AFP Africa

Morocco’s top court has rejected the final appeals of two journalists, Omar Radi and Soulaimane Raissouni, imprisoned on sexual assault charges they deny, their lawyer said Wednesday.The court of cassation in Rabat on Tuesday “rejected our appeal and confirmed the prison sentences” of the two men who have been behind bars since 2021, lawyer Miloud …

Moroccan court keeps two journalists behind barsWed, 19 Jul 2023 23:55:13 GMT Read More »

Two people were killed on Wednesday following anti-government protests in Kenya, a hospital official said, as the interior ministry announced the arrest of over 300 others in connection with the demonstrations.Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has held several rounds of protests since March against the government, alarming the international community which has joined calls for …

Two killed, hundreds arrested in Kenya protestsWed, 19 Jul 2023 20:26:56 GMT Read More »

Russia said on Wednesday it would consider cargo ships destined for Ukraine via the Black Sea potential military targets, following its decision to exit a landmark deal that permitted the export of grain from Ukraine.Following a second night of strikes around the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately targeting …

Russia puts Black Sea cargoes on alert after grain deal exitWed, 19 Jul 2023 18:27:27 GMT Read More »

Vladimir Putin, who is under an international arrest warrant, will not attend in-person, a BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, Pretoria said on Wednesday, ending months of speculation over whether the Russian President would show up.Putin’s potential visit has been a thorny diplomatic issue for Pretoria.The Russian leader is the target of an …

Putin to skip BRICS summit in S.Africa under arrest threatWed, 19 Jul 2023 18:02:30 GMT Read More »

Kenyan authorities on Wednesday arrested over 300 people, the interior minister said, after protesters took to the streets in defiance of a government warning following earlier demonstrations that left more than a dozen dead.Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga has held several rounds of protests since March against the government, alarming the international community which has …

Hundreds arrested in Kenya over anti-govt protestsWed, 19 Jul 2023 17:10:46 GMT Read More »

A road crash in Algeria killed 34 people when a passenger bus collided head-on with a pickup truck carrying fuel cans and burst into flames Wednesday, deep in the southern Sahara region, officials said.The North African country’s deadliest road crash in years also left 12 others injured, many with severe burns, Algeria’s civil defence agency …

Fiery bus crash kills 34 in Algeria’s remote Sahara regionWed, 19 Jul 2023 16:27:50 GMT Read More »

Namibian lawmakers on Wednesday approved legislation to ban same-sex marriage and punish its supporters, in what critics said was an unconstitutional attack on the LGBTQ community.The bill seeks to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that allowed for the recognition of some unions contracted abroad.The legislation sailed through the upper house of parliament, encountering no opposition. “The …

Namibian MPs back anti-gay law despite Supreme Court rulingWed, 19 Jul 2023 16:09:18 GMT Read More »

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi granted a pardon Wednesday to researcher Patrick Zaki, state media said, a day after Zaki’s three-year jail term sparked an outcry from local rights groups and Western governments.His sentence on Tuesday for “spreading false news” had prompted some participants to walk out of a government dialogue aimed at giving the …

Egypt’s Sisi pardons researcher a day after jailing sparked outcryWed, 19 Jul 2023 15:50:44 GMT Read More »

The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.The WHO said the heat often worsens pre-existing conditions, saying it was particularly concerned about those with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and asthma.Millions of people across three continents …

Extreme heat straining health systems: WHOWed, 19 Jul 2023 15:27:59 GMT Read More »

Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of deliberately striking its Black Sea grain facilities — and destroying tonnes of food — since Moscow quit an export deal meant to stave off a global crisis.Kyiv’s allegations came as a fire of unclear origin broke out at a military site in Russian-annexed Crimea, prompting local officials to call …

Ukraine says Russia targeting grain sites after deal exitWed, 19 Jul 2023 13:14:57 GMT Read More »