3 h. ago Madagascar president flees after losing support of key army unit

Elite Capsat unit that played a major role in Andry Rajoelina’s rise to presidency joined gen Z protests against corruptionMadagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, is reported to have fled the country on a French military aircraft, hours before he was scheduled to address the people.French state radio RFI reported on Monday that the president, who also has French citizenship, had been flown out of the capital, Antananarivo, after a deal with President Emmanuel Macron. It added that he may have headed for Dubai. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Madagascar: Is there a coup and why has the president fled the country?

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has reportedly fled the country after an elite military group joined violent anti-government protests

Politics

4 h. ago Is there a coup in Madagascar? What to know as president flees country amid protests

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina was due to give an address on national television after soldiers turned against the government in an apparent coup

Politics

28 h. ago Schoolboy faces explosives charge after bomb squad called to residential street

Police, specialist forensics officers and an army bomb disposal unit were present at a home in Monkseaton this week - a schoolboy has been charged with possession of an explosive substance

Events

30 h. ago Madagascar’s president says illegal power grab by military is under way

Soldiers from elite Capsat unit have announced they are taking over after weeks of youth-led protestsMadagascar’s president said an “attempt to seize power illegally and by force” was under way, as an elite military unit that joined protesters on the streets on Saturday announced it was taking over the army.The Capsat unit’s intervention comes after weeks of youth-led protests, which started on 25 September against water and electricity shortages and expanded to calling for the resignation of the president, Andry Rajoelina, an end to corruption and radical overhaul of the political system. Continue reading...

Events

48 h. ago Soldiers from elite Capsat unit join protests against Madagascar’s president

Demonstrators march alongside regiment, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on the crowdsThousands of protesters against Madagascar’s president were joined on the streets of the capital on Saturday afternoon by soldiers from an elite army unit, who earlier in the day said they would not fire on demonstrators.Protesters marched alongside soldiers from the Capsat unit, who drove armoured vehicles, some waving Madagascar flags, from their base in Soanierana in the south of Antananarivo. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Fans 'beg' King Charles to allow 'underrated' couple to become working royals

Royal fanss have expressed their wishes for one low-key royal couple to be given more senior roles to boost support of the slimmed-down working monarchy

Politics

1 week ago Madagascar president who took power in coup accuses protesters of trying to trigger another one

Young people take to streets to voice anger at water and power cuts, and corruption in political systemMadagascar’s president, Andry Rajoelina, who first came to power in a coup in 2009, has condemned protests calling for his resignation, saying that demonstrators were trying to trigger a coup and were funded by unspecified foreign governments and organisations.Youth-led demonstrations on the Indian Ocean island started on 25 September, initially driven by outrage over water and power cuts, but have grown into demands for action against corruption and reform of the political system. At least 22 people have been killed by security forces, according to the UN, which officials denied. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago ‘We are the last hope’: Gen Z Madagascar vows to fight on until president resigns

Protesting young people reject dissolution of government as insufficient and demand list of reforms Young protesters in Madagascar have said they will continue their fight until the president, Andry Rajoelina, resigns, rejecting his dissolution of the government on Monday as insufficient.Twenty-two people were killed and 100 injured at the demonstrations, according to the UN. The unrest broke out on 25 September when local councillors were arrested for protesting against water and electricity outages in the capital, Antananarivo. The youth-led protests quickly spread to other towns and cities, fuelled by social media and other “Gen Z protests in Indonesia and Nepal, where the government was toppled. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Improved performance for North Lanarkshire Council on developing workforce

The six-monthly report on the council’s Brighter Futures programme notes that more than 1500 people have received support from NL Academies, gaining work, training and being guided to key sectors in the area.

Politics

4 w. ago Ruben Amorim handed Man United transfer ultimatum amid clear sack stance

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim retains the support of key figures at Old Trafford, but has been instructed to improve his midfield.

Politics