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☆ Ogier leads Kenya's Safari Rally as Neuville retires
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Rallying - World Rally Championship - Safari Rally Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya - June 23, 2022 - A helicopter follows French Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Benjamin Veillas in action during side-by-side super special racing stage at Kasarani. REUTERS/Monicah MwangiJune 23 (Reuters) - Toyota's Sebastien Ogier led after the first leg of Kenya's Safari Rally on Friday while Hyundai's title contender Thierry Neuville smashed his car's suspension and retired from the day's action. Eight times world champion Ogier, who is competing part-time this season, was 22.8 seconds clear of team mate and 2022 winner Kalle Rovanpera after the day's six stages over rutted, rocky and sandy tracks. Except for the hybrid issue this morning we had a perfect day, so we can be happy," said the Frenchman, who had been only 2.5 seconds clear of Rovanpera at midday service in Naivasha. The rally, celebrating its 70th anniversary, started with a stage in Nairobi on Thursday.

Persons: Sebastien Ogier, Benjamin Veillas, Monicah, Toyota's Sebastien Ogier, Thierry Neuville, Ogier, Kalle Rovanpera, It's, Frenchman, Elfyn Evans, Neuville, Hyundai's Dani Sordo, Alan Baldwin, Toby Davis Organizations: Safari, Toyota, REUTERS, Belgian, Rovanpera, Thomson Locations: Kenya, Nairobi, Kasarani, Naivasha, Belgian Neuville, Sardinia, Neuville, Lake Naivasha, London

☆ Opinion: If a 16 year old can drive, work, pay taxes – why can’t they vote?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Opinion Paul Hockenos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In Germany, this age group can vote in European elections, and the same goes for Belgium, on request. And, when Scotland held its referendum on Scottish independence back in 2014, it lowered the voting age from 18 to 16. In the US, some cities in the states of Maryland and California have lowered the voting age to 16 in certain local elections. The US-based NGO National Youth Rights Association argues that 16- and 17-year-olds should participate on decision making on medical autonomy, curfew, drinking age and age discrimination. “They work and are subject to taxation without representation: income tax, sales tax, payroll taxes and more… The US should continue its democratic tradition of extending voting rights,” he added.

Persons: Paul Hockenos, ”, Paul Hockenos Hayyan, –, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Grace Meng, Meng, ” Linda Kastrup, Neil Bhateja, Greta Thunberg, they’ll Organizations: CNN, New Democracy Party of Greek, YouTube, Facebook, European Union, Scotland, Scottish, Youth, Youth Rights Association, –, National Youth Rights Association, Twitter Locations: Berlin, Europe, New Berlin, Greece, Austria, Malta, EU, Germany, Belgium, Estonia, Maryland, California, New York, London, Bogota, Nairobi

[1/5] Participants react with Pride rainbow flags as they attend the Badilika festival to celebrate the LGBT rights in Nairobi, Kenya, June 11, 2023. Some regional lawmakers frame the issue as an almost existential battle to save African values and sovereignty, which they say have been battered by Western pressure to capitulate on gay rights. Spokespeople for the Kenyan presidency and government didn't respond to requests for comment about the proposed bill. Several called for legislation to strengthen penalties for same-sex acts, including the deputy majority leader, who said gay sex could be punished by hanging. President William Ruto, an evangelical Christian, has criticized a February supreme court decision allowing an LGBT rights group to register as a non-governmental organization.

Persons: Mohamed Ali doesn't, Ali, Weeks, Bill, Yoweri Museveni, Annette Atieno, John Agany, Jacqueline Ngonyani, Ngonyani, Damas Ndumbaro, William Ruto, Peter Kaluma, Uganda's, Kaluma, U.S . State Department didn't, Stella Kachina, Marylize Biubwa, Lorna Dias, Dias, Nuzulack Dausen, Waakhe Simon Wudu, Daphne Psaledakis, Estelle Shirbon, Aaron Ross, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Kenyan, National Gay, Human Rights Commission, U.S . State Department, East, NAIROBI PRIDE, Gay and Lesbian Coalition of, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, NAIROBI, East Africa, Juba, United, Africa, Entebbe, Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya, Ruto, Dar es, Washington

☆ After a breakthrough year, distance runner Dominic Lobalu is in a race for national identity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —One of the world’s top distance runners, Dominic Lobalu dreams of climbing the podium at the Olympic Games. It means Lobalu is essentially stateless on the global athletics scene, running with no flag and no national colors. In a statement to CNN Sport, Swiss Athletics confirmed that it had applied to the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel for Lobalu to change his allegiance. Founded in 2014, the ART is supported by international governing body World Athletics and composed entirely of athletes who have fled violence, conflict, and injustice. “He cannot change the decision from World Athletics, he can’t make it faster.

Persons: Dominic Lobalu, Lobalu, Valerio Origo, Gallen, Markus Hagmann, ”, “, Geneva –, hasn’t, I’m, ’ ”, coy, Mr, Adam Davy, he’s, Jackie Brock, Doyle, Dominic, Hagmann, ” Hagmann, Jacob Kiplimo, … He’s Organizations: CNN, Olympic, CNN Sport, Swiss Athletics, Athlete, ART, Athletics, Diamond League, World Athletics, Zurich Diamond League, Lobalu, Stockholm Diamond League Locations: Sudan, Kenya, Europe, Paris, Budapest, Switzerland, St, Copenhagen, Nairobi, Lobalu, Swiss, Geneva, South Sudan, London, Chukudum, Vienna, Austria, Lausanne, Gallen, Stockholm

[1/2] Internally displaced Ethiopians queue to receive food aid in the Higlo camp for people displaced by drought in the town of Gode, Somali Region, Ethiopia, April 26, 2022. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File PhotoNAIROBI, June 19 (Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme hopes to resume some food aid distribution in Ethiopia as soon as next month once it has received greater control over how beneficiaries are selected, a senior WFP official said on Monday. It paused food aid to the northern Tigray region in May and then to all of Ethiopia this month in response to widespread theft of donations. The WFP has been providing emergency food assistance to nearly 6 million of them. Valerie Guarnieri, WFP assistant executive director for programme and policy development, said the agency wanted to reduce the authority of local and regional government officials to decide who qualified for food aid.

Persons: Valerie Guarnieri, Guarnieri, Aaron Ross, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Tiksa, WFP, Reuters, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Ethiopian, Thomson Locations: Gode, Somali Region, Ethiopia, NAIROBI, Tigray, States

Malindi, Kenya CNN —The reddish soil of the Shakahola forest is still giving up its terrible secrets. The cult was preparing for the end of the world under the instruction of their its powerful pastor, say investigators. Many find it difficult to comprehend the dark path that Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie allegedly took his followers along. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesAt a recent hearing Mackenzie denied all knowledge of the horrors that witnesses, inspectors, and survivors believe happened in the Shakahola forest. ‘Intoxicating power’To understand the Shakahola cult, the focus must be on Mackenzie, says Rick Ross, a leading American cult expert who has studied destructive cults for decades.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Paul Mackenzie, David McKenzie, ’ ”, Agnes, Mackenzie, “, ”, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Rick Ross, “ It’s, Ross, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Joseph Kibwetere, Geoffrey Wango, Wango, Ruto, Nxivm, God, Naomi Kahindi's, Mwangi, Francis Wanje, Wanje’s, It’s, Wanje, Khalid Hussein, Mackenzie's, Monicah Mwangi, Jesus, couldn’t, didn’t, David Man’ong’o Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Good News International Ministry, Criminal Investigations, Getty, Nairobi University, Kenyan, Reuters, . Police, Public Prosecutions Locations: Malindi, Kenya, Galilee, Bethlehem, Shakahola, AFP, American, Africa

And it has also helped to placate Tuareg-led rebels in northern Mali who halted their separatist uprising with the 2015 Algiers Accord. Mali, Russia and Wagner deny wrongdoing in Moura or targeting civilians anywhere in Mali. RESTRICTIONSMINUSMA launched in 2013 after the separatist rebels and al Qaeda-linked insurgents occupied northern Mali. Bamako and the Kremlin say Russian troops, not Wagner mercenaries, are present in Mali but only to train the army and supply equipment. As a result, MINUSMA has struggled to counter a tide of anti-U.N. posts online, losing the battle for public opinion in Mali.

Persons: Wagner, Ahmedou Ould, Abdallah, MINUSMA, General Antonio Guterres, Abdoulaye Diop, U.N, Fatoumata Sinkoun Kaba, Souleymane Dembelé, Ulf Laessing, Konrad Adenauer, Ould Mohamed Ramdane, Ramdane, Yvan Guichaoua, Friedrich, Ebert, Edward McAllister, David Lewis, Tiemoko Diallo, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Wagner Group, Islamic, CMA, Malian Foreign, Security, Reuters, El, Kremlin, French, Department of Peace, UN, U.S, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, NAIROBI, Russian, West Africa, Gao, Timbuktu, Mali, Algiers, Bamako, Islamic State, al Qaeda, Mauritanian, Sahel, Moura, Russia, U.N, Burkina Faso, Niger, Central African Republic, United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, France, Egypt, Brussels, U.S, Dakar, Nairobi

☆ China 'deplores' UK security minister's meeting with Taiwanese minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat addresses a press conference, with Kenya's Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki, during his visit, in Nairobi, Kenya May 10, 2023. REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi/File PhotoLONDON, June 18 (Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in London on Sunday condemned a meeting last week between Britain's security minister, Tom Tugendhat, and Taiwan's digital minister, saying it violated international relations. "This move seriously violates the one-China principle and the basic norms of international relations," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement. Although junior British ministers hold talks with their Taiwanese counterparts, the convention was that senior British ministers do not meet with Taiwanese officials. "We want to make it clear to the UK side that any actions that undermine China's interests will be met with resolute responses," the Chinese embassy spokesperson said.

Persons: Tom Tugendhat, National Administration Kithure Kindiki, Monicah, Tugendhat, Audrey Tang, Michael Holden, Sharon Singleton Organizations: British, State, Ministry of Interior, National Administration, REUTERS, Reuters, Taiwanese Digital Affairs, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, London, Britain, China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taipei, Xinjiang

☆ Militants kill 37, abduct six others in attack on Ugandan school
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Elias Biryabarema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Military personnel found the bodies of the dead when they arrived at the school, defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said in a statement. The attackers, from the rebel group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), fled towards Virunga National Park in Congo, police said. Police said eight other people were in hospital with critical injuries after the attack at the Lhubirira Secondary School in Mpondwe. He said an unidentified youth had gone to the school to check its layout before the attack. In April, the ADF attacked a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 20 people.

Persons: Felix Kulayigye, Dick Olum, Olum, Yoweri Museveni, Elias Biryabarema, Jose Joseph, George Obulutsa, Fiston Mahamba, William Mallard, Frances Kerry Organizations: Islamic State Military, Islamic State, Democratic, Military, Twitter, Allied Democratic Forces, Police, Secondary, Privately, NTV Uganda, Vision, New Vision, Mpondwe, Daily Monitor, ADF, Thomson Locations: KAMPALA, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Mpondwe, Bengaluru, Nairobi, Fiston, Goma

☆ Ugandan forces pursuing school attackers to rescue those abducted
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

NAIROBI, June 17 (Reuters) - Ugandan defence forces are pursuing the attackers of a school in the country's west with the aim of rescuing those they abducted, its spokesperson said on Saturday. Militants linked to Islamic State killed 25 people in the attack late on Friday near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan police said earlier. "Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group," defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter. Reporting by George Obulutsa Editing by Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Felix Kulayigye, George Obulutsa, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Islamic State, Democratic, Twitter, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Democratic Republic of Congo

☆ Militants linked to Islamic State kill 25 in attack on Ugandan school - police
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 17 (Reuters) - Militants linked to Islamic State killed 25 people in a terrorist attack on a school in western Uganda near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan police said on Saturday. "So far 25 bodies have been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital. Also recovered are eight victims, who remain in critical condition at Bwera Hospital," Ugandan police said on Twitter. Soldiers were pursuing the attackers who fled towards Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, police added. In April, the ADF attacked a village in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing at least 20 people.

Persons: Jose Joseph, George Obulutsa, William Mallard Organizations: Islamic State, Democratic, Allied Democratic Forces, Islamic, Bwera Hospital, Bwera, Twitter, Police, ADF, Thomson Locations: Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ugandan, Congo, Islamic State, Mpondwe, Bengaluru, Nairobi

☆ How Africa Can Help the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Next week in Paris, a critical diplomatic meeting begins on how to enable low-income, climate-vulnerable countries to grow their economies while reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. It reminds me of my recent conversation with Wanjira Mathai, managing director for Africa and global partnerships at the World Resources Institute, and Rebekah Shirley, the Africa deputy director. “Can Africa leapfrog?” I asked them. We spoke for two hours over lunch on the terrace of a restaurant in Nairobi as marabou storks squawked and flew across the sky. Our conversation made me think in fresh ways, which is what I hope Climate Forward occasionally does for you.

Persons: Wanjira Mathai, Rebekah Shirley, “, ” Organizations: World Resources Institute Locations: Paris, Africa, Nairobi

☆ Many culprits stole food aid in north Ethiopia, investigation finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Giulia Paravicini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, June 15 (Reuters) - Regional and federal government officials as well as Eritrean soldiers were involved in the theft of food aid in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region, the head of an investigation by the Tigrayan authorities said on Thursday. The U.N. World Food Programme and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) paused food distribution last month in war-scarred Tigray because they said significant amounts of aid had been stolen. The two agencies then suspended food aid across all of Ethiopia last week for the same reason. An internal humanitarian memo said USAID believes food has been diverted to Ethiopian military units as part of a scheme orchestrated by federal and regional government entities. Ethiopia's army has denied its forces benefited from any stolen food aid.

Persons: General Fiseha Kidanu, Tigrai, Giulia Paravicini, Aaron Ross, Alex Richardson Organizations: Food, U.S . Agency for International Development, USAID, Ethiopian, WFP, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Ethiopia's Tigray, Tigray, Ethiopia

☆ Kenyan president's tax hikes alienate his 'hustler' base
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ruto has also faced criticism for increasing allocations to his office and the deputy president's while cutting petrol subsidies. The proposals, contained in a draft law known as the finance bill, will be considered by parliament alongside the 2023-24 budget to be presented by the finance minister on Thursday. The president and his allies have defended the tax hikes, saying East Africa's economic powerhouse needs more revenue to avert a debt crisis and fund affordable housing projects. One man in Githunguri, who declined to give his name, defended the finance bill, saying Ruto was simply trying to leave his mark by constructing affordable housing. Fruit vendor John Nyaga, another Ruto voter, complained that the tax hikes would leave his customers with even less money to spend.

Persons: William Ruto, Ruto, Jacqueline Wambui, Ruto's, Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, John Nyaga, Duncan Miriri, Aaron Ross, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, Ruto, Thomson Locations: Kiambu County, Kenya, GITHUNGURI, Nairobi, Ukraine, Githunguri

☆ Death toll from Kenyan doomsday cult crosses 300
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI, June 13 (Reuters) - The death toll from a Kenyan starvation cult crossed 300 on Tuesday after authorities exhumed more bodies in a forest, in one of the worst cult-related tragedies in recent history. A total of 303 people have now died after 19 bodies were exhumed from mass graves in Shakahola forest in the country's southeast. Around 65 rescued followers of the self-styled pastor were charged with attempted suicide on Monday after they refused to eat between June 6 and June 10 during their stay at a rescue centre, local media reported. Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki expressed concern last month that some of Mackenzie's rescued followers were refusing food. Relatives of his followers say he then returned to the forest and moved forward his predicted end of the world date from August to April 15.

Persons: Paul Mackenzie, Rhoda Onyancha, Kithure Kindiki, Mackenzie's, Mackenzie, Joseph Akwiri, Bhargav Acharya, Mark Potter Organizations: Authorities, Good News International Church, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI

☆ I built an Airbnb in Kenya from old shipping containers and it was an instant success
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Michelle Mastro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Hough's property is built from reused shipping containers, and guests can see resident wildlife. When we did decide to build, we chose shipping containers primarily because the area had no electricity or running water. We wanted to build something sustainableThe shipping containers were reused from a shipping company. We employed experts for the more technical jobs, of course, like building the shipping containers. Overall, having a unique Airbnb has been a great experienceI love how Airbnb makes hosting so easy and makes you feel protected.

Persons: Moon Hough, Hough, —, welders, Nairobians, We've, it's, Rangi, I've, I'm, Airbnb Organizations: Service, YouTube Locations: Nairobi, Kenya

CNN —Romania is recalling its ambassador to Kenya back to Bucharest and has apologized after its envoy in Nairobi allegedly compared a monkey to African diplomats. Documents obtained by CNN showed African diplomats formally condemning Dragos Tigau’s comments during a meeting of eastern European envoys held in April at the UN’s office in the Kenyan capital. “The African Group has joined us,” Ambassador Tigau allegedly said when a monkey appeared at a window in the conference room, according to the letter which demanded an apology. “The African Group would like to condemn in strongest terms possible the insulting, racist and degrading utterances,” wrote Chol Ajong’o, South Sudan’s ambassador to Kenya who leads African diplomats in Nairobi. CNN obtained two apology letters sent by Tigau to African diplomats four days apart.

Persons: Dragos Tigau’s, Tigau, “, ” Organizations: CNN —, CNN, Kenyan, African Group, ” Locations: CNN — Romania, Kenya, Bucharest, Nairobi, “, South, Romanian

☆ Archbishop of Canterbury urges Ugandan Anglicans to reject anti-gay law
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - The Archbishop of Canterbury has urged the Anglican Church of Uganda to reject the country's new anti-LGBT law, saying there is no justification for Anglicans anywhere to support legislation that goes against the Christian teachings of the Gospel. Justin Welby, leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion, said he had written to Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba, the Primate of Uganda, to express "grief and dismay" at the church's stance. The Church of Uganda says 36% of Uganda's population of around 45 million are Anglicans. The Ugandan church has been at the forefront of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON), a conservative group. Reporting by Estelle Shirbon in London and George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Editing by Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yoweri Museveni, Justin Welby, Stephen Kaziimba, Welby, Kaziimba, Ugandans, GAFCON, Estelle Shirbon, George Obulutsa, Frances Kerry Organizations: Anglican Future Conference, Thomson Locations: Canterbury, Uganda, London, Nairobi

☆ US suspends food aid to Ethiopia, says it's not reaching needy
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Giulia Paravicini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/Pool/File PhotoNAIROBI, June 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Thursday it was suspending food aid to Ethiopia because its donations were being diverted from people in need. The USAID spokesperson said the agency intended to resume food assistance as soon as it was confident in the integrity of the system. USAID and the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) had already suspended food aid to the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray last month in response to information that large amounts of aid there were being diverted. In the 2022 fiscal year, USAID disbursed nearly $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia, most of it food aid. WFP is also investigating "systemic" food diversion across Ethiopia, according to an email sent last week by the agency's deputy director to staff in Ethiopia.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Sean Jones, Finance Ahmed Shide, Demeke Mekonnen, Blinken, Giulia Paravicini, Doina Chiacu, Christina Fincher, Mark Potter Organizations: Logistics Center, USAID, Ethiopian, Finance, REUTERS, Tiksa, U.S . Agency for International Development, Reuters, Resilience, Spokespeople, The State Department, Food Programme, WFP, Thomson Locations: Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, NAIROBI, United States, Tigray, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopian, Washington

☆ Uganda's President Museveni tests positive for COVID -health official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI, June 7 (Reuters) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has tested positive for COVID-19, is in good health and will continue his duties, while getting treatment, a senior health ministry official said late on Wednesday. "Today ...the President tested positive for COVID-19. He said two of three tests he had done were negative, and he was waiting for the outcome of another. That is why you saw me coming in separate cars with Mama," Museveni said, referring to the First Lady Janet Museveni, who accompanied him to parliament. Reporting by George Obulutsa Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Yoweri Museveni, Diane Atwine, COVID, Museveni, Lady Janet Museveni, George Obulutsa, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Twitter, COVID, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Museveni, Uganda

☆ Kenyan police fire tear gas at protesters marching against finance bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NAIROBI, June 6 (Reuters) - Kenyan police fired tear gas at hundreds of people protesting near parliament on Tuesday against a proposed finance bill that would hike taxes on fuel and housing. Police fired tear gas to disperse about 500 protesters who marched to parliament to present a petition against the bill, a Reuters witness said. REUTERS/Thomas MukoyaEleven protesters were seen being detained by police. In downtown Nairobi, plain-clothed police officers were seen carrying an activist who held a placard that read: "Colonialism never really ended." Labour unions, including one representing health workers, also protested against the bill last week.

Persons: William Ruto, Thomas Mukoya, Ruto, La, Raila Odinga, Duncan Miriri, Bhargav Acharya, Alex Richardson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Kenyan, Police, REUTERS, Labour, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, East, Nairobi, Kenya

June 2 (Reuters) - After a rocky start to a week of negotiations, around 170 countries agreed to develop a first draft by November of what could become the first global treaty to curb plastic pollution by the end of next year. The "zero draft" text would reflect options from the wide-ranging positions of different countries by the start of the next round of talks to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, in November. You have done so by providing us collectively with a mandate for a zero draft and intersessional work," said Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, executive secretary of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on Plastic Pollution at the closing plenary. Countries like the United States and Saudi Arabia have favored national plans rather than global targets to tackle the problem. Tadesse Amera, co-chair of the International Pollutants Elimination Network, said with growing public concern about the plastic pollution crisis, the negotiations need to result in a strong agreement.

Persons: Jyoti Mathur, Marian Ledesma, Amera, Valerie Volcovici, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Economic Co, Intergovernmental, Greenpeace Philippines, Reuters, Samoa, Ambition Coalition, Thomson Locations: Paris, Nairobi, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, INC, Japan, Chile, United States, Washington

☆ Kenya central bank says digital currency not a 'compelling priority'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NAIROBI, June 2 (Reuters) - Kenya's central bank does not consider the issuance of a digital currency a "compelling priority" but it will continue monitoring developments in the area to help future decisions on issuance, it said on Friday. The bank invited views from the public on the potential introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in February last year, in a shift from its original opposition to crypto assets, but it has decided not to issue any. "Implementation of a CBDC in Kenya may not be a compelling priority in the short to medium term." The East African nation is renowned for the wide usage of mobile money payments. Nigeria became the first African country to launch a digital currency in 2021.

Persons: Duncan Miriri, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, Nigeria

☆ Michael Jordan's 1992 Olympic practice jersey up for auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jorge Garcia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LOS ANGELES, June 1 (Reuters) - A sweat-stained jersey worn by U.S. basketball legend Michael Jordan in a practice session at the 1992 Olympic Games will hit the auction block in Los Angeles in June, estimated to sell at between $400,000 and $600,000. The white jersey with red, white and blue trim and 'USA Basketball' on the front is signed by Jordan and will be auctioned as part of a "Sports Legends" collection of sports memorabilia and collectibles June 23-25. All of the proceeds from the auctioned Jordan collection will be donated to benefit a center for women and children's health in Nairobi, Kenya, said Julien's Gallery Director Kody Frederick. Other lots being offered at auction include a grass-stained soccer jersey worn by Brazil soccer legend Pele in 1971 and items from basketball star Kobe Bryant, boxer Floyd Mayweather, soccer star Diego Maradona, baseball legend Babe Ruth and tennis star Rafael Nadal. Reporting by Jorge Garcia, Editing by Rosalba O'BrienOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Michael Jordan, Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kody Frederick, Pele, Kobe Bryant, Floyd Mayweather, Diego Maradona, Babe Ruth, Rafael Nadal, Jorge Garcia, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: U.S, NBA, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, U.S, Los Angeles, Barcelona, Nairobi, Kenya, Brazil

☆ The chief design officer of Strava shares how she found the courage to speak up as a woman of color working in a male-dominated field
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( Josée Rose | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Beyond working on brand and marketing design, product design, and research and content design, Butler strives to make the fitness website and app something for everyone. Combining her background in advertising, marketing, creative, and product design, she's at the forefront of Strava's user experience. There's about [several] functions that report to me: product design, brand design, content and copywriting, also content design and copywriting, design operations and then research. My team really works on the product experience — so the Strava app, iOS and Android, as well as our web-app experiences, desktop and mobile web. At Strava, when you're not in tech — like not product management, engineering, or product design — it seems like we're much better balanced.

Persons: Anita Patwardhan Butler, Butler, —, Strava's, she's, we're, we've, you've, Sephora, It's, Zipporah Allen, Brian Bell, I've, Linh Le Organizations: Service, Meta, Twitter, Strava, Facebook, Walmart, Hotwire, Sephora Locations: Big Tech, America, Sephora, Taiwanese, Strava, Mumbai, India, Nairobi

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