Beijing, China | AFP | Trade tensions between the United States and China heated up on Tuesday as Beijing warned that it “will not sit idle” if a US probe into its intellectual property practices leads to sanctions. President Donald Trump’s decision to order the investigation comes on top of strains …
Read More »Sheepish Aussie deputy PM drops Kiwi citizenship
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia’s “accidental Kiwi” deputy prime minister renounced his New Zealand citizenship Tuesday amid sheep jokes, Hollywood taunts and conspiracy theories about a left-wing plot to topple Canberra’s conservative government. Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce revealed his New Zealand connection on Monday, sparking calls for him to stand …
Read More »Grace Mugabe’s whereabouts unknown over assault case
UPDATE: Grace Mugabe accused of assaulting model in S. African hotel Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe was under investigation by South African police Tuesday after she allegedly used an extension cord to assault a model in a Johannesburg hotel. The alleged attack threatened to …
Read More »Kenya’s Odinga delays ‘complex’ decision on vote dispute
UPDATE: Kenya’s Odinga delays ‘complex’ decision on vote dispute Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga is expected to announce his strategy Wednesday for contesting his election loss, having further delayed a decision that could defuse or exacerbate tensions in the country. The 72-year-old insists he is …
Read More »Kenya seeks to shut down two rights bodies in wake of election
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The Kenyan government has moved to shut down two rights organisations, one of which said Tuesday that it was contemplating court action over last week’s disputed presidential election. Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC) board member Maina Kiai said it was “no secret” the organisation had …
Read More »Grace Mugabe turns self in to police over alleged assault
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Zimbabwe’s first lady Grace Mugabe handed herself over to South African police and was due in court Tuesday, officials said, after allegedly assaulting a model who was at a Johannesburg hotel with her two sons. During the incident, which occurred on Sunday, Mugabe, 52, …
Read More »Edgy Kenya awaits Odinga’s next move
Edgy Kenya awaits Odinga’s next move Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | When Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga speaks to supporters Tuesday, his words have the power to ease or deepen the crisis triggered by his rejection of last week’s election result. The 72-year-old insists he is the rightful winner of …
Read More »Trump slams ‘evil’ racism, singles out ‘repugnant’ KKK, neo-Nazis
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump, under pressure to explicitly condemn a weekend rally by white supremacists that ended in bloodshed, on Monday denounced racism and slammed the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis as “repugnant.” Trump had taken heat from Democrats and Republicans alike for his response …
Read More »Pakistan marks 70 years of independence with fireworks, air show
Islamabad, Pakistan | AFP | Pakistan on Monday celebrated 70 years of independence from British India with a patriotic display including a giant flag and a show of airpower, as the military’s top brass vowed to wipe out terrorists hours before a new bomb attack killed six soldiers. Celebrations began at …
Read More »Obama message goes viral after Charlottesville violence
Washington, United States | AFP | A tweet from Barack Obama drew more than two million “likes” by Monday as the former US president offered a message of tolerance following a deadly weekend clash at a white supremacist rally. “No one is born hating another person because of the color …
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