Tehran, Iran | AFP | An Iranian passenger plane on a domestic flight crashed on Sunday into the country’s Zagros mountains, with all 66 people on board feared dead. Here is a recap of the deadliest plane crashes in Iran since 2003. – 2014 – On August 10, an Antonov …
Read More »US vows investigation into Syria attack involving Russians
Washington, United States | AFP | US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Saturday vowed to investigate an attack involving Russian citizens on American-allied forces in Syria but stopped short of accusing Moscow of orchestrating the assault. Russia has acknowledged that five of its citizens were killed in a US-led coalition …
Read More »Russia’s propaganda tools in the 2016 US election
Washington, United States | AFP | Fake social media accounts, rallies for and against Donald Trump, paid protesters: Russia managed a vast propaganda operation to support the Trump campaign in the 2016 presidential election, according to a court indictment. Special Counsel Robert Mueller, investigating possible collusion between the campaign and …
Read More »Thousands in Israel anti-graft demo after Netanyahu indictment call
Tel Aviv, Israel | AFP | Thousands of Israelis marched against corruption in Tel Aviv on Friday, in the first protest since police recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted for graft. Several thousand people gathered for the protest calling on Netanyahu to step down, carrying banners reading ‘Crime …
Read More »Four questions about the Ethiopian PM’s resignation
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned unexpectedly on Thursday, the first leader to do so in the country’s recent history. As Africa’s second most-populous country enters uncharted political territory, here are four questions about what happened — and what comes next. – Why did …
Read More »Ethiopian PM departure brings no change, opposition says
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s opposition reacted cautiously on Friday a day after the surprise resignation of the prime minister, warning it did not herald real change since the ruling party remains in power. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned on Thursday after weeks of anti-government demonstrations and growing …
Read More »Against Putin, seven candidates and one glaring absence
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Seven candidates are lined up against Vladimir Putin in a Russian presidential election next month that he is all but guaranteed to win, extending his Kremlin term to 2024 with a fourth term in office. His competitors include a former reality TV star and a …
Read More »S.Africa crisis: The Ramaphosa era opens
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s parliament on Thursday chose Cyril Ramaphosa, an anti-apartheid activist who became a wealthy businessman, to be president after Jacob Zuma, tarred by scandal, was forced from office. Here is a timeline of events behind the dramatic change of power: – Rise of …
Read More »Zuma’s five biggest career scandals
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma has resigned from office with immediate effect, ending a controversial and turbulent period in the country’s political history. Zuma, 75, has been in power since 2009 and faced numerous allegations of corruption. Here are five of his biggest scandals: …
Read More »State-owned enterprises saddled with losses
BoU, UEDCL and Mandela National Stadium listed amongst those in red Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Uganda’s state-owned enterprises seem to be bleeding. The latest Auditor General’s report shows that five out of the 29 state owned enteprises recorded losses in the recent two consecutive years. They include; Bank of …
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