Washington, United States | AFP |  The US and South Korean militaries conducted a live-fire exercise using surface-to-surface missiles in response to North Korea’s test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, the US Army said Friday. The joint exercise, which occurred Saturday morning South Korea time, came shortly after officials said …

Washington, United States | AFP |  US President Donald Trump on Friday ousted his beleaguered chief of staff Reince Priebus, replacing him with retired Marine Corps general and current Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. Priebus has been under fire for weeks, seeing one White House ally after another resign or …

Hamburg, Germany | AFP |  A man born in the United Arab Emirates killed one person with a knife and wounded six others in a supermarket in the German city of Hamburg on Friday, shouting “Allahu Akbar” before being overpowered by passers-by and arrested, said police. Police said they were …

Kampala, Uganda | KCCA FC MEDIA | Kampala Capital City Football Club (KCCA) and telecommunication giants MTN on Friday July 28th, 2017 entered a Sh1.290 billion partnership for the next three years. The treble winners from the 2016/2017 season KCCA FC and MTN unveiled a Sh430 million annual package to support the club’s football …

Devolution has demystified local power and emboldened voters to assert themselves, leading to shocks all the way up the political pyramid Nairobi, Kenya | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS |  Kenya’s 2017 elections are set to be the country’s most interesting yet. The political landscape has shifted, and whatever else these elections turn out to be …

The ruling Patriotic Front’s expulsion of one of its founding members paves the way for President Lungu to be its presidential candidate. But they’d be wrong to think they’ve seen the end of Chishimba Kambwili. Lusaka, Zambia| AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | Last week, Chishimba Kambwili MP, an ambitious firebrand and possible presidential aspirant, was expelled …

Islamabad, Pakistan | AFP | Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday disqualified Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over long-running corruption allegations, a highly anticipated decision that forces him out of office. “He is disqualified as a member of the parliament so he has ceased to be holding the office of Prime Minister,” Justice …

President Sall faces double challenge as Senegal elects MPs Dakar, Senegal | AFP | Senegal holds a legislative election on Sunday following a campaign gripped by tension between the rival coalitions of President Macky Sall, his predecessor Abdoulaye Wade and Dakar’s detained mayor. The election is seen as a crucial test …

In The Independent this week: Chinese quit Museveni’s refinery deal COVER STORY: Chinese quit Museveni’s refinery deal: US$4bn project fails to get investor again THE LAST WORD Hubris of The Economist: How this British newspaper ignores Rwanda’s context in its neocolonial desire to define that country NEWS ANALYSIS Amending constitution …

Adama Barrow: how do you solve a problem like The Gambia? Banjul, Gambia | AFP |  Six months ago, businessman and political novice Adama Barrow took power in Africa’s smallest mainland country after delivering a stunning defeat against ex-leader Yahya Jammeh, who had ruled brutally for 22 years. When Barrow …