Sydney, Australia | AFP | Australia will expand the roll-out of cashless welfare cards after a pilot scheme showed a sharp drop in problem alcohol, drug and gambling abuse, the country’s prime minister said Friday. The government introduced the debit card — touted as a world-first — last year to two …

Shanghai, China | AFP | China Construction Bank, one of the country’s “big four” financial institutions, reported a moderate first-half profit rise and improving asset quality as a government crackdown on bad debt kicked in. The bank’s earnings were posted Wednesday night, hours after China’s three other big state-owned lenders announced …

San Francisco, United States | AFP | Ordering pizza from the sofa without lifting a finger has joined the list of modern-day conveniences thanks to a hot trend in voice-commanded smart speakers. Amazon, Apple and Google are duking it out with devices designed to sit out of sight in homes, awaiting …

Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Doctors have given Tiger Woods the green light to swing a club again as the 14-time major championship winner takes aim at a return to professional golf. The 41-year-old American received medical clearance to start practising and tweeted a video Thursday of him …

Bogota, Colombia | AFP | Colombia’s FARC former guerrilla force on Thursday re baptized itself the Common Alternative Revolutionary Force, as it transformed into a political party following its disarmament. In spite of earlier resistance from some members of the movement, the name retains the revolutionary spirit of the communist guerrilla group, which …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s opposition leader Raila Odinga on Friday hailed as historic a court decision nullifying an election won by President Uhuru Kenyatta and calling for a re-run. “This is a historic day for the people of Kenya and by extension for the people of the continent …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election after annulling the results of last month’s poll in a shock decision in favour of the opposition. Joyous celebrations erupted outside the court and in Nairobi slums after the second term victory of President Uhuru …

Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered a new presidential election within 60 days, in a shock ruling cancelling the results of last month’s poll over widespread irregularities. Chief Justice David Maraga said a majority decision by the panel of six judges, with two dissenting, found that …

Father sues Rubaga primary school over defilement of daughter Kampala, Uganda | GODFREY SSALI | Abbas Aligaweesa wants the High Court in Kampala to issue orders compelling Red Rock Junior School in Rubaga, Kampala to pay him over 100 million shillings as compensation for medical expenses he met at Rubaga …

Kampala, Uganda |GODFREY SSALI | Members of Parliament from Mubende District have accused the NRM led government of taking the people for granted over illegal evictions. The group of four out of the seven area MPs led by Bukuya MP Dr. Micheal Bukenya said that they have mobilized 150 MPs who …