Bloomberg Malaysia’s anti-graft agency will summon former premier Muhyiddin Yassin and two ex-cabinet ministers who served in his administration for the alleged misappropriation of 600 billion ringgit ($136 billion) of public funds for tackling the pandemic. The other two are former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and ex-finance minister Zafrul Aziz, who now heads the international trade and industry ministry in ...
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Modi’s BJP retains power in Gujarat in landslide poll victory
Bloomberg Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a landslide election in his home turf Gujarat, showing his appeal with voters remains intact despite higher living costs. The victory in the western state of Gujarat will help the 72-year-old leader build momentum for national elections due in less than 18 months. Modi is looking to extend his ...
Read More »S Africa’s oppn puts Ramaphosa at mercy of his party in key vote
Bloomberg South Africa’s main opposition parties want President Cyril Ramaphosa to be subjected to impeachment proceedings after an advisory panel found he may have breached the constitution, leaving him reliant on the governing ANC to shield him from a parliamentary probe. The panel headed by Sandile Ngcobo, a former chief justice, issued a scathing assessment of Ramaphosa’s handling of ...
Read More »US set to pass military bill to boost Taiwan
Bloomberg The US is set to pass legislation ramping up weapons sales to Taiwan and restricting government use of Chinese semiconductors, strengthening the White House’s hand while excluding measures considered most objectionable to Beijing. Language in the must-pass annual defense legislation reflects how lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have shown a growing willingness to confront China, despite White ...
Read More »Croatia set to join visa-free Schengen area from January
Bloomberg Croatia won the EU’s endorsement to join the region’s visa-free travel area while Bulgaria and Romania’s bid was delayed. EU home affairs ministers agreed in Brussels that Croatia should be allowed to join the so-called Schengen area on January 1. This means the country will no longer be bound by the bloc’s internal border controls and paves the ...
Read More »Drone hits third Russian airfield after Moscow accuses Ukraine
Bloomberg A third Russian airfield came under drone attack on Tuesday after Moscow accused Ukraine of carrying out strikes against two bases used by its long-range bombers, the deepest retaliation on its territory since President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion. An oil storage tank caught fire after the drone strike at a Kursk region airfield, state-run Tass news service reported, ...
Read More »Bosnia may get EU candidacy status at summit next week
Bloomberg European Union (EU) leaders may grant Bosnia-Herzegovina official candidacy status as early as December 15’s summit in Brussels, according to people familiar with the plan. The move, the next step on the long path towards membership which would require approval of all 27 EU member states, would be a major boost for Bosnia. It’s still grappling with the ...
Read More »EU delays Hungary funding decision to focus on Ukraine aid
Bloomberg The European Union’s standoff with Hungary deepened as a dispute over the fate of $14 billion of funding for Budapest scuppered attempts to push through crucial aid for Ukraine and a global minimum corporate tax. Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said at a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels that his country would veto the €18 billion ($18.9 billion) ...
Read More »France risks divisions with debate on immigration
Bloomberg French President Emmanuel Macron’s government was expected to outline changes to immigration laws, testing whether it can navigate divisions among political factions that have been accentuated by a spat with Italy over a migrant boat. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne will present plans to the National Assembly that would overhaul the asylum system, giving more undocumented workers legal status while ...
Read More »UK Tory donations sink to lowest in two years
Bloomberg Donations to the UK Conservatives sank to their lowest in more than two years in the third quarter, when the ruling party was riven by infighting which led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Rishi Sunak’s party received almost £3 million ($3.7 million) in donations in the three months through September, a 45% drop on ...
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