N. Korea, Venezuela, Chad among 8 countries on new US travel ban Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump issued a new open-ended travel ban Sunday that saw North Korea, Venezuela and Chad among a list of eight countries cited for poor security and lack of cooperation with …
Read More »Zimbabwean pastor arrested in church over video post
Harare, Zimbabwe | AFP | Zimbabwean activist pastor Evan Mawarire was on Sunday arrested during a church service after he posted a video bemoaning the country’s worsening economic troubles, his lawyer said. The charismatic pastor who has been arrested several times for his dissenting views informed the congregation about his …
Read More »Togo: how long can the grassroots pressure last?
Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo’s government was surprised by how many people took to the streets earlier this month to demand the removal of President Faure Gnassingbe. But with no end in sight to the protesters’ calls for change, questions are mounting about whether the pressure can be maintained to …
Read More »McCain torpedoes Republican effort to repeal Obamacare
Washington, United States | AFP | US Senator John McCain announced Friday his opposition to the latest Republican attempt to replace Barack Obama’s signature health care law, likely dooming the repeal effort. It is the second time in two months that he has defied his party and President Donald Trump over …
Read More »Trump v NBA, NFL – Who’s saying what
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump has triggered a furious backlash across the US professional sports world after branding NFL players “sons of bitches” for protesting the national anthem and withdrawing a White House invitation to NBA champion Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. AFP Sport …
Read More »Kenya stripped of 2018 CHAN hosting rights
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | Kenya were stripped Saturday of the right to host the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) after a CAF executive committee meeting in Accra. The decision was announced at a media conference after a one-day gathering of the African football “cabinet” headed by president Ahmad …
Read More »Kremlin says not involved in Russia-linked Facebook ads
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The Kremlin on Friday distanced itself from the controversy over Russia-linked Facebook ads which may have influenced last year’s US election, saying Moscow had nothing to do with them. “We don’t know who places ads on Facebook and how,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told …
Read More »Trump’s travel ban to expire on Sunday
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s contentious travel ban expires Sunday with little clarity over whether America’s door will reopen for travelers from six majority-Muslim countries. Based on the policy, US embassies or representatives in Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen should resume granting visas to their …
Read More »Gambia pledges to abolish death penalty
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia has pledged to abolish the death penalty in a clean break with the former regime of Yahya Jammeh, giving activists hope that more African states will follow its example. President Adama Barrow, elected in December 2016, signed a UN treaty on the abolition of …
Read More »Thousands join fresh protests in Togo amid ‘crackdown’
Lome, Togo | AFP | Thousands of protesters in Togo Thursday joined demonstrations around the country for a second day against the rule of President Faure Gnassingbe, the scion of Africa’s oldest political dynasty. The atmosphere was tense amid accusations of harsh repression by security forces on Wednesday, when at least …
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