Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | Nigeria’s Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo seems to have been everywhere while his boss is away. He even conducted a spot check on the public toilets at Lagos international airport. The clear aim, it seems, is to give the impression of business as usual while President Muhammadu …
Read More »Son of boxer Muhammad Ali detained at Florida airport
Washington, United States | AFP | A son of boxing legend Muhammad Ali was held for questioning for two hours at a Florida airport upon returning from Jamaica because of his Arabic-sounding name, US media reported late Friday. Muhammad Ali Jr., 44, who was born in Philadelphia and has a …
Read More »Trump promises massive buildup of entire US military
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump on Friday promised a historic buildup of America’s already vast military, but said he hoped he would never need to use it. We are “putting in a massive budget request for our beloved military and we will be substantially upgrading all …
Read More »Combative Trump promises Americans safety and strength
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump promised Friday to keep America safe from foreign “terrorists” with beefed up borders and a massive military buildup, in a staunchly nationalistic address to conservative supporters. “The era of empty talk is over. It’s over. Now is the time for action,” …
Read More »White House accused of picking media favorites
Washington, United States | AFP | President Donald Trump’s White House barred several major US media outlets from a daily press briefing Friday, raising accusations of favoritism. The White House excluded some outlets that have provided critical coverage like CNN and the New York Times from an off-camera event that …
Read More »South African police fire rubber bullets at anti-immigrant march
Pretoria, South Africa | AFP | South African police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades to break up clashes between local protesters and immigrants in Pretoria on Friday at a march against foreigners. Shops and homes owned by migrants have been looted and torched over the last two …
Read More »Gambia’s ex-spy chief, 8 others charged with murder
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambia’s dreaded former spy chief — whose watch was marred by allegations of killings and torture — and eight subordinates were charged Thursday with killing a leading opposition member in April. Yankuba Badjie headed the National Intelligence Agency, which rights groups say carried out arbitrary …
Read More »Malawi sacks minister amid ‘maizegate’ graft probe
Blantyre, Malawi | AFP | Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday fired the country’s agriculture minister who is alleged to have profited from a $35 million deal to import maize from Zambia. George Chaponda, seen as a close ally and potential successor of Mutharika, was dismissed from his post a …
Read More »Britain names first woman top police officer
London, United Kingdom | AFP | A woman will become Britain’s most senior police officer for the first time, the government announced on Wednesday, a controversial move due to her involvement in a fatal London shooting. Cressida Dick, 56, will succeed Bernard Hogan-Howe as commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, returning …
Read More »Somali president inaugurated, says no quick fix for woes
Mogadishu, Somalia | AFP | Somalia’s new President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed sought to downplay high expectations of his new administration at his inauguration Wednesday, saying it would take decades to fix the nation’s many problems. “Our government is facing so many challenges and even though I will be doing my …
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