Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria and Morocco are in talks over a huge project to extend a West African gas pipeline to stretch up towards Europe, officials say. Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said in a government video posted on Twitter on Friday that the pipeline would “go along …
Read More »Morocco angry, accuses AU chair of blocking readmission
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | Morocco on Wednesday accused the African Union commission’s chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa, of blocking Rabat’s efforts to rejoin the AU and lacking neutrality. The foreign ministry, in a strongly worded statement, charged that she was “trying to thwart Morocco’s decision to regain its …
Read More »Fidel Castro versus 11 US presidents
Havana, Cuba | AFP | From Dwight Eisenhower, who broke US diplomatic relations with Cuba, to Barack Obama, who decided to normalize them, 11 US presidents faced off with Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who died late Friday. Dwight Eisenhower (Republican, 1953-1961): Provided arms to dictator Fulgencio Batista, who was …
Read More »Turkey and the EU: The end of the road?
Ankara, Turkey | AFP | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to call a referendum on the future of Turkey’s EU membership bid, while Brussels accuses Ankara of “backsliding” on key commitments. After an already exhausting process of over half a century, could this finally be the end for the …
Read More »US seeks sanctions against Machar and Malong
United Nations, United States | AFP | The United States on Friday proposed that South Sudan’s rebel leader Riek Machar as well as the army chief and information minister face UN sanctions for their role in fueling violence in the war-torn country. The names of Machar, President Salva Kiir’s army …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Obama to pass torch to Merkel on farewell visit
Berlin, Germany | AFP | US President Barack Obama pays a farewell visit Thursday to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, widely seen as the new standard bearer of liberal democracy since the election of Donald Trump. On the last leg of his final European tour as president, Obama will underline shared …
Read More »Obama warns against ‘crude’ nationalism
Athens, Greece | AFP | US President Barack Obama issued a warning against “crude” nationalism as he kicked off his last foreign tour Tuesday with allied nations on edge after Donald Trump’s shock election win. Speaking in Greece, Obama called the NATO alliance “absolutely vital” to US interests and stressed …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Africa waits and wonders on Trump’s foreign policy
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Across Africa, the approaching presidency of Donald Trump has provoked deep uncertainty over how the United States will pursue policies ranging from counter-terrorism and trade, to aid and climate change. Many African countries had high hopes that Barack Obama would bring transformative benefits to …
Read More »Saree-clad May says post-Brexit opportunities in India
Bangalore, India | AFP | British Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday there was a “world of opportunities” for post-Brexit Britain in India, as she donned a saree during a temple charm offensive in Bangalore. May said that Britain would not need to ease visa restrictions — a key demand …
Read More »Theresa May lays groundwork for post-Brexit India trade deal
New Delhi, India | AFP | Prime Minister Theresa May said Britain would become the ultimate free trade champion as she laid the groundwork Monday for a potential post-Brexit deal with India, the world’s fastest growing major economy. In her first bilateral trip outside Europe since taking office in July, …
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