Kenyans flock to vote in high-stakes elections
AFP, Nairobi
Kenyans were voting Tuesday in elections headlined by a knife-edge battle between incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga that has sent tensions soaring in east Africa’s richest economy.
From first-time voters to those bent with age, from urbanites to ethnic Samburu warriors, thousands descended upon polling stations long before dawn to cast their ballots.
Voting began relatively smoothly, with delays, technical hiccups and unexpected downpours slowing the process at some of the 41,000 polling stations, but the electoral commission (IEBC) said the situation was being dealt with.
Nigeria seizes
ex-oil minister’s luxury apartments
AFP, Lagos
A Nigerian court has confiscated the $37 million luxury apartment complex of a former oil minister accused of fraud and money laundering as well as rental proceeds from the properties.
Lagos high court judge Chuka Obiozor on Monday also ordered ex-minister Diezani Alison-Madueke to handover more than $2.7 million (2.3 million euros) that she made leasing the apartments.
China, Vietnam meeting cancelled amid South China Sea tensions
Reuters, Manila
A scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Vietnam was canceled on the sidelines of a regional gathering, Chinese embassy officials said, amid growing tension between the two countries over the South China Sea. Vietnam had held out for language that noted concern about island-building and criticized militarization in South China Sea in the communique on Sunday from foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Rouhani presents new ministers to parliament
Reuters, London
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani presented his cabinet to parliament for a vote of confidence on Tuesday, keeping in place the chief architect of Tehran’s nuclear accord with global powers.
In his first term, Rouhani championed an agreement with the United States and five other powers in 2015 that led to the lifting of most sanctions against Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program.
