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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.
Frozen since March 16, more than 400 eviction cases in Allegheny County were set to resume June 2 in the first of a series of steps toward normal landlord-tenant court activity.
Orders by county President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark had stalled all eviction actions in light of the public health effects of the coronavirus.
But on Thursday, the judge issued an order confirming the planned June 2 resumption of action on already-filed eviction cases.
“I’d like to be optimistic and say, no, [landlords] are not waiting to evict,” said Megan Stanley, director of the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, and a member of an informal working group convened by the *Pittsburgh Foundation to address eviction.
Pittsburgh Foundation Senior Program Officer Jane Downing is floating to courts, state lawmakers and local governments a five-point plan to reduce evictions.
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.
Congolese Health Minister Eteni Longondo on Thursday officially proclaimed the end of the Ebola epidemic in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the second most serious since the discovery of the virus in 1976.
Declared on 1 August 2018, this tenth epidemic of haemorrhagic fever on Congolese soil has killed 2,277 people, said the Minister of Health, who spoke of the epidemic “the longest, most complex, and deadliest” in the country’s history. Only the epidemic in West Africa in 2013-2016 had claimed more victims.
But Thursday’s milestone announced in the east of the country was overshadowed by the enormous health challenges still facing the vast African nation: the world’s largest measles epidemic, the rising threat of Covid-19 and another new Ebola outbreak in the north.
Despite effective vaccines and treatments that dramatically boosted survival rates when administered early, the outbreak dragged on as first responders struggled to gain access to virus hotspots in Congo’s restive eastern borderlands.
As that outbreak neared its end, another one was declared on June 1 in the western city of Mbandaka, more than 1,000 km (620 miles) away. Genetic testing revealed the two epidemics were not connected.
“The health ministry intends to capitalise on the lessons learned and the success factors from this long epidemic to assure the most effective response possible in Mbandaka,” Health Minister Eteni Longondo told reporters.
The World Health Organisation’s announcement initially was set for April, but another case emerged just three days before the Ebola-free declaration was expected.
That restarted the 42-day period required before such a proclamation can be made.
AFP
[DW] As Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sends troops into the Tigray region, the country could be on the brink of a civil war.
BY RICHARD MUPONDE UNSUSPECTING people have reportedly been duped an undisclosed amount of money by imposters who are reportedly abusing the name of former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, Gideon Gono asking for financial assistance. Gono confirmed the scam and said a number of people have been swindled after they released huge sums of money into a fraudulent account in South Africa from which he disassociated himself and his family. “It has come to my sad attention and family that they are impersonating me and going around asking high-profile and rich individuals, suspected to be my friends, to ‘assist’ me with money deposited into a South African account,” Gono said. “Unfortunately, a few people, some of whom I have never met and do not even know, have been duped into releasing huge sums of money, only to find out soon after that the voice on the other line was fake.” He denied that he had begged for money from friends and associates and urged people to report the imposters to the police. “Please report any such approaches to the nearest police station to ensure that the culprits are apprehended swiftly,” Gono said. He said a South African number, +27 718 396 569, was used by these imposters to dupe people. Gono said a photoshopped picture of him, taken 10 years ago, was being used on the number’s WhatsApp profile picture. The local number currently being used was +263 788 669 246, with “one funny photoshopped profile picture of our chicken business premises”. “The local guy impersonated my first born son, Passion Peter. This ‘governor’ ended all his conversations invoking both the word and name of God, to disguise his real evil standing in society,” Gono said. The former RBZ governor said he has reported the matter to Borrowdale Police Station, and the matter was now being investigated by the CID under ZRP Docket Ref 4597277.
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.
We continue to struggle with an economic recession, increasing COVID-19 infection rates, and related disruptions to daily life.
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WASHINGTON (AP): The Democratic-controlled House yesterday approved a bill to decriminalise and tax marijuana at the federal level, reversing what supporters call a failed policy of criminalising pot use and taking steps to address racial...
Dr Conor McGinn unveiled Violet at Web Summit, a robot with state of the art UV lab technology to support frontline workers.
(Trinidad Express) A Ste Madeliene mother of three who claimed she was living in an abandoned house after being evicted, has admitted to lying about her living conditions.
The article Trinidad mother of two: Sorry, I lied about being homeless! appeared first on Stabroek News.
[DW] Hundreds have died in the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray region and thousands more have fled. As the TPLF and Ahmed trade jabs, thousands of refugees are in dire need of humanitarian assistance in Sudanese camps.
… Indies had full adult franchise, African-Americans and Native Americans were being …
BY FORTUNE MBELE WARRIORS and Azam FC striker Prince Dube will soon be travelling back to recuperate in Tanzania after undergoing a successful surgery in South Africa on Thursday. Dube suffered a fracture on his left hand on November 25 during his team’s clash against Young Africans and Azam had to fly him to Cape Town where he was booked at the Vincent Pallotti Hospital for specialist treatment. He was operated on by renowned bone specialist Robert Nicolas. The former Highlanders forward yesterday confirmed that the operation was successful. “Everything went well. I have been discharged from hospital. I will be travelling back to Tanzania, but I am not sure when but soon,” he said. Dube has been dogged by injuries in the last year, having suffered a hamstring strain in March this year in a pre-season friendly match against Chapungu at Luveve Stadium. Highlanders were preparing to play FC Platinum in the final of Castle Challenge Cup which the Bulawayo giants lost 2-0 to FC Platinum at Barbourfields in March. He managed to play in the match. In October, having joined Tanzanian side Azam in August, he could not make it for the Warriors' friendly match against Malawi after another hamstring injury. He made it for the Group H Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers last month where he was an unused substitute in the 3-1 defeat away to Algeria before he was summoned late on to score a points salvaging goal in the return leg against the same team at the National Sports Stadium. He has, however, been instrumental for Azam in their Vodacom Premier League campaign scoring six goals in the first stages of season. The club then slumped in form leading to the sacking of Romanian coach Aristica Cioaba to be replaced by Zambian defender George Lwandamina. Follow Fortune on Twitter @fmbele
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) selected the Morehouse School of Medicine as the recipients of a $40 million initiative to combat the coronavirus outbreak in vulnerable communities.
“This new partnership between the Morehouse School of Medicine and our Office of Minority Health will work with trusted community organizations to bring information on COVID-19 testing, vaccinations, and other services to the Americans who need it.”
The award is a part of the National Infrastructure for Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities (NIMIC), a three-year project designed to work alongside community organizations around the country to spread information and valuable resources related to COVID-19 ranging from testing to social services to help those hardest hit.
Through the initiative, titled the National Infrastructure for Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 within Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities (NIMIC), the Atlanta-based HBCU will work with community organizations across the nation to deliver education and information on resources to help fight the pandemic over the next three years.
“Underlying social determinants of health and disparate burdens of chronic medical conditions are contributing to worse COVID-19-related outcomes in minority and socially vulnerable communities, and this partnership with Morehouse School of Medicine is essential to improving our overall response,” said Assistant Secretary for Health ADM Brett P. Giroir, M.D in a press statement.
IN a first of its kind in his career, sungura kingpin Alick Macheso yesterday opened a new chapter when he decided to release a single track titled Zuro Ndizuro that comes as an early Christmas present to his legion of fans. BY TAPIWA ZIVIRA For a man who traditionally produces six track albums, releasing a single may be the last option for him, just like many other musicians who are reeling from the long ban on public artistic performances due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In such an environment, Macheso probably was wise not to risk releasing an album without having to officially launch it, because for him as a crowd-drawing artiste, it is through such launches that provide a killing before piracy could pounce on. So, in the middle of that dilemma, the veteran artiste had to pick just one song Zuro Ndizuro from his cask and the song has ignited excitement among sungura fans and followers of showbiz matters at large. Settling for such a song, it must have been really a dilemma for Macheso. Perhaps with the backing of his Orchestra Mberikwazvo, Macheso gathered the courage to cast prospects about the post-COVID-19 future and to comfort himself and others for the losses made during the long period of restrictions, which still subsist to this day. Macheso who seems to have adopted and embraced the changing times of the digital era as part of his marketing strategy put up a message to explain the song on his YouTube account. “This world will not keep us down, that which we sow, we will reap. Tomorrow is tomorrow and today will always be a new day. Macheso celebrates the gift of life in his latest offering. So much more to come,” he said. A very strong message coming at a time when artistes are still trying to figure out how to cope with not holding public shows. Back to the track, Zuro Ndizuro, it is fair to say that the Extra Basso as Macheso is known to his legion of fans chose the right single, because it is something that can keep people on the dance floor for the entire nine minutes 39 seconds. On first impression, the new single sounds so much like the Cheso Power’s sound that Zimbabweans are accustomed to since the album Zvinoda Kutendwa. Up-tempo, rugged and metallic instrumentation, successive drum rolls and bridges backed by the “talking bass guitar” and excellent vocals, the single, whose melody is nearly similar to Madzitete, a song on his last album, Dzinosvitsa Kure, released in 2017, is nothing short of something to dance to this festive season. In addition, the melody and chorus are something that can become an anthem, just what Macheso needs right now considering that he is dropping his song into a sea of many other releases across genres. Allan Chimbetu recently released an album that has so far done well, and Sulumani Chimbetu unleashed his album yesterday and Peter Moyo released a single in October. While these may not be direct rivals to Macheso, they are all fighting to be on festive season playlists. Having been in the game for decades, Macheso has remained one of the greatest artiste of all ti
Professional boxer Abner Mares (31-3-1) conquered three divisions en route to becoming a four-time world champion. His exciting fighting style made him a must-see-tv fighter, and he quickly became a fan favorite. The former Olympian [...]
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.
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’–...
