Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday said the country’s debt-laden power utility Eskom would not be privatised and pledged to restore it to full capacity. Rolling blackouts were implemented several times last year to prevent the grid collapsing and resumed last weekend despite …
Read More »DEADLOCK: Ethiopia and Egypt fail to clinch Nile dam deal
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | Ethiopia and Egypt failed to resolve a long-running dispute over a massive dam being built on the Blue Nile River during the latest round of talks this week. Officials said Thursday that some progress had been made, though they remained at odds over major sticking …
Read More »British lawmakers finally seal historic Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s parliament finally approved Brexit on Thursday, allowing it to become the first country to leave the European Union by the end of this month, ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and divided a nation. The House of Commons erupted in cheers …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Bobi Wine consultations
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY BOBI Wine Consultations: How People Power plans to dodge police roadblocks THE LAST WORD Kampala grinding to a halt: How NRM politics has made Kampala a dysfunctional city and what cannot be done about …
Read More »Bail for Zimbabwe VP’s wife accused of trying to kill husband
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | The wife of Zimbabwe’s vice president was granted bail on Monday after three weeks in jail on charges of fraud, money-laundering and attempted murder of her husband. Marry Mubaiwa, 38, who is the wife of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, 63, was arrested last month on …
Read More »Iran army says US lacks ‘courage’ for conflict after Trump threat
Tehran, Iran | AFP | Iran’s army chief said Sunday that Washington lacked the “courage” to initiate a conflict after US President Donald Trump threatened to hit dozens of targets inside the Islamic republic. “I doubt they have the courage to initiate” a conflict in which the Americans threatened to …
Read More »Libya MPs call for break with Turkey over military deal
Benghazi, Libya | AFP | Libyan deputies voted Saturday for a break in diplomatic relations with Turkey over its controversial agreements with the UN-recognised government that is contested inside the North African country. At an emergency meeting in the eastern city of Benghazi, parliament also urged the international community to …
Read More »US flags burn as thousands mourn general in Tehran
Tehran, Iran | AFP | US and Israeli flags were set alight in Iran’s capital Saturday as thousands mourned the loss of top military commander Qasem Soleimani, a day after he was killed by American forces. “We are with you,” they chanted as they waved their hands in unison during the …
Read More »US killing catapults Iraq back to aftermath of 2003 invasion
Baghdad, Iraq | AFP | Iraqi factions threatening to oust US troops, officials denouncing American “violations” and fears of a new Gulf war: a US strike has catapulted Iraq back to the tumultuous aftermath of the 2003 invasion. The precision drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday killed top Iranian …
Read More »US deploying up to 3,500 troops to Middle East
Washington, United States | AFP | The US is deploying up to 3,500 more troops to the Middle East in a show of force, a Pentagon official said Friday, after an American drone killed a top Iranian general. The reinforcements will come from the 82nd Airborne Division’s Global Response Force, …
Read More »