News from WN Network

Julian Assange wins bid to appeal US extradition ruling 2024-05-20
The New Arab

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday won a bid to appeal against a UK court ruling that approved his extradition to the United States to face trial for breaking national security laws. Two London High Court judges granted Assange permission to appeal, having previously asked Washington to...

photo: AP / Alberto Pezzali

China, India duel for riverine lifeblood of Bangladesh 2024-05-20
Asiatimes

Bangladesh’s economy faces a perfect storm with double-digit inflation pinching wallets, foreign exchange reserves dwindling and economic growth fading away. To weather the crisis, the government is desperately seeking foreign loans. Enter China into the eye of the tempest. With a timely US$5...

photo: AP / Mahmud Hossain Opu

US set to evacuate ‘Illegal’ troops from Niger 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

The United States says it will pull all its troops out of Niger within the next four months or so after the West African country’s military government ordered them to leave. Niger last month told Washington to withdraw its military personnel, which number close to 1,000, branding their presence...

photo: USAF / Master Sgt. Michael Matkin

UN watchdog warns on nuclear trafficking 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has called for “vigilance” as it warned of thousands of instances of radioactive materials going missing. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Incident and Trafficking database reported on Monday that 31 countries reported 168 incidents in which...

photo: AP / Heinz-Peter Bader

South African court rules Zuma ‘not eligible’ to run for parliament 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been barred from running for parliament in next week’s general election. The Constitutional Court ruled on Monday that Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualifies him from standing in the May 29 election. The ruling is...

photo: AP / Jerome Delay

China launches its own anti-dumping probe following Biden’s monster tariffs 2024-05-20
CNN

China has hinted at possible tit-for-tat action against trade barriers imposed by the United States last week, as relations between the two economic superpowers become increasingly fraught. On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was...

photo: Public Domain / Public Domain

The rise of the radical right means these European elections are unlike any others 2024-05-20
The Irish Times

Combined with the potential return to office of Donald Trump in the United States, we may be on the cusp of a new era of pushback against democracy Giorgia Meloni driving the effort to engineer an alliance between the EPP and ECR. Should such an alliance succeed it would shift the centre of gravity...

‘Why should we vote?’ India’s jute workers blame politicians for woes 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

Kolkata, India — Amirul Laskar has been out of a job for the past three months, since the jute mill where he was employed shut operations citing losses. The 40-year-old worked at the Delta Jute Mill in Manikpur village, about 20km (12 miles) from Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state.Keep...

photo: AP / Bikas Das

How millions of people are at risk of being locked out of society 2024-05-17
Metro UK

Many are at risk of digital exclusion (Picture: Getty) Earlier this week it was revealed that visitors and residents in Paris would need to show a QR code on their phone to enter certain parts of the city. The temporary requirement is part of security measures being put in place around this summer’s...

photo: European Community / Bogdan Hoyaux

European Organisers Respond After EU Makes An Official Complaint About This Year's Competition 2024-05-17
Huffington Post

Malmö Arena, where this year's Eurovision Song Contest took place Eurovision bosses have responded to a complaint made by the European Union’s vice president about this year’s competition. Last week, the annual song contest took place in Malmö amid a wave of controversy that included calls for a...