A senior Palestinian official has been denied entry to Egypt, prompting a Palestinian delegation to withdraw in protest from a counter-terrorism conference he was to attend, officials said Tuesday. Jibril Rajoub, a senior member of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s Fatah party, told AFP he was “surprised by the Egyptian security decision to ban me from … Read more
When Gambian intelligence officers arrested journalist Ebrima Manneh at his newspaper, he asked an office guard to save some tea. “I’m coming right back,” he said, according to colleague Alhagie Jobe, who was present in the newsroom. That was on the afternoon of July 11, 2006; since then, neither his colleagues at the Daily Observer … Read more
Angola’s parliament has approved changes to a colonial-era law and decriminalised abortion in some cases, including for victims of rape. Under the changes, abortions may be carried out before the sixth month of pregnancy in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or if the pregnancy is a result of rape. But abortion per … Read more
A leading critic of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Leila de Lima, has been arrested on drug trafficking charges. Senator Leila de Lima is accused of receiving money from detained drug lords. She has insisted on her innocence and says the charges are an attempt to silence her criticism of Mr Duterte’s war against drugs. … Read more
The Gambia’s new government has asked the United Nations to halt the process of withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) begun by the regime of former leader Yahya Jammeh. The Hague-based court, set up in 2002, is often accused of bias against African nations, leading The Gambia, Burundi and South Africa to send notice … Read more
Romania’s parliament has unanimously endorsed a plan to hold a national referendum on anti-corruption reforms after mass street protests made the government back-pedal over a controversial graft decree. All 310 MPs present voted on Monday in favour of the proposal by President Klaus Iohannis, a strong supporter of the country’s anti-corruption drive. Iohannis, a former … Read more
Israeli ministers on Sunday endorsed a contentious draft bill which Muslims say is meant to silence the traditional call to prayer, information released by the justice ministry showed. A list of draft legislation put to the vote in the powerful ministerial committee on legislation marked the “bill for prevention of noise from public address systems … Read more
New Zealand has said it will move to quash historical convictions for consensual sex between men. Justice Minister Amy Adams said an application process will be introduced and cases will be judged individually. In 1986 when the Homosexual Law Reform Act was passed, sex between men above 16 years old was decriminalised. But convictions for … Read more
President Akufo-Addo has sworn in twelve Ministers following their approval by the house in Parliament Tuesday. The event held at the Flagstaff House in Accra saw the appointed twelve taking the oath of office, officially making them Ministers of State. The Vice President, Chief of Staff and several other state officials were present to grace … Read more
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sworn in 12 out of the 13 ministers approved by Parliament. At a ceremony held at the Flagstaff House Friday, the President charged the ministers to live by the public creed that calls on them to discharge a selfless service to the nation. He entreated them to work towards … Read more
Parliamentary Affairs Minister-designate Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has recalled his days as a spare parts dealer in the country suggesting it was more lucrative than his current job. He said he earned more as a spare parts dealer than he is currently earning as a Majority Leader and legislator of Ghana’s Parliament. Answering a question … Read more
The Romanian government says it will withdraw a controversial decree that would have decriminalised some corruption offences. Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu said it would be repealed on Sunday. “I do not want to divide Romania. It can’t be divided in two,” Mr Grindeanu said in a televised statement. Tens of thousands of flag-waving protesters in … Read more
Thousands of gay and bisexual men found guilty of decades-old sexual offences in England and Wales have been posthumously pardoned. The enactment by the government of the so-called Alan Turing law means about 49,000 men will be cleared of crimes of which they would be innocent today. Wartime code-breaker Mr Turing was pardoned in 2013 … Read more
Parliament yesterday approved the nomination of eight out of the 13 ministers designate vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament (ACP). Members of Parliament (MPs) from both sides shared the view that the nominees were generally knowledgeable and experienced to occupy their respective ministerial positions and unanimously approved their nomination. The approval followed the presentation … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi returned from exile Thursday, more than two years after he fled abroad, saying he wants to “end the war”. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in a 1989 coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, flew in to Khartoum, said his daughter Mariam … Read more
Ard van der Steur took over as justice minister after his predecessor resigned over same scandal Dutch Justice Minister Ard van der Steur has resigned in a row over a 2001 compensation payment to a convicted drug trafficker. His departure is regarded as a blow to the government of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. His centre-right … Read more
Turkey has reacted with anger after a Greek court ruled against extraditing eight Turkish soldiers accused of involvement in an attempted coup. Turkey accused Greece of failing in the “fight against terrorism” and said the decision was “politically motivated”. The eight men fled in a helicopter to Greece after last July’s coup attempt but say … Read more
Khartoum (AFP) – Sudanese opposition leader and ex-prime minister Sadiq al-Mahdi will return to the country on Thursday more than two years after he fled abroad, a senior official in his party said. Mahdi, whose civilian government was overthrown in the 1989 Islamist-backed coup that brought President Omar al-Bashir to power, has been in self-imposed … Read more
France’s minister for women’s rights said it was a “shocking” decision to appoint filmmaker Roman Polanski as head of the jury for the country’s equivalent of the Oscars. The award-winning director has been wanted in the US for decades after admitting to sex with a minor. Mr Polanski, now 83, fled ahead of his sentencing … Read more
France’s minister for women’s rights said it was a “shocking” decision to appoint filmmaker Roman Polanski as head of the jury for the country’s equivalent of the Oscars. The award-winning director has been wanted in the US for decades after admitting to sex with a minor. Mr Polanski, now 83, fled ahead of his sentencing … Read more