SOUTH AFRICA: The South African government today cancelled a proposed tax increase that had threatened to collapse the unity government after a pushback from various political parties.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the government would no longer implement a 0.5 per cent increase on value-added tax, payable on goods and services including food and electricity.

CHINA: An official today denied United States President Donald Trump’s claim that the two sides were involved in active negotiations over the trade tariffs of up to 245 per cent imposed by the White House.

Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said: “Any claims about the progress of China-US trade negotiations are groundless as trying to catch the wind and have no factual basis.”

FRANCE: The European Court of Human Rights today sided with three women who said they were raped when they were aged 13, 14 and 16 and argued that French authorities did not do enough to protect them.

The ruling will likely fuel the debate on the inclusion of consent in the law for sexual offences.

France has taken steps to toughen punishment for rape and sexual misconduct, including setting 15 as the age of consent.

MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: Jordan announced a sweeping ban on the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday that could include shutting down the country’s largest opposition party, after accusing the Islamist group of planning attacks.

The Islamic Action Front, a political party linked to the region-wide Brotherhood, won the most seats in parliamentary elections held last year against the backdrop of mass protests against Israel over its war with Hamas.