Posts by Riah Stelmack
Fiery Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu elected to head opposition party
[AFP] Prominent Tanzanian politician Tundu Lissu has been elected chairman of the main opposition party Chadema, ousting long-running leader Freeman Mbowe in an intense race. Lissu campaigned for changes in the party leadership while criticising the way it was being run, amid heated exchanges that were seen as exposing internal divisions. He accused Mbowe of…
Read MoreExclusive-Brazilian soy shipments to China from five firms halted, sources say
By Laurie Chen, Mei Mei Chu, Ella Cao and Naveen Thukral BEIJING (Reuters) -China, the world’s biggest soybean buyer, has stopped receiving Brazilian soybean shipments from five entities after cargoes did not meet phytosanitary requirements, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Wednesday. Brazil, the world’s biggest exporter of the oilseeds,…
Read MoreGerman town’s tax on disposable packaging upheld at high court
Germany’s Constitutional Court has upheld a special tax on disposable food and drink packaging levied by the small university city of Tübingen, rejecting a lawsuit brought by a local McDonald’s fast food franchise. The McDonald’s franchise owner had argued that the tax, which applies to products like disposable paper cups, cutlery and straws, violated protections…
Read MorePakistan chief minister targeted by AI ‘hug’ video
Images made with artificial intelligence have been weaponised against female politicians in Pakistan. Latest example include social media posts that falsely shared a video of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first woman chief minister of Punjab — apparently hugging the UAE’s Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – an act deemed culturally inappropriate in the conservative country.…
Read MoreKenya drops travel pre-authorisation for nearly all African visitors
Kenya will allow citizens of nearly all African countries to visit without needing prior authorisation, according to a new directive by the cabinet. Last year, Kenya introduced a “visa-free” policy that required most visitors to apply online for authorisation before leaving their country. But the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which replaced the…
Read MoreArmy driver’s country music-fuelled Nato journey
An Army fuel tanker driver said country music had helped while away on a 1,400-mile (2,250km) trip to Romania as part of a major Nato training exercise. About 2,500 British personnel, along with hundreds of vehicles, are moving across Europe by land, air and sea to take part in Steadfast Dart. L/Cpl Lee Moulton, 30,…
Read MoreFrance issues new arrest warrant for ousted Syrian leader al-Assad
France’s judiciary on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for ousted Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad on suspicion of complicity in war crimes, specifically relating to the death of a French-Syrian man in 2017. Investigating judges suspect al-Assad of complicity in murder and attacks on civilians. The newspaper Le Parisien reported that the 59-year-old man was killed…
Read MoreDo wind chill temperatures affect your frostbite chances?
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Wind chill could lead to frostbite much quicker than usual during this week’s Arctic blast. While the actual temperatures will likely stay warmer than -10° throughout the event, wind chill values may drop as cold as -25° in spots. Wind chill is how cold it feels on exposed skin when…
Read MoreIsrael’s top general resigns over Oct. 7 failures, adding to pressure on Netanyahu
JERUSALEM — Israel’s top general resigned Tuesday, taking responsibility for security failures tied to Hamas’ surprise attack that triggered the war in Gaza and adding to pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has delayed any public inquiry that could potentially implicate his leadership. While a fragile new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip held, Israel…
Read More‘A living hell’: Sudanese women face rape and abuse in Libya
“We live in terror,” whispers Layla over the phone so nobody can hear. She fled Sudan with her husband and six children early last year in search of safety and is now in Libya. Like all the Sudanese women who the BBC spoke to about their experiences of being trafficked to Libya, her name has…
Read MoreColombians flee to Venezuela as clashes between rebel groups escalate in coca-rich border region
TRES BOCAS, Colombia (AP) — The Colombian border village of Tres Bocas has become a ghost town as residents flee to neighboring Venezuela to escape a new wave of violence in Colombia’s Catatumbo region that has left at least 80 people dead and displaced thousands. According to the United Nations, more than 18,000 people have…
Read MoreArctic air and fresh snowpack will keep temperatures frigid at night for the rest of the week
THIS EVENING: Mostly Cloudy, Frigid. Hi 17. TONIGHT: Partly Cloudy, Bitter Cold. Lo -1. WEDNESDAY: Mostly Sunny, Clouds Late. Hi 16. Arctic, frigid air has settled in across Central PA early this week, and with the fresh snowpack from Sunday, temperatures have plummeted overnight and will continue to do so at night through the rest…
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