Tunis, Tunisia | AFP | Tunisia’s minister for women said Friday more needs to be done to promote female civil servants to top jobs after a study showed that few reach the most senior positions. Just 37 percent of Tunisia’s 630,000 civil servants are women, said Khaoula Labidi, who coordinated …
Read More »Dying alone in the world’s most populous city
Tokyo, Japan | AFP | The stench of flesh rotting on a sultry day fills the air as cleaner Hidemitsu Ohshima steps into a tiny Tokyo apartment where a dead man lay decomposing for three weeks. The man, believed to be in his 50s, died alone in a city he shared …
Read More »Ivanka Trump, Chelsea Clinton, defend Obama daughter over video
Washington, United States | AFP | Both sides of the US political divide are defending Malia Obama’s right to privacy after a video went viral showing the eldest daughter of former president Barack Obama apparently smoking. Chelsea Clinton and Ivanka Trump were among the numerous defenders of Malia, 19, on …
Read More »Colombia mothers stage ‘nurse-in’ to defend breastfeeding
Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Hundreds of mothers gathered to breastfeed their babies in a park in Bogota Friday, in a “nurse-in” demonstration aimed at raising acceptance of the practice and promoting its health benefits. Nearly 1,000 families met in the city’s Parque de Los Novios for the fourth event …
Read More »Liberia opposition leader calls for new election commission
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | The Liberian opposition politician who has lodged a legal complaint against the country’s election commission on Thursday called for its commissioners to be replaced, citing their actions during a disputed presidential election. Charles Brumskine came third in an October 10 presidential election and immediately alleged fraud …
Read More »Venezuelans vote in crucial regional elections
Caracas, Venezuela | AFP | Venezuelans headed to the polls Sunday in regional elections seen as a crucial test for President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition alike after months of deadly street protests failed to unseat him. Public opinion surveys predicted that the opposition would win a majority of state …
Read More »Weah leads Boakai in race for Liberia presidency
Monrovia, Liberia | AFP | More partial figures released by Liberia’s electoral commission Friday showed former footballer George Weah ahead of incumbent Vice-President Joseph Boakai as they battle for the presidency. With 33.71 percent of polling stations counted, Weah has taken the lead with 39.7 percent (205,218 votes), while Boakai …
Read More »Morocco court annuls ruling on paternity outside marriage
Rabat, Morocco | AFP | A Moroccan appeals court has struck down a ruling that for the first time recognised a man as the father of a child born outside of marriage. The decision by the Tangiers appeals court sparked anger among human rights activists. A lower Tangiers court had …
Read More »Obama: ‘No One Nation’ Can Confront Global Development Challenges
New York, United States | AFP | Former U.S. President Barack Obama said nations must cooperate to confront some of world’s most pressing challenges, including climate change , poverty, disease, and discrimination. “The biggest problems we confront—no one nation is going to be able to solve on its own—not even the …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Unwelcome in Israel, African refugees dream of home
Tel Aviv, Israel | AFP | Tens of thousands of Africans who fled misery at home for safety in Israel are living in limbo, fearing deportation though some have lived in the country for more than a decade. Recognising a rising tide of discontent among Israelis over the migrants’ presence …
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