Saudi Arabia scraps Kafala labour system, 13 million foreign workers to benefit

IANS | October 22, 2025 8:24 PM

Riyadh, Oct 22 (IANS) Saudi Arabia has abolished the five-decade old Kafala labour sponsorship system that allowed Kafala (employers) to have inhuman control over employees, including seizing travel documents and taking decision on when they could change their jobs or leave the country, reports confirmed on Wednesday.

Russian President to skip G20 Summit in South Africa

IANS | October 22, 2025 8:15 PM

Moscow, Oct 22 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in South Africa, Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced on Wednesday. He said that Moscow will be represented at the "worthy level" at the G20 gathering.

Chinese firms in African countries face problems amid rising unrest: Report

IANS | October 22, 2025 5:07 PM

New Delhi, Oct 22 (IANS) Recent unrest in some African countries has highlighted the security, political and community-relations risks facing some Chinese businesses operating on the continent. China’s overseas engagement — often centred on infrastructure finance and trade under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — has expanded market access and built roads, railways and energy projects, according to a new report.