Kofi Annan has died
GENEVA: The Elders, an elite group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, expressed shock and sadness at the death of colleague and chairperson
Kofi Annan at the age of 80 after a short illness.
They referred to the former UN secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize winner as “a voice of great authority and wisdom in public and private”.
Rising through UN ranks to become the first African secretarygeneral, he served two terms in that role and presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body.
Bolt in Oz for footy
SYDNEY: Usain Bolt has arrived in Australia for his try-out with Central Coast Mariners, saying his goal of playing professional football is “for real”.
The eight-time Olympic sprint champion wore a Mariners scarf after landing in Sydney yesterday from Los Angeles.
Bolt, 31, will train with the Mariners in the hope of winning a contract to play in the A-league from October. He has trialled unsuccessfully with teams in Germany, Norway and South Africa.
Mariners officials said Bolt will train with them for an “indefinite” period.
DUP head snubs pope
LONDON: The leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party declined an invitation to meet Pope Francis during his visit to Ireland next week, citing family commitments.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said on Friday she “appreciated” the invitation but would be away with her family during the pope’s visit, after the Irish government invited her to attend his speech at Dublin Castle on August 25.
“She particularly acknowledges the significance of this event for many Roman Catholics in the Republic of Ire land and Northern Ireland,” said a DUP spokesperson.
Khan sworn in as PM
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s cricket star-turned-politician Imran
Khan was sworn in as prime minister yesterday despite protests by opposition parties which accused the security services of intervening on his behalf in last month’s elections.
Khan’s Tehreek-e-insaf party won the most seats in the July 25 national elections. It allied with independents to form a coalition and Khan was elected by the National Assembly on Friday.
Opposition parties have held regular protests since last month’s election, alleging vote rigging by the security establishment.
Rabies vaccine scandal
BEIJING: China has fired six more officials linked to a massive rabies vaccine scandal, state media reported yesterday.
Five who worked for China’s Food and Drug Administration and the deputy dean of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control have all been fired, Xinhua news agency reported.
The firings follow that of deputy governor of food and drug supervision in Jinlin Province – where the vaccine scandal unfolded – and the resignation of three others linked with the scandal on Thursday.
Facebook lawsuit
NEW YORK: Facebook’s advertising tools allow landlords and estate agents to engage in housing discrimination, federal regulators say.
“When Facebook uses the vast amount of personal data to help advertisers to discriminate, it’s the same as slamming the door in someone’s face,” US Department of Housing and Urban Development said. Facebook says it isn’t liable for users’ actions.the company said it did not allow discrimination and will respond in court.
Twitter ‘hoax’ case
AUSTIN: Conspiracy theorist
Alex Jones was accused in court on Friday of destroying evidence on Twitter relevant to the case of families from Sandy Hook Elementary School who are suing him for claiming the 2012 massacre in Newton, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six adults was a hoax.
Those suing him say they have been tormented by his followers and have been forced to move.
Jones says the case should be withdrawn because he was acting as a journalist.
Sources:ap/dpa/reuters/african News Agency/ana