London, United Kingdom | AFP | Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand said Thursday he was “disappointed” after being refused a professional licence by British boxing authorities. Ferdinand, coached by former WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall, was being backed by betting company Betfair as part of the “Defender …
Read More »Uganda joins #WorldPressFreedomDay
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda has joined the rest of the World to mark World Press freedom day amidst growing concern about restrictions against media practice. The celebrations were held at Kampala Railway Gardens in Kampala where Journalists and media freedom advocates were flagged off for a peaceful procession. Uganda …
Read More »Church opposes Burundi constitutional referendum
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Burundi’s influential Catholic bishops said Thursday that they were opposed to fundamental constitutional changes to be voted on in a referendum this month. If passed, the proposed changes could see President Pierre Nkurunziza remain in charge for another 16 years. A statement, signed by 10 …
Read More »MOFA and Promote Uganda Limited sign partnership MOU
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Amb. Patrick Mugoya on Wednesday 02/05/2018 signed an addendum to the 2006 partnership agreement with Promote Uganda Ltd. represented by CEO David Nsubuga. Since 2006, Promote Uganda Ltd has been working with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs …
Read More »Kenya appoints French coach
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Frenchman Sebastien Migne has been named Kenya’s new football coach, filling a post left vacant by the February departure of Belgian Paul Put. Migne, 45, signed a three-year deal and arrives from Congo-Brazzaville where he helped guide the national side to its first African Cup …
Read More »77 killed as powerful dust storms ravage north India
New Delhi, India | AFP | Dust storms tore across northern India killing at least 77 people and injuring 143 as trees and walls were flattened by powerful winds, officials said Thursday. The overnight storm ravaged Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states and the death toll was expected to rise, officials …
Read More »Naked Trump statue goes for $28,000 at auction
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | A naked statue of Donald Trump, complete with a distended belly and jowly sneer, is to go on display at a Haunted Museum after a paranormal investigator bought it at auction. Julien’s Auctions announced Wednesday it sold the artwork — believed to be …
Read More »Bashir closes 13 Sudanese diplomatic missions: state media
Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | President Omar al-Bashir has ordered the closure of 13 Sudanese overseas missions and job cuts at the foreign ministry due to an economic crisis in his country, state media reported Thursday. Bashir’s order comes days after he fired foreign minister Ibrahim Ghandour after he said …
Read More »Africa struggles for weapons against armyworm curse
Kisumu, Kenya | AFP | On farms across Africa, a seemingly innocuous brown and beige caterpillar is waging a silent war, devastating rural incomes and posing a major threat to the continent’s food supply. In just two years, the so-called fall armyworm has colonised three-quarters of Africa, according to the …
Read More »Rwanda: The Royal Tour premier excites
Kigali, Rwanda | THE INDEPENDENT | For a week, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda took renowned travel documentary maker, Peter Greenberg, on a tour of the country known as the “land of a thousand hills.” Greenberg is America’s most recognised, honoured, and respected front-line travel news journalist. He is a multiple …
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