Beijing, China | AFP | The leaders of the world’s most powerful political party gather in Beijing on Monday for a conclave that could change the course of Chinese history. In meetings at the exclusive Jinxi Hotel, safe from the public’s prying eyes, nearly 400 top members of the Chinese …
Read More »Iraq parliament in surprise vote to ban alcohol
Baghdad, Iraq | AFP | Iraq’s parliament on Saturday voted to ban the sale, import and production of alcohol, in a surprise move likely to anger some minorities but also to please influential religious parties. Proponents of the ban argue that it is justified by the constitution, which prohibits any …
Read More »Egypt’s Morsi receives first final prison sentence
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | An Egyptian appeals court upheld on Saturday a 20-year sentence for ousted president Mohamed Morsi, the first final ruling in a string of trials for the deposed Islamist leader. The Court of Cassation also upheld sentences against eight of his codefendants, including seven who received …
Read More »ICC asks South Africa, Burundi to reconsider withdrawal
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | The International Criminal Court on Saturday asked South Africa and Burundi to reconsider their decisions to withdraw from the troubled institution set up to try the world’s worst crimes. “Although withdrawing from a treaty is a sovereign act, I regret these decisions and …
Read More »Mutharika says he is in ‘excellent health’, dismisses rumours of illness
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawian President Peter Mutharika said Friday he was in “excellent health”, dismissing rumours of illness as he made his first comments after an extended trip to the United States. “I am not sick. I am still alive and I have more than nine lives,” the …
Read More »China slams ‘provocative’ US sail-by in South China Sea
Beijing, China | AFP | China has slammed the US for sailing a warship near disputed territory in the South China Sea, saying the move was a “serious illegal act” and “deliberately provocative”. In a statement on its website late Friday night, the country’s defence ministry said two Chinese naval …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Five questions on the ICC
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Once a champion of the International Criminal Court (ICC), South Africa dealt a blow to the world tribunal Friday by announcing its intention to withdraw, a move that came on the heels of a similar move by Burundi. Here are five key questions following …
Read More »Burkina Faso govt says it has thwarted coup plot
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | Burkina Faso said Friday it thwarted a “vast conspiracy” earlier this month by forces loyal to ousted leader Blaise Compaore, which aimed to seize power in the impoverished Sahel state. The plot called for attacking the presidential palace and detaining “certain authorities”, said Interior …
Read More »Kenya’s new chief justice Maraga vows to fight corruption
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s new chief justice was sworn in on Wednesday pledging to root out corruption in the judiciary. David Maraga, 66, replaces Willy Mutunga who took early retirement in June, triggering a parliamentary vetting process in which Maraga emerged as frontrunner out of a dozen candidates. …
Read More »The 3 Gupta brothers at heart of S.Africa graft scandal
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Political drama, corruption allegations and even wedding party controversies — the Gupta family, one of South Africa’s wealthiest, has been accused of wielding undue influence behind the scenes. Now the immigrant family is at the centre of a row battering President Jacob Zuma after …
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