AFP Africa

Kyiv on Thursday put ships in the Black Sea headed for Russian-controlled ports on notice, as Moscow hit the Ukrainian ports of Mykolaiv and Odesa with drones and missiles in another night of “hellish” strikes.Ukraine said it would treat the ships as potential carriers of military cargo, mirroring a move made by Russia after it …

Ukraine warns Black Sea ships as Russia pummels portsThu, 20 Jul 2023 19:20:15 GMT Read More »

Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed al-Baqer walked out of prison Thursday, relatives said, a day after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned them in the wake of an international outcry.Zaki was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday for “spreading false news”, prompting some participants to walk out of a so-called national dialogue …

Egyptian researcher, lawyer leave prison after pardons: familiesThu, 20 Jul 2023 19:12:09 GMT Read More »

South African amateur Christo Lamprecht left his mentor Louis Oosthuizen in the shade as he stormed into a share of the British Open lead in his first round at a major on Thursday.Lamprecht grew up idolising the 2010 Open champion, and is a product of Oosthuizen’s golf academy back home in South Africa, before moving …

Lanky amateur Lamprecht takes British Open by stormThu, 20 Jul 2023 18:17:08 GMT Read More »

Kenyans largely ignored a call by the opposition to boost anti-government protests on Thursday, although isolated clashes flared in the capital between police and stone-throwing demonstrators.Police fired tear gas and live rounds at protesters in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, an opposition stronghold, AFP journalists saw, but no violence was reported elsewhere in contrast to earlier demonstrations.Veteran …

Kenya protest call unheeded barring isolated clashesThu, 20 Jul 2023 16:34:36 GMT Read More »

Firefighters in Tunisia are battling a major blaze that has raged for two days in a pine forest near the border with Algeria, a civil defence official said on Thursday.Regional civil defence director Abdel Laabidi told AFP that around 470 hectares (1,100 acres) of forest had already burned, and that firefighters and an army helicopter …

Tunisia firefighters battle forest blaze on Algeria borderThu, 20 Jul 2023 15:10:25 GMT Read More »

Shops and schools in Kenya reopened on Thursday despite a call by the opposition to continue anti-government protests that have led to over a dozen deaths and sparked appeals for political dialogue.Sporadic clashes broke out on Thursday in Nairobi’s Kibera slum, an opposition stronghold, according to AFP journalists, with police firing tear gas and live …

Shops, schools reopen in Kenya despite protest callThu, 20 Jul 2023 12:31:55 GMT Read More »

Russian President Vladimir Putin decided against attending an upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg in person because he did not want to “jeopardise” the talks, a top South African diplomat said Thursday.Putin’s potential visit had posed a diplomatic and legal dilemma for South Africa ahead of the August 22-24 meeting.He is the target of an International …

Putin opted out not to ‘jeopardise’ BRICS summit: S.AfricaThu, 20 Jul 2023 12:05:29 GMT Read More »

Egyptian researcher Patrick Zaki on Thursday walked out of prison, his family said, a day after President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi granted him a pardon in the wake of an international outcry.Zaki’s three-year prison sentence on Tuesday for “spreading false news” had prompted some participants to walk out of a government dialogue aimed at giving the …

Egyptian researcher leaves prison after pardon: familyThu, 20 Jul 2023 11:55:27 GMT Read More »

Vitaliy Bylenko looked ruefully at the mountains of grain in his barn, contemplating the growing obstacles to shifting the stockpiles after Russia this week exited a deal allowing Black Sea exports.Ukraine, European countries and the United States have lamented Moscow’s decision to scrap the landmark accord brokered by the United Nations and Turkey last July.But …

‘No way out’: Ukraine farmers lament collapse of grain dealThu, 20 Jul 2023 11:52:15 GMT Read More »

Russian missiles and drones hit the Ukrainian port of Odesa for a third “hellish” night in a row as Crimean authorities said a teenager had been killed in Kyiv’s latest attack on the peninsula.Russian forces also targeted Mykolaiv, another Black Sea port through which Ukrainian grain is exported, after Moscow’s exit from a key deal …

Russia pummels Ukraine ports in third night of missile attacksThu, 20 Jul 2023 11:37:40 GMT Read More »