Ten years ago, Egypt’s then-defence minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi rallied citizens by promising to move the country out of the “terrorist” shadow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Today, the former general rules a nation where expressions of dissent have been quashed, the media is muzzled and the justice system is a labyrinth even legal experts […]

The streets of Sierra Leone’s capital were quiet on Wednesday, a day after President Julius Maada Bio was sworn in for a second term following an election his main rival slammed as “not credible.” Western nations, in a joint statement, said they were concerned about “transparency” in the vote tallying, but urged any disputes to […]

The high court in South Africa on Wednesday 28, June 2023 declared the government’s decision not to renew temporary residency permits of nearly 180,000 Zimbabweans living and working in the country “unconstitutional”. Pretoria granted four-year visas to around 178,000 Zimbabweans fleeing economic and political crises at home in 2009, following violent elections. The visas have […]

Music megastars Taylor Swift and The Weeknd are among showbiz people invited to join the organization that votes on who gets Oscars, the body said Wednesday. Other invitees include Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, who directed “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which won seven Oscars this year including the prize for best picture. ALSO READ: Beyoncé, Taylor […]

With the imminent end of the UN’s Mali peacekeeping mission seemingly no longer in doubt, negotiations at the UN are still foundering over the timetable for their departure, which Bamako wants “without delay”, according to diplomatic sources. On June 16, taking everyone by surprise, Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop, while denouncing the “failure” of the […]

Experts have recovered presumed human remains from what is left of the Titan sub that imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreck, with the death of five people, the US Coast Guard said on Wednesday. “United States medical professionals will conduct a formal analysis of presumed human remains that have been carefully recovered,” the agency said. ALSO READ […]

Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday completed the signing of creative midfielder James Maddison from relegated Leicester in a deal worth 40 million pounds (46.3m euros) plus add-ons. ALSO READ: Fantasy Premier League: Expert tips for Matchweek 23 The 26-year-old England international signed a five-year deal. Maddison began his career with Coventry City before joining Norwich City in […]

Arsenal on Wednesday signed German attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Chelsea on a “long-term contract”. Neither club disclosed a fee but British media said Arsenal were paying Chelsea 65 million pounds or 75 million euros. ALSO READ: Kai Havertz joins Arsenal from Chelsea He is Arsenal’s first signing of the summer but the British press reported […]

Sudan’s war has brought painful memories back to the troubled Darfur region where armed groups are accused of ethnically targeting civilians, sparking fears of a new “genocide”. “They burned every house in the neighbourhood and killed my brother in front of me,” recounted one survivor, Inaam, who fled the western region for neighbouring Chad. Her […]

US gymnastics star Simone Biles is set to make her first competitive appearance since the Tokyo Olympics after entering the US Classic, USA Gymnastics announced on Wednesday. ALSO READ | Hollywoodbets Durban July: Records galore set to fall on Saturday The August 4-5 competition would be her first since the four-time Olympic gold medallist withdrew from most of her events in […]

In the decade since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi seized power, Egypt has built dozens of motorways that zigzag across Cairo — crushing entire neighbourhoods, precious green spaces and historic gravesites. The administration of Sisi, a former army general who rose to the presidency in 2013 after deposing Mohamed Morsi, has placed a massive premium on […]

The president of South Sudan held talks with his South African counterpart on the ongoing conflict in Juba’s northern neighbour and the fragile peace process at home, Pretoria said Wednesday. ALSO READ: Khartoum residents in Sudan killed in battle for Khartoum police HQ Presidents Salva Kiir and Cyril Ramaphosa were expected to discuss “issues of mutual […]

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was sworn in Tuesday 28th June 2023 after being declared the victor of an election that his main rival slammed as “not credible.” Bio, 59, returns for a second term at the helm of the West African nation which has been pummelled by multiple challenges since the end of […]

Fighting raged in the Sudanese capital on Tuesday 27th June 2023, the eve of the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, after paramilitaries seized Khartoum’s main police base. Fighting in the city between the army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo is now concentrated […]

Hosts Zimbabwe and former champions Sri Lanka are in prime position to clinch the final two qualifying spots for this year’s Cricket World Cup, while two-time winners the West Indies risk missing the tournament for the first time. With four wins from four group matches, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka head into the decisive Super Six […]

The body of missing British actor Julian Sands has been identified, California police said Tuesday, after human remains were found by hikers in mountains near Los Angeles at the weekend. Sands, who shot to fame in 1985 for his role in “A Room with a View,” went missing in January on the 10,000-foot (3,000-meter) Mount San Antonio, […]

Bolivian prosecutors are investigating 35 members of the Catholic Church after more than a dozen victims accused them of sexual abuse, authorities said Tuesday. The statement comes as the country is reeling from confessions of abuse that were found in the personal diary of a Spanish priest who died in Bolivia in 2009 after decades of […]

Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey was due in a London court on Wednesday to stand trial for a dozen sexual offences which allegedly occurred more than a decade ago. The 63-year-old star of “American Beauty” and drama series “House of Cards” is facing a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court in south London. He has […]

Pope Francis’ peace envoy to Ukraine arrived in Moscow Tuesday for a visit, just weeks after visiting Kyiv, according to the Vatican and media reports. It is the first trip to Moscow by a senior Vatican official since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. “On June 28 and 29, 2023, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi… accompanied by an […]

Rising US star David Corenswet will become the latest actor to don Superman’s famous red cape, director James Gunn confirmed Tuesday. The 29-year-old, best known as the lead of recent Netflix series “Hollywood,” will take on the iconic role for “Superman: Legacy,” due in 2025 from Warner Bros. The news was first reported by various Hollywood trade publications, […]

The 3 404km route for the 21 stages on the 2023 Tour de France which starts in Bilbao on Saturday, 1 July 2023. ALSO READ | Tour de France: Chris Froome left off Israel Premier Tech team Stage 1  – Saturday July 1 Bilbao – Bilbao (182km) Stage 2 – Sunday July 2 Vitoria-Gastiez – San Sebastian […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin told troops gathered Tuesday at the Kremlin they prevented civil war after a revolt by Wagner mercenaries, and held a minute’s silence for pilots killed during the insurrection. It was the latest in a series of addresses Putin has made after the rebellion, the most serious security threat in his more […]

Jostling for the top three spots in North American theaters this weekend were the same films from last week, with “The Flash” overtaken by the latest “Spider-Man” iteration. ALSO READ: ‘Arrest the mom’: Boy in hysterics as mother tells him Spiderman died The debut of the raunchy comedy “No Hard Feelings,” as well as that of […]

The Israeli foreign ministry said Tuesday it was summoning the Ukraine ambassador for a “clarification,” after the Ukrainian embassy accused “the current Israeli government” of “a clear pro-Russian position”. “In light of his repeated remarks against Israel’s policy, Ukrainian ambassador Yevgen Korniychuk has been summoned for a clarification that will take place at the foreign ministry […]

Sudan’s army on Monday faced a multi-front challenge after losing Khartoum’s main police base to paramilitaries in a battle that killed at least 14 civilians, while rebels attacked troops near Ethiopia. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), fighting Sudan’s regular army since mid-April, announced late Sunday a “victory in the battle for the police HQ” […]