Obama reconnects with father's family on first day of visit
US President Barack Obama landed in Kenya on Friday evening as he made his first visit to the country in his official capacity as the President of the United States. In what is being described as an official as well as a personal trip for Obama, he will push for better trade relations and economic development while also seeking ways to solve the Islamist extremism threat plaguing Kenya in the form of terror group al-Shabaab. Obama's arrival and landing was low-key as he reconnected on the first day with members of his estranged father's family, including his half-sister Auma. Obama is due to speak in Nairobi at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the country's capital of Nairobi on Saturday and will be honoured at a state dinner by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta. Obama will then visit Ethiopia's Addis Ababa for a two day visit.
Afghan, Taliban peace talks likely to continue in China next week
Officials from the Afghanistan High Peace Council have indicated that they will meet Taliban insurgents next week for a second round of peace talks talks hoping to secure a ceasefire deal. The talks are likely to be held in China though it has been indicated that discussions over a possible venue are still ongoing. The dialogue between the government and the Taliban is being mediated by Pakistan, the United States and China. Meanwhile, Taliban have indicated that they wish to involve a delegation from their Qatar political office otherwise the negotiations will be considered "unacceptable" by the insurgent group.
Nearly 200 arrested after Maoists protest Nepal's constitution
Nepal saw its first nationwide strike on Friday as Maoists across the country protested the draft of the new constitution the country is planning to adopt. Reports suggest that nearly 200 Maoist protesters were arrested after they torched vehicles and forced schools and shops to shut down in Kathmandu and other major cities. The incident marked the first national strike since devastating earthquakes hit the country in April. The nation-wide strike was called to oppose the Constitution, which the demonstrators claimed did not address ethnic, racial and gender discrimination in the country. The protesting activists also opposed an agreement between India and China to boost border trade at the Lipu-Lekh Pass, an area which Nepal claims as sovereign territory.
Burundi President declared victorious in disputed elections
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term in office, officials announced on Friday even as the United States and Great Britain condemned the elections' credibility. According to Burundi's electoral chief, Nkurunziza won 69% of the vote while his closest rival received only 19%. Nkurunziza had bid for a controversial third term as president of the nation, a move which many agreed violated the constitution of Burundi leading to widespread protests and violence since the decision to run was announced in April. According to reports, protests since have left at least 100 people dead while over 170,000 refugees have fled the country fearing electoral violence, said the United Nations. It is believed that Nkurunziza’s determination to stay in power could become a trigger for widespread violence in the country which has seen years of ethnic violence until a new constitution was adopted a decade ago.
Egypt boat death toll rises to 33
The recovery of 15 more bodies added to the total death toll of people who were on board a ferry that collided with a cargo boat on Wednesday in Egypt's Nile river. Officials said the total death toll has reached 33 even as reports suggested that the ferry was supposedly carrying 35 passengers. Six of the passengers have been rescued even as search operations are being conducted in the area. Meanwhile the families of the dead as well as locals in the area held protests, blocking roads in the Al-Warraq district, near the area and chanting anti-government slogans. The captain of the cargo boat has been arrested and detained as authorities conduct an inquiry into the accident.
US President Barack Obama landed in Kenya on Friday evening as he made his first visit to the country in his official capacity as the President of the United States. In what is being described as an official as well as a personal trip for Obama, he will push for better trade relations and economic development while also seeking ways to solve the Islamist extremism threat plaguing Kenya in the form of terror group al-Shabaab. Obama's arrival and landing was low-key as he reconnected on the first day with members of his estranged father's family, including his half-sister Auma. Obama is due to speak in Nairobi at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in the country's capital of Nairobi on Saturday and will be honoured at a state dinner by Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta. Obama will then visit Ethiopia's Addis Ababa for a two day visit.
Afghan, Taliban peace talks likely to continue in China next week
Officials from the Afghanistan High Peace Council have indicated that they will meet Taliban insurgents next week for a second round of peace talks talks hoping to secure a ceasefire deal. The talks are likely to be held in China though it has been indicated that discussions over a possible venue are still ongoing. The dialogue between the government and the Taliban is being mediated by Pakistan, the United States and China. Meanwhile, Taliban have indicated that they wish to involve a delegation from their Qatar political office otherwise the negotiations will be considered "unacceptable" by the insurgent group.
Nearly 200 arrested after Maoists protest Nepal's constitution
Nepal saw its first nationwide strike on Friday as Maoists across the country protested the draft of the new constitution the country is planning to adopt. Reports suggest that nearly 200 Maoist protesters were arrested after they torched vehicles and forced schools and shops to shut down in Kathmandu and other major cities. The incident marked the first national strike since devastating earthquakes hit the country in April. The nation-wide strike was called to oppose the Constitution, which the demonstrators claimed did not address ethnic, racial and gender discrimination in the country. The protesting activists also opposed an agreement between India and China to boost border trade at the Lipu-Lekh Pass, an area which Nepal claims as sovereign territory.
Burundi President declared victorious in disputed elections
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza has won a third term in office, officials announced on Friday even as the United States and Great Britain condemned the elections' credibility. According to Burundi's electoral chief, Nkurunziza won 69% of the vote while his closest rival received only 19%. Nkurunziza had bid for a controversial third term as president of the nation, a move which many agreed violated the constitution of Burundi leading to widespread protests and violence since the decision to run was announced in April. According to reports, protests since have left at least 100 people dead while over 170,000 refugees have fled the country fearing electoral violence, said the United Nations. It is believed that Nkurunziza’s determination to stay in power could become a trigger for widespread violence in the country which has seen years of ethnic violence until a new constitution was adopted a decade ago.
Egypt boat death toll rises to 33
The recovery of 15 more bodies added to the total death toll of people who were on board a ferry that collided with a cargo boat on Wednesday in Egypt's Nile river. Officials said the total death toll has reached 33 even as reports suggested that the ferry was supposedly carrying 35 passengers. Six of the passengers have been rescued even as search operations are being conducted in the area. Meanwhile the families of the dead as well as locals in the area held protests, blocking roads in the Al-Warraq district, near the area and chanting anti-government slogans. The captain of the cargo boat has been arrested and detained as authorities conduct an inquiry into the accident.
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