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By Jonathan Landrum Jr. and Jennifer Peltz NEW YORK (AP) — DMX’s legacy was immortalized as a man beloved by his family, honored for his strong faith and respected as one of hip-hop’s greatest icons at his memorial service Saturday, with several heartfelt speeches from those who knew the rapper best. The speakers included friends […]
\t While no one claimed responsibility for the attack, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif pointed the finger at Israel, calling the killing an act of ``\"state terror.''
\t ``Terrorists murdered an eminent Iranian scientist today. This cowardice _ with serious indications of Israeli role _ shows desperate warmongering of perpetrators,'' Zarif wrote on Twitter.
[New Times] Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente is expected to appear in Parliament next week on Tuesday, December 1, where he will update members of both chambers on the national status of education and the way forward.
By Patrick Forrest Community Hospital is one of five healthcare facilities in Indiana to receive the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine next month, according to Indiana State Department of Health officials. The announcement comes as the nation and Northwest Indiana prepare for a Thanksgiving likely to be unlike any other, with the Centers for […]
[Thomson Reuters Foundation] Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines could be rolled out early next year. We asked experts to explain the key differences, and which could be the first to reach low-income countries
WELLINGTON, (Reuters) - The Pakistan cricket team’s behaviour in their bio-secure facility in Christchurch had “significantly improved”, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said yesterday, just 24 hours after the tourists had been warned about breaching COVID-19 protocols.
The article Pakistan’s isolation behaviour ‘significantly improved’: NZ govt appeared first on Stabroek News.
[Govt of SA] A3 + 1 Joint Statement delivered by Ambassador Jerry Matjila of the Permanent Mission of South Africa, to the United Nations, during the Security Council briefing on the situation in Somalia, 23 November 2020
WAXAHACHIE, Texas (AP) — A Black official in north Texas is getting a private office after speaking out about being moved to a shared work space that was near a “Negroes” sign leftover from the segregation era. Earlier this month, Ellis County Constable Curtis Polk Jr., 42, was given an office space with two sheriff […]
In a perfect world, it takes two to tango. But what if dancing is illegal? In the USSR, some popular dance styles of the time, such as the
Opinion - South Africa has good TB policies, an impressive achievement that comes through in Step Up for TB 2020, a report released this week by Stop TB Partnership and Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which assesses TB policy in 37 high TB-burden countries.
Germany cases top millionGermany yesterday saw more than 22,000 new daily cases, pushing the country's total beyond the one-million mark.More than 60.9 million people have been infected by COVID-19 around the world, and 1.4 million have died, according to an AFP tally from official sources compiled yesterday.
With COVID-19 upending lives, immigrants are once again forming new versions of themselves and their communities out of necessity. In many ways, immigrants say these approaches and mindset changes will likely endure long after the pandemic.
THE 2021 budget presented by the finance minister Mthuli Ncube to Parliament shows that the minister was living in a ‘fantasy world,’ according to academic, Professor Austin Chakaodza. “Some of the major challenges facing our society are issues of poverty and unemployment. Ninety percent of the people of Zimbabwe were already unemployed before the eruption of COVID-19. The majority of the people continue to lack certain basic capabilities which are encapsulated in the socio - economic rights guaranteed in the constitution,” he said. “They continue to be deprived of basic capabilities - such as the capability to be free from hunger, to live in good health, to be literate and access to a social security safety net. This budget does not fulfil a number of human rights such as the right to food, health, education and training,” Chakaodza said. A big part of Mthuli 2021 budget is a range of new tax measures to fund the ambitious $421,6 billion budget. The highlight of this plan is how the taxman plans to go after the informal sector, which is the bulk of the economy but pays little tax. From new and higher taxes to a new tax unit targeting SMEs, it is a budget that gives away very little, but takes a lot. Here is how some of Mthuli’s measures will affect you. If you are a low-income earner There is not much tax relief for you. The tax-free threshold has only been raised slightly from $5 000 per month to $10 000 per month. Tax bands will begin at $10 001 and end at $250 000 per month. This does little for the poorest workers. For perspective; in October, a Zimbabwean family of five needed $18 750 just to stay above the poverty line. If you earn more than $250 000, you pay the highest marginal tax rate of 40%. If you are expecting a bonus, the bonus tax-free threshold has gone up from $5 000 to $25 000, with effect from 1 November 2020. If you were tired of the 2% tax, sorry The 2% tax on mobile money and other electronic transfers stays. The tax has been unpopular since it came in 2018, but Mthuli says it has “generated substantial resources that have enabled Government to support various infrastructure projects”, including the COVID-19 response. So, the Minister isn’t giving much of this cash-cow away. You will no longer pay the 2% for transactions of up to $500, which is just a small increase from the current $300. For forex transactions, this tax will apply above US$5. The maximum of this tax that your business can pay has been raised from $25 000 to $800 000 on transactions with values exceeding $40 million, with effect from 1 January 2021. If you were planning to import a car Government will now control the importation of cars that are 10 years or older. Owning a car has just slid further from the reach of the majority, who cannot afford new vehicles. According to Mthuli, Zimbabwe has spent around US$1,3 billion importing buses and used cars over the past five years. Cars older than 10 years are now off the Open General Import Licence. This means that, from 2021, you will need a special import licence for older cars.
In Detroit, over half of the city’s renters are “cost burdened,” paying over 30 percent of their income on rent, according to a city. There is a noticeable lack of housing for extremely low-income families which is alarming because a third of the population lives below the poverty line. Also, with Detroit’s unemployment rate … Continued
The post Detroit Housing Leaders Share Actions to Help with Affordable Housing Shortage appeared first on The Michigan Chronicle.
[Zimbabwe Independent] FINALLY, he rests, the greatest of all time. Diego Armando Maradona passed on on Wednesday at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack in his native Argentina, just a couple of weeks after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. Eventually, it was his heart that collapsed and gave way after a high octane, passion-filled 60 years lived on the edge. The Argentine maestro led a colourful life, eventful both on and off the pitch -- astonishing fans with his breath-taking style and infuria
Augusta, GA (WJBF)- It’s been nearly a week since former Augusta mayor Willie Mays died. Today family, friends and his community came out to remember him. Willie Mays was a beloved leader of Augusta. He spent more than 30 years in public service in Augusta-Richmond County and was well known for his compassion as owner […]
T HE long awaited 2021 National Budget has finally come out and in keeping up with tradition, government has again offered no solutions to the struggling, jobless and starving masses across the country. In fact, they piled on more austerity despite the fact most people are already stumbling in trying to reach the cost of living of nearly $20 000 for a family of five. What is this austerity? First, government has increased presumptive taxes which target informal sector players at a time when 60% of economic activity occurs in that space. And this is important to note as millions of Zimbabweans are using that sector to earn most of their incomes. The groups to be affected by these presumptive taxes include transport operators, hairdressers, informal traders, cross-border traders, restaurants operators and bottle stores, and the cottage industry. Hairdressers, for example, will pay monthly presumptive taxes of $2 500, restaurants and bottle stores $10 000, with the cottage industry paying a similar amount. Cottage industry refers to home owners who run businesses from their homes. Informal traders that rent fixed government spaces will now be required to pay US$30 or its Zimdollar equivalent on a monthly basis. Government has also increased presumptive taxes on self-employed professionals. For example, medical personnel, engineers and legal self-employed professionals will pay $500 000 each in monthly presumptive taxes. Architects and realtors will pay $250 000 and $1 million, respectively. Treasury has also ordered government ministries and departments to increase fees, charges and levies starting January 1, 2021. Treasury has also increased the Petroleum Importers Levy to USD$0.05 for both petrol and diesel which will affect smaller fuel providers as well as increase excise duty on diesel by 5 US cents. The immediate effect will be an increase in fuel which on its own leads to increases in prices of goods and services. And if informal traders are thinking they can dodge these taxes, the Treasury has instructed the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority to establish a ‘specialised unit’ that focuses on MSMEs during the first quarter of 2021. The focus of this unit will be on the sector’s contributions to fiscal revenues and make sure it’s commensurate with the level of economic activity. Now, taxes should be paid and even the Bible gives that instruction, but how much should that be given massive unemployment, job losses and income erosion from a depreciating Zimdollar? In its defence, the government is touting the raised the tax-free threshold to $10 000. However, the official cost of living is $20 000 with very few, outside of domestic workers, earning less than that amount. What this means is that the tax-free threshold is essentially moot for the 2,9 million in the formal and informal workforce. Government has also announced that those renting government housing units will now only be allowed to stay at these premises for a period not exceeding two years. As such, current tenants who have exceeded the 24 months, will thus, be
… make history: the first African-American to be picked as … of and respect for the African-American community” (AFP/ … of and respect for the African-American community” — and comes … as the first recognised African-American priest, Augustus Tolton, is …
Dear Editor,
I regret that Diego Maradona fabled son of Argentina is no longer of terra firma.
The article Diego, a conflicted genius appeared first on Stabroek News.
… will formally become the first Black American to become a cardinal this … left and the rest were African American students."
Gregory's …
Being selected as one of four national champions in the 2020 NCB Foundation Scholarships and Grants Programme came as a shock to 20-year-old Saskia Allen but certainly a welcome reprieve from what has been a difficult few years. In December 2018,...
I RECENTLY had an interesting talk with a friend of mine about the amount of lies that are told in romantic relationships — lies about children out of wedlock, lies about affairs and people’s whereabouts in order to hide their rendez-vous, lies about money … the list could continue endlessly. The question to ask is why do people feel the need to lie. The obvious answer is that they are afraid of the repercussions of the truth. Oh, people can hide it with various justifications. “I want to protect my children. I want to protect my spouse. I don’t want to embarrass my family…” I still believe that at the root of it is fear of what would happen if the truth came out. Without a secure identity, the temptation is to live a lie which you feel will portray you in the best light. Ashley Thaba Darkness and intentional deception become the default choice. In the wake of choosing to live in the shadows of deception, I feel it must weigh heavily on the person’s heart. Pretending gets taxing after a while when you so deeply want to take the mask off and just be seen for who you are, but you are so scared to do so. Deep down, they know what they are doing is wrong and they can’t tell. Every act of love is questioned because the person must ask “Would they still love me if they knew the secret I was hiding?” In the case of a child being raised without knowing the true identity of their father for fear of exposing an illicit affair, the mother must feel guilt wondering if she is making the right choice by covering up what she now sees as an irresponsible choice. What does the Bible say about this? John 8:32 says that the Truth shall set you free. 1 John 1 lets us know that if any of us claim to be without sin, we lie and the truth is not in us. It goes on to say that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins. Galatians 5:1 tells us it is for freedom that Christ died for us. John 3 assures us Jesus didn’t come to condemn us but to save us. Romans 5:8 reaffirms this truth when it says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Here are the key points I want you to hear. God knows you are not perfect! He loves you anyway! And the number one gift He wants to give you — freedom. Freedom to walk in light. Freedom to leave the deeds that later make you ashamed. Freedom to speak truthfully and live a life you are proud of. Freedom to be loved and freedom to love others. You don’t need to pretend any longer. A saviour awaits to walk you through to a life of peace and acceptance if you will just boldly and bravely take that step out of darkness and into the light. Romans 8:1 promises there is no condemnation in Christ! I can’t guarantee your spouse will forgive you, but I can promise 100% if you courageously own your mistake and come into the light to confess it and repent of it that your Heavenly Father is faithful and just to forgive your sin. You have two choices. You can continue to live a lie and live under the guilt of dishonesty or you can come clean. The spouse might leave you if you come clean, bu
It is a battle that started off during school days and tomorrow, it culminates in a historic moment in France.Warriors stars Tino Kadewere of Olympic Lyon and Marshall Munetsi at Stade de Reims come head-to-head as their respective clubs clash in a league match tomorrow. BY TERRY MADYAUTA Their confrontation has taken centre stage in France, with Kadewere who, is in top form, having scored five goals in his last five matches for his club, being the talk of the town. It should be a memorable moment for the Zimbabwean duo who become the first to play each other on different sides in the French elite league. Both players have plausibly established themselves well at their respective clubs. Munetsi, who moved to Reims from Orlando Pirates last year, has managed to command a regular place in the team, with his physic and agility helping him become a vital cog in Reims midfield. Kadewere, on the other hand, joined Lyon in January from Ligue 2 side Le Havre, where he had a trailblazing stint, winning the golden boot last season. What makes this battle interesting is the fact that these two players are renewing their rivalry at a grand stage, having previously clashed in high school football. Munetsi played for Mabvuku High School, while Kadewere was in the Prince Edward set-up. However, the spotlight is thrust on Kadewere, who has been the man of the moment for Lyon, having scored four goals in the clubs last five matches. Munetsi, though has not scored for Reims, but is fancying this clash against his high school adversary. “For our country, it is historic because it has never happened before in France. The only time something like this happened was in England when Peter Ndlovu and Bruce Grobbelaar played against each other, so for me and him to be able to make history for our country in the French League is important,” Munetsi said of his clash with Kadewere. Munetsi recalled how Kadewere was a pain in the flesh for his former school. However, he is hoping to stop him from repeating the same when the meet tomorrow. “He was playing for Prince Edward and that time, I was playing for Mabvuku High, so Tino was always a top player. He was dangerous. When we played them, I remember our coach telling me that I must do my best to stop Tino because I was the team captain. “He believed that if we manage to stop Tino, then we could win the match. Unfortunately, the first time we met, he scored a penalty and we lost 1-0,” Munetsi recalled. Kadewere is looking to maintain his sterling form for Lyon. The impressive forward delivered a kind message to his compatriot ahead of their clash. “My friend, I know it is going to be a tough game for both teams, but I know you work hard and I want you to do well in the game. I will do my best also and may the best team win. I want you to keep working hard because you are a good player. We meet on Sunday,” Kadewere said. The odds are heavily staked in favour of Lyon, who remain unbeaten after eight rounds of matches and Kadewere will be hoping to continue with his rich vein of form against Stade R
Janet Yellen will likely be the US’s first female treasury secretary – but as Covid shutdowns loom, she will have to win Republican votes for any major initiatives
The Patterson Family Foundation has stepped in to assist young learners of a small Hanover community by donating 30 tablets to students of the Church Hill Primary School. This private family philanthropy project is headed by former Prime Minister,...
By Elaine Hegwood Bowen, M.S.J. Featuring the Jo Ann Daugherty Trio Filmed in front of a small audience at Roosevelt University's stunning Ganz Hall, this intimate 60-minute virtual performance features married couple Soprano Burke and Tenor Dixon performing their favorite Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs, spirituals, and holiday standards. The Auditorium Theatre announces a virtual Holiday […]
ZIMBABWE’S health budget allocation has been dismissed as grossly inadequate to tackle the myriad of challenges besetting the sector.Finance minister Mthuli Ncube allocated the health sector $54,7 billion, constituting 13% of his $429 billion budget in the 2021 National Budget presented in Parliament on Thursday. BY Phyllis Mbanje Although health was allocated the biggest vote, stakeholders have said the amount was inadequate to clean up the mess in the sector. Most public health facilities are operating on shoe-string budgets with barely meet the minimum tools required to give quality healthcare. Commenting on the budget allocation the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (Zina) president Enock Dongo said the 13% fell short of the situation on the ground. “They should have tried for 15% as agreed by the Abuja Declaration. We appended our signature to this and must honour it,” Dongo said. In April 2001, the African Union member States met and pledged to set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budget towards health. Dongo said the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has also made the health delivery system worse and this required substantial funding to address the challenges. “Unless there is going to be a separate budget for COVID-19,” he said. He said another concerning issue was the actual release of the funds. Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Itai Rusike said the budget allocation to the health sector is below the level required for the delivery of quality health services. He questioned if the allocation had increased in real terms if compared to other years. Many Zimbabweans are failing to access health services due to regular increases in essential drug costs and hospital costs. Citizens Health Watch (CHW) said while they welcomed the increase in health allocation, but was however concerned with the unsubstantiated claims regarding reforms in the sector as foundation for the budgeting. “A clear audit of the claims should be made. The renovations being celebrated are of little value without personnel and medicines in the respective facilities,” said Fungisayi Dube, from CHW. “We welcome the increased budget on refurbishment and procurement but measures should be put in place that resources are utilised accordingly as the health sector has been embroiled in corruption scandals.” Meanwhile, teachers have slammed Ncube’s budget, describing it as “high sounding nothing with no educational traction”. Ncube allocated $55 billion to the Primary and Secondary Education, which translates to 12,8% of the budget. Teachers said the allocation fell short of the 22% agreed under the Dakar Framework. “Against the Dakar Framework that calls for a budget of primary and secondary education above 22% of the national budget, Minister Ncube has only allocated $55,221 of $429,341 billion, which is only 12,8%,” Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Takavafira Zhou said. “Fundamentally, minister’s budget is still rooted in austerity for prosperity of the elites, which austerity would continue to
[Malaria Consortium] Today's announcement by the UK Government to reduce the proportion of Gross National Income spent on overseas aid from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent will reverse huge gains made in recent years towards meeting global health goals. Reducing the UK government's aid commitment to 0.5 percent, equivalent to a £4.34 billion reduction[1], will have a profoundly damaging impact on vulnerable populations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) globally.
