Washington, United States | AFP | Republican lawmakers on Tuesday proposed making it easier to buy silencers for firearms, scandalizing Democrats. The proposed legislation aims mainly to benefit hunters or owners of firing ranges and contains several provisions, including the one on silencers. Since 1934, a government permit has been required …
Read More »TANZANIA: Opposition blames Magufuli govt for critic’s shooting
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Tanzania’s main opposition party claimed Tuesday that the government of President John Magufuli played a role in the gun attack last week that wounded an outspoken politician and shocked the country. The lawmaker, Tundu Lissu, has had a series of run-ins with the government and …
Read More »Kenya opposition boycotts parliament opening
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition boycotted the opening session of parliament on Tuesday after the Supreme Court cancelled the result of last month’s presidential election and ordered a fresh vote. President Uhuru Kenyatta — who had his victory in the August 8 poll annulled on September 1 — …
Read More »‘Goodbye Spain’: Huge rally for Catalan independence before vote
Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Hundreds of thousands of Catalans rallied on Monday to demand their region’s secession from Spain, in a show of strength three weeks ahead of an independence referendum which has been banned by Madrid. Draped in red, yellow and blue separatist flags — with one banner …
Read More »Togo postpones Africa-Israel summit
Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo on Monday cancelled an upcoming Africa-Israel summit, citing lack of time to prepare, after days of anti-government protests targeting President Faure Gnassingbe. The summit was due to have been held in the capital, Lome, late next month and was billed as a chance for …
Read More »Togo opposition unconvinced by reform bill proposal
Lome, Togo | AFP | Togo opposition leaders on Sunday said they were not hopeful of political change, as parliament prepared to discuss potential constitutional reform after days of huge anti-government protests. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets this week calling for presidential term limits and denouncing President …
Read More »Lessons for Uganda from Angola
ANALYSIS: Long serving Angola President retires to a quiet sunset. Can it happen in Uganda? Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Renowned Ugandan political researcher and analyst Frederick Golooba Mutebi (PhD) says there is no guarantee of a smooth transition from long-serving President Yoweri Museveni as happened recently in Angola where President José …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Katureebe’s Kenyan test
ANALYSIS: Kenya Supreme Court annulment of election reignites debate over Uganda ruling Kampala, Uganda | HAGGAI MATSIKO | On the evening of Sept.4, in the boardroom of his offices on Plot 103, Buganda Road, Mohmed Mbabazi, the lead lawyer in the 2016 Amama Mbabazi presidential elections petition, appeared like he was …
Read More »World Cup trophy starts tour in Moscow
Moscow, Russia | AFP | The World Cup trophy tour began a worldwide tour in Moscow on Saturday at a ceremony attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. Ten months before the 2018 World Cup kicks off there, the ceremony took place at Luzhniki stadium, which has …
Read More »Transfer window the talk of Europe
Madrid, Spain | AFP | The European football transfer window may now be closed but there was talk of little else this week as the likes of top coaches Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti and even German Chancellor Angela Merkel made calls for sweeping changes. The subject is at the centre of …
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