Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudanese protest leaders raised the pressure on the country’s army rulers on Wednesday, threatening a general strike and calling for a million-strong march to demand a civilian government. The military council that took power after veteran president Omar al-Bashir was ousted earlier this month meanwhile invited …
Read More »Egyptians overwhelmingly approve changes extending Sisi’s rule
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Egyptian voters have overwhelmingly backed constitutional changes that could see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s rule extended to 2030, the electoral board said Tuesday. National Election Authority head Lashin Ibrahim told a Cairo press conference that 88.83 percent voted “yes” in a referendum on the amendments, with …
Read More »Protest train rolls into Khartoum as US urges civilian handover
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Hundreds of protesters arrived on a packed train in Khartoum Tuesday to join a weeks-long sit-in outside army headquarters, as a top US official reiterated Washington’s backing for demands the country’s military council hand power to a civilian government. But African leaders meeting in Cairo insisted …
Read More »Democrats want truth but are split on Trump’s impeachment
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump’s approval rating has slid since release of the Russia investigation report, but instead of emerging bolstered in the 2020 presidential race, Democrats are torn over triggering impeachment proceedings that risk muddling their electoral message. While special counsel Robert Mueller’s report released last week …
Read More »South Africa still waiting on post-apartheid promises
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The election 25 years ago of South Africa’s first black president, the late Nelson Mandela, who inspired the struggle against apartheid, was a time of soaring hope that the bruised country would reconcile after decades of discrimination and inequality. “You have mandated us to …
Read More »‘Where is God?’: Sri Lankans stunned after deadly blasts
Colombo, Sri Lanka | AFP | As Shantha Prasad carried children wounded in Sri Lanka’s deadly attacks into a Colombo hospital, memories of the country’s deadly civil war flooded back. “I carried about eight wounded children yesterday,” he told AFP on Monday, a day after a string of blasts hit hotels …
Read More »From comic to commander-in-chief: challenges for new Ukraine leader
Kiev, Ukraine | AFP | Ukraine’s election has catapulted Volodymyr Zelensky, a 41-year-old standup comedian and television star with no political experience, into the nation’s top job. As leader of a country dependent on international aid and battling separatists, Zelensky will have to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, deep …
Read More »How Sudan’s protesters forced al-Bashir out
The protesters were calling for freedom, peace, justice By Andrew Edward Tchie |ANDREW EDWARD TCHIE | Following months of protests, and a prolonged sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir was placed under house arrest on April 11 as the country’s military prepared for a transitional …
Read More »United’s foundations at risk unless Solskjaer rids club of ‘weeds’
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said prior to the humiliating 4-0 thrashing by Everton there would not be wholesale changes to Manchester United personnel in the close season, but Gary Neville, for one, believes he should think again. United’s millionaire stars such as Paul Pogba and David …
Read More »‘Free at last!’: when black South Africans could finally vote
Paris, France | AFP | Black South Africans voted for the first time in April 1994, turning out in droves for a jubilant election that was the final death blow to centuries of white domination. Here is an account of that historic event, based on AFP reports from the time. …
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