David Shadrach

Kenya election: Security tight for Kenyatta inauguration Security has been stepped up in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, ahead of the inauguration of President Uhuru Kenyatta for a second term in office. More than 20 heads of state or senior ministers are expected to attend. Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, who boycotted a re-run of the presidential poll, has called for a protest rally, despite a police ban. August's presidential election was annulled by the Supreme Court over what it called "irregularities". The re-run, on 26 October, saw Mr Kenyatta win 98% of the vote with a turnout of just under 39%. Kenya's 'digital president' Raila Odinga - Love him or loathe him Ceremony amid deep divisions Tuesday's ceremony at a sports stadium in Nairobi is due to get under way at 10:00 local time (07:00 GMT). Organisers are expecting about 60,000 people to fill the venue and giant screens have been set up outside for those unable to get in. President Kenyatta's ...

Fatah: Disarmament of Hamas not on dialogue table NEWS / PALESTINE Middle East Palestine Fatah Hamas Hamas has stated that the subject of the 'weapons of resistance' is not up for discussion [File: Reuters] The Palestinian faction Fatah has denied making the disarmament of Hamas' military wing, the Qassam Brigades, a condition for ongoing Palestinian reconciliation talks. Osama al-Qawasmi, spokesman for Fatah,said on Monday that the "weapon of the resistance" is a red line. Pointing out that it is only Hamas that has spoken to the news media on the disarmament question, Qawasmi said: "Fatah wants to discuss with Hamas the issue of security. "The Palestinian government will not be able to operate and implement its projects and security plans in the Gaza Strip if it is without a security arm." Qawasmi's statement followed a press conference earlier on Monday by a senior Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, in the Gaza Strip, who elaborated on the res...

Pope Francis arrives in Myanmar amid Rohingya crisis NEWS / POPE FRANCIS Is it safe for Rohingya refugees to return to Rakhine? INSIDE STORY: Is it safe for Rohingya refugees to return to Rakhine State? (24:10) Rohingya Pope Francis Myanmar Bangladesh Politics Pope Francis previously condemned the atrocities committed against the Rohingya [Max Rossi/Reuters] Pope Francis has arrived in Myanmar on his first trip to the Southeast Asian nation, where tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees have faced brutal military crackdown in the past three months. His trip comes as the Myanmar government is accused of "ethnically cleansing" its Rohingya Muslim minority, more than 600,000 of whom have taken shelter in neighbouring Bangladesh. The 80-year-old leader of Roman Catholic Church who has spoken against "persecution of our Rohingya brothers and sisters" in the past has been advised not use the word Rohingya. On his first day in Myanmar, Francis met general Min Aung Hlaing, a...

Egypt court drops citizenship case against Ayman Nour NEWS / POLITICS WATCH: Sisi's human rights record casts pall over visit to France (2:03) Egypt Politics Middle East SIGN UP Ayman Nour took part in the 2012 Egyptian elections [File: Reuters] An Egyptian court has dropped a case against prominent opposition leader Ayman Nour that sought to strip him of his citizenship. The veteran opposition leader told Al Jazeera that the case against him was politically motivated and that it never had a legal basis. "Legal action should be taken against the lawyers who bring forward these kinds of malicious cases and abuse the right of litigation... These cases are clearly malicious and have no legal or constitutional basis," he said. "This is perhaps the third time I've had such a case against me... It is a form of blackmail and a form of distortion." Advertisement Nour, who ran against former President Hosni Mubarak in 2005, was accused of incitement against the state...

Anger over Greek plan to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia NEWS / HUMAN RIGHTS READ MORE Wheat aid arrives in blockaded Yemen amid famine fears OPINION Yemen's fate was sealed six years ago by Noha Aboueldahab War & Conflict Human Rights Greece Saudi Arabia Europe SIGN UP The Greek government has been criticised for selling arms to Saudi Arabia [Kostas Tsironis/ Reuters] Athens, Greece - A political dispute in Greece over a controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia is deepening, with opposition politicians and critics decrying plans to sell 66m euros ($78.7m) worth of surplus missiles and bombs to the Arab Gulf country. Opposition politicians have accused the government, which is currently headed by the leftist Syriza party, of not following the proper procedures for an international agreement, while critics have decried selling weapons to a country engaged in war. Saudi Arabia is currently leading a coalition of countries waging war in neighbouring Yemen , the poorest country in th...