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Protests hit Sri Lanka over fuel price hikes

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Protesters in Sri Lanka on Tuesday took to the streets in response to a rise in fuel prices and a lack of petrol and diesel.

According to a senior police official, protests have been held in various towns, stopping public transportation, including rail services, and disrupting transit to schools and offices.

The largest fuel price hike was implemented on Monday, with diesel prices increasing by 64% and gasoline prices increasing by 33% per litre.

For the eleventh day in a row, protesters demonstrated outside the president’s office.

Protesters are calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president’s brother, to resign.

Sri Lanka’s economic crisis has resulted in a scarcity of US dollars, which has hampered imports.

Last Monday, the country put a hold on all foreign debt repayments until further notice.

In Washington, members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are meeting with a Sri Lankan delegation led by Finance Minister Ali Sabry.

(NAN)

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Foreign

German authorities arrest woman suspected of spying for China

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China

German police arrested a woman on allegations of spying as a Chinese agent, prosecutors announced on Tuesday.

The woman, a Chinese citizen identified only as Yaqi X, was arrested by police in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday.

Her home and workplace were also searched by police.

According to German prosecutors, Yaqi worked for a company providing logistics services at the Leipzig/Halle airport.

She is accused of having repeatedly transmitted sensitive data about flights, cargo shipments and passengers at the airport to Chinese intelligence.

Prosecutors allege that the data included particular details about the transport of military equipment and people connected to a German armaments firm between August 2023 and February 2024.

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Foreign

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

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Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Malaysia to deepen diplomatic relations with Nigeria in trade, education

Aiyub bin Omar, Malaysia’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, has reiterated his country’s dedication to strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria, particularly in trade and education, as they approach 60 years of bilateral relations by 2025.

Omar speaking at an event commemorating Nigeria’s 67th Independence Day and Malaysia’s 61st National Day on Friday in Abuja, highlighted Malaysia’s contributions to Nigeria’s development through technical assistance and expertise under the South-South Cooperation framework.

He said since 1981, 569 Nigerian government officials have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) in various technical courses, including trade, economy, construction skills, and cybersecurity.

Omar emphasised the longstanding relationship between the two nations, built on mutual interest in politics and economy.

“In essence, our bilateral relations focus on trade, education, people-to-people contact, and bilateral development assistance.

“Globally, Nigeria ranks as Malaysia’s 37th trading partner, with total bilateral trade valued at USD956 million in 2023.

“This year, our bilateral trade reached USD747 million by July; Nigeria is currently Malaysia’s 4th largest trading partner in Africa, after South Africa, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire.

“Malaysia remains a preferred destination for Nigerian students pursuing tertiary education, with approximately 3,386 students enrolled in Malaysian public and private institutions.

“Malaysia’s journey to post-independence was marked by challenges, struggles, and negotiations among political parties, ultimately leading to self-governance.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, represented by Amb. Mistura Abdulraheem, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division in the ministry, commended the Malaysian people for their unity, resilience, and progress.

He noted that Nigeria and Malaysia have a long-standing diplomatic relationship built on mutual respect, shared aspirations, and common interests, which have been strengthened through economic cooperation.

“Our two countries have enjoyed strong diplomatic ties for decades, built on a foundation of mutual cooperation in various sectors, including trade, education, and technology.

“A shining example is the collaboration between Nigeria and Malaysia, which has facilitated critical exchange in technology transfer, capacity building, and innovation.

“This partnership in technology highlights the potential of our countries working together to address the challenges of the 21st century.

“By leveraging Malaysia’s advancements in areas such as ICT, digital innovation, sustainable development, and oil markets, we are creating opportunities for our people and economies,” he said.

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Crime

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

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Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

Horror in Avignon: Woman Testifies Against Husband Who Drugged Her for Dozens of Men to Rape

In a shocking case that has gripped the southern French city of Avignon, a 71-year-old woman gave harrowing testimony in court, recounting years of abuse after her husband allegedly drugged her and allowed dozens of men to rape her.

“The image is unbearable, I’m lying lifeless in my bed, asleep, and they’re about to rape me,” the woman told the court. “It’s a barbaric scene. They look at me like a bag of rubbish, it’s unbearable, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get up again.”

Her 72-year-old former husband, who she has since divorced, is standing trial, accused of orchestrating the horrific abuse over a period of 10 years by drugging his wife and arranging for other men to assault her. Fifty men have been accused of participating in the assaults, with 18 currently in custody.

According to the indictment, the husband, a pensioner, made contact with the men online. While no money was exchanged, he reportedly gained satisfaction from watching the rapes. The crimes were discovered after the man was arrested for filming under the skirts of women in a supermarket, leading investigators to uncover hundreds of videos of the assaults on his computer.

The woman, who appeared in court alongside her three children, bravely confronted the accused, some of whom claimed they were unaware that she had been drugged and believed she was pretending to be asleep as part of a consensual game.

“These people knew very well what they were doing and what a lethargic state I was in,” the woman testified, rejecting the defence’s claims.

The abuse only came to light after her husband’s arrest, although she had long complained of memory lapses and extreme fatigue, unaware that her husband had been drugging her.

“I was sedated, like before going into the operating theatre. Afterwards, you can no longer remember the operation. That’s exactly what happened to me,” she told the court.

While 72 men were recorded assaulting the woman, authorities have been unable to identify all the perpetrators from the videos. The trial continues, with most of the accused having admitted to their involvement.

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