I’m a scapegoat: Angola’s Isabel dos Santos decries corruption ‘witch hunt’
Angolan billionaire and former first daughter Isabel Dos Santos decried a New Year’s Eve court order to freeze her vast assets as a “witch hunt” engineered to weaken her father’s influence and distract from economic failures.
Congo ethnic killings may amount to crimes against humanity: U.N.
Killings, rapes and other barbaric violence committed by an ethnic armed group in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo against a rival group may amount to crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide, the United Nations said on Friday.
Cleric fears worse bloodshed in Iraq as U.S.-Iran conflict persists
Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric on Friday condemned the U.S.-Iranian confrontation taking place on Iraqi soil, saying it risked plunging the war-ravaged country and the wider Middle East into deeper conflict.
Iraqi cleric condemns U.S. and Iran as fears of wider conflict persist
Iraq’s top Shi’ite Muslim cleric on Friday condemned the U.S.-Iranian military confrontation taking place on Iraqi soil, saying it risked plunging the war-ravaged country and the wider Middle East into deeper conflict.
Macron defies French unions over retirement age in pension reform
France’s government defied trade unions on Friday by including a contested clause on raising the retirement age by two years in its draft legislation, amid signs that weeks of street protests and strikes may be losing momentum.
Iran to download plane black box after missile blamed for crash
Iran said on Friday it wanted to download black box recordings itself from a Ukrainian airliner that crashed, killing all 176 people aboard, after Canada and others said the plane was brought down by an Iranian missile, probably by mistake.
Polish draft law would muzzle judges: European rights official
A leading European human rights official has said new Polish plans to reform the judiciary are aimed at muzzling judges and has urged the country’s Senate to reject them.
Thai opposition figure says he has been charged over protest rally
Thai opposition party leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has been charged over an anti-government rally he staged last month, he said on Friday after meeting with police.
Niger sets new offensive against militants after 25 soldiers killed
Niger will launch a new military offensive against Islamist militants after their latest attack on an army base killed at least 25 soldiers, the defense minister said on Friday.
U.S, Canadian, French representatives to attend Iran plane crash investigation meetings
U.S., Canadian and French representatives are to travel to Tehran to attend meetings for the Iran-led investigation into the Ukrainian airliner incident, Iranian state media reported on Friday.
