Latest news with #Bad
LeMonde
15-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Equatorial Guinea accuses France of 'neo-colonial' behavior in fight over seized Paris mansion
Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of "neo-colonial" behavior on Tuesday, July 15, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest installment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach "may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his "Bad" tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a UN anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
15-07-2025
- Politics
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France,' Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
New York Post
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Bono reveals his 1 big regret from 1985 Live Aid performance: ‘I can't look back'
The mullet's not for everyone. In the new documentary 'Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took on the World' documentary, Bono admitted that he regrets his hair choice during U2's performance at Live Aid in 1985. 'I can't look back at this moment with two eyes because it was such a bad hair day,' Bono said. Advertisement 8 Bono performs at Live Aid 1985. Redferns 'Honestly, it's one of the most famous moments of your life and your activism, you've got a mullet,' the Irish rocker added. The charity concert was held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985 to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Advertisement 8 Adam Clayton and Bono perform live onstage at Live Aid in July 1985. Redferns 8 Bono performs with other musical acts during the finale of Live Aid. Getty Images 8 Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof onstage with Bono. Redferns Around 1.9 billion people from 150 countries — nearly 40 percent of the world population — tuned into the global event. Advertisement Performers included U2, Freddie Mercury, Elton John, The Who, David Bowie, Paul Young, Sting, Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, the Beach Boys, Madonna, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan and more. During their set, U2 performed 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' and 'Bad.' Bono also sang in a group rendition of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' 8 Bono poses during a photocall for the film 'Bono: Stories of Surrender' at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival. AFP via Getty Images Bono previously reflected on his 1980s mullet in his 2022 memoir 'Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story: Bono.' Advertisement 'As for the show itself, influential though it was in the arc of our band, I confess that I find it excruciating to watch,' he wrote, per The Guardian. 'It's a little humbling that during one of the greatest moments of your life, you're having a bad hair day.' 8 Bono performing at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium in London. Mirrorpix via Getty Images 'Now, some people would say that I've had a bad hair life, but when I am forced to look at footage of U2 playing Live Aid, there is only one thing that I can see. The mullet,' the 'With Or Without You' singer said. 'All thoughts of altruism and of righteous anger, all the right reasons that we were there, all these flee my mind, and all I see is the ultimate bad hair day.' 8 Bono performing during Live Aid in July 1985. Redferns In a 2012 interview, Bono said: 'I have an erase button on the mullet hairdo.' 'Many lay claim to the mullet. I'm trying to think of the guy who invented it,' he jokingly added. 8 Bono performs during the U2 concert in Nashville in May 2018. Getty Images Advertisement 'Live Aid: When Rock 'n' Roll Took On the World' is a four-part documentary that 'tells the definitive story of how two rockstars inspired the largest global music events in history.' The doc features interviews with other musical acts including Sting, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins and Lionel Richie.
