New French PM vows to restore power, ban shantytowns in storm-hit Mayotte
Paris, France Reuters New French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said on Monday that power will be restored to all households on the storm-ravaged Mayotte archipelago by the end of January, while the rebuilding of its shantytowns will not be permitted. The slow pace of aid and delays in the arrival of clean water and electricity […]
Destruction omnipresent in Mayotte, less so the French state, locals say
Doujani, Mayotte, France Reuters The destruction wreaked by cyclone Chido on Mayotte can be seen across France’s Indian Ocean archipelago. In the hillside shantytowns where the storm hit hardest, police, emergency workers and French officials are harder to find, locals said. The sound of hammers and saws was omnipresent on Wednesday, as people rushed to […]
Comoros President sworn in for fourth term after disputed poll
Moroni, Comoros Reuters Comoros President Azali Assoumani pledged on Sunday to work for peace and rapidly grow the economy as he was sworn in for his fourth term in office, following a tense January election which his opponents claim was tainted by voter fraud. One person was killed and at least 25 injured in violent […]
Internet shutdowns: Are we likely to see more in 2024?
Digital rights groups fear a rise in global internet shutdowns in 2024 could threaten fundamental rights in a super-election year. NITA BHALLA, of Thomson Reuters Foundation, report…
One dead, at least 25 injured in Comoros protests over President’s re-election
Moroni, Comoros Reuters One person has been killed and at least 25 injured in violent protests that erupted after Comoros President Azali Assoumani’s re-election on Sunday, a health official said on Thursday. Demonstrations erupted on Wednesday, a day after the electoral body declared Assoumani winner, giving him a fourth five-year term. Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani […]
Comoros’ President extends rule after latest poll victory
Moroni, Comoros Reuters Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani won a fourth five-year term after being declared by the country’s electoral body on Tuesday as the winner of Sunday’s election in which he contested against five opponents. Assoumani has been ruling the Indian Ocean archipelago nation since 1999 when he first came to power through a coup. […]
Comoros holds presidential election, opposition say vote had irregularities
Moroni, Comoros Reuters Voting took place in Comoros on Sunday in an election widely expected to hand a fourth five-year term to President Azali Assoumani, while his five opponents said the vote was tainted by accusations of pre-marked ballots in favour of the incumbent. The polls opened across the Indian Ocean archipelago at 8am for […]
More than 40 nations interested in joining BRICS – South Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa Reuters More than 40 countries have expressed interested in joining the BRICS group of nations, South Africa’s top diplomat in charge of relations with the bloc said on Thursday. Anil Sooklal and officials from the department of foreign affairs were addressing journalists in the main commercial city of Johannesburg, a day after […]
Exodus of healthcare workers from poor countries worsening, WHO says
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters Poorer countries are increasingly losing healthcare workers to wealthier ones as the latter seek to shore up their own staff losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes through active recruitment, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday. The trend for nurses and other staff to leave parts of Africa or South-East Asia for […]
Essay: State Department blacklists are only one tool to foster international religious freedom
KNOX THAMES, US State Department special adviser on religious minorities in the Obama and Trump administrations, looks, in an article first published on Religion News Service, at whether such designations help…