ECUADOR: Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso today put an end to impeachment proceedings against him by dissolving the opposition-led national assembly, which had accused him of embezzlement.

The right-wing president, who has denied wrongdoing, can govern for up to six months by decree under a constitutional provision hitherto unused, his move swiftly condemned by critics who said his removal from office had been imminent.

The military has warned that it would act “firmly” in the event of any violent protests.  

CHINA: Reports on Wednesday said that 39 people are missing after a Chinese fishing boat operating in the Indian Ocean capsized.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The report said crew members include 17 from China, 17 from Indonesia and five from the Philippines.

CAMBODIA: Cambodia’s national election committee refused on Monday to register the opposition Candlelight Party, the sole credible challenger to the governing Cambodian People’s Party, for July elections, saying it had failed to provide necessary documents.

The ruling leaves the party with only a very slim chance of taking part in the elections by filing a successful appeal to the constitutional council.

Party spokesman Kimsour Phirith said it will file an official complaint asking the council to judge the election commission’s ruling.

FRANCE: A French appeals court on Wednesday upheld a one-year prison sentence for former president Nicolas Sarkozy on a conviction for corruption and influence peddling.

His lawyer said he will take the case to France’s highest court and insisted that Mr Sarkozy is innocent.