World

BRUSSELS: The outgoing head of the European Union's executive, Jean-Claude Juncker of the European Commission, has cut short a holiday to undergo urgent surgery, his press team said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 17)."Jean-Claude Juncker had to shorten his holiday in Austria for medical reasons. He was taken back to Luxembourg where he will undergo an urgent cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder)," the team said of what is normally a routine medical procedure.Juncker, a former Luxembourg premier whose health has been the subject of rife speculation among EU politicians, analysts and media for years, is due to step down on Oct 31 as head of the Commission.He will be replaced by German conservative Ursula von der Leyen, the first woman to lead the institution that proposes EU laws, polices the economies of all members of the bloc and negotiates trade deals around the world. … [Read more...] about EU’s Juncker cuts holiday short for urgent surgery

Both Italy and Malta have refused Open Arms permission to dock and unload its passengers ROME - Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Saturday reluctantly authorised 27 migrant children rescued at sea to disembark from a charity vessel anchored in limbo off Lampedusa island for days. In a letter, Salvini told Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte he could authorise the "alleged" minors to leave the Open Arms ship, despite it being "divergent to my orientation."However, the remaining 105 adults and two accompanied children must stay on board in what the charity Proactiva Open Arms said were "untenable" conditions."The go-ahead for the disembarkation of these people is the exclusive responsibility of the prime minister," Salvini wrote in reply to a humanitarian request from Conte. The interior minister has the final say on border issues.The charity said it would need time to break the news to the migrants that most of them must remain on board. Some were rescued more … [Read more...] about Reluctant Salvini says OK for minors to leave Italy migrant ship

A man gestures during a demonstration against the Hong Kong administration in the To Kwa Wan neighbourhood on Saturday. (Reuters Photo) HONG KONG: Pro-democracy protesters marched on one side of Hong Kong’s famous harbour on Saturday to demand the government heed their demands. Across the water, a pro-government rally called for an end to the often violent protests.The duelling demonstrations highlighted the political divide in the semiautonomous Chinese territory, which for 10 weeks has been rocked by protests that show no signs of relenting. “The government right now doesn’t listen to the people, and the police are too violent,” said Bobby Tse, a 76-year-old retiree who watched the pro-democracy march from a bridge. “It didn’t used to be like this. We didn’t have to protest every week. But now even though we have protests every week, the government still gives no response.” At the pro-government rally, speakers on a stage … [Read more...] about Rallies underline bitter Hong Kong divide

Sudan's constitutional declaration which was signed on Sunday August 17, 2019 paves the way for a transition to civilian rule in the African nation and comes months after the ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir KHARTOUM: Sudan's military council and protest leaders on Saturday signed a hard-won "constitutional declaration" that paves the way for a transition to civilian rule.The agreement was signed by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, deputy chief of the military council, and Ahmed al-Rabie, representing the Alliance for Freedom and Change protest umbrella, an AFP reporter said. Heads of state, prime ministers and dignitaries from several countries -- including Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Egypt's premier Mustafa Madbuli -- attended the ceremony in Khartoum, and the signing was met with applause. The constitutional declaration builds on a political declaration that was agreed by the military and protesters on July 17. It formalises the creation of a transition … [Read more...] about Sudan generals, protest leaders sign transition deal

MOSCOW: Russian opposition activists staged a string of pickets in central Moscow on Saturday to call for free elections and for charges against protesters detained at recent rallies to be dropped.Moscow has been rocked by weekly protests for more than a month since the authorities barred opposition candidates from running in an election for the city's legislature in September.Police have briefly detained more than 2,000 protesters in recent weeks, launched criminal cases against some dozen people for mass disorder and used force to disperse what they said were illegal protests.In contrast Saturday's solo pickets, spread across three locations in Moscow, were peaceful and opposition supporters scarce.The recent opposition demonstrations have turned into the biggest sustained protest movement in Russia since 2011-2013, when protesters took to the streets against perceived electoral fraud.Earlier on Saturday some 4,000 people attended a Communist rally in Moscow that had been authorised … [Read more...] about Russian opposition activists picket for free elections