…ulation about his health mounted when he missed an African Union summit in Addis Ababa last month. Meles Zenawi took power as the leader of rebels that ousted communist leader Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991. He had dominated Ethiopian public life since the 1990s, as president and then prime minister. He was austere and hardworking, with a discipline forged from years spent in the guerrilla movement…
Thousands of Ethiopians are attending the state funeral in Addis Ababa of country’s long-serving Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who died last month. Meles Zenawi’s flag-draped coffin was carried in a procession from his palace to the city’s Meskel Square, where a solemn religious ceremony began. Dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries, including at least 20 African presidents, w…
Queen Elizabeth II has led mourners in St Paul’s Cathedral in London at the funeral of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest serving prime minister of modern times. More than 2,000 guests from around the world paid their last respects at the biggest such occasion since the Queen Mother’s funeral in 2002. In total, two current heads of state, 11 serving prime ministers and 17 serv…
Naoto Kan, Japan’s PM steps down. Yoshihiko Noda, the former Japan’s finance minister, has become the new prime minister. Yoshihiko Noda, 54, is the seventh prime minister in six years, inheriting a parliament racked by division, a sluggish economy and a nation struggling to recover from the 11 March tsunami and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis. The new prime minister’s election, aft…
…United Nations warned on Monday that the north of the country is now “one of the potentially most explosive corners of the world”. The West African regional group Ecowas has agreed to send 3.300 troops to reclaim rebel-held territory. The deployment has been backed by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. On Monday, the European Union backed plans for a 250-member training mission for arou…
…Zenawi’s life and achievements. Thousands of people, including dozens of foreign leaders and dignitaries, attended Sunday’s funeral. The ex-prime minister died last month in Brussels after 21 years in power. The cause of the 57-year-old’s death has not been announced. Meles Zenawi was praised for bringing development to Ethiopia, which has long been associated with hunger and fam…
Silvio Berlusconi has confirmed he will run for prime minister again in 2013. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told reporters in Milan that he was “running to win” – and that his decision came after his People of Freedom party had not found a leader who was as well known as him. Silvio Berlusconi, 76, said PM Mario Monti’s austerity policies had harmed Italy…
…formation Minister Omran al-Zoubi called it a “cowardly, terrorist act”. He said such incidents were “unjustifiable wherever they occur”. Syrian troops withdrew from Lebanon in 2005 after a 29-year-long presence, in the wake of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Wissam Hassan, 47, was close to the 14 March opposition and the Hariri family, part of the…
…he said. “It was and is the only possible government.” The new government has to deal with a rapidly declining economic situation, rising unemployment – particularly among under the 35s – and lack of growth, despite some draconian austerity measures passed by the previous government of technocrats. Enrico Letta, 46, is considered a moderate within the PD and is linked to S…
…thirds majority in the lower house. The governing Democratic Party (DPJ) suffered major losses in the poll, with leader Yoshihiko Noda stepping down. Conservative Shinzo Abe, who was prime minister in 2006-07, is expected to form a new cabinet later on Wednesday. He is seen as a hawkish, right-of-centre leader whose previous term in office ended ignominiously amid falling popularity and a resignat…
Margaret Thatcher, UK’s first female prime minister, has died at 87 following a stroke, her spokesman has announced today. Lord Bell said: “It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning.” Margaret Thatcher was Conservative prime minister from 1979 to 1990. PM David Cameron calle…
…r, has been sworn in after the death of long-time leader Meles Zenawi in August Hailemariam Desalegn had been deputy prime minister and foreign minister. Meles Zenawi died last month in Brussels after 21 years in power. …
…ep down as president in February 2011. Its declaration and decision to dissolve parliament only days before caused outrage and overshadowed the nominal transfer of power to President Mohammed Mursi on 30 June. Of the 18 ministers named so far by state media, two are members of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which Mohammed Mursi used to lead. Mustafa Musaad, who was…
…Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin over an embezzlement case involving a friend A close friend of Dominique de Villepin, Regis Bulot, is accused of embezzling 1.6 million euros ($2 million) between 2002 and 2008. Regis Bulot, who formerly headed the Relais & Chateaux luxury small hotel association, has been in custody since November. He denies the charges against him. The former prime minis…
…wi’s last public appearance was at the G20 talks in Mexico last month. Meles Zenawi took power as the leader of a rebel movement which ousted the communist government of Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991. He has won several elections since then, but his political opponents have accused him of using repression to retain power. …
…him with someone who can match his level of international credibility. He is expected to name a new prime minister within days. Salam Fayyad has been prime minister of the Palestinian Authority since 2007. A former IMF official, he is widely respected among international organizations and donors. He is considered a liberal and politically independent, being a member of neither Mahmoud Abbas’…
pope as an 8-year-old after sneaking away from a Vatican tour group. Giulio Andreotti later became one of the founding fathers of the post-war Italian republic. He was a junior minister at the age of 28, and went on to serve as either prime minister or a senior minister in the many frequently changing Christian Democratic coalitions that held power almost continuously between 1946 and 1992. The p…
…221; Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement released by his office. He also said he would waive his parliamentary immunity and suggested he hoped to settle the case before the elections, due on January 22nd, allowing him to stand as a candidate as planned. “I am doing this because I am convinced that Israel’s citizens should be able to go to the polls after this matter has been settled&…
…nditionally. Enrico Letta, once a member of the former centre-right Christian Democrats, is seen as moderate of the left. His uncle, Gianni Letta, has been Silvio Berlusconi’s chief-of-staff for 10 years. A broad political alliance would again make Silvio Berlusconi a major influence. This awkward coming together of bitter rivals is seen as the only way to end the parliamentary stalemate and…
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has resigned today, keeping a promise to step down after the passing of his budget by parliament. MPs earlier passed the 2013 budget drawn up by his government with 309 votes in favor and 55 against. An announcement on whether Mario Monti will take part in elections – expected in February – will probably be made at a news conference on Sunday. Mario…
Italian parliament has been dissolved by President Giorgio Napolitano following caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti’s resignation. The move paves the way for elections, now confirmed for 24-25 February. Mario Monti, brought in last year to form a technocratic government, stepped down on Friday after MPs passed his budget. It followed the withdrawal of support from former PM Silvio Berlusco…
d resignation, DPJ has to select a new leader until Monday — with the winner almost certainly to become Japan’s prime minister. Naoto Kan‘s departure, after assuming his post in June 2011 following another Japanese power shakeup, means that his successor will become the Japan’s 6th prime minister since 2006. PM Naoto Kan had promised he would quit once lawmakers passed thre…
…nth, Russian investigators raided the offices of a state-controlled military contractor and began investigating the company on suspicion that it had sold assets to commercial firms at a loss of nearly 3 billion roubles ($100 million). Oboronservice’s activities include servicing military aircraft and arms and constructing military facilities. President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Defense M…
…owth removed from her bladder Baroness Margaret Thatcher was the UK’s first female prime minister and served three terms in that post, between 1979 and 1990. She had a series of minor strokes in 2002 and was advised by doctors to stop making public speeches. Margaret Thatcher’s daughter, Carol Thatcher, has previously spoken of her mother’s struggle with dementia. The former prime mini…
…in office. On Thursday, Xi Jinping was confirmed by legislators as the new president, completing the transition of power from Hu Jintao. Li Keqiang’s widely-signalled elevation was confirmed by 3,000 legislators at the National People’s Congress, the annual parliament session, in Beijing. He received 2,940 votes to three, with six abstentions. As premier, Li Keqiang will oversee a lar…
Did Amanda Berry's 911 dispatcher curse at her?The 911 dispatcher, who spoke to Amanda Berry after she escaped from the Cleveland house of horrors, is being investigated over claims he swore at the end of her emergency…
Travis Alexander home becomes tourist attractionThe family who now lives in the home where Jodi Arias killed her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander is treated to a constant stream of unwanted visitors who drive past the home…
Apple among America's big tax avoidersApple has been accused by US Senate of being "among America's largest tax avoiders". A Senate committee said Apple had used "a complex web of offshore entities" to avoid…
Oklahoma tornado kills at least 51 people as two entire schools flattened in MooreAt least 51 people have been killed after a huge tornado tore through Oklahoma City suburbs, with the death toll likely to rise. Worst hit was Moore, south of Oklahoma City,…
Travis Alexander case: Jodi Arias' attorneys file motion for mistrialYesterday, Jodi Arias' defense attorneys filed a motion for mistrial as one of their character witnesses scheduled to testify during the May 20, 2013, penalty phase on Arias'…
Richard DeCoatsworth: Philadelphia police recommended bringing charges of witness intimidation against former officerRecent reports revealed that Philadelphia police last year recommended bringing charges of witness intimidation against former officer Richard DeCoatsworth, once hailed as a…
Dominique Venner: Suicide inside Notre-Dame de Paris
Eurovision 2013: Russia calls Azerbaijan’s failure to award any points as outrageous action
Brad Pitt says he felt he was wasting his life while married to Jennifer Aniston
Did Amanda Berry’s 911 dispatcher curse at her?
Christie Brinkley poses in a swimsuit at 59
Tiger Woods and Lindsey Vonn drop his kids off at school
George Michael fell out of his car at 70 mph while travelling on a four-lane stretch of M1 motorway
Lady Gaga is back in her favorite high heels after recovering from hip surgery
Travis Alexander home becomes tourist attraction
Carl Pistorius: Oscar Pistorius’ brother acquitted in Marietjie Barnard’s death case
Jose Manuel Barroso urges full tax data exchange
Why penguin can’t fly
Apple among America’s big tax avoiders
North Korea releases Chinese fishing crew
Efrain Rios Montt genocide and crimes against humanity conviction overturned
Hilaria Baldwin joins husband Alec at Cannes Film Festival 2013 to promote his documentary Seduced and Abandoned
Jennifer Lawrence wears blue body paint to portray X-Men’s Mystique
Oklahoma tornado kills at least 51 people as two entire schools flattened in Moore
Ray Manzarek dead: The Doors co-founder dies aged 74 after long battle with cancer
Christine White dies in a nursing home in Washington at the age of 86
Brazilian husband caught cheating wife as lover escapes from window
Travis Alexander case: Jodi Arias’ attorneys file motion for mistrial
Laura Fernee claims she is too pretty to work
Full spring cleaning burns more calories than running a marathon
Face Trainer: Training balaclava claims to tone up saggy faces
Macaulay Culkin at risk of lung cancer
Eurovision 2013: Azerbaijan inquiry into “nul points” for Russia
Oscar Pistorius will not compete in 2013
Kate Middleton has a Marilyn Monroe dress blow up moment at William van Cutsem wedding
Iraq: At least 54 people killed in series of car bomb attacks in Baghdad, Basra and Samarra