World News from WN Network

Iran’s Khamenei confirms Mohammad Mokhber as interim president 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has confirmed that Mohammad Mokhber will take over as interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi. Ali Khamenei, who wields ultimate power in Iran, confirmed that the first vice president will become acting head of the country’s executive...

photo: Iranian First Vice-President Office via AP

US set to evacuate ‘Illegal’ troops from Niger 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

The United States says it will pull all its troops out of Niger within the next four months or so after the West African country’s military government ordered them to leave. Niger last month told Washington to withdraw its military personnel, which number close to 1,000, branding their presence...

photo: USAF / Master Sgt. Michael Matkin

UN watchdog warns on nuclear trafficking 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog has called for “vigilance” as it warned of thousands of instances of radioactive materials going missing. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Incident and Trafficking database reported on Monday that 31 countries reported 168 incidents in which...

photo: AP / Heinz-Peter Bader

ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu 2024-05-20
Hong Kong Standard

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war. Karim Khan said that he believes...

photo: Creative Commons / President.gov.ua https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

South African court rules Zuma ‘not eligible’ to run for parliament 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been barred from running for parliament in next week’s general election. The Constitutional Court ruled on Monday that Zuma’s 15-month jail sentence for contempt of court in 2021 disqualifies him from standing in the May 29 election. The ruling is...

photo: AP / Jerome Delay

Spain recalls ambassador as spat with Argentina’s Milei extends 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

Spain has recalled its ambassador to Buenos Aires after Argentinian President Javier Milei used an appearance in Madrid to make derogatory comments about the Spanish prime minister’s wife. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Monday demanded that the Argentinian leader issue an apology...

photo: AP / Manu Fernandez

Candidates begin registering in complicated process to select Thailand’s new Senate 2024-05-20
Wtop

BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand on Monday officially began the selection of new senators, a process that has become part of an ongoing war between progressive forces hoping for democratic political reforms and conservatives seeking to keep the status quo. Hopeful candidates headed to district offices across...

photo: AP / Sakchai Lalit

UK court to rule on Julian Assange extradition appeal: What could happen? 2024-05-20
Al Jazeera

WikiLeaks’s founder Julian Assange is set to attend a crucial court hearing in London on Monday which could mark a pivotal moment in his years-long legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States. London’s High Court is expected to rule on whether it accepts US assurances that Assange, 52,...

photo: AP / Luca Bruno

China launches its own anti-dumping probe following Biden’s monster tariffs 2024-05-20
CNN

China has hinted at possible tit-for-tat action against trade barriers imposed by the United States last week, as relations between the two economic superpowers become increasingly fraught. On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Commerce said it was...

photo: Public Domain / Public Domain

The rise of the radical right means these European elections are unlike any others 2024-05-20
The Irish Times

Combined with the potential return to office of Donald Trump in the United States, we may be on the cusp of a new era of pushback against democracy Giorgia Meloni driving the effort to engineer an alliance between the EPP and ECR. Should such an alliance succeed it would shift the centre of gravity...