United States Vice President Kamala Harris has delivered a speech on women’s empowerment to thousands of young Ghanaians in the capital, Accra, and toured a coastal building that was the last stop for Africans sold into the transatlantic slave trade. Her visit to Ghana, the first stop on an African tour that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia, is part of a charm offensive by Washington as it seeks to counterbalance the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent. Harris used the stop on Tuesday to promise American partnership, exhort African nations to do more for…
Author: National Tone
The European Court of Human Rights will hear cases against France and Switzerland over alleged failings to protect the environment – the first time governments are in the court’s dock for alleged climate change inaction. The case against Switzerland is based on a complaint by an association of elderly people – who call themselves the “Club of Climate Seniors” – concerned with the consequences of global warming on their living conditions and health. They accuse Swiss authorities of various climate change failings they say amount to a violation of the government’s obligation to protect life and citizens’ homes and families.…
Thirty-nine people have been arrested and jailed so far this year by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in South Central Railway’s jurisdiction for pelting stones on trains. This includes the arrest of 10 people, including six juveniles, who were caught in connection with 10 instances of pelting stones on Vande Bharat Express in the last two months, the SCR said on Tuesday. The SCR appealed to the public to not indulge in such anti-social activities, pointing out that five passengers were seriously injured in such stone-pelting incidents. Stressing that activities like pelting stones on trains are a punishable offence under…
Head of Tibet’s government in exile addresses US Congress for the first time, says Tibetan language, culture and religion facing ‘unprecedented threat of eradication’.Exiled Tibetan leaders and officials in the United States have condemned China’s “cruel” policies in Tibet, accusing Beijing of separating families in the Himalayan region, banning their language, and engaging in non-consensual DNA collection. Addressing the US Congress for the first time, Penpa Tsering, the head of the India-based organisation known as Tibet’s government in exile, said on Tuesday that Tibet was dying a “slow death” under Chinese rule. “We often get asked why we don’t hear…
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is expected to meet US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California next month.China has threatened to “resolutely fight back” if US House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy meets Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her planned transit through the United States. The warning on Wednesday came as Tsai was due to depart for a trip to Guatemala and Belize, which will see her transit through New York and California in the US. While not officially confirmed, she is expected to meet McCarthy while in California, at the end of her 10-day trip. China, which claims…
Bronny James, son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, showcased his shooting touch with a 15-point performance on Tuesday in the 46th annual McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston. .acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container width: 340px; margin: 0 auto; The six-foot-three Bronny James scored all of his points from three-point range, going 5-of-8 from deep in a losing cause as his Team West dropped a 109-106 decision to Team East. The annual event is for top graduating high school basketball players. LeBron James attended the game, cheering on his son. LeBron played in the same event 20 years ago. .acf-block-preview .instagram-twitter-container width: 340px;…
Biden tells Israel to ‘walk away’ from judicial reforms, Netanyahu responds saying Israel rejected ‘pressure from abroad’.United States President Joe Biden has told Israel it “cannot continue” pushing ahead with deeply controversial judicial reforms — now on hold — that have prompted months of unrest — comments that led Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say he does not make decisions based on pressure from abroad. Biden’s comments on Tuesday came as Netanyahu was being accused by opponents of riding roughshod over Israeli democracy in an attempt to strengthen his own power, leading to paralysing protests and strikes across Israel.…
SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors coach Steve Kerr remains hopeful that Andrew Wiggins will return this season after the veteran forward missed his 20th straight game because of a family matter. Wiggins has been working out on his own every day but when and if he returns to the defending NBA champions, the training and medical staffs would need to evaluate his fitness and how much he might be able to contribute and how soon. “Beyond that, once he’s back our training staff will be able to get with him and see where he is,” Kerr said Tuesday. There have been…
US media reports that the ruling may compel Mike Pence to speak about Donald Trump’s actions after the 2020 election.A United States federal judge has ordered former Vice President Mike Pence to testify before a grand jury, as the Justice Department continues its investigation into whether former President Donald Trump attempted to overturn his loss in the 2020 presidential election. The ruling from US District Judge James Boasberg remains sealed. But major US media outlets, including Reuters and the Associated Press, have reported that the decision will compel Pence to appear in court and speak about conversations he may have…
The Canadian government committed $13.8 million in Tuesday’s budget to address safe sport issues that have dominated headlines over the last year. Federal sport minister Pascale St-Onge has said the sport system is in crisis. Tearful athletes have testified at parliamentary committee meetings in recent months about the sexual, mental and physical abuse they’ve experienced, and how the sport system has failed to address it. The budget committed $13.8 million over three years starting in 2022-23 to the Heritage department that oversees the sport portfolio to “enhance accountability and support efforts to build a safe and accountable sport system.” “From…