News in Brief (19-11-2018)

Ex-C Africa militia leader arrives

at ICC detention centre

THE HAGUE, Nov 18: Former Central African Republic militia leader Alfred Yekatom arrived at the International Criminal Court's detention centre in The Hague ahead of his trial for war crimes and crimes against humanity, a spokesman said on Saturday. "The suspect arrived in the detention centre", said ICC spokesman Fadi El Abdallah of the ex-leader nicknamed "Colonel Rambo". — AFP

Macron's popularity

falls to 25pc

PARIS, Nov 18: The popularity of French President Emmanuel Macron has dropped to just 25 per cent, according to a major tracker poll published on Sunday. The poll by research group Ifop was published in the Journal du Dimanche a ay after a nationwide "yellow vest" protest against high fuel prices that analysts say has come to represent widespread frustration with the 40-year-old president. —AFP

Netanyahu warns of early polls danger

JERUSALEM, Nov 18: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that early elections will be a disaster for Israel. Mr Netanyahu made the remark at a cabinet meeting, as key coalition allies threaten to pull their support. He is set to meet his finance minister later on Sunday, in a last-ditch attempt to avert early elections. The political crisis began after Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman quit in opposition to a ceasefire with Gaza militants after three days of fighting. — Reuters

Botswana hails China for fulfilling pledges

GABORONE, Nov 18: Botswana's Finance Minister Kenneth Matambo on Saturday hailed China for its promptness in fulfilling pledges of constructing roads and railway lines in the southern African country. Addressing journalists after touring some developmental infrastructure sites built by Chinese companies in Francistown, Botswana's second largest city, Matambo said China and Botswana are all-weather friends in development. Matambo said some Chinese construction technical experts are due in Botswana to assess projects, which are expected to be financed with soft loans by China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). — Xinhua