Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he opposes early elections, as corruption probes linked to him intensify speculation over his future. Israeli media have raised the possibility of a June poll, with graft investigations potentially weakening the premier’s ability to hold together his right-wing …
Read More »China downplays lifting of presidential term limit
Beijing, China | AFP | China sought on Sunday to downplay the Communist Party’s move to scrap presidential term limits, a decision that could pave the way for Xi Jinping to remain president for life. The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s rubber-stamp parliament, will vote on March 11 on constitutional …
Read More »Slovak police free all suspects held after journalist murder
Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | Slovak police on Saturday said they had released seven Italian businessmen detained after they were named by murdered journalist Jan Kuciak in an explosive report on alleged high-level political corruption linked to the mafia. “The investigator has, within the legal timeframe (48 hours) at his …
Read More »Putin promises ‘victories’ for Russia at star-studded rally
Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin on Saturday promised “victories” for Russia at a star-studded rally attended by tens of thousands of supporters ahead of a March 18 election he is all but certain to win. Olympic athletes, celebrities and cosmonauts had taken to the stage to voice …
Read More »Trailed by legal woes, Netanyahu to meet ‘true friend’ Trump
Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have a brief respite next week from the deluge of legal woes he faces when he heads to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump. Even as he prepared for his trip, Netanyahu was again questioned by police in …
Read More »Mali insecurity continues, migrating to country’s center: UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | Insecurity in Mali “continues to rage” and is progressing toward the center of the country, according to an interim UN report. Members of Plateforme, an armed pro-government coalition, and the CMA rebel alliance, who were signatories to a 2015 peace deal, are seeing …
Read More »Watchdog warns EU leaders ‘weakening’ journalists after murder
Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | A global media watchdog on Friday warned EU leaders against undermining the security of journalists in the wake of the murder of a Slovak investigative reporter gunned down in his home. Jan Kuciak, who had been probing alleged high-level political corruption in Slovakia linked to …
Read More »Thousands attend protest vigils for slain Slovak journalist
Bratislava, Slovakia | AFP | Thousands flocked to candlelit anti-corruption protests and memorials held across Slovakia on Friday for murdered journalist Jan Kuciak, killed as he was about to publish an explosive report on alleged high-level political corruption linked to the Italian mafia. Organisers estimated that around 25,000 people gathered …
Read More »Kremlin says no interest in US arms race in ‘invincible weapons’ row
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Kremlin on Friday said Russia will not be part of a new arms race as the United States and NATO voiced concern over Vladimir Putin’s boasts of new “invincible” weapons. Putin stunned the West — and many in Russia — on Thursday by using …
Read More »EU’s Barnier welcomes ‘clarity’ in May Brexit speech
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Friday welcomed a key speech on Brexit by British Prime Minister Theresa May, saying she had brought “clarity”. Barnier said May’s highly-anticipated address in London, in which she said said it was time to face up to …
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