Mohamed al-Fayed, ex-Harrods owner whose son died with Princess Diana, dies aged 94
Although al-Fayed owned establishment symbols such as Harrods, Fulham and the Ritz hotel in Paris, he was always an outsider in Britain, tolerated but not embraced. He fell out with the British government over its refusal to grant him citizenship of the country that was his home for decades, and often threatened to move to France, which gave him the Legion of Honour, its highest civilian award.
Why West Africans are celebrating coups: Once weary citizenry starts feeling ‘the system is not working for me,’ the system is in trouble
African countries run by regimes have experienced “a breakdown in the rule of law, an increase in arbitrary arrests and detentions, bans on peaceful protests and impunity for human rights violations committed by military forces,” said Kasambala with Freedom House.
China’s economy is headed in the red, economists fear the crunch will destabilise rest of the world
China’s economic growth is slowing down as policymakers try to fix a property market downturn, with troubles at major developer Country Garden in focus. Concerns are mounting over whether the world’s second-largest economy is coming closer to a crunch point: What is causing China’s economy to slow down? Unlike consumers...
Louisiana attorney general files amicus brief in press freedom landmark suit against legacy media
The lawsuit, filed May 31, alleges the TNI violated antitrust laws and the US Constitution by colluding with tech giants, some of which also are members of the TNI, to censor online news. An amicus brief is filed by non-parties to a lawsuit to provide information that has a bearing on the issues and to assist the court in reaching the correct decision.
Congolese soldiers kill over 40, injure 56 during crackdown on demos against UN peacekeepers
Unverified footage posted on social media showed soldiers piling bodies into a lorry and driving them through Goma in a convoy. The head of the local branch of the International Red Cross in Goma, Anne-Sylvie Linder, said her clinic had received a high number of people with serious stab and gunshot wounds after the protest.
Justice Department reports unprecedented rise in threats to election workers 14 months to US poll
About 1 in 5 election workers know someone who left their election job for safety reasons and 73 per cent of local election officials said harassment has increased, according to a Brennan Centre survey published in April.
Judge sentences ex-Proud Boys leaders to 17 and 15-year terms for US Capitol attack
Prosecutors calculated their sentencing recommendation for Rehl, in part, based on evidence he committed perjury when he took the stand in his own defence during the trial and lied about assaulting police with a chemical spray.
A building fire in Johannesburg kills at least 73 people, many of them homeless, authorities say
Another 52 people were injured in the blaze, which broke out at about 1 a.m. in the heart of Johannesburg’s central business district, Johannesburg Emergency Services Management spokesman Robert Mulaudzi said.
Ruling clique itching for constitutional moment in Kenya as hints to repeal presidential term limits emerge
Kulundu likens the evolving political and constitutional scenario in Kenya to the period shortly after the Russian revolution between 1917 and 1924. During the period political idealist and lawyer Vladimir Lennin rode to power promising to retool governance by disbanding the nobility (dynasty in Kenyan political lingo) and co-opting the serfs (read: hustlers).
Sudan: A gun class of constantly shifting alliances of violence specialists and elites who prey on civilians
The fight began as a mobster shootout over which soldier-business cartel would run Sudan. But the two bosses are losing their grip. Hemedti appears to be physically incapacitated and has shown none of the populist energy that allowed him to set a political agenda. Trying to dispel rumours that he was dead or in intensive care, the RSF released a video of patched together clips, in which Hemedti stood, stiff and pallid, speaking for just 11 seconds.
