Port Louis, Mauritius | AFP | Mauritian President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has refused to resign, vowing to fight allegations that saw her embroiled in a financial scandal, the presidency said in a statement Wednesday. Gurib-Fakim, Africa’s only female head of state, has been accused of using a bank card provided by an …
Read More »German parliament confirms Chancellor Merkel for fourth term
Berlin, GERMANY | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel, bruised by half a year of post-election coalition haggling, was Wednesday elected by parliament to her fourth and likely final term at the helm of Europe’s biggest economy. Lawmakers in Berlin’s glass-domed Reichstag voted 364-315 with nine abstentions for Merkel who …
Read More »Top State Dept aide fired after comment on Tillerson sacking
Washington, United States | AFP | One of the US State Department’s most senior officials was sacked on Tuesday after his comments on the firing of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared to contradict the White House version of events. “This has been the honor of a lifetime and I …
Read More »Sacked Tillerson: US must respond to Russia’s behavior
Washington, United States | AFP | Outgoing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned in his farewell remarks on Tuesday that Washington must do more to respond to Russia’s “troubling behavior and actions.” After he was sacked by President Donald Trump, Tillerson also said US efforts to pressure North Korea had …
Read More »Trump says top diplomat Tillerson out, names Pompeo successor
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the departure of his top diplomat Rex Tillerson, to be succeeded by the current CIA chief Mike Pompeo. A senior US official said the president wanted to reshuffle his team ahead of talks with North Korea. “Mike …
Read More »Exiled DR Congo opposition leader launches presidency bid
Muldersdrift, South Africa | AFP | Exiled Congolese opposition leader Moise Katumbi launched a campaign Monday to be elected president in polls scheduled for December, unveiling his new “Together for Change” party in South Africa. “We will fight the battle to take power — and we will win,” said Katumbi …
Read More »Madagascar summons US envoys over ex-leader’s dairy cows
Antananarivo, Madagascar | AFP | The Madagascar government on Monday summoned the US ambassador after the embassy commented on a court decision that left dairy cows belonging to ex-president Marc Ravalomanana unattended and without food. A court had ordered the closure of AAA, an agribusiness owned by Ravalomanana, over violation of …
Read More »Merkel says she will visit Macron to discuss EU reform
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday, two days before she is to launch her new government, that she will pay a quick visit to French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss EU reform proposals. Without naming a date, Merkel said she would visit Paris ahead of an …
Read More »Canada’s Trudeau accuses China of ‘dumping’ steel on global markets
Ottawa, Canada | AFP | Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday accused China of flooding global markets with cheap steel, adding that Canada has already taken steps to prevent “dumping” in this country. “We are very concerned about the actions taken by China and the dumping of steel and aluminum on …
Read More »Fresh protests in Guinea after disputed elections
Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Thousands of people demonstrated in central Conakry on Monday while in several other districts of the Guinean capital youths erected roadblocks and set fire to tyres, in the latest wave of unrest after disputed local elections. The country’s main opposition, the Union of Democratic Forces …
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