Xi Jinpeng approved

BEIJING: China’s rubber-stamp legislature yesterday unanimously approved the reappointment of Xi Jinping as president with no limit on number of terms he can serve.

The National People’s Congress also appointed close Xi ally Wang Qishan as vice-president.

At the Great Hall of the People, Xi, Wang and other officials took turns stepping to the lectern as they delivered an oath swearing loyalty to the constitution, the motherland and the people.

Asean, Oz deal signed

SYDNEY: South-east Asian leaders will sign an agreement on regional co-operation against violent extremism as risk to the region grows due to militants fleeing Islamic State group losses in the Middle East, an official said yesterday.

The memorandum of understanding will be signed by the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or Asean, and Australia, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said.

Hoping to see Mary

MUNICH: Pilgrims gathered in the tiny Bavarian village of Unterflossing yesterday in the hope of seeing the Virgin Mary, predicted to appear at 4.30pm in the St Lawrence Chapel there.

The mother of Jesus is believed to have appeared in the chapel twice in the past, most recently in September.

Hundreds made the pilgrimage. But the Catholic Church has refused to recognise the apparitions. – dpa

Cyril in Maputo

MAPUTO: President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as SADC chairperson, has arrived in Mozambique’s capital on a working visit, the presidency said yesterday.

The visit formed part of a longstanding tradition in the Southern African Development Community region whereby newly elected heads of state paid courtesy calls to the neighbouring countries, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khusela Diko, said.

‘War on the FBI’

WASHINGTON: Attorney-general Jeff Sessions says he has fired former FBI deputy director Andrew Mccabe, a regular target of President Donald Trump’s anger and criticism, two days before his scheduled retirement. Mccabe immediately decried the move and suggested it was part of the Trump administration’s “war on the FBI”.

The Friday dismissal was made on the recommendation of FBI disciplinary officials.

Animal order violated

ROME (Michigan): A woman accused of animal cruelty after more than 200 animals were removed from her Michigan property has been arrested after authorities said they found additional neglected animals.

Sharon Kay Evans was arrested on Friday for violating an order not to possess animals.

Earlier this year, authorities removed roughly 200 dogs, 32 horses, five cats, two peacocks and a donkey from the property.

Sources: Dpa/reuters/ap/african News Agency (ANA)