Clear Lake, United States | AFP | Bill Clinton felt your pain. Barack Obama assured that yes, we can. And for Marianne Williamson, the spiritualist author leading a notable but surpassingly longshot US presidential bid, love conquers all. Remote as her 2020 prospects may be against two dozen other …
Read More »Staying power: the world’s longest-serving leaders
Paris, France | AFP | Teodoro Obiang Nguema, president of Equatorial Guinea for 40 years on Saturday, is the world’s longest-serving living leader apart from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, on the throne for 67 years. Africa’s longest-serving ruler was also a monarch: Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie reigned for 44 years …
Read More »Boris Johnson and girlfriend Symonds move into Downing Street
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boris Johnson and his girlfriend Carrie Symonds moved into Downing Street on Monday, becoming the first unmarried couple to occupy the British prime minister’s official residence. The change of guard at the famous address was prompted by Theresa May’s forced resignation under the …
Read More »AU leaders set to sign landmark trade deal at African Summit
Niamey, Niger | AFP | African leaders will meet Sunday in Niger for the African Union (AU) summit, to sign a landmark free trade agreement, and to discuss looming security and migration crises on the continent. In a “historic” moment for the 55-member bloc, according to its chairman Moussa Faki, …
Read More »Trump in spotlight as Twitter adds warnings to rule-breaking tweets
Washington, United States | AFP | Twitter announced Thursday it would add warning labels to tweets from officials and politicians that violate its rules — a move potentially affecting the prodigious output of US President Donald Trump. The new policy will also “deprioritize” inappropriate comments and enables Twitter to move …
Read More »Ethiopia: Ancient land beset by long-running divisions
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | A cradle of mankind, modern-day Ethiopia is riven by ethnic tensions, with the latest unrest flaring in the region of Amhara in what the government called a regional “coup” bid. Here are some key facts about Africa’s second most populous nation: – People and …
Read More »Tension as Ethiopia army chief killed amid regional ‘coup’ bid
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia’s army chief and a top local leader have been shot dead during an attempt to overthrow a regional government in the north of the country, underscoring political instability as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tries to reform the nation. Violence flared on …
Read More »Egypt former president Morsi dies
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi died on Monday in a Cairo hospital after fainting during a session in court, judicial and security sources said. “He was speaking before the judge for 20 minutes then became very animated and fainted. He was quickly rushed to the hospital …
Read More »Boris Johnson wins first round of UK leadership vote
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Boris Johnson overwhelmingly won the first round of voting Thursday in the race to replace outgoing British Prime Minister Theresa May, with the field of candidates narrowed to seven from 10. The Brexit-backing former foreign minister picked up 114 of the 313 votes cast …
Read More »Former PM Apolo Nsibambi dies at 78
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Former Prime Minister and long time political scientists Apolo Nsibambi, has died at 78. He has battled age-related illnesses for the past five years, but details of cause of death are yet to be released. Nsibambi was Prime Minister of Uganda 1999–2011, during which …
Read More »