Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan called Tuesday for the “swift and safe” return of six aid workers who have disappeared in the northwest of the country. The co-ordinator, Alain Noudehou, said in a statement that one international and five national aid workers …
Read More »Egypt colonel gets 6 years after announcing presidential bid
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | An Egyptian military court sentenced a colonel to six years in prison on Tuesday after he announced plans to stand in the 2018 presidential election, his lawyer said. Ahmed Konsowa was given the jail term for “stating political opinions contrary to the requirements of military …
Read More »Day of protest flops but DR Congo opposition to fight on
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A day of protest in Democratic Republic of Congo drew a small turnout Tuesday but the opposition vowed to pursue its campaign to unseat President Joseph Kabila over long-delayed polls. Rallies were held in several cities but were attended by only a few dozen …
Read More »Ramaphosa faces new battles as head of S.Africa’s ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa faced wide-ranging challenges Tuesday after being elected to lead the country’s ruling party as it grapples with corruption allegations and disunity. He narrowly won the vote to become head of the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday after …
Read More »Trump eyes major tax reform victory in Congress
Washington, United States | AFP | The Republican-controlled US Congress was on the cusp Tuesday of passing a landmark tax overhaul, securing a legislative triumph for Donald Trump as the first year of his presidency draws to a close. The House was set to debate and vote on the contentious …
Read More »White House blames North Korea for cyberattack
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Tuesday publicly accused North Korea of launching a massive cyberattack that hit 150 countries last May — hobbling networks from Britain’s public health system to FedEx. “After careful investigation, the United States is publicly attributing the massive ‘WannaCry’ cyberattack to …
Read More »Conte sticks to League Cup youth policy
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte says he will give his young players another chance to shine in Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final at home to Bournemouth. Conte fielded weakened teams in the earlier rounds against Nottingham Forest and Everton and although the semi-finals are now …
Read More »Danes stabbed in Gabon had been stalked: prosecutor
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | A grocer from Niger who knifed a Danish couple in Gabon shouting “Allahu akbar” came to the capital just two days before the attack and had been stalking the pair, a prosecutor said Monday. Saturday’s attack on the Danes, who were in the west African …
Read More »Atletico report Barca for illegal Griezmann approach
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Atletico Madrid reported Barcelona to football’s governing body FIFA over illegal contact made to star forward Antoine Griezmann, Atletico club sources confirmed on Tuesday. “The complaint has been presented for repeated contact between Barcelona, the player and his team,” an Atletico source told AFP. Griezmann …
Read More »Colombia’s Santos names ex-VP as chief negotiator with rebels
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday named a former vice president as chief negotiator in peace talks with rebels from the National Liberation Army (ELN). In a meeting with journalists, Santos said Gustavo Bell would replace Juan Camilo Restrepo after the latter announced that …
Read More »