World
Africa endorses nominees for 2025 election of AU Commission chair
The process has begun for the February 2025 election of a new African Union Commission chairperson. According to the commission, the consideration for nominees will be made based on vision statements outlining how candidates intend to advance the “transformative agenda of the African Union.” Nominees will also be considered based on their game plan for addressing existing and emerging...
Driving progress: Botswana prepares for historic UN conference on landlocked countries
Leaders from landlocked developing countries, (LLDCs) will gather in Gaborone, Botswana, this December to tackle challenges, explore solutions, and build alliances for a more equitable and prosperous future. At the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, known as LLDC3, innovative solutions and strategic partnerships will be outlined and leveraged to “unlock the full potential of these nations.” LLDC3 is set to...
Being Black in Germany has never been easy and elections in eastern states could make it harder still
ERFURT, Germany—It was a balmy summer night in 2020, shortly after the lifting of Germany’s first COVID-19 lockdown, and Omar Diallo and two friends from his home country of Guinea wanted to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Muslim festival of sacrifice. “We were enjoying life, playing music, walking through the city at night—we just wanted to be together again and have...
23 African countries are developing 125 new satellites for budding space program
After numerous delays, Senegal has finally launched its first-ever satellite GAINDESAT-1A into orbit. The feat marks the first stage of the African country’s budding national space program SENSAT. “GAINDESAT-1A is an earth observation nano-satellite built by Senegalese engineers and technicians trained by the Centre Spatiale Universitaire de Montpellier (CSUM) via a partnership with the Senegalese government. The nano-satellite was launched...
U.S. among nations ‘brazenly’ flouting Arms trade treaty, 10 years on: Amnesty
Amnesty International has called for an end to arms transfers to countries including Israel, Sudan, and Myanmar, saying they cause “devastating loss of life” and contravene the Arms Trade Treaty, the parties to which were meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The United Nations treaty was signed by well over 100 countries in 2013 and went into effect in 2014, though 27...
Iran repudiates ‘unsubstantiated’ U.S. election campaign hacking claims
Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations has roundly rejected allegations about the Islamic Republic’s interference in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, calling the assertion “unsubstantiated.” Asked by the American media outlets, the Iranian diplomatic mission responded to a statement Aug. 20 issued by three U.S. federal intelligence agencies that has accused Tehran of attempting to interfere in the 2024...
Kenya to reintroduce controversial tax measures
Kenya’s government is set to reinstate some of the tax measures that were previously scrapped following deadly protests in June, Kenyan Finance Minister John Mbadi has said. In an interview with Citizen TV news agency on Aug. 18, Mbadi explained that while some of the tax measures would be modified and not all would be reinstated, they are necessary to...
India’s top court creates task force on workplace safety after doctor was raped and killed
NEW DELHI—India’s top court on Aug. 20 set up a national task force of doctors who will make recommendations on safety of health care workers at their workplaces, days after the rape and killing of a trainee doctor, that sparked outrage and nationwide protests. The Supreme Court said the doctors’ panel will frame guidelines for ensuring safety and protection of medical professionals...
Trinidad is redrawing its coat of arms to remove Columbus’ three famous ships
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico—Officials in Trinidad and Tobago are redrawing the island’s coat of arms for the first time since its creation in 1962 to remove references to European colonization in a move that many are celebrating. Christopher Columbus’ three ships—the Pinta, the Niña and the Santa María—will be replaced with the steelpan, a popular percussion instrument that originated in...
Putin meets Azerbaijani president in Baku to strengthen ties as regional tensions persist
BAKU, Azerbaijan—Russian leader Vladimir Putin held talks on Aug. 19 with his Azerbaijani counterpart as part of a two-day trip to secure Moscow’s under-pressure trade routes and shore up ties in the South Caucasus. Business links were high on the agenda as Putin and President Ilham Aliyev met in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, with Aliyev announcing that $120 million had been earmarked to...