News in brief (2022-12-03)

Two militants killed in attack on Afghan politician's HQ
KABUL, Dec 02: Three unidentified militants detonated a car bomb Friday and tried to storm the headquarters of an Afghan party headed by veteran politician Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, officials said. Ghairat Baheer, an official with the Hizb-e-Islami party, told AFP two attackers were killed as they tried to enter the Kabul building-which also houses a mosque-and a third escaped. "The car detonated outside, so there was little damage," he said. — AP
Killer at centre of hit podcast jailed for 24 years in Australia
SYDNEY, Dec 02: A former Australian high school teacher convicted of murdering his wife after a hit podcast unearthed new evidence was on Friday sentenced to 24 years in prison. Chris Dawson, 74, was found guilty of killing Lynette Dawson some 40 years ago while pursuing an affair with his teenage babysitter and former student. Her body was never found and there were few leads in the case until 2018 when "The Teacher's Pet" podcast sparked renewed public interest and ultimately a fresh police investigation. The murder had been driven by Dawson's "possessive infatuation" with his former student, which led him to kill his wife, Judge Ian Harrison said Friday while announcing the 24-year prison sentence. — AFP
UK ex-finance minister joins exodus of Tory MPs
LONDON, Dec 02: Britain's former finance minister Sajid Javid on Friday said he would not be standing at the next election, as the Conservative party faces a slump in support after 12 years in power. Sajid Javid, 52, is the highest-profile Tory MP yet to announce that he will quit at the next nationwide poll, which is due before January 2025 at the latest. The Conservatives, in office since 2010, are on course for defeat by the main opposition Labour party, according to opinion polls, and several younger Tory MPs have already said they will not be standing again. — AFP
Indonesia set to penalise sex outside marriage in overhaul of criminal code
JAKARTA, Dec 02: Indonesia's parliament is expected to pass a new criminal code this month that will penalise sex outside marriage with a punishment of up to one year in jail, officials have confirmed. The legislative overhaul will also ban insulting the president or state institutions and expressing any views counter to Indonesia's state ideology. Cohabitation before marriage is also banned. — Reuters