Beijing, China | AFP | Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Wuhan on Tuesday for his first visit to the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic since the crisis erupted in January — a major sign that officials believe the outbreak is under control. Xi’s unannounced visit comes as unprecedented quarantine …
Read More »Facebook, Twitter place warning labels on altered Biden video
Washington, United States | AFP | Facebook and Twitter both added tags denoting false or manipulated content to a video reposted by President Donald Trump of his Democrat rival Joe Biden. The edited video, which appeared to show Biden endorsing the president, was marked “partly false” by Facebook and “manipulated …
Read More »Why Ivory Coast’s Ouattara has ruled out running for third term
Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast | AFP | Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said on Thursday he would not run in October’s election, ending months of speculation over whether he would seek a third term. October’s presidential election looms as a major challenge for the West African country after its 2010 vote …
Read More »Malawi troops protect demonstrators in rare African exception
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | In a continent where armies often prop up governments, crush dissent and interfere in mainstream politics, Malawi in southern Africa has been an exception for decades. From Sudan to Zimbabwe to Ivory Coast and Guinea-Bissau, the military has had a long track record of being …
Read More »Guinea Bissau interim president quits after death threats
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | AFP | The man appointed interim president of Guinea-Bissau by the side beaten in the December presidential election has stepped down because of death threats, less than two days after being nominated. “Given the death threats against me and my bodyguards, I have decided to give …
Read More »Sanders roughed up, hits back at Democratic presidential debate
Charleston, United States | AFP | Democratic White House hopefuls rounded on leftist frontrunner Bernie Sanders at a feisty debate Tuesday, attacking him as too extreme for American voters and a flawed challenger to President Donald Trump. Joe Biden, who needs a victory in South Carolina’s crucial primary on Saturday …
Read More »Ethiopia: 29 injured in ‘bomb attack’ at pro-Abiy rally
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | AFP | A “bomb attack” on a rally in support of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed injured nearly 30 people Sunday, a police official said, in the latest sign of instability ahead of elections in August. The incident occurred in the town of Ambo, located roughly …
Read More »Machar, Rebecca Garang sworn in as Vice Presidents
✳ Dr. Riek Machar Teny, First VP ✳ Dr. James Wani Igga, VP ✳ Taban Deng Gai, VP ✳ Rebecca Nyandeng Garang, VP Juba, South Sudan | AFP | South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar was sworn in as first vice president on Saturday, formally rejoining the government in the …
Read More »Lesotho PM ‘off to South Africa’, ignores murder court case
Maseru, Lesotho | AFP | Lesotho premier Thomas Thabane failed to show up on Friday at a court where he was due to be charged with murdering his estranged wife, as his aide said he had gone to South Africa for medical checks. The 80-year-old prime minister is accused of …
Read More »THE INDEPENDENT: Museveni action on army shootings
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY Museveni action on shootings: Trigger happy Lt. Col Juma Seiko makes the UPDF the target THE WEEK In court: ISO Boss Bagyenda’s son gets 32 years for murder THE LAST WORD The passing of …
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