Beirut, Lebanon | AFP | As Syria’s war approaches its seventh year, two new rounds of talks on resolving the conflict are scheduled to take place in Astana and Geneva. Here are some questions and answers about the upcoming talks: What talks are scheduled? The first meeting is in the …
Read More »Ex-boss of Nigerian oil firm being probed over $10mn cash ‘gift’
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | A former head of Nigeria’s state-run oil company is under investigation after almost $10 million in cash was found at a property he owns. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), an anti-corruption agency, said it had seized $9.8 million (9.2 million euros) from a …
Read More »‘No risk’ in Benin after truck with chemical for nuclear production crashes
Paris, France | AFP | The French nuclear group Areva said Tuesday a truck carrying a chemical used in the uranium fuel process had tipped over in Benin, but there was “no risk” of contamination. The accident occurred in the West African country on Sunday near Dassa, about 200 kilometres …
Read More »US Secret Service chief to retire
Washington, United States | AFP | US Secret Service chief Joseph Clancy will retire in early March, the elite agency tasked with protecting the US president said Tuesday. A former head of US President Barack Obama’s detail, Clancy returned from a previous retirement to steer the agency two years ago, …
Read More »White House tries to insulate Trump from Russia scandal
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House battled Tuesday to insulate Donald Trump from a scandal over his top aide’s contacts with Russia, as it emerged that the president was aware of the problem for weeks before acting. With calls for an independent investigation gathering pace, the White …
Read More »Melania Trump reopens White House for tours
Washington, United States | AFP | After pressure from lawmakers, First Lady Melania Trump announced Tuesday the White House will reopen to the public in early March, nearly seven weeks after her husband Donald became president. White House tours are highly popular with visitors to Washington, a perk arranged by …
Read More »Army-worms leave destruction in South Africa
On a South African farm, despair over attack Onderstepoort, South Africa | AFP | Peeling back the maize plant’s leaves reveals a small brown caterpillar — an armyworm that writhes as it burrows into the heart of the crop, producing a sticky dark paste. Eighty percent of the Prinsloo family’s …
Read More »What’s your poison? A history of killing with chemistry
Bangkok, Thailand | AFP | From the courtiers of Ancient Greece to Soviet spies and maybe now North Korean agents, poison has a long history as a weapon of murder, favoured by assassins for its stealthy delivery of the fatal blow. The killing of Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of the …
Read More »Palestinians say US shift on two-state solution ‘doesn’t make sense’
Ramallah, Palestinian Territories | AFP | US President Donald Trump’s break with decades of support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is irresponsible and does not advance peace, a senior Palestinian said on Wednesday. “This does not make sense,” Palestine Liberation Organisation executive committee member Hanan Ashrawi told …
Read More »MAKERERE: 75 Doctorates at 67th graduation ceremony
There will be 75 doctorates awarded at Makerere University’s 67th graduation ceremony. They are 10 more than last year, and will be part of 14,895 graduands (14,318 in 2016) to be awarded degrees and diplomas at the four-day ceremony at Freedom Square. The ceremony will be held from Tuesday February 21 to …
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