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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
(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says Trinidad and Tobago is on the brink of losing control of the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, and that he was “personally and officially” disappointed in the response of the population.
The article Trinidad on the brink -Rowley appeared first on Stabroek News.
SHADAB Khan will play no further part in Pakistan’s ongoing tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe because of a left toe injury he sustained while batting in the second one-day international (ODI) against South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday, which has sidelined him “for up to four weeks”. A Pakistan Cricket Board statement on the matter said, “X-rays conducted following the match revealed an ‘intra articular communicated fracture’ though there is neither any displacement nor angulation. The injury will be treated conservatively and Shadab will undergo a four-week rehab.” Khan made useful contributions with ball and bat in the first ODI, which Pakistan won by three wickets. His eight wicketless overs went for 45 runs — an economy rate of 5.63 — but he was less effective in the second game, returning none for 64 from nine overs and then scoring a 23-ball 13 in a steep chase, as his team lost by 17 runs. The 22-year-old has had a rough time with injuries in recent times, and was out with groin and hamstring problems most recently. Just a couple of weeks ago, Khan attributed his falling returns with the ball to his struggles with fitness, saying, “I know I wasn’t up to the mark and haven’t done well with the ball lately. That is mainly because of the groin injury. My bowling action takes a lot of energy and causes pain and was directly affecting it.” Khan had missed the home white-ball series against Zimbabwe late last year after first complaining about the groin injury, but recovered in time for the New Zealand tour. The problem, however, got worse during a tour game in Christchurch, but he was cleared to lead Pakistan in the T20s after Babar Azam picked up a finger injury. Khan was later ruled out of the Test series, and remained with the squad for his rehabilitation. He returned to the field during PSL 2021, but averaged 56.50 with the ball in four games taking only two wickets for 8.69 runs per over. — Cricinfo
The post Pak’s Khan ruled out of Zim tour appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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.
(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.
Press Release - President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead South Africa's participation at the virtual session of the Generation Equality Forum: Economic Justice and Rights Action Coalition to highlight country's commitment to gender equality.
UNC MP for Oropouche West Davendranath Tancoo said Minister of Finance Colm Imbert has allowed the country’s global credit rating with Standard and Poors (S&P) global rating company to drop significantly since the Kamla Persad-Bissessar administration ended in 2015.
Tancoo was speaking at the UNCs weekly media conference on Sunday.
He said when Imbert gained control of the ministry in 2015 he met an economy that was growing.
“We are here today in an economy which has collapsed under Minister Colm Imbert.”
Tancoo said Imbert is painting a picture of an economy that is doing fine, when the country is in fact in an economic crisis.
“Tell the people the truth of the state of the economy.”
He said during the period of Persad-Bissessar’s administration, S&P gave Trinidad and Tobago an A- grade rating.
“It is that confidence in the economy that (attracts) investors. They use S&P to determine if they want to invest…Within three months (of Imbert taking office) Standard and Poors went from an A rating to a negative outlook.
“From then to now we have fallen every year from 2015 to June. S&P has given TT a failing grade.”
He said this decline has nothing to do with covid19 as Imbert would have the public believe.
“It has everything to do with the minister’s incompetence and sabotage of the economy. For the minister to say that the S&P rating is an endorsement of policies is nothing less than hypocritical, forced, and patently untrue.
“A negative outlook is exactly that…A bad credit rating means investors will have less confidence and trust in the government’s policies and ability to repay loans. It will cause capital flight, reduction in jobs and more severe hardships, as has been happening.”
Tancoo said the dropping credit score has created a crisis of confidence in the government.
He said since 2015 there has been a negative outflow of foreign exchange, meaning there has been less coming in than going out.
He said an estimated US$439 million has migrated from TT. Tancoo also said TT's performance was the worst in the Caribbean in 2020 for foreign exchange direct investments.
With these results, he predicted increased job losses, business closures, and economic and social hardships.
“If your bank does not believe you can repay your investments, that would mean more challenges for you.”
He said covid19 has only made the problem worse, as the government has not implemented infrastructure to generate revenue.
“For (Imbert) to trivialise the state of our economy is a very worrying thing. It is either he does not understand basic economics, or he has set out to mislead the public. He is either incompetent or deceptive.
“Either is an indictment on the minister, and he should be immediately fired if TT is to have a hope of rallying through.”
The post Tancoo: Imbert allowing Trinidad and Tobago's global credit rating to drop appeared first on Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
Last Wednesday, Cricket West Indies (CWI) released the names of the 18 players who have been confirmed for international retainer contracts for the 2021 – 2022 season, which will run from 1st July 2021 to 30th June 2022.
The article West Indies cricketers retainer contracts appeared first on Stabroek News.
(Trinidad Guardian) The family of one of the three men shot dead by police in Second Caledonia, Morvant on Saturday, is calling for an investigation into the killing.
The article Trinidad family says innocent man shot dead by police while celebrating birthday appeared first on Stabroek News.
By ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL and SHEIKH SAALIQ Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — India started inoculating health workers Saturday in what is likely the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign, joining the ranks of wealthier nations where the effort is already well underway. India is home to the world's largest vaccine makers and has one of the biggest immunization programs. But there is no playbook for the enormity of the current challenge. Indian authorities hope to give shots to 300 million people, roughly the population of the U.S and several times more than its existing program that targets 26 million infants. The […]
The post India starts world's largest COVID-19 vaccination drive appeared first on Black News Channel.
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of those global developments that, based on the current circumstances, we are likely to be grappling with for years to come.There was an expectation and hope, that by the end of 2020, this disease would have run its course. Vaccines were developed in record time, in response to the threat not only to human life, but to livelihoods, as the world spiralled into a major slump as demand for goods and services plummeted.The threat of a global economic implosion was real. And with a presidential election looming, former president Donald Trump threw billions of dollars at the big multinational pharmaceutical companies, to shore up and incentivise their research and development processes.Britain, France, and Germany in Europe, as well as the Russians and Chinese, also had their very best scientists working overtime to ensure a response was created to stave off the pandemic.We are now about to enter the second half of 2021. And the coronavirus still continues to dominate and overshadow our lives. We have the benefit of several different forms of vaccines, each with a different level of effectiveness.
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.
The initial response from the Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been to downplay the incident as business as usual, raising more significant issues concerning border patrol efforts. A government that prides itself on freedom and equity defending the violent actions of horseback patrols speaks volumes.
Farm murders increased and the brutal torturing of victims during farm attacks was prevalent in South Africa in 2020 according to the latest statistics released by civil rights organisation AfriForum on Wednesday.
A recent offshore oil boom resulted in the economys growth by 71.2% in 1997, the first year of the petroleum bonanza, and it has sustained this phenomenal rate of growth. Between 2002 and 2005, the GDP skyrocketed from $1.27 billion to $25.69 billion. It is unlikely, however, that the countrys new wealth will benefit the average citizen—the presidents family and cronies control the industry.
In 2004, about 70 mercenaries, including Eton-educated, former member of Britains Special Air Services Simon Mann, attempted to overthrow the authoritarian president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The coup attempt failed, and those involved were arrested and jailed. Mann was convicted in July 2008 and sentenced to 34 years in prison. He was pardoned and released in November 2009.
Amid accusations of corruption and mismanagement, the entire government of Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea resigned in July 2008. President Obiang named Ignacio Milam Tang as prime minister. President Obiang was reelected in November 2009.
See also Encyclopedia: Equatorial Guinea .
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes: Equatorial Guinea
[Algerie Presse Service] Algiers -- The public authorities are paying \"special\" attention to improving the professional, material and social conditions of workers in various sectors, despite the difficult economic and financial conditions Algeria is going through, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad said during a government meeting held Wednesday in Algiers.
Dear Editor,
The world has welcomed with a huge sigh of relief the arrival of anti-COVID-19 vaccines.
The article Who will take the lead in this new social contract? appeared first on Stabroek News.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been nominated to serve as Development Committee chair for the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to a government statement issued here.
By KAREL JANICEK Associated Press PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Republic's prime minister called on his health minister to resign or be fired after he broke strict government restrictions to slow a record surge of coronavirus infections and visited a Prague restaurant. Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Friday he will meet with the country's president later in the day to discuss a possible replacement of the minister, Roman Prymula. 'There's no other solution than his resignation from the post,' Babis said. 'It shouldn't have happened.' 'If we want the people to abide by the rules … it is us who […]
The post Czech health minister breaks virus rules, asked to resign appeared first on Black News Channel.
(Trinidad Express) If election observers do not arrive in Trinidad and Tobago today, there would be no observers for the August 10 general election.
The article Trinidad PM: Cost too high to have election observers appeared first on Stabroek News.
Sierra Leone Telegraph: 18 May 2021: “Although several successes were chronicled during my tenure, those successes were not by any means achieved with ease. There were many challenges that affected work processes and as a result undermined the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Ministry. Although these challenges, especially those deliberately orchestrated, rarely stood in…
In June 1940, as fighting was winding down in France, the pace of operations quickened in the Mediterranean. The area was vital for Britain, which needed to maintain access to the Suez Canal in order to remain in close contact with the rest of its empire. Following Italys declaration of war on Britain and France, Italian troops quickly seized British Somaliland in the Horn of Africa and laid siege to the island of Malta.
They also began a series of probing attacks from Libya into British-held Egypt.
That fall, British forces went on the offensive against the Italians. On November 12, aircraft flying from HMS Illustrious struck the Italian naval base at Taranto, sinking a battleship and damaging two others. During the attack, the British only lost two aircraft. In North Africa, General Archibald Wavell launched a major attack in December, Operation Compass, which drove the Italians out of Egypt and captured over 100,000 prisoners. The following month, Wavell dispatched troops south and cleared the Italians from the Horn of Africa.
Concerned by Italian leader Benito Mussolinis lack of progress in Africa and the Balkans, Adolf Hitler authorized German troops to enter the region to assist their ally in February 1941. Despite a naval victory over the Italians at the Battle of Cape Matapan (March 27-29, 1941), the British position in the region was weakening.
With British troops sent north from Africa to aid Greece, Wavell was unable to stop a new German offensive in North Africa and was driven back out of Libya by General Erwin Rommel. By the end of May, both Greece and Crete had also fallen to German forces.
On June 15, Wavell sought to regain the momentum in North Africa and launched Operation Battleaxe.
Designed to push the German Afrika Korps out of Eastern Cyrenaica and relieve the besieged British troops at Tobruk, the operation was a total failure as Wavells attacks were broken on the German defenses. Angered by Wavells lack of success, Prime Minister Winston Churchill removed him and assigned General
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Barbados is preparing to welcome back cruise ships to its shores from Monday, with all passengers on board being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This was disclosed by Tourism Minister Lisa Cummins on Saturday. “We are preparing…to welcome back for the first time in over 15 months cruise ships to Barbados. We […]
This article Barbados Welcomes Back Cruise Ships appeared first on St. Lucia Times News.
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.
By Jerry Harmer Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Anti-government protesters gathered in large numbers in Thailand's capital on Sunday for a rally that suggested their movement's strength may extend beyond the college campuses where it had blossomed. Thousands of people assembled at Bangkok's Democracy Monument, a traditional venue for political activities, where they heard speeches, watched skits and listened to music. Hundreds of police were also present, as well as a small contingent of royalists opposed to the protesters. There was no reliable estimate of the crowd size, though it appeared to be one of the biggest demonstrations in several […]
The post Campus-based Thai protest movement extends reach to streets appeared first on Black News Channel.
The Confederation of Regional Business Chambers is in full support of government’s implementation of “safe zones” in certain sectors of the economy.
Its president Vivek Charran told Newsday on Friday, that Trinidad and Tobago needed to push its boundaries to find a balance for economic recovery and preservation of life.
“We are very happy with the stance that the government has taken. It is a positive one because this meant that more people would come back out to work, particularly in the bars which have been closed for so long. The “safe zones” also provide a great opportunity for people to start being responsible.
“Nearly 100 per cent of people within the food and beverage and entertainment industries have been vaccinated and I think it was on that the government based their decision to have the “safe zones. I don’t think it was a decision taken without consultation.”
At a press conference at the Diplomatic Centre on Thursday, the Prime Minister announced that bars, casinos, restuarants, gyms, cinemas and entertainment spaces will reopen on October 11 to vaccinated patrons, with limitations.
Dr Keith Rowley said that also meant that owners and workers in these spaces will have to be fully vaccinated to operate or can face strict penalties if breached.
Capacity at the safe zones would be 50 per cent and no alcohol would be allowed.
Charran said those measures were not harsh and many businesses within the confederation appreciated the ability to work again.
“We do not want the hand outs. We want the ability to get back to work. We appreciate the structure and I think everybody is willing to work within that structure. From a business perspective nobody wants to risk being shut down or closures for a long period of time.
“People need to understand that the management of covid19 is also the management of the economy and one cannot be done in isolation of the other. In the middle of all of that its not only people’s health being affected its also the health of finances.”
He said the topic of vaccinated and non-vaccinated employees remained open for debate but businesses owners were providing adequate information to workers about the vaccines.
“It is still a very contentious issue. We are not involving ourselves in the discussions of mandatory versus voluntary. The most we can do is provide the information and opportunities for workers to be vaccinated.
“Its time for the unvaccinated people look at the vaccinated people and see that they are fine and everything is well with them and make their choices.”
Charran said the incomes of working women and single mothers were the demographic mostly affected by the lockdown since they were the main managers of the household.
“Women have been disenfranchised more than anyone else because they are the ones with the greatest responsibilities. This would give them an opportunity to earn.
“The reopening is still not where it is but incrementally things will get better and continue to get better because the key is getting more people out to work and mo
Ode to Brother Joe
Nothing can soak
Brother Joe’s tough sermon,
his head swollen
with certainties.
The article Poetry and the reggae aesthetic appeared first on Stabroek News.
