Netherlands / AFP UN war crimes judges on Thursday acquitted radical Serb leader Vojislav Seselj on all nine charges of committing atrocities in the 1990s Balkans wars, in a surprise judgement which was swiftly denounced by Croatia. “The chamber by majority holds that the prosecution has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that the crimes were committed” by Seselj, Judge ...

Belgium / AFP Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam wants to cooperate with French authorities once he is extradited from Belgium, his lawyer said on Thursday, as Belgian police carried out a raid linked to a foiled French terror plot. Soldiers and police could be seen taking part in the operation near a busy motorway in Courtrai in northwestern Belgium, the ...

South Africa / AFP South Africa’s top court on Thursday delivered a damning verdict against President Jacob Zuma, saying he flouted the constitution over public funds used to upgrade his private residence, sparking immediate calls for him to be impeached. Zuma “failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution as the supreme law of the land,” Chief Justice MogoengMogoeng said ...

Bloomberg The Hong Kong government threatened to bar formation of a political party advocating independence from China, adding to tensions over Beijing’s control of the city before legislative elections in September. Hong Kong is an “inalienable part of the People’s Republic of China” and any movement that advocates independence violates the city’s stability and the Basic Law, the city’s de-facto ...

Myanmar / AFP Aung San Suu Kyi’s party moved on Thursday to make her a special state adviser, giving her access to every tier of government and cementing her control over Myanmar’s first civilian administration in decades. Hopes are growing the newly sworn-in government can accelerate the country’s economic and political rejuvenation after nearly half a century of military repression. ...

Paris / AFP Malaysia’s Sarawak state will dissolve its assembly on April 11, paving the way for elections that are seen as a test of support for Prime Minister NajibRazak. The Election Commission will fix the nomination and polling days after the assembly is dissolved, the New Straits Times newspaper said on Twitter, citing Chief Minister AdenanSatem. An election must ...

Geneva / WAM The United Arab Emirates has said that it will support the voluntary, safe, and dignified return of Syrians to their homeland, once the foundations for peace has been laid in Syria. “But until that day comes, the UAE will continue to stress the importance of meeting the needs of refugees as well as the needs of host ...

Dubai / WAM Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, has highlighted some of DEWA’s most important initiatives to achieve the UAE Vision 2021 at a meeting with Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at DEWA’s head office. He also threw light on the efforts to make the UAE one of the best countries ...

Dubai / WAM A group of 400 consultants and professors of paediatrics and neonatology from the United Arab, GCC, US, Europe and Australia will gather in Dubai for the 3rd Pedia Dubai International Conference in Pediatrics and Neonatology on Friday. Being held under Patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and in collaboration with Rak ...

Sharjah / WAM The Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) confirmed its commitment to developing and strengthening economic and investment relations between the UAE and Algeria. The Sharjah Chamber also urged the domestic private sector in general and its members in particular to take advantage of investment opportunities and its available incentives for both sides to strengthen the volume ...