Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso | AFP | An Australian surgeon kidnapped by jihadists nearly two years ago whose whereabouts remain unknown has been declared a citizen of the west African nation, an official decree announced Wednesday. “Arthur Kenneth Elliott, born 11 November 1934 in Perth, in Australia…. a surgeon” has been …
Read More »EU Parliament backs freeze of Turkish membership talks
Strasbourg, France | AFP | The European Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of a freeze of membership talks with Turkey over its post-coup crackdown, further escalating tensions with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has already dismissed the vote as having “no value” as it is non-binding, and as most …
Read More »Museveni speaks out on Trump victory, Cameron defeat
President Yoweri Museveni has spoken out on the recent election and referendum reversals in the US and UK, that have led to the victory of Donald Trump and defeat of David Cameron. He explained that one leading factor has been a backlash after these nations launched “unjust” wars across the world. …
Read More »Two weeks on, Trump still Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | Two weeks on from his election victory, Donald Trump shows every sign that he will govern as he campaigned — with late night tweet storms, attacks on the press and a flirtation with the extremes of US political life. True, the president-elect has backed …
Read More »Pentagon softens rules on carrying of firearms in US
Washington, United States | AFP | The Pentagon has softened rules on US troops carrying firearms while at government facilities, an action prompted by a series of deadly attacks on uniformed personnel. Troops already carry weapons as part of certain job functions, but the new rules will allow commanders to …
Read More »Kanye suffers mental breakdown
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Rapper Kanye West was taken to a hospital in Los Angeles after his doctor called the emergency services to report he was suffering a mental breakdown, news reports said Tuesday. The musician’s personal physician Michael Farzam told police that his 39-year-old patient was …
Read More »VIDEO: Trump vows to withdraw from TPP ‘on day one’
Washington, United States | AFP | Donald Trump on Monday announced the United States would signal its withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on his first day in the White House, as one of six immediate steps aimed at “putting America first.” The Republican billionaire — who for …
Read More »Trump is ‘just the president’, says defiant fugitive Snowden
Stockholm, Sweden | AFP | Former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden on Monday downplayed the importance of President-elect Donald Trump and again defended his decision to leak documents showing massive surveillance of US citizens’ communications. “Donald Trump is just the president. It’s an important position. But it’s one …
Read More »Pope gives priests permanent right to pardon abortion
Vatican City, Holy See | AFP | Pope Francis declared Monday that all priests would have the right permanently to forgive abortion, seen as a significant outreach by the Catholic Church to women. “I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who …
Read More »Kanye scraps US tour after rant about Jay Z, Beyonce
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Rap superstar Kanye West has pulled the plug on his North American tour, organizers said Monday, two days after a rambling onstage tirade against fellow artists Jay Z and Beyonce. The “Saint Pablo Tour” was set to run through December 31 but all …
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