Madrid, Spain | AFP | Often symbolised as pitting the pride of Catalonia against Spain’s capital, the ‘El Clasico’ between Barcelona and Real Madrid is a match laced with political and social as much as sporting tension. Even more so this week when the sides face off in Madrid on Saturday …
Read More »Day of protest flops but DR Congo opposition to fight on
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A day of protest in Democratic Republic of Congo drew a small turnout Tuesday but the opposition vowed to pursue its campaign to unseat President Joseph Kabila over long-delayed polls. Rallies were held in several cities but were attended by only a few dozen …
Read More »Ramaphosa faces new battles as head of S.Africa’s ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa faced wide-ranging challenges Tuesday after being elected to lead the country’s ruling party as it grapples with corruption allegations and disunity. He narrowly won the vote to become head of the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday after …
Read More »Trump eyes major tax reform victory in Congress
Washington, United States | AFP | The Republican-controlled US Congress was on the cusp Tuesday of passing a landmark tax overhaul, securing a legislative triumph for Donald Trump as the first year of his presidency draws to a close. The House was set to debate and vote on the contentious …
Read More »White House blames North Korea for cyberattack
Washington, United States | AFP | The White House on Tuesday publicly accused North Korea of launching a massive cyberattack that hit 150 countries last May — hobbling networks from Britain’s public health system to FedEx. “After careful investigation, the United States is publicly attributing the massive ‘WannaCry’ cyberattack to …
Read More »Turnout low in DR Congo’s day of protest
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | A day of protest in Democratic Republic of Congo drew only a small turnout on Tuesday, dealing a blow to opposition hopes of unseating President Joseph Kabila over delayed elections. Rallies were held in several cities but were attended by only a few dozen …
Read More »Zimbabwe army chief Chiwenga tipped for vice-presidency job
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe on Monday announced the retirement of army chief Constantino Chiwenga, who led a coup that ended Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule, in a move seen as paving way for his elevation to vice-presidency. “General Constantino Guvheya Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga is set to retire, pending redeployment,” said …
Read More »Ramaphosa: Trade unionist, tycoon and now president-in-waiting
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Cyril Ramaphosa’s long and eventful career has taken him from trade union activist to multi-millionaire and now to within touching distance of the South African presidency. After South Africa dismantled apartheid, Ramaphosa saw his hopes for the country’s top job dashed. True to his pragmatic …
Read More »Big challenges face Ramaphosa, new head of ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | The new leader of the South Africa’s ANC party, Cyril Ramaphosa, will likely be the next president of the country. He faces an immediate list of urgent issues as the party that has held power since the end of apartheid rule 23 years ago struggles …
Read More »Ramaphosa elected head of S.Africa’s ruling ANC
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa was elected head of the ruling ANC party Monday, winning a bruising race that exposed deep rifts within the organisation that led the struggle against apartheid. “We declare comrade Cyril Ramaphosa the new president of the African National …
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