Washington, United States | AFP | Both sides of the US political divide are defending Malia Obama’s right to privacy after a video went viral showing the eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama apparently smoking. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump were among the numerous defenders of Malia, 19, on …
Read More »Putin signs ‘foreign agent’ media law
Moscow, Russia | AFP | President Vladimir Putin on Saturday signed into law new rules on international media organisations present in Russia being termed “foreign agents”, following US pressure on the Kremlin-backed RT television channel. Already approved by both houses of parliament, the legislation was published on the Russian authorities’ …
Read More »Red Pepper editors charged with treason
Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Eight editors and directors of one of Uganda’s most popular tabloid newspaper groups have been charged with “treason” over an article implicating President Yoweri Museveni in a plot to overthrow his Rwandan counterpart, a defence lawyer said Thursday. The eight men were arrested Tuesday during …
Read More »Umeme investment in power distribution infrastructure paying off
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Umeme Limited Nov.16 held a media dialogue to highlight the utility’s investments in the power distribution infrastructure. Speaking at the event, Managing Director Selectino Babungi said Umeme had cumulatively invested over $500m in the distribution network. He revealed that the investments have led to the doubling …
Read More »Police raids Red Pepper
Ugandan tabloid editors detained over ‘fake’ story Kampala, Uganda | AFP | The editors and directors of one of Uganda’s most popular tabloid newspapers have been detained over what authorities called a fake news story about a political plot implicating the president. The offices of the privately-owned English-language Red Pepper, and …
Read More »Google, Facebook join news organizations in ‘Trust Project’
Washington, United States | AFP | Google, Facebook and other tech firms joined global news organizations Thursday in an initiative aimed at identifying “trustworthy” news sources, in the latest effort to combat online misinformation. Microsoft and Twitter also agreed to participate in the “Trust Project” with some 75 news organizations to …
Read More »Sudan journalists oppose new law curbing media freedom
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Dozens of Sudanese journalists on Wednesday demonstrated in Khartoum against a proposed new press law that aims to tighten restrictions on media freedom in the African country. “United Against the New Law” and “Free Press or No Press,” read banners held up by demonstrators who say …
Read More »Lupita Nyong’o complains of airbrushing on Grazia UK cover
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o, who won an Oscar for her role in “12 Years a Slave”, on Friday complained her hair had been airbrushed out of the front cover of women’s magazine Grazia UK. “I am disappointed that @GraziaUK invited me to be on …
Read More »LIVE: 2017 ACME lecture – Media and Politics in Africa
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Dr Willy Mutunga, the former Chief Justice of Kenya, has delivered the 4th ACME Annual Lecture. Theme is Media and Independence of the Judiciary. Mutunga is a lawyer, intellectual, reform activist, and has been the Commonwealth Special Envoy to the Maldives. According to the lecture organisers …
Read More »Kenya charges AFP photographer with ‘trespassing’ at dairy
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The chief photographer for Agence France-Presse (AFP) in east Africa appeared in court Monday after 48 hours in police custody, charged with trespassing on a property belonging to the president’s family. Japanese photographer Yasuyoshi Chiba, 46, was arrested on Friday afternoon at a farm belonging to …
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