Skip to main content

World in Brief October 1 2018

CAMEROON: President Paul Biya claimed at the weekend that Boko Haram has been defeated, four years after he declared war on the jihadist group.

Making his first visit to his country’s Far North region since 2012, Mr Biya  is campaigning to win the October 7 general election.

He pledged to rebuild what has been destroyed by the Nigeria-based jihadists “now that terrorism has been defeated.”

 

IRAQ: Voters went to the polls yesterday in the self-ruled Kurdish region, a year after an independence referendum sparked a punishing backlash from Baghdad.

The last parliamentary elections took place in 2013, but the legislature has not met since 2015 amid internal political tensions and the war against Isis.

Long-term rivals the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan are expected to win the lion’s share of the vote.

 

MEXICO: President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised at the weekend never to use military force against civilians.

Approaching the 50th anniversary of the slaughter of hundreds of students by troops, Mr Lopez Obrador vowed at the capital’s Tlatelolco Plaza to “never ever use the military to repress the Mexican people.”

The president-elect has promised to create student grants and more free public universities.

 

JAPAN: Denny Tamaki won the governorship of Okinawa yesterday on a platform of opposition to US bases on the south-western islands, defeating ruling party candidate Atsushi Sakima.

Governor Takeshi Onaga, who died in August of pancreatic cancer, wanted the bases off Okinawa and designated Mr Tamaki his successor.

The successful candidate was endorsed by Mr Onaga’s All Okinawa broad coalition of the Japanese Communist Party, the Social Democratic Party, trade unions and local businesses.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today