London, United Kingdom | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May said she would return to Brussels for further EU divorce talks on Saturday — 24 hours ahead of a planned summit set to seal a Brexit deal. May made a lightning trip to Brussels on Wednesday to lobby EU …
Read More »Trump thanks Saudi Arabia for lower oil prices
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump on Wednesday ignored criticism that he gave Saudi Arabia a free pass on the murder of a dissident journalist, instead praising the Islamic kingdom for keeping oil prices low. Trump, on holiday at his Florida Mar-a-Lago Club, doubled down on …
Read More »French 9-year-old beaten to death ‘for not doing homework
Mulhouse, France | AFP | Four relatives of a nine-year-old boy who was apparently beaten to death in eastern France were arrested Wednesday over suspicions he was killed for refusing do his homework, prosecutors said. The boy’s mother, 20-year-old sister, 19-year-old brother, and the brother’s girlfriend were taken into custody …
Read More »‘Shocked’ UK warns UAE of repercussions over spy student sentence
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned of “repercussions” after a United Arab Emirates court on Wednesday sentenced British student Matthew Hedges to life in jail having convicted him of spying. “I am deeply shocked and disappointed,” said Hunt. “Today’s verdict is not what we expect …
Read More »UAE court sentences British student to life for spying
Dubai, United Arab Emirates | AFP | A United Arab Emirates court sentenced British student Matthew Hedges to life in jail on spying charges on Wednesday, prompting a “shocked” Britain to warn of repercussions for relations with its longstanding Gulf ally. Hedges, a 31-year-old PhD student, had protested his innocence …
Read More »Trump thanks Saudi Arabia for lower oil prices
Washington, United States | AFP | US President Donald Trump thanked Saudi Arabia Wednesday for lower oil prices — a day after pledging the US would remain a “steadfast partner” of the kingdom despite the murder of a dissident journalist. “Oil prices getting lower. Great! Like a big Tax Cut …
Read More »Amnesty launches drive to track impact of US strikes
Beirut, Lebanon | AFP | Amnesty International on Wednesday launched a crowdsourcing data project using satellite imagery to assess damage from US-led coalition air strikes last year on the Syrian city of Raqa. The rights group said it expects up to 5,000 digital activists to sign up for the month-long …
Read More »French prosecutors open inquiry into Macron campaign financing
Paris, France | AFP | Paris prosecutors have launched an inquiry into the origins of thousands of euros donated to President Emmanuel Macron’s election campaign last year, a legal source told AFP on Tuesday. The move follows an alert from France’s campaign finance oversight body this month, after it was …
Read More »Under-fire UN environment chief resigns
United Nations, United States | AFP | UN environment chief Erik Solheim resigned on Tuesday after an audit questioning his huge travel expenses triggered an outcry, UN officials said. The former environment minister of Norway had been at the helm of the Nairobi-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP) since June 2016. …
Read More »World record holders Kipchoge and Mayer nominated for athlete of the year
Paris, France | AFP | The world’s fastest marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge and world decathlon record holder Kevin Mayer are among five nominees for the IAAF’s male athlete of the year, the federation announced on Tuesday. The Kenyan and Frenchman are joined on the shortlist by the quickest person over …
Read More »
The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price