International News Roundup

The U.K has appointed a new Prime Minister, Liz Truss to replace Boris Johnson, the Kenyan Supreme Court confirms presidential results in favour of Ruto as new President.

U.K appoints new Prime Minister

Liz Truss became the third female Prime Minister in British history on Tuesday and pledged to immediately set about tackling the United Kingdom’s spiraling cost of living crisis, saying she was confident that “together we can ride out of the storm” of economic problems facing the nation.

Truss, who served as Foreign Minister in the previous government, enters office after winning the most votes in the Conservative Party leadership contest to replace Johnson, who announced his resignation in July in the wake of a series of scandals.

Her appointment fills a month-long leadership void that the UK has endured as its worst economic crisis in decades has worsened.

She also said she would defend freedom and democracy in the face of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Speaking on the steps of Downing Street on Tuesday evening, Truss said her priorities were delivering tax cuts to grow the economy, improving Britain’s energy security amid soaring prices and fixing the National Health Service, though she did not outline any specific policies.

Kenya’s Supreme Court Confirms Presidential Results

Kenya’s Supreme Court on Monday, upheld results declaring William Ruto winner of last month’s Presidential Elections.

Ruto, won with 50.49% votes against his rival Raila Odinga’s 48.85%, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced in August.

The announcement of the results then led to chaos in an otherwise peaceful election process when four members of the Electoral Commission rejected them, declaring the tallying “opaque.”

Odinga also later disputed the results in the Supreme Court alleging that hackers had accessed the electoral body’s website, deducted his votes and added them to Ruto’s, among other claims of irregularities.

However, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected his claims and decided that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) held a credible election last month.

Rwanda Bans Whitening Products

Alongside other government bodies in Africa, the Rwandan government has imposed a ban on skin whitening products in the country. This action follows a ban that was done in Cameroon by the Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachie.

The decision to ban the products came after authorities from the health and security departments and local government, received countless reports on the damage done to users’ skins from applying these cosmetics, Simeon Kwizera, the Public Relations Officer at the Rwandan Standards Board, tells the media.

In 2018, the Rwandan government began enforcing a nationwide ban on cosmetics and hair dyes containing harmful chemicals like hydroquinone (above certain levels) or mercury, making it illegal to produce or sell most skin lightening cosmetics.

Anyone caught trading them is subject to up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of five million Rwandan francs (around US $5000). Many dealers have been arrested to date.

Brazil Celebrates Independence Day

Every year, September 7 in Brazil is a day of colourful parades, military demonstrations and national pride, as the country celebrates gaining its independence from colonial Portugal.

Following more than three centuries under Portuguese rule, Brazil gained its independence in 1822, maintaining a monarchical system of government until the abolition of slavery in 1888 and the subsequent proclamation of a republic by the military in 1889.

But as Brazil heads toward presidential elections next month, President Jair Bolsonaro appears to be twisting the national holiday toward partisan ends.

Though it is supposed to be a nonpartisan national holiday, the President has often referred to Independence Day as a key milestone in his reelection campaign, telling supporters to prepare to “give their lives” on that day – an escalation in rhetoric even for the outspoken populist President.

The President was at the 200th anniversary of the country’s undependence alongside his wife and other members of his party. Everyone was dressed in green and yellow, magnifying the colours of the country.

Jair Bolsonaro said in his speech in Brasília: “You can be sure, it is everyone’s obligation to play within the four lines of the Constitution. With reelection, we will bring to the four lines those who dare to stay out of them”.

Bancho Pamen (Intern)

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