BRUSSELS — Hungary’s parliament voted Monday in favor of Sweden’s long-delayed bid to join NATO, clearing the final obstacle to a historic expansion of the military alliance and putting an end to an uncomfortable standoff between members. With Budapest at last onboard, Sweden is set to become NATO’s 32nd member, possibly within the week, completing … Read more
To give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who’ve contributed to the AI revolution. We’ll publish several pieces throughout the year as the AI boom continues, highlighting key work that often goes unrecognized. Read more … Read more
ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s parliament is set to vote Thursday to legalize same-sex civil marriage, in a first for an Orthodox Christian country and despite opposition from the influential Greek Church. Opinion polls suggest that most Greeks support the proposed reform, and the issue has failed to trigger deep divisions in a country more worried … Read more
TBILISI, Georgia — The former chairman of Georgia’s ruling party was appointed by parliament as prime minister of the Caucasus nation on Thursday in a reshuffle ahead of national elections in the autumn. Irakli Kobakhidze was named to the job by a 84-10 parliament vote. He previously stepped down as chairman of the ruling Georgian … Read more
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa’s third-largest political party said it will boycott President Cyril Ramaphosa’s annual speech to Parliament on Thursday because its fiery leader and five other top party officials have had their lawmaker status suspended for disrupting last year’s event when they rushed the stage where Ramaphosa was standing. The Economic … Read more
SYDNEY — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Thursday become the first Pacific leader to address Australia’s parliament, vowing “nothing will come in between our two countries.” The nations announced that Australia will spend AU $100 million (US $65.3 million) on Papua New Guinea’s internal security, including the development of a police recruiting … Read more
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is electing a new parliament on Thursday as surging militant attacks and cries of foul have cast a shadow over the vote and deep political divisions make a coalition government seem more likely. The election comes at a critical time for this nuclear-armed nation, an unpredictable Western ally bordering Afghanistan, China, India … Read more
DAKAR, Senegal — Senegal’s parliament voted late on Monday to postpone elections for almost a year, to Dec. 15, amid concerns over the state of democracy in this West African nation. President Macky Sall’s decision to delay the vote, originally scheduled for Feb. 25, sent hundreds of protesters to the streets over the weekend, many … Read more
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks during an interview in New Taipei City on December 12, 2023. Presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has sought to portray himself as an alternative to Taiwan’s more established leaders, proposing what he calls a “pragmatic” approach to China ties that might attract some younger voters. I-Hwa Cheng … Read more
Thai opposition lawmaker Pita Limjaroenrat returned to parliament a day after the country’s top court cleared him of allegations he had violated election rules, vowing to scrutinize government policies including a multi-billion-baht cash handout scheme. Pita resumed his lawmaker duties on Thursday, after the Constitutional Court said his equity stake in a defunct media firm … Read more