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Uganda’s opposition leader said Monday that he would call for protests if President Yoweri Museveni rigs this week’s election and said he would welcome an intervention by the US.More than 20mn people are registered to vote in the east African country on Thursday, with 81-year-old Museveni widely expected to continue his four-decade rule thanks to his near-total control of the state and security apparatus.His main opponent is singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43 — real name Robert Kyagulanyi — who is taking a second run at the presidency after his 2021 campaign was met with violent repression and alleged rigging.”If General Museveni rigs the election, we shall call for protests,” Wine saod at his home in the capital Kampala.”We’ve told the people not to wait for our instruction,” he added.The UN and Amnesty International are among the watchdogs accusing Uganda’s government of repression ahead of the polls, including hundreds of arrests of Wine’s supporters.There has been increasing political unrest across east Africa as the region’s youthful population protests the erosion of democracy and lack of jobs in Kenya, Tanzania and beyond.Wine acknowledged that protests were likely to provoke more crackdown.”I know that General Museveni’s government responds to everything with violence… But I also know that even violent regimes get thrown out by protests,” he told AFP.”We did not promise comfort. We did not promise that they will not unleash violence upon us. But we have insisted that our people must be non-violent because we know non-violence defeats violence.”Asked if he would welcome a direct intervention by the US, such as seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Wine said: “Yeah. I would.””I believe that any assistance that comes our way is helpful. However, that assistance should not be to take over our country,” he said.”I firmly believe that the responsibility to liberate our country, to govern our country, and to move it forward, lies entirely with the people of Uganda.” Related Story Source link
Team Poland’s Iga Swiatek poses with the United Cup trophy in front of the Sydney Opera House on January 12, 2026, after they won the United…
Schools across parts of northern Nigeria started reopening Monday, after months of closure triggered by the abduction of hundreds of students in November.The abductions last year had underlined the vulnerability of education facilities in a region plagued by criminal gangs and insurgents.Schools resumed academic activities this term after the federal government said in a circular last month that enhanced security measures had created a safer environment for students to return. It did not provide details.In northern Kaduna state, a 17-year-old student said it was difficult for her to return to school after two months away. Students buy school items near the gate of Government Girls Secondary School Maimuna Gwarzo, Tudun Wada, as schools across northern Nigeria reopen nearly two months…
The Trump administration has ramped up its pressure campaign on the US central bank, threatening to indict Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell over comments he made to Congress about a building renovation project, prompting the Fed chief to call the move a ‘pretext’ to gain more influence over the setting of interest rates. The latest development in a long-running effort by US President Donald Trump to push the Fed to dramatically lower rates had immediate fallout in Washington and on global markets.US Republican Senator Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee that vets presidential nominees for the Fed, said the threatened indictment puts the US Justice Department's ‘independence and credibility’ in question. Tillis, who is not running for re-election this year, said he would oppose any Trump nominees to the Fed, including whoever is named to succeed Powell as central bank chief, ‘until this legal matter is fully resolved.’Rates on longer-term US Treasury bonds rose as investors parsed what a less independent Fed could mean for inflation and monetary policy, the sort of reaction that could, if amplified, constrain Trump's efforts to reshape the Fed, considered the most influential central bank in the world and a cornerstone of the world financial system.Trump's efforts to address broad concerns about ‘affordability,’ particularly when it comes to financing home mortgages, could be upended if long-term borrowing costs rise, as they may if investors come to view the Fed as no longer setting monetary policy with a view to controlling inflation.Gold hit a record high and the dollar fell. Major US stock indexes opened lower, with bank stocks under pressure over a Trump proposal to cap interest rates on credit cards. ‘Obviously there are more concerns that Fed independence is going to be under the gun, with the latest news on the criminal investigation into Chair Powell really having reinforced those concerns,’ Jan Hatzius, chief economist at Goldman Sachs, said at the investment bank's annual global strategy conference in London.At stake is the independence of the Fed to set US monetary policy without undue influence by elected officials like Trump who would prefer cheaper borrowing costs for political reasons – at the possible expense of long-run inflation control that can require a central bank to slow the economy and take steps that raise the unemployment rate. Powell – who was nominated by Trump to lead the Fed in late 2017 and confirmed by the Senate to the position in early 2018 – will complete his term as Fed chief in May, but he is not obligated to leave its Washington-based Board of Governors until 2028, and a number of analysts saw the latest move by the administration as adding to the chances that he will defiantly remain at the central bank. The criminal indictment threat emerged about two weeks before Trump's effort to fire another Fed official, Governor Lisa Cook, will be argued before the Supreme Court.The latest move was met with a guarded reaction on Wall Street. Investors have been warily watching as the sparring match between the White House and the Fed has played out ever since Trump was elected to a second term in November 2024 on promises to improve affordability for Americans after a run of high inflation. The investigation and Powell's pointed response sharply escalate a row that risks upending the independence of the Fed, a bedrock of US economic policy and a cornerstone of its financial system, investors said.Trump officials' latest salvo was revealed late on Sunday by Powell, who said the Fed had received subpoenas from the US Justice Department last week pertaining to remarks he made to Congress last summer over cost overruns for a $2.5bn building renovation project at the Fed's headquarters complex in Washington. ‘On Friday, the Department of Justice served the Federal Reserve with grand jury subpoenas, threatening a criminal indictment related to my testimony before the Senate Banking Committee last June,’ Powell said.’I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one – certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve – is above the law.’ ‘But this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure’ for lower interest rates and more broadly for greater say over the Fed, he said. ‘This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. It is not about Congress's oversight role … Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the President.’ Trump told NBC News Sunday that he had no knowledge of the Justice Department's actions. ‘I don't know anything about it, but he's certainly not very good at the Fed, and he's not very good at building buildings,’ Trump said.A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on the case but added: ‘The attorney-general has instructed her US attorneys to prioritise investigating any abuse of taxpayer dollars.’Trump has demanded the Fed cut rates sharply since returning to the White House in January, blaming the central bank for holding back the economy and musing about firing Powell despite the legal protections ostensibly covering the Fed chief from removal.The independence of central banks, at least in setting rates in order to control inflation, is considered a central tenet of robust economic policy, insulating monetary policymakers from short-term political considerations and allowing them to focus on longer-term efforts to keep prices relatively stable. The inquiry into Powell ‘is a low point in Trump's presidency and a low point in the history of central banking in America,’ said Peter Conti-Brown, a Fed historian at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Source link
Mohamed Salah scored as Egypt won 3-2 to dump defending champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations. (Reuters) The Africa Cup of Nations has reached the semi-final stage and a tournament devoid of shocks now offers up two mouthwatering ties with hosts Morocco looking to see off the challenges of their fellow continental heavyweights. Mohamed Salah’s Egypt, Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria and Sadio Mane’s Senegal all remain in contention to win the trophy in Rabat next Sunday, even if home advantage still makes Morocco favourites. World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco are Africa’s top-ranked team and approach Wednesday’s semi-final against Nigeria in the capital defending an unbeaten record since losing to South Africa at the last AFCON. Walid Regragui’s side have conceded just one goal in five matches here and doubts about their ability to handle the enormous pressure of playing at home were blown away with their performance in beating Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Captain and current African player of the year Achraf Hakimi is fit again after injury, and in Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz – scorer of five goals in five games – they have probably the tournament’s outstanding player. “He can become the best player in the world if he wants to,” remarked Regragui after the Cameroon game. Morocco are Africa’s leading power right now and, unlike Nigeria, are gearing up for the World Cup. But their Cup of Nations record down the years has been underwhelming. This is their first semi-final since 2004, when they lost the final to Tunisia. Going further back, Morocco beat Nigeria en route to lifting the trophy in 1976 – half a century on, that remains their only continental title. Nigeria returned to Morocco with much to prove after a penalty shoot-out defeat by the Democratic Republic of Congo in a November play-off in Rabat ended their hopes of World Cup qualification. There might be 10 African countries participating at the World Cup and it is remarkable that Nigeria – with its footballing pedigree and the largest population on the continent – will not be among them. However, their performances over the last three weeks have shown that to be an anomaly. Nigeria were runners-up at the last Cup of Nations in 2024. Led by two former African players of the year in Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, they are this tournament’s top scorers with 14 goals. So what has changed from the failed World Cup qualifying campaign? “Nothing,” said coach Eric Chelle, appointed exactly a year ago. “This is the same team. The difference is just that they have improved because they know what I want.” Shocks have been effectively non-existent at this AFCON but Nigeria’s presence means four of the five top-ranked African teams are in the semis – the exception is Algeria, beaten by the Super Eagles on Saturday. Wednesday’s other semi-final in Tangiers between Egypt and Senegal is a repeat of the 2022 final, which the Lions of Teranga won on penalties. Senegal, ranked second in Africa and 19th in the world, were seen as the biggest threat to Morocco before the tournament and stand one game away from a third final appearance in four editions. They have an experienced side which includes Mane, who will come up against his old Liverpool teammate Salah. Their presence means the last five players to win the African player of the year prize are all in the semi-finals. Salah, who like Osimhen has four goals at the tournament, has never won AFCON, having twice been a losing finalist. He came to Morocco having fallen from favour at his club but seems to have found happiness again with his national team as he looks to fire Egypt to a record-extending eighth title. “I have won almost every honour, but this is the one I am waiting for,” said Salah after the quarter-final win over Ivory Coast, before insisting the Pharaohs are now the outsiders. “We are coming up against really good teams, most of whose players are based in Europe, which makes it easier for them. We have very good players but most play in Egypt. We have three players playing abroad but all of them are in a difficult situation – none of them are playing for their clubs just now,” he added, with a nod to his own problems at Anfield. Related Story Source link
Workers conduct a rescue operation at the collapsed landfill in Binaliw, Cebu, Philippines, Sunday. Hopes of finding survivors days after the collapse of a massive mountain of trash in the central Philippines were fading, officials said Sunday, as rescue workers dug through tons of rubble.The recovery of a body Sunday brought the confirmed death toll to seven, with at least 29 people still missing as the crucial 72-hour window since the landslide in Cebu City came to an end.About 50 sanitation workers were buried on Thursday when the mountain of garbage toppled onto them from an estimated height of 20 storeys at the Binaliw Landfill, a privately operated facility that handles refuse for the city of nearly 1mn.”On Saturday, we detected two signs of life through our specialised radar. There were still heartbeats 98 feet below the debris, but right now, there are no reports of that anymore,” local fire officer Wendell Villanueva said Sunday.He said it was unlikely “for people to still be alive” three days after “tonnes of debris and trash had collapsed over them”.So far 12 employees have been pulled alive from the garbage and hospitalised.On Saturday, a rescue official said emergency workers had faced the danger of further collapse by the still-shifting mountain of refuse, forcing pauses in their efforts.Rain had only increased that danger, Villanueva said.The focus was expected to turn from rescue to recovery today, Villanueva said adding that the final decision would be up to an inter-agency team.A public information officer separately said the focus was likely to shift to recovering bodies.Outside the disaster site, dozens of family members huddled under tents provided to shield them from the sun, while others found spots nearer the facility to watch the rescue efforts.”What we want now is to find them. Alive or dead – so we can properly take care of them,” said Jezille Matabid, whose brother Junelle, a welder at the site, was among the missing.Another woman, who declined to give her name, said the lack of information about her older sister, a landfill employee, had been agonising.”We feel like we’re going crazy here just waiting for an update. She’s three-months pregnant,” she said.Elmer Aguilar, whose brother Larry, a welder, was among the missing, said he had come with 10 others hoping to aid in the search effort, only to be turned away.”We went here because we thought we could help dig, but when we arrived, the guards did not allow us to enter.”Joel Garganera, a Cebu City council member, described the height from which the trash fell as “alarming”, estimating the top of the pile had stood 20 storeys above the area struck.Images released by police showed a massive mound of trash atop a hill directly behind buildings that officials contained administrative offices and housing for employees.In an interview with local media, Cebu mayor Nestor Archival pointed to a recent earthquake and typhoon-driven rains as potential precipitating circumstances.But Garganera said the mountain of garbage had been an obvious danger.”Every now and then, when it rains, there are landslides happening around the city,” with “a landfill or a mountain that is made of garbage” posing a particular danger, Garganera said.”The garbage is like a sponge, it really absorbs water. It doesn’t (take) a rocket scientist to say that eventually, the incident will happen.”He said the disaster was a “double whammy” for the city, noting that the facility was the lone service provider for Cebu and adjacent communities.According to the website of operator Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, the landfill processed 1,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily.Calls to the company went unanswered Sunday. Related Story Source link
Unrest in Iran has killed more than 500 people, a rights group said yesterday, as Tehran threatened to target US military bases if President Donald Trump carries out threats to intervene on behalf of protesters, With the nation’s establishment facing the biggest demonstrations since 2022, Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if force is used on protesters. According to its latest figures – from activists inside and outside Iran – US-based rights group HRANA said it had verified the deaths of 490 protesters and 48 security personnel, with more than 10,600 people arrested in two weeks of unrest. Iran has not given an official toll and Reuters was unable to independently verify the tolls. Trump was to be briefed by his officials on Tuesday on options over Iran including military strikes, using secret cyber weapons, widening sanctions and providing online help to anti-government sources, the Wall Street Journal said yesterday. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned Washington against “a miscalculation”. “Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories (Israel) as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate target,” said Qalibaf, a former commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards. The protests began on December 28 in response to soaring prices, before turning against the rulers who have governed since the 1979 Revolution. Source link
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis plays a shot during the third Twenty20 match against Pakistan at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla Sunday. (AFP) Sri Lanka eked out a hard fought 14-run victory over Pakistan in the third T20 at rain-hit Dambulla Sunday, easing their batting jitters and squaring the three-match series 1-1.The series, a warm-up for the T20 World Cup with Pakistan set to play all their matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with nuclear-armed neighbours India, saw the visitors clinch the opener by six wickets before rain washed out the second game.“We were a bit worried about our batting and I’m glad we addressed that today,” said Wanindu Hasaranga, who walked away with both Player of the Match and Player of the Series honours.“The bowlers did a good job too. The ball was wet and it wasn’t easy. We tried to bowl wide and slow and asked them to take risks.”Hasaranga took four wickets in the game and in the process completed 150 wickets in T20Is.In a contest trimmed to 12 overs a side, Sri Lanka muscled their way to a competitive 160 before choking Pakistan to 146-8.Having been bowled out inside 20 overs in the series opener, Sri Lanka needed a statement with the bat and duly ticked every box after being put in. The top order laid the platform and the middle order applied the finishing touches.Wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis made hay under the Power Play, blasting 30 off 16 balls while Dhananjaya de Silva (22 off 15) and Charith Asalanka (21 off 13) kept the scoreboard ticking.Skipper Dasun Shanaka then swung the momentum decisively, clubbing 34 off just nine deliveries, peppered with five towering sixes. The sixth-wicket stand between Shanaka and Janith Liyanage produced 52 runs in just 15 balls and proved the turning point, shifting the game firmly Sri Lanka’s way.Pakistan came out swinging in reply, racing to 50 in just 19 balls with captain Salman Agha hammering 45 off 12 balls, including five fours and three sixes.But once the field spread, Sri Lanka tightened the screws, applied the choke and forced the asking rate to spiral.“It was a good game of cricket,” Agha said. “We conceded too many runs, but our batting effort was good. Unfortunately, we fell short. We know we are going to play all our World Cup games in Sri Lanka and it’s important that we played in similar conditions,” he added. Related…
Backed by the UN trade and development agency, UNCTAD and other partners, the “Beyond GDP” initiative acknowledges a warning from Secretary-General António Guterres that global policymaking…
Tens of thousands of people marched through Minneapolis on Saturday to decry the fatal shooting of a woman by a US immigration agent, part of more than 1,000 rallies planned nationwide this weekend against the federal government’s deportation drive.The massive turnout in Minneapolis despite a whipping, cold wind underscores how the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer on Wednesday has struck a chord, fueling protests in major cities and some towns.At the start of the protest, a voice called out, “Say her name!” The crowd shouted back: “Renee Good!” A woman with a sign beside her feet takes part in a protest outside the ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, US. – Reuters Her death has sparked strong emotions in this Democratic stronghold, and across the nation.”We got ICE shooting women in the face for self-defence. It doesn’t make any sense,” said Alex Vega, a protester in Boston. “Let them come around here with that, and let’s see what’s really going to happen to ICE.”Minnesota’s Democratic leaders and the administration of President Donald Trump, a Republican, have offered starkly different accounts of the incident.Led by a team of Indigenous Mexican dancers, demonstrators in Minneapolis, which has a metropolitan population of 3.8mn, marched towards the residential street where Good was shot in her car. People…