Politics

Bloomberg The main partner of Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara ruling coalition said it is withdrawing from the group, marking the culmination of growing tensions between political blocs as the country prepares to hold presidential elections in 2020. Former President Henri Konan Bedie’s Democratic Party of the Ivory Coast is opting out of Ouattara’s Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and ...

Bloomberg The US midterm elections are at increasing risk of interference by foreign adversaries led by Russia, and cybersecurity experts warn the Trump administration isn’t adequately defending against the meddling. At stake is control of the US Congress. The risks range from social media campaigns intended to fool American voters to sophisticated computer hacking that could change the tabulation of ...

Bloomberg Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said 11 “hired assassins” trained in Colombia were offered $50 million to kill him as part of Saturday’s thwarted attack. The suspects were trained in a farm in Chinacota, Colombia, and were planning a July 5 attack that was postponed due to the delayed arrival of the two drones, Maduro said in a televised address ...

Bloomberg Former Zimbabwean Finance Minister Tendai Biti, a leader of the country’s main opposition alliance, was arrested in neighbouring Zambia where he plans to seek asylum, his lawyer said. It’s unclear what Biti has been charged with, Nqobizitha Mlilo said by phone from the Chirundu border post in northern Zimbabwe. Biti fled the country because his life is in danger, ...

Bloomberg Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering linked to 1MDB as prosecutors alleged more wrongdoing by the ex-premier during his oversight of the state investment fund. Najib was charged with three counts of money laundering breaches related to SRC International Sdn, a former unit of state fund 1MDB. The charges carry a punishment ...

Bloomberg Pakistan will add 60,000 troops to boost its patrols along its disputed border with Afghanistan in an effort to curb the flow of insurgents passing between the two nations, according to military officials familiar with the matter. Forty percent of the troops have already been recruited in the exercise, which is expected to take two years, the officials said, ...

Bloomberg Pressure is building on UK opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn to switch course and back a referendum on whatever Brexit deal the government reaches with the European Union. Labour Party activists are trying to force a debate on the issue at its annual conference in Liverpool next month. If they succeed—and there are still some hurdles—a second plebiscite that could ...

Bloomberg The first round of renewed US sanctions on Iran took effect as President Hassan Rouhani—under increasing economic and political pressure—spurned President Donald Trump’s suggestion for talks with “no preconditions.” Following an executive order signed by Trump, the US imposed new restrictions intended to stop the purchase of dollar banknotes by Iran, prevent the government from trading gold and other ...

Bloomberg North Korea appears to have a Pompeo problem. The widening gulf between Secretary of State Michael Pompeo’s description of nuclear talks with North Korea and Pyongyang’s criticism of his efforts is adding further confusion to the status of negotiations intended to achieve the “complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.” North Korean officials and state media have in recent weeks ...

Bloomberg Former PM Najib Razak will be charged under the anti-money laundering act on Wednesday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said. The anti-graft agency confirmed that Najib was summoned to give his statement on the case relating to SRC International Sdn, a former unit of troubled state fund 1MDB, on Tuesday, it said in an emailed statement. Najib has pleaded not ...