Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin called for “pragmatic cooperation” in his New Year wishes to US President Donald Trump, the Kremlin said on Saturday. In a statement on the Russian president’s New Year wishes to world leaders, the Kremlin said Putin told Trump that “a constructive …
Read More »Sudan imposes state of emergency in two states
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s president on Saturday announced a state of emergency in two states in the centre and east of the country, the official news agency said. President Omar al-Bashir issued a decree to install the state of emergency in North Kordofan and Kasala for six months, …
Read More »Libya strongman says backs 2018 elections
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar has said he will support 2018 elections in the war-torn country but also implied he would seize power if the polls did not occur. Late Thursday, Haftar said presidential and parliamentary elections were “a fundamental solution” to Libya’s crisis and should …
Read More »Facebook, Twitter face deadline in Brexit fake news probe
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Social media giants Facebook and Twitter are facing a deadline in Britain to cooperate with an inquiry into so-called fake news in the Brexit referendum campaign, a parliamentary committee chairman said Friday. The companies have been given until January 18 to share information requested …
Read More »S.Africa’s top court delivers Zuma impeachment blow
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s top court on Friday ruled that parliament had failed to hold President Jacob Zuma accountable for using public money for private home upgrades, a move that could lead to impeachment proceedings. Opposition parties had gone to the Constitutional Court to argue that …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Troubled South African leader Zuma heads towards exit
ANALYSIS: Troubled South African leader Zuma heads towards exit Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s jovial leader Jacob Zuma is a former herdboy who fought in the anti-apartheid struggle and has held onto the presidency despite a plethora of scandals. Now aged 75, he has survived by building …
Read More »Zimbabwe unveils generous Mugabe retirement package
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s ousted president Robert Mugabe will get a residence, a car fleet and private air travel as part of a new government-funded retirement package for former leaders, state media reported Thursday. Mugabe will also be entitled to at least 20 staffers including six personal security …
Read More »Defeated US Senate candidate Moore files legal challenge over loss
Washington, United States | AFP | Defeated US Senate candidate Roy Moore has filed a last-minute legal challenge to his stunning loss at the hands of Democrat Doug Jones in a special election held in the right-leaning state of Alabama earlier this month. Christian conservative Moore, a former judge who …
Read More »Russia’s Putin calls Saint Petersburg blast ‘act of terror’
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called an explosion that tore through a Saint Petersburg supermarket, wounding 13 people, “an act of terror.” “As you know, an act of terror took place in Saint Petersburg yesterday,” he said at a meeting of military officers in …
Read More »Zimbabwe ex-army chief who helped oust Mugabe sworn in as VP
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s former army commander who led a military takeover that helped end Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule was Thursday sworn in as one of the country’s two vice presidents. Dressed in a black suit, General Constantino Chiwenga, 61, took the oath of office in Harare, pledging …
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