New York, United States | AFP | Americans may love Oprah Winfrey, but most don’t want the chat show queen to run for president, although if she did she would beat Donald Trump, a poll revealed Friday. Winfrey’s rousing speech at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards ceremony ignited speculation that the billionaire …
Read More »UK blames protests as Trump cancels London trip
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The British government blamed the threat of mass protests for President Donald Trump’s decision Friday to cancel a visit to London to open the new US embassy, and warned that criticism of the White House risked harming US-UK relations. Trump said he was abandoning next …
Read More »Africans outraged over ‘racist’ Trump remarks
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Africans reacted angrily Friday after US President Donald Trump reportedly referred to their nations as “shithole countries”, with many lashing the US president for racism and ignorance. The 55-nation African Union condemned the remarks while the southern African state of Botswana hauled in the US …
Read More »Catholic church pounds out anger at Kabila at mass for dead protestors
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Supported by throngs of worshippers and with western ambassadors in attendance, Catholic leaders in DR Congo hammered home a message of anger toward President Joseph Kabila on Friday at a mass to mourn victims of a crackdown. Police fired a couple of warning shots …
Read More »Botswana summons US envoy over Trump ‘shithole’ slur
Gaborone, Botswana | AFP | Botswana’s government on Friday summoned the US ambassador to complain about remarks reportedly made by President Donald Trump describing African nations as “shithole countries”. The alleged comments, first reported by The Washington Post, were apparently made during a meeting at the White House about …
Read More »Trump uses slur to describe immigrants from Haiti, Africa
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump reportedly lashed out in a Thursday meeting with lawmakers about immigration reform, demanding to know why the US should accept citizens from what he called “shithole” countries. The comments, first reported by The Washington Post, sparked anger among Democrats and Republicans …
Read More »Gabon parliament votes to change constitution, gives Bongo more power
Gabon president defends constitutional change after parliament gives okay Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabonese President Ali Bongo on Wednesday defended a plan to change the constitution after the fiercely-contested draft cleared a key hurdle. Parliament on Wednesday approved a raft of changes that the opposition has slammed as a …
Read More »Son of Angola’s ex-president sacked from national investment fund
Luanda, Angola | AFP | Angolan President Joao Lourenco removed the son of his predecessor Jose Eduardo dos Santos from the top job at the oil-rich country’s sovereign wealth fund, the presidency said on Wednesday. Jose Filomeno dos Santos, who was implicated in the “Panama Papers” offshore scandal, will be …
Read More »Merkel in last-ditch push for German coalition
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Chancellor Angela Merkel embarks Thursday on last-ditch talks with Germany’s second biggest party to form a government, in what is also a battle to rescue her political career. September’s inconclusive elections left the veteran leader without a majority and struggling to find partners to govern …
Read More »S.Africa’s ANC faces Zuma exit options as party seeks to rebuild
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South Africa’s ruling ANC party met behind closed doors Wednesday as pressure grew on President Jacob Zuma to step down ahead of elections next year when the party risks losing power. Zuma was replaced as party leader by his deputy Cyril Ramaphosa in December, and …
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