
Used clothing from the West is a big seller in East Africa. Uganda's leader wants a ban
The Owino Market in Uganda's capital has long been a go-to enclave for rich and poor people alike looking for affordable but quality-made used clothes, underscoring perceptions that Western fashion is superior to what is made at home
2023-10-16 13:25

Russian governor reported to police for speaking out over Putin’s ‘unnecessary’ war against Ukraine
A Russian governor who said that Moscow had not prepared for its invasion of Ukraine and did not “need” the continuing war has been reported to the police. Natalya Komarova, a member of president Vladimir Putin’s governing United Russia party and the governor of Russian Khanty-Masiysk region, on Saturday criticised the conflict that has stretched to nearly 600 days during a meeting with residents of the Siberian city of Nizhnevartovsk. Ms Komarova was confronted by the wife of a mobilised Russian man fighting in Ukraine who had asked why her husband was not provided with the necessary equipment to fight. “Are you asking me (why your husband does not have equipment) knowing that I’m the governor and not the minister of defence?” the official said. She added: “As a whole, we did not prepare for this war. We don’t need it. We were building a completely different world, so in this regard, there will certainly be some inconsistencies and unresolved issues,” according to a video of the event posted on social media. The comments, captured on video, were circulated widely online and prompted pro-war activists to condemn Ms Komarova for “discrediting Russia’s armed forces”. A letter has been sent to Russia’s minister of internal affairs by the director of a Siberian non-profit organisation, Yuri Ryabtsev, asking the ministry to further investigate Ms Komarova’s comments, reported Russian news outlet Sibir.Realii, stating that its journalists had seen the letter. An activist has also filed a report with the local police, demanding Ms Komarova be held accountable under Russia’s Code of Administrative Offences for “discrediting” the army, the news outlet reported. The Russian politician has not issued any fresh remarks on the issue. Russia approved a law last year making it illegal to describe the conflict in Ukraine as a “war” or an “invasion” by Russia. Mr Putin called it a “special military operation” when he ordered the attack on Ukraine in February last year, and the law has been used to compel Russian media, businesses and citizens to follow suit, as well as to penalise critics of the war. The legislation also outlaws “disparaging” the military and the spread of "false information" about Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Several critics of the war have already been handed fines or jail terms under the law, while experts say it has made it increasingly difficult to gauge levels of public support for the invasion. Sasha Skochilenko, an artist and musician with serious health issues, was arrested in April last year for replacing supermarket price tags with antiwar slogans, charged with spreading false information about the military. Former FSB agent and battlefield commander Igor Girkin, known as a prominent Russian hardline nationalist, was detained on charges of extremism in July this year after he accused Mr Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine. Russia media have been extensively covering the Ukraine conflict yet at the same time prohibited from calling it a “war”, while protesters using that word on placards are hit with steep fines. Independent news sites have been blocked, as were Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. A prominent radio station has been taken off the air, and the Novaya Gazeta newspaper, led by 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, has also lost its licence. Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin suffers serious losses in largest offensive in months As the conflict in Israel rages on, the world must not forget about Ukraine Putin's visit to Beijing underscores China’s economic and diplomatic support for Russia Ukraine’s Avdiivka ‘completely ablaze’ as Russia pounds city for fourth straight day Could Putin be arrested? President to leave Russia for first time since international arrest warrant issued
2023-10-16 13:15

Coal train derails off Colorado bridge and onto interstate, killing a semi truck driver, authorities say
A coal train derailed off a bridge in southern Colorado on Sunday as it was crossing over Interstate 25, killing the driver of a semi truck that was passing underneath the bridge, state authorities confirmed.
2023-10-16 12:26

The US is mounting a frantic effort to head off a wider Middle East war
US leaders are mounting an urgent effort to prevent Israel's war against Hamas and a resulting civilian catastrophe in Gaza from escalating into a widening regional conflict that could snowball into an even greater geopolitical crisis after this month's horrific attacks.
2023-10-16 12:21

Trump's legal troubles keep fueling surges in fundraising
By Jason Lange and Alexandra Ulmer WASHINGTON Small donors have responded to Donald Trump's legal problems by showering
2023-10-16 12:21

Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin suffers serious losses in largest offensive in months
Russia has lost 127 tanks, 239 armoured personnel vehicles (APVs) and 161 artillery systems in a week, Kyiv has said as Vladimir Putin launches a sustained assault in the east of Ukraine. Moscow’s forces lost eight tanks, 25 APVs and 33 artillery systems in the past day, Ukraine’s General Staff said on Sunday. The Independent cannot independently confirm Kyiv’s numbers which come after Putin claimed Ukraine‘s counteroffensive “completely failed”. “As for the counteroffensive, which is allegedly stalling, it has failed completely,” Putin said in video remarks posted to social media by a Kremlin journalist Pavel Zarubin. Russia currently controls about 17.5% of Ukrainian territory and a four-month-old Ukrainian counteroffensive this year has resulted in almost no net territorial gains. Read More Putin's visit to Beijing underscores China’s economic and diplomatic support for Russia As the conflict in Israel rages on, the world must not forget about Ukraine Biden insists US can back two wars at the same time in Israel and Ukraine
2023-10-16 12:15

Boy, 6, killed in anti-Muslim attack, say US police
Police in Illinois link the killing of a boy and injuries to his mother to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war.
2023-10-16 11:53

Buffalo Bills' Damien Harris was removed from the field on a gurney during New York Giants game
Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris was transported off the field on an ambulance after sustaining a neck injury during the team's home game against the New York Giants on Sunday night.
2023-10-16 11:27

Markets Stabilize on Middle East Diplomacy Efforts: Markets Wrap
Markets steadied on Monday in Asia, with US equity futures gaining and Treasuries falling as the US and
2023-10-16 10:47

Millennial Banana Heir Noboa Wins Ecuador Presidency in Runoff
A 35-year-old business leader from a wealthy fruit-exporting dynasty, Daniel Noboa, will be Ecuador’s next president after winning
2023-10-16 09:56

Biden Considers Israel Visit, Warns Against Gaza Occupation
US President Joe Biden weighed a trip to Israel while he cautioned against long-term Israeli occupation of the
2023-10-16 09:47

Biden warns Israel against occupying Gaza as ground invasion appears near
President Joe Biden warned Israel against occupying Gaza in one of his most notable public calls for restraint as the Israelis respond to this month's terror attacks by Hamas.
2023-10-16 08:52