Washington, United States | AFP | US Democrats struggling to move on from their bitter election defeat last year will pick a new leader Saturday to take the fight to President Donald Trump and his Republicans. With opposition Democrats preparing for crucial 2018 midterm elections and the nation’s next presidential …
Read More »Supporters gather for Mugabe’s lavish birthday party
Matobo, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who turned 93 this week, celebrates his birthday on Saturday with a lavish party attended by thousands of loyalists outside the second city of Bulawayo. The ruling ZANU-PF party is hosting the event for Mugabe, who has held power since 1980 …
Read More »Nigeria VP Osinbajo comes out of the shadows with Buhari away
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo seems to have been everywhere while his boss is away. He even conducted a spot check on the public toilets at Lagos international airport. The clear aim, it seems, is to give the impression of business as usual while President Muhammadu …
Read More »Son of boxer Muhammad Ali detained at Florida airport
Washington, United States | AFP | A son of boxing legend Muhammad Ali was held for questioning for two hours at a Florida airport upon returning from Jamaica because of his Arabic-sounding name, US media reported late Friday. Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, who was born in Philadelphia and has a …
Read More »Trump promises massive buildup of entire US military
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Friday promised a historic buildup of America’s already vast military, but said he hoped he would never need to use it. We are “putting in a massive budget request for our beloved military and we will be substantially upgrading all …
Read More »Combative Trump promises Americans safety and strength
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump promised Friday to keep America safe from foreign “terrorists” with beefed up borders and a massive military buildup, in a staunchly nationalistic address to conservative supporters. “The era of empty talk is over. It’s over. Now is the time for action,” …
Read More »White House accused of picking media favorites
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s White House barred several major US media outlets from a daily press briefing Friday, raising accusations of favoritism. The White House excluded some outlets that have provided critical coverage like CNN and the New York Times from an off-camera event that …
Read More »South African police fire rubber bullets at anti-immigrant march
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | South African police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to break up clashes between local protesters and immigrants in Pretoria on Friday at a march against foreigners. Shops and homes owned by migrants have been looted and torched over the last two …
Read More »Gambia’s ex-spy chief, 8 others charged with murder
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambia’s dreaded former spy chief — whose watch was marred by allegations of killings and torture — and eight subordinates were charged Thursday with killing a leading opposition member in April. Yankuba Badjie headed the National Intelligence Agency, which rights groups say carried out arbitrary …
Read More »Malawi sacks minister amid ‘maizegate’ graft probe
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday fired the country’s agriculture minister who is alleged to have profited from a $35 million deal to import maize from Zambia. George Chaponda, seen as a close ally and potential successor of Mutharika, was dismissed from his post a …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price