Tunisia will seek a $4 billion loan programme from the International Monetary Fund in talks starting next week, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi said on Friday, saying politicians faced a “last opportunity” to save the economy. Mechichi said he expected talks to last about two months and had “confidence” Tunisia could secure financial support to help… Read More Tunisian PM Hichem Mechichi says country to seek $4billion IMF loan
Turkish police have instructed officers to prevent people filming or recording security forces on smartphones while they are on duty, Turkish media reported on Friday. Critics of the move said the decision, circulated in a notice by Turkey’s police headquarters, was unlawful and would make it more difficult to identify rights violations at demonstrations or… Read More Turkish police instruct officer to prevent people filming them
The Pentagon on Friday said it was canceling the construction of parts of former President Donald Trump’s border wall with Mexico that were being built using military funds, with the unused money being returned to military. Trump declared a national emergency in 2019 in an effort to redirect funding to build a wall along the… Read More U.S. cancels border wall projects being built with military funds
Pope Francis ruled on Friday that bishops and cardinals who work in the Vatican will be judged by the same lay tribunal that hears other criminal cases and no longer by an elite panel of prelates. Francis issued a decree abrogating a provision in the Vatican’s civil criminal code whereby bishops and cardinals were judged… Read More Pope Francis removes legal privileges for Vatican bishops and cardinals
Russia on Friday barred eight officials from European Union countries from entering the country in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Russian citizens by the EU. Russia’s foreign ministry said those banned included Vera Jourova, vice president for values and transparency at the executive European Commission, David Sassoli, the president of the European parliament, and Jacques… Read More Russia bars eight EU officials from entry into country in retaliatory sanctions
Germany aims to start returning Benin Bronzes to Nigeria next year, its foreign and culture ministries said, part of a growing trend to return cultural artefacts seized during the colonial era to their places of origin. Britain’s soldiers seized thousands of metal castings and sculptures in 1897 during a raid on the Kingdom of Benin,… Read More Germany to start returning Benin Bronzes to Nigeria from 2022
Decathlete Andrei Krauchanka says that seeing hundreds of people detained for their political views in his native Belarus has been as painful as competing with a torn Achilles tendon. To support those behind bars and aid their families, the 2008 Olympic silver medalist has started a 10-day hunger strike and is auctioning his gold medal… Read More Belarusian athlete Andrei Krauchanka stages hunger striker to support jailed compatriots
Chinese President Xi Jinping offered to help India fight against the coronavirus pandemic, state media reported on Friday. Xi also expressed his condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “China is willing to enhance cooperation with India on fighting COVID-19 and provide support and assistance to India,” state television quoted Xi as saying.
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