Washington, United States | AFP | Could the International Space Station become a commercial venture run by private industry? That is the wish of the White House, which hopes to end funding for the costly program within a few years, The Washington Post reported Sunday. The US plan, the paper …
Read More »ANC chiefs to meet to ‘finalise’ Zuma exit
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Top leaders of South Africa’s ruling ANC will meet Monday to “finalise” the departure of embattled President Jacob Zuma after party chief Cyril Ramaphosa promised to bring “closure” to the crisis. Ramaphosa said at a party rally in Cape Town on Sunday he wanted …
Read More »S. Africa’s Ramaphosa admits ‘disunity’ as Zuma fights exit
Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s ruling party leader Cyril Ramaphosa admitted Sunday to “disunity and discord” within the African National Congress as it struggled to remove scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma from power. Ramaphosa, 65, said he wanted to replace “a period of difficulty, disunity and discord” …
Read More »Sudan’s Bashir replaces intelligence chief: state media
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir Sunday replaced powerful intelligence chief Mohammed Atta, the official news agency SUNA reported, amid a security crackdown on opposition protests against rising food prices. Bashir issued a presidential decree announcing Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih as the new head of the country’s …
Read More »Tanzania clamps down on cannabis
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzanian authorities have stepped up an escalating war on cannabis by destroying 14 hectares (35 acres) of the crop in the northern province of Arusha in recent days. Saturday alone saw eight hectares laid waste at the Meru forest reserve following another six acres earlier …
Read More »Iran’s Rouhani calls for ‘year of unity’ after protests
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called for a “year of unity” as Iran celebrated 39 years since the Islamic revolution Sunday in the wake of protests last month. Rouhani said conservatives should not block reformist candidates from future elections and that there should be greater trust …
Read More »S.Africa’s ANC to meet Monday as Zuma deadlock tightens
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The top decision-making body of South Africa’s ruling ANC will meet on Monday following days of talks over President Jacob Zuma’s expected departure from office, a party spokeswoman said Sunday. “An NEC (national executive committee) meeting is scheduled for tomorrow in Pretoria,” ANC spokeswoman …
Read More »Ramaphosa to address rally as S.Africa deadlock tightens
Cape Town, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s president-in-waiting Cyril Ramaphosa will address a major ANC party rally in Cape Town Sunday as the country is gripped by the deadlock over talks to oust scandal-hit President Jacob Zuma from office. With Zuma refusing a party request to resign, the …
Read More »Zimbabwe won’t return land to white farmers: Mnangagwa
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Saturday said the country will not return land seized from former white commercial farmers almost two decades ago. “It will never happen,” Mnangagwa said in a speech to his ZANU-PF party supporters in central Zimbabwe, broadcast on television. His statement …
Read More »S.Africa political deadlock as Zuma clings to power
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s political impasse deepened on Saturday with no resolution to extended talks over President Jacob Zuma’s expected departure from office after his own party called for him to resign. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president-in-waiting, and the ruling ANC party have said negotiations should be …
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