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US sanctions: a ‘test of resilience’ for ICC

Donald Trump’s US administration has announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court that threaten to cripple its operations and spark fresh transatlantic tension. AFP breaks down the likely impact of the sanctions, possible responses, and the reasons behind Washington’s unprecedented move, which the court said was an “assault on the rule of law”.- What […]

US announces sanctions on ICC, hours after Nobel award to former judge

The United States on Friday announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court, vowing to cripple the tribunal’s operations just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize went to a former ICC judge who warned of mounting political attacks on the court. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would ban transactions with what he called a […]

Hurricane Isaias set to strike Gulf Coast late Friday

Hurricane Isaias rapidly intensified into a major category 3 storm on Friday, triggering mandatory evacuations as it barrelled towards the US Gulf Coast where it was projected to make landfall in the evening. Isaias is the first hurricane of an Atlantic season held in check by a historic El Nino, and is set to become […]

Rubio calls on all Venezuela opposition figures to join talks with govt

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday called on all opposition factions in Venezuela to join talks with the interim government of Delcy Rodriguez on a future political transition. Rubio made the comment as he welcomed Dinorah Figuera, who led the opposition bloc that won a majority in Venezuela’s last internationally recognized elections in […]

Clashes in Durban as fresh anti-migrant riots erupt in South Africa

South African police battled Friday to control rioters and looters in the east coast city of Durban amid a second day of unrest targeted at foreign nationals. Large mobs moved through the city, kicking in shop windows and hurling bricks and bottles in violence that echoed weeks of protests that led thousands of nationals from […]

France students plan more protests, UN ‘concerned’ over violence

Students in France were largely back in the classroom Friday following days of protests demanding better education and school conditions, as the UN voiced “concern” over the sometimes violent clashes. Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across France since students in late September began blocking entrances to high schools, which led to squads of riot […]

Eritrea, Ethiopia trade barbs as Tigray rebels retreat

Ethiopia and Eritrea each accused the other of starting a war on Friday as an internal Ethiopian conflict threatened to escalate into a regional war. Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 and they fought a brutal border war from 1998 to 2000. Ethiopia accuses its neighbour of backing rebels in its northern Tigray state, who […]

Malaysia closes schools in capital, parts of country due to haze

Malaysia closed schools in the capital and parts of the country on Friday as haze from fires in neighbouring Indonesia again reduced its air quality to among the world’s worst. Toxic smoke from peatland and forest fires has shrouded towns and cities in the region for more than a month, sending respiratory complaints skyrocketing. The school […]

Turkey warns opposition, press over investment fund crisis

Turkey’s ruling party on Friday warned the opposition after it raised questions about two ministers in connection with a sprawling investment fund crisis, as police detained two journalists for posts on the scandal. The country has been grappling with the fallout from an investment fund scandal which erupted in mid-September, prompting prosecutors to investigate allegations of […]