Madrid, Spain | AFP | Spain celebrated its national day Thursday with a show of unity in the face of Catalan independence efforts, a day after the central government gave the region’s separatist leader a deadline to abandon his secession bid. The country is suffering its worst political crisis in a …
Read More »After 46 years, S.Africa rules police murdered apartheid opponent
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | An anti-apartheid activist who died in police custody 46 years ago did not commit suicide but was murdered by officers, a South African court said Thursday in a historic ruling for campaigners. The court called for an officer involved in covering up the circumstances of …
Read More »Kaspersky in focus as US-Russia cyber-tensions rise
Washington, United States | AFP | The security software firm Kaspersky has become the focal point in an escalating conflict in cyberspace between the United States and Russia. The Russian-based company has been accused of being a vehicle for hackers to steal security secrets from the US National Security Agency, and …
Read More »S. Africa court to rule on activist’s death 46 years on
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | A South African court will rule Thursday on whether the suspicious 1971 death of an apartheid-era activist in custody was suicide, as police officers claimed, or actually a regime killing. For many, the case — the culmination of a relentless campaign by the activist’s family — …
Read More »Zambia ends emergency powers imposed during crisis
Lusaka, Zambia | AFP | Zambia’s justice minister said Wednesday that emergency measures imposed at the height of a political crisis that followed the detention of an opposition leader on treason charges would not be renewed. The southern African nation was earlier this year rocked by soaring tensions that also saw …
Read More »Weinstein scandal envenoms US political feuds
Washington, United States | AFP | The sexual assault accusations against Harvey Weinstein have seeped into America’s partisan politics, with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton accused of waiting too long to disavow their friend and party donor. The politicization of the scandal came as the Hollywood producer faced claims he raped …
Read More »IMF chief urges more support for global trade
Washington, United States | AFP | IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde urged global leaders Wednesday not to reject international trade as policy shifts by Washington and London force resets on major global commercial treaties. Lagarde admitted that the rapid lowering of trade barriers in recent decades had caused significant dislocation, including …
Read More »Barcelona must remain in La Liga – club director
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona must remain in Spain’s La Liga, club general director Oscar Grau said on Wednesday following the signing by Catalan leaders of a declaration of independence. “The budgets are based on participation in La Liga. I think that La Liga and Barca must continue together,” Grau …
Read More »Togo bans marches hours after opposition announces one
Lome, Togo | AFP | The Togo government on Tuesday announced a ban on all midweek marches, hours after the opposition announced plans for a rally next week in a campaign aimed at forcing out President Faure Gnassingbe. From Monday to Friday “all marches are banned. People can meet in a …
Read More »The rise of Kim Jong-Un’s sister and image maker
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | With her elevation to North Korea’s powerful politburo, leader Kim Jong-Un’s little sister — and chief image-maker — has established herself as the most powerful woman in the nuclear-armed state’s political hierarchy. Kim Yo-Jong’s promotion to membership of the North’s top decision-making body underlines, analysts …
Read More »