Jerusalem, Undefined | AFP | Police questioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife Sara on Friday, her lawyer said, with media saying it was over new suspicions of fraudulently misusing public funds. Public radio said that Sara Netanyahu arrived at the headquarters of the National Fraud Squad, near Tel Aviv, …
Read More »End of an era: Merkel passes torch to new party leader
Hamburg, Germany | AFP | German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hand off leadership of her party Friday after nearly two decades at the helm, with the race wide open between a loyal deputy and a longtime rival. The contest’s outcome is expected to be crucial in deciding whether Merkel, Europe’s …
Read More »Morocco meeting to adopt UN migration pact despite withdrawals
Marrakesh, Morocco | AFP | Representatives from around the globe are gearing up for a major conference in Morocco to endorse a United Nations migration pact, despite a string of countries shunning the accord. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was finalised at the UN in July …
Read More »Nigerian presidential candidate warns about vote-buying
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | The main challenger to President Muhammadu Buhari in next year’s election has advised Nigerians against selling their votes as concerns persist over possible electoral fraud at the landmark polls. Atiku Abubakar, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claimed Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had …
Read More »UK’s May offers more say for MPs to save Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May sought Thursday to woo MPs with a promise of more power over the next stage of Brexit as she fought to save her EU withdrawal deal ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote next week. May said lawmakers could have …
Read More »Hong Kong ex-official Patrick Ho convicted in US over bribery scheme
New York, United States | AFP | Hong Kong’s former home affairs secretary Patrick Ho Chi Ping was convicted by a New York court Wednesday over a multimillion dollar bribery scheme in Africa on behalf of a top Chinese energy company. Ho, 69, was convicted by a jury of seven …
Read More »Fate of IPOD Summit to be determined on Friday
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Secretary Generals of all political parties with representation in Parliament will meet this Friday, to determine the fate of next week’s Inter party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit. The summit, composed of presidents of political parties with representation in parliament is supposed to take place …
Read More »Burundi to shut UN rights office: sources
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The Burundi government has ordered the United Nations Human Rights Council to shut its office in the country within two months, foreign ministry and UN sources told AFP. The government on Wednesday sent a verbal note to resident UN coordinator Garry Conille to transmit the …
Read More »DR Congo election candidate campaigns in region hit by unrest, Ebola
Beni, DR Congo | AFP | A key opposition candidate in DR Congo presidential elections launched his campaign Wednesday in a city caught between an Ebola epidemic and militant attacks in one of the country’s most dangerous regions. Martin Fayulu, vying to replace President Joseph Kabila in the pivotal December …
Read More »ICC members back court, but urge it to speed up work
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | Countries signed up to the International Criminal Court renewed their backing Wednesday for the embattled global legal body, targeted by the Trump administration, but urged it to speed up its work. “The European Union strongly supports the International Criminal Court and its work as …
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