ZIMBABWE: President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law constitutional amendments that abolish direct presidential elections, postpone the next vote and extend his tenure, despite strong opposition from critics.

Mr Mnangagwa, aged 83, had previously pledged to step down when his second and final term ends in 2028.

The revised constitution makes MPs responsible for choosing the president and extends their terms of office and that of the president from five years to seven.

SUDAN: Drone strikes on civilian vehicles on their way to social gatherings have killed more that 20 people in recent days, according to human rights groups.

One attack hit the outskirts of Khartoum, killing 10 civilians, including five women from the same family, as they were travelling to a wedding, the Sudan Doctors Network said yesterday, blaming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

PAKISTAN: Insurgents killed 18 police officers yesterday who had been abducted earlier this week, plus 11 soldiers in a separate attack in the restive south-west.

The latest attacks bring the death toll since Monday to 42 people, most of them soldiers and police, said military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry.

He said security forces had also killed 54 insurgents during the same period.

GERMANY: A Berlin court convicted and sentenced a doctor to life in prison yesterday for murdering 15 of his patients who were under palliative care, in a case involving allegations he torched the homes of victims to try to cover up the crimes.

The 41-year-old, identified only as Johannes M in line with Germany’s privacy rules, went on trial nearly a year ago.