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Former Mauritanian president jailed for 15 years following appeal

Abdel Aziz, who has denied corruption allegations, was found guilty of economic crimes and abuse of power.

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Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was on Wednesday sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges following an appeal to a Nouakchott court by both the state and Aziz’s defence against a sentence imposed in 2023.

Reuters reported that Abdel Aziz led the West African country for a decade after coming to power in a 2008 coup, followed by an election a year later.

He was an ally of Western powers fighting Islamist militants in the Sahel region.

Abdel Aziz, who has denied corruption allegations, was found guilty of economic crimes and abuse of power.

He was initially handed a five-year prison sentence in December 2023 before the state appealed against the leniency of that punishment and Aziz’s team appealed the ruling, saying only a high court of justice was qualified to try a former president.

“It is a decision that reflects the pressure the executive branch exerts on the judiciary,” defence lawyer Mohameden Ichidou told Reuters, adding that the defence would appeal against the decision to the Supreme Court.

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International

Trump sends envoys to Russia, Ukraine with new peace plan

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US President Donald Trump has dispatched special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend with a new proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.

Trump announced the mission on Friday, describing Witkoff and Kushner as “two great negotiators” who are carrying “a proposal to end the war.” He said there “may be a good chance” of progress and added that the United States has “an idea for peace,” without confirming whether the plan involves territorial concessions.

According to reports, the envoys were expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Saturday before travelling to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. A senior Ukrainian official confirmed the Kyiv leg of the trip. Russian state media reported that Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday.

The visit marks the first time the two envoys will travel to war-torn Kyiv since Trump returned to office. Previous diplomatic efforts involving the pair had focused more heavily on contacts with Moscow.

Zelensky said Ukrainian forces would refrain from airstrikes on Russia while the envoys were in the country and called on Moscow to reciprocate by pausing attacks on Ukraine. The mission represents Washington’s latest attempt to break the long-running diplomatic stalemate in the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

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Uber introduces robotaxi services in London after exiting Nigeria

A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.

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Ride-haling company, Uber, in partnership with British Artificial Intelligence company Wayve, has unveiled an autonomous rides in London, marking a new step in the company’s expansion of robotaxi services.

Reuters reported that the move comes few hours after Uber exited Nigeria, where the company had operated its ride-hailing service for over 12 years.

According to Reuters report on Thursday, London is now the second city in Europe where Uber offers autonomous rides, after first it launched it robotaxi service in Zagreb.

At the initial stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available.

Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost.

A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the launch would help build public and government confidence in the technology.

“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.

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China -Egypt lubricate over 70 years trade, diplomatic relation

President Xi noted that China and Egypt were both ancient civilizations, with a traditional friendship that has endured and grown stronger over millennia.

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Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping (m), his wife, Peng Liyuan (l), and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, during the arrival of President Xi and his wife in Cairo, Egypt, on state visit.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, are in Egypt, on a state visit, via a special plane.

President Xi is in Egypt on the invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry disclosed on its official website that upon Xi and Liyuan’s arrival at Cairo International Airport, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and his wife were present to warmly greet them.

During the visit , Xi will have an in-depth exchange of views with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on China-Egypt relations, all-round bilateral cooperation, and international and regional issues of mutual concern, jointly charting the course for the development of the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership and opening a new chapter in the history of China-Egypt friendship.

President Xi noted that China and Egypt were both ancient civilizations, with a traditional friendship that has endured and grown stronger over millennia.

Xi also said that over the 70 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have always stood together and cooperated for mutual benefit, regardless of changes in the international and regional landscape.

“In recent years, together with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, I have guided the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve leapfrog development.

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