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Ethiopia’s month-long war in its northern Tigray region has severely hampered efforts to fight one of Africa’s worst coronavirus outbreaks,... View Article
The post Ethiopia’s conflict stokes humanitarian and virus crisis: 'I think the war is worse' appeared first on TheGrio.
He replaces Debretsion Gebremichael, whose immunity from prosecution was removed Thursday.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said Thursday that scores of civilians were killed in a \"massacre\" in the Tigray region, that witnesses blamed on forces backing the local ruling party.
The \"massacre\" is the first reported incident of large-scale civilian fatalities in a week-old conflict between the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, winner of last year's Nobel Peace Prize.
\"Amnesty International can today confirm... that scores, and likely hundreds, of people were stabbed or hacked to death in Mai-Kadra (May Cadera) town in the southwest of Ethiopia's Tigray Region on the night of 9 November,\" the rights group said in a report.
Amnesty said it had \"digitally verified gruesome photographs and videos of bodies strewn across the town or being carried away on stretchers.\"
The dead \"had gaping wounds that appear to have been inflicted by sharp weapons such as knives and machetes,\" Amnesty said, citing witness accounts.
Witnesses said the attack was carried out by TPLF-aligned forces after a defeat at the hands of the Ethiopian military, though Amnesty said it \"has not been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings\".
It nonetheless called on TPLF commanders and officials to \"make clear to their forces and their supporters that deliberate attacks on civilians are absolutely prohibited and constitute war crimes\".
Abiy ordered military operations in Tigray on November 4, saying they were prompted by a TPLF attack on federal military camps -- a claim the party denies.
The region has been under a communications blackout ever since, making it difficult to verify competing claims on the ground.
Abiy said Thursday his army had made major gains in western Tigray.
Thousands of Ethiopians have fled across the border into neighboring Sudan, and the UN is sounding the alarm about a humanitarian crisis in Tigray.
It is critical to the success of the study to have Black participants involved to ensure the effectiveness and relevance of the vaccine to our community.
Source
Singer/songwriter Victoria Monét has announced on Instagram that she's expecting her first child. Monét, 27, shared gorgeous photos of herself... View Article
The post Singer Victoria Monét announces her pregnancy on Instagram appeared first on TheGrio.
[FEEEDS] Washington, DC -- President-elect Biden's nomination of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield sends a strong message that the incoming administration is serious about re-engaging the world not only with strong policy leadership and national security skills, but also ensuring that America acts in line with its core values when working with our partners.
US President Donald Trump has ordered the removal of American soldiers from Somalia by early 2021.
According to the Pentagon, nearly 700 US soldiers are currently deployed in Somalia. Their responsibility include conducting training with local forces — comprised of the elite Danab special forces — and assisting them in their fight against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab militant group in counterterrorism missions.
The Pentagon statement on Friday added that the US is not \"withdrawing\" or \"disengaging\" from Africa and that some forces could be reassigned outside of East Africa.
It said it the US will instead \"retain the capability to conduct targeted counterterrorism operations in Somalia, and collect early warnings and indicators regarding threats to the homeland.\"
Trump had recently ordered similar troop withdrawals from Germany, Afghanistan and Iraq.
The troop cut from Somalia is the latest in a planned global pullback of US personnel before Trump leaves office in January.
By LUIS ANDRES HENAO Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A historic church in lower Manhattan that houses New York's Liberty Bell and whose congregation dates to the city's earliest days was gutted by a massive fire early Saturday that sent flames shooting through the roof. The Middle Collegiate Church in the East Village burned before dawn after a fire spread from a five-story vacant building adjacent to the church around 5 a.m. Flames shot from the roof and the church's stately front window glowed from the conflagration inside. 'We are devastated. We are gutted like our building is gutted; […]
The post Predawn fire guts old church housing New York's Liberty Bell appeared first on Black News Channel.
Richard Muponde TSHOLOTSHO youthful businessman, Owen Sibanda has been cleared to contest in the Tsholotsho district co-ordinating committee (DCC) elections to be held today. Sibanda is contesting for the Tsholotsho DCC chairperson position. He was earlier disqualified by Zanu PF on allegations of flouting party regulations governing the holding of DCC elections. Sibanda was cleared of the allegations by Matabeleland North provincial co-ordinating committee at a PCC meeting held a fortnight ago at the party’s Lupane offices. The PCC meeting was also attended by politburo members Angeline Masuku and principal of Chitepo School of Ideology Munyaradzi Machacha. The businessman confirmed that he was cleared to contest in the DCC elections and vowed to win. Sibanda claimed that he has the support of the district. “Since I returned from South Africa after heeding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for diasporans to come back home and invest, I have never stopped working for the party and the country,” Sibanda said. “I have invested millions of United States dollars in setting up business projects in my district which have created employment for our people. “This is one of the reasons why party cadres asked me to stand in the DCC elections. I am confident of winning the post for the betterment of my party and the district. I have the people’s support from the grassroots.” He said he was unmoved by the mudslinging which characterized the nominations process leading to his disqualification until his reinstatement after Tsholotsho district stood by him. “That shows that the party has democracy. Every person is free to say out what they want, but we should do so without dividing the people and the party. I have since been cleared by the provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) to stand as a DCC chairperson candidate for Tsholotsho. “The task ahead of me is to see that we unite the party so that we would have a resounding victory in 2023. This is not the time for mudslinging or sideshows, but to focus on building the part,” he said. The ruling party disbanded the DCCs in 2012 at the height of factional wars in Zanu PF accusing them of fanning factionalism.
[New Times] President Kagame will this weekend (December 5, 6) be attending and participating in the 13th and 14th Extraordinary Sessions of the Assembly of the African Union (AU).
By MICHAEL BALSAMO WASHINGTON (AP) — Disputing President Donald Trump’s persistent, baseless claims, Attorney General William Barr declared Tuesday the U.S. Justice Department has uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome of the 2020 election. Barr’s comments, in an interview with the The Associated Press, contradict the concerted effort by […]
In the first phase of COVID-19 vaccinations, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says healthcare workers and others at the highest risk will get priority.
By NQOBANI NDLOVU ICT minister Jenfan Muswere yesterday called on the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Potraz) to promote innovation and prioritize research if the country is to keep abreast with ICT technological advancements. Muswere made the remarks during the official launch of the 2020 Hackathon held in Bulawayo where he indicated that the event dovetailed into the government's National Development Strategy (NDS1), which is underpinned by human capital development and innovation. “It is important to note that innovation is not only an explicit focus of Goal 9 (of Sustainable Development Goals) which focuses on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation, but is also a key enabler of most, if not all, of the Goals,” Muswere said. “For example, science, technology and innovation will play an essential role in achieving Goal 2 which focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. I cannot, therefore, overemphasise the importance of developing an innovation culture in the country, as a prerequisite for the attainment of the SDGs.” The 2020 Hackathon event is running under the theme: Hacking for SDGs Post-COVID-19 and Beyond and is seeking out local innovations that will help overcome challenges brought about by the global health pandemic. Potraz director-general Gift Machengete, speaking at the same event, said the ICT innovation drive “is aimed at identifying, supporting and capacitating ICT innovators in the country, in order to develop their ideas into bankable solutions for Zimbabwe and the global market.” The second edition of Hackathon saw teams competing in proffering the most relevant ICT solutions to solve post COVID-19 socio-economic challenges that may hinder the country’s efforts towards attaining SDGs by 2030. The inaugural event held in February was only open to universities and not ordinary Zimbabweans.
Police in Beatrice, Mashonaland East province, have launched a manhunt for a 36-year-old man who allegedly killed his wife’s boyfriend who had visited his homestead in the middle of the night. BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA Admire Motsi (36) of Jefferstone Farm is on the run following the death of Stanley Chilima (36) who died during a fight after the latter had visited the former’s homestead to see his lover unbeknown to him that her husband was at home. Provincial police spokesperson Inspector Tendai Mwanza confirmed the incident and urged the public to desist from violence. “Police in Beatrice are looking for a 36 year old man from Jefferstone Farm in Beatrice who allegedly assaulted the now-deceased to death after an altercation over a marital affair. “The now-deceased Stanley Chilima was allegedly having an affair with the suspect’s wife, Arena Sale, aged 29. “We are appealing to members of the public who might know the whereabouts of the suspect to report to any nearest police station. “Violence is a menace in our societies and it must be nipped in the bud. “Peaceful resolutions to differences must be the way to avoid such callous incidences,” he said. According to police, on December 2, at around 2am, Chilima proceeded to the suspect’s homestead ostensibly to see his alleged girlfriend, who is the wife to the suspect unbeknown to him that her husband was inside the bedroom. The deceased reportedly knocked at the door as usual and the suspect woke up and confronted Chilima, whom he was suspecting to having an affair with his wife. It is reported that a fist-fight ensued before the suspect picked up a log and assaulted his rival suitor all over the body several times. The suspect’s mother-in-law heard the noise and tried to refrain the two, but in vain. The fight continued for about a kilometre from the homestead where the deceased fell down and became unconscious. Chilima sustained a swollen face and bled profusely from the mouth, nose and ears. At around 6am, the deceased’s body was discovered by villagers who reported the matter to the police. The body was taken to Chitungwiza Central Hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
Sierra Leone Telegraph: 6 December 2020: Journalist and author Isha Sesay has joined The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) as its newest Goodwill Ambassador to help raise awareness of gender-based violence and support efforts in ending it. The announcement comes at the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign…
Maputo — The Mozambican Association of Cashew Industries (AICAJU) has warned that less than 35,000 tonnes of cashew nuts will be processed in Mozambican factories this year, which is more than 33 per cent less than the 52,000 tonnes processed last year.
In a Monday press release, AICAJU notes that Mozambique has less than ten processing plants operating and some of these will stop processing in the middle of this year, probably in August, for lack of raw materials.
\"The Asian processors can now buy in Mozambique raw material at inflated and unfair prices, distorting the market with a negative impact on Mozambican industry and, ultimately on the Mozambican state coffers\", the release protested.
In other words, Mozambican industries find it difficult to sell cashew kernels to the Indian market, while the Indian industries snap up thousands of tonnes of raw nuts from Mozambican farmers, at prices the Mozambican processing factories cannot compete with.
Nonetheless, AICAJU declared its confidence in the measures the Mozambican government is taking and believes that \"through discussions between the state, the private industry and the cashew producers, it will be possible to implement measures in good time to defend the sector, which will allow a cashew campaign in 2020 that is fair for all the stakeholders\".
The United Nations and Ethiopia have reached a deal to allow aid into the country's conflict-torn northern Tigray region, UN officials say. UN spokesman Saviano Abreu says an assessment mission will begin later on Wednesday, the AP news agency reports. Food and medicines are said […]
The post Ethiopia and UN 'reach Tigray aid deal' appeared first on The New York Beacon.
Driven by a desire to help the less fortunate, Jamaica-born restaurant owner, Patrick Livingston, has been using his charity Arms of Hope to provide hot meals for the people of Lake Worth Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida, free of cost. The 57-year...
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has dealt opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa another blow after allocating a paltry $2,3 billion to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), an amount inadequate to conduct by-elections next year. BY RICHARD MUPONDE Chamisa lost 32 MPs and 165 councillors to recalls by rival MDC-T faction led by Thokozani Khupe. He has been itching for by-elections that were already suspended on October 2 by Vice-President and Health minister Constantino Chiwenga, citing COVID-19 fears, in order to regain lost political ground. But his dream appears shattered after Zec disclosed it is financially incapacitated to run the parliamentary and council by-elections after Treasury allocated the electoral body only $2,3 billion for electoral activities for 2021 against a demand of $12 billion. In his remarks at a post budget consultative meeting on Thursday before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Zec chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the electoral body was in financial doldrums to hold any credible by-election unless government provides the $12 billion needed for the exercise. Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube allocated Zec $2,3 billion in the 2021 National Budget against $12 billion which the commission had said it wanted for electoral activities in the coming year. Silaigwana pleaded with Parliament to persuade Treasury to adjust the commission’s 2021 budget allocation warning the much-awaited by-elections will remain a pipe-dream without the funds. “We are very truthful when we say we need $12 billion instead of the $2 billion which is just a drop of our budget. It does not help us much,” Silaigwana said. Asked by Chegutu West legislator Dexter Nduna whether it meant Zec was currently not operational without the $12 billion, Silaigwana said: “Sure.” “We also highlighted that the allocation was not adequate to support our programmes that encompasses delimitation and the by-elections for the coming year and beyond. “What was allocated against the bid is only a total of 19% hence our cry for the committee to assist the commission so that it will be able to realise its obligations.” His sentiments were echoed by Zec chief inspector, Jane Pamhidzirai Chigidji who said the commission’s capacity to conduct credible electoral activities will be questionable if it was poorly funded. “It’s a drop in the ocean if we are to have credible elections,” Chigidji said. “So we are just appealing to Parliament to discuss this issue so that at the end of the day, we are able to carry out our duties and conduct credible elections. “There are delimitation issues that have to be dealt with before we have an election. Can we then have a credible election if we don’t consult stakeholders?” Silaigwana also advised the legislators that efforts to engage Treasury on the issue have not yielded desired results. Political analyst, Professor Austin Chakaodza, however said the underfunding of Zec was a calculated move by President Mnangagwa to avoid the by-elections at all
Manhattan’s usually busy Flatiron district will come alive with a different energy this holiday, as visitors and residents alike interact with its latest exhibition designed by Jamaica-born architect, Nina Cooke John. Her work – ‘Point of Action’–...
Four people have been killed and three injured in a collision on the N4 highway in Mpumalanga, paramedics say.
Colchester United player Callum Harriott has shared his disappointment after a number of fans booed players who took the knee in support of Black Lives Matter.
