World News

Joy tinged with fear for Brazil's first trans congresswomen

The election of the first trans members of Congress in Brazil is "historic," but a strong showing by far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies means they risk facing hostility and even violence, experts say.. "'Bolsonaristas' encourage the violence that trans people are victims of both in and outside of politics," she told AFP. Keila Simpson,  president of the National Association of Transvestites and Transsexuals (Antra), said the president's allies are "people who do not know how to live with diversity."

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Saudi prince's lawyers says PM title ensures legal immunity

Lawyers for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have argued that his appointment as prime minister qualifies him for immunity from lawsuits in US courts, including one related to the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.. His lawyers had previously argued that he "sits at the apex of Saudi Arabia's government" and thus qualifies for the kind of immunity US courts afford foreign heads of state and other high-ranking officials.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Bolsonaro, Lula battle for Brazil runoff endorsements

Far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva both got key endorsements Tuesday as they geared up for their battle for Brazil's presidential runoff on October 30.. Bolsonaro also got endorsements from the governors of Brazil's second- and third-biggest states, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro -- newly re-elected Romeu Zema and Claudio Castro, respectively.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

US boosts arms aid as Ukraine expands battle gains

The United States announced more weapons for Ukraine's army as it claimed sweeping gains along two major battlefronts in an offensive rush to beat the arrival of fresh Russian troops and the looming winter.. At the meeting, the 193 UN member states will weigh a resolution currently under preparation after Russia vetoed a condemnation of its annexation claim in the Security Council last week.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Azerbaijan frees 17 Armenian prisoners as US mediates

Azerbaijan freed 17 Armenian prisoners of war Tuesday following US mediation, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, days after the arch-foe neighbours re-launched Western-facilitated peace talks.. "I highly appreciate the efforts of the United States (in) assisting to return our 17 POW," Pashinyan said Tuesday on Twitter.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 1 mins read

World News

US Navy's $13 bn carrier embarks on first deployment

The US Navy's newest aircraft carrier embarked on its maiden deployment Tuesday, a milestone for a ship that has suffered problems with some of the advanced technologies it carries.. - Delayed deployment - "The Navy anticipates achieving reliability goals in the 2030s," the Government Accountability Office report said of the carrier's Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and Advanced Arresting Gear, adding that reliability issues could "prevent the ship from demonstrating one of its key requirements -- rapidly deploying aircraft."

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

New clashes in violence-hit Ecuador prison

New clashes were reported on Tuesday in an Ecuadoran prison where 15 people died in a riot the day before, the state prison administration authority said.. The prison authority had to send in tactical units to re-establish control following Monday's riot that left at least 15 inmates dead and 33 injured.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Ukraine rocket artillery crews chase Russian retreat

As Russian forces regroup after being driven back from their northeastern positions, Ukrainian artillery crews are determined not to give them breathing space to build a new defensive front.. But last month in the northeastern region of Kharkiv, Ukraine turned the battle on its head with a series of offensives led by tanks and infantry, with Kyiv's forces outflanking and isolating Russian bastions before forcing them to retreat. 

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 2 mins read

World News

Lula must fight for center to win Brazil runoff: analysts

To prevail in Brazil's tighter-than-expected presidential runoff, leftist veteran Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will have to strike alliances with centrists, woo the business sector and offer voters more than just his legacy, analysts say.. - Lula, who left office basking in a record 87-percent approval rating, also must stop leaning so heavily on his legacy and offer voters concrete, forward-looking policy plans, analysts say.

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 3 mins read

World News

Moroccans protest 'racist' French, EU visa policies

Dozens of Moroccans demonstrated outside the European Union's office in Rabat on Tuesday in protest at "racist" and "humiliating" treatment over visa applications, particularly by former colonial ruler France.. AMDH activist Khadija Ryadi said Moroccan applicants for the visas faced "unacceptable and unjustified" rejections, despite having legitimate reasons to travel to EU countries, "particularly France".

Tue, Oct 4, 2022 1 mins read