‘Ghetto President’ shakes up Ugandan politics
The arrest this month of a 35-year-old legislator who calls himself “Ghetto President” has sparked fierce street protests in Uganda. Musician-turned-MP Robert Kyagulanyi represents a new challenge to President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986.
Islamic state claims responsibility for west Iraq car bomb: Amaq
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack on a security checkpoint in western Iraq that killed at least eight people earlier on Wednesday, the group’s news agency Amaq said.
Iran’s leader asks government to work ‘day and night’ to resolve economic problems: state TV
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei asked the government to work “day and night” to resolve economic problems, as parliament increases pressure on President Hassan Rouhani over handling the economic hardship following U.S. sanctions.
Putin dilutes unpopular pension reform that has hurt his popularity
President Vladimir Putin told Russians on Wednesday he had decided to dilute unpopular draft legislation to reform the pension system which has hurt his own popularity, but said a shrinking workforce meant some kind of reform was necessary.
Germany removes golden statue of Erdogan after protests
German firemen on Wednesday removed a golden statue of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on security grounds after it provoked an angry response from local people.
China denies planning military base in Afghanistan
China on Wednesday denied that it planned to build a military base in Afghanistan, after a Hong Kong newspaper said Beijing was constructing a training camp for Afghan troops to which it could also send its own soldiers.
Five soldiers killed in northern Kenya: military
Five Kenyan soldiers were killed and 10 wounded on Wednesday when their car ran over a homemade bomb in northern Kenya, the military said.
Putin tells Russians he is softening unpopular pension reform
President Vladimir Putin told Russians on Wednesday he had decided to dilute unpopular draft legislation to reform the pension system which has hurt his popularity, but said serious demographic challenges meant some kind of reform was necessary.
Russia bans ‘undesirable’ U.S. environmental group as security threat
Russia has banned a U.S. environmental lobby group from operating in the country after labeling it an “undesirable” organization, the 15th foreign group to fall foul of legislation brought in under President Vladimir Putin four years ago.
Israeli court lines up behind unauthorized settlement
An Israeli court has given legal recognition to a Jewish settlement built without Israeli government authorization on privately owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, breaking new judicial ground.
