By Nellie Peyton JOHANNESBURG, Dec 4 (Reuters) – South Africa will not bow to U.S. pressure to change its policies on race, Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said on Thursday, after Washington confirmed that Pretoria would be excluded from the G20 under its presidency. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Wednesday accusing …
South Africa vows not to bend to US pressure after G20 snub Read More »
By Mark Gleeson CAPE TOWN, Dec 4 (Reuters) – African countries were left scrambling to change their preparation plans after a surprise FIFA decision to cut down the time players must be released to their national teams ahead of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations finals. With less than three weeks to the tournament in …
Soccer-FIFA ruling on players’ release date upsets Cup of Nations preparations Read More »
ABUJA, Dec 4 (Reuters) – A Catholic priest was abducted from his residence in Kaduna State, northern Nigeria, the Catholic Diocese of Zaria said on Wednesday. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Ezema was taken late on Tuesday around 11:30 p.m. (0030 GMT Wednesday) from St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Rumi, the diocese said in a statement seen …
Catholic priest abducted in Nigeria’s Kaduna State, Diocese says Read More »
By Tarek Amara TUNIS, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Tunisian police on Thursday arrested top opposition figure Nejib Chebbi to enforce a 12-year jail term on a conviction for conspiracy, his family said, the latest sign of an escalating crackdown on political dissent by President Kais Saied. Chebbi, 82, has been a prominent opposition figure since …
Tunisian opposition leader Chebbi arrested as crackdown escalates Read More »
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Dec 4 (Reuters) – The Middle East and North Africa recorded their hottest year on record in 2024, with temperatures rising at twice the global average of recent decades, the U.N. weather agency said in a report. Heatwaves in the region are becoming longer and more intense, according to the …
By Ahmed Eljechtimi MARRAKECH, Dec 4 (Reuters) – Morocco, which has endured seven years of drought, plans to supply 60% of its drinking water from treated seawater by 2030, up from 25%, its water minister said, as Rabat accelerates investment in desalination plants powered by renewable energy. The push is crucial to ensure steady water …
Morocco to secure 60% of water needs from desalination, minister says Read More »
By Simon Lewis WASHINGTON, Dec 3 (Reuters) – Rwanda’s foreign minister said on Wednesday he hoped an accord set to be signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and the presidents of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday would be a step toward peace, even after accusing Congo’s army of violating earlier peace deals …
Rwanda hopes US-brokered accord will advance peace in eastern Congo Read More »
By Nafisa Eltahir and Reade Levinson CAIRO/TINE, Chad, Dec 3 (Reuters) – The Sudanese paramilitary force that besieged then overran a city in Darfur in late October is systematically holding trapped residents for ransom, killing or beating those whose families cannot pay, witnesses, aid workers and researchers say. Reuters could not determine exactly how many …
Sudanese force holding survivors of Darfur siege for ransom, witnesses say Read More »
By Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE, Dec 3 (Reuters) – A Libyan war crimes suspect who is accused of overseeing a notorious prison, where inmates were routinely tortured and sometimes sexually abused, asked judges at the International Criminal Court to release him on Wednesday. It was the first ICC appearance by a Libyan suspect …
Libyan war crimes suspect asks International Criminal Court judges for release Read More »
Dec 2 (Reuters) – Democratic Republic of Congo’s army and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Tuesday, two days before the White House is set to host the signing of an accord to end fighting in the country’s east. The United States and Qatar have been mediating talks aimed at restoring peace …
Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels accuse each other of sabotaging peace deals Read More »
