Madagascar leader wins presidential vote, constitutional court says

Madagascar’s incumbent resident, Andry Rajoelina, was declared the winner on Friday of the Nov. 16 election by the country’s High Constitutional Court, which handed him a third term after dismissing various challenges to provisional results. “Andry Rajoelina is elected as the president of the republic of Madagascar and is taking his functions as soon as […]
North Korea, US envoys engage in rare, public sparring match at UN

The United Nations ambassadors of the United States and North Korea sparred at the Security Council on Monday over Pyongyang’s first spy satellite launch and the reasons for growing tensions in a rare, direct, public exchange between the adversaries. After a nearly six-year absence, North Korea again started sending its U.N. envoy to Security Council meetings on […]
US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist in America

United States authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the United States and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved, a senior Biden administration official said. The U.S. is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the Indian government “at […]
Biden says Gaza hospitals ‘must be protected’

President Joe Biden said hospitals in the Gaza Strip must be protected and he hoped for “less intrusive” action by Israel as Israeli tanks advanced to the gates of the besieged enclave’s main hospital. Israeli tanks have taken up positions outside Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza City’s main medical centre, which Israel says sits atop tunnels […]
Portuguese PM quits over lithium, hydrogen corruption probe

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa resigned on Tuesday, hours after prosecutors detained his chief of staff in an investigation into alleged corruption in his administration’s handling of lithium mining and hydrogen projects. Costa, who prosecutors said was the target of a related investigation, announced the decision in a televised statement after meeting President Marcelo Rebelo […]
US fighter jets strike Syria after attacks by Iran-backed militia

Two U.S. fighter jets struck weapons and ammunition facilities in Syria on Friday in retaliation for attacks on U.S. forces by Iranian-backed militia as concerns grew that the Israel-Hamas conflict may spread in the Middle East. U.S. President Joe Biden ordered strikes on the two facilities used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and militia it […]
Why INEC Chairman shouldn’t be appointed by presidents – Jega

A former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, has justified why chairmen of the electoral body should not be appointed by the President. Jega made the point why speaking at a two-day retreat organised for senators by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa […]
North Korea’s Kim vows to ‘faithfully’ fulfil agreements made with Russia’s Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his resolve to fulfil agreements made at his summit last month with Russian President Vladimir Putin as he met visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, state media KCNA reported on Friday. Kim took a rare trip to Russia last month during which he invited Putin to Pyongyang and […]
Biden to visit Israel on Wednesday; Iran issues warning

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Israel on Wednesday for talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and make clear Israel has the right to defend itself, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday. Blinken said after lengthy talks with Netanyahu that Biden will reaffirm solidarity with Israel, which has widely been expected to […]
Egypt facilitating aid flights to Sinai for besieged Gaza

Egypt said on Thursday it was directing international aid flights for Gaza to an airport in northern Sinai, though delivery of relief into the Palestinian enclave has so far been hampered by Israeli bombardments around the border. The Rafah crossing between Sinai and Gaza remained open, the Egyptian foreign ministry said, adding that Egypt had […]