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☆ Mexican drug gangs ‘increasingly targeting’ Australia as meth supplies overtake rivals, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Drug cartels from North America have overtaken rivals in Southeast Asia to become Australia’s top suppliers of methamphetamine, police said, warning that Mexican gangs are “increasingly targeting” the country. Meanwhile, Southeast Asian meth fell to less than 15% of seizures of the drug, a highly addictive and potent stimulant. A wastewater detection program led by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission projected meth to be Australia’s second most used drug. In 2022, authorities stopped 1.8 tons of liquid meth masquerading as coconut water in Hong Kong before it reached Australia. They were bound for New Zealand, Australia and the surrounding Pacific region, police said.

Persons: Jared Taggart, Taggart, ”, Sam Gor, Terry Goldsworthy, Criminologist John Fitzgerald, Masood Karimipour Organizations: CNN —, Australian Federal Police, Police, ”, Australian Institute of Health, Welfare, Australian Criminal Intelligence, AFP, Bond University, Australian Capital Territory, University of Melbourne, Drugs, New Zealand police, Southeast, Pacific, United Nations Office Locations: North America, Southeast Asia, Australia, AFP, Mexico, United States, Canada, ” Australia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Japan , New Zealand, Hong Kong, Asia, Pacific, Queensland, American, Europe, Ukraine, New Zealand

☆ Australia Sweats Through Heatwave, Bushfire Risk Rated 'Extreme'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Large swaths of Australia on Sunday sweltered through a heatwave as authorities warned of elevated bushfire risk in an already high-risk fire season during an El Nino weather pattern. The nation's weather forecaster had heatwave alerts in place for Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Western Australia, warning temperatures in some parts of the country could hit the low 40s Celsius (over 104 degrees Fahrenheit). The high in the west of Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, was forecast at 39 C (102 F), almost 10 degrees above the February mean, forecaster data showed. Hot and dry conditions combined with gusty winds prompted the forecaster to issue "extreme fire danger" warnings for parts of Victoria and South Australia states. Sunday's hot weather - the latest in a string of heatwaves to scorch Australia - comes after the country's east was hit last month by damaging floods.

Persons: El, Sam McKeith, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian Capital, El Nino Locations: Australia, El Nino, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Western Australia, Sydney, Victoria, South Australia, scorch Australia

In 2019, a non-governmental organization set up the camp's health post where Aliyu's ninth child, Hauwa, was delivered in 2021. "There are no special arrangements for pregnant women in IDP and refugee camps [in Nigeria]. But for most of the 64 women recorded in the camp's birth register this year, these costs are prohibitive. Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health oversees health for the country (including provisions provided by the Commission). He tells CNN: "Women's Health services were prioritized and featured strongly in the programs designed to the needs of internally displaced women."

Persons: Aisha Aliyu, Abba, Aliyu, Aisha, Liyatu Ayuba, Ayuba, Fatima Mahmood Jibirilla, Isa Umar, Umar, they've, doesn't, Dr Charles Nzelu, Dolapo Fasawe, Fasawe, Nzelu, Iko Ibanga, Osagie, Ehanire, Ibanga Organizations: CNN, Walden University, Camp, Camp Management, Aliyu, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health, Commission for Refugees, Migrants, Commission, antenatal, Capital Territory, Territory's, Environmental Services, FCT Health Services, Federal Ministry of Health, Ministry, Pro Health, Federal Capital Territory, Health, Pro Health International, Union, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Ministry of Health, National Assembly Locations: Abuja, Nigeria, Nigeria's, Wala, Borno State, Maiduguri, Haram, Durumi, Africa, Nigerian, Borno, Adamawa

☆ McLennan replaced by Herbert as Rugby Australia chairman in boardroom coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

New Australia rugby union coach Eddie Jones poses with Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan and CEO Andy Marinos after his first news conference since his reappointment, which was held at Matraville Sports High School, in Sydney, Australia January 31, 2023. REUTERS/Nick Mulvenney/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Hamish McLennan was replaced as chairman of Rugby Australia (RA) by former Wallabies centre Dan Herbert late on Sunday as the fallout from the country's early World Cup exit continued to reverberate. McLennan, a successful businessman who had overseen the hiring of Eddie Jones to run the ill-fated World Cup campaign, immediately resigned from the board. "Australia will host the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, the Men's 2027 Rugby World Cup and the Women's 2029 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympic Games," he added. RA paid tribute to McLennan's role in helping the game get through the COVID pandemic, which brought the governing body close to bankruptcy, and in securing the hosting of the men's and women's World Cups.

Persons: Eddie Jones, Hamish McLennan, Andy Marinos, Nick Mulvenney, Dan Herbert, McLennan, Herbert, Jones, Dave Rennie, Phil Waugh, Rugby Australia's, Toby Davis Organizations: New Australia rugby, Rugby Australia, Matraville Sports High School, REUTERS, Rights, Wallabies, Australia, New South Wales Rugby Union, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Super Rugby, Irish Lions, Rugby, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, England, Queensland

☆ Australia reform drive gets NSW backing, other states sceptical
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The reforms will push Australia closer to the centralised models of New Zealand and Ireland, where provinces answer to the national body on high performance decisions affecting test rugby. On Tuesday, RA said the New South Wales Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union (NSWRU) had become Australia's first Super Rugby club and member union to formally commit to the integration plan. However, other member unions have pushed back on handing over commercial control. No Australian team has won a Super Rugby title since the Waratahs in 2014. RA have yet to decide who will run the integrated high performance programme or take over the Wallabies from Jones.

Persons: Phil Waugh, Waugh, Eddie Jones, Jones, Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: MELBOURNE, Rugby Australia, Wallabies, New South Wales Waratahs, NSW Rugby Union, Super Rugby, Waratahs, Australian Capital Territory Rugby Union, Brumbies, Rugby, Irish Lions, Thomson Locations: New South Wales, NSW, Australia, Zealand, Ireland, Sydney, rugby, France, Melbourne

☆ Rugby league-Court drops case against Australia's Mitchell and Wighton
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Wighton was celebrating his 30th birthday when police removed him from the nightclub and ordered him to leave the city area. I thought I saw something different," Australian media quoted the police officer as saying to Wighton in court on Tuesday. Australia Capital Territory (ACT) Magistrates Court judge Jane Campbell dismissed the case, triggering criticism of police and prosecutors. The arrests were prominently reported by national broadcasters, with video showing four police officers pinning Aboriginal Australian Mitchell face-down to the ground. "I hope everyone knows and understands the seriousness of what's gone on," South Sydney fullback Mitchell told reporters outside the court.

Persons: South Sydney Rabbitohs Latrell Mitchell, Loren Elliott, Latrell Mitchell, Jack Wighton, Mitchell, affray, Wighton, Jack, Jane Campbell, what's, it's, they've, I've, Don Furner, Shane Rattenbury, Ian Ransom, Sonali Paul Organizations: South Sydney Rabbitohs, National Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, REUTERS, Rights MELBOURNE, Australian, Police, ., Capital Territory, Aboriginal, South Sydney, Canberra Raiders, ACT Attorney, ACT Policing, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Australia, Canberra, Melbourne

☆ In Australia's Outback, Indigenous Voice Proposal Struggles to Inspire
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Experts have partly attributed the slump to misinformation, along with a lacklustre "Yes" campaign and conservative opposition. That's something I have been wondering about," he said, referring to laws allowing Indigenous Australians to claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. Reaching out to Aboriginal Australia can be challenging, as communities are scattered over vast distances and speak more than 150 languages. Votes from the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory count toward only the former. Visiting Alice Springs last month, Reuters saw "Yes" campaign posters on walls in the town centre and in government office complexes.

Persons: Praveen Menon AREYONGA, Tarna Andrews, Andrews, Sarah Gallagher, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Albert Namatjira, Patrick Oliver, Oliver, Conrad Ratara, Ratara, Les Turner, Turner, it's, Lidia Thorpe, Nampijinpa Price, Price, Kathy Coulthard, Alice Springs, Natasha McCormack, Bill Yan, Praveen Menon, Jill Gralow, David Crawshaw Organizations: Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Reuters, Labor, Voice, New, Central Land Council, Australian, Victoria Locations: Australia, Alice Springs, Areyonga, Northern Territory, New Zealand, Canada, U.S, Hermannsburg, Canberra, Northern

☆ Australia PM rallies support for Indigenous referendum as early voting starts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BAGUS INDAHONO/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday he would focus on having one-on-one conversations with Australians to rally support for the Indigenous referendum, as early voting began in some parts of the country. In a landmark referendum, Australians will decide on Oct. 14 whether to approve altering the constitution to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body called the "Voice to Parliament" that can give advice on matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The proposal, backed by Albanese's Labor government, has been struggling to get majority support with recent opinion polls showing voters will reject it. In a bid to mobilise support, Albanese said if Australians are focused on what the question is from the referendum amid the distractions, they will vote yes, and there is nothing to fear from this campaign. Early voting on the referendum in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory will begin on Tuesday.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Joko Widodo, BAGUS, Albanese, Stella Qiu, Lincoln Organizations: Australia's, 43rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Rights, Australian, Torres Strait, Albanese's Labor, Aboriginal, Australian Capital, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Melbourne, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory

☆ Fact Check-Video does not show 2023 demolition drive in Abuja, Nigeria
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Nigerian TV broadcast from 2021 of settlements belonging to the Fulani ethnic group being torn down in Abuja is being falsely shared online as building demolitions ordered by a government minister in 2023. Speaking in August at the site of a deadly building collapse in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike said all structures in his constituency without adequate building approvals would be demolished (here). Some social media users then shared a broadcast report about Fulani settlements being torn down, suggesting it showed Wike’s order being carried out. “FCT Minister Nyesom Wike at work ooo, starting from Fulani settlement and some areas along Airport,Abuja, FCT, Nigeria,” said Facebook posts sharing the video (here), (here). But the report, from Independent Television/Radio Abuja, was first broadcast on May 31, 2021 (here).

Persons: Nyesom Wike, “, ”, Malam Muhammad Bello, Read Organizations: Federal Capital, Independent Television, Radio Abuja, Task Force, Azikiwe, Guardian, Reuters Locations: Abuja, Airport, FCT, Nigeria, Nigerian

[1/5] A Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official catches a stray dog using a rod with a loop, near Indira Gandhi International Airport ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 5, 2023. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) did not directly link the removal of stray dogs to the summit, stating that the canines are being picked up "only on an urgent need basis". Reuters' witnesses saw MCD teams capturing dogs using rods with a loop at one end. Sanjay Mohapatra, founder of the House of Stray Animals NGO, termed the action "needless". "If delegates see people feeding stray dogs, it will actually create a good impression of the country," he said.

Persons: Anushree, Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Justin Trudeau, Fumio Kishida, Ambika Shukla, Sanjay Mohapatra, Friendicoes, Geeta Seshamani, Anushree Fadnavis, Sakshi Dayal, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Indira Gandhi, Airport, REUTERS, Authorities, U.S, British, Canadian, Japanese, Reuters, Animals, Stray Animals, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, Delhi, Saudi

☆ Delhi removes hundreds of stray dogs from streets as G20 nears
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[3/14]A caretaker carries a stray dog at an animal shelter at Bijwasan in New Delhi, India, September 6. The national capital territory of Delhi has over 60,000 stray dogs, according to government data, which are fed and doted upon by many of its 20 million residents, but instances of them attacking people are not uncommon. REUTERS/Anushree FadnavisNEW DELHI, India

Organizations: REUTERS Locations: Bijwasan, New Delhi, India, Delhi, DELHI

SYDNEY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Australia said on Wednesday that a referendum to recognise the country's Indigenous people in its constitution will be held on October 14. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of Australia's nearly 26 million population, are not mentioned in the constitution. Here are five things to know about the referendum:PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTIONThe Parliament in August agreed to propose adding a new chapter, Chapter IX-Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to the Constitution. The referendum question would be: "A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. The election commission has said the referendum will see more voting services delivered to remote communities than any other vote in Australia's history.

Persons: Praveen Menon, Alasdair Pal Organizations: SYDNEY, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Torres Strait Islander Peoples, First Peoples of, Torres Strait Islander, Executive Government, Peoples of Australia, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Thomson Locations: Australia, Australia's, First Peoples of Australia, Commonwealth, Northern Territory, Sydney

☆ Voice referendum: Australia sets date for historic referendum on its First Nations people
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Brisbane, Australia CNN —Australia has set the date for its first referendum in 24 years as polls suggest the government is on course for failure unless it can reverse declining support. As soon as the date was announced, the no campaign sent a text message calling for tax deductible donations that read: “It’s on! Votes in the territories – the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory will only be included in the national total. The Voice, if approved, would enshrine a body in the constitution made up of Indigenous people to advise the government on laws that relate to them. Tamati Smith/Getty ImagesNo vote strengthening in the pollsBut recent polling suggests if a vote was cast now, it would likely fail.

Persons: ”, Anthony Albanese, –, Richard Wainwright, Peter Dutton, they’d, ” Dutton, “, Anna Clark, Clark, ” Cedric Marika, Tamati Smith, Oscar, ” Oscar, she’s, Albanese, “ Don’t, don’t Organizations: Australia CNN —, Peoples of Australia, Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Australian, Territory, Nations, WA Liberals, Reuters, Labor, Liberal Party, National Party, Australian Electoral Commission, Liberal, AEC, Sky News, Australian Centre for Public, University of Technology, Garma, Torres, Torres Strait Islander Social, Australian Human Rights, ”, Torres Strait Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Australia CNN — Australia, Nations, Northern Territory, Perth, University of Technology Sydney, East Arnhem, Torres Strait

☆ Australia inquiry finds misconduct by prosecutor linked to parliament rape trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters does not usually identify victims of sex crimes but Higgins went public with the accusation. Prosecutors in December dropped charges against Lehrmann over fears the trial was harming Higgins' mental health. Lehrmann, who worked in the same office as Higgins, pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. The ACT government in December set up the inquiry to check the conduct of criminal justice agencies after allegations of political interference in the trial. Chief Minister Andrew Barr said his government would check if it was against the law that two journalists had received the inquiry report before it was made public.

Persons: Brittany Higgins, Linda Reynolds, Bruce Lehrmann, Higgins, Shane Drumgold, Walter Sofronoff, Drumgold, Andrew Barr, Barr, Renju Jose, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, House, Reuters, Prosecutors, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Public, Thomson Locations: Australian, House, Queensland, Sydney

☆ USS Canberra personnel parade in Australia capital amid joint war games
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) - United States Navy personnel from a newly commissioned U.S. combat ship paraded through Australia's capital on Sunday, as the two allies carry out war games amid China's military build-up in the region. "It's such an honour and a privilege to be able to do this," Captain of the USS Canberra Blue Crew, Will Ashley, told ABC television. "It's a culmination of not just the ship naming, of honouring the city, but the previous HMAS Canberra that was lost in World War Two." The Australian Capital Territory "Freedom of Entry" parade came after a commissioning ceremony for the USS Canberra on Saturday at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbour. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Persons: Will Ashley, Sam McKeith, Stefica Nicol, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, United States Navy, Independence, Royal Australian Navy, U.S, Marine, USS Canberra Blue, ABC, Australian Capital Territory, USS Canberra, Talisman Sabre, Australia, Stefica Nicol Bikes, Thomson Locations: U.S, Guadalcanal, Canberra, Sydney Harbour, Australia, China, United States, Britain, Sydney

The company, Marion Biotech, bought the ingredient — propylene glycol (PG) — from trader Maya Chemtech India, as reported by Reuters. "Marion bought commercial-grade propylene glycol," said a second source, an investigator, who declined to be named while the inquiry is ongoing. International standards allow only trace amounts of EG and DEG in pharmaceutical-grade propylene glycol. The toxins were found in cough syrups exported to Gambia by the other Indian company, Maiden Pharmaceuticals. India made it mandatory for companies to have their cough syrups tested before export from June.

Persons: Marion, Deepak Sharma, Max, Vijay Kumar, Tuhin Bhattacharya, Mool Singh, Atul Rawat, Jaya Jain, Sachin Jain, Rohan Gupta, syrups, Maiden, Saurabh Sharma, Krishna, Jennifer Rigby, Olzhas, Sara Ledwith, Michele Gershberg, Deepa Babington Organizations: Reuters, Marion Biotech, Indian, EG, World Health Organization, Authorities, . Police, Marion, Court, Maya, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, WHO, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Uzbekistan, India, Delhi, Marion, Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad, Gambia, Indonesia, London, Almaty

☆ India's opposition parties unite for 2024 national elections, BJP says not worried
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Yp Rajesh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Their campaign got a shot in the arm in May when Congress trounced BJP in a key state election, exceeding expectations and gaining fresh momentum ahead of more state elections due this year and national elections in April-May 2024. Gandhi said the fight against BJP was an "ideological battle" and opposition parties were united in it. India's opposition parties have formed alliances to challenge governments - led by both Congress and BJP - in the past and win elections but have a mixed record of sticking together and running governments smoothly. BJP leaders said they were not worried as there was little hope for such alliances. "I want to tell leaders of the opposition, join as many hands as you want but opposition unity is not possible.

Persons: Narendra Modi's, Rahul Gandhi, Modi, Nitish Kumar, Kumar, Gandhi, Amit Shah Organizations: Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, Congress, Aadmi Party, AAP, Modi, ji’s, YP Rajesh, Thomson Locations: DELHI, Patna, Bihar, Punjab, Delhi

☆ Australia seeks to terminate lease of new Russian embassy near Parliament House
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Alex Stambaugh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Australian government is introducing legislation to terminate a lease of a new Russian embassy near Parliament House in the capital Canberra, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Thursday. “The government has received very clear security advice as to the risk presented by a new Russian presence so close to Parliament House,” Albanese told reporters in a televised press conference. The land proposed for the second Russian embassy lies directly adjacent to Parliament House, Australian Home Minister Clare O’Neil said alongside Albanese. “We’re acting quickly to ensure the leased site does not become a formal diplomatic presence,” the prime minister said. The prime minister said that coalition leadership had been briefed and would be supporting the legislation.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, “, ” Albanese, Australian Home Minister Clare O’Neil, Albanese, “ We’re, ”, Andrew Barr Organizations: CNN, Australian, House, Australian Home Minister, ”, Senate, Australian Capital Territory Locations: Russian, Canberra, Australia, Ukraine

☆ Fact Check-Clip of people marching with banners in Nigeria’s Abuja predates May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Video of people marching with posters and banners on Kukwaba Road in the Nigerian capital of Abuja dates to at least February 2023, but has been shared online as showing supporters of Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi protesting in May 2023. However, no credible sources have reported a large-scale protest in Abuja by Obi’s supporters on May 24. The video appears to have been filmed on Abuja’s Kukwaba Road, located in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. Hotel Transcorp Hilton Abuja located near Kukwaba Road can also be seen in the background in the video (bit.ly/3MX8zu2). Video showing people marching in Abuja dates to at least February 2023, does not show a protest in May.

Persons: Peter Obi, Obidient’s, BUHARI dey, Nigeria’s, Read Organizations: Labour Party Presidential, Facebook, Obi’s, Twitter, Federal, Zenith Bank ”, Transcorp Hilton, Reuters Locations: Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Kukwaba

The opposition has come together after this month's conviction of opposition leader Rahul Gandhi of the Congress party on a charge of defamation and his disqualification from parliament. Opposition politicians say Gandhi's shock disqualification, and possible jail time, is the latest evidence of the Modi government's strongarm tactics and follows investigations and legal troubles faced in recent months by other opposition parties. A day after Gandhi's conviction, 14 political parties jointly petitioned the Supreme Court, saying opposition groups were being selectively targeted by federal investigative agencies. "The Modi government's fascist steps have given a new chance for opposition parties to be united," Trinamool MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, told Reuters. "Anti Modi-ism or anti BJP-ism cannot be the glue that brings together disparate opposition parties with different aspirations and ambitions and positions," said Nalin Kohli, the BJP's national spokesperson.

☆ Nigerian ruling party candidate declared winner in highly disputed election
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ABUJA, Nigeria - March 1, 2023: Ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu, addresses supporters during celebrations at his campaign headquarters. Tinubu won Nigeria's highly disputed weekend election, electoral authorities said on Wednesday, securing the former Lagos governor the presidency of Africa's most populous democracy. Nigeria's ruling party candidate Bola Tinubu was declared the winner of the country's presidential election on Wednesday after polling was marred by transparency concerns and widespread technical problems. The APC, PDP and Labour Party won 12 states apiece, while the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso claimed one state. However, the PDP, Labour Party and several other opposition parties had already rejected the results by the time Tinubu was declared president-elect on Wednesday.

☆ Top Delhi minister arrested in India liquor probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - India's federal investigating agency arrested a top local minister in the capital territory of New Delhi late on Sunday in connection with alleged irregularities in a liquor policy, the most high-profile arrest in the case so far. Manish Sisodia, the deputy chief minister in the Delhi government was arrested by India's federal crime agency, the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) late Sunday night and will be produced in a local court on Monday. Sisodia was arrested in an ongoing investigation in "a case related to alleged irregularities in framing & implementation of the excise policy", the CBI said in a release. His arrest is dirty politics," Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's chief minister and head of the Aam Aadmi Party said in a tweet hours after Sisodia's arrest. India's financial crime-fighting agency, the Enforcement Directorate is separately investigating French liquor major Pernod Ricard for allegedly violating the same liquor policy.

☆ Factbox: Five things to know about Australia's planned Indigenous referendum
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Australia's government plans to hold a referendum between August and December this year on recognising the nation's Indigenous people in its constitution. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who represent about 3.2% of Australia's population, are currently not mentioned in the constitution. * The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice may make representations to Parliament and the Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM QUESTION? To change the constitution, the government must secure what is known as a double majority in the referendum.

[1/5] Supporters of All Progressives Congress (APC) wear traditional attire with APC branding during a campaign rally in Abuja, Nigeria, February 11, 2023. Ahead of the Feb. 25 vote, political rallies and campaign events have become catwalks for colourful printed fabrics twisted into elaborate dresses, tunics and headscarves. He wore an LP-emblazoned, green, red and white version of a traditional hat and held a wooden walking stick that is often used as an accessory among Hausa men. "You can see the stick here which means I am a full Lagosian by virtue of this campaign in Lagos," said Ahanotu. "This is our official regalia for APC presidential campaign council," she explained.

☆ Nigerian inflation rate climbs for 10th straight month in Nov
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Chijioke Ohuocha | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Afolabi SotundeABUJA, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Annual inflation in Nigeria climbed to 21.47% in November from October's rate of 21.09%, accelerating for the 10th straight month as food prices surged, the statistics bureau said on Thursday. A separate food price index showed inflation at 24.13% in November, compared with 23.72% in October, as Africa's most populous nation continues to struggle with rising prices for staples. "The rise in food inflation was caused by increases in prices of bread and cereals, oil and fat, potatoes, ... and fish," the NBS said in a report. The government expects inflation to remain in double digits, averaging 17.16% next year. Virag Forizs, emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said November inflation data was stronger than expected, meaning prices could rise further.

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