Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said today that he disagreed with a Supreme Court decision invalidating his re-election and calling for fresh elections, but vowed to respect it. “I personally disagree with the ruling that has been made today but I respect it,” he said, adding …
Read More »‘A Nasty Boy’ tests Nigeria’s masculinity
Make no mistake Nigeria’s “A Nasty Boy” is not a gay online magazine. Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | In a country where homosexual acts can be punished with 14 years in prison, this provocative website featuring photos of men in mini-skirts is simply “pushing the boundaries and exploring masculinity”. Richie Akuson, …
Read More »Australia expands cashless welfare card to tackle alcohol, drugs
Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia will expand the roll-out of cashless welfare cards after a pilot scheme showed a sharp drop in problem alcohol, drug and gambling abuse, the country’s prime minister said Friday. The government introduced the debit card — touted as a world-first — last year to two …
Read More »China Construction Bank profits lifted by economy, debt crackdown
Shanghai, China | AFP | China Construction Bank, one of the country’s “big four” financial institutions, reported a moderate first-half profit rise and improving asset quality as a government crackdown on bad debt kicked in. The bank’s earnings were posted Wednesday night, hours after China’s three other big state-owned lenders announced …
Read More »Ask and you shall receive in world of voice shopping
San Francisco, United States | AFP | Ordering pizza from the sofa without lifting a finger has joined the list of modern-day conveniences thanks to a hot trend in voice-commanded smart speakers. Amazon, Apple and Google are duking it out with devices designed to sit out of sight in homes, awaiting …
Read More »Doctors clear Woods to swing golf clubs
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Doctors have given Tiger Woods the green light to swing a club again as the 14-time major championship winner takes aim at a return to professional golf. The 41-year-old American received medical clearance to start practising and tweeted a video Thursday of him …
Read More »Colombia FARC rebels reborn as ‘revolutionary force’ party
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombia’s FARC former guerrilla force on Thursday re baptized itself the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, as it transformed into a political party following its disarmament. In spite of earlier resistance from some members of the movement, the name retains the revolutionary spirit of the communist guerrilla group, which …
Read More »Kenya opposition hails ‘historic’ decision overturning poll
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday hailed as historic a court decision nullifying an election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta and calling for a re-run. “This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent …
Read More »Shock as Kenya court cancels election result, demands re-run
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election after annulling the results of last month’s poll in a shock decision in favour of the opposition. Joyous celebrations erupted outside the court and in Nairobi slums after the second term victory of President Uhuru …
Read More »Kenya Supreme Court orders re-run of poll
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election within 60 days, in a shock ruling cancelling the results of last month’s poll over widespread irregularities. Chief Justice David Maraga said a majority decision by the panel of six judges, with two dissenting, found that …
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