DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Saudi Arabia introduces law banning sexual harassment The measure has been passed by the Cabinet and an advisory council, and will become law with a royal decree. The country is making some piecemeal reforms, including ending its notorious driving ban on women. Saudi Arabia passed a draft law Wednesday that criminalizes sexual harassment less than a month before the stridently conservative country lifts a decadesold ban against women driving. The measure, which was passed by the Shura Council, carries a maximum 5-year prison term and fine of up to 300,000 riyals ($80,000, or €70,000). "The law is aimed at combating and preventing the crime of harassment, enforcing penalty on perpetrators, protecting victims and safeguarding the individualʼs privacy, dignity and freedom ensured by the Islamic sharia law," the council said in a statement.
Syria recognizes Georgiaʼs breakaway regions in nod to Russia The Georgian government has hit back at Syria by severing diplomatic ties with the Arab republic. Syria is now one of five countries that have recognized the Moscowbacked regions. The Syrian government has recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two Georgian breakaway regions backed by Russia, as independent countries. "A deal has been reached between the Syrian Arab Republic, the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia to exchange recognition and set up diplomatic ties at the embassy level," said a Syrian Foreign Ministry official in comments circulated by the staterun SANA news agency on Tuesday. The move prompted the Georgian government to announce its decision to sever official ties with Syria, blaming Russia for orchestrating the diplomatic stunt.
122/2018 • 01 JUNE, 2018
Mariano Rajoy and Pedro Sanchez trade barbs in parliament Spain no-confidence vote:
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has fended off calls to resign as Spainʼs parliamentary debate heads for a no-confidence vote. The Socialist opposition hopeful Pedro Sanchez is pitching to Catalan and Basque nationalists. Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez told Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (pictured) during a parliamentary debate on Thursday that the premier should quit after a funding scandal engulfed his conservative Peopleʼs Party (PP). "Resign and everything will end," Sanchez said. "Your time is up." Last week, National Court judges imposed hefty sentences on 29 people with links to the PP, including elected officials, and fined Rajoyʼs party for operating hidden accounts. Retorting, Rajoy told parliament that the Socialists had lost two previous general elections under Sanchezʼs leadership and warned that a Sanchez government would endanger Spainʼs financial stability. "Every time you open your mouth, the risk premium goes up," Rajoy told Sanchez. Last year, Sanchez regained leadership of the center-left Socialists after an internal revolt. Parliamentʼsnoconfidence vote — designed to oust the standing premier but also choose a replacement — remained unpredictable Thursday. Sanchez needs
an absolute majority, or 176 of 350 seats in the Congress of Deputies, to oust Rajoy. The far-left Podemos is set to vote in Sanchezʼs favor, and the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) announced late Thursday that it, too, would support the Socialist. Basques are set to benefit from recent national budget negotiations, which Sanchez has promised to uphold. Sanchez could become prime minister early next week, with the aim of calling a general election. Refusing to support Sanchezʼs noconfidence motion is the Ciudadanos (Citizens) party, whose leader Albert Rivera wants a new election on a platform of more central control over Spainʼs selfgoverned regions. The party is an opponent of the Catalan separatist movement. In power since 2011, Rajoy is credited with steering Spain out of its recession crisis. Opponents argue that this has come at the expense of austerity measures, persistently high (but falling) unemployment rates, and increased inequality.
Israel launches retaliatory airstrikes in Gaza after Hamas rocket attacks The fighting is the worst episode of violence since Israel and Hamas fought a brief war in 2014. The United States, European Union and United Nations have condemned the rocket and mortar attacks against Israel. Israel has launched airstrikes against targets throughout the Gaza Strip after the armed wing of the ruling group in the Palestinian territory launched dozens of rockets and mortar shells into southern Israel. The confrontation, which continued into Wednesday morning, is the worst episode of violence between Israel and Hamas since they fought a sevenweek-long war in 2014. The Israeli military said around 70 rockets and bombs had been fired into Israel by 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday (1700 GMT). One mortar shell landed near a kindergarten.
Paris police clear 1,700-strong Millenaire migrant camp The dawn operation was the 35th camp clearance undertaken in the French capital over the past three years. Those living at the "Millenaire" camp in the northeast the city are being moved to temporary accomodation. French security forces began the evacuation of the largest migrant camp in Paris on Wednesday morning, where up to 1,700 people, mostly from Africa, were living in makeshift conditions. Riot police arrived at dawn to oversee the removal of the migrants, who were taken by bus to temporary accommodation centers elsewhere in the Paris region.
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