Libya conflict: Rival lawmakers sign deal in Morocco

Libya conflict: Rival lawmakers sign deal in Morocco Libya conflict: Rival lawmakers sign deal in Morocco Libya’s rival politicians have signed a UN-brokered deal to form a unity government in a nation split by more than four years of conflict. UN envoy Martin Kobler described the deal as historic, saying Libya had “turned a page” […]

Libya conflict: Rival lawmakers sign deal in Morocco

Libya conflict: Rival lawmakers sign deal in Morocco

Libya’s rival politicians have signed a UN-brokered deal to form a unity government in a nation split by more than four years of conflict.

UN envoy Martin Kobler described the deal as historic, saying Libya had “turned a page” in efforts to achieve reconciliation and stability.

However, the heads of the rival parliaments failed to sign the deal because of major disagreements.

Armed groups which control much of Libya were not part of the talks.

Libya has been in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of long-serving ruler Muammar Gaddafi by Nato-backed forces.

It has two rival governments, one based in the main city, Tripoli, and the other about 1,000km (620 miles) away in the port city of Tobruk.

The signing draws a line under a 14-month political process that gained more prominence in recent months because of the large influx of refugees and migrants to Europe, and the growing threat of Islamic State militancy in the country.

UK will not ban Muslim Brotherhood, says David Cameron

Membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood is a “possible indicator of extremism” but it will not be banned, the prime minister has said.

A long-delayed review of the international Islamist network found parts of it had an “ambiguous relationship with violent extremism”.

David Cameron told MPs the group’s activities would be kept under review.

The group’s British lawyers say the Brotherhood will legally challenge the “deeply flawed” findings.

In a statement, the group said the UK’s position was unjust.

The Muslim Brotherhood has many different branches and affiliated organisations across the world – and remains banned in some parts of the Middle East.

Some groups proscribed under terrorism laws in the UK adopted the Brotherhood’s core thinking about a global Muslim identity into their own ideologies.

The prime minister ordered a review of the Brotherhood’s activities in the UK more than two years ago, amid reports that the government was under pressure from some Middle East allies to ban the group.

IMF chief Lagarde to stand negligence trial in France

IMF chief Christine Lagarde is to stand trial in France for alleged negligence over a €404m ($438m; £294m); payment to a businessman in 2008.

She was finance minister in President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government at the time of the compensation award to Bernard Tapie for the sale of a firm.

Mr Tapie supported Mr Sarkozy in the 2007 presidential election.

Ms Lagarde’s lawyer described the court’s decision as “incomprehensible”, and said the IMF boss would appeal.

In a statement she said she had “always acted in this affair in the interest of the state and in respect of the law”, according to AP.

Mr Tapie was once a majority shareholder in sports goods company Adidas but sold it in 1993 in order to become a cabinet minister in Francois Mitterrand’s Socialist government.

He sued the Credit Lyonnais bank over its handling of the sale, alleging that the partly state-owned bank had defrauded him by deliberately undervaluing the company.

His case was later referred by Ms Lagarde to a three-member arbitration panel which awarded the compensation, causing a public outcry.

Burundi crisis: African Union ‘won’t allow genocide’

The African Union, discussing the situation in Burundi, says Africa will “not allow another genocide to take place on its soil”.

The UN said it would send a fact-finding mission to Burundi amid fears that violence could spiral into civil war and possible ethnic conflict.

Last Friday, 87 people were killed in clashes in the capital, Bujumbura.

Unrest began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he would seek a third term in office.

He survived a coup attempt in May, and secured a third term in disputed elections in July.

AU Peace and Security Commissioner Smail Chergui has tweeted that the “clear” message coming from the AU is that the “killings in Burundi must stop immediately”.

The government has said there is no threat of genocide.

Putin pours fresh scorn on Turkey for downing Russian jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has used crude language in a furious new attack on Turkey over the shooting down of a Russian combat jet last month.

“The Turks”, he said, had “decided to lick the Americans in a certain place”.

He was giving his wide-ranging annual news conference.

Touching on next year’s US presidential election, the Russian leader called Donald Trump a “very colourful, talented person” and the “absolute frontrunner in the presidential race”.

Mr Putin is now into his third term as president since 2000, battling an economic crisis. Critics say civil liberties have been steadily eroded under his rule.

He remains one of the world’s most recognisable politicians, and has topped the list of The World’s Most Powerful People compiled by Forbes magazine for the third year running.

On other issues raised at the news conference, President Putin

Pharma boss Martin Shkreli arrested on fraud charges

Pharmaceutical boss Martin Shkreli, who sparked outrage after hiking up the price of an established medicine, has been arrested on separate fraud charges.

He is accused of fraud relating to a drug company he previously headed, Retrophin, and a hedge fund, MSNB Capital Management, where he was a fund manager.

He is currently chief executive of Turing Pharmaceuticals.

Mr Shkreli was arrested by the FBI.

He was arrested in Manhattan, New York, accused of illegally using Retrophin assets to pay off debts after MSMB lost millions of dollars, reports Reuters news agency.

In September he was lambasted after hiking up the price of popular medicine Daraprim by 5,000% – from $13.50 to $750 – prompting unfavourable reaction on social media.

The drug treats toxoplasmosis, a parasitic affliction that affects people with compromised immune systems, and is used by Aids patients.

Ethiopia: Amnesty warns against ‘brutal crackdown’ on protesters

Anti-terror rhetoric by Ethiopia’s government could escalate into a brutal crackdown on protesters, human rights group Amnesty International has warned.

A plan to expand the capital’s administrative control into the Oromia region has sparked deadly protests.

The government has accused Oromo protesters of links with terror groups and trying to start a revolution.

Amnesty says the claims aim to justify repression of those protesting against feared land seizures.

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter admits personal email ‘mistake’

US Defence Secretary Ash Carter has admitted that using personal email to conduct some government business was a “mistake”.

In an interview with CBS, Mr Carter said it was “a mistake and it’s entirely my own”.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did the same thing, prompting an FBI investigation.

He used personal email during his first two months as defence secretary.

“I have to hold myself to absolutely strict standards in terms of cybersecurity and doing things that are appropriate. I didn’t in this case,” said Mr Carter.

The New York Times reported that it obtained 72 work emails Mr Carter sent or received from his non-work email account.

Some emails were about speeches and media appearances, the Times reports.

Islamic State conflict: Raqqa activist killed in Syria

Another member of a Syrian activist group that reports on the activities of the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) in the city of Raqqa has been murdered.

Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS) said Ahmad Mohammed al-Mousa was killed by a group of masked men in the rebel-held city of Idlib on Wednesday.

The group have no further details, but at least two other members have been killed by IS militants since 2014.

RBSS was honoured last month by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).