Slovak Court Blocks Book Exposing Corruption, Demands Manuscript, Docs
A SLOVAK court’s decision to block publication of an unfinished book about alleged high-level political corruption being written by investigative journalist Tom Nicholson, a former editor-in-chief of this newspaper, has been described by critics as censorship.
FAA Moves to Limit Blockout System Hiding Private Jet Flights
The (US) Federal Aviation Administration is proposing rules that would prevent private plane owners from keeping their flight records secret unless they can provide a valid security concern.
Equatorial Guinea: France impounds African autocrats’ ‘ill-gotten gains’
At 42 Avenue Foch, the tree-lined boulevard that is one of Paris’s most expensive streets, looms a five-storey private mansion complete with disco, spa room, hair salon, gold- and jewel-encrusted taps, lift, pastel pink dining room and a breathtaking balcony-view of the Arc de Triomphe.
Nigeria: Eni SpA Pipeline Set Ablaze by Militants, MEND Claims Responsibility
A statement purportedly from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta(MEND), one of Nigeria’s largest militant groups, claims to have “attacked and destroyed” a pipeline owned by a Nigerian subsidiary of Eni SpA. Eni has since stated that an incident disrupted its Nigeria output by some 4000 barrels a day, but has yet to officially confirm the attack. In a statement released to media outlets, MEND said that “this relatively insignificant attack is a reminder of our presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come.”
Flying With Gems: AirZim Receives First Airbus Jet
Air Zimbabwe today received the first of three Airbus jets acquired from the French aircraft giant through a controversial deal that opposition partners in the Zimbabwe government have sought to distance themselves from. The airline, which is currently struggling to pay its pilots and engineers, spend several hundred millions of dollars on the acquisition, aimed at [...]
Thailand: South African Woman Found With Coccaine in Her Dreadlocks
Nolubabalo Nobanda did not fit the police’s profile of a drug mule. She matriculated from one of South Africa’s top girl’s schools before heading to Wits University.
US$4 Million Getaway for the Obamas
Barack Obama’s annual vacation in Hawaii this year is likely to be his most expensive ever – and the majority of it is being funded by the taxpayer.
Zimbabwe: New Diamond Find Raises Stakes, Prospects
Gillian Sithole, mine manager at Mbada Diamonds, one of the firms mining in the area, said government has discovered a further 53 000 hectares of diamond deposits.
Uganda: Corruption Worsens, With Little Action from Government
Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police, the head of the most corrupt institution in Uganda, is a lucky man. President Yoweri Museveni keeps praising him even when two reports have pinned the police as the most corrupt institution both nationally and regionally in a space of two months.
Ugandan Journalist Assassinated in Rwanda: Probe Deepens
The Rwandan State House’s Counter Intelligence has picked up the investigation into the killing of top journalist Charles Ingabire. According to a well-placed army officer, it’s feared Ingabire was killed in highly planned mission. Ingabire met a group of three men at around 10:00pm last night. One of them later left them in the middle of [...]
Energy Giants Tullow Oil, Eni S.p.A Accused of Trying to Bribe Ugandan Ministers in Oil Deal
Hussein Bogere & Moses Talemwa – The Ugandan parliament’s ad hoc committee yesterday heard that Eni and Tullow Oil tried to influence the process of acquiring oil deals in Uganda by approaching three key government officials: Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi and ministers Sam Kutesa (Foreign Affairs) and Hilary Onek (then Energy; currently Internal Affairs).
UN Reports Marked Increase in Access to Antiretroviral Therapy Despite Financial Crisis
Tawanda Kanhema – Despite the crippling financial crisis affecting most governments across the globe, the number of people with access to much needed antiretroviral drugs has increased significantly to nearly 50 percent of diagnosed cases, cutting new infection rates and significantly reducing the number of deaths from AIDS related illnesses, according to a report released by UNAIDS.