Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia on Thursday appointed a woman to the largely ceremonial position of president for the first time, further increasing female representation in the government of Africa’s second most populous nation. In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde, 68, to replace …

Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday labelled US Vice President Mike Pence “a madman” after he accused Caracas of financing the Honduras migrant caravan marching towards the United States. “What tremendous convening power I have in Central America, Mike Pence! If it wasn’t for an …

Oslo, Norway | AFP | Norway hosts NATO’s biggest exercises since the end of the Cold War from Thursday, to remind Russia the Alliance stands united despite seeds of doubt planted by US President Donald Trump. Some 50,000 soldiers, 10,000 vehicles, 65 ships and 250 aircraft from 31 countries are …

“I do not want to hear that shit anymore!” declares BMW development boss Kampala, Uganda | AGENCIES | Negative media reviews of recent BMW 3 Series generations have motivated the German car-maker to aim for new driving benchmarks with its latest mid-size luxury sedan. Speaking at the Paris motor show recently, …

African governments are recognising intra-continental migration as a vital ingredient of growth COMMENT | MUKHISA KITUYI | Few issues are as emotional as human migration. Images of desperate people on the move – whether trying to cross the US-Mexico border or packed onto rickety boats crossing the Mediterranean Sea – have …

Arusha, Tanzania | AFP | Burundi’s government said on Wednesday it would miss a last round of crisis talks in Tanzania that aimed to set up elections for 2020. “Since October is a month of mourning in Burundi, the government has suggested that talks scheduled for October 24 be delayed,” …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil has pledged his support for the German national team despite bitterness from both sides over his retirement from international football. “I’ve always been supporting the DFB Team since my childhood and I’ve still many friends playing for the German national …

Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin warned Wednesday of a new arms race if America pulls out of weapons treaties, and said Russia would respond “in kind” to any new US missiles placed on European soil. At the weekend, US President Donald Trump sparked concerns globally when he …

New York, United States | AFP | Pipe bombs were sent Wednesday to Barack Obama, prominent Democrats and CNN — all hate figures for supporters of Donald Trump as political opponents accused the US president of sowing violence. Hillary Clinton was among some of the most high-profile Democrats targeted with …

Beijing, China | AFP | Japan’s Shinzo Abe is due to arrive in China Thursday, the first visit to the Asian giant by a Japanese prime minister since relations between the two countries soured six years ago over a territorial row. Abe and Chinese president Xi Jinping are expected to …