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(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has announced new regulations to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The article Lockdown instituted as Trinidad records highest COVID spread appeared first on Stabroek News.
Abiy's government and the regional one run by the Tigray People's Liberation Front each consider the other illegitimate.
\t There was no immediate word from the three AU envoys, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former Mozambique President Joaquim Chissano and former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe. AU spokeswoman Ebba Kalondo did not say whether they can meet with TPLF leaders, something Abiy's office has rejected.
\"``Not possible,'' senior Ethiopian official Redwan Hussein said in a message to the AP. ``\"Above all, TPLF leadership is still at large.'' He called reports that the TPLF had appointed an envoy to discuss an immediate cease-fire with the international community ``masquerading.''
\t Fighting reportedly remained well outside the Tigray capital of Mekele, a densely populated city of a half-million people who have been warned by the Ethiopian government that they will be shown ``no mercy'' if they don't distance themselves from the region's leaders.
\t Tigray has been almost entirely cut off from the outside world since Nov. 4, when Abiy announced a military offensive in response to a TPLF attack on a federal army base.
That makes it difficult to verify claims about the fighting, but humanitarians have said at least hundreds of people have been killed.
\t The fighting threatens to destabilize Ethiopia, which has been described as the linchpin of the strategic Horn of Africa.
\t With transport links cut, food and other supplies are running out in Tigray, home to 6 million people, and the United Nations has asked for immediate and unimpeded access for aid.
AP
Black Lives Matter activists have made their point and won millions of converts since May 25.
More than a dozen demonstrations had more than a dozen messages— “Defund the Police” and “Defend Black Women” were two—but the violent subculture seemed to stay home, and seemed to know this wasn’t their moment.
Some women held simple signs, each with the name of a black woman or girl killed by law enforcement.
The signs were simple, just the names in black letters, floating on a white background.
Standing at Freedom Plaza, just a few blocks from the White House, you could see all the competing marches converge.
In December, the PGA Tour made a $500,000 donation to five Historically Black Colleges and Universities, including $100,000 to Prairie View A&M’s men’s and women’s golf teams. The PGA Tour made the Prairie View A&M donation in the name of Champ’s grandfather, Mack, who wanted to attend Prairie View A&M but went into the military instead.
The Prime Minister of Eswatini has been airlifted to neighboring South Africa for COVID-19 treatment, an official said in a statement late Tuesday.
Ambrose Dlamini, 52, had announced that he had contracted the novel virus two weeks ago, but thought he was asymptomatic.
But on Tueday the deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku said he was taken to South Africa for further treatment and was responding well to treatment
\"To guide and fast track the recovery, a decision has been taken that he be transferred to a South African hospital this afternoon,\" Masuku announced in a statement.
Formerly known as Swaziland, the kingdom has reported 6,419 coronavirus cases and 122 deaths among its population of 1.2-million people.
A sandstorm caused a huge 22-vehicle pileup on a Utah highway that left eight people dead, including children, authorities said.
Dear Editor,
The Ministry of Health would like to strongly condemn a deliberate, irresponsible and reckless campaign to spread fake news relating to COVID-19 testing.
The article COVID-19 testing is done with equipment and testing reagents from only validated and certified sources appeared first on Stabroek News.
(Trinidad Guardian) After decades of operations, activities at the Asa Wright Nature Centre (AWNC) & Lodge have been brought to a halt.
The article COVID forces permanent closure of Trinidad eco-lodge appeared first on Stabroek News.
AMID a bitter political feud that has paralysed the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), politicians in Tobago have finally found something they can agree on.
THA Chief Secretary Ancil Dennis (PNM) issued a call on Wednesday for anyone who still has a job to help the less fortunate. He reiterated his view that the employed – including legislators – should donate ten per cent of their earnings to people with none.
Mr Dennis’s position is notable because his party has been non-committal on this issue and he is staking a claim where there is no official line to toe.
But more strikingly, the Chief Secretary has somehow managed to find himself on the same side as Watson Duke (PDP), his strongest political opponent.
Mr Duke has urged people earning more than $20,000 a month to donate half their pay to assist those in need.
“Normally, Watson Duke is not a good example to follow,” Mr Dennis said at an executive council media conference in Tobago. “But in this case, I would encourage every single individual, not only leaders, but every individual that has a job now.”
The reality is, times are tough and not everyone who has a job will be in a position to help.
Nonetheless, we strongly endorse the calls being made across the board in Tobago for everyone who can help to make some effort to. Assistance can take many forms. With creativity and resourcefulness there is no reason why we cannot find some way to do what is right in these dreadful circumstances.
A great example is that set by Kerry Emamdee, Shane Daniel and Nicholas Daniel – part-time farmers, two of them policemen, who have made use of their “side hustle” of growing watermelons and other crops to be generous to the community at large. They recently donated 2,000 pounds of watermelon to people who responded to a post on social media.
“I decided to donate to charity because a lot of people are strained,” Nicholas, a pilot, told Newsday.
But this kind of action and attitude are not to be found everywhere.
According to the House Leader Camille Robinson-Regis (PNM), not everyone can afford to donate a portion of their pay or to take a pay cut.
“I am not donating my salary, because I can’t afford to,” said the Planning Minister. She said a combination of government support and charitable donations is being distributed through publicly-funded constituency offices.
On the other hand, Toco/Sangre Grande MP Roger Monroe (PNM) sees things differently. On Tuesday, he promised to donate three months’ salary to help needy constituents. And Naparima MP Rodney Charles (UNC) on Wednesday called for MPs to take a pay cut.
“We cannot live life while other people are suffering,” he sensibly said.
The post Haves and have nots appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
The death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa is heading is gone past the 1,000 mark as of April 18, 2020. The casualties cut across age groups. From the death of a 6 year-old in Kenya, older patients in most instances and persons in the youth bracket.
While each death is reported with a sombre mood and with condolences to affected families, some of the casualties have united a country in grief, in other cases united the continent and people beyond Africa’s borders.
From top politicians – former presidents, prime ministers and lawmakers, to entertainment icons and top sportsmen, the virus has left in its wake prominent casualties who could hardly get the send-off they would have been accorded in “normal times.”
This article briefly profiles as many casualties as possible:
July 9: South African queen dies
A prominent traditional ruler in South Africa has died after contracting coronavirus, the state-owned SABC has reported. The 56-year-old monarch died on July 8 from COVID-19 complications.
Queen Noloyiso, widow of the late King Maxhobha Sandile, passed away on 8 July 2020 following a short illness, the government said.
Reacting to the news today, president Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his sadness and extended condolences at the passing of Regent of the Royal House of the amaRharhabe, Queen Noloyiso Sandile.
“We join the Great Place of Mngqesha and amaRharhabe in mourning her passing; at the same time we pay tribute to her for her deep and unwavering commitment to the upliftment of her people and to her country. May her soul rest in peace,” said the President.
Adding: “At a time when we face a grave public health emergency in the form of coronavirus, Queen Noloyiso actively mobilised support for the national effort to combat the pandemic, including calling on communities to halt traditional initiations.”
South Africa currently accounts for over 43% of Africa’s caseload according to the WHO Africa region stats. Cases continue to gallop in the country as government implements an aggressive testing regime which has seen over 1.9 million tests conducted so far.
South African stats by close of day July 8
Confirmed cases = 224,665
Tests conducted = 1,944,399
Recoveries = 106,842
Number of deaths = 3,602
Major African stats: July 9 at 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 522,643
Active cases = 257,466
Recoveries = 252,944
Number of deaths = 12,233
President mourns passing of AmaRharhabe Queen Noloyiso Sandile https://t.co/TAXzyYwwHu pic.twitter.com/13lafnLIiX— SAgovnews (SAgovnews) July 9, 2020
Ghana’s medical, political losses
The Ghana Medical Association, GMA, has reported the loss a number of skilled medics – all of them lost to the coronavirus pandemic. Among them are: An Orthopaedic Surgeon, A General Surgeon, A paediatrician and a Consultant Physician / Academic.
The latter casualty was Professor Jacob Plange-Rhule, whose death occurred in the early hours of Friday (April 10) in the capital Accra specifically at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, where he ha
The classic 'the dogs ate my homework' excuse became a reality for a Bryanston Primary School pupil in a bizarre series of domestic disasters that started with an innocent glass of Milo.
A year after becoming a global epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, New York and New Jersey are back atop the... View Article
The post Virus fight stalls in early hot spots New York, New Jersey appeared first on TheGrio.
A version of this story first appeared in CNN Business' Before the Bell newsletter. Not a subscriber? You can sign up right here.
What's happening: Talks in Brussels over a €750 billion ($859 billion) relief package stretched into their fourth day on Monday as frugal Northern countries stood firm on limiting the proportion of grants in the mix, as opposed to loans. The conditions that would be attached to funding also remain a point of contention.
But a compromise could be close. Before the EU summit was adjourned after all-night talks Sunday, a deal was proposed that would reduce the proportion of grants to about 50% of the fund, or €375 billion ($429 billion).
\"We are not there yet,\" Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. \"Things could still fall apart but it looks a bit more hopeful than at times last night.\"
That's good news considering the euro is rising on the assumption that a deal will be reached. The currency climbed to $1.15 on Monday, its highest level against the dollar since early 2019.
That's not all: Stimulus negotiations will kick off in Washington \"in earnest\" on Monday, according to White House chief of staff Mark Meadows. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are due to meet with President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to \"fine tune\" the proposal, Meadows said.
Much remains up in the air — and it's not just liberal and conservative lawmakers who are facing off. The White House and Senate Republicans are at odds over the amount of funding that should be given to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told CNN over the weekend.
The stakes: An explosion of coronavirus cases in Sun Belt states has threatened the fragile US recovery, raising pressure on lawmakers to agree on the next round of assistance quickly. Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients that consumer spending could fall back to June levels if other states with growing case loads follow California in reimposing strict social distancing.
The bank said that if the recovery stalls or reverses this quarter, growth would likely be stronger than expected in 2021. But it could also result in long-term scarring of the economy.
\"This could come in the form of permanent business closures or — with the labor market recovery now stalling, led by setbacks in the Sun Belt — lost opportunities to quickly rehire workers still on temporary layoff,\" strategists led by chief economist Jan Hatzius wrote in Sunday's note.
On the radar: As the job market sags, lawmakers need to decide whether to extend a $600 per week federal lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans.
Though the supplementary relief technically doesn't expire until July 31, this will be the last week for which benefits are paid. If a consensus isn't reached, more than 25 million people will be thousands of dollars poorer each month, my CNN Business colleague Tami Luhby reports.
Investors are fee
A Caribbean joint-venture for a chemical storage facility has been shelved amid controversy over the disposal of state lands on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) and a near US$1 million payment to a well-known PNCR figure.
The article EPA puts hold on project that saw US$1M payout to PNCR’s Bond appeared first on Stabroek News.
Sunil Dowarkasing, a former senior environmental adviser to the Mauritian govermnment has accused the country's current administration of gross negligence in its handing of the MV Wakashio oil disaster.
Efforts were further increased on Monday to empty the stranded Japanese vessel of 2,500 tonnes of oil before it worsens the level of pollution already caused.
But Sunil Dowarkasing , a former Mauritian MP, is unimpressed:
\"The government was acting on the advice of the company, on their experts etc, without taking the best interests of the people of Mauritius and the best interests of what should be done to protect our country, our lagoon, from the potential (spillage).
\"It was a potential spillage at that time and this is gross negligence by the government.\"
Pressure is continuing to mount on the government of Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to explain why it didn't take immediate action to avert the environmental disaster.
There are concerns that the vessel could break up and greatly worsen the situation. More than 1,000 tonnes of fuel has aready washed up on the island nation's eastern coast.
Daveena Aubeeluck Bauluck, co-owner of the Scuba World Diving Centre in Mahébourg, says members of the public have been flocking to help:
\"Mauritians are coming en masse to help us make the oil booms. And these booms are taken by boats, volunteer boats. And thanks to this, the booms are managing to retain the oil spilled from the Wakashio.\"
Although the ship ran aground on July 25, Sunil Dowarkasing said work to remove the oil it was carrying only started last week when the hull cracked and started emptying the fuel into the sea around Mauritius' south east coast.
Envrionmental activisit Greta Thunberg tweeted to highlight the fundraising efforts by Mauritius' branch of Fridays For Future :
DR MARGARET NAKHID-CHATOOR
ON SEPTEMBER 10 every year, World Suicide Prevention Day provides the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. According to the IASP - International Association for Suicide Prevention - this year's theme and for the next two years is 'Creating Hope Through Action.' It is a reminder to all of us that there is an alternative to suicide and that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. The global aim within this three-year theme is to 'create a social movement of preventative action' that would require the involvement of everyone.
There are three particular groups that play a role of key importance:
* Those with lived experience of suicide; that is, those people who may have lost a loved one to suicide or have experienced suicidal thoughts themselves.
* Our civic leaders; people within our own societies who play a role, whether it be in schools, hospitals, governments or communities, who may be able to influence the way societies understand and support those at risk of suicide.
* Civil society - all of us (IASP, 2021).
I will state this again and again. Suicide does not happen randomly. Death by suicide happens when pain exceeds one's resources for coping with the pain. In many instances, most people want to find some alternative to suicide, and suicidal thoughts, feelings and behaviours are based on important needs that are perceived as not being addressed.
Individuals who take their own life, who die by suicide, have often been struggling with serious problems such as depression, social distress and unemployment, alcoholism and other forms of abuse. Taking one's life is not the way to deal with a challenge but in most instances the people who do so are not thinking clearly or rationally. This death can affect the family of the deceased for the rest of their lives and some family members may blame themselves for ignoring the red flags.
Children and adolescents
At the IASP's World Congress this month, there is a focus on children and adolescents, as there has been an increase in suicidal deaths among this age group globally. In Trinidad this year, the youngest person to die was a nine-year-old boy who took his life by hanging.
Every week in this country, two-three people take their lives and 20 more people are thinking of doing so. Isolation, boredom and loneliness have increased mental illness for teenagers with pre-existing mental health disorders and for children who are exposed to cyberbullying and adverse online schooling experiences.
Parents and caregivers, please watch out for warning signs of prolonged sadness, depression, irritability, anger and talk of suicide ideation (wanting to die/wishing life was over). It is necessary for young people to maintain connections with loved ones who would let them know that they care about them and support them. Do not trivialise these warning signs as looking for attention.
Preventing suicide is often p
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Khama Billiat has been out of action since January after sustaining a leg injury during a DStv Premiership match.
Eating because you’re hungry is a natural demand from the body.
NEW DELHI - Indian authorities are not investigating the 'grave human rights violations' allegedly committed by the police during February riots in New Delhi, human rights group Amnesty International India claimed. 'Delhi police personnel were [...]
For the past 10 years, black women have fiercely begun to accept their natural hair with various braid and Afro styles. Through the weaves, faux eyelashes and more, black women are now on the cutting [...]
