London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to refresh her government with a ministerial reshuffle Monday as she faces a crucial year for Brexit, but the shake-up was limited and marred by a botched announcement. A new chairman of May’s Conservative party was announced on Twitter, …
Read More »Outrage after French mayor scraps pork-free school meals
Beaucaire, France | AFP | A far right local authority in southern France on Monday scrapped pork-free school meals, a move branded “anti-Muslim” or “anti-Jewish” by an equality minister. Julien Sanchez, the National Front mayor of Beaucaire, a town south of Avignon, abolished the scheme, brought in by his predecessor, …
Read More »SAfrica assembly to study impeachment procedure
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s parliament indicated Sunday it would this week deliberate procedures for presidential impeachment, as pressure mounts on embattled incumbent Jacob Zuma. The move came just days after the Constitutional Court ruled that parliament had failed to hold Zuma accountable for using public money …
Read More »Trump assails ‘Fake Book’ as allies hail ‘political genius’
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Sunday assailed as a “Fake Book” an explosive behind-the-scenes account that questions his fitness for office, as allies lined up to defend the US leader, with one dubbing him a “political genius.” The White House has been pushing back hard …
Read More »Trump: I am a ‘very stable genius’ and ‘like, very smart’
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Saturday praised himself as “a very stable genius,” following the release of a bombshell book that raises doubts over his mental health. But Trump’s response to the book’s allegations, in tweets and in remarks made during a hastily convened …
Read More »FBI investigating Clinton Foundation: reports
Washington, United States | AFP | The Federal Bureau of Investigation is probing the foundation of former president Bill Clinton amid pressure from President Donald Trump and allegations of corruption by Republican lawmakers, US media reported Friday. The Hill, a news website covering Congress, CNN and the New York Times …
Read More »Equatorial Guinea launches manhunt after coup bid
Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Equatorial Guinea has launched a dragnet for “mercenaries” behind an attempt to overthrow President Theodoro Obiang, Africa’s longest-serving leader, a senior government official said on Friday. Separately, Chad said an Equatorial Guinean, living in exile in Europe, is believed to have been behind the attempted coup. …
Read More »‘Don’t fear death’: China’s Xi urges blunt call to PLA
Shanghai, China | AFP | President Xi Jinping has issued a blunt call for China’s military to be ready for war and unafraid to die defending the country, as geopolitical tensions mount in Asia. Xi’s exhortation to the world’s largest fighting force, parts of which were revealed only late Thursday, …
Read More »Embattled Togo leader breaks silence in New Year address
Lome, Togo | AFP | Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe broke his silence after months of protests against his rule, calling on the opposition to “dialogue” in his New Year address given late Wednesday. “Dialogue must remain the preferred way of resolving disagreements between political actors,” Gnassingbe said in an address on …
Read More »Somalia fires top ministers in reshuffle
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Somalia’s prime minister, Hassan Ali Khaire, fired three key ministers on Thursday after weeks of political conflict with opposition and clan leaders. Foreign Minister Yusuf Garad Omar, Trade Mminister Khadra Ahmed Duale and Interior Minister Abdi Farah Said all lost their jobs. No reason was …
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