Washington, United States | AFP | From a young gay mayor who launched his candidacy Wednesday, to high-flying female US senators and charismatic military veterans, a crowded field of Democrats jockeying to challenge Donald Trump in 2020 has already emerged — and is sure to grow. All told it will …
Read More »A stitch in time to save Egypt’s ancient tentmaking craft
Cairo, Egypt | AFP | Mohsen al-Khayami has for years watched sadly as his once lucrative craft business dwindled and fellow artisans deserted the ancient art known as Khayamiya, or tentmaking, for better paying jobs. The 68 year-old, a master of one of Egypt’s most traditional crafts, has been handstitching the …
Read More »DR Congo’s disputed presidential election
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Felix Tshisekedi was sworn in as the Democratic Republic of Congo’s new president Thursday after an election fraught with delays and doubts. Here is a recap. – Two-year delay – After being postponed three times, the elections go ahead on December 30, 2018 to chose …
Read More »Nigeria: Africa’s top oil producer, world’s extreme poverty capital
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | In the Ago Egun Bariga area of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, there is no road, no electricity, no running water and no rubbish collection. Now that high grass has blocked access to the water, there is no work either. The people of Ago Egun Bariga have …
Read More »BuzzFeed story, video prompt media soul-searching, Trump attacks
Washington, United States | AFP | The BuzzFeed story was a bombshell: President Donald Trump instructed his lawyer to lie to Congress about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. It sparked immediate calls for impeachment. Less than 24 hours later, the story was struck down by a rare statement …
Read More »DR Congo set for historic political transition
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | Felix Tshisekedi is to be sworn in on Thursday as president of Democratic Republic of Congo, marking the country’s first-ever peaceful handover of power after chaotic and bitterly-disputed elections. At 55, opposition leader Tshisekedi takes over from Joseph Kabila who is stepping aside after 18 …
Read More »COMESA trade barriers
COMESA: Experts call for harmonisation of standards within the trading bloc Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa bloc presents huge opportunities for businesses but a number of challenges remain. Delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Malawi said at a recent meeting …
Read More »Juan Guaido: the ‘kid’ taking on Venezuela’s Maduro
Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Juan Guaido proudly calls himself a “survivor.” He will need to be: the bold young politician, head of Venezuela’s opposition-controlled legislature, became public enemy number one when he declared himself interim president Wednesday, defying embattled President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido did not set out to …
Read More »Oscar nominations: all the fun facts
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | The nominations for the 91st Oscars were announced Tuesday, with “Roma” and “The Favourite” leading the pack. But the statistical quirks that the annual event throws up can be as intriguing as tracking which movies get the most nods. Here are some fun …
Read More »Bleeding risks may offset aspirin’s benefit vs heart disease
Tampa, United States | AFP | Should healthy people take aspirin to ward off heart disease? The notion has been controversial, and the medical advice mixed. But a review of scientific data on the topic Tuesday showed that any benefits are slight, and are counterbalanced by a matching rise in …
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