Spain, Ireland and Norway move to recognise Palestine seen as warning shot to Israel to agree to resolve Gaza crisis
Diplomatic pressure on Israel has grown as the battle with Hamas stretches into its eighth month. The UN General Assembly voted by a significant margin on May 11 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine in a sign of growing international support for a vote on full voting membership. The Palestinian Authority currently has observer status. The leaders of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia said in March they were considering recognising a Palestinian state as “a positive contribution” toward ending the war.
Storm brews following Microsoft’s UAE deal that’ll move key US chips and AI abroad, including Kenya
The broad intent of the deal is for Microsoft and G42 to jointly take AI technology into regions where neither could do so as effectively alone. An early example is a deal in Kenya announced by the two companies on Wednesday.
US public health agencies face scrutiny after multiple studies show unvaccinated children are healthier than vaccinated ones
Dr Paul Thomas, whose medical license was suspended due to his advocacy for informed consent regarding vaccinations, along with James Lyons-Weiler from the Institute for Pure and Applied Knowledge, conducted a study comparing the health of vaccinated and unvaccinated children. Their findings revealed that vaccinated children experienced significantly higher instances of various health issues, including: asthma, allergies, eczema, sinusitis, gastroenteritis, respiratory infections, middle ear infection, conjunctivitis, breathing issues and behavioural issues.
How Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains influenced recreation of butterfly forest by an Italian museum
With at least 2,500 plant species, more than 120 mammals, and thousands of invertebrate species, Udzungwa Mountains is rich in biological diversity. It’s part of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya and Tanzania that are a proposed UNESCO Heritage site. It has more than 40 endemic species of butterflies.
MUSE’s work here is vital because of this variety, said Sevgan Subramanian, principal scientist and head of environmental health at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi.
US designates Kenya as major non-Nato ally as it deepens relations with East African nation
Kenya, like the United States, has become “an engine for innovation”, the official said, citing its $1 billion “Silicon Savannah” technology hub that is home to more than 200 startups spanning a range of sectors, including clean energy, microelectronics, financial technology, and e-commerce.
‘You have guns, you don’t need a salary’ mantra sowed in national army by past regimes makes it difficult for UN forces to repulse Congo rebels
Criminality continues to bedevil the Congolese military, a major flaw that is cited in nearly every report of the UN Group of Experts on the DRC since 2011. Congolese security forces set up illegal roadblocks to extort citizens. They parcel off and control fiefdoms. They sell weapons to whomever is willing to pay, including the very forces they are fighting. They make deals with shadowy businessmen to pilfer minerals into neighbouring countries. These practices have long been the norm.
Ruto honoured with state visit for agreeing to deploy police to crime-ravaged, gang-infested Haiti
The United States for years has partnered with Kenya on counterterrorism efforts in Africa, including battling the extremist group al-Shabab. Kenya has participated in the Ukraine Defence Contact Group and an international maritime taskforce launched by the Biden administration in December in response to Houthi attacks against vessels operating in the Red Sea.
Kenya’s largest bank, KCB, announces first quarter pretax profit up 53 per cent
Net interest income rose to 31.06 billion shillings from 22.06 billion shillings. Gross loans increased 12.2 per cent to 1.13 trillion shillings, while loan-loss provisions stood at 6.3 billion shillings, up from 4.12 billion shillings.
International investigators now link tech giant Apple to massive theft of Congo minerals
Congo’s lawyers notified Apple CEO Tim Cook on April 22 of a series of concerns about its supply chain, and also wrote to Apple subsidiaries in France, demanding answers within three weeks. The Amsterdam & Partners LLP law firm has been investigating allegations that minerals mined in Congo by several companies and armed groups are being smuggled out through Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.
White House outlines Ruto state visit: Regional security, debt relief and peacekeeping top agenda
It is no secret that democracy is on the backfoot in a lot of places globally. If you talk to democracy scholars, democracy is on something like its 20th year of global decline. So, Africa is not alone in this regard. The Biden administration is focused on lifting up and partnering with democracies to help them deliver.
