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Former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen heads to Europe this week

8Oct

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Former Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen heads to Europe this week

FILE - In this photo released by the Taiwan Presidential Office, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen waves as she departs Taiwan, Sept. 5, 2023. Taipei, Taiwan — Taiwan’s former president Tsai Ing-wen kicks off an eight-day trip to the Czech Republic and two other European countries on October 12 – her first international tour since leaving office in May. While China is likely to voice its opposition to the trip, analysts say it highlights the close ties that Taipei has forged with European countries in recent years. China says democratically ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes any formal contacts between Taiwan officials and other nations. In a statement released Monday, Taiwan’s presidential office said current President Lai Ching-te has delegated the National Securi...

Vietnam releases activist suffering advanced stage cancer

8Oct

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Asia-pacific

Vietnam releases activist suffering advanced stage cancer

Activist Nguyen Thuy Hanh (2nd from R) is greeted by friends in Hanoi on her release from detention on Oct. 7, 2024. Vietnamese authorities have released political prisoner Nguyen Thuy Hanh, who has been detained since April 2021 on charges of “anti-state propaganda,” her husband told Radio Free Asia on Monday. Huynh Ngoc Chenh said his wife was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison at a secret trial on July 31, 2024. Hanh, 61, spent the first year of her detention in a Hanoi prison, before being moved to a mental institution in the capital in 2022 to be treated for depression. In January this year, her husband said Hanh had been diagnosed with advanced stage cancer. More than 200 people signed a petition calling for her immediate release but, following treatment at Vietn...

North Korean farmers risk penalties if too many potatoes left in the ground

8Oct

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North Korean farmers risk penalties if too many potatoes left in the ground

This undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on April 4, 2019 shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, second from left, inspecting a potato factory in Samjiyon County. North Korean farm managers who are not carefully harvesting their potato crops – leaving some behind – are getting in trouble with authorities, residents with links to the agricultural sector told Radio Free Asia. Inspectors recently swooped down on several collective farms in the northern potato-growing region of Ryanggang province to check the fields. “The inspectors drove around in cars and dug up every nook and cranny of the potato fields on the farm,” a resident who works in agriculture said on condition of anonymity for security reasons. “If the inspectors conclude tha...

EFF calls for ‘unethical’ Gordhan’s removal over SARS rogue unit

1Dec

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World

EFF calls for ‘unethical’ Gordhan’s removal over SARS rogue unit

Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan. Photo: Flickr The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have reiterated their call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan, this time citing his admission of the so-called SARS rogue unit’s existence. Gordhan was cross examined by advocate Dali Mpofu, on behalf of his client former South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Tom Moyane on Monday, 30 November 2020. Moyane and Gordhan have not enjoyed a rosy working relationship – with the former SARS Commissioner accusing the former finance minister of being racist and arrogant. Moyane also took issue with the early retirement payout of former SARS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay and accused him of establishing the ‘rogue unit’. “The unit did exi...

1Dec

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Asia-pacific

South Africa: Today’s latest news and headlines, Tuesday 1 December

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA JUNE 29: Suspended SARS Commissioner Tom Moyane is flanked by his legal team, advocate Dali Mpofu and Eric Mabuza during a break in the proceedings of the Nugent commission of inquiry on tax government and administration on June 29, 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa. Moyanes lawyer, advocate Dali Mpofu said an inquiry into the operation of the agency should be halted pending a disciplinary hearing against his client Moyane. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sunday Times / Masi Losi) There were snide comments and accusations floating thick in the air at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture on Monday 30 November. However sanitized the podium was, the tension was still palpable among the legal trash talk. Dali Mpofu, representing former South African Revenue Service...

Senekal: Brendin Horner murder accused back in the dock

1Dec

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World

Senekal: Brendin Horner murder accused back in the dock

Brendin Horner Image source via Facebook: Brendin Horner The two men who have been charged with the brutal murder of 21-year old farm manager, Brendin Horner on a farm outside the sleepy town of Senekal, quietly return to the dock today Tuesday 1 December. The 32-year old Sekwetje Mahlamba and 44-year old Sekola Matlaletsa are alleged to have stabbed and strangled Horner to death in early October, in what the state believes is a stock theft incident gone wrong. HORNER MURDER ACCUSED REARRESTED WHILE OUT ON BAIL While it has been widely reported that Matlaletsa was released out on R 5000 bail on 22 October, Free State Police Commissioner, Baile Motswenyane, revealed in her address at the Ministerial Rural Safety Imbizo in Bethlehem in mid-November, that Matlaletsa was in fact back in c...

30Nov

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Asia-pacific

On This Day: What happened on 30 November?

2004 | Patricia de Lille takes the stand at the Durban High Court to testify against Schabir Shaik, a Durban businessman who was charged with fraud and corruption charges. (Ziyaad Douglas / Gallo) Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 30 November, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever. ON THIS DAY: 30 NOVEMBER 1954 | D.F Malan retired as Prime Minister of South Africa and was succeeded by J.G Strydom. 1981 | Bulelani Ngcuka is arrested and jailed for refusing to testify in the political trial of Patrick Maqubele. 1993 | The South African government signs the Investment Incentive Agreement with the United States of America. 2004 | Patricia de Lille takes the stand at the Durban High Court to testify again...

30Nov

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Asia-pacific

Weather forecast, alerts and UVB index for all South African provinces, 30 November 2020

Weather data provided by the South African Weather Service. For a detailed forecast of your province, click here. SEVERE WEATHER ALERTS IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS: Nil. FIRE DANGER WARNINGS: EXTREMELY HIGH FIRE DANGER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE BEAUFORT WEST IN THE WESTERN CAPE AND KHAI-MA MUNICIPALITIES IN THE NORTHERN CAPE. ADVISORIES: Nil. GAUTENG: Temperature: Cloudy to partly cloudy and warm with scattered late afternoon showers and thundershowers. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: High. MPUMALANGA: Temperature: Morning fog and drizzle along the escarpment were it will be cool, otherwise partly cloudy and warm with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered over the Highveld. LIMPOPO: Temperature: Partly cloudy and cool to warm with isolated showers and thunder...

Lesufi: More than 81% of pupils placed in schools so far

30Nov

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Asia-pacific

Lesufi: More than 81% of pupils placed in schools so far

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi. Image via: GDE Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has said 181 119 Grade 1 and Grade 8 learners (81.48%) have been successfully placed in schools around the province, for the 2021 academic year. Lesufi gave an update on the online school admissions process on Sunday, 29 November 2020. This means the department is slightly behind in allocating schools to learners as the admissions process got underway on 1 October 2020 and was set to conclude on Monday, 30 November. A total of 88 503 Grade 1 applicants and 92 616 Grade 8 applicants are placed. “We can confidently inform parents that out the 181,119 applications were properly placed and unfortunately, 41,146 parents have not received their placements. Of the total number that we received, we have ma...

Ramaphosa: AIDS could no longer be public health threat by 2030

30Nov

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Asia-pacific

Ramaphosa: AIDS could no longer be public health threat by 2030

Image via Flickr/GCIS Just a day before World Aids Day, President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed focus on the global epidemic, which seems to have taken a backseat in light of COVID-19. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa has said, as another public health challenge South Africa, HIV/AIDS cannot be ignored. Ramaphosa said for three decades, the country has been engaged in an ongoing struggle against HIV and AIDS, which has cost many lives and caused great hardship and suffering. The president said the country’s treatment programme has contributed to a reduction in the number of deaths due to AIDS by 60%. He added that there had been a greater reduction in HIV-related deaths among young people. Ramaphosa attributed the feat to government’s extensive antiretroviral programme reaching millions...