Zambia’s top opposition figure Hakainde Hichilemaon Wednesday launched his campaign for an August 12 presidential election, promising to end hunger and boost education.
The impoverished southern African nation is in default on external debts, estimated at 10 billion euros ($12 billion), half of which are held by private lenders.
Known as “HH” by his supporters, United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hichilema is up against incumbent President Edgar Lungu, 64.
He has pulled together a slew of other opposition parties to back his “The Zambia We Want” alliance.
“We will make sure that you no longer go hungry and your children should be able to go to school,” Hichilema told a crowd of dozens of supporters in Lusaka after filing the papers for his candidacy.
“We want to win and win big. We want to win in the first round,” he added.
People in the crowd shouted “we want change”, while others carried banners declaring “enough is enough, we want HH”.
Hichilema narrowly lost in a 2016 presidential bid and was jailed for four months after challenging the result.
Zambia has enjoyed relative stability since its first multi-party elections in 1991.
Voters will pick both a new president and parliament in the August 12 polls.
Th ghostly image that emerged from Lake Resia in northern Italy became so famous it inspired a book and a Netflix series. It was an image of a church bell tower.
The village of Curon once had some 900 inhabitants living in 160 homes, but it was flooded in 1950 to create a hydroelectric plant
After leaks were found, the lake was temporarily drained for repair work on the reservoir and now the remains of the surrounding village, which has been under water for more than 70 years, have been revealed again.
The village was in the province of South Tyrol bordering Austria and Switzerland.
The workers who began draining the lake a few months ago uncovered piles of bricks and rubble and some steps – all that is left of the old Curon village.
However, the site will not be there for long as a power company started releasing water back into the lake a week ago, and in a couple of weeks it will be full, leaving the village submerged once again.
The West African Health Organisation on Wednesday said Nigeria has greatly improved on its Maternal, Infant and Child health indices when compared to 10 years ago.
The Director-General of WAHO, Prof. Stanley Okolo, said this in Abuja during a regional workshop on dissemination of the Moving Maternal Newborn and Child Health Evidence into Policy Project.
The Nigeria Maternal Mortality Rate 2000-2021 history data says maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination, per 100,000 live births.
Okolo said that the workshop was aimed at improving the demands for the production and use of evidence in decision-making in maternal, newborn and child health within the ECOWAS region.
This he said, necessitated the convergence of participants from across West Africa.
He noted that Nigeria fully participated in the research which yielded impressive results.
“Nigeria is doing well as the country’s maternal and child mortality index, though still high, is now relatively down.
“In Nigeria, we have about three centres that participated. We had a centre in Benin, where they used SMS texting to sensitize women during pregnancy, to ensure that women were monitored during pregnancy and child birth; and when they had problems, they called somebody.
“That absolutely showed a reduction in the number of women and children who suffered harm during pregnancy.
“Then, there was another one that was done in Bauchi, where what they did was to try and understand how to get the family to participate in the pregnancy.
“So, they used video communication to ensure the community participated.
“We have always been traditional people in Africa and so, it is really important to get the family to focus on pregnant women.”
According to him, this community involvement acts as a support to reduce the number of women who suffer harm due to pregnancy related issues.
Also, it increases the number of women who have successful child birth and also reduces the number of infant mortality
Okolo said that the third assessment done in Nigeria was on how to use family support to address the issue of postpartum depression, of which was also addressed.
The D-G said that WAHO had started implementing the research done in Benin in about ten states in Nigeria.
He also added that the research, which spanned for over six years, had aligned the researchers with policy makers and hoped it would ultimately achieve its desired results.
On his part, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Dr Osagia Ehanire, commended the multilateral support West Africa Nations had received from Canada and particularly for Nigeria’s inclusion in the project.
Ehanire, who was represented by Dr Ngozi Azodoh, Head of Research and Development, FMOH, said the project was part of the Canadian initiative’s “Innovation for Maternal and Child Health in Africa (IMCHA)”.
According to her, this has funded eight research projects implemented by six research teams in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, and Nigeria from 2014 to 2021 in West Africa.
“Nigeria constitutes just one percent of the world population, but accounts for 13 per cent of the world maternal and under-five mortality.
“Every day, approximately 830 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman who dies in childbirth, a lot more suffer injuries, and other form of morbidities.
“Globally, an estimated 289, 000 maternal deaths and maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 210 maternal deaths per 100, 000 live births occurred in 2013 and Nigeria accounted for 13 per cent of all maternal deaths in 2013.
“While in 2015, the maternal mortality ratio for Nigeria was 814 per 100,000 live births.
“Even more devastating is the knowledge that, according to research, essential interventions reaching women and babies on time would have averted most of these deaths.
“It is obvious that we need evidence to combat the burden of maternal and infant mortality,” he stressed.
He noted that focus on Research and Development on safe pregnancy, antenatal and delivery, postpartum maternal care, newborn and infant health remain an integral part of the solution to Nigeria’s poor indicators in these areas.
“Increasing our understanding of health-seeking behaviors to inform healthcare interventions will go a long way in reducing maternal and child morbidity and mortality,” he said.
The minister added that the Federal Government was committed to all avenues suitable for the purpose of expanding the country’s research architecture.
In his address, the Acting High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr Nicolas Simard, urged that the evidence generated from the research projects becomes very helpful for future maternal and newborn health programmes in Nigeria.
“Research and evidence-based policy making in the health sector are critical to ensuring better health outcomes in Nigeria and in the ECOWAS region.
“Also, in creating great partnership between Canada and WAHO to improve women’s sexual and reproductive health and children’s health in West Africa,” Simard said.
The World Health Organisation has advised countries to assess the benefits and risks of the newly approved Janssen COVID-19 vaccine before administering it on their populations.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Tuesday approved the Janssen vaccine for the management of COVID-19 in the country; even as Johnson & Johnson had announced same day that it was collaborating with Telangana, India-based Biological E to produce the ‘Janssen/J&J COVID-19 vaccine’ in India.
The WHO counselled that when setting their immunisation policies, countries should assess the risk of thromboembolic events (blood clots) from use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, compared to the benefits.
“Countries should perform such a benefit-risk analysis taking into account local epidemiology, including incidence and mortality from COVID-19 disease, age groups targeted for vaccination, and the availability of alternative vaccines,” the COVID-19 subcommittee of the WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety said while discussing the safety signals related to the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
The United Nations agency says that vaccination remains a critical tool to help prevent further illness and death and to control the COVID-19 global pandemic.
As of 18th May 2021, there were 163,312,429 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,386,825 deaths, reported to the WHO.
The Johnson & Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccine was listed for emergency use by WHO on March 12, 2021.
The vaccine has been authorised for use in Europe, the United States and other countries, with the widest experience to date in the United States, where more than eight million doses of the J&J vaccine had been administered as of May 7th.
The WHO also said it is carefully monitoring the rollout of all COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to work closely with countries to manage potential risks, and to use science and data to drive the response and update recommendations,” the global agency said.
Ford officially unveiled the all-electric version of its bestselling F-150 truck on Wednesday, in an eco-friendly reinvention of a flagship American car brand.
The battery-powered Ford F-150 “Lightning” is part of a $22 billion campaign by the US auto giant to ramp up its electric vehicle offerings by 2025.
Ford is already selling an all-electric vehicle, the Mustang Mach-E sport utility vehicle, but the Lightning will be the first battery-powered incarnation of the F-150.
The F-150, first launched by Ford in 1948, has long been the top-selling US vehicle and a showcase brand for the 118-year-old firm.
Bill Ford, the great-grandson of the car giant’s founder and current chairman of its board of directors, hailed a “pivotal moment” in the company’s history.
The F-150 Lightning is the “smartest, cleanest” model in the lineup, he said. “And it’s pretty powerful.”
In the event of a power cut, the vehicle will be able to supply electricity to a house for about three days, Ford has said.
And for professionals using the truck on construction sites for example, the vehicle’s electrical outlets can serve as a source of energy for the tools.
Ford avoided releasing details about the car ahead of the official launch at 9:30 pm Wednesday local time.
But President Biden revealed Tuesday that the Lightning can hit 0-60 mph in about 4.4 seconds, during a visit to Ford’s Michigan operation to build support for a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, which includes $174 billion for electric vehicle development.
“This sucker’s quick,” Biden said Tuesday afternoon following a spin in the pickup at the Ford plant in Dearborn, Michigan, describing the new technology as critical in the fight to save the planet from global warming.
Production of the new F-150 electric model will begin in Dearborn by spring 2022.
It will face stiff competition: start-up Rivian plans to start selling its R1T electric pickup this summer, while General Motors aims to sell its own version, the GMC Hummer EV, from this fall.
“The future of the auto industry is electric,” said Biden on Tuesday from the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center.
“The question is whether we’ll lead or we’ll fall behind in the race to the future.”
Zhang Yiming owner of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance, is stepping down as chief executive officer and leaving the task of navigating existing and upcoming Big Tech regulations worldwide to college roommate and current human resources head Liang Rubo.
In an employee memo circulated on Thursday, Mr Zhang said the change would “enable me to have greater impact on longer-term initiatives”.
Mr Zhang, who did not address his role as chairman, in the memo called Liang “an invaluable partner” with “strengths in management, organisation, and social engagement”.
ByteDance has had its share of management issues, But its change in leadership also comes as Chinese regulators increase scrutiny of the country’s biggest technology firms. In April, they slapped e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd with a $2.8 billion fine for anti-competitive practices, and last year suspended fintech affiliate Ant Group’s initial public offering.
Mr Zhang, who turned ByteDance into a social media force, described himself as more given to research and innovation saying that he was not a social person and lacked the skills of an ideal manager.
Mr Zhang owns 20 per cent to 30 per cent of ByteDance and holds over 50 per cent of voting rights. Mr Zhang explained that he will work with Mr Liang over the next six months to ensure a smooth transition. Whether he would give up his voting rights is still unknown.
EU member states agreed Wednesday to reopen the bloc’s borders to travellers who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, and increase the level of new cases a country can hit before being declared unsafe.
Meeting in Brussels, diplomats say the recommendations will be adopted by EU ministers on Friday, while an EU Commission spokesman confirmed that the envoys had endorsed the update to travel rules.
Diplomats said that, under the new rules, travellers who could demonstrate that they had received the required number of doses of an EU-approved vaccine could enter the bloc.
In addition, the number of cases per 100,000 people that a country could register over two weeks and still be considered for the green list will rise from 25 to 75.
This would still exclude non-vaccinated travellers from much of the world, but could allow travel from, for example, Britain, which is well-advanced in its vaccination campaign.
Since March 2020, non-essential travel into the 27-member European Union has been banned, apart from a small number of countries deemed safe because of their low Covid case rate.
But businesses on the continent are reopening as virus restrictions are phased out and bars, hotels and restaurants are worried about the summer tourist trade.
Colombia’s wave of anti-government protests entered their fourth week on Wednesday, as unions, student groups and others turned out at marches to demand social change amid intermittent talks between the government and strike organizers.
The protests have been marked by violence by both police and civilians with the attorney general’s office confirming 15 deaths connected to protests, while one human rights group tallies more than 40.
President Ivan Duque earlier this week ordered the clearance of road blockades around the country, which have caused shortages of food and gasoline.
The demonstrations, originally called in late April against a now-canceled tax plan, have expanded to include demands like a basic income, an end to police violence and opportunities for young people.
A health reform also opposed by many protesters, which they had criticized as too vague to make real change to Colombia’s fragile healthcare system, was shelved by a joint congressional committee on Wednesday.
Hundreds gathered in Bogota’s Bolivar Plaza at lunchtime.
A national strike committee formed by major unions, student groups and others, has held several discussions with government representatives about protesters’ demands, but the two sides are not yet holding formal talks.
Organizers have vowed protests will continue in the meantime.
The EU official leading talks to revive Iran’s nuclear deal expressed confidence that a deal would be reached as the negotiations adjourned, although European diplomats said success was not guaranteed with very difficult issues remaining.
The talks resumed in Vienna on May 7 with the remaining parties to the deal – Iran, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany – meeting in the basement of a luxury hotel, and the United States based in another hotel across the street.
Meanwhile, Iran has refused to hold direct talks with the United States on how to resume compliance with the 2015 deal, which former President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018, prompting Tehran to begin violating its terms about a year later.
Russia’s envoy, Mikhail Ulyanov, echoed those comments, saying on Twitter he hoped a final round expected to begin next week would be the last one.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter said the talks had “really helped to crystallize towards the steps that need to be made by Iran as well as by the United States.”
The crux of the original agreement was that Iran committed to rein in its nuclear programme to make it harder to obtain the fissile material for a nuclear weapon in return for relief from U.S., EU and U.N. sanctions.
Senior diplomats from Britain, France and Germany (a grouping known as the E3) offered a note of caution, saying that while there was some tangible progress with the contours of a final deal emerging, success was not guaranteed.
A trial against Guillaume Soro and 19 of his relatives, accused of “plotting against state security”, opened on Wednesday at the criminal court of Abidjan-Plateau.
The prosecution is also charging them with “participation in an armed gang without exercising any command, unauthorised possession of firearms of the first category and acts of manoeuvre likely to compromise public security”.
But defence lawyers in the case are absent in the trial having announced their refusal to participate saying they will not lend their support to a “sham trial”.
Soro and some of his accused relatives are currently outside the country and they are accused of having fomented a “plot against state security”.
The accused include former president of the Ivorian National Assembly, Alain Lobognon, Affoussiata Bamba Lamine, Koné Kamaraté Souleymane, Kassi Kouamé Jean-Baptiste, Zebret Souleymane, Kamagaté Adama, Silué Neguerdjomon Emmanuel. Guiilaume Soro, was once an ally of President Allassane Ouattara. He commanded a rebel force which backed the current president in his fight against President Laurent Gbagbo, who refused to accept he had lost the 2010 elections
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