Santiago de Cuba, Cuba | AFP | The convoy carrying the ashes of Cuba’s late communist leader Fidel Castro capped an island-wide journey on Saturday, reaching the cradle of his revolution for a final rally before burial. Tens of thousands of people cheered as the olive-green jeep that has pulled …
Read More »France upholds 25-year jail term for Rwanda genocide convict
Bobigny, France | AFP | A French court on Saturday upheld a 25 year prison sentence handed to a former Rwandan intelligence agent jailed in France’s first trial over the African country’s 1994 genocide. Pascal Simbikangwa was found guilty of genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity in a landmark …
Read More »Tiger sizzles then fizzles to shoot 70 at Challenge
Nassau, Bahamas | AFP | Tiger Woods sizzled early but fizzled late in firing a two-under-par 70 in Saturday’s third round of the Hero World Challenge, his first event after a 16-month injury layoff. It was no day at the beach for the former world number one, but Woods did …
Read More »Gambia’s new leaders push for political prisoners’ release
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow held talks with his team Saturday to plot his transition to power, with the release of political prisoners emerging as a top priority for the new administration. Barrow’s shock election victory ended the iron-fisted 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh on …
Read More »Onyango’s Sundowns head for Japan after four-goal romp
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Mamelodi Sundowns thrashed Free State Stars 4-1 in the South African Premiership on Saturday, two days before flying to Japan for a maiden FIFA Club World Cup appearance. Percy Tau added to his rapidly growing reputation with two second-half goals as the Pretoria club …
Read More »Trump upends US foreign policy with Taiwan call
New York, United States | AFP | US President-elect Donald Trump broke with decades of foreign policy to speak with the president of Taiwan, prompting Beijing Saturday to accuse Taipei of a ploy but saying the move would not affect US-China ties. It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s telephone …
Read More »Kasese comes to terms with assault on Rwenzururu palace
Kasese, Uganda | AFP | Outside the mortuary in Kasese, grief-stricken families wait to find out if their missing relatives were among scores killed by Ugandan security forces at the weekend. Huddling in groups, some pull clothes over their mouths and noses to mask the sickening stench of the …
Read More »Angola’s President Dos Santos to stand down in 2017
Luanda, Angola | AFP | Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has ruled for 37 years, will stand down before next year’s general election, state radio said Friday citing sources in the ruling MPLA party. The autocratic Dos Santos, 74, became president in 1979, making him Africa’s second-longest serving …
Read More »Bolt wins unprecedented sixth Athlete of Year award
Monaco, Principality of Monaco | AFP | Sprint king Usain Bolt won an unprecedented sixth IAAF male Athlete of the Year award on Friday, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana picking up the female award after her record-setting 10,000m gold in Rio. “I live for the moments I walk into the stadium,” said …
Read More »Yahya Jammeh: devout and erratic leader of The Gambia
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who was defeated in this week’s poll, seized power in a 1994 coup and clung to office for 22 years with a blend of severity, mysticism and iron-clad self-belief. “No matter what people say about me, I am not moved… I …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price