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Monday, September 5, 2022

Lizz Truss elected UK Prime Minister

Eric September 05, 2022 0

United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was on Monday announced as the UK's next prime minister, after winning an internal leadership contest of the ruling Conservative party.

Ms. Truss beat her rival, former finance minister Rishi Sunak, by 81,326 votes to 60,399, after a summer-long internal contest sparked by Boris Johnson's resignation in July.

She becomes UK's third female prime minister following Theresa May and Margaret Thatcher.

The contest for the seat begun in July after Johnson announced his departure following a series of scandals and resignations from his government.

The 47 year old campaigned on a promise to slash taxes and prioritise economic growth, with Britain tipped to enter recession later this year promising to ''within a month present a full plan for how we are going to reduce taxes" and "get the British economy going".

South Africa's opposition figure Malema urges Raila to concede defeat

World

Eric August 18, 2022 0

Julius Malema, the vocal leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, has urged Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential candidate Raila Odinga to concede defeat.

The outspoken opposition figure pleaded with Mr Odinga, who finished second in last week’s polls, to accept defeat and contain his supporters.

Addressing a joint press briefing of SA’s opposition parties on Wednesday, Mr Malema said it was a “shame” that Mr Odinga had lost presidential elections five times.

“I think it is time for him to throw in the towel and try a different candidate. Perhaps there could be a different outcome. This is the fifth time, it can’t be done beyond this, he needs to accept and move on,” he said.

He also called on Kenyans to accept the results, because “it is what it is”.

“With highly contested elections, and with such a very close outcome, you are likely to have people who are not satisfied. It comes with the nature of the game,” Mr Malema said.

“Kenyans must prioritise and protect Kenya and must protect democracy. They must love their country more than loving individuals.”

Meg Whiteman confirmed as US ambassador to Kenya

World

Eric July 15, 2022 0

The US Senate on Thursday approved Margaret Cushing Whitman to be US's new ambassador to Kenya, ending more than a year wait of a substantive head of mission to one of its key allies.

Ms Whitman, a former tech chief executive and one of the richest Americans to become President Joe Biden’s envoy to Nairobi was nominated last year in December to replace Kyle McCartney.

Ms Whitman is a former Hewlett Packard (HP) CEO and president.

"Margaret C. Whitman (Meg), a business executive and former candidate for Governor of California, is a Member of the Board of Procter & Gamble and General Motors, and National Board Chair at Teach for America," White House said in a dispatch on December 9, 2021.

She will report to Kenya at a time of transition politics: President Uhuru Kenyatta will be retiring after August 9th elections.

Among agendas Ms Whitman will be pushing for include an overhaul of trade negotiation began by former President Donald Trump.

Ivana Trump, first wife of former President Donald Trump dies at 73

World

Eric July 15, 2022 0

Former US President Donald Trump's first wife Ivana Trump, 73, her family has confirmed .

"I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City," Donald Trump said in a post on the social medial platform Truth Social.

Donald and Ivana married in 1977 and divorced in 1992. The couple had three children together;Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric.

Neither her family statement nor the post from the former president spoke of the cause of her death.

Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as President of Rwanda

World

Eric July 09, 2022 0

Rwandan President Paul Kagame has expressed intentions of contesting for a fourth term.

Kagame who has been in power since 2000, now says he will be seeking to defend his seat in 2024.

"I would consider running for another 20 years. I have no problem with that. Elections are about people choosing," Kagame told a French TV

The 64-year-old rose to the country’s top seat after rebel forces helped end the Rwandan genocide that left about a million people dead.

Since then , Kagame has been re-elected three consecutive times on a seven-year term, as is stipulated by the Rwandan Constitution .

Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe dies after shooting

World

Eric July 08, 2022 0

Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been confirmed dead after he was shot at a campaign event in the country's western region of Nara on Friday, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported.

“According to a senior LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) official, former prime minister Abe died at a hospital in Kashihara city, Nara region, where he was receiving medical treatment. He was 67,” NHK said.

The shooting of the country’s longest serving PM comes despite Japan’s strict gun laws and with campaigning under way ahead of Sunday's upper house election.

“Former prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot in Nara and I have been informed he is in a very grave condition,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters after arriving in Tokyo by helicopter from the campaign trail.

“I pray that former prime minister Abe will survive,” the visibly emotional leader said.

“It is a barbaric act during election campaigning, which is the foundation of democracy, and it is absolutely unforgivable. I condemn this act in the strongest terms.”

Boris Johnson resigns as UK's Prime Minister

World

Eric July 07, 2022 0

Boris Johnson has resigned as Conservative leader but will continue serving as United Kingdom Prime Minister until the autumn.

Mr Johnson's resignation comes at the back drop of the exit of his cabinet, who include the chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the health secretary, Sajid Javid, a wave of resignation of other senior officials and rebellion and loss of party support over his handling of the party's latest sex and bullying scandal.

However he will stay on in the role of prime minister until a successor is in place, likely until Autumn.

“It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader,” Mr. Johnson said on Thursday in remarks outside Downing Street. “The process of choosing that new leader should begin now.”

His exit brings an end to a tenure that was distinguished by a landslide election victory three years ago and a successful drive to pull Britain out of the European Union, but that collapsed under the weight of strings of scandals.

While reacting to Johnson's resignation, Keir Starmer, the head of the opposition Labour Party, said it was “good news for the country that Boris Johnson has resigned,” but added: “It should have happened long ago.”

“He was always unfit for office. He has been responsible for lies, scandal and fraud on an industrial scale, ”he tweeted.

“And all those who have been complicit should be utterly ashamed.”

Mr. Johnson’s latest woes erupted last week after a Conservative lawmaker, Chris Pincher, became drunk at a London club, where, it was alleged, he groped two men.

Mr. Johnson had appointed Mr. Pincher to a senior party position in February despite earlier complaints of inappropriate behavior against Mr. Pincher.

When tasked with the happenings, the Premier at first denied being aware of the previous complaints, but it later emerged that he had known about them, and he eventually acknowledged that it was a mistake to have named Mr. Pincher to the elevated position.

As members of Mr. Johnson’s party stepped down from the government, one after another voiced opposition to Mr. Johnson’s leadership lacked integrity.

Somalia President tests positive for Covid

World

Eric June 25, 2022 0

Somalia's new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has contracted Covid-19.

President Mohamud confirmed the news shortly after returning from a trip to the United Arab Emirates.

"So far, I have no symptoms but I will continue to self-isolate and serve the people of Somalia from home," he said on Twitter.

"I ask we all keep each other safe by following public health advice and guidelines."

The 66-year-old president returned Friday from the United Arab Emirates where he led his first bilateral relations talks since his election on May 15.

Mohamud an academician and peace activist was Somalia's Head of State from 2012 to 2017.

The Horn of Africa nation has so far recorded 26,748 coronavirus cases of and 1,361 fatalities, according to the World Health Organization.

Pope Francis calls off DRC, South Sudan visit over ill health

World

Eric June 11, 2022 0

Pope Francis has postponed his visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan due to ill health, Vatican has confirmed.

The trip was planned for the 2nd-7th of July but the Pope will now set another date, said Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni as reported by Vatican News.

“Accepting the request of the doctors and in order not to cancel the results of the knee therapies still in progress, the Holy Father is forced, with regret, to postpone the apostolic journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, planned for 2-7 July, to a new date to be determined,” Bruni said.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Pope was due to visit the capital Kinshasa and Goma, in North Kivu province.

In Kinshasa, Pope Francis was to lead a two-hour Eucharistic celebration at Ndolo airport, north of Kinshasa. After the capital, the Pope was to fly to Goma where he was to lead a mass before meeting victims of violence in that part of the country.

Pope Francis' visit to the DRC was eagerly awaited, which would have come 37 years after Pope John Paul II visited Kinshasa.

The 85-year-old has been suffering from a knee injury which has limited his ability to work and confined him to a wheelchair.

His visit to Canada scheduled 24-29 June however remains in place.

Uhuru in Mogadishu for inauguration of new Somalia President

World

Eric June 09, 2022 0

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta is among several regional leaders attending the inauguration of Somalia’s new President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu.

President Kenyatta landed in Mogadishu minutes to noon accompanied by Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo, Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa and Agriculture’s Peter Munya.

Those in attendance include Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ,Djibouti leader Omar Ismael Guelleh ,South Sudan 2nd Vice President Taban Deng Gai, Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Kamal Madbouly and Uganda’s Defence Minister Vicent Bamulangaki.

Somalia and Kenya have had a frosty relationship in the recent years over the maritime dispute.

The two countries had engaged in a protracted legal tussle at the International Court of Justice (ICJ)over ownership of part of the Indian ocean.

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan dies aged 73

World

Eric May 13, 2022 0

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the President of United Arab Emirates has died at the age of 73.

Sheikh Khalifa was president of the UAE since 2004 and is credited for transforming the nation into an economic powerhouse.

Al-Nahyan had however been undertaking ceremonial role since he suffered a stroke in 2014.

His half-brother, Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, is now in charge of state affairs.

The al-Nahyan family is believed to have a fortune of $150bn (£123bn).

Besides being president of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich capital of the seven emirates which comprise the UAE.

News of his death was announced by the official WAM news agency.

The ministry of presidential affairs declared 40 days of mourning with flags at half-mast from Friday, and work was suspended in the public and private sectors fot three days.

Sheikh Khalifa took over as the UAE's second president in November 2004, succeeding his father as the 16th ruler of Abu Dhabi.

Guinea's ousted ex-president Conde returns after treatment abroad

World

Eric April 10, 2022 0

Guinea’s ousted ex-president Alpha Conde has returned to the countryafter a trip to the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment, the ruling junta said on Sunday.

"Conde returned to Conakry this afternoon after medical treatment in the United Arab Emirates,” according to a junta statement read on television.

Conde who was Guinea’s first democratically elected president in 2010 was deposed by army officers last year and replaced by Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.

The coup followed mass protest in Guinea's capital city of Conakry over the 84-year-old ruler's successful bid for a third term in office.

He was allowed to leave the country for treatment in January following demands from ECOWAS.

Elon Musk to join Twitter's board of directors

World

Eric April 05, 2022 0

Elon Musk is set to join Twitter's board of directors, a day after he acquired 9.2% stake at the firm making him largest individual shareholder.

Twitter on Tuesday said that it plans to appoint the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to its board for a term that ends in 2024.

According to the regulatory filling,Musk has agreed not to acquire more than 14.9% of the company's shares while he remains on the board.

"I'm excited to share that we're appointing @elonmusk to our board!" Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said in a tweet Tuesday.

"Through conversations with Elon in recent weeks, it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board."

The firm's boss further noted that Musk is both a "passionate believer" and an "intense critic" of the company, and that he believed Musk's presence in the boardroom would add long-term value.

Reacting to the news, Musk said he is "looking forward to working with Parag & Twitter board to make significant improvements to Twitter in coming months!

Kenya's ambassador to Qatar Paddy Ahenda is dead

World

Eric April 04, 2022 0

Kenya's Ambassador to Qatar Paddy Ahenda is dead.

According to his brother Gabriel Ahenda, the former Kasipul Kabondo MP succumbed to a heat stroke on Monday morning in Doha.

Reports indicate that the diplomat had been in the Intensive Care Unit for a week.

Elected on a Liberal Party ticket ,Ahenda served as Kasipul Kabondo MP between 2005 and 2007.He has been serving as the Kenyan envoy to Qatar since 2018.

His death comes barely a month after that of late Kenyan ambassador to Nigeria, Wilfred Machage who collapsed at his home last month and was pronounced dead in hospital in Abuja, Nigeria.

DR Congo formally joins EAC

World

Eric March 29, 2022 0

Democratic Republic of Congo has formally joined the East African Community regional bloc becoming the seventh and newest member of the community after South Sudan.

DR Congo was admitted into the regional bloc on Tuesday during the19th Extraordinary Summit conducted virtually that brought together EAC Heads of State and was presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta who is the current chair of the bloc which also comprises Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The proposal to admit DRC was presented by the EAC Council of Ministers during their 48th Extraordinary Council meeting on Friday to put the final touches on the admission plan.

Following the council of ministers meeting, EAC and Regional Affairs Principal Secretary Kevit Desai said all the prerequisite steps had been undertaken paving the way for the presentation of DRC’s bid to the Heads of State.

“The review mission is over, the negotiations are over."Desai stated.

Ex-Togo Premier elected head of ILO

World

Eric March 25, 2022 0

Former Togo Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo has been elected the Director General International Labour Organization, and will become the first African to lead the UN agency.

After two rounds of voting, the ILO's governing body elected the 60-year-old to succeed British trade unionist Guy Ryder, who stepped down on September after 10 years at the helm

"You have made history," Houngbo told the governing body after the election.

"I am deeply honoured to be the first representative of the African region to be selected to lead the ILO after 103 years."

Mr Houngbo is currently the head of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

He has previously served as UN Development Programme (UNDP) and deputy director-general of ILO itself, from 2013-2017.

He was facing off with former French labour minister Muriel Penicaud, South Korea's ex-foreign minister Kang Kyung-wha, South African entrepreneur Mthunzi Mdwaba, and ILO deputy Greg Vines of Australia.

Plane carrying 133 crashes in Southern China

World

Eric March 21, 2022 0

A passenger jet carrying 133 people has crashed in southwest China and caused a mountain fire with casualties unknown, state broadcaster CCTV reported Monday.

The Boeing 737 plane belonging to China Eastern Airlines crashed near Wuzhou city, Guangxi region and "caused a mountain fire", the state broadcaster said citing the provincial emergency management bureau adding that rescue teams were dispatched to the scene.

"China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737 plane carrying 133 people has crashed in Teng county, Wuzhou, Guangxi, and caused a mountain fire."CCTV said

According to reports, the China Eastern flight MU5735 had not arrived at its scheduled destination in Guangzhou after it took off from the city of Kunming shortly after 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) Monday.

Uganda Speaker Jacob Oulanyah dies in US

World

Eric March 21, 2022 0

The Speaker of Uganda's 11th parliament is dead.

Mr Jacob Oulanyah, breathed his last while receiving treatment at a hospital in Seattle,United States.

President Yoweri Museveni announced Oulanyah's death describing the 56-year-old as “a good Cadre”.

"Countrymen and Countrywomen. It is with a lot of sadness that I announce the death of the Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah, the Speaker of Parliament," Museveni tweeted.

Museveni said he received the devastating news about Mr Oulanyah's death on Sunday at 10:30am, and decided to delay the announcement so his family would be informed first.

"I got information of this sad news at 10.30am, East African time from People that have been with him and the doctor that was caring for him in the intensive care unit,"

“I extend my condolences, the condolences of my family and of all Ugandans to the children of Oulanyah and to his wider family. The government and the NRM will always stand with them. I will say more about Rt. Hon. Oulanyah in the coming days,” Museveni added

Obama tests positive for Covid-19

World

Eric March 14, 2022 0

Former U.S. President Barrack Obama has tested positive for Covid-19.

Obama who took to his twitter handle to confirm the news said that his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, has tested negative.

"I just tested positive for COVID. I've had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise. Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative.It's a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven't already, even as cases go down."

According to news reports, Obama, 60, had recently returned to Washington, DC, after spending much of the winter in Hawaii.

The diagnosis makes him the second US President known to contract the virus after then-President Donald Trump announced he tested positive in October 2020.

Obama has been at the forefront of championing for public health measures throughout the pandemic.

President Museveni's son Muhoozi Kainerugaba retires from army

World

Eric March 08, 2022 0

The Uganda People's Defence Force's Commander Lt General Muhoozi Kainerugaba has tendered his resignation as the Commander of Land Forces.

Muhoozi, the son of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni confirmed his resignation from the army after 28 years of service through his official twitter handle.

“After 28 years of service in my glorious military, the greatest military in the world, I am happy to announce my retirement,” he wrote on his Twitter account.

“Me and my soldiers have achieved so much! I have only love and respect for all those great men and women that achieve greatness for Uganda every day.”

During his reign in the forces, Muhoozi faced criticisms over what many termed as favouritism in his rise of ranks and others claiming he was being groomed to succeed his father who has been in power since 1986.

Muhoozi first joined the military in 1999 after successful military-based training in Egypt, Uganda and United States.

The 47-year old also enrolled in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom after which he got promotions in different Ugandan military units.