Juba, South Sudan | AFP | Troops remained deployed around the home of South Sudan’s powerful former army chief Paul Malong on Sunday in a dispute over the fate of his 30 bodyguards, an army spokesman told AFP. The standoff began on Friday evening when more than 100 soldiers surrounded …
Read More »ANALYSIS: US politicians skeptical over growing military presence in Africa
Washington, United States | AFP | US politicians are voicing concern over America’s growing military presence across Africa, where they worry the Pentagon is getting ever more embroiled in a secretive campaign against a shifting enemy. Last month’s killing of four US soldiers in a Niger ambush has thrust the …
Read More »Scarred by Trump, challengers eye 2020
Washington, United States | AFP | One year on from Donald Trump’s shock election, US Democrats are still struggling to heal the wounds of Hillary Clinton’s calamitous defeat and identify a champion to challenge a deeply unpopular president in 2020. For Democrats it has been a sobering first 10 months under …
Read More »The Trump A to Z, from America First to ‘Zero’
Washington, United States | AFP | This is a look at President Donald Trump’s first year in office, from A to Z: AMERICA FIRST: Trump’s most sacred mantra. BAN: As in travel. With the stated goal of keeping out terrorists, Trump decreed successive bans — always challenged in court — on …
Read More »Togo lifts ban on weekday marches
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 …
Read More »US journalist in jail on charges of trying to topple Mugabe
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 …
Read More »Ping slams proposed changes to Gabon constitution as ‘autocratic’
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 …
Read More »N. Korea rules out negotiations as Trump heads to Asia
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 …
Read More »Saudi Arabia arrests princes, ex-ministers: report
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 …
Read More »Lebanon PM resigns, says fears for his life
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 …
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