi-China ties, and their 'limits'

When Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Saudi Arabia from Wednesday, the oil-rich kingdom will seek mostly economic gains rather than a meaningful shift away from its longtime protector the United States, analysts say.. Xi will arrive on Wednesday for a three-day visit including meetings with Saudi royals, the regional Gulf Cooperation Council and other Middle East leaders, Saudi state media said. 

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 3 mins read

World News

China blasts US military report as 'groundless speculation'

China on Tuesday criticised a US defence report estimating Beijing's nuclear arsenal would triple by 2035 as "groundless speculation" and accused Washington of "hyping up" the military threat posed by the world's most populous country.. Chinese defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said the report "distorts China's defence policy and military strategy, is groundless speculation on China's military development... and is (the United States') customary trick to hype up and exaggerate China's so-called military threat".

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Al Jazeera submits slain journalist's case to ICC

TV network Al Jazeera submitted the case of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court on Tuesday, saying she was killed by Israeli forces.. Al Jazeera said its submission highlighted "new witness evidence and video footage (that) clearly show that Shireen and her colleagues were directly fired at by the Israeli Occupation Forces."

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 1 mins read

World News

Indonesia parliament approves ban on extra-marital sex

Indonesia's parliament on Tuesday approved legislation that would outlaw sex outside marriage in a move critics said was a huge setback to rights in the world's most populous Muslim country.. Rights groups slammed the legislation as morality policing.

Tue, Dec 6, 2022 2 mins read