Durban, South Africa | AFP | African countries are becoming increasingly repressive and causing more people to leave their homes, British charity Oxfam said this week, as Germany warned of the destabilising effect migration is having on the continent. Political freedom and the problem of Africa’s brain-drain were among the …
Read More »Macron team blasts ‘massive hacking attack’ after document release
Paris, France | AFP | The campaign team of French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron on Friday blasted a “massive and coordinated hacking attack” after internal documents including emails and accounting papers were released online. “The files circulating were obtained several weeks ago due to the hacking of the personal and professional …
Read More »Lanzini leaves Spurs’ title bid in tatters
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manuel Lanzini left Tottenham’s Premier League title challenge in tatters as the West Ham forward sealed a 1-0 win that put Chelsea within touching distance of being crowned champions. Mauricio Pochettino’s side paid the price for a lethargic display at the London Stadium and …
Read More »Ex-presidents urge action to heal ‘sick’ South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa | Three former South African presidents for the first time issued a joint call for action Friday to end the nation’s “worsening” political crisis, the latest campaign targeting President Jacob Zuma. In an unprecedented move, the country’s living former heads of state — Thabo Mbeki, F.W. de …
Read More »Security jitters as campaigning for French election ends
Paris, France | AFP | French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen wrapped up campaigning Friday ahead of this weekend’s election as security concerns emerged again following the arrest of a suspected extremist. Both centrist Macron and far-right Le Pen visited cathedrals and gave interviews as they sought …
Read More »Simbine surprise 100m winner, Kiplimo 7th in Diamond League opener
Doha, Qatar | AFP | South Africa’s Akani Simbine surprised a world-class sprint field, including Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell and Andre De Grasse to claim a season-opening 100m Diamond League victory on Friday. The 23-year-old powered home in a time of 9.99sec to become the first South African man to …
Read More »Nigeria’s Buhari emerges
Nigeria’s Buhari seen in public for first time in weeks PHOTOS: President @MBuhari with Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and NSA Babagana Monguno, at Juma’at prayer at the State House Mosque, today. pic.twitter.com/pbmrmvBxXx — Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) May 5, 2017 Abuja, Nigeria | Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday made …
Read More »ANALYSIS: First US military death in Somalia since ‘Black Hawk Down’
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | An American soldier has been killed in a night-time raid in Somalia, in what is believed to be the first US military death in combat there since the infamous events of “Black Hawk Down” 24 years ago. The death occurred three weeks after the US …
Read More »Kanye West exits social media
New York, United States | AFP | Rap superstar Kanye West, long a prolific user of Twitter, has disappeared from social media after months of erratic behavior. The husband of reality television star Kim Kardashian appeared to have deleted his accounts on Twitter and Instagram, with searches Friday for his …
Read More »American soldier killed during Somalia operation against Shabaab
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | An American soldier was shot dead and two others wounded in a night-time raid with Somali forces against Shabaab militants in Somalia, the US military said Friday. “On May 4, one US service member was killed during an operation against Al-Shabaab near Barii, Somalia, approximately …
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