Guptas cannot cross-examine witnesses at inquiry unless they testify: South African judge
The judge leading an inquiry into claims of influence-peddling against former South African president Jacob Zuma rejected an application by Gupta brothers to cross-examine witnesses, saying they could only do so if they testified.
Russians accused by UK in spy case: We were in Salisbury for tourism
Two Russians appeared on state television on Thursday, saying they had been wrongly accused by Britain of trying to murder a former Russian spy and his daughter in England and had been visiting Salisbury in March for tourism.
Statements by Russian Salisbury suspects are not credible: UK lawmaker
Statements by two Russians accused of trying to murder a former Russian spy in Salisbury are not credible, the British lawmaker who represents the city in parliament said on Thursday.
UK’s Prince William extends sympathy to Japan over natural disasters
Britain’s Prince William offered his sympathy to victims of recent disasters in Japan as he officially opened a new Japanese cultural center in London on Thursday.
EU tells Britain it won’t renegotiate Brexit divorce bill
The European Union will not reconsider parts of the Brexit agreement with Britain that have already been agreed on, like the divorce bill London will have to pay, a spokesman for the bloc’s executive said on Thursday.
Chinese official says China is educating, not mistreating, Muslims
China is not mistreating Muslims in Xinjiang province but is putting some people through training courses to avoid extremism spreading, unlike Europe, which had failed to deal with the problem, a Chinese official told reporters on Thursday.
German government divided over fate of embattled intelligence chief
Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Thursday backed the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence service, who is under fire for comments in which he questioned the authenticity of a video showing gangs hounding migrants.
German far right far ahead in use of social media
(The Sept 13 story corrects paragraphs 14-15 to clarify the background on Falun Gong, and the German edition of the Epoch Times and its coverage of issues also of interest to the AfD)
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi defends jailing of two Reuters journalists
Myanmar government leader Aung San Suu Kyi said on Thursday the jailing of two Reuters journalists had nothing to do with freedom of expression and they can appeal against their seven-year sentences.
Italy’s 5-Star keeps up pressure on economy minister over budget
The largest party in Italy’s governing coalition kept up pressure on Economy Minister Giovanni Tria on Thursday to boost spending in next year’s budget, as EU authorities advised the country to cut its debt.
