Tag Archives: politics

Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo’s government has scrapped a ban on weekday marches after a series of anti-government protests defied the order, the country’s security minister and the opposition said on Saturday. The restrictions were introduced on October 10 on security grounds following a wave of demonstrations that saw hundreds …

Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | A 25-year-old American journalist charged with attempting to overthrow Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, on account of an alleged tweet that described the ageing leader as “selfish and sick”, was remanded in custody Saturday after denying the accusations. Martha O’Donovan, who appeared in court in the capital …

Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon opposition leader Jean Ping on Saturday said he would try to scuttle proposed changes to the country’s constitution, describing draft changes as “autocratic” and liable to violate the principle of separation of powers. “We must thwart this constitutional revision,” Ping told a crowd of supporters …

Seoul, South Korea | AFP | North Korea ruled out talks and threatened to increase its nuclear arsenal in a fresh warning to Donald Trump’s administration Saturday as the US President set off on a tour of Asia. Trump departed for his first presidential trip to Asia Friday, with tensions …

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP |  Saudi Arabia’s newly formed anti-corruption commission arrested 10 princes and dozens of former government ministers on Saturday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television reported, citing unnamed sources. The arrests came soon after the commission, headed by powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was established by royal …

Beirut, Lebanon | AFP | Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced his resignation on Saturday, citing Iran’s “grip” on the country and threats to his life. The surprise move risks plunging the small and already fragile Middle Eastern country deeper into turmoil. “I announce my resignation from the post of prime …

Juba, South Sudan | AFP |  South Sudan’s capital Juba was tense on Saturday as more than 100 soldiers surrounded the residence of powerful former army chief Paul Malong in a bid to disarm his bodyguards. Streets across the city were largely empty as people stayed at home for fear …

San José, Costa Rica | AFP |  Seven candidates to become Costa Rica’s next president went behind bars to hold an unusual debate in a prison where they answered inmates’ questions about their election platforms. “I hope you feel at home,” one of the prisoners said as the seven politicians …

Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP |  South Africa’s spy agency threatened on Friday to seek a banning order for a newly released book that makes a series of corruption allegations against President Jacob Zuma. The State Security Agency issued a legal letter, seen by AFP, accusing author Jacques Pauw of …

  Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP |  Zimbabwean police arrested a US citizen on Friday for allegedly tweeting that President Robert Mugabe is a “goblin whose wife and step-son bought a Rolls-Royce,” lawyers said. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said officers detained Martha O’Donovan in a dawn raid at her …