Africa: DRC Misses Another Opportunity to Build a Democracy

[ad_1] After accusations of an 'electoral coup' in 2018, the country's December 2023 polls were equally lacking in legitimacy. Following President Félix Tshisekedi's contested victory in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) December 2023 elections, democracy hangs in the balance. Amid allegations of irregularities and voter disenfranchisement, Tshisekedi's re-election underscores deep problems with the country's democratic fabric. The Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) declared Tshisekedi the winner with over 70% of the votes. He was followed by Moïse Katumbi […]

February 7, 2024

Africa

Ghana: Journalists association blacklist lawmaker over attack

[ad_1] A Ghanaian lawmaker, Farouk Aliu Mahama has been blacklisted by the Ghana’s Journalists Association (GJA) for allegedly attacking a journalist. It’s the strongest statement yet by the association to protect journalists in the country following increasing attacks. Mr. Mahama and his entourage reportedly attacked Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira, who works for Accra-based Citi TV, while he was covering a political event involving the MP’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) in […]

February 7, 2024

Japan

Education minister under fire for unreported ties to Unification Church

[ad_1] Scrutiny from the opposition intensified in Wednesday’s session of a Lower House committee after it became clear that education minister Masahito Moriyama had received electoral support in 2021 from an association affiliated to the religious group formerly known as the Unification Church.The Asahi Shimbun reported on the same day that, in the run-up to the Lower House election of October 2021, Moriyama signed an agreement with the group that […]

February 7, 2024

Africa

Africa: AU Summit 2024 Nat’l Committee Finalizes Preparations

[ad_1] Committee for the African Union 44th Executive Council and 37th Ordinary Session of Heads of States announced that the preparation to receive AU guests has already finalized preparations. Speaking at a discussion organized about the preparation with its 35 member institutions yesterday, National Committee Chairperson, Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano said that preparations have been carried out in consideration to receive extra guests. "Hotels, roads, guest destinations as well as tourist areas are now ready to provide […]

February 7, 2024

Japan

Taylor-mania hits Tokyo as Swift resumes tour before Super Bowl

[ad_1] Taylor Swift will celebrate making Grammys history with a run of concerts in Tokyo starting Wednesday, kicking off a month of sold-out shows in Asia that will include a quick run home to see her boyfriend contest the U.S. Super Bowl.Excited fans lined up in the cold from morning to buy merchandise at Tokyo Dome before the first of four Tokyo shows, part of the megastar's global Eras Tour […]

February 7, 2024

Africa

Africa: Road to COP29 – Highest Climate Ambitions Needed to Decarbonize World

[ad_1] Nairobi — The road to COP29 has begun in earnest in the backdrop of a global climate report indicating that not only was 2023 the warmest year in a 174-year climate record, it was the warmest by far. Record-breaking temperatures, combined with El Niño, pushed vulnerable and poor nations in the Global South to the frontlines of extreme and severe weather events. It was a climatic carnage in Africa with fatal floods in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, […]

February 7, 2024

Africa

Africa: Landlocked Developing Countries Conference to Address Development

[ad_1] United Nations — Landlocked developing countries need greater support from the international community so that they are no longer left behind when it comes to progressing with the SDGs, says the UN High Representative of the Least Developed Countries. The Third UN Conference of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) is set to be hosted in Kigali, Rwanda, in June. A preparatory committee for the conference has been established and convened its first meeting on Monday. The overarching theme of the […]

February 7, 2024

Japan

Train scrapes car in Osaka after railway crossing gate opens prematurely

[ad_1] A train scraped a car after a railroad crossing gate in the city of Osaka opened before the train passed through, authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured. The incident occurred near the Nishi-Tengachaya Station on the Koya Line operated by Nankai Electric Railway. The gate had opened before the train passed through, and the car entered the crossing. According to the railway operator, the train driver, who was […]

February 7, 2024

Japan

In the world of sumo, a mock draft reflects the sport’s generational shift

[ad_1] Though you wouldn’t know it after a heavy snow storm rolled through Tokyo earlier this week, winter is almost over.In just a matter of weeks, spring will be here, and with it the usual flurry of graduation ceremonies, moves to new schools and companies and preparations for cherry blossom-viewing parties.March in sumo means the Osaka tournament. With spring traditionally marking the start of the new year in many cultures […]

February 7, 2024

Month: February 2024