World
Kenyan deputy president impeached while hospitalised
The Kenyan senate has voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The lawmakers voted Thursday evening despite a plea from Paul Muite, Gachagua’s lawyer, to postpone the proceedings.
According to Muite, Gachagua was hospitalised after falling very sick hours before the vote was set to hold.
Amason Kingi, the senate speaker, said Gachagua had until 5pm local time to show up.
The lawmakers impeached the vice president after his health kept him away from the hearing.
The 59-year-old becomes the first deputy president to be impeached in Kenya’s history.
At least 53 senators voted to uphold the first charge.
Gachagua, who faced 11 charges, was impeached on five counts.
The charges include ground one of shareholding, ground four of undermining the independence of judges, ground five of the National Cohesion and Integrity Act 4, ground six of crimes under the National Cohesion Act, and ground nine of gross misconduct (public attacks on the national security intelligence service).
In June, Gachagua blamed the head of the intelligence agency for not properly briefing President William Ruto and the government over the magnitude of mass protests against unpopular tax hikes.
The vice president’s action was seen as an act of undermining the president.
In total, 281 MPs voted in favour of the ouster motion against 44. One MP abstained from voting.
“DP Gachagua ceases to hold office,” Kingi said after the vote.
If Gachagua does not petition the vote in court, the impeachment paves the way for the nomination and subsequent replacement by Ruto, who has yet to publicly comment on the development.
The impeached deputy president has repeatedly insisted that the proceedings were a “political witch hunt” and vowed to defend himself.
World
10 dead, 30 injured after vehicle drives into crowd in US
At least 10 people have been killed after a vehicle drove into a large crowd in New Orleans, a city in Louisiana, United States.
The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the French Quarter, a popular tourist area, when a car sped down Bourbon Street.
Witnesses told CBS News that the driver reportedly got out and began shooting at pedestrians. Police returned fire, and two officers were injured in the exchange.
Anne Kirkpatrick, the city’s police superintendent, described the attack as “very intentional”.
“This man was trying to run over as many people as he possibly could,” she said.
Kirkpatrick said attack began at 15:15 local time (21:15 GMT), adding that most of the victims appeared to be local residents, but the identities of those killed or injured are still being determined.
She said numbers could change, but confirmed 10 people were killed and at least 35 others injured.
She said it is unclear how many victims are tourists and how many are locals but added that she believed that the majority are local to New Orleans.
The superintendent said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will take over the investigation into the incident.
Althea Duncan, FBI agent, clarified that the shooting was not a terrorist incident, but noted that “improvised explosive devices” were found on scene.
Duncan said the FBI is working to find out if they are “viable” devices and urged the public to stay away from the area.
Jeff Landry, governor of Louisiana, described the incident as a “horrific act of violence”.
Landry said he is praying for all the victims and first responders at the scene.
World
South Korean court issues arrest warrant for impeached president
A Seoul western district court has issued an arrest warrant against impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his botched martial law declaration.
It is the first time authorities have sought to detain a sitting South Korean president.
It is unclear when authorities would attempt to take Yeol into custody. January 6 was given as the deadline to execute the warrant.
“The arrest warrant and search warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, requested by the Joint Investigation Headquarters, were issued this morning,” the Joint Investigation Headquarters, which includes officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), police, and the defence ministry, said in a statement on Tuesday.
The warrant comes after Yeol, who is being investigated for power abuse and inciting an insurrection, ignored three summons in the last fortnight.
The president’s legal team has called the warrant “illegal and invalid” and said they would challenge it in court.
World
Biden declares January 9 national mourning day for Jimmy Carter
United States President Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025 as a national day of mourning for Jimmy Carter.
Carter, the 39th US president, died on Sunday at 100. He was the first ex-US president to become a centenarian.
Biden described Carter as an extraordinary leader, statesman, and humanitarian.
“With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us,” Biden said in a statement following Carter’s death.
“He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.
“He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together,” he added, referencing Carter’s wife of 77 years who died in November 2023.
Biden ordered that flags be displayed at half-staff at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels for a period of 30 days from Carter’s death.
The president said similar arrangements applied to US representatives in foreign countries at embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad.
“I do further appoint January 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning throughout the United States,” Biden added.
The president urged Americans and people around the world who share in the grief to honour Carter’s memory on the said day.
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