Moscow, RUSSIAN FEDERATION | AFP | A Russian court on Friday sentenced former economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev to eight years in a penal colony on charges of taking a $2 million bribe from an ally of President Vladimir Putin. Ulyukayev is the highest-ranking official arrested in Putin’s 18 years in …
Read More »Dutch-Ethiopian man gets life for ‘Red Terror’ war crimes
The Hague, NETHERLANDS | AFP | A Dutch-Ethiopian man was sentenced to life in jail on Friday after Dutch judges found him guilty of war crimes committed during Ethiopia’s bloody purges in the late 1970s, a period known as the “Red Terror”. Eshetu Alemu, 63, was “guilty of war crimes …
Read More »Zanzibar dump holders Uganda out of Cecafa Cup
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Abdulaziz Makame and Mohammed Issa scored as Zanzibar ended Uganda’s Cecafa Challenge Cup reign with a 2-1 victory in the semi-final in Kisumu on Friday. Zanzibar, bidding for their first Cup in 22 years, will play Kenya in the final on Sunday. The tournament’s surprise …
Read More »Putin, Trump discuss N Korea in phone call
Washington, United States | AFP | Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump discussed the crisis over North Korea’s nuclear program in a phone call Thursday, in which the US president took the unusual step of thanking his Russian counterpart for praising America’s economy. The two heads of state discussed “the situation in …
Read More »Wenger desperate for win in race for Champions League places
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsene Wenger knows Arsenal cannot afford another slip-up when they face Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium aiming to end a damaging run of three Premier League games without a win. Wenger’s team played a scoreless draw at West Ham United on Wednesday and is in …
Read More »Record-breaker Guardiola relishes Spurs test
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pep Guardiola’s hunger to make history with Manchester City remains undiminished after his side became the first in the history of the English top flight to win 15 successive games. City reached the milestone with a ruthless 4-0 victory at Swansea City on Wednesday, …
Read More »War crimes judges to award child soldiers compensation
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | International war crimes judges will hand down on Friday landmark reparations to former child soldiers conscripted into a Congolese militia about 15 years ago, who were left brutalised and stigmatised by their horrific experiences. Warlord Thomas Lubanga, 56, was found guilty in 2012 at the …
Read More »Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa set to strengthen grip at party meeting
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s new president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, is expected to use a conference of the ruling ZANU-PF party on Friday to consolidate his grip on power after Robert Mugabe’s shock ouster last month. Mnangagwa took office after the military forced Mugabe to resign, ending a 37-year reign marked …
Read More »Anti-apartheid heroes slam Zuma as ANC elects new chief
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The African National Congress was lauded for its moral authority in the fight against apartheid in South Africa, but many veterans of that era are deeply disillusioned by the party’s actions today. As delegates prepare to elect a new leader to succeed Jacob Zuma, …
Read More »Japan expands sanctions aimed at N. Korea
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Japan said Friday it had added 19 more entities to its list of organisations and individuals targeted by asset-freeze sanctions on North Korea. The sanctions list now comprises 103 entities and 108 individuals in total, including seven Chinese entities, five Chinese individuals, one Singaporean …
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