Paris, France | AFP | The French government has announced a major U-turn in suspending fuel tax rises in a bid to end increasingly violent demonstrations. But who are the “yellow vest” protesters, and will the tax relief and other concessions be enough to mollify their anger? – Who …
Read More »British MPs deal PM May stinging rebuke on Brexit
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s government suffered a stinging rebuke from MPs ahead of Tuesday’s momentous Brexit debate, exposing Prime Minister Theresa May’s lack of support in parliament. The House of Commons voted 311-293 to censure the government for failing to publish its full legal advice about the …
Read More »Brexit firebrand Nigel Farage quits UKIP
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Brexit firebrand Nigel Farage resigned Tuesday from the UK Independence Party which he co-founded and turned into an influential force in British politics as its leader for nearly a decade. “With a heavy heart, I am leaving UKIP. It is not the Brexit party …
Read More »Biden says he’s ‘most qualified’ to be US president
Washington, United States | AFP | Former US vice president Joe Biden has stoked speculation he may run for the White House in 2020 by saying he believes he is the “most qualified person” to be president. Biden, 76, made the remarks on Monday night while in Montana during a …
Read More »Trump calls for his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to be jailed
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump called Monday for a long jail term for his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen, who admitted lying to Congress about pursuing a real estate deal with Russia on Trump’s behalf during the 2016 election campaign. Trump also praised another former advisor, Roger …
Read More »Michelle Obama on book tour encourages girls at London school
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Michelle Obama on Monday returned to a London school she had visited as US first lady encouraging students to “practice sisterhood” as she presented a new memoir of her life. Obama is in the British capital to promote her hotly-anticipated book, “Becoming”, which has …
Read More »Nigeria seeks arrest, extradition of former oil minister
Abuja, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s main anti-corruption agency on Monday filed for the arrest of former oil minister Diezani Alison-Madueke after a judge approved a request for her to be charged with corruption. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said in a statement the application for warrant of …
Read More »Morocco king meets Gabon president Bongo in hospital
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Monday visited Gabon’s President Ali Bongo at a military hospital in Rabat where the Gabonese leader is recovering from an illness, an official source said. During the visit, the king said he was pleased about the state of Bongo’s health …
Read More »Mexico says presidential jet to be sold
Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | Mexico is putting the presidential jet on the auction block, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s team said Sunday, making good on the new president’s campaign pledge on his second day in office. The Boeing 787-8’s last mission took outgoing president Enrique Pena Nieto to the …
Read More »FDC threatens to skip IPOD Summit
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) National Chairperson, Wasswa Birigwa has said the party is considering boycotting next week’s Inter party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) summit. He argued that IPOD summit is “not serious” and “premature.” The IPOD will be the first ever summit of …
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