Namibian lawmakers on Wednesday approved legislation to ban same-sex marriage and punish its supporters, in what critics said was an unconstitutional attack on the LGBTQ community.The bill seeks to reverse a Supreme Court ruling that allowed for the recognition of some unions contracted abroad.The legislation sailed through the upper house of parliament, encountering no opposition. “The …

Namibian MPs back anti-gay law despite Supreme Court rulingWed, 19 Jul 2023 16:09:18 GMT Read More »

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi granted a pardon Wednesday to researcher Patrick Zaki, state media said, a day after Zaki’s three-year jail term sparked an outcry from local rights groups and Western governments.His sentence on Tuesday for “spreading false news” had prompted some participants to walk out of a government dialogue aimed at giving the …

Egypt’s Sisi pardons researcher a day after jailing sparked outcryWed, 19 Jul 2023 15:50:44 GMT Read More »

The extreme heat in the northern hemisphere is putting an increasing strain on healthcare systems, hitting those least able to cope the hardest, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.The WHO said the heat often worsens pre-existing conditions, saying it was particularly concerned about those with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and asthma.Millions of people across three continents …

Extreme heat straining health systems: WHOWed, 19 Jul 2023 15:27:59 GMT Read More »

Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of deliberately striking its Black Sea grain facilities — and destroying tonnes of food — since Moscow quit an export deal meant to stave off a global crisis.Kyiv’s allegations came as a fire of unclear origin broke out at a military site in Russian-annexed Crimea, prompting local officials to call …

Ukraine says Russia targeting grain sites after deal exitWed, 19 Jul 2023 13:14:57 GMT Read More »

Kenyan police on Wednesday fired tear gas at protesters who took to the streets in defiance of a government warning after earlier demonstrations turned violent with more than a dozen people killed.The opposition has vowed to stage three straight days of protests against President William Ruto’s government, alarming the international community which has joined calls …

Kenya police fire tear gas at anti-govt protestersWed, 19 Jul 2023 13:08:41 GMT Read More »

At least 34 people were killed when an Algerian passenger bus collided head-on with a commercial vehicle and burst into flames before dawn Wednesday in the country’s southern desert, officials said.One of the North African country’s deadliest road crashes in years also left 12 others injured, many with burn wounds, Algeria’s civil defence agency said.Media …

Algeria bus crash kills 34 in remote Sahara regionWed, 19 Jul 2023 12:31:18 GMT Read More »

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend a BRICS nations summit in South Africa next month, the country’s presidency said on Wednesday, ending months of speculation.Putin’s potential visit has been a thorny diplomatic issue for South Africa.The Russian leader is the target of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant — a provision that Pretoria as …

Russia’s Putin will not attend BRICS summit: S.AfricaWed, 19 Jul 2023 11:19:57 GMT Read More »

South African inflation dropped to the lowest level in 20 months in June, slipping back within the central bank’s target range, official data showed Wednesday.Annual consumer price inflation slowed to 5.4 percent last month, down from 6.3 percent in May, national statistics agency StatsSA said in a statement. The drop was the steepest since May 2020 …

Steep drop puts S.Africa inflation back within target rangeWed, 19 Jul 2023 09:22:28 GMT Read More »

The view of Johannesburg from the Ponte City skyscraper is breathtaking, but the tower is struggling to shrug off its reputation as a symbol of a dilapidated inner city.At 173 metres (568 feet) high, the brutalist-styled cylindrical building completed in 1975 was the tallest residential building in Africa and a sought-after location.But the tower fell …

Negative image blights landmark Johannesburg skyscraper’s rebirthWed, 19 Jul 2023 07:14:23 GMT Read More »

Mahana Abdelrahman used to criss-cross Sudan in his truck, delivering shipments across the vast country, but three months of brutal war have drastically reduced road transportation, grinding business to a halt.Now, the 45-year-old driver chain-smokes and sips coffee at a cafe on the outskirts of Wad Madani, a city that has welcomed him and many …

Sudan drivers sit idle as war shuts down transportationWed, 19 Jul 2023 05:53:39 GMT Read More »