Ethiopians Queue Up To Volunteer For Russia’s Fight In Ukraine

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April 21, 2022

Several hundred Ethiopian men have been seen early each morning outside the Russian embassy in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, registering to volunteer for military service with Russia in Ukraine.

Drawn by rumours on social media, young men and old, many with their military records in hand, arrived with hopes of fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

There is no evidence that any Ethiopians have been sent to Ukraine, nor is it clear if any ever will be.

A man who came out of the embassy and addressed the volunteers in Russian through an interpreter said Russia had enough forces for now, but that they would be contacted when they were needed.

The Russian embassy did not respond to questions about the man’s identity or whether Russia was deploying Ethiopian volunteers to Ukraine.

It issued a statement later on Tuesday saying that it was not recruiting fighters, and that the Ethiopians who showed up outside were well-wishers expressing “solidarity and support for the Russian Federation”.

The Ethiopian foreign ministry welcomed the Russian statement for what it called “refuting the unfounded reports of recruitment for the Russian Armed Forces” but did not respond to Reuters questions. Neither did the Russian foreign ministry.

Ukraine’s embassy in Addis Ababa referred questions to the Ethiopian authorities.

Ethiopia has called on all sides in the war to exercise restraint and did not vote on a UN General Assembly resolution condemning the Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine which Russia calls a “special military operation” to demilitarise the country.

U.N. Says Investigators Prevented Access To Site Of Mali Killings

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2022

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The United Nations has expressed concern that Mali has prevented its investigators from visiting a town where local troops and suspected Russian fighters allegedly killed hundreds of civilians.

According to a Human Rights Watch report at least 300 men are believed to have been summarily executed during a March 27-31 raid on Moura, a town of about 10,000 inhabitants infiltrated by Islamist militants,.

Survivors said white mercenaries suspected to be Russians took part in the massacre that sparked international uproar and prompted the U.N. to open an investigation.

Mali has denied the allegations, saying it had conducted a professional operation to attack insurgents in Moura, and that it would carry out its own assessment.

U.N. spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement unconfirmed sources suggest the death toll could be as high as 500, mostly civilians, adding that time is of essence to ensure accountability and prompt, effective justice for victims.

The statement said Soldiers also reportedly raped, looted and arbitrarily detained a number of Moura’s inhabitants.

The United Nations mission in Mali said separately on Wednesday that it was concerned by reports of more human rights violations committed by the Malian army, accompanied by a group of foreign military during a weekly market in Hombori in northern Mali on Tuesday.

The mission said on Twitter that it has opened an investigation and plans to visit the scene soon.

Russia Sanctions Zuckerberg, Kamala Harris, And 27 Others

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2022

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Russia’s foreign Ministry has announced a travel ban on several top US business leaders, journalists, and officials, adding that the sanctioned individuals will be denied entry indefinitely.

Russia slapped a travel ban on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and 28 other prominent Americans on Thursday.

The sanctions were imposed in retaliation for Western sanctions against Russia for its attack on Ukraine. The travel ban includes top Pentagon officials, US business leaders, and journalists, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, and ABC reporter George Stephanopoulos.

The Russian foreign ministry said the individuals will be denied entry into Russia on an “indefinite basis,” according to an Insider translation of the ministry’s press release. The ministry said they had identified the people as responsible for shaping “the Russophobic agenda” in the US, per a translation.

Notably, the sanctions’ list did not include the names of other top US business leaders like Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, or Google CEO Sundar Pichai even though Twitter and YouTube have been proactive in handling Russian misinformation.

Several of the sanctioned reporters on the list commented on the Russian travel ban on social media.

Throwback Thursday: Castillo De San Pedro De La Roca, The 1700 Cuban Castle With Most Classic Bastioned Fortification

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Angel Gimalo

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April 21, 2022

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Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca, also known as Castillo del Moro, is a fortress built in the 1700 to protect the bay where the city of Santiago de Cuba is located, on the island of Cuba.

This intricate complex of forts, magazines, bastions and batteries is the most complete, best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture, based on Italian and Renaissance design principles.

The first initial design was in 1637 by Giovanni Battista Antonelli, as a defense against raiding pirates, although an earlier, smaller, fortification had been built between 1590 and 1610.

Antonelli design was adapted to the situation of the fortress on the steep sides of the promontory, more precisely the morro from which the fortress gets its name, reaching into the bay.

It was necessary almost 42 years for the fortress to be finished, despite many overseas attacks and natural disasters like earthquakes, this massive historical complex of fortifications still stands.

The Castle is the most classic bastioned fortification in which geometrical form, symmetry and proportionality between sides and angles predominate, making it unique and well recognized around the area.

It went under massive restoration in 1960’s, so that today it would be one of the best preserved castles in the Americas, as well as the best examples of a renaissance fortress.

Due to its cultural identity, cultural importance it has, in 1997 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it one of the many important heritage sites.

Nevertheless, it definitely is one of the most visited places on the island as well, making it one of the top tourist places to be seen while in the Republic of Cuba.

Former Egyptian MP Jailed For Antiquities Smuggling

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2022

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An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced a former member of parliament and others to ten years in prison for smuggling antiquities out of the country.

The former MP, Alaa Hassanein and four others would serve 10 years while Hassan Rateb, a prominent businessman, and 17 others will face five years in prison, according to Egypt’s state news agency.

All were fined 1 million Egyptian pounds, ($54,000).

Egypt has drastically stepped-up efforts in recent years to stop the trafficking of its antiquities, which flourished in the turmoil following a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.

Often the suspects have been high-profile figures. In 2020, an actor and brother of the country’s former minister of finance Raouf Boutros-Ghali were sentenced to 30 years for the same offence.

The state news report did not specify what kind of antiquities were being smuggled — but it said that in some cases the convicted had organized and funded secret excavations.

Egypt is still rich in undiscovered ancient sites dating back to the time of the Pharaohs, and it’s Greek and Roman era.

The country has in recent years warned foreign museums that it will not help them mount exhibits on ancient Egyptian antiquities unless they return smuggled artefacts.

The Antiquities Ministry said it has retrieved more than 1,000 artefacts and around 22,000 ancient coins since 2016.

Cameroon Signs Russian Military Deal

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Zoe Maven

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April 21, 2022

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Cameroon has signed an agreement on April 12 with Russia for military cooperation.

According to security sources, this agreement is part of the continuation of military ties between the two countries for several years, with the emphasis recently on the revision of the military deal signed in 2015.

On the instructions of Cameroon’s Head of State Paul Biya and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and his Russian counterpart, General Sergei Shoogou, inked the documents that define this new military cooperation.

In the 13 page document, the two countries agree to exchange opinions and information on defence policies and international security, development of relations in the areas of joint training, medicine, topography or military hydrography.

They also agree to exchange experiences, and interaction in peace support operations under the aegis of the United Nations.

The symbolic deal established in Moscow, comes as several countries around the world, withdraw ties with Kremlin, to impose sanctions.

Exploring Nyungwe Forest, Rwanda, The Best Preserved Rainforest In Central Africa

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Angel Gimalo

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April 21, 2022

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The Nyungwe Forest, also known as Nyungwe Forest National Park, is a very important rainforest which is located in the southwestern part of the Republic of Rwanda.

Considered to be the best preserved rainforest in Central Africa, it is thriving due to the fact that is located between the water basins of the Congo and Nile Rivers.

This vast, certainly untouched land covers an area of about 970 sq km (375 sq mi) and it is characterized with high, dense canopy which makes it like a fairytale place for those who are in love with nature.

Because Rwanda wanted to increase its number of tourists, the Government created this park in 2004 with hope that the nation will be well known with its nature and enormous biodiversity, and not just with the mountain gorillas from the Volcanoes National Park.

The park is very wide, where it would take around an hour to drive it from to other end, which is perfect for hiking and exploring something what the visitors have not seen before.

It is always required for people to arrange the hiking trips with a guide in order to avoid any dangerous moments with the wildlife and also to make sure that there will be situations where one would be apprehended for poaching.

Still, having in mind that this is rainforest, usually there is some 2,000 mm (79 in) of rain per year, which makes it a bit difficult for the visitors, nonetheless, perfect for the fauna that lives here.

As a matter in fact, with the wide variety of animal species, it is the home of 13 primate species, 275 bird species, 1,068 plant species, 85 mammal species, 32 amphibian and 38 reptile species.

The primates that are among the most interesting ones include the Common chimpanzee, Angola colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, Silver monkey, Golden monkey, Hamlyn’s monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Dent’s mona moneky, Vervet monkey, Olive baboon and Grey-cheeked mangabey.

Because of them, there are primate safaris which are being organized in order to track one kind of primates, among which the most popular of which is chimpanzee trekking.

With population of about 500 individuals, they do not live in troops, but form extended communities that move around the forest.

In addition, another interesting feature is the canopy walk which is the first tree top forest canopy walk in East Africa and the third one on the entire continent of Africa.

Hanging at 50 meters (164 feet) above the ground, it is 90 meters (295 feet) long, making it the perfect opportunity for people to see how the monkeys move around in the tree tops, the birds that are flying above and below, which should not be also forgotten the mesmerizing view of the huge Nyungwe forest.

All in all, being one of the greatest natural gems of Rwanda and nestled among the Rwandan mountains, Nyungwe Forest will provide the most amazing and breathtaking landscape views from Central Africa which will never be forgotten by those who dare themselves to come and visit it.

Once Upon A Time – April 21 – 753 BC – Romulus and Remus Found Rome (Traditional Date)

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Angel Gimalo

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April 21, 2022

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753 BC Romulus and Remus found Rome (traditional date)

1526 First Battle of Panipat: Central Asian conqueror Babur defeats Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, establishing the Mughal Empire in India

1792 Brazilian revolutionary Tiradentes, is hanged, drawn and quartered in Rio de Janeiro

1918 World War I: German fighter ace Baron Manfred von Richthofen “The Red Baron”, shot down and killed over Vaux sur Somme in France, Canadian pilot Arthur Roy Brown credited with the kill

1989 Thousands of Chinese crowd into Beijing’s Tiananmen Square cheering students demanding greater political freedom

Historical Events Today
Today in Film & TV
1930 “All Quiet on the Western Front” based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque, directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Louis Wolheim and Lew Ayres premieres in Los Angeles (Academy Awards Outstanding Production 1930)

Today in Music
1956 Elvis Presley’s 1st hit record, “Heartbreak Hotel”, becomes #1

Today in Sport
1904 Ty Cobb makes his pro debut for Augusta (South Atlantic League)

1962
Secretaries’ Day (now Administrative Professionals’ Day) is first celebrated

1959
Alf Dean using a rod & reel hooks a 2,664lb, 16′ 10″ great white shark off the coast of Ceduna, Australia

Invest in public health emergencies, Africa CDC urges member states

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Cleopatra Okohai

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April 21, 2022

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The Africa Centre for Disease and Prevention Control, on Wednesday, called on member states to invest in public health emergencies.

Head, Disease Control and Prevention at Africa CDC, Dr. Mohammed Abudulaziz, made this call in an interview with the Newsmen in Abuja, on the sidelines of a three-day workshop on Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Networks implementation for the West African Region.

RISLNET is a ‘network of networks’ that harness existing public health assets in five African Union members.

It is to strengthen national and regional laboratory and Surveillance systems, improve quality standards and promote networks for integration whilst leveraging the existing assets within the various sub-regions.

The workshop was organised by African Union/Africa CDC and West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO).

Abdulaziz said that when the continent was confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Africa CDC rose to the occasion in strengthening regional public health agencies that took the center stage.

He said preparedness for any outbreak would be binding to secure member states’ collaboration upon declaration of public health emergency of regional concern, irrespective of leadership or politics at the time.

“African leaders must honour their commitments to allocate at least 15 per cent of their annual budgets to the health sector, as they agreed in the Abuja declaration in 2001.

“Today, spending on health across the continent ranges from 0.1 per cent to 2 per cent of a nation’s Gross Domestic Product,” he said.

Abdulaziz said renewing this commitment is especially urgent as the goals articulated in the Agenda 2063 began to be realised.

“For instance, the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement creates a trade area, including 1.3 billion people across 55 countries.

“Likewise, the African Union’s Protocol on Free Movement of Persons in Africa will enable people to move around the continent without visas.

“Both of these steps are crucial to economic development. They also come with major public health implications,” he said.

Abdulaziz disclosed that African heads of state supported efforts to strengthen and expand the structures within the continent to manage health emergencies.

He said it included giving authority and autonomy to the Africa CDC and Prevention and creating a pandemic preparedness and response authority, an epidemic fund, and a health workforce task team.

Abdulaziz said that building a regional control and capability could not be over emphasised.

“This means strengthening national public-health institutions, such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the Zambia National Public Health Institute in Lusaka.

“It also means strengthening and empowering Africa CDC and its five Regional Collaborating Centres.

“These are the ‘Africa-owned institutions’ that are crucial to prevent, detect and respond to public-health threats.

“Ultimately, both national public-health institutions and regional centres must be the command centres for the control of disease outbreaks,” he said.

Africa CDC established RISLNET for all the African Regions in an effort to address critical need for comprehensive and quality laboratory and surveillance systems and networks within the continent.

NAN recalls that the organisers say RISLNET will be officially launched at the workshop with Western African Regional Member States for the region.

It reports that the focus of the workshop will include a framework for the governance of the RISLNET in the West Africa region.

It will agree on RISLNET structure for the West Africa Regional Collaborating Centre (RCC) and define its functions and operation.

It will also Introduce Global Health Systems Solutions and Institute Pasteur Dakar as the partners who will work closely with Africa CDC, WAHO, and the regional member states for RISLNET implementation in the region.

It says the workshop will also discuss and agree on the development of draft policy and framework document for RISLNET.

Musk Secures $46.5 Billion for Twitter Bid

By

faith Jegede

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April 21, 2022

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Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has secured $46.5 billion in funding to buy microblogging platform, Twitter Inc and is considering a tender offer for its shares, according to a filing with US regulators on Thursday.

Musk himself has committed to putting up $33.5 billion, which will include $21 billion of equity and $12.5 billion of margin loans, to finance the transaction.

Banks, including Morgan Stanley, have agreed to provide another $13 billion in debt secured against Twitter itself, according to the filing.

Musk’s latest move comes after Twitter failed to respond to his offer and instead adopted a “poison pill” to thwart the billionaire’s effort to buy the social media platform for $43 billion.

Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” has said the social media company needs to be taken private to grow and become a platform for free speech.

The offer from Musk, who is the second-largest shareholder of Twitter, has drawn private equity interest in participating in a deal for Twitter, reports said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apollo Global Management Inc is considering ways it can provide financing to any deal and is open to working with Musk or any other bidder, while Thoma Bravo has informed Twitter that it is exploring the possibility of putting together a bid.

Musk, an active Twitter user with over 80 million followers on the platform, has made a number of announcements on the platform, including some that have landed him in hot water with US regulators. In 2018, Musk tweeted he had “funding secured” to take Tesla Inc private for $420 per share – a move that led to millions of dollars in fines and him being forced to step down as chairman of the electric car company to resolve claims from the US securities regulator that he defrauded investors