This week, two presidents emerged from Africa and from the Middle East.
Ex-Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud was re-elected into office following an intense contest with the incumbent Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo.
Following the demise of President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyanaged 73, Sheikh Mohammed was elected as the new UAE President barely 48 hours later.
In what could be termed bizarre, a corpse was found on the runaway of Nigeria’s International Airport.
As at the time of filing the report, officials say they are unable to verify how the corpse got there. We hope to get details in the coming week.
For the first time ever, female referees will officiate at the Men’s world cup in Qatar 2022 and Africa’s own Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda is on the short list of the three women out of a total of 36 referees chosen for the tournament.
Defying the odds, a Nigerian entrepreneur is designing and building solar battery-powered buses in an effort to promote sustainable energy and reduce pollution.
The links below are some of the highlights published by AEM reporters this week.
EX-SOMALIA PRESIDENT RE-ELECTED AS HEAD OF STATE
Ex-Somali president Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud was on Sunday night re-elected into office following an intense contest with the incumbent Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo. The win was publicized after three rounds of voting in which he beat his competitor 214 to 110 votes.
SOUTH SUDAN’S FIRST PERMANENT BRIDGE OVER THE NILE UNVEILED
On Thursday, jubilant crowds came out to cross South Sudan’s first permanent bridge over the River Nile after it was officially opened. The 560-metre long bridge on the edge of Juba, the capital, dubbed Freedom was constructed using a grant from the Japanese government.
TALIBAN ORDERS FEMALE AFGHAN TV PRESENTERS TO COVER THEIR FACES ON AIR
Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have directed that female presenters on local television stations cover their faces while on air.
RIHANNA AND ASAP ROCKY ARE OFFICIALLY PARENTS
Riri and her boyfriend Asap Rocky have welcomed their first child into the world. The baby boy, whose name is yet to be revealed, was reportedly born on May 13 in Los Angeles.
FEMALE REFEREES TO OFFICIATE MEN’S WORLD CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME
In a breakthrough for gender equality, FIFA confirmed on Thursday that female referees will officiate a men’s World Cup for the first time during this year’s edition in November. World soccer’s governing body will assign three female referees— Stephanie Frappart of France, Salima Mukansanga of Rwanda, and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan to officiate games in the upcoming tournament.
UN WARNS OF ESCALATING VIOLENCE IN HAITI GANG WAR
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned Tuesday about the impact of the recent wave of violence between gangs in Port-au-Prince. In the last three weeks, 188 people have been killed in clashes, including 92 civilians and 96 gang members.
BURKINA FASO: NO SURVIVORS IN FLOODED MINE RESCUE CHAMBER
Rescue workers have discovered no survivors in a rescue chamber deep inside a flooded zinc mine in Burkina Faso, the government and mine owner announced on Tuesday, effectively putting an end to hopes that eight missing miners could still be alive after a month.
HUNGER IN EAST AFRICA CAUSING DEATH EVERY 48 SECONDS
Humanitarian organisations have cautioned that across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, one person is dying every 48 seconds from acute hunger tied to conflict, the climate crisis and the rising cost of food.
VIDEO: WHITE STUDENT FILMED URINATING ON BLACK STUDENT’S PROPERTY IN SOUTH AFRICA
In South Africa, a white student has been dismissed from university after he was accused of urinating on the property of a black student at Stellenbosch University, the institution confirmed.
NIGERIAN ENTREPRENEUR BUILDS ELECTRIC MINI-BUSES IN CLEAN ENERGY PUSH
Mustapha Gajibo, a Nigerian entrepreneur, has been converting petrol minibuses to electric vehicles at his workshop, but he is now taking it a step further by designing and building solar battery-powered buses from the ground up in an effort to promote sustainable energy and reduce pollution.
SHEIKH MOHAMMED ELECTED NEW UAE PRESIDENT
The leaders of the UAE’s numerous sheikhdoms have picked a new president in a display of unity. It was unsurprising that the half-brother of the recently dead president was chosen so quickly.
TWO MAIDS STEAL AND SELL NEW BORN BABY FOR ABOUT USD $205
Four suspects have been apprehended by the police for allegedly stealing a newborn baby from University Teaching Hospital UTH– Zambia’s largest health institution.
Compiled by Ekeomah Atuonwu
