World News

Tigray rebels deny 'direct engagements' with Ethiopia govt

Tigrayan rebels denied Saturday they have had "direct engagements" with the Ethiopian government, following a statement by the African Union which has been leading a push to end the 21-month conflict.. In a statement dated August 4 but posted on its website on Thursday, the AU's Peace and Security Council said it "commends the AU High Representative for the direct engagements between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF)".

Kenya's Odinga slightly ahead in presidential race: early results

Kenya's one-time opposition leader Raila Odinga is slightly ahead in the presidential race, partial official results showed Saturday, as the country remains on tenterhooks for the final election outcome.. - Pledges to ensure calm - The winner of the presidential race needs to secure 50 percent plus one vote and at least a quarter of the votes in 24 of Kenya's 47 counties.

Swiss techno Street Parade returns after two-year absence

Hundreds of thousands of people filled the streets of a sun-baked Zurich Saturday ready to party in the Swiss city's annual techno Street Parade, after a two-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic.. After two years marked by the pandemic, the organisers said the parade's motto was "THINK".

'Shocked': Montenegro town reels after mass shooting

Residents in Montenegro's Cetinje were filled with disbelief Saturday as they tried to make sense of an unexpected mass shooting that saw their quiet town's streets shattered by a gruesome killing spree. . Friday's shooting saw a man murder 10 residents in broad daylight before a passerby killed him, according to the state prosecutor. 

Tourists, locals irate over Machu Picchu snafu

The suspension of ticket sales to Machu Picchu sparked protests  among angry tourists and merchants from the town closest to the Inca citadel.. "We demand the sale of tickets at the offices of the Ministry of Culture of Machu Picchu, and 50 percent of its totality in person (...) to reactivate our economies," the merchants said in a statement. 

Taliban violently disperse rare women's protest in Kabul

Taliban fighters beat women protesters and fired into the air on Saturday as they violently dispersed a rare rally in the Afghan capital, days ahead of the first anniversary of the hardline Islamists' return to power.. - 'Making women invisible' - While the Taliban authorities have allowed and even promoted some rallies against the United States, they have declined permission for any women's rally since they returned to power.

Myanmar junta curbs political parties meeting foreigners

Myanmar's ruling junta has moved to restrict political parties from meeting foreigners or international organisations ahead of an election expected next year.. The junta-stacked Union Election Commission said Friday that the country's 92 registered political parties would have to ask for permission if they wished to meet foreign organisations or individuals.

Iran conservative media hail Salman Rushdie attacker

Iranian ultra-conservative newspaper Kayhan on Saturday hailed the man who stabbed British author Salman Rushdie -- the target of a 1989 Iranian fatwa calling for his death.. Iranian authorities have yet to make any official comment on the stabbing attack against Rushdie.