WORLD - The African Mirror

Dec

08

2022

Trump Organization found guilty of tax fraud scheme

WORLD

LUC COHEN and KAREN FREIFELD DONALD Trump's real estate company was convicted of carrying out a 15-year-long criminal scheme to defraud tax authorities, adding to the legal woes facing the former U.S. president as he campaigns for office again in 2024. The Trump Organization - which operates hotels, golf courses, and other real estates around the world - was found guilty of paying personal expenses for top executives including former chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg, and issuing bonus checks to them as if they were independent contractors. The company faces up to $1.6 million in fines after being convicted on all…

Dec

08

2022

By The African Mirror

Germany raids far-right group over plot to install prince in coup

WORLD

MIRANDA MURRAY GERMANY detained 25 members and supporters of a far-right group that the prosecutor's office said was preparing a violent overthrow of the state to install as national leader a prince who had sought support from Russia. Prosecutors said the group was inspired by the deep state conspiracy theories of Germany's Reichsbuerger and QAnon, whose advocates were among those arrested after the storming of the U.S. Capitol in January 2021. Members of the Reichsbuerger (Citizens of the Reich) do not recognise modern-day Germany as a legitimate state. Some of them are devoted to the German empire under the monarchy, while some…

Dec

05

2022

By The African Mirror

Ukrainians in Kherson wait for loved ones to cross frontline river

WORLD

ANTHONY DEUTSCH and ANNA VOITENKO UKRAINIAN families waited in the bitter cold for their loved ones to cross from the Russian-held bank of the Dnipro River to Kherson, a city that since Ukraine recaptured it from Russian forces last month has been under heavy shelling. Military officials in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson on Saturday warned fighting in the area could intensify and said they would temporarily lift a ban on crossings to help the evacuation of citizens on the Russian-occupied territory on the east bank. Under the three-day amnesty which began on Saturday, Ukrainians living in villages across the river…

Dec

05

2022

By The African Mirror

Fiance of U.S. citizen detained in UAE fears he will be extradited to Egypt

WORLD

AN Egyptian-American national detained while visiting the United Arab Emirates fears he will be extradited to Egypt for criticising authorities there ahead of the country hosting the COP27 climate conference last month, his fiance said. The UAE, a close ally of Egypt, arrested Sherif Osman, who resides in the United States, on November 6 at the request of an Arab League entity responsible for coordinating law enforcement and security matters, a UAE official confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. The official said Emirati authorities were working to secure "requisite legal documentation required in preparing the extradition file", without specifying to which…

Dec

05

2022

By The African Mirror

Mexican judge killed in state of Zacatecas

WORLD

A Mexican judge died after being shot in the violent state of Zacatecas in northern Mexico, according to state government sources. Judge Roberto Elias died Sunday, according to a state government source and social media posts by Arturo Nahle, presiding magistrate of the Zacatecas justice department. Nahle called for peace in Zacatecas. Zacatecas has become one of the most violent regions in Mexico amid disputes between organized crime gangs for control of the state. The head of the National Guard in the state, one of the highest-ranking commanders of Mexico's militarized police force, was killed last month in a confrontation with armed…

Dec

04

2022

By The African Mirror

Biden not planning to speak to Putin for now

WORLD

PAVEL POLITYUK U.S. President Joe Biden does not intend to speak to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about ending the Ukraine war as conditions for such discussions currently do not exist, the White House said. "We're just not at a point now where talks seem to be a fruitful avenue to approach right now," national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters. His comment underscored the chasm between Ukraine and its main backer and Russia on negotiations more than nine months into the war ignited by Putin's invasion that has killed tens of thousands, uprooted millions and destroyed cities and towns.…

Dec

04

2022

By The African Mirror

Iran state body reports 200 dead in protests, Raisi hails ‘freedoms’

WORLD

PRESIDENT Ebrahim Raisi hailed Iran's Islamic Republic as a guarantor of rights and freedoms, defending the ruling system amid a crackdown on anti-government protests that the United Nations says has cost more than 300 lives. A top state security body meanwhile said that 200 people, including members of the security forces, had lost their lives in the unrest, a figure significantly lower than that given by the world body and rights groups. The protests, in their third month, were ignited by the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of morality police enforcing strict mandatory hijab rules.…

Dec

03

2022

By The African Mirror

Putin is open to talks and diplomacy on Ukraine, Kremlin says

WORLD

GUY FAULCONBRIDGE PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin is open to talks on a possible settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and believes in a diplomatic solution, the Kremlin said after Joe Biden suggested he was prepared to speak to the Russian leader. Biden, speaking beside French President Emmanuel Macron, said the only way to end the war in Ukraine was for Putin to pull troops out and that if Putin was looking to end the conflict then Biden would be prepared to speak to him. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov struck a dovish tone when asked about Biden's remarks, saying that Putin remained open to…

Dec

03

2022

By The African Mirror

Jennifer Garner, John Legend attend lavish U.S. state dinner for France’s Macron

WORLD

STEVE HOLLAND and JEFF MASON U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet for celebrities, lawmakers, and titans of industry at the White House's first state dinner in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron. The dinner is the crowning social event of a trip aimed at showing Biden's commitment to Washington's oldest ally even as the two countries wrangle over how to handle Russia's war in Ukraine, subsidies for U.S. products and other issues. The guest list included actress Jennifer Garner and her daughter with Ben Affleck, Violet; singer John Legend and model Chrissy Teigen; "Vogue" editor Anna Wintour; and director…

Dec

03

2022

By The African Mirror

Rishi Sunak says racism must be confronted after Buckingham Palace aide controversy

WORLD

BRITISH Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that the country had made progress in tackling racism but that it was "never done" and must still be confronted, following a controversy involving Prince William's godmother. Ngozi Fulani, who was born in Britain and works for a domestic abuse support group, wrote on Twitter that the royal aide had repeatedly asked her: "What part of Africa are you from?" when she attended an event hosted by King Charles wife Camilla, the queen consort, on Tuesday. British media identified the royal aide as Lady Susan Hussey, the 83-year-old godmother of King Charles's son and…