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Beijing. – China yesterday dismissed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s intention to explain his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine. Commenting on Abe’s willingness to seek dialogue with China and the Republic of Korea, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily
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Leaders of Africa’s top trading blocs have agreed on free trade rules, taking the longstanding search for a single continental market closer to reality. About 100 trade and Customs experts from the 26 countries under Comesa, EAC and Sadc, who met in Mauritius recently,
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The US has been voted as the most significant threat to world peace in a survey across 68 different countries. Anti-American sentiment was not only recorded in antagonistic countries, but also in many allied Nato partners like Turkey and Greece. A global survey conducted
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South Sudanese rebels and government negotiators were to hold their first face-to-face talks yesterday, after several days of delay, to thrash out a ceasefire deal and end weeks of ethnic fighting in the world’s youngest state. At a ceremonial opening to the talks at a luxury
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A Malian militant group has threatened French forces and its allies with retaliation against their interests over France’s ongoing operation in northern Mali. The Mourabitounes Azawad group was formed last August following an alliance between Moulathamounes forces and the
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Antananarivo. — Madagascar’s former Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina won the presidential run-off to replace his backer Andry Rajoelina, who came to power in a coup almost five years ago that crippled the economy.
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BAGHDAD. — A total of 8 868 people, including 7 818 civilians, were killed in violent attacks across Iraq in 2013, the United Nations reports — the highest annual death toll in the war-torn country in five years.
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SEOUL. — South Korea’s top officials recently maintain a cautious stance over the unusual peace appeal offered by the top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in his New Year’s address.
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Violence in the Central African Republic has uprooted nearly a million people, a fifth of the population, and is hampering aid efforts, particularly in the capital Bangui, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said yesterday.
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Cairo. — At least 19 people have been killed in fresh clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, across the North African country.
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JOHANNESBURG. – South African police launched a murder investigation yesterday after Rwanda’s exiled former spy chief and fierce critic of President Paul Kagame was found dead and believed strangled in a Johannesburg hotel room.
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WASHINGTON – The New York Times and Guardian newspapers called yesterday for US leaker Edward Snowden to be granted clemency for his revelations on US government spying.
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TEL AVIV. – The condition of Israel’s former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon — who has been in a coma since 2006 — is now critical, “with some danger to life”, his doctors have said.
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CAIRO. – An Egyptian court yesterday jailed seven activists who joined the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak for two years for breaking a disputed law banning unlicensed protests, state media reported.
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KINSHASA. – The commander of Congolese government troops fighting Ugandan Islamist rebels in the restive east of the country was killed in an ambush yesterday, the government said.