World

Malaysia’s jailed ex-leader Najib Razak began his defence Monday against graft charges tied to more than $500 million in alleged bribes and several counts of money laundering, saying they were “politically motivated”.The former prime minister, already serving a six-year jail term for corruption related to the plunder of sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, faces several other …

Najib says bribery, power abuse charges ‘politically motivated’ Read More »

The Syrian military and its ally Russia conducted deadly joint air raids on areas under Islamist-led rebel control on Monday, as they battle a lightning offensive that has wrested swathes of Syria from government control.Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad is backed by Russia and Iran, both of which have confirmed they will help his army fight …

Syria, Russia conduct deadly strikes to push back rebel advance Read More »

Japanese atomic bomb survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo said Monday a 30-strong delegation will collect its Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo after a crowd-funding campaign to pay their travel costs.Those going to the December 10 ceremony will include group co-chair Terumi Tanaka, 92, who witnessed the 1945 Nagasaki bombing as a child, as well as other …

30-strong Japan A-bomb delegation to collect Nobel prize Read More »

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te discussed “China’s military threats” toward the island in a call with former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday, drawing a fresh barrage of criticism from Beijing.Pelosi’s long-standing support for Taiwan has infuriated China, which responded to her visit to Taipei in 2022 with massive military drills around the island.Lai and …

Taiwan’s Lai talks ‘China threats’ with ex-US House speaker Pelosi Read More »

Five rugby players formerly with French side Grenoble go on trial on Monday, accused of raping a student in a hotel in 2017, or failing to prevent the alleged sexual assault.The trial, held in the southwestern French city of Bordeaux, had originally been scheduled for June but was delayed after one of the defendants, Irish …

Rugby players on trial in France over rape charges Read More »

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos on Monday described as “very worrisome” the presence of a Russian attack submarine off the country’s coast in the disputed South China Sea.The UFA 490 submarine was spotted 148 kilometres (92 miles) west of Cape Calavite on Thursday, the Philippine military said. “Any intrusion into the West Philippine Sea, of our EEZ …

Philippine president says Russian submarine ‘worrisome’ Read More »

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces the biggest risk yet of being deposed by a hostile National Assembly as his government presents Monday a social security financing plan that has the opposition up in arms.Barnier, a conservative appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in September in the wake of an inconclusive general election, has no majority …

French PM risks tumbling in hostile parliament vote Read More »

The UN environment chief insisted Monday that talks on a landmark plastic pollution treaty were not a failure, saying important progress was made despite negotiations collapsing without agreement.”It obviously did not fail,” Inger Andersen told AFP, calling the two-year timeline for the deal set in 2022 “highly ambitious”.”What we do have is very, very good …

UN chief defends plastic pollution talks after collapse Read More »

The United Nations’ top court will start unprecedented hearings on Monday aimed at setting legal guidelines for how countries should protect the planet against climate change and help vulnerable nations combat its devastating impact.Representatives from Vanuatu and other low-lying at-risk islands in the Pacific Ocean will open marathon proceedings at the International Court of Justice …

Landmark climate case to open at top UN court Read More »

New Zealand scientists on Monday began dissecting a whale considered the rarest in the world, a species so elusive that only seven specimens have ever been documented. The dead spade-toothed whale washed ashore on New Zealand’s South Island earlier this year, offering a chance to study a deep-sea mammal that has never been seen alive. Measuring five …

New Zealand scientists dissect world’s rarest whale Read More »