Kenyan president promises end to abductions Posted on 28/12/2024 William Ruto said many of the detentions were legitimate arrests against “criminals and subversive elements”. (EPA Images pic) NAIROBI: Kenyan President William Ruto has promised an end to abductions, following the latest spate of disappearances that have been condemned by rights groups, lawyers and politicians. Security forces in the East African nation have been accused of carrying out dozens of illegal detentions since youth-led anti-government demonstrations in June and July. The latest disappearances have primarily involved young men who have criticised Ruto online, with rights groups dismissing police denials of involvement and calling for action. Speaking to a crowd on Friday in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, Ruto promised an end to the abductions but also told parents to “take responsibility” of their children. “We are going to stop the abductions so that our youth can live peacefully,” he said, according to local media reports. Ruto had addressed the issue in his annual state of the nation speech in November, condemning “any excessive or extrajudicial” action. But, he also said many of the detentions were legitimate arrests against “criminals and subversive elements”. Anger has continued to grow in the country, with the latest abductions sparking small-scale protests in at least one town. Police have denied involvement but activists have questioned why they appear to not be investigating the disappearances. “If, indeed, the police are not complicit,” the Law Society of Kenya said, they must immediately “investigate and prosecute those responsible”. Human Rights Watch said earlier this year that its research pointed towards a unit drawn from multiple security agencies. Ruto’s remarks follow recent comments by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, who alleged a secret unit was behind the disappearances. “Abducting these children and killing them is not a solution… This is the first administration in the history of this country to target children for repression,” Gachagua claimed. News
Pahang housewife loses RM147,753 after falling victim to part-time job scam Posted on 25/12/2024 KUANTAN, Dec 25 — A 38-year-old housewife from Bera, near here, lost RM147,753 after falling victim to a part-time job offer scam through a social media application in mid-December. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the scam occurred after the victim was lured to join an online job… Read More
Between the US’ Monroe doctrine and China’s nine-dash line Posted on 25/12/2024 From Dr Boo Cheng Hau I recently attended my medical school class reunion from the University of the West Indies in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. I also visited Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica. The Bahamas mainly relies on tourism and finance for its economy. Its per capita gross… Read More
Scholz, Putin hold first call in almost 2 years Posted on 16/11/2024 Russian president Vladimir Putin has not spoken to most Nato and western leaders since 2022. (AP pic) BERLIN: German chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone today for the first time in almost two years, a German government source told AFP. Scholz stayed on the… Read More