Israel’s Lapid discusses Iran nuclear deal with Biden

Jerusalem, Aug 31 (AFP/APP): Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid discussed Iran’s nuclear deal with US President Joe Biden Wednesday, as the Jewish state makes concerted efforts to block a return to the 2015 accord. Israel has long opposed a revival of the deal, which was […]

Deadly clashes rage in Baghdad in latest power struggle

BAGHDAD 30 Aug (Online): Heavy clashes erupted in Baghdad, killing almost 20 people on Monday, after powerful cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he would quit politics, prompting his loyalists to storm a government palace and fight with rival groups. As night fell, machine-gun fire and explosions […]

Angolan opposition to contest tightly fought vote

Luanda, Aug 30 (AFP/APP): Angola’s biggest opposition party has vowed to contest last week’s election results, which saw the long-ruling MPLA win by a significantly reduced majority. The August 24 elections were the most hotly contested in the oil-rich country since its first multi-party vote […]

Iraq protesters disperse after Sadr demands end to deadly clashes

Baghdad, Aug 30 (AFP/APP): Iraqi supporters of powerful cleric Moqtada Sadr withdrew Tuesday from Baghdad’s Green Zone after he demanded an end to fighting between rival forces and the army that left 30 dead and hundreds wounded. Sadr, a grey-bearded preacher with millions of devoted […]

Tigray rebels vow to pursue military advance in northern Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, Aug 30 (AFP/APP): Tigrayan rebels said Tuesday they intended to advance further into neighbouring regions of northern Ethiopia but were still open to peace talks after fighting erupted last week and put paid to a five-month-long truce. The government of Prime Minister Abiy […]

Fighting across southern front as Ukraine wages counter-offensive

Mykolaiv, Ukraine, Aug 30 (AFP/APP): Intense fighting was raging on Tuesday across the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson occupied by Russia, Kyiv’s presidency said, as its troops pressed counter-offensives “in various directions”. Most of region of Kherson bordering the Black Sea — and its provincial […]

Joao Lourenco: Angola’s ex-general gets 2nd stint at the helm

Luanda, Aug 29 (AFP/APP): A senior military officer who became a graft buster and turned on his political patron upon seizing power, Angolan President Joao Lourenco has won a second term, but the victory was not a walk in the park. The 68-year-old secured a […]

Russian army says foiled Ukraine attacks in Kherson

Moscow, Aug 29 (AFP/APP): The Russian army on Monday said it had thwarted Ukrainian offensives in the southern regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv and inflicted “heavy losses” on Kyiv’s forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered his troops to launch attacks in three directions, but “this […]

Two dead in Baghdad clashes after Sadr loyalists storm government palace

Baghdad, Aug 29 (AFP/APP):Two protesters were killed and Iraq declared a nationwide curfew after supporters of Moqtada Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad’s Green Zone Monday following the powerful Shiite leader’s declaration that he was quitting politics. Shots were fired in the fortified area […]