Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday lifted a 17-month long ban on agricultural imports from Egypt, during an official visit by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to Khartoum. “I signed today a decision cancelling the ban on imports of Egyptian products,” Bashir told reporters after …
Read More »FIFA chief heading for trouble over pet projects
Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | FIFA President Gianni Infantino is set to ignite new opposition Friday over his ambition to introduce two money-spinning pet projects — a revamped global club cup and a bold new international championship. Infantino’s Saudi-backed plans, which have already been harshly criticised, are on the agenda …
Read More »DR Congo opposition parties agree to name unity candidate by mid-November
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The Democratic Republic of Congo’s opposition parties agreed on Thursday to name a single unity candidate by mid-November to run against President Joseph Kabila’s choice in December elections. Tensions are running high before the long-delayed December 23 vote to chose a successor to Kabila, …
Read More »French court rules Sarkozy should be tried over campaign funding
Paris, France | AFP | A French appeals court ruled Thursday that former president Nicolas Sarkozy should answer charges of illicit financing of his failed 2012 election campaign, the latest in a string of legal proceedings likely to see him face trial. Sarkozy, 63, will appeal the decision before France’s …
Read More »Curry explodes for 51 points against the Wizards
Oakland, United States | AFP | Stephen Curry had 11 three pointers en route to a 51-point performance as the Golden State Warriors throttled the Washington Wizards 144-122 on Wednesday. The two-time NBA MVP Curry moved into fifth on the league’s all-time three point scoring list and heard chants of …
Read More »Father of two jailed in France for feeding them on Coca-Cola
Limoges, France | AFP | The father of two boys, aged three and four, has been jailed in France for feeding them nearly exclusively on Coca-Cola, the children’s lawyer said. The father, who can “neither read, nor write, nor count, doesn’t realise the seriousness of the situation and spent all …
Read More »Trump asks media to ‘stop hostility’ after bomb sent to CNN
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Wednesday called on the media to stop their “endless hostility” and “false attacks” in comments addressing a number of pipe bombs sent earlier in the day to Barack Obama, top Democrats and CNN. Speaking to supporters at a campaign rally in …
Read More »Ethiopia appoints Africa’s only female president
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia on Thursday appointed a woman to the largely ceremonial position of president for the first time, further increasing female representation in the government of Africa’s second most populous nation. In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde, 68, to replace …
Read More »Maduro labels Pence ‘a madman’ for Venezuela caravan link
Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday labelled US Vice President Mike Pence “a madman” after he accused Caracas of financing the Honduras migrant caravan marching towards the United States. “What tremendous convening power I have in Central America, Mike Pence! If it wasn’t for an …
Read More »NATO shows Russia its military might in giant exercises
Oslo, Norway | AFP | Norway hosts NATO’s biggest exercises since the end of the Cold War from Thursday, to remind Russia the Alliance stands united despite seeds of doubt planted by US President Donald Trump. Some 50,000 soldiers, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 countries are …
Read More »