Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Tuesday unleashed an extraordinary attack on Emmanuel Macron, mocking the French president’s approval rating and lashing him over European defense proposals which enjoyed a crucial new boost from Germany. On the heels of a rocky trip to Paris to mark the …
Read More »Libya warlord casts shadow over Italy’s bid to solve crisis
Palermo, Italy | AFP | Italy hosts Libyan and global leaders on Tuesday to try to kick-start a long-stalled political process and trigger elections, with eastern Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar casting a shadow over the fresh bid to bring stability to the chaos-stricken nation. Italy is the latest country aiming …
Read More »Libyan players in Italy for fresh bid to solve crisis
Palermo, Italy | AFP | Libya’s key political players meet with global leaders in Palermo on Monday in the latest bid by major powers to kickstart a long-stalled political process and trigger elections. A summit in Paris in May had seen the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and eastern …
Read More »Macron, Merkel, UN chief target Trump’s world view
Paris, France | AFP | French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN chief Antonio Guterres took turns in warning about the dangers of nationalism on Sunday as they marked the centenary of the end of World War I. Without mentioning US President Donald Trump by name, all …
Read More »Cash-strapped Libyans sceptical ahead of peace talks
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Queueing up outside banks in Tripoli, Libyans say they have little hope of an end to the political and economic turmoil shaking their country, on the eve of international crisis talks in Italy. Accompanied by his five-year-old son, architect Mohamad Kredigh was hoping to get …
Read More »Libya in chaos since 2011 overthrow of Kadhafi
Tripoli, Libya | AFP | Libya has been mired in chaos since the ouster and killing of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with two rival authorities and a multitude of militias still vying for control of the oil-rich country. The capital Tripoli is the seat of an internationally-backed government led …
Read More »World leaders mark 100 years since WWI Armistice in Paris
Paris, France | AFP | World leaders gathered in Paris will lead global commemorations on Sunday to mark 100 years since the end of World War I at a time of growing nationalism and diplomatic tensions. Around 70 leaders including US and Russian Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will …
Read More »US names new envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes
Washington, United States | AFP | Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday named a scholar who once called for the disintegration of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the new US envoy to Africa’s Great Lakes region, tasked with encouraging stability in the conflict-ridden area. J. Peter Pham, now …
Read More »Somali, Eritrean leaders in Ethiopia to cement regional ties
Gondar, Ethiopia | AFP | The presidents of Somalia and Eritrea met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Friday to cement regional economic ties as relations warm between the once-rival nations. Somalia’s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki arrived in the northern Ethiopian city of Gondar …
Read More »Libya conference in early 2019 could pave way to elections: UN
United Nations, United States | AFP | A national conference will be held in Libya in the first weeks of 2019 to push for elections that could take place next year, the UN envoy told the Security Council on Thursday. UN envoy Ghassan Salame said the conference will provide “a …
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