Nairobi, Kenya | ISS AFRICA | Two cheers for democracy. That would probably be a fair verdict on last week’s general elections in Kenya. It was free-ish and fair-ish. Over 15 million Kenyans stood in lines, often long, to elect a president, senate, national assembly, governors and members of assemblies for 47 counties, and women’s representatives. President Uhuru …
Read More »BURUNDI 2020: Is President Nkurunziza already at it again?
Bujumbura, Burundi | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | Two years since Burundi was plunged into violent political crisis, there are two diametrically opposing narratives being told about the current situation. If you listen to the government, the country has recovered from the clashes and mass displacements that engulfed it from 2015. Things are now secure …
Read More »Angola’s ruling family is worth billions. What happens when dad steps down?
Luanda, Angola | AFRICAN ARGUMENTS | After 38 years in power, Angola’s José Eduardo dos Santos finally looks set to step down from office. The president has stated his intention to relinquish power before, but as the 23 August elections approach, everything is pointing in the direction of his imminent departure following the polls. …
Read More »Messi, Ronaldo lead sports stars in condemning Barcelona attack
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Football icons and longtime rivals Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo joined Spanish sports stars around the world in expressing their grief after Thursday’s terror attack in Barcelona left 13 people dead. Barcelona’s most famous street Las Ramblas was packed with tourists when a van drove …
Read More »BARCELONA: 13 dead, over 50 hurt in city attack
Barcelona attack: What we know Barcelona, Spain | AFP | At least 13 people were killed Thursday when a driver deliberately slammed a van into crowds on Barcelona’s most popular street in what police said was a “terror attack”. The attack, the latest in a wave of vehicle rammings across …
Read More »BREAKING: Police say Barcelona van crash a ‘terrorist attack’
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | A driver deliberately ploughed a van into pedestrians on one of Spain’s busiest streets on Thursday, wounding a number of people in what police said was a “terrorist attack”. “Huge collision on Las Ramblas in Barcelona by an individual driving a van, many injuries,” a …
Read More »ICC rules jihadist liable for 2.7 mn euros for Timbuktu rampage
The Hague, Netherlands | AFP | War crimes judges said Thursday that a Malian jihadist was liable for 2.7 million euros in personal damages for destroying Timbuktu’s fabled shrines in 2012, as they ordered reparations in a landmark ruling. The International Criminal Court ordered that the victims of the razing …
Read More »Austrian toddler dies left in hot car
Vienna, Austria | AFP | A 19-month-old boy died in Austria after being left in a hot car by his 17-year-old mother and her boyfriend, police said Thursday. Not wanting to wake him after a long car journey, the couple left the child asleep while they want upstairs for a …
Read More »New blow for Barcelona as Suarez ruled out for a month
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Troubled Barcelona were dealt a new blow ahead of the start of the Spanish league season when Luis Suarez was ruled out for a month with a knee injury on Thursday. The Uruguayan striker suffered the injury in the second half of Wednesday night’s 2-0 …
Read More »IN THE INDEPENDENT: Battle for the FDC presidency
IN THE INDEPENDENT THIS WEEK: Why are FDC big guns supporting Muntu against Besigye’s Amuriat? THE LAST WORD A new Mulago arises: The challenge the new hospital will face and what can be done to protect it from Uganda’s politics. COVER STORY Battle for FDC presidency: Why are big guns …
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