President Paul Biya’s party has retained an absolute majority in Cameroon’s parliament, the constitutional council announced Friday after the controversial February 9 vote. His Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (RDPC) won 139 out of 167 declared seats on “moderate” turnout of almost 46 percent, said the council’s president, Clement Atangana. Elections were cancelled in 13 other […]

The Lebanese government had frozen recruitment but then, around the time of a key election, thousands of people suddenly landed civil servant jobs. The alleged corruption case is just one of many stirring public anger in Lebanon, where protesters are calling out rampant graft they say has brought the economy to its knees. Cronyism in […]

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres Thursday called for an end to gender inequality which he said: “should shame us all in the 21st century because it is not only unacceptable, it is stupid.” Comparing it to past “stains” of slavery and colonialism, he said discrimination against women and girls remained a major problem around the […]

Malaysia’s king struck down Friday a power play by 94-year-old Mahathir Mohamad aimed at seizing momentum in a political crisis, capping a week of turmoil that has left the country effectively leaderless. He rejected Mahathir’s plan to convene parliament to vote on the country’s next prime minister, after it was widely criticised as against the constitution. […]

Two South Africans were contaminated by the new coronavirus while serving as crew members aboard a cruise ship that was quarantined for three weeks in Japan, officials said Friday. The pair, the first South Africans confirmed to have the virus, are being cared for in Japan but they do not show symptoms of the illness […]