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The anti-terrorism conference was attended by more than 250 participants including presidents of national assemblies, representatives of African parliaments, youth NGOs and representatives from UN agencies
The president also stressed the importance of keeping the economy open after months of stifling movement restrictions.
He urged citizens not to drop their guard and continue adhering to the health rules, such as wearing face masks and respecting curfew times.
South Africa has recorded just over 800,000 coronavirus infections - more than a third of the cases reported across the African continent - and over 20,000 deaths.
AFP
[RFI] Africa faces some major challenges acquiring and deploying Covid-19 vaccinations across the continent, notably acquiring vaccines, as countries race to immunise their populations. Some fear that an insufficient vaccination programme could leave the continent isolated and cut off from the world.
South Africans can take advantage of heavily discounted airfares from Lufthansa for early 2021 - but you have to book now.
Some call it a plague. Yoav Motro calls it a war. The enemies are huge armies of desert locusts destroying farm and grazing lands across nine East African countries. In Ethiopia alone, the locusts have [...]
The Pan-Africanist Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo
The President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, is seeking a second term in the upcoming presidential election on Monday. Although often positively-viewed by many other Africans on the continent and abroad as a Pan-Africanist, his win is not guaranteed in his home country as he must succeed in convincing Ghanaians that he is still the same worthy candidate for whom the majority of the population voted four years prior. Early Days and Career Début
Born in 1944 in the capital, Accra to a family of the national political elite, Akufo-Addo saw his own father Edward Akufo-Addo become president in the late 1960s as a member of the \"Big Six\" i.e. the fathers of independence of the nation of Ghana. Educated in London, Akufo-Addo he worked as a lawyer in France and England — specialising in human rights before returning to Ghana where he eventually became involved with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 1992 when the country returned to democracy following decades of military rule.
His career path as a lawyer then as a member of parliament and minister garnered Akufo-Addo a strong anti-corruption reputation which resulted in high expectations for his presidency.
According to Kwesi Jonah, a researcher at the Ghana Institute for Democratic Governance, \"Everyone saw him as the one who would be able to put an end to corruption.\"
Accusations of mission obstruction by the special prosecutor — who resigned a month later, to oversee a corruption investigation initiative appointed by Akufo-Addo upon his election in December 2016, raised questions about the authenticity of his presidential brand amongst the Ghanian public.
Presidential Term Overview
Kwesi Jonah believes that the 76-year-old Ghanaian president was in a better position to win the election than he is today. President Akufo-Addo had promised to improve education accessibility- a sector which has seen success, and create job employment as a substantial percentage of Ghanian youth is without work.
An asset for the president, in a country where 18 to 35-year-olds represent more than half of the electorate.
He also pledged to diversify the Ghanian economy which has been dependent on primary resources (gold, cocoa and, more recently, oil), and to reduce taxes in the private sector to encourage investment.
Since his election in 2016, although President Akufo-Addo has managed to contain the increase in debt and inflation, more than half of voters believe that he has failed to improve their standard of living and create jobs — according to a survey conducted by Afrobarometer in 2019.
Economically, Ghana has taken a giant step forward in the last decade, but the country - just like most other countries, has been very much affected by the Covid-19 pandemic with its economic growth this year expected to fall to 1.5%, the lowest rate in 37 years.
Another Four Years as President?
Nevertheless, the President’s swift handling of the coronavirus crisis has been applauded both in Ghana and abroad. In particular, the
Nelson Mandela Bay Metro will face stricter lockdown measures as South Africa braces itself for a resurgence of new Covid-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced.
TURKEY giants Galatasaray have relaunched their bid to sign Warriors midfielder Marvelous Nakamba from Aston Villa, targeting to clinch a deal for the January transfer window. BY FORTUNE MBELE A Turkish publication claims that the giants have been encouraged in their pursuit by Nakamba’s quest for game time having been limited to two league appearances so far this season. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Trabzonspor expressed interest in Nakamba before the start of the season but it’s the William D’Avilla-coached side who have so far refused to give up despite having failed with an earlier attempt to sign the midfielder. Nakamba has started for Villa in the League Cup and his Premier League appearances have been from the bench. A Turkish publication, Dirilis Postası published an article indicating Galatasary are still interested in Nakamba and are proposing a loan deal while offering an annual salary of €850 000, which is half of what he earns in England. Villa would have to pay the difference. Galatasaray’s interest on Nakamba dates back to when he was still in Belgium playing for Club Brugge. The publications says: “After successfully playing in Club Brugge for two years, a Galatasaray claim was made for Nakamba, who took the road to Aston Villa for 12 million euros last season. “It was understood that the famous manager William D'Avilla, who had brought players such as Onyekuru, Ndiaye, Etebo and Garry Rodrigues to Galatasaray, will put an end to the transfer. It was emphasised that the 26-year-old Zimbabwean player, who played in only two matches this season in the Premier League, wanted to go to a team where he could find more game time, and the deal would be made on loan,” the publication states further. A deal with Galatasaray in the English summer transfer could not be concluded as Aston Villa decided to keep Nakamba in their squad for the current season but chances are the Warriors’ defensive linkman might make a move next month. Follow Fortune on Twitter @ fmbele
Christal Mims, Staff After the announcement of a statewide curfew, more restrictions are being imposed upon L.A. County after a staggering increase in coronavirus cases. The county is now under a “stay-at-home” order that bans all public and private outdoor and indoor gatherings of people from different households, with the exception of faith-based services and […]
Ghana is preparing for its third political showdown between Ghana's former president John Mahama and incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo on December 7 in what is expected to be a two-horse race.
Here is what we know about Mohama.
Mohama came to power in 2012 when his predecessor John Atta Mills died and he narrowly defeated his rival Akufo-Addo in an election a year later.
He is known for his skills in communicating but he has a mixed record.
The leader of the National Democratic Congress is known as an accomplished writer and man of the people.
But the 62-year old's tenure was overshadowed by a global commodities slump that squeezed revenues from gold, oil and cocoa exports.
During his tenure, there were also many electricity shortages leading to his nickname \"Mr Dumsor\", a Ghanian term used to describe power cuts.
Akufo-Addo accused Mahama's 2012 administration of corruption and mismanagement and beat him in the 2016 vote.
Mahama denied the accusations.
Campaign promises
But this time around, he has picked female running mate Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. She's a former education minister and the first woman to run for vice president for the party.
One of Mahama's key campaign is for a $10 billion infrastructure plan dubbed the ‘Big Push.’
And he has promised to expand a popular free school programme and health benefits
Background
Mohama is a Christian from the town of Bole, a town in the mainly Muslim north of Ghana.
Mahama studied in 1988 for a post-graduate degree in social psychology at the Institute of Social Sciences in Moscow.
He has also served as a minister of communication.
… , Fudge would be the first African American woman in the Cabinet post … . Scott will become the first African American to hold the position.
“Picking …
WHEN a fire gutted her house a few years ago, 36-year-old Tendai Chamboko was badly injured. BY FIDELITY MHLANGA She lost her sight in the inferno. However, she had no insurance cover to help her cope with the huge costs that come with injuries of this nature. Chamboko’s predicament was compounded by the fact that Zimbabwe has no disability insurance schemes, except a fund that is administered by the National Social Security Authority, which caters for injured workers. Chamboko, who has never been formally employed, soon found herself in a quagmire. “The fire accident made me aware of the importance of insurance,” she told Weekly Digest. “We lost everything and I was left disabled. I lack access to information, especially in braill language, which is compatible with my condition.” Chamboko’s problem is experienced by many people living with disabilities (PWDs), who struggle to access specialised insurance cover to take care of their needs in time of poor health. But, it does not end with PWDs. The Insurance and Pensions Commission of Zimbabwe (IPEC) says generally, medical insurance coverage is extremely low. This means the majority of people are confronted by frightening experiences once they get ill because they cannot access appropriate healthcare, which is expensive in Zimbabwe. Over 70% of working age people are jobless. Those who are still in formal jobs are not paid enough to afford medical cover. “I think the fact that our coverage ratio is only 10% means that medical cover is not working for the majority of Zimbabwe,” says Grace Muradzikwa, IPEC commissioner. “If it was working our coverage and penetration ratio would be higher than the 10%. My observation is that most of the people who are covered are actually those employed in the formal sector. If you are a non-standard worker you cannot afford medical aid so I think this is probably the time we need to look at some kind of national health insurance. I think the need is there,” she says. The IPEC chief said she was worried that vulnerable groups like pensioners could not afford medical cover. “You are covered for the 30 years that you are working because your employer is paying. The day you leave your employment you cannot afford medical aid anymore. In fact, I think that your pension benefit is less than the cost of medical contribution so from day one when you are a pensioner you cannot be covered by medical aid,” she says. It is a bigger crisis. Many PWDs have bemoaned a plethora of challenges that hinder them from accessing insurance products and services. They say exclusion from such a key service turns them into second-class citizens. In Zimbabwe there is life assurance, pension and funeral assurance. Life assurance guarantees a normal life after retirement. Funeral assurance helps people prepare for a decent burial whereas a pension is a fund into which a sum of money is accumulated during the time an employee is in employment to support them on retirement. The products are vital in the event of death, disability, serious illness and other situatio
… his scenes of almost-everyday African-American life. The display came to … , 3,000-quilt cache of African-American quilts that if handled properly …
The Western Cape, home to one of the worst COVID-19 hot-spots in the country, has not been hit by any additional restrictions. So what spared the Garden Route?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden said Thursday that he will ask Americans to commit to 100 days of wearing masks as one of his first acts as president, stopping just short of the nationwide mandate he's pushed before to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The move marks a notable shift from President Donald Trump, […]
The suspense is over, the much talked about ‘Kings of Joburg’ series premieres on Netflix on 4 December 2020. Here's what you need to know.
President-elect Joe Biden is adjusting the scope of his agenda to meet the challenges of governing with a narrowly divided Congress and... View Article
The post Biden adjusting agenda to reflect narrow divide in Congress appeared first on TheGrio.
By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are ticking higher and heading back toward record highs on Friday, despite discouraging data detailing how much damage the deepening pandemic is doing to the job market. The much weaker-than-expected jobs report may perversely have been bad enough to help kick Congress out of its paralysis and deliver more support for the economy. Hopes also remain deeply rooted on Wall Street that one or more coronavirus vaccines are coming to rescue the global economy next year. The S&P 500 was 0.6% higher in morning trading, putting it on […]
The post Wall Street heads back toward highs despite dour jobs report appeared first on Black News Channel.
[Daily News] PRESIDENT John Magufuli has again shelved Independence Day celebrations and directed the allocated fund be spent on medical equipment for Uhuru Hospital in Dodoma Region.
Milwaukee – The Milwaukee Health Department is revising the current public health order, modifying the capacity rules for restaurants and bars and requiring more stringent protocols for participation in team sports. The COVID-19 Public Health Plan for the City of Milwaukee, Order #4.3, will take effect on December 3, 2020. In a change from past […]
The post COVID-19 Trends Prompt Milwaukee Health Department to Modify Current Public Health Order appeared first on Milwaukee Community Journal.
[Premium Times] \"Pregnancy is not a disease. It should not lead to deaths. Every maternal death should be regarded as an abnormality.\"
By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — After four years of President Donald Trump serving as his own chief spokesperson and frequently peddling false information and conspiracy theories in the process, successor Joe Biden is pledging to return to a more traditional approach to communicating with Americans. Much of that work will fall to Jen Psaki, Biden's pick for White House press secretary. She's a veteran communications staffer who has worked on many top Democratic campaigns and held leading roles under President Barack Obama, including deputy press secretary and White House communications director, as well as spokesperson for the […]
The post Psaki, next White House press secretary, a veteran messenger appeared first on Black News Channel.
A retired French surgeon has been sentenced to 15 years in jail at the end of his closed-doors trial for the rape and sexual abuse of four children in the first part of France's biggest ever paedophilia case.
Joel Le Scouarnec, 70, remained impassive as the verdict was read out on Thursday at the court in Saintes, western France, keeping his arms crossed without a glance at his victims, who embraced each other, overcome with emotion.
Le Scouarnec, who could have faced 20 years behind bars after being found guilty on all charges, will also be subject to a three-year supervision order at the end of his sentence. He has 10 days to appeal.
Judge Isabelle Fachaux said that despite a 2005 conviction for viewing child pornography, Le Scouarnec had continued to offend, making a lengthy jail term necessary.
\"We are really satisfied... it's a fair sentence,\" said Francesca Satta, the lawyer for one of the victims, who had reported Le Scouarnec in 2017.
In his final words to the court, Le Scouarnec said he did not expect leniency, according to lawyers present at the trial, which was held behind closed doors at the victims' request.
\"I do not ask for forgiveness or compassion... only the right to become a better man again,\" he was quoted as saying.
\"He explained that he had a lot of regrets... without necessarily asking for an apology. He knows that what he did is unforgivable,\" his lawyer Thibaut Kurzawa said.
The once-respected doctor and father of three sons now faces a possible second trial involving hundreds of cases of sexual assault or rape.
Le Scouarnec was charged in 2017 after testimony from one of his victims, his neighbour's six-year-old daughter.
The investigation quickly uncovered three others -- two of his nieces, raped between 1989 and 1999, and a hospital patient who was only four in 1993.
Prosecutors say searches of Le Scouarnec's home uncovered archives detailing sexual assaults or rapes of as many as 312 victims, both adults and children, starting in 1986 while he worked at hospitals in central and western France.
Police found more than 300,000 indecent images of minors, including pictures of his two nieces.
Le Scouarnec admitted assaulting the four children but initially denied the rape charges.
During the trial, which started on Monday, Le Scouarnec admitted having raped his nieces, now aged 35 and 30. His admission \"did them a lot of good\", according to their lawyer Delphine Driguez.
© 2020 AFP
ANKILIMAROVAHATSY, Madagascar (AP) — “It’s the hunger that killed him,” the grieving mother said. In this village in Madagascar’s extreme south, the 31-year-old Lasinatry lost her 3-year-old boy in June as hunger swept the region, more severe than in recent years. “We, the parents, have nothing to feed our children aside from tamarind and the cactus that we find around us,” she said. On a visit this week, The Associated Press spoke with suffering families who are among the 1.5 million people in need of emergency food assistance, according to the U.N. World Food Program. It’s a consequence of three straight years of drought, along with historic neglect by the government of the remote region as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Mothers are now trying to feed their children with unripe mangoes, and with tamarind mixed with clay. Many children have the spindly legs, reddish hair and pot bellies of malnourishment. Tired, they rest under trees and no longer play. After reports emerged of at least eight children dying, the president of this Indian Ocean island nation, Andry Rajoelina, visited the region and vowed to “win the war against malnutrition.” Some food has been distributed, but the WFP said it’s not enough and residents said the handouts last just a few days. The WFP said it has enough supplies to help just a half-million people through the end of this year Southern Madagascar is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster, the U.N. agency said, and three out of four children in the Amboasary district at the epicenter of the crisis have left school to help their parents find food. Farmers said they can no longer cultivate because of lack of rain, and they have given up cattle farming because of theft. Some villagers said they have sold their most basic possessions — cooking pots, clothes, school notebooks — for food. Some people now cut down trees to make charcoal, acknowledging that worsens the drought but saying they have no choice if they want to survive. One mother, Toharano, said four of her 14 children died in June and July. “Who can support not eating in the morning, midday and night?” she asked, exhausted by hunger and the heat. “The children wake in the night, hungry.” The names of the dead are kept in a notebook held by the village leader, Refanampy. “We’re used to famine, but this time it’s just too much,” he said. “Before this, we didn’t have people dying (of hunger) in our village.” The river Mandrare, which traverses the region, is now dry. Ten-year-old Masy Toasy walked in the direction of men who dug into the sand in search of water. “It’s here that we tried to grow sweet potatoes, but they’re all dead,” the girl said. On the other side of the river is her school, but she said her parents have sold her notebooks to buy a little rice. “Residents have no more resources to allow them to face this crisis,” said Theodore Mbainaissem with WFP, who said the extent of the hunger caught humanitarians and authorities by surprise. And with COVID-19 and restrictions imposed to slow its spread, residents of this hungry
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Dec 4, CMC – Caribbean countries were on Friday reporting increased cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) while reiterating the need for their nationals to follow the various measures and protocols aimed at curbing the...
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — America's employers sharply scaled back their hiring last month as the viral pandemic accelerated across the country, adding 245,000 jobs, the fewest since April and the fifth straight monthly slowdown. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell to a still-high 6.7%, from 6.9% in October as many people stopped looking for work and were no longer counted as unemployed, the Labor Department said. November's job gain was down from 610,000 in October. Friday's report of another hiring slowdown provided the latest evidence that the job market and the economy are […]
The post US hiring slows sharply to 245,000 jobs as virus intensifies appeared first on Black News Channel.
By Associated Press Undefined NEW YORK (AP) — The rapper Casanova has surrendered to law enforcement following his indictment in a gang-related federal racketeering case, authorities said Thursday. The New York City rapper, whose legal name is Caswell Senior, was charged in an indictment unsealed against 18 members of the Untouchable Gorilla Stone Nation gang, which authorities say operated in New York City and other parts of New York state. The gang is charged with a litany of crimes, including the killing in September of a 15-year-old in Poughkeepsie and defrauding programs meant for people suffering economic hardship because of […]
The post Rapper Casanova surrenders in federal racketeering case appeared first on Black News Channel.
A TREATMENT and support centre for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) has been launched in Bindura First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has called for a multi-sectoral response in the fight against GBV. BY PHYLLIS MBANJE Speaking during the launch of the treatment and support centre, Mnangagwa acknowledged that individual efforts would not yield much in the face of the rising social scourge. “Gender-based violence requires multi-sectoral stakeholders to respond with various services that complete the package for essential services,” the First Lady said, adding that GBV requires specialised services. Also known as a “one-stop centre” where services will be provided under one roof, the centre is located at Bindura General Hospital and was conveniently launched to coincide with the commemoration of 16 Days of Activism Against GBV. United Nations Population Fund Zimbabwe country representative, Esther Muia said violence against women and girls had increased since the beginning of March with the COVID-19 crisis creating a “shadow pandemic” of GBV. “As we are officially opening this one-stop centre, we are grateful to the European Union’s Spotlight Initiative for allowing us to expand access to services for survivors at our time of greatest need as a country,” she said. GBV remains a huge problem in the country with at least one in every three women aged 15 and 49 having experienced physical violence since the age of 15 while 27% of women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. The European Union ambassador to Zimbabwe Timo Olkkonen said: “One-stop centres are essential assets in the fight against GBV because they ensure that survivors have access to all the necessary services in one location, provided by appropriately trained and sensitive personnel.” Olkonnen called on the government and other stakeholders to dedicate more resources to tackling this scourge. Women Affairs minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the one-stop centre model was one of the promising models for GBV response which had been implemented since 2009. The theme for this year’s commemorations of the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV is: End Gender Based Violence: Fund, Respond, Prevent and Collect.
