Draghi on last legs as bid to save Italy government fails

Rome, July 20 (AFP/APP): Italy’s popular Prime Minister Mario Draghi looked out of time on Wednesday after three political parties refused to take part in a confidence vote, foiling efforts to resolve a crisis now expected to lead to his resignation and snap elections. Draghi […]

UAE inks energy deal with France as Macron hosts MBZ

Paris, July 18 (AFP/APP): France secured promises of new energy supplies from the United Arab Emirates on Monday after talks between President Emmanuel Macron and UAE leader Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Paris. The UAE has emerged as a key partner for Western countries […]

Biden disputes Saudi account of Khashoggi murder discussion

RIYADH – July 18 (ONLINE) U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday differed with Saudi Arabia in their account of discussions at a bilateral summit about the 2018 murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a major point of contention between the two countries. U.S. intelligence agencies […]

Western sanctions to hit ‘Third world’, not Russia — Sri Lankan PM

COLOMBO, July 18 (ONLINE) Western sanctions introduced against Russia won’t bring it down to its knees, while third world countries will suffer, Sri Lanka’s acting president, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday. “Do you think sanctions will help? It will only drag the prices […]

Arab countries vow to keep Gulf region free of mass destruction weapons

JEDDAH 17 July (Online): Leaders of Arab countries have vowed to keep the Gulf region free of mass destruction weapons and preserve regional and international stability and security. The resolve was expressed at a joint communique at the conclusion of Jeddah Security and Development Summit, […]

Jammeh-era victims warily welcome death sentence for Gambian ex-spies

Banjul, Gambia, July 17 (AFP/APP): When Muhammed Sandeng first learned that his father, political activist Ebrima Solo Sandeng, had been tortured to death at the Gambian national spy agency’s headquarters, he felt one emotion above all else. “It was all fear — fear, fear, fear […]