Windhoek, Namibia | AFP | Namibia is to launch a 30-billion-dollar (28-billion-euro) lawsuit against Germany over genocide committed during colonial rule, when tens of thousands of people were killed, according to documents seen by AFP on Friday. The Namibian government has previously avoided demanding financial compensation, but it changed its stance …
Read More »Tensions show as Trump, Merkel meet for first time
Washington, United States | AFP | Stark differences between President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on everything from trade to immigration were in full view during an icy first meeting at the White House Friday. In a frequently awkward joint press conference, Trump and Merkel showed little common …
Read More »Namibia lodges colonial-era claim against Germany in NY court
New York, United States | AFP | More than a century after a long-hushed genocide took place in Namibia while under German colonial rule, descendants of the victims are getting their day in court in New York for the first time Thursday. In one of the darkest chapters of African colonial …
Read More »UN disturbed by torture, forced disappearances in Burundi
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Monday said it was disturbed by reports of torture and forced disappearances in Burundi but ignored calls from rights groups for sanctions. A French-drafted statement was adopted unanimously after some wrangling with Russia, China and Egypt, which oppose sanctions. …
Read More »Pope considering Egypt trip
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | The Vatican is examining the possibility of Pope Francis visiting Egypt, but no dates have been set, his spokesman said Saturday after Italian reports suggested the trip would happen in May. “A trip by the Holy Father to Egypt is under study but …
Read More »Trump invites Palestinian leader Abbas to White House ‘soon’
Ramallah, Palestinian Territories | AFP | US President Donald Trump has invited Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas to visit the White House “soon”, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said on Friday. During their first phone call since Trump’s inauguration in January, the US president invited Abbas “to visit the White …
Read More »ANALYSIS: What is ‘multi-speed’ Europe Union?
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | The idea of a so-called multi-speed European Union is not new, and some might argue that it already describes the bloc in its current form. But as 27 EU leaders without Britain discuss their post-Brexit future, the concept has come to dominate debate on what …
Read More »China vows ‘resolute’ measures after US deploys THAAD
Beijing, China | AFP | China said Tuesday it would “resolutely” defend its security interests as the US began deploying the THAAD missile-defence system in South Korea that Beijing fears will undermine its own military capabilities. “We are firmly opposed to the deployment of THAAD in the Republic of Korea …
Read More »Malaysia PM says citizens ‘effectively hostages’ in North Korea
North Korea bans Malaysians from leaving in Kim spat Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | North Korea on Tuesday banned Malaysians from leaving the country, prompting an immediate tit-for-tat response from Kuala Lumpur and dramatically escalating an already-heated diplomatic row over the murder of Kim Jong-Nam. Pyongyang’s extraordinary move, which …
Read More »Malaysia expels North Korean ambassador Kang Chol
Key accusations levelled at Malaysia by N.Korea over Kim killing Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | AFP | Malaysia expelled North Korean ambassador Kang Chol on Saturday, giving him 48 hours to leave the country after Kuala Lumpur said Pyongyang had failed to offer an apology over accusations about the investigation into …
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