Tag Archives: politics

Rome, Italy | AFP | The small town of Pontida in northern Italy has sparked outrage by offering free parking permits to pregnant women and young mothers — but only if they are married or an EU citizen. The policy, introduced at the start of September, stipulated that free permits would …

Bloemfontein, South Africa | AFP | Lawyers for South African President Jacob Zuma appeared to abandon efforts on Thursday to fight the reinstatement of nearly 800 bribery charges against the embattled leader. Zuma’s attorney shocked the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein when they accepted that a 2009 decision by prosecutors …

Brasília, Brazil | AFP |  Brazil’s chief prosecutor on Thursday charged President Michel Temer with obstruction of justice and leading a criminal group. Temer was accused along with six heavyweight political allies, a statement from Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot’s office said. However, the president is widely thought to have enough …

Lesotho king: Stop using the army for “dirty” work Malibamatso, Lesotho | AFP |  King Letsie III on Thursday called on Lesotho’s political leaders to stop using the army for “dirty” work, as he addressed mourners at the funeral of a commander who was assassinated last week. Khoantle Motsomotso was …

Malibamatso, Lesotho | AFP |  Lesotho’s King Letsie III said Thursday the killing of the country’s army commander last week had caused “embarrassment” and”scared”the small mountain kingdom. Khoantle Motsomotso was gunned down by rival officers as the struggle between the tiny nation’s military and politicians continues to be marred by …

Washington, United States | AFP | Top US congressional Democrats emerged from a meeting with President Donald Trump Wednesday claiming progress on a deal that protects young immigrants and boosts border security, while not including a border wall. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi said …

Bloemfontein, South Africa | AFP |  South Africa’s embattled president Jacob Zuma goes to court on Thursday in a fresh attempt to fend off the reinstatement of 783 graft charges relating to a 1990s arms deal. The country’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has sought in 11 court …

Lome, Togo | AFP | Lawmakers in Togo will begin to look at a constitutional reform bill from as soon as the end of this week, the head of the National Assembly said on Wednesday. Parliamentary groups and commissions met to read the government proposals, which came after opposition calls for …

Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | His family has ruled Togo for more than 50 years but President Faure Gnassingbe has in the last week faced unprecedented public pressure to step down. He and his country stand alone in West Africa in resisting calls for constitutional reform, even as parliament begins …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | A former South African minister was convicted on Wednesday of brutally beating two women at a Johannesburg nightclub after one of them called him gay. Ex-deputy higher education minister Mduduzi Manana pleaded guilty to three counts of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm …