Washington, United States | AFP | Jimmy Breslin, a brash, colorful award-winning reporter and newspaper columnist who took on the high and mighty and championed the underdog, died Sunday at the age of 88. His wife Ronnie Eldridge confirmed his death, The New York Times reported. Breslin had been recovering …
Read More »UN disturbed by torture, forced disappearances in Burundi
United Nations, United States | AFP | The UN Security Council on Monday said it was disturbed by reports of torture and forced disappearances in Burundi but ignored calls from rights groups for sanctions. A French-drafted statement was adopted unanimously after some wrangling with Russia, China and Egypt, which oppose sanctions. …
Read More »Gambian journalists pressure govt after attack on reporter
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Journalists in The Gambia on Tuesday urged the country’s new leadership to uphold their pledge to respect media freedom after a violent public assault on a reporter by President Adama Barrow’s supporters. Kebba Jeffang, a journalist for Foroyaa newspaper, was hit, scratched and insulted at …
Read More »OBITUARY: Mayanja Nkangi 1931 – 2017
Nkangi, the man who saved the soul of Buganda’s power By Andrew S. Kaggwa One Sunday in 1964, a young man called Mayanja Nkangi was going about his normal business when someone stopped him and said: “We want you to be a Katikkiro. The lukiiko (Buganda parliament) are annoyed with …
Read More »Dying of hunger: What is a famine?
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | From ancient Rome to modern times, mankind has suffered devastating periods of hunger caused by drought, war or misguided politics. Last week South Sudan was declared the site of the world’s first famine in six years, affecting about 100,000 people. Here is an exploration of …
Read More »Hiding in swamps, South Sudanese eat little more than lilies
Leer, South Sudan | AFP | Thousands of people at the epicentre of a man-made famine in South Sudan emerged from the safety of the swamps this past weekend hoping to receive emergency deliveries of food. For months now Bol Mol, a 45-year-old former oil field security officer, has struggled …
Read More »Good times over for expats in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | AFP | Seventeen years after first setting foot in Saudi Arabia, Dominic Steck shipped his two cats and returned to Germany with his wife and school-age children, who hardly know their homeland. As Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to employ more of its own people, and …
Read More »Suspected Shiekh Kirya’s killer identified in court
A police officer attached to Special Investigation Unit Kireka has told the International Crimes Division Court that George William Iga is one of the 14 people suspected to be behind the killing of Shiekh Hassan Ibrahim Kirya. Detective Assistant Inspector of Police Aggrey Mpamizo Kanyomozi was testifying as the 35th …
Read More »Ugandan refugee serves up coffee and life lessons in California
Berkeley, United States | AFP | A coffee shop that recently opened in California is serving customers more than just steamy cups of latte or espresso, offering an additional true life lesson about an issue roiling the country — refugees. Founded by Rachel Taber and Doug Hewitt, 1951 Coffee …
Read More »The rise of Denis Masinde Onyango
The Independent reflects on his journey to being Africa’s best footballer Denis Masinde Onyango was on Jan.5 crowned the Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Player of the Year – Based in Africa. Uganda’s talismanic shot-stopper made history as the first goalkeeper ever to win CAF’s topmost honour; a prestigious …
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