Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | South Sudanese villagers are eating leaves from trees and precious seed stocks as food runs out in areas where famine has not been declared, a humanitarian aid group said Monday. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said villages outside Aweil Centre County in the north of …
Read More »Janet Jackson, husband split months after baby
New York, United States | AFP | Pop superstar Janet Jackson has split from her husband, the Qatari tycoon Wissam Al Mana, just months after they had a baby, reports said Monday. Several celebrity news sites, quoting unnamed sources, said that the 50-year-old younger sister of late King of Pop Michael …
Read More »US strike destroyed 20 percent of Syria’s working jets
Washington, United States | AFP | Last week’s US strike on a Syrian air base destroyed a fifth of President Bashar al-Assad’s working warplanes, Pentagon chief Jim Mattis said Monday. “The assessment of the Department of Defense is that the strike resulted in the damage or destruction of fuel and …
Read More »BREXIT: First ‘Silk Road’ train from Britain leaves for China with whiskey
Stanford-le-Hope, United Kingdom | AFP | The first-ever freight train from Britain to China started its mammoth journey on Monday along a modern-day “Silk Road” trade route as Britain eyes new opportunities after it leaves the European Union. The 32-container train, around 600 metres (656 yards) long, left the vast …
Read More »Watchdogs allege Shell knew about Nigeria oil kickbacks
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Corruption watchdogs alleged Monday that Shell executives knew that money earmarked for a controversial oil deal was being used to bribe senior Nigerian officials, a claim rebuffed by the petroleum giant. The allegations by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered refer to the 2011 purchase by oil …
Read More »Pulitzer Prizes honor US election coverage
New York, United States | AFP | Campaign reporting that exposed misleading claims by now US President Donald Trump about charitable giving and commentary about last year’s divisive US presidential campaign won Pulitzer Prizes on Monday. David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post won the national reporting award for what the board …
Read More »What Dr Stella Nyanzi told court
Prominent academic and activist Doctor Stella Nyanzi on Monday denied charges of cyber harassment and offensive communication that have been read out to her this afternoon. Her appeal for bail was not granted, as she was remanded to Luzira prison until April 25 for court to hear her response to the state …
Read More »Beijing offers big bucks for foreign spy tip-offs
Beijing, China | AFP | Budding Chinese sleuths could start stalking foreigners as suspected spies in Beijing after authorities in the city on Monday offered a cash bonanza for information on overseas agents. Members of the public can report suspected espionage through a special hotline, by mail or in person and …
Read More »China’s Xi praises normalisation of ties with Norway
Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday praised the normalisation of relations with Norway, six years after a dispute over the Nobel Peace Prize, as Norway’s prime minister said she was glad to be back. The visit by Erna Solberg is the first high-level exchange since December, …
Read More »At least 16 killed in fighting in South Sudan second city
Juba, South Sudan | AFP | At least 16 civilians were killed in fighting Monday between government troops and rebels in South Sudan’s second-largest city Wau, the United Nations peacekeeping mission (UNMISS) said in a statement. The violence stemmed from an ambush Sunday of government troops near the city, leading …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price