Japan approves record defence budget

Record $42b budget is to boost defences of disputed islands amid China's assertiveness in the region.

Japan's cabinet has approved the country's largest defence budget, with plans to buy surveillance aircraft and F-35 fighter jets to improve defences of disputed islands amid China's increasing assertiveness in the region.

Oppressive policies unite Egypt activists

Ahead of the January uprising anniversary, is rapprochement likely between Egypt's 'revolutionary' forces?

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the January 25 uprising, Egypt's Islamist and liberal activists, remain poles apart despite speculations that they may be considering some kind of rapprochement.
"The time has come for us to restore popular unity in preparation for a new wave of the January revolution," read a statement released by 20 Egyptian opposition groups on Sunday January 4.
The statement cited ongoing discussions and activities as part of a recent national reconciliation initiative between various activist groups that include the prominent youth activist group April 6 Movement, Journalists Against the Coup, and the Revolutionary Alliance of Egyptian Women. 

Floods kill scores in Malawi and Mozambique

Thousands displaced across east African neighbours as Malawi president declares nearly third of country disaster zone.

Heavy flooding has killed scores of people in the east African country of Malawi, where nearly a third of the country was declared to be in a state of disaster.
Malawi's President Peter Mutharika said on Tuesday that at least 48 people were killed and 23,000 others displaced in flash floods that have wreaked havoc in 10 out of 23 districts in his country.

Dead bodies found floating in Indian river

More than 100 decaying bodies thought to be water burials surface in river Ganges considered sacred by Hindus.

The 2,500km river is tainted by untreated sewage, with its banks strewn with garbage [AP]

Scores of decaying dead bodies have surfaced in India's sacred Ganges river, as dogs, crows and vultures hacked away at the corpses. NDTV news channelreported on Wednesday that more than 100 bodies had surfaced in the river between Kanpur and Unnao districts in the northern Uttar Pradesh state.

CAF Forced Female Footballer To Strip Naked

An Equatoguinean female footballer Genoveva Añonma has revealed that the Confederation of African Football, CAF, forced her to strip naked to prove she was a woman.
Genoveva Añonma who took part in the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, scoring only two goals in the tournament. Prior to the World Cup, Añonma and two other players from New Guinea had been accused of being male by opponents.

Genoveva Añonma had been accused of being male by opponents

Añonma rejected the allegations, however, it was not enough for African football authorities. According to the forward, she was forced take her clothes off in front of officials from CAF and her own team.

Buhari Berths In Osun

 All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and his campaign team made a stop at the State of Osun today.
The carnival like atmosphere at the Oshogbo stadium where the rally took place was a beehive of activities as the crowd that besieged the stadium were obviously more than the stadium’s capacity.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola while addressing the crowd said “Osun state has never betrayed the APC. We never will”.
See photos from the event below (Photos Courtesy Sahara Reporters, Nairaland and Twitter):

Director General of the Buhari/Osinbanjo campaign team; Rotimi Amaechi, Former Governor of Ekiti state, Kayoode Fayemi and General Buhari on a chopper enroute Oshogbo

Police Hunt Children As Philippines Wait For Pope

This picture of a starving 11-year-old led to protests against the centres – but nothing has changed

Manila officials at the Philippines are preparing for Pope Francis’ visit this week in the most disgusting way imaginable. They manhunt orphan children, chain them and put in cages!