London, United Kingdom | AFP | London’s iconic Tower Bridge closed to vehicles for three months on Saturday for its first major maintenance works in nearly half a century. The 122-year-old drawbridge by the Tower of London — whose roadway leaves are lifted to allow tall ships on the River …
Read More »DRC electoral commission seeks to delay vote to late 2017
Kinshasa, DR Congo | AFP | The Democratic Republic of Congo’s electoral commission on Saturday said it would seek to delay calling voters to the polls until late 2017, though the opposition swiftly rejected the proposal. The announcement came amid opposition fears that President Joseph Kabila will not step …
Read More »Clinton says campaign donations hit record $154 mln in September
Washington, United States | AFP | Hillary Clinton said Saturday she raised a record $154 million in September in her race for the White House against Donald Trump. In August, Clinton raised $143 million and Trump $90 million. It is common for campaign donations to increase as the election …
Read More »Software star Google expected to flex new hardware muscle
San Francisco, United States | AFP | A high-profile Google event Tuesday is widely expected to show a new emphasis on hardware, challenging rivals Apple and Amazon and launching a new strategy for the online giant. While the company has offered no official preview, it is expected to unveil a …
Read More »THERESA MAY: a private woman and political enigma as UK PM
Birmingham, United Kingdom | AFP | Facing ever-louder calls to define what Brexit means, the honeymoon is already over for British Prime Minister Theresa May after her meteoric rise to Downing Street following the vote to leave the EU. May swept to power ultimately unopposed in July in an internal …
Read More »Even darker days for Nigeria, as power supply gets worse
Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Balogun Shakirat woke up with a start at 3:00 am and put on the light in her workshop in a crowded working class district of Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos. In the following three hours, she was able to sew shirts, trousers and a jacket. Then …
Read More »TAX AMNESTY: Indians disclose $10 billion in hidden wealth
New Delhi, India | AFP | Indians have declared almost $10 billion in hidden wealth under a government amnesty on tax evasion, as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s moves to crack down on huge piles of black money. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the four-month scheme that closed …
Read More »Ugandan premiere of girl’s slum-to-chess-champ story
Kampala, Uganda | AFP |Michael O’ Hagan | Phiona Mutesi used to forage for food in the impoverished slums of Kampala. On Saturday she attended a Disney movie premiere about her life in the Ugandan capital. What happened in between is that Mutesi became a chess champion and the resulting film …
Read More »PLEA BARGAIN: 100 Mubende capital offenders to settle their cases
At least 100 capital offenders at Muyinaina Prison in Mubende district are expected to settle their cases through the Plea Bargain program this month. The inmates registered to enroll on the program on Friday during a sensitization visit to the prison by the Mubende Resident Judge Elizabeth Nahamya and the National …
Read More »One big party – The Kampala City Festival is here
PICTORIAL: Kampala Capital City Authority Sunday hosts a fifth Kampala City Festival, considered the biggest street party in East Africa, as the city and country celebrate their culture, innovation, unity and social life. To spice the annual event are the Kampala City festival rally, that on Saturday set the stage for the festival, cycling and …
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