
Abiy's Ethiopia and 'free fall' of Abdi Iley, ex-Somali regional prez
The latest installment on Abdi Mohammed Omer, the former powerful regional president of Ethiopia’s eastern Somali Regional State, SRS, is formal laying of criminal charges against him and over 40 others. The Attorney General’s office confirmed on Wednesday that the man also known as Abdi Iley was to face charges arising from months of investigation into his conduct in the region. He is however only one of six people who are being held in detention – main charge of inciting vi

Paris Saint-Germain’s grand Neymar experiment is fizzling out
The genesis of Neymar’s world record-shattering 2017 move from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain wasn’t design but opportunity. The recruitment of the Brazilian superstar forward wasn’t part of some carefully laid plan. PSG didn’t sign the then-25-year-old for a $263 million-ish fee, more than doubling Paul Pogba’s previous world record, after some years-long pursuit the way Barca did. Word reached the moneyed Parisians that he might be available to them, as Neymar had appa

Ethiopia’s international and domestic debt soars to 1.4 trillion birr
Within the next three years alone, Ethiopia is expected to pay over $7 billion towards its debt. The leaders are renegotiating debt in the west and in the east. Ethiopia’s international and domestic debt is estimated to be US $50 billion or 1.4 trillion Ethiopian birr, according to a report by Ethiopian state media. Government claims that most of the loans were spent on infrastructure development, development projects and Commerce. In the next nine months alone, the country i

Ethiopia deporting Syrian refugees as street begging activity becomes suspicious
Ethiopia is returning about 395 Syrian refugees to where they came from. This past week Ethiopia received 560 Syrians who came to Ethiopia with visitor and transit visa. 395 Syrian refugees are being deported for being street beggars in the Ethiopian capital, according to a report by state affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). Ethiopian Immigration Agency deputy director, Yemane Gebremeskel, said that in the interest of Ethiopia’s security Syrians, who came to the c

Saudi billionaire Mohammed al-Amoudi released from detention
The tycoon, who had a net worth estimated to be $10.9bn, was detained as part of 'anti-corruption purge' in 2017. Saudi Arabia has freed Saudi-Ethiopian billionaire Mohammed al-Amoudi, more than a year after the tycoon was detained under the kingdom's controversial anti-corruption campaign. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed confirmed Amoudi's release on Twitter on Sunday, saying he had raised the issue with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) during a trip to Riyadh last

After a Tarnished Election, Opposition Figure Takes Over in Congo
Supporters of Congo’s new president, Felix Tshisekedi, celebrated ahead of his inauguration in Kinshasa, Congo, on Thursday.CreditCreditJohn Wessels/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images By Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura Jan. 24, 2019 Felix Tshisekedi, an opposition leader whose victory in presidential elections last month is widely considered to be illegitimate, took the oath of office on Thursday vowing to tackle the country’s endemic corruption. Shortly after assuming power, Mr. T

USMNT Stock Watch: Weston McKennie and Tim Weah trending up, Bill Hamid and injured Greg Garza down
Celtic’s Tim Weah (above) and Schalke’s Weston McKennie both cracked the scoresheet for their clubs over the weekend. (Jane Barlow/AP) The Bundesliga is back following its month-long winter break, and so is your U.S. men’s national team Stock Watch. The timing is good. There is no shortage of American players impressing with their clubs early this year. That’s a welcome change from 2018, when more than a few USMNT regulars found consistent minutes hard to come by. It’s not a

New Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala was on missing plane, no survivors expected
Cardiff City’s newest striker Emiliano Sala was on a plane that disappeared while on route to Cardiff. The plane has not been found, and no survivors are expected. (Getty Images) Emiliano Sala, the new striker for Premier League team Cardiff City, was on board a light aircraft that went missing over the English Channel on Monday night. According to the Associated Press, there are not expected to be any survivors. The plane, which was carrying two people, took off from Nantes

Chelsea advance to League Cup final past Tottenham on penalty kicks
Maurizio Sarri‘s team had the perfect response at home after a rough defeat last weekend to Arsenal. Chelsea overcame Tottenham, 4-2 on penalty kicks in the League Cup semifinal after the tie was locked at 2-2 on aggregate after 180 minutes of action. Eric Dier skied one penalty, Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved one from Spurs winger Lucas Moura, and David Luiz put the finishing touches to send Chelsea to the League Cup final on February 24 at Wembley Stadium in Lon

Neymar won't need surgery after latest right foot injury, could be fit to face Manchester United
Neymar and Paris Saint-Germain may have narrowly escaped a devastating injury spell. A report on Thursday from Brazilian journalist Raphael de Angeli, who is based in the French capital, indicated Neymar won’t require surgery after re-injuring the fifth metatarsal in his right foot the day prior in a Coupe de France match against Strasbourg. The report says the injury did not compromise the screw Neymar had placed in his right foot during surgery last spring. Medical staff wi