Tanzania President John Magufuli helps clean streets
Tanzania President John Magufuli helps clean streets Tanzania President John Magufuli helps clean streets Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli has joined hundreds of residents in the main city Dar es Salaam to take part in a public clean-up operation. Mr Magufuli picked up rubbish from the street outside State House as part of the scheme, […]
Tanzania President John Magufuli helps clean streets
Tanzania President John Magufuli helps clean streets
Tanzania’s new President John Magufuli has joined hundreds of residents in the main city Dar es Salaam to take part in a public clean-up operation.
Mr Magufuli picked up rubbish from the street outside State House as part of the scheme, which he had ordered to replace Independence Day celebrations.
The move is being seen as symbolic of the president’s promise to tackle corruption, our correspondent says.
Thousands of people across Tanzania are reported to have joined the clean-up.
Last month, Mr Magufuli cancelled traditional independence day celebrations, which usually include a military parade and concert, saying it would be “shameful” to spend huge sums of money while the country was facing a serious cholera outbreak.
“Let us work together to keep our country, cities, homes and workplaces clean, safe and healthy,” Mr Magufuli told a crowd of surprised onlookers as he picked up rubbish off the street, AFP news agency reports.
Central African Republic’s Bozize slams ‘shameful’ election ban
The former president of Central African Republic (CAR) has called the ban on him from running in the country’s election a “shameful decision”.
Gunfire was heard on Tuesday night after the 30 presidential candidates were announced, reports AFP.
Francois Bozize is one of 14 candidates banned from running for office in the vote scheduled for 27 December.
He accused the constitutional court of banning him because of foreign pressure.
Mr Bozize was president of CAR for 10 years until he fled to neighbouring Cameroon in 2013 when a group of mostly Muslim rebels – called the Seleka – briefly took control of the country.
This sparked reprisals from a mainly Christian militia, called the anti-Balaka, who are seen as close to Mr Bozize.
Violence between the rival militias has killed thousands and displaced nearly a quarter of the CAR population.
Paul Kagame’s third term: Rwanda referendum on 18 December
Rwandans will vote in a referendum next week on a constitutional amendment to allow President Paul Kagame to seek a third term in office, the government has announced.
The change would allow Mr Kagame to potentially remain in power until 2034.
The government said Rwandans overseas will vote on 17 December followed by those in the country on 18 December.
The US had called for Mr Kagame to set an example for the region by stepping down at the end of his term in 2017.
He has hit back at “other nations” for interfering in the East African nation’s internal affairs.
Rwanda’s Senate approved draft constitutional amendments last month allowing Mr Kagame to run in 2017 for another seven-year term.
While the amendments shorten the length of a term from seven to five years and maintain a two-term limit, the rules will not take effect until 2024.
Mr Kagame could then potentially run for another two five-year terms.
The amendment is expected to be easily approved in the referendum, the AFP news agency reports.
Mr Kagame’s Rwanda Patriotic Front, an ethnic Tutsi rebel force, ended the 1994 genocide perpetrated by Hutu extremists.
Some 800,000 people – Tutsis and moderate Hutus – are estimated to have been killed.
Thailand police investigate US envoy for lese majeste
The US ambassador to Thailand is being investigated for royal defamation over a speech he made in November.
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand, which hosted Glyn Davies’ talk, confirmed it is assisting authorities in their probe.
In it, Mr Davies expressed concern about the long jail sentences for violating the lese majeste law.
Those convicted of insulting the king, queen, heir or regent face up to 15 years in jail on each count.
Two people were recently given sentences of 28 and 30 years each for comments posted on Facebook.
Syria conflict: Rebels leave Homs under truce
Syrian rebels have begun evacuating the last district they control in the city of Homs under a ceasefire deal reached with the government.
Those leaving al-Wair, under siege for almost three years, will travel to rebel-held areas of Idlib province.
Homs was once dubbed the “capital of the revolution” and saw some of the first protests of the 2011 uprising.
But the truce means the entire city returns to government control, in a boost for President Bashar al-Assad.
Buses arrived on Wednesday to transport fighters and their families out of the Homs suburb of al-Wair.
About 700 people, including rebel fighters and civilians, are due to depart throughout Wednesday, Homs governor Talal Barazi said.
Fighters linked to al-Qaeda are among those due to leave, but moderate groups who have accepted the ceasefire are expected to remain.
Ex-Australia PM Tony Abbott says Islam must reform
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sparked criticism by saying Islam has a “massive problem” and needs to reform.
Writing in Australian media, Mr Abbott said “not all cultures are equal” and the West should stop apologising for defending its values.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the comments were “counterproductive”.
Current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the vast majority of Muslims were “appalled” by extremism.
Speaking to reporters in Perth, Mr Turnbull said it was “absolutely vital to ensure that we don’t make the mistake, which is what the terrorists want us to do, of tagging every single Muslim with the responsibility for the crimes of the few”.
While it was “no revelation” that there were violent elements in the Muslim world, the religion is compatible with democracy and an open society, he said, and most victims of extremist groups are Muslims.
Syria conflict: Divided opposition begins unity talks in Riyadh
More than 100 Syrian rebels and opposition politicians are meeting in Riyadh in an attempt to come up with a united front for possible peace talks.
As the conference in the Saudi capital began, one of the most powerful rebel groups struck an uncompromising tone.
Ahrar al-Sham insisted President Bashar al-Assad would have to face justice.
It also criticised the presence of Syria-based opposition figures tolerated by Mr Assad and the absence of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the country.
World powers want peace talks between a unified opposition delegation and the government to start by 1 January, and a transitional government to be formed within six months.
Paris attacks: Bataclan third attacker identified
French police have identified the third attacker at the Bataclan during the Paris attacks, Prime Minister Manuel Valls says.
Mr Valls did not name the man, but did not dispute reports naming him as French national Foued Mohamed-Aggad, 23, from Strasbourg.
Ninety people were killed at the Bataclan in last month’s attacks.
All three gunmen who attacked the venue wearing suicide vests have been confirmed as French nationals.
San Bernardino attacks: Couple radicalised before online dating
The couple behind the San Bernardino attack that killed 14 people were radicalised before they started dating, the director of the FBI has said.
James Comey said Tashfeen Malik and husband Syed Farook spoke of jihad and martyrdom during conversations on an online dating service in late 2013.
The FBI believes the duo were inspired by foreign terrorist organisations, but said the investigation is ongoing.
Last week’s massacre was the deadliest terrorist attack in the US since 9/11.
The couple were both killed in a shoot-out with police hours after the attack.
Donald Trump: ‘I will never leave this race’ despite criticism
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said he will never leave the 2016 race despite increasing calls for him to step aside.
The White House said Mr Trump was “disqualified” after he said the US should stop allowing Muslims from entering the country.
Mr Trump told the Washington Post he would not step aside no matter what happens.
Other contenders in the 2016 race condemned his comments about Muslims.