Washington, United States | AFP | The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on five Russians over abuses including the killing of a prominent opposition leader, days after top-level talks seemed to ease tensions between the powers. The State Department highlighted the actions against the five people, plus one …
Read More »RWANDA-UGANDA: When two elephants fight
Feud between Rwanda, Uganda strongmen takes toll Katuna, Uganda | AFP | The people living on either side of the Ugandan-Rwandan border at Katuna never much considered the boundary: children crossed for school, workers moved freely and trade thrived. That harmony evaporated in February when Rwanda abruptly closed the crossing, …
Read More »African summit urges democratic transition in Sudan
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | African leaders at an emergency summit in Cairo urged Sudan’s military rulers on Tuesday to implement a democratic transition within three months, the Egyptian presidency said. Egypt and representatives from several other African nations gave Sudanese authorities and political actors three months “to implement peaceful… and …
Read More »Britain’s shame, and still not sorry: The 1919 Amritsar massacre
Amritsar, India | AFP | The Amritsar massacre, 100 years ago this Saturday in which British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protestors, remains one of the darkest hours of British colonial rule in India. Known in India as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, it is still an emotive subject …
Read More »Pope kisses Machar, Kiir feet
Pope hopes for S.Sudan peace as leaders end Vatican retreat Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis called Thursday for warring South Sudanese factions to respect the latest armistice after a two-day Vatican retreat aimed at shoring up the fragile peace. “I express my heartfelt hope that hostilities …
Read More »British police arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
London, United Kingdom | AFP | WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s nearly seven-year stay at Ecuador’s embassy in London came to an abrupt end on Thursday when police entered the building and arrested him after Ecuador withdrew his asylum. Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge …
Read More »Five pivotal moments behind Brexit chaos
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s decision to hold a referendum on leaving the European Union three years ago has ended up in political chaos that few could have predicted then. Here are five pivotal moments that led to this: – January 23, 2013 – Then prime minister David …
Read More »No-one sought justice for Kim Jong Nam: analysts
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The spectacular assassination of the North Korean leader’s half-brother — smeared in the face with a banned nerve agent — made headlines around the world but two years later its organisers have escaped accountability, analysts say. Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge Monday against …
Read More »Southern Africa leaders back Western Sahara
Southern Africa leaders back Western Sahara at ‘historic’ talks Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Several southern African leaders on Tuesday threw their support behind Western Sahara, with one calling the disputed territory the “last colony” on the African continent. Also attending is Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. President Cyril Ramaphosa, leader …
Read More »China’s Xi insists new Silk Road runs both ways as Italy signs up
Rome, Italy | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping sought Friday to allay Western unease over his new Silk Road initiative by emphasising the vast infrastructure project’s two-way nature as he kicked off a whistlestop European tour in Rome. Italy has rolled out the red carpet for Xi, who …
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