US President Joe Biden has become the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Tulsa, Oklahoma, site where hundreds of Black Americans were massacred by a white mob in 1921, as he marked the country’s legacy of racial violence.
Biden oversaw a moment of silence for the victims after meeting with three people who lived in the district during the massacre – Viola Fletcher, Hughes Van Ellis and Lessie Benningfield Randle – and toured a museum dedicated to the incident.
Addressing an audience which included survivors of the Tulsa race massacre and their families, Biden said he came to help fill the silence because in silence wounds deepen.
His administration also planned steps to combat inequality including efforts to expand federal contracting with small, disadvantaged businesses, invest tens of billions of dollars in communities and pursue new efforts to combat housing discrimination.
Now between the ages of 101 and 107, the survivors who met with Biden asked Congress for “justice” this year and are parties to a lawsuit against state and local officials seeking several remedies for the massacre.
Biden’s visit comes during a racial reckoning in the United States as the country’s white majority shrinks, threats increase from white supremacist groups and the country re-examines its treatment of African Americans.
Biden, a Democrat who won the presidency partly on the strength of Black voter support, made fighting racial inequality a key platform of his 2020 campaign and has done the same during his short tenure in the White House.
Ivory Coast’s government was to meet with the party of former president Laurent Gbagbo on Wednesday for talks on what his supporters have announced as his impending return.
In an apparent sign of discord, Communications Minister Amadou Coulibaly said the date of June 17, announced by the party on Monday, had not been previously agreed by the government.
Gbagbo is a highly controversial figure in Ivory Coast, where he was forced out a decade ago after a civil war that claimed several thousand lives.
He was then hauled off to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity arising from that conflict.
He was acquitted in 2019, and an appeal against that ruling failed in March, opening the way for his return.
Speculation of when that will be has been building for months, and his supporters say they want to welcome him in triumph.
But the government is in favour of a lower profile, wary of potential unrest if tens of thousands of his supporters turn out.
Coulibaly, who is also government spokesman, said that in order to set a date “consensually… arrangements must be implemented,” notably for Gbagbo’s “safety”.
Wednesday’s talks will bring together the minister of national reconciliation, Kouadio Konan Bertin, and the leaders of the FPI, officials said.
Gbagbo’s refusal to concede defeat in presidential elections in 2010 triggered a showdown with victor Alassane Ouattara and dug a deep rift in the country along north-south lines.
With a new transitional government following the second coup in nine months, Mali’s interim President Colonel Assimi Goita on Wednesday named the country’s new civilian prime minister.
Choguel Kokalla Maiga’s appointment was widely expected, being the leader of the 5 June-Rally of Patriotic Forces movement, the same group that took part in the overthrow of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta last year.
Keita was forced out by young army officers, led by Goita, following mass protests over perceived corruption suggesting that there has been support among some civilians for the new coup on May 24th.
Goita said he had little choice to intervene after what he called “disorder” in the country.
Army officers upset with a government reshuffle detained President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane who were later released and resigned.
The transitional president asked for support for his preference of a prime minister from the opposition M5 movement, a once-powerful group which the military sidelined after the August coup.
Goita also said that the new prime minister will carry out a broad consultation between the different factions.
However, at a crisis summit in Ghana on Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to suspend Mali from the 15-nation bloc and urged Goita to appoint a new civilian premier and forge a new “inclusive government”.
Burundi has reopened its Gatumba border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from the town of Uvira following a long period of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister of Public Health Thaddée Ndikumana explained this move by the great influx of people at this border compared to the other borders saying that any case that comes in is screened, so there is no risk.
He added that in relation to the quarantine at Bujumbura International Airport, they have issued recommendations that have been submitted to the High Authority.
According to the local media, all foreigners entering Burundi through the Gatumba border will have to pay US$30 for the COVID-19 test while Congolese living in Burundi will be allowed to return to the DRC through this border free of charge.
Chantal Nsabimana, a Burundian is returning home after being stranded in DRC. She says she has been blocked for a year and three months from leaving the DRC because the borders were closed while on a family visit in Uvira (eastern Congo).
Another Congolese trader said the reopening is not going to help them as they cannot cross the border since they don’t have that $30 for the mandatory Covid-19 test for non-Burundians.
The Gatumba border was closed in March 2020 as part of the fight against the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, on the DRC side, the Kavimvira border has been reopened since August 2020.
From June 14th, middle schools in the Seoul area will be able to have more students back in the classroom as schools’ capacity limits will be increased to two thirds from the current one third under level 2 social distancing measures.
This comes as the Education Ministry is eyeing the full opening of schools when the second semester begins in August.
“Dear citizens, it is time for full support from all sectors related to education, including systematic expansion of face-to-face classes with the goal of full attendance so that the learning deficit caused by COVID-19 can be fully recovered.”
Hardest hit by the attendance limits were middle schools in the capital region.
The attendance rate for these schools is currently at under 50 percent as the region is under social distancing level two.
There are exemptions for elementary and high schools nationwide, allowing them to have more than 67 percent of their capacity.
And in other regions with lower social distancing levels middle school attendance rate was at 80 percent.
Online classes were in place for those who didn’t go to school, but the general consensus is that in-person classes are much better for students.
“I like in-person classes because I can talk to my classmates also I can concentrate better.”
“I think schools are like small communities. I can talk to my friends and teachers and learn how to cooperate with one another.”
Another eased measure is that vocational high schools, which rely heavily on on-site education will have full in-person attendance as long as the distancing measures don’t rise above level 2.
“The Minister added that by the middle of this month, the steps toward full attendance in August will be clearer. In addition, a project will be launched to make up for the loss in learning caused by remote lessons, not just to fill gaps in students’ knowledge, but to boost their confidence and emotional stability
Japan continues to reject South Korea’s request to correct a map on the Tokyo Olympics website.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said in a news conference on Wednesday that Seoul’s protest over the map is unacceptable, and insisted that Dokdo, the South Korea-controlled territory belongs to Japan.
He was contradicted later the same day by former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who tweeted that the island is South Korean territory, and noted that this fact is also acknowledged by the U.S.
A possible boycott of the global games has been brought up by a former South Korean PM.
Seoul’s government and olympic committee have already sent a letter asking the IOC to provide mediation.
A luncheon meeting was held between President Moon Jae-in and representatives of the South-Korea’s top conglomerates.
While the session was arranged mainly to discuss the results of the recent Seoul-Washington summit, a potential pardon for the de-facto chief of Samsung was also brought up.
South Korea’s four major conglomerates have asked President Moon Jae-in to considering a giving a pardon to the de facto leader of Samsung Group, Lee Jae-yong, who’s behind bars for bribery and embezzlement.
The request was made by the representatives of Samsung, Hyundai, SK and LG, who attended a luncheon meeting on Wednesday at the Blue House.
The top office said the business leaders asked the president to review a proposal made recently by five major business lobby groups that is, to pardon Lee ahead of Liberation Day on August 15th.
Traditionally, presidents have granted special pardons on the anniversary to promote national unity.
The leaders apparently said that the Samsung chief needs to be present to make swift decisions regarding massive investment projects while others stressed that the next couple of years will be crucial given the uncertainties ahead.
“President Moon listened to the requests regarding a pardon for Lee Jae-yong, and said he understands their difficulty.”
Moon was also quoted as saying that the current economic situation is in fact different from before and that he is aware that companies are being requested to take on bold roles.
The president had previously said he will consider people’s opinions and make a decision.
The business leaders were at the Blue House mainly for discussions on the outcome of Moon’s visit to the U.S. last month.
The president credited them for the fruitful outcomes.
The four groups announced investments in the U.S. worth over 39 billion dollars a move intended to help build supply chain resilience.
“It is very meaningful for relations to have been developing comprehensively like this by expanding cooperation in semiconductors, batteries, electric vehicles, and advanced technology and products.”
The leaders pledged continued efforts to build an active economic partnership between Seoul and Washington.
Moon brushed off concerns that major investment in the U.S. could hinder job creation at home.
“Small and medium-sized companies can follow in the footsteps of large conglomerates, and because the exports of parts, materials and equipment will grow significantly, it will create more jobs and opportunities domestically.”
This was Moon’s first meeting with representantives from the four groups at the Blue House since he took office in 2017.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu has restated the need for Special Economic Status for the State owing to its role in the nation and the burdens it bears.
Speaking today at the South West Zonal Public Hearing of the House of Representatives Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, held at Marriott Hotel, Ikeja Lagos, Mr. Sanwo-Olu stated that the continuous request for a special status for the State is by no means a selfish one, but actually in the interest of every Nigerian and of Nigeria as a nation as the progress and prosperity of the country is linked to that of South-west Lagos State.
According to the Governor, the need for this special status has been sufficiently articulated and justified. “It suffices for me at this point to restate that this request is by no means a selfish one, but one that is actually in the interest of every Nigerian and of Nigeria as a nation. The progress and prosperity of Nigeria is inextricably linked to the progress and prosperity of Lagos State”, he said.
While stating the issues of State Police and Fiscal Federalism as top priority for the State in the ongoing review process, the Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat emphasized that a special status for Lagos State must be a concern not only for the people of the state alone, but for all Nigerians.
He stressed that true democracy is all about the exercise of the sovereign will of the people and that “voices and wishes of the people must always be heard loud and clear, regarding how they are being governed and how they wish to be governed”.
Sanwo-Olu was also of the view that “the constitutional amendment process will provide Nigerians the opportunity to express their minds on the issues they want to see reflected in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria either by way of amendments to existing provisions or entirely new provisions”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representative, RT. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, while urging Nigerians to take the ongoing constitutional amendment seriously, noted the process of review and amendment will devise the nation a near perfect constitution which will resolve the issue of “identity, political structure, human rights, administration of government, resource control, national security and so much else that has fragile our nation and that has hindered our progress and prosperity”.
He noted that “the 1999 constitution is as a result of a hurried national compromise that Nigeria entered into two decades ago, just to allow the military vacate the political scene and return back to the barracks. It has always been our intention that one day as one people we will return to amend this document to give voice to the yearning of the Nigerian people”.
Similarly, the Deputy Chief Whip and Member, House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on the review of the 1999 constitution, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha noted that the review is part of the efforts of the House of Representatives to ensure a participatory and inclusive approach in the 9th National Assembly’s Constitution review process.
The Deputy Chief Whip added that the Committee issued a call for memoranda and received submissions covering a wide range of issues such as local government autonomy. Devolution of powers, indigene and citizenship rights amongst others.
The Review is currently considering over thirty constitutional alterations bills which borders on the following; Electoral matters, Local Government, Judiciary, Fundamental human rights, gender equity, increased participation of women, vulnerable groups in governance, immunity, indigene ship and residency, devolution of power, strengthening the independence of Institutions, traditional institutions, State and Local Governments creation and Legislature and Legislative Bureaucracy.
Nigerian company, Ketron, Acquires Shoprite Stores – Ketron Investment Limited, a Nigerian firm has completed the acquisition deal of Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited (RSNL), owner and operator of the Shoprite stores in Nigeria.
Ketron is owned by a group of investors led by Persianas Investment Limited, a statement from Ketron, said on Tuesday.
It said the change in ownership has also received the approval of the Nigerian regulator, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Shoprite Holdings is Africa’s largest food retailer, operating 2,843 supermarkets in 15 countries and serving 35 million customers in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands; its supply chain includes over 300 local suppliers comprising small businesses and farmers.
Speaking on the acquisition, Chairman of Ketron, Tayo Amusan said, “We are thrilled to complete the acquisition of Shoprite, ensuring the continued operations of one of the biggest retail success stories in Nigeria.”
Amusan who also owns Persianas added: “We look forward to building an even stronger company following our acquisition and are excited about the greater impact we will achieve to the benefit of our customers and other stakeholders now and well into the future”.
It was also learnt that Persianas own the major buildings that house Shoprite outlets in Lagos, Ilorin, among others.
Since its launch in Lagos in December 2005, Shoprite has expanded to 25 outlets across 11 states and Abuja, FCT.
Ketron acquired 100% ownership of Shoprite in Nigeria and will continue operations across all existing outlets, with plans to open additional stores and introduce more Nigerian-made products, the statement said.
“It is our vision to create fundamental change for the better within Nigeria,” said Amusan.
Professional services firms, KPMG Advisory Services, MBO Capital Management Limited and Banwo & Ighodalo advised Ketron on the deal. Jide Ogundare, CEO, MBO Capital, in his comment, said: “With the plans we have in place, and with the support of the larger Shoprite family in Nigeria including our staff and every Nigerian shopper that walks through our doors, we are confident of success.”
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