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☆ Kenya's parliament approves appointment of new central banker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He will replace Patrick Njoroge, who is retiring after serving two terms as the central bank governor since 2015. In a voice vote, lawmakers adopted the report of the National Assembly's finance committee, which urged the house to back his appointment after vetting his suitability for the post. His predecessor, Njoroge, has maintained stable prices for most of his eight years at the helm. But the World Bank expects growth to edge up to 5.0% in 2023, underpinned by a recovery in agriculture. Reporting by Duncan Miriri; Writing by Alexander Winning; Editing by David EvansOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Thugge, William Ruto's, Kamau, Ruto, Patrick Njoroge, Duncan Miriri, Alexander Winning, David Evans Organizations: Njoroge, National, Johns Hopkins University, International Monetary Fund, Kenyan, Treasury, Bank, Thomson Locations: Ruto, U.S

☆ 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

☆ Being Gay Is Illegal in Many Countries. L.G.B.T.Q. Travelers Are Going Anyway.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Ainara Tiefenthäler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In the Maldives, gay sex may be punished with lashes and up to eight years in prison. Paradoxically, these trips are also all offered by travel companies founded by and catering to members of the L.G.B.T.Q. “I’m gay and I want to visit these places,” said Darren Burn, the founder of Out of Office, an inclusive luxury travel company. “And if I want to visit these places, then there are other gay people who do, too. So if we can enable them to do it in a fun, exciting and safe way, then that’s exactly what we’re here for.”A world that isn’t always friendlyBy some metrics, certain L.G.B.T.Q.

Persons: “, ”, Darren Burn Locations: Maldives, Kenya, Egypt

Pamela Mukalasinga, 54, a small-scale trader and mother of five, would tune in religiously to Mackenzie’s Times TV channel. “The rescued child narrated the sufferings his two siblings underwent after being starved for some time before their mother suffocated them to death,” prosecutors said. Many of those found in the forest are believed to be followers of Mackenzie. This is extremism and brainwashing of the highest order,” Walid Sketty of Kenya-based human rights group Haki Africa, which has been involved in rescue operations at Shakahola, told CNN. Shibutse recalls that his mother started to observe some of Mackenzie’s doctrines denouncing healthcare and modern education for children.

Persons: Rodgers Shibutse, Pamela, Paul Mackenzie, Pamela Mukalasinga, Shibutse, Rodgers, Mackenzie, “, Paul McKenzie, ”, Malindi, ” Mackenzie, George Kariuki, Pastor Mackenzie, ” Kariuki, Kariuki, Titus Katana, GNI, Katana, “ Mackenzie, Yasuyoshi Chiba, I’ve, ” Walid Sketty, Johansen Oduor, ” Oduor, Oduor, ” Shibutse, Robert, Mackenzie’s GNI, Gideon Mung’aro, Mackenzie wasn’t, Moses Odhiambo, Kithure Kindiki, Ezekiel Ombok Odero, ” Kindiki, Jared Magolo, “ It’s, Pastor Odero, hasn’t, Odero, Odhiambo Organizations: CNN, Mackenzie’s Times, Good News International, Kenyan Red Cross, Police, National Police, Kenyan, …, Nation . Police, Workers, Getty, Government, Digital, Times TV, Citizen Digital, Prosecutors, New, Centre Church, Kenya’s Communications Authority Locations: Kenya’s, Bungoma County, Malindi, Kenya, Shakahola, Mombasa, AFP, Africa, ”, bodybags, Kenyan, Haki Africa, “, Kilifi County, Odero

☆ ‘Anything is possible’ as Kenya’s Kipyegon shatters 1,500m world record
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nearly nine months after missing out on the 1,500 metres world record by three-hundredths of a second, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon buried the ghost of past disappointments with an emphatic performance at Friday’s Florence Diamond League meeting. Kipyegon’s narrow miss left her dejected, with the 29-year-old telling Olympics.com, “… after the finish line, I thought I got the world record. “When I crossed the finish line, I knew I broke the world record because I had a good finish and felt very strong at the end. The world record completes Kipyegon’s collection of achievements, adding to her two Olympic 1,500m golds and the 2017 and 2022 world titles, Commonwealth Games gold medal from 2014 and three Diamond League titles. “Getting this, it will really motivate me and I left the legacy for the next generation – they can say she broke the world record, she was the Olympic and the world champion.

Persons: Kipyegon, “ …, doggedly, ” Kipyegon, Britain’s Laura Muir, Jessica Hull Organizations: Friday’s Florence Diamond League, Monaco, Kenyan, Commonwealth Games, Diamond League Locations: “

Mombasa, Kenya CNN —The leader of a Christian cult who has been accused of encouraging his followers to starve themselves appeared in court in Mombasa, Kenya on Friday, telling CNN afterwards that the hearing is a “matter of intimidation” and time-wasting. Paul Nthenge Mackenzie was arrested last month after police received a tipoff that his land on the Shakahola forest in the Kilifi County of eastern Kenya contained mass graves. According to court documents, investigators have so far found 249 bodies and at least 10 mass graves in the Shakahola forest area. Mackenzie who appeared before the magistrate’s court in Mombasa, told CNN’s David McKenzie that he had “never seen anybody starving” when asked about accusations that followers of his group had starved their children following his instructions. In court documents dated Friday, the state prosecutor said it would seek to extend the respondents’ custody period by a further 60 days.

Persons: ”, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Mackenzie, CNN’s David McKenzie Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN Locations: Mombasa, Kenya, Kilifi

☆ On Reading ‘Beloved’ Over and Over Again
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For readers, a book’s meaning can change with every encounter, depending on the circumstances and experiences they bring to it each time. “I was sexually assaulted on a study abroad program in Kenya.” Tillet says. “And when I came back to the United States, I entered an experimental program that helped people who were sexual assault survivors, who were suffering from PTSD. And so … looking at what Morrison does in her novel, she’s dealing with trauma and she’s moving, going back and forth in time. So I actually experienced this on a personal level.”We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review’s podcast in general.

Persons: Gilbert Cruz, Salamishah, Toni Morrison’s, “, ” Tillet, Morrison Organizations: The Times Locations: Kenya, United States

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's Kipyegon sets women's 1,500m world record at Florence Diamond League
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Athletics - Diamond League - Pietro Mennea Golden Gala - Stadio Luigi Ridolfi, Florence, Italy - June 2, 2023 Kenya's Faith Kipyegon poses with the screen as she sets a new world record and wins the women's 1500m final REUTERS/Remo CasilliJune 2 (Reuters) - Kenya's Faith Kipyegon set a women's 1,500 metres world record by clocking 3:49.11 at the third Diamond League meeting of the season in Florence on Friday. Kipyegon, winner of the last two Olympic 1,500m golds and the 2017 and 2022 world titles, bettered the previous mark of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba in 2015. The Kenyan finished well ahead of Britain's second-placed Laura Muir and Australian Jessica Hull in third, with Kipyegon's rivals crowding around to congratulate her after the race. "I'm so happy for Faith," Muir said. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pietro Mennea Golden, Luigi Ridolfi, Kipyegon, Remo Casilli, Ethiopia's Genzebe, Laura Muir, Jessica Hull, Muir, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Diamond League, Kenyan, Thomson Locations: Florence, Italy, Britain's, Nashik, India

☆ Kipyegon sets women's 1,500m world record, Kerly wins 100m in Florence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kipyegon shaved almost an entire second off the previous mark of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba in 2015. The world record completes the 29-year-old's collection of feats, adding to her two Olympic 1,500m golds and the 2017 and 2022 world titles, Commonwealth Games gold medal from 2014 and three Diamond League titles. Dina Asher-Smith, who won the world 200 metres title in Doha in 2019, pulled out in the build-up to the race. Spaniard Mohamed Katir produced a lung-busting performance to win the 5,000m with a world leading 12:52.09, with world record holder Joshua Cheptegei coming in fourth. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pietro Mennea Golden, Luigi Ridolfi, Kipyegon, Remo Casilli FLORENCE, Fred Kerley, Ethiopia's Genzebe, Britain's Laura Muir, Jessica Hull, Muir, Ferdinand Omanyala, Trayvon, Jamaica's Yohan Blake, Jacobs, Ivorian Marie, Josee Ta Lou, Gina Lueckenkemper, Imani, Lara Lansiquot, Dina Asher, Smith, Ta Lou, Erriyon Knighton, Grant Holloway, Mohamed Katir, Joshua Cheptegei, Italy's Leonardo Fabbri, Andy Diaz, Larissa Iapichino, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, Kenyan, Rabat, Thomson Locations: Florence, Italy, Ivorian, Doha, Netherlands, Rabat, Nashik, India

☆ 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

☆ Watch: Senate Passes Bill to Suspend the Debt Ceiling, Avoid Default
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Big Tech Relies on Outsourcing. Facebook content moderators hired by a third-party contractor in Kenya are suing over working conditions. The contractor involved denies the allegations and Facebook parent Meta is arguing it shouldn’t be involved in the lawsuit. The outcome of this case and two others could have a profound impact on big tech and the industry’s outsourced workforce. WSJ South Africa-based business reporter Alexandra Wexler joins host Zoe Thomas to explain.

Persons: shouldn’t, Alexandra Wexler, Zoe Thomas, Daniel Irungu Organizations: Tech, Facebook, Meta, WSJ Locations: Africa, Kenya

☆ Satellite Images Reveal Russian Defenses for Ukraine Counteroffensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: shouldn’t, Alexandra Wexler, Zoe Thomas, Daniel Irungu Organizations: Tech, Facebook, Meta, WSJ Locations: Africa, Kenya

☆ 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

☆ Singapore PM Lee tests positive for Covid again in rebound case, says he feels fine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has tested positive again for Covid-19 Thursday, a week and a half after his initial diagnosis, in what his doctors say is a case of rebound infection. SINGAPORE — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has tested positive again for Covid-19 a week and a half after his initial diagnosis, in what his doctors said is a case of rebound infection. "I feel fine but I am afraid I have turned COVID-19 positive again," Lee said Thursday on social media. Lee, who is 71-years-old, was prescribed the antiviral medication Paxlovid when he first tested positive on May 22 after returning from a six-day official working trip to South Africa and Kenya. He has been serving as prime minister of the Southeast Asian city-state since 2004.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, Li Shangfu, Defense Lloyd Austin, Anthony Albanese Organizations: Singapore, SINGAPORE — Singapore, Defense, Australian Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Asia, China, U.S, South Africa, Kenya, Covid

☆ A pledge to fight climate change is sending money to strange places
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

That failure has helped keep climate finance at the top of the agenda at annual U.N. climate conferences, such as last year’s COP27, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Some officials from potential recipient countries say that, before more money starts to flow, clearer definitions of what qualifies as climate finance and more transparency in reporting contributions are needed. A SIMEST official said that the agency’s work is not focused on climate change and that it is not involved in Italy's climate finance reporting. Source: Reuters analysis of climate finance data nations reported to the U.N. Japan’s foreign ministry, not JICA, is responsible for reporting climate finance to the U.N., Takeda said.

Persons: COP27, Matthew Samuda, Venchi, hasn’t, Fred Béliard, Nicolas Fierens Gevaert, Mohammad Hossain, Sachiko Takeda, Takeda, Hiroshi Onuma, Matarbari, “, ” Organizations: Jamaica's Ministry of Economic, Reuters, Italy's Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, United, Marriott, Fatima Group, U.S . State Department, Roja, French Development Agency, U.S, Power Cell, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Locations: Paris, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt, Dubai, Jamaica's, Japan, China, Indonesia, Asia, SIMEST, Italy, United States, Haitien, Haiti, Marriott, U.S, Belgium, Argentina, France, Mexico, Kenya, South Africa, Bangladesh, San Francisco, Germany, “ Japan

☆ Watch: Biden Falls at U.S. Air Force Academy Commencement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: shouldn’t, Alexandra Wexler, Zoe Thomas, Daniel Irungu Organizations: Tech, Facebook, Meta, WSJ Locations: Africa, Kenya

☆ Kenya and Russia to sign trade pact, President Ruto says
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya Moses Wetangula shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya May 29, 2023. Russian Foreign Ministry/Handout via REUTERSNAIROBI, May 29 (Reuters) - Kenya will sign a trade pact with Russia aimed at boosting cooperation between businesses, President William Ruto's office said on Monday, after hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Nairobi. Kenya's presidency said in a statement that bilateral trade with Russia was still low despite the potential and the pact would give business the "necessary impetus". Russia says its invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24, 2022, is aimed at protecting its own security against Ukraine's pro-Western leadership. Lavrov has visited the African continent at least three times this year, while Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba travelled to countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique last week.

☆ Uganda enacts harsh anti-LGBTQ law including death penalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Same-sex relations were already illegal in Uganda, as in more than 30 African countries, but the new law goes much further. It imposes capital punishment for some behaviour including transmitting a terminal illness like HIV/AIDS through gay sex, and stipulates a 20-year sentence for "promoting" homosexuality. Uganda receives billions of dollars in foreign aid each year and could now face another round of sanctions. The bill's sponsor Asuman Basalirwa told reporters that parliament speaker Anita Among's U.S. visa was cancelled after the law was signed. "Our data shows that this law runs counter to the interests of economic progress and prosperity of all people in Uganda," he said.

☆ Ukraine peace plan is only way to end Russia's war, says Zelenskiy aide
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Max Hunder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

He pushed back on a flurry of peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa in recent months. "There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine," Zhovkva said in an interview late on Friday. Zelenskiy made a major push to court the Global South this month in response to peace moves from some of its members. Moscow has bolstered ties with Global South powers during the war in Ukraine, including by selling more of its energy to India and China. 'PEACE SUMMIT'Zhovkva said the reaction to Ukraine's 10-point peace plan had been extremely positive at the G7 summit.

☆ Reaction: Biden, McCarthy debt ceiling deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON, May 27 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy have reached a tentative deal to raise the federal government's $31.4 trillion debt ceiling, ending a months-long stalemate. DEMOCRATIC REPRESENTATIVE TED LIU"Tonight, I have been informed that there is an agreement in principle between the White House and House Republicans. This was a House Republican manufactured crisis. REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BOB GOOD "I am hearing the 'deal' is for a $4 trillion increase in the debt limit. "If we didn't reach a deal … the average American person would clearly see a hit ... we had to reach some kind of conclusion here."

☆ Opinion | If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( The Ezra Klein Show | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +83 min

You’re probably very weird, and not just for all the obvious reasons you’re thinking of. Because, obviously, there’s going to be some overlap in the curve here. How you’re going to behave with your professor is quite different than how you’re going to behave with your friends. But it’s really kind of faceless, and you’re not really helping anybody you know. I think things are dynamic, and directions are changing, and that sort of thing.

☆ Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tests positive for Covid
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's Prime Minister, said Monday he has tested positive for Covid-19 after recently returning from state visits to South Africa and Kenya. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has tested positive for Covid-19, days after returning from official visits to South Africa and Kenya. "I am generally feeling ok but my doctors have advised me to self-isolate until I am asymptomatic," Lee said Monday in a Facebook post. Lee is 71-years-old and has been serving as prime minister of the Southeast Asian city-state since 2004. He was in South Africa and Kenya May 14-19, according to Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

☆ HPV vaccine: Some studies say one and done might be better
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The HPV vaccine protects against the strains that cause most HPV-related cancers. But not every country has the same vaccination options, which is part of the reason WHO has been pushing to change the way doctors give the HPV vaccine. A one-and-done approach to the HPV vaccine could be a huge help around the world, experts say. But she’d also like more people to get the HPV vaccine. So I think that’s really, really important,” Abraham said.

Ships in the Autonomous Port of Cotonou in Benin, West Africa. Prosper Dagnitche/AFP/Getty ImagesThe stream of used cars heading to West African ports is only expected to increase with the West’s shift to electric vehicles. “It’s not like people want to drive used cars; it’s an affordability issue.”Experts say demand for used cars could explode further as the take up of electric cars in the West increases the supply of used cars to African countries. Those states also have robust port operations, making them an ideal place to ship used cars to Africa. “In terms of where Africa goes, the transition shouldn’t necessarily be from used cars to brand new combustion engines, it should be from used cars to EVs,” Ipke said.

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