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UK announces new sanctions against Russia and Iran

The UK on Tuesday announced new sanctions against senior Russian military commanders, as well as Iranians involved in the producing and supplying drones to target Ukraine.

The government said 12 Russian top brass would be subject to assets freezes and travel bans, including Major General Robert Baranov, who is said to be in charge of a unit programming and targeting cruise missiles.

A drone approaches for an attack in Kyiv on October 17, 2022 as Russia strikes Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure after suffering setbacks on the battlefield

Netanyahu ally chosen as new Israel parliament speaker

Israel's parliament elected a close ally of prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu as its new speaker Tuesday to oversee the passage of legislation that will help his formation of a government.

Yariv Levin, a senior member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, was chosen as speaker to replace Mickey Levy from outgoing Prime Minister Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party.

Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks with key ally Aryeh Deri of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas, as they prepare to fast-track a change to the law to allow Deri to serve in cabinet despite past tax evasion convictions

EU parliament sacks vice president charged in Qatar bribe probe

The European Parliament sacked one of its vice presidents on Tuesday amid corruption accusations allegedly linked to World Cup host Qatar, as EU officials scrambled to contain a widening scandal.

The assembly's MEPs voted 625 to one to strip Greek socialist MEP Eva Kaili of her vice presidential role, despite her lawyer declaring that she was innocent and "has nothing to do with Qatar's bribes".

The government of Qatar has denied any connection to any wrongdoing in the case.

Kaili is charged with participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption

Lawyer for corruption-accused Greek MEP says she's 'innocent'

The lawyer for a detained Greek member of the European Parliament on Tuesday said his client was "innocent" after she was charged with corruption in a probe into suspected bribes from World Cup host Qatar.

Belgium has charged four suspects including one of the vice presidents of the parliament, Greek socialist Eva Kaili, as part of an investigation into suspicions the Gulf nation has been handing out cash and gifts to influence EU policy debate, allegations Doha denies.

Two others were released after questioning.

Kaili has been charged with corruption by Belgian prosecutors

French court jails suspects in 2016 Nice terror attack

French judges on Tuesday ordered prison terms for eight suspects charged in the harrowing 2016 terror attack in Nice, where a suspected Islamist attacker rammed his truck into a night-time crowd celebrating the July 14 national holiday.

Two men were sentenced to 18 years for helping Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel, a 31-year-old Tunisian, prepare the attack that killed 86 people and injured over 450 during a four-minute rampage on a seafront embankment in the southern city before being shot dead by police.

A radicalised Islamist ploughed his truck into a crowd celebrating the July 14 national holiday

Libyan accused of Lockerbie bombing charged in US court

An alleged former Libyan intelligence agent accused of making the bomb that blew up a Pan Am jet over Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people, appeared in a US court Monday to face charges for the deadliest-ever terror attack in Britain.

Abu Agila Mohammad Masud Kheir al-Marimi, who allegedly worked as an intelligence operative for the regime of Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi between 1973 and 2011, faces three counts related to the Lockerbie bombing.

A handout photo of alleged Lockerbie bomber Abu Agila Mohammad Masud obtained from the Alexandria Sheriff's Office

Gaza archaeologists find 'complete' Roman-era cemetery

Researchers in the northern Gaza Strip have unearthed dozens of Roman-era tombs at a site discovered earlier this year during construction work, the Palestinian enclave's Islamist rulers Hamas announced Monday.

Construction workers had uncovered 31 tombs near the town of Beit Lahia as work began in early 2022 on an Egyptian-funded residential project, part of reconstruction efforts after the 11-day war in May 2021 between Israel and armed groups in blockaded Gaza.

The 2,000-year-old cemetery is located near the ruins of the Greek port city of Anthedon, now in the northern Gaza Strip

Greek MEP Eva Kaili, ex-TV host accused of taking bribes

Only 11 months after she became a European Parliament vice president, Greek MEP Eva Kaili is at the heart of an alleged corruption scandal involving Qatar and the EU, a far cry from the days when she presented the news.

Kaili, 44, was the highest-profile target remanded in custody on Sunday over allegations of bribery by World Cup host Qatar, after investigators found "bags of cash" at her home.

The socialist MEP had her powers as a vice president suspended on Saturday over the claims, following her arrest the day before.

Kaili is charged with participating in a criminal organisation, money laundering and corruption

EU democracy 'under attack' as parliament rocked by Qatar bribe claims

Leaders of the EU Parliament accused foreign powers on Monday of trying to corrupt European democracy, as a probe into alleged bribes from World Cup host Qatar widened.

Belgian investigators, meanwhile raided offices in the parliament's Brussels base, seeking to seize computer data to track the alleged web of corruption.

One of the vice presidents of the parliament, Greek socialist MEP Eva Kaili, has been charged with "criminal organisation, corruption and money laundering".

Kaili has been charged with corruption by Belgian prosecutors

S. Africa's embattled Ramaphosa faces decisive week

Embattled South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces a decisive week as a scandal hangs over his future, with an impeachment vote on Tuesday preceding a key ruling party conference.

Ramaphosa, who was championed as a graft-busting saviour after the corruption-tainted tenure of predecessor Jacob Zuma, has been marred by accusations that he attempted to cover up a huge cash theft at his luxury farm.

President Cyril Ramaphosa campaigned in Cape Town at the weekend