swears

Sept. 13 (UPI) — Nepal’s former chief justice Sushila Karki was sworn in this week as the country’s first-ever female prime minister, amid continued social upheaval in the South Asian country.

The country has also called an election for March 5, which would come roughly halfway through the current political term.

Karki, 73, was hastily sworn in under heavy security as the country of almost 30 million people remains under strict military curfew following deadly protests earlier in the week that caused prime minister KP Sharma Oli to resign.

U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Dean Thompson was one of the few foreign officials present at the swearing in ceremony.

Oli, who served three terms as the country’s prime minister, had his house set on fire as part of the anti-corruption protests. The demonstrations were first sparked after the Nepalese government moved to block access to several social media apps.

Nepal’s military has moved most of the country’s serving politicians to an army barracks near the capital of Kathmandu.

The country’s current parliament was officially dissolved Friday evening.

The Communist Party of Nepal criticized the dissolution of parliament, saying it was in “serious disagreement” with the move, a sentiment echoed by the Nepal Bar Association.

Karki was chosen informally by the so-called “Gen-Z” protestors, who organized a vote on the messaging app Discord.

In 2016, she became the first woman to serve as chief justice in Nepal.

Nepal had yet to issue an official statement and the official website of the prime minister’s office could not be reached Saturday afternoon.

India’s government issued a formal statement, recognizing the new transitional government.

“We welcome the formation of a new Interim Government in Nepal, led by Right Honorable Mrs. Sushila Karki. We are hopeful that this would help in fostering peace and stability,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“As a close neighbor, a fellow democracy and a long term development partner, India will continue to work closely with Nepal for the well-being and prosperity of our two peoples and countries.”

A WOMAN has sparked fury after taking aim at a young family who “photobombed” her park proposal.

Sydney’s other half pulled out all the stops to pop the question to her in their local park, and had arranged a red runway on the grass lined with candles, with a huge heart display at the end.

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He then got down on one knee to ask Sydney to be his wife, but the magical moment was delayed slightly when a group stopped at the heart to take a selfie.

While the proposal then went ahead, and Sydney happily said yes, she decided to call out the “photobombers” in a scathing video on her TikTok page.

In a green screen clip of the proposal scene, she pointed to the three people who stopped by the heart, as she said: “If you are the family right there that’s walking up to my proposal heart as I’m about to get engaged…

“And you pick up your kid and you take a selfie and take your leisurely time doing so…

“And we’re just standing there waiting, waiting patiently for you to be done.”

Sydney then stuck both of her middle fingers up at the screen and mouthed “F**k you”.

“That is so rude!” she fumed.

“You didn’t even say anything when you like…” Sydney trailed off as she failed to conceal her anger.

“Had to pause the crying to almost cuss them out lol,” she added in the video caption.

Despite her fury over the situation, the comments section of the TikTok was immediately filled with people criticising Sydney for the video.

“First lesson in life, the world does not revolve around you,” one wrote.

“Let’s all remember we don’t own public spaces,” another insisted.

“A public park isn’t your studio,” a third pointed out.

“Well this groom is in for one hell of the rest of his life. Yikes!” someone else wrote sarcastically.

“Did they not see the signs that the world revolved around you?” another questioned.

“I totally would’ve assumed that the large display in the PUBLIC PARK was set up by the park for everyone – not just you,” someone else wrote.

“Trying to be the main character in a public space is WILD,” another scathed.

But there were also those who defended Sydney.

“It takes zero time to ask if something is for the public or private,” one argued.

“The level of entitlement some of y’all have by saying it’s a public space is ridiculous.

“They clearly had to have permission to set something like this up and clearly no one else is jumping in/on the staging area.”

“So shocked by these comments!!!” someone else wrote.

“It’s just common curtesy and just a few brain cells to see a red heart and roses and know someone is about to have one of the biggest moments of their life.

“Maybe not take a picture and just stay away from that area? people in these comments for real need to get a grip.”

COLE PALMER admitted “s*** happens” after scoring in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Liverpool.

The England star, 22, ended his 18-game goal drought with a stoppage time penalty against the newly-crowned champions.

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After the game, Palmer spoke to Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison.

During the interview, the attacker blasted his trolls, while pointing out his mental strength under adversity.

Palmer said: “We played very well as a team. They’re the champions for a reason, but I thought we showed desire, good fight and we hurt them at times.

“I felt normal [standing over the penalty]. S*** happens, I went three months without scoring but it gives me more fight to do well not just for myself, but for my team.

“Social media nowadays is full of idiots, so I don’t pay any attention to that.

“To score today, I’m happy, but I’ve got to keep improving and try to reach new levels.

“If you’re getting chances and not scoring… you’re letting your team down at the end of the day.

“I feel like I’m mentally strong anyway so whatever people say, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve had it all the time growing up.

“I feel pride in helping the team and if I’m not doing that, I’m not happy.

“Today, I felt like myself. I felt confident, I was trying things, first time passes, playing forward, playing free and when you have him [Moises Caicedo] next to you, it’s a dream.”

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

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The former general, who led a coup that ended Bongo family’s 55-year rule, swept elections last month after heading a transition government.

Brice Oligui Nguema, who led a coup in Gabon ending decades of Bongo family rule and swept the election last month with nearly 95 percent of the vote, has been sworn in as the country’s president.

The general and former military government leader, who toppled Ali Bongo in August 2023, officially took the presidential reins on Saturday after leading a 19-month transition government.

The inauguration at Angondje Stadium in the north of capital Libreville drew some 40,000 supporters and was attended by more than 20 African heads of state, including The Gambia’s Adama Barrow, Senegal’s Bassirou Diomaye Faye, Djibouti’s Ismail Omar Guelleh, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, the AFP news agency reported. The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi also attended.

Libreville’s streets were gridlocked as thousands converged on the venue, with artistic performances and a military parade planned along the Libreville waterfront in the evening, state media reported.

“All citizens of Greater Libreville are asked to extend a warm welcome to these distinguished guests,” the Ministry of Interior and Security said in a statement.

Oligui, 50, rose to power after deposing Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled Gabon for 55 years. The Bongo era was characterised by a tightly controlled patronage system that enriched elites while leaving most citizens excluded from Gabon’s oil-fuelled prosperity.

Oligui faces serious challenges in leading the oil-rich country, which needs to revamp crucial infrastructure and diversify its economy, but is heavily indebted.

A former head of the elite Republican Guard, Oligui has promised a departure from the dynastic politics of the past.

In his first international news interview since the election, Oligui told Al Jazeera he was determined to “restore dignity to the Gabonese people”.

“I will give back to the people what they have given me today. And everything that has been stolen from the people, I want to return to them,” he said.

Despite vast reserves of oil, gold, and manganese, and its role as a key part of the Congo Basin rainforest, the country struggles with widespread poverty.

According to the World Bank’s 2024 data (PDF), about 40 percent of young people are unemployed and roughly a third of the overall population lives below the poverty line.

During the transitional period, Oligui sought to portray himself as a reformer and “builder,” launching high-profile construction projects while pledging to tackle endemic corruption. His campaign slogan, “We Build Together”, was prominently displayed during rallies in the run-up to the election.

However, Oligui’s own record has drawn scrutiny. A 2020 investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project revealed that he allegedly owned properties in the United States worth more than $1m and had previously helped expand the Bongos’ overseas business ventures.

When questioned about these ties, Oligui said they were a “private affair”.

But early signs from the World Bank’s latest report indicate that Gabon’s economy grew by 2.9 percent in 2024, driven by increased output of oil, timber and manganese, as well as public infrastructure spending.

As Oligui begins his official term, investors and international observers are watching closely to see whether Gabon and its population of 2.2 million people can turn the page on decades of dynastic rule.

May 2 (UPI) — Harvey Weinstein‘s former production assistant cried and cursed on the witness stand Friday during a re-trial in New York City about allegations of sexual assault by the producer 19 years ago.

Miriam Haley, who worked on the TV show Project Runway, stormed out of the courtroom after grilling by Weinstein’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean, NBC News reported.

Haley, 48, was questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday about Weinstein, who is now 73.

During the fourth day of the new trial, Bonjean asked Haley what she was wearing the night she alleged Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on her on July 10, 2006.

She said the incident occurred at the producer’s home in SoHo and weeks later Weinstein sexually assaulted her in a Tribeca hotel room.

“He took my clothes off … I didn’t take my clothes off,” Haley, 48, testified about what happened in the apartment. “He was the one who raped me, not the other way.”

Jonjean responded: “That’s for the jury to decide.”

As she cried, Haley said: “Don’t tell me I wasn’t raped by that (two expletives).”

Judge Curtis Farber then allowed a 10-minute recess.

Upon her return, she again was asked what he was wearing and how they were removed.

“I did not remove my clothes,” she responded. “I was on my period … I did not remove my clothes.”

During the first trial in 2020, Haley testified against Weinstein.

In an earlier incident, testimony indicated Weinstein showed up uninvited at her East Village home after she declined his offer to attend Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. Haley said she later accepted his invitation to fly her to Los Angeles for the Clerks II film premiere, because she “felt it would’ve been weird not to go and at least say hi” at his apartment.

Haley is the first of three accusers expected to take the stand.

Weinstein was convicted but an appeals court last year overturned the conviction due to the court allowing testimony of alleged sexual assault by Weinstein against a woman not among his accusers.

The ex-movie producer also is appealing a 2022 rape conviction and 16-year prison sentence in Los Angeles.

Weinstein has denied allegations by her and others of sexual assault, and said they were “transactional” and “consensual.”

“He knew how addictive Hollywood dreams were,” Assistant District Attorney Shannon Lucey said during opening statements. “He knew how the promises of success worked.”

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to one count of engaging in a criminal sex act in New York. He is also charged with one count of third-degree rape in connection with an alleged assault in 2013 on actress Jessica Mann, who is expected to testify.

Also, he is facing a charge in connection with the alleged 2006 assault of a Polish former model named Kaja Sokola. She also is expected to testify.

Weinstein remains under guard at Bellevue Hospital in New York after a recent transfer from Rikers Island, where his lawyers claim the harsh conditions are affecting his health.