Libreville, Gabon | AFP | Gabon on Sunday announced a ban on opposition leaders, including former top African Union official Jean Ping, from leaving the country in what it said was a “temporary, administrative measure”. “This measure follows inflammatory comments by Jean Ping on August 18 when he called for …
Read More »Angola opposition parties call for election recount
Luanda, Angola | AFP | Four opposition parties in Angola on Sunday called for a recount in last week’s general election, alleging “irregularities” during the vote that kept the ruling party in power. The MPLA party of former president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos won just over 61 percent of the …
Read More »Furious Moscow demands swift return of closed US facilities
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia on Sunday demanded the US rethink its shuttering of Moscow’s diplomatic premises, insisting Washington bore sole responsibility for worsening ties after the “hostile act”. “We consider what has happened as an openly hostile act and a gross violation of international law by Washington,” the foreign …
Read More »Pope Francis: 5 key causes in Latin America
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis visits Colombia next week on the latest in a series of emotionally charged trips to his home region of Latin America. Here are five key challenges that the Argentine pope has confronted in a continent stricken by poverty and crime: – Colombian …
Read More »Obama’s letter to Trump: On the need to ‘leave democracy strong’
Washington, United States | AFP | It is an elegant tradition: the outgoing US president leaves a letter for his successor in the aged oaken desk in the Oval Office, to be read upon his arrival. The letter left by Barack Obama for Donald Trump, revealed some seven months after …
Read More »Hollywood stars enter Confederate symbols row
Venice, Italy | AFP |Hollywood stars George Clooney and Julianne Moore on Saturday weighed in on the debate raging in the United States over statues and other symbols of the pro-slavery side in the American Civil War. The pair spoke out on the issue at the Venice film festival, where …
Read More »Trump announces ambassador picks to Germany, India
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump has announced a series of ambassador nominations to key capitals, including Berlin and New Delhi, more than seven months after taking office. In a statement released late Friday, the White House announced Trump intends to nominate Richard Grenell to be ambassador …
Read More »Zimbabwe opposition hails Kenya poll overturn
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai hailed on Saturday the decision by Kenya’s top court to order a new presidential election as a “step towards democracy”. Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has made three failed attempts at the presidency, losing …
Read More »Russia says US plans to search its San Francisco consulate
Moscow, Russia | AFP | Russia said on Friday the FBI planned to carry out a search of its San Francisco consulate, which Washington has ordered closed along with two other facilities as part of a diplomatic slugging match between the two powers. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the …
Read More »Grace Mugabe steers clear of assault claim
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean first lady Grace Mugabe on Friday made her first public comments since facing assault allegations in South Africa, but she avoided any mention of the incident two weeks ago. President Robert Mugabe’s wife was granted diplomatic immunity by South Africa after she was accused …
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