COLU @ CONCEPTS

Image copyright REUTERS Image caption Cyril Ramaphosa is one of South Africa's wealthiest politicians The new leader of South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC), Cyril Ramaphosa, has pledged to fight corruption and pursue a policy of "radical economic transformation". Closing the party's conference, he said tackling unemployment and poverty should also be key party policies. Mr Ramaphosa was elected on Monday to succeed President Jacob Zuma as party leader. He is in a strong position to become president at elections in 2019. "This conference has resolved that corruption must be fought with the same intensity and purpose that we fight poverty, unemployment and inequality," he told delegates at the end of the five-day conference. "We must also act fearlessly against alleged corruption and abuse of office within our ranks." He acknowledged that the gathering had approved the seizure of land without compensation, but...

Image copyright REUTERS Image caption Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (C) is backed by vice-presidents Martin Vizcarra and Mercedes Araoz Peru's President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has made a last-minute plea on the eve of an appearance before Congress that could remove him from office. In a judicial appeal he argued he had been "convicted in advance". Mr Kuczynski's opponents want to impeach him for allegedly receiving illegal payments from the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. Peru's two vice-presidents have pledged their support for Mr Kuczynski, who denies the allegations against him. Correspondents say his chances of survival appear slim. Ninety-three lawmakers have backed an impeachment vote where only 87 votes are needed for it to go ahead. If removed, he would be the first sitting president to be forced out in the Odebrecht scandal which has spread through a number of countries in Latin America and beyond. In a televised address, President Kuczyn...

Media caption US tax bill: the winners and losers US President Donald Trump has hailed sweeping tax reforms after they were given final approval by Congress, despite fierce criticism by Democrats. "We are making America great again," a jubilant Mr Trump said. He is expected to sign his first major legislative achievement - the biggest rewrite of the US tax code in a generation - in the coming days. The bill slashes taxes for corporations and the wealthy, while offering mixed, temporary relief to working people. Democrats have labelled the Republican tax bill "government for sale", with prominent Senator Elizabeth Warren describing it as a "heist". Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump WE ARE MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! 10:44 PM - Dec 20, 2017   18,766 18,766 Replies     17,441 17,441 Retweets     69,776 69,776 likes Twitter Ads inf...