Egypt’s Sisi selects new public prosecutor: sources
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has selected long-time judiciary official Hamada al-Sawy as public prosecutor, judicial sources said on Thursday, the first such appointment since the constitution was amended earlier this year.
Hong Kong protesters plan busy lantern festival, again targeting metro
Hong Kong activists will combine pro-democracy protests with lantern celebrations marking the Mid-Autumn Festival this weekend after a brief lull in sometimes violent demonstrations which have rocked the Chinese-ruled city since June.
UK government publishes no-deal Brexit scenarios predicting disorder
A ‘no-deal’ Brexit could snarl cross-Channel trade routes, disrupting supplies of medicines and fresh food while protests spread across Britain, according to a worst-case scenario reluctantly released by the government on Wednesday.
UK PM Johnson denies lying to Queen Elizabeth over the suspension of parliament
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied lying to Queen Elizabeth over the reasons for suspending parliament for five weeks after a court ruled his decision to do so was unlawful.
Tanzanian court adjourns case of prominent jailed journalist for fourth time
A Tanzanian court on Thursday adjourned the case of a prominent investigative journalist for the fourth time since he was arraigned more than a month ago, in a case that rights groups and Western government call politically motivated.
France flags welding fault at five or more EDF nuclear reactors
At least five nuclear reactors operated by French utility EDF might have problems with weldings on their steam generators, a fault which has raised fears of closures, France’s nuclear regulator was quoted as saying.
I won’t stop meeting Chinese activists, says German foreign minister
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said he would continue to meet Chinese human rights activists and lawyers, both at home and on trips to China, after his meeting this week with a Hong Kong democracy activist drew Beijing’s ire.
France will take its time reforming cherished pension system: PM
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Thursday said his government would not rush reform of France’s long cherished pension system, perhaps the most perilous yet of the social and economic changes sought by President Emmanuel Macron.
Mugabe’s family say burial ‘sometime next week’, ceremony private
Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe will be buried “sometime next week”, a family spokesman said on Thursday, but it remained unclear where he would be interred amid disagreement between his family and government over the funeral plans.
Exiting atomic power unrealistic for Japan, minister says, disputing colleague
Exiting nuclear power in Japan is unrealistic, the country’s new industry minister said on Thursday, in comments that reiterated the government’s line but are at odds with those made a day earlier by another newly installed cabinet member.
