WORLD

Emmanuel Macron has vowed to fight “the forces of division that undermine France” after easily winning the run-off election for the French presidency. The centrist candidate, 39, defeated the far right’s Marine Le Pen, winning 66.1% of the vote to her 33.9%. Acknowledging his victory, Mr Macron told supporters he wanted to ensure Le Pen voters “no longer have a ...

The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a new three-year arrangement for Togo under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) worth (US$241.5million) to support the country’s economic and financial reforms. The Executive Board’s decision enables an immediate disbursement of US$34.5 million. The remaining amount will be phased over the duration of the program, subject to semi-annual reviews. ...

“The connectivity that is the heart of globalisation can be exploited by states with hostile intent to further their aims.[…] The risks at stake are profound and represent a fundamental threat to our sovereignty.” Alex Younger, head of MI6, December, 2016 “It’s not MI6’s job to warn of internal threats. It was a very strange speech. Was it one branch ...

hana’s former president John Mahama has congratulated Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron on his decisive victory in the French presidential election. Mr Macron defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen by about 65.5% to 34.5% to become, at 39, the country’s youngest president, the results show. Mahama took to microblogging platform Twitter to salute Macron: Félicitatiôns @EmmanuelMacron! Vive La France! — John ...

The Ghana Armed Forces has denied reports that Ghanaian soldiers in peacekeeping operation in Mali have been attacked. The supposed bloody attack on the Ghanaian contingent has gone viral on social media platforms, especially whatsApp. The bloody images circulating on social media has a soldier being treated of multiple injuries from the supposed attack. But Speaking to StarrFMonline.com Friday, the ...

Barack Obama considered a same-sex romance and regularly snorted cocaine, an explosive new biography has claimed. The unauthorised biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David Garrow, entitled Rising Star: The Making of Barack Obama, details a life of debauchery with drugs and sex long before the politician set his sights on office. Former girlfriend Genevieve Cook fell for a then 22-year-old ...

Boko Haram leader Shekau ‘injured in air strike’ AFP Aminu ABUBAKAR AFPMay 3, 2017 Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram's shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau has been injured in an air strike, reports saidView photos Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram’s shadowy leader Abubakar Shekau has been injured in an air strike, reports said (AFP Photo/HO, HO, HO) More Kano (Nigeria) ...

The Duke of Edinburgh is retiring from royal duties this autumn, Buckingham Palace has announced. The decision was made by Prince Philip himself and is supported by the Queen, a palace spokesman said. He will attend previously scheduled engagements between now and August but will not accept new invitations. The prince – who turns 96 next month – is patron, ...

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron was more impressive than rival Marine Le Pen in Wednesday evening’s final TV debate, a viewers’ poll says. The candidates traded insults for more than two hours, arguing over terrorism, the economy, and Europe. The French broadcaster BFMTV found voters had a more favourable view of Mr Macron than Ms Le Pen in most categories. ...

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has missed his third cabinet meeting in a row amid ongoing questions about the state of his health. He has not been seen in public for more than a week. His wife Aisha Buhari tweeted on Tuesday that her husband was not as sick as is being perceived. In March, Mr Buhari returned from seven weeks ...