WORLD

16-April-2024 Traders in the central business district of Kampala and other parts of city have decided to keep their shops shuttered until they have the opportunity to meet with the President in significant numbers. The decision, spearheaded by the Kampala City Traders Association (KACITA), speaks to the growing frustration with what they perceive as the government's neglect of their concerns. Thaddeus Musoke, chairman of KACITA, emphasized the severity of the situation. "Traders have resolved to keep their shops closed nationwide due to the government's lack of concern towards our plight," Musoke said. Downtown Kampala remains heavily guarded with visible presence of security as traders prepare for their demonstration, seeking solace in prayer as they gear up for the ch...

15 - April- 2024 Trump's hush-money trial begins with haggling over evidence Donald Trump's unprecedented criminal trial has begun with half of a group of potential jurors ruled out within minutes on impartiality grounds. Mr Trump denies falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Sixty of 96 potential jurors were quick to say in the New York court that they could not be impartial. Those left were then asked multiple questions, including about their news and book reading habits. "I just couldn't do it," one prospective juror was heard saying as she left court on Monday. The dismissals were an indication of how challenging it could be to find a group of 12 impartial jurors for a case concerned with a high-profile sex scan...

13-April-2024- Reuters and Aljazeera https://www.youtube.com/live/gCNeDWCI0vo?si=5lHh4ik08YkPU-r9 A look at what happened today Air raid sirens are sounding across Israel as Israel’s air defence system actively intercepts incoming Iranian attacks in the skies above Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Iran’s mission to the UN says Iran’s mission to the UN says its drone and missile attack on Israel was a response to Israel’s April 1 attack on its embassy in Damascus, Syria and that the “matter can be deemed concluded”. Netanyahu has convened Israel’s war cabinet with military spokesperson Daniel Hagari describing the attack as “a severe and dangerous escalation”. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson says President Biden is being “regularly updated” and th...

12-April-2024 Apple has said it will fix a “bug” that suggests an emoji for the Palestinian flag when some iPhone users type “Jerusalem” in messages. The US technology giant on Thursday blamed a software issue for the suggestion that had appeared on the latest update of its iOS operating system for some users and said it was not intentional. This does not appear to have affected all users, with those in the United States reporting they did not get that suggestion after typing in the word. British television presenter Rachel Riley pointed out the emoji suggestion on social media, bringing up a long-standing debate over whether Israelis or Palestinians have the right to refer to Jerusalem as their capital. Palestinian leaders see occupied East Jerusalem as the capital of t...

10- April-2024- News Agencies Muslims around the world have celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, with prayer, reunions with family and friends, new clothes and sweet treats. But the celebrations on Wednesday were overshadowed by the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s threatened ground offensive in the southernmost city of Rafah with no let-up in the six-month war. In Istanbul, thousands of worshippers gathered at the Hagia Sofia mosque for morning Eid prayers, some carrying Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of people in Gaza. In his holiday message, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed support for Gaza, which he called a “bleeding wound on the conscience of humanity”. “I h...

4 Apr 2024- Aljazeera Somalia expels Ethiopian ambassador amid Somaliland port deal dispute Mogadishu also shuts down Addis Ababa’s consulates in Hargeisa and Garowe amid rising tension over a Somaliland port deal with Ethiopia. Somalia has announced the expulsion of Ethiopia’s ambassador from the country amid rising tensions over a port deal dispute in the breakaway region of Somaliland. Ethiopian Ambassador Mukhtar Mohamed was sent home for consultations, the office of Somalia’s prime minister said on Thursday. Mogadishu is also shutting down Ethiopia’s consulates in Hargeisa, the largest city and capital of Somaliland, and Garowe, the capital city of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland The plain interference of Ethiopia’s government in the internal affair...

2- March-2024- Shabeelle Media Network Mogadishu Security Forces Foil Al-Shabaab Attack, Arresting Militants with Explosives The Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) recently announced the successful apprehension of two Al-Shabaab militants in Mogadishu, thwarting their plans to carry out attacks in the city. According to a report by NISA, the operation was conducted in collaboration with the country’s security forces, highlighting the ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and security of Mogadishu’s residents. Equipped with explosives, the militants were caught red-handed, intending to harm civilians and disrupt the peace in the capital. The NISA statement, however, did not specify the exact location of the operation that led to the apprehension of the Al...

1- April-2024- BBC Outrage as traditional Ghanaian priest, 63, marries 12-year-old girl An influential traditional priest aged 63 has sparked an outrage in Ghana by marrying a 12-year-old girl. The priest, Nuumo Borketey Laweh Tsuru XXXIII, married her in a customary ceremony held on Saturday. In the face of criticism, community leaders have said people do not understand their customs and tradition. The legal minimum age to get married in Ghana is 18 and the prevalence of child marriage has declined, but it continues to happen. According to the global campaigning NGO Girls Not Brides,19% of girls in the country are married before they reach 18 and 5% get married before their 15th birthday. Videos and photos of Saturday's elaborate event that was attended by dozens...