Amritsar, India | AFP | The Amritsar massacre, 100 years ago this Saturday in which British troops opened fire on thousands of unarmed protestors, remains one of the darkest hours of British colonial rule in India. Known in India as the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, it is still an emotive subject …
Read More »Pope kisses Machar, Kiir feet
Pope hopes for S.Sudan peace as leaders end Vatican retreat Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis called Thursday for warring South Sudanese factions to respect the latest armistice after a two-day Vatican retreat aimed at shoring up the fragile peace. “I express my heartfelt hope that hostilities …
Read More »British police arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
London, United Kingdom | AFP | WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s nearly seven-year stay at Ecuador’s embassy in London came to an abrupt end on Thursday when police entered the building and arrested him after Ecuador withdrew his asylum. Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge …
Read More »Five pivotal moments behind Brexit chaos
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s decision to hold a referendum on leaving the European Union three years ago has ended up in political chaos that few could have predicted then. Here are five pivotal moments that led to this: – January 23, 2013 – Then prime minister David …
Read More »No-one sought justice for Kim Jong Nam: analysts
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | The spectacular assassination of the North Korean leader’s half-brother — smeared in the face with a banned nerve agent — made headlines around the world but two years later its organisers have escaped accountability, analysts say. Malaysian prosecutors dropped a murder charge Monday against …
Read More »Southern Africa leaders back Western Sahara
Southern Africa leaders back Western Sahara at ‘historic’ talks Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | Several southern African leaders on Tuesday threw their support behind Western Sahara, with one calling the disputed territory the “last colony” on the African continent. Also attending is Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni. President Cyril Ramaphosa, leader …
Read More »China’s Xi insists new Silk Road runs both ways as Italy signs up
Rome, Italy | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping sought Friday to allay Western unease over his new Silk Road initiative by emphasising the vast infrastructure project’s two-way nature as he kicked off a whistlestop European tour in Rome. Italy has rolled out the red carpet for Xi, who …
Read More »UN envoy sees prospects for South Sudan peace deal
United Nations, United States | AFP | A shaky peace deal in South Sudan stands a chance of success despite delays in implementing it and many lingering unresolved issues, the UN envoy said Friday. The agreement signed in September provides for a power-sharing government that will prepare elections meant to …
Read More »‘Uganda ready to act against local or foreign threats’
Rwanda, Uganda in diplomatic war of words over rebel ‘support’ Kigali, Rwanda | AFP | Rwanda accused its much larger neighbour Uganda on Tuesday of supporting rebels opposed to the government in Kigali, a claim firmly rebutted by Kampala. Rwandan Foreign Minister Richard Sezibera told journalists that Kigali had information …
Read More »Former foes Ethiopia and Eritrea seek to boost Juba peace deal
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea met South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Monday seeking to breathe new life into a flagging peace agreement signed six months ago between his government and rebels. South Sudan’s influential Catholic Church last month warned that the deal agreed …
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