Africa’s ‘lost $836bn through illegal transfers’

 Africa lost $836bn (£650bn) in illegal movement of money out of the continent in the 15 years to 2015, a new report by the UN agency for trade and development (UNCTAD) estimates.

Compared with Africa’s total external debt of $770bn in 2018, this makes Africa a “net creditor to the world,” the report notes.

The illegal outflow of money is mainly related to the export of high-value goods such as gold, diamonds, and platinum. Revenues are lost through corruption, theft and tax evasion.

“Illicit financial flows rob Africa and its people of their prospects, undermining transparency and accountability and eroding trust in African institutions,” said UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi.

The report cautions that although the amounts of the illegal flows are large, the figures could underestimate the problem and its impact.

The report notes that the the loss undermines African government’s ability to provide services like healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

“Illicit financial flows and corruption are inhibiting African development by draining foreign exchange, reducing domestic resources, stifling trade and macroeconomic stability and worsening poverty and inequality.” the UNCTAD secretary-general said.

Source: bbc

Covid-19: Angola reports 108 new infections, 20 recoveries

 Angolan health authorities announced Monday the registration, in the last 24 hours, of 108 new infections, 20 patients recovered and three deaths.

According to the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, who was speaking at the usual updating session on the pandemic, the new positive cases involve citizens aged between one and 78 years, 63 males and 45 females.

According to the official, these are cases diagnosed in the provinces of Luanda, with 106, and Benguela, with two.

In relation to deaths, he noted that they were registered in Huíla province and involved Angolan males, aged 36, 39 and 77, respectively.

Regarding the patients recovered, he said that one had been registered in Kwanza Sul province and 19 in Luanda.

Angola has 4,905 positive cases, with 179 deaths, 1,833 recovered and 2,893 active.

Of the active cases, 10 are in a critical state with invasive mechanical ventilation, 19 severe, 45 moderate, 99 with mild symptoms and 2,720 asymptomatic.

Health authorities follow 466 patients admitted to treatment centres in the country.

Africa Educates Her Campaign - Angola. Coronavirus in kid's eyes. Day 19

 Coronavirus in kid's eyes 

As schools poise to open in the coming weeks, parents, teachers and students all want to know one thing: How risky is it to open in person? The unfortunate truth: No one is sure.

When it comes to the coronavirus, “going back to school is going to be a learning experience.

Today we are talking to kids!

Belma

Belma is 11 years old, she is studying first class. She says that coronavirus prevented her from going to school, and she misses her colleagues and her teacher very much.

As soon as schools reopen, government officials should place buckets of water for pupils to wash their hands, and control social distance in order to ensure safety in schools.

Jeremias

Jeremias is 12 years old, he says that he no longer attends school because of a very dangerous disease called coronavirus.

According to him, before schools reopen, the government must implement strict biosafety measures to facilitate hand washing.

Most governments around the world have temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. These nationwide closures are impacting hundreds of millions of students. Several other countries have implemented localized closures impacting millions of additional learners.

Coronavirus: New Global Test Will Give Results ‘In Minutes’

 A test that can accurately diagnose coronavirus in minutes will dramatically expand testing in low and middle-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

The $5 (£3.80) test could transform tracking of Covid-19 in less wealthy countries, which have shortages of healthcare workers and laboratories

A deal with manufacturers will provide 120 million tests over six months.

The WHO’s head called it a major milestone.

Lengthy gaps between taking a test and receiving a result have hampered many countries’ attempts to control the spread of coronavirus.

In some countries with high infection rates, including India and Mexico, experts have said that low testing rates are disguising the true spread of their outbreaks.

The “new, highly portable and easy-to-use test” will provide results in 15-30 minutes instead of hours or days, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news conference on Monday.

Drugs manufacturers Abbott and SD Biosensor have agreed with the charitable Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to produce 120 million of the tests, Dr Tedros explained.

The deal covers 133 countries, including many in Latin America which is currently the region hardest-hit by the pandemic in terms of fatality and infection rate.

“This is a vital addition to their testing capacity and especially important in areas of high transmission,” Dr Tedros added.

“This will enable the expansion of testing, particularly in hard-to-reach areas that do not have laboratory facilities or enough trained health workers to carry out tests,” he said

Govt announces plans to set up Integrated Center to assist children

 Angolan Government announced on Monday the creation of the Integrated Center to provide Assistance to Children and Adolescents (CIACA).

CIACA was created as an integrated multisectoral service, which will allow for articulation between the different ministerial departments that intervene in the administration of juvenile justice.

According to the statement from the 7th Meeting of the Commission for Social Policy of the Cabinet Council, the creation of the center is part of public policies and the Executive  challenge of judicial protection of the rights of the child in contact with the justice system.

It recommends to conduct further study on the matter, with the involvement of all sectors.
 

In the health field, the members of the Commission approached the regulation on the licensing of crematory establishments, aimed to introduce, in the Angolan legal system, specific rules on the exercise of crematory activity.

According to the document, the commission also recommended the ministerial departments taking into account the cultural issues surrounding this situation.

The sector recommended are those of  the ministries of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women and Culture, Tourism and Environment, in order to have their say on the issue.

During the meeting, chaired by Minister of State for Social Affairs, Carolina Cerqueira, the members of the commission appreciated, in the field of education and teaching, the situation of returning to school in primary, secondary and higher education.

The government recognises that, in the context of the pandemic, the closure of schools promotes a decline in the learning capacity of students, with psychomotor and affective consequences.

In this regard, the meeting recommended that the ministries of Education and Higher Education, Science and Technology and Innovation should work together with the ministries of Health, Territorial Administration, Telecommunications, Information and Social Communication Technologies, Interior and Youth and Sports, civil society, churches, traditional authorities and other social partners of the State, on mobilisation and awareness of students and their families to ensure that there is a massive and peaceful return to classes.

The Angolan Government wants increase in school weeks

 The Council of Ministers' Commission for Social Policy on Monday in Luanda called for the adoption of a school and academic timetable that would make it possible to have a greater number of school weeks.

STATE MINISTER FOR SOCIAL AREA, CAROLINA CERQUEIRA, CHAIRS OVER THE 7 ORDINARY MEETING FOR SOCIAL POLICY OF THE CABINET COUNCIL

Covid-19: Luanda reports 161 deaths

 At least 161, of the 174 deaths by Covid-19 registered in Angola, are recorded in the province of Luanda (epicenter of the disease), representing 92 percent of the total deaths in the country.

The province of Benguela comes second with three deaths, Bengo (2), Cuando Cubango (2) and Huambo (2), according to the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda.

Updating the national epidemiological picture of the last 24 hours, the official explained that the mortality rate for Covid-19 in Angola fell to 3.6 percent, compared to the end of the week, which stood at 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the province of Cuando Cubango ends up having 100% of the lethality rate, registering two deaths from the first two positive cases.

Contrary to Cuando Cubango, the provinces of Uíge, Malanje and Lunda Norte managed to recover the first cases they registered in their regions, having a zero lethality rate.

Regarding recovery, Luanda also continues to have a higher number, registering a total of 1,564 recovered (91%).
 

 Zaire, which recovered 69 out of a total of 116 cases in that province, Huambo with 24 recoveries from 50 infected, Cuanza Norte with 24 out of 26 cases and Benguela with 10 out of 62 patients.
 

As for the number of infected, Luanda has 4,312 positive cases of Covid-19, which represents 91 percent of the total number of patients in Angola (4,718).

The second position is occupied by the province of Zaire, with 116 infected, Cabinda registers 103 cases, Benguela 62 infected, Huambo 50 and Cuanza Norte total 26 patients.

With the diagnosis of 46 newly infected, 68 recoveries and three deaths, in the last 24 hours, Angola has a total of 4, 718 contaminations, of which 2, 837 were active, 1, 707 recovered and 174 deaths.

Covid-19: Angola reports 79 new infections, 106 recoveries

Seventy-nine new positive cases of covid-19 have been reported in the last 24 hours in Angola, the Health authorities announced.

Delivering the usual covid-19 update Monday evening in Luanda, the secretary of State for Public Health said 106 patients have been recovered in the same 24 hours period.

Franco Mufinda on the occasion said the new positive cases of covid-19 are people with ages between five and 71 years, 54 males and 25 females.

According to the official, the positive cases and deaths were detected in the capital, Luanda, involving male nationals of ages ranging from 59 to 70 years.

Those recovered are patients in Luanda with 49, one in Benguela (centre), two in Cuanza Sul (centre) and nine in northern Zaire province.

With the new data, Angola’s covid-19 statistics show 4,797 positive cases, 176 deaths, 1,813 recoveries and 2,808 active patients.

CPLP countries address fight against covid-19

 The interaction and exchange of experience on the impact and fight against the coronavirus pandemic topped Monday , by videoconference, the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), on the sidelines of the 75th Ordinary Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

ANGOLAN FOREIGN MINISTER, TÉTE ANTÓNIO, ATTENDS CPLP COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Africa Educates Her Campaign- Angola. Interview in English. Do not miss this episode

 Africa Educates Her Campaign is live in Angola. Day 18

Today we have nice people in our programme, this Angolan girl will share with us her experiences during lock-down. She studies in one of the best universities of Angola. Her name is Rafaela Veloso and she is 19 years old.

Rafaela is explaining how covid-19 has affected her life.

Click to watch the video!

Girls are missing out on education because they can’t access online and distance learning. 

Don't miss this opportunity to bring girls back to school. Join us! 

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Luis Suarez Scores Twice On Atletico Debut As Barcelona Make Winning Start

Debutant Luis Suarez wasted no time in making his mark at Atletico Madrid as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich suffered a day to forget.

Suarez came off the bench with 20 minutes remaining, and Atletico leading 3-0, to announce himself in style three days after his arrival from Barcelona with two goals in a 6-1 rout of Granada.

Diego Costa scored the only goal of the first half after nine minutes, with Saul Niguez’s seeing his 16th-minute penalty saved by Rui Silva for the hosts.

Angel Correa and Joao Felix netted before Suarez’s introduction, and he made an immediate impact by laying on for Marcos Llorente to add a fourth.

Suarez scored a fine header to open his account in the 85th minute and, while Jorge Molina grabbed a late consolation for Granada, the Uruguay striker slid home his second in stoppage time.

Barcelona also enjoyed an impressive victory on Sunday with Lionel Messi scoring a penalty and Ansu Fati notching a quickfire brace as Ronald Koeman’s team opened their LaLiga campaign by thumping Villarreal 4-0 at the Nou Camp.

Messi — making his first competitive appearance since informing Barca in August that he wanted to leave, then subsequently deciding to remain for this season — converted a penalty in the 35th minute to put the hosts 3-0 up. The spot-kick was awarded following a Mario Gaspar foul on teenager Fati, whose superb start to the contest had already seen him score two goals in quick succession. The 17-year-old Spain international fired in the opener in the 15th minute having received the ball from Jordi Alba’s cut-back. Four minutes later Philippe Coutinho, back from his loan spell at Bayern Munich, drove forward from his own half and fed Fati, who slotted past Sergio Asenjo. After the subsequent penalty, things got better still for new Barca boss Koeman just before the interval as a Messi delivery was diverted by Villarreal’s Pau Torres into his own net

Coronavirus: David Lammy Warns That People Are ‘Bubbling Out Of Pubs’ Due To Curfew

Shadow justice secretary David Lammy has said that the introduction of a 22:00 curfew for pubs in England has led to people “bubbling out of pubs” at the same time.

The Labour MP said that drinkers were “hanging around towns and they’re potentially spreading the virus”.

Mr Lammy questioned the “science” behind the new restrictions, saying: “It’s not clear where that came from.”

But the culture secretary said: “There is definitely science behind it.”

Oliver Dowden, speaking to BBC One’s Andrew Marr Show, insisted: “That’s why we’re requiring people to be seated in pubs and restaurants, so that stops the flow of them to and from the bar.

“We are reducing the closing times to stop people staying later and drinking.”

“And the point about all of this is that everyone has their part to play. If we all play by the rules, we can ensure that there are not further, more draconian restrictions,” the culture secretary added

Under the new restrictions, which came into force on Thursday, all pubs, bars and restaurants in England are to shut no later than 22:00 each night. They are also restricted to table service only.

But concerns have been raised by both businesses and community groups that the new curfew encourages customers to all leave at once and to carry on drinking together at one person’s home.

Brewer and pub chain Greene King told the BBC: “Without the usual slow ‘wind-down’ time that pubs would see with a gradual closure, customers were all leaving at once which presented more of a challenge for the pub teams managing people’s safety on exiting the premises.

“We have also seen examples of people leaving our pubs to buy alcohol in shops to drink elsewhere,” its statement said.

It is calling on the government to reconsider many of the measures – which were introduced since the number of Covid-19 infections started to increase again.

Pub chain operator Mitchells & Butlers, which runs brands like All Bar One, said it was too early to tell what impact the curfew might have on trade, although “it creates an additional challenge as it forces customers to leave all at once rather than dispersing gradually”.

A spokesman said it presented an extra hurdle “in what are already very challenging and uncertain times for our industry”.

The boss of the Wetherspoon pub chain has also questioned the introduction of the 22:00 curfew.

Tim Martin said on Tuesday: “The main problem with the 22:00 curfew is that it’s another random and arbitrary move by the government, which lacks logic or scientific credibility.”

He said that it would reduce sales for “hard-pressed” pubs and restaurants, while also increasing “the level of unsupervised socialising” at home and elsewhere.

Speaking on the Marr show, Prof Mark Woolhouse, who sits on the government’s advisory body that models pandemics, said that modelling of the effect of the new curfew had not been carried out to his knowledge.

He explained: “The models do not have the sort of granularity that you can explore in detail for closing times for pubs, or even different versions of the rule of six that we now have around the country.

“So those sorts of things have to be judgement calls based on the public health evidence.”

A spokeswoman for the Department for Business said: “These measures strike a balance between saving lives by protecting our NHS and the most vulnerable and minimising the wider impact on the economy and schools.

She said the government had taken “immediate action” as the latest data suggested a “considerable rise” in the infection rate from within the hospitality sector in recent weeks.”

“We’ve acted decisively to support the hospitality sector throughout the coronavirus outbreak, and will keep all measures under constant review,” she added.

After falling from their April peak, confirmed new coronavirus cases in the UK have been rising again since early August.

On Sunday, the country recorded a further 5,693 cases and 17 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

The number of deaths recorded over the weekend tends to be lower than during the week because of reporting delays

They urged additional help for the hospitality industry: “The measures have not been well thought through and the combined impact of [the curfew], the challenges of table service-only and the fact that the government are unfairly targeting the hospitality sector has had a cumulative negative impact.

Covid-19: Angola reports 82 infections, 85 recoveries

 The national health authorities have recorded 82 new infections, four deaths and 85 recovered patients in the last 24 hours.

Of the new cases, according to the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, who was speaking at the usual updating session, six were registered in Benguela province, three in Huíla, three in Cabinda, two in Huambo and 68 in Luanda.

The group is made up of 52 male and 30 female patients aged between 7 and 78.

Regarding the four deaths, he said they were Angolan citizens, three of whom were men and one woman, with three registered in Luanda and one in Cabinda.

Angola has 4,672 positive cases, with 171 deaths, 1,639 recovered and 2,862 active patients.

Of the active people, 11 are in critical condition with invasive mechanical ventilation, 16 severe, 37 moderate, 80 with mild symptoms and 2,718 asymptomatic.

Health authorities follow 426 patients in treatment centres in the country.

President João Lourenço - Three years of governance

 Angolan President of Republic João Lourenço marked Saturday (26) the third year of his five-year in office, marked by the strong negative impact of Covid-19 on the Angolan economy, in particular, and on society in general.

Inauguration of President of Republic, João Lourenço

Covid-19: Angola thanks Chinese aid

 Angolan President, João Lourenço, Friday thanked Chinese aid to African countries, particularly Angola, in the fight against Covid-19.

Presidents of Angola, João Lourenço, and China, Xi Jinping

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Government approves mandatory social protection regime

 Angolan Government approved Thursday the legal regime of mandatory social protection of hired workers, as part of the economic activities that generate low income.

The information is expressed in the press release from the Economic Commission of Cabinet Council.

The legal regime covers workers who, under the subordinate authority of a single or collective employer, provide services on farms organised in agricultural, fisheries and commercial companies, without prejudice to others.

According to the document, the monthly average of the total wage bill of the workers involved does not exceed twenty national minimum wages, with reference to the agriculture sector.

The 9th Ordinary Session of Economic Commission, chaired by President João Lourenço, also approved a legal document that defines the Rules for the Management of Technical and Asset Reserves of the National Institute of Social Security (INSS).

The diploma aims to better manage the available financial assets, in order to guarantee the payment of social benefits in the medium and long term and the financial sustainability of mandatory social protection.

The approval of this document will enable the Government to manage the INSS 'technical reserves and assets, obeying objective and clear criteria.

The session also approved a legal instrument that institutionalises the Social Security Mediation Activity, in order to define and regulate the exercise of the activity in the country aimed at allowing the raising awareness of taxpayers and insured persons for the Mandatory Social Protection System.

Still, under the Mandatory Social Protection, the Economic Commission approved the Legal Protection Regime in old Age.

In the field of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security, the meeting approved the Regulation of Professional Internships, a document that establishes the rules, modalities and criteria that regulate the access and exercise of professional internships, aimed at covering young people aged between 18 and 25 years.

On National Development Plan, the Economic Commission also approved the Balance Sheet Report of the National Development Plan 2018-2022, with reference to the first half of 2020.

In relation to Public-Private Partnerships, the session approved, on the other hand, the Operational Plan for Structuring Public-Private Partnerships, until December 2021.

Covid-19: Angola reports 115 new cases, 51 recoveries

 At least 115 new infections, five deaths and 51 recoveries is the statistical balance sheet, for the last 24 hours, released this Friday by the Angolan health authorities.

According to the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, at the usual updating session on the Covid-19 pandemic in Angola, the table includes 10 cases diagnosed in Huambo, four in Benguela, one in Zaire, one in Cuando Cubango and 99 in Luanda.

According to Franco Mufinda, of the new cases, whose ages range from 4 to 88 years, 77 are male and 38 female.

In relation to the deaths, Mufinda said that four had been registered in Luanda and one in Cuando Cubango, three of them male and two female.

Four hundred and sixty-one patients are under follow-up in treatment centres throughout the country.

Angola has 4,590 positive cases, with 167 deaths, 1,554 recoveries and 2,869 active patients.

Of the active, 17 are in critical condition with invasive mechanical ventilation, 20 severe, 35 moderate, 84 with mild symptoms and 2,713 asymptomatic.

Africa Educates Her Campaign is ongoing. Don't miss this!

Africa Educates Her Campaign-Angola. Day 17

Schools have been closed since early March for 15 million students. The African continent has taken the first tentative steps out of its Covid-19 measures but there is uncertainty about when classrooms will be able to reopen safely. That has led to fears of increased numbers of girls dropping out of education. 

For this reason we are running this amazing campaign in order to get girls back to school. 

Today we have Ivete José in our program. We found her in the street, it was nice to talk to her. She will share with us her experiences during lock-down.

Ivete is a 9-year-old girl. She says that coronavirus affected her negatively. She misses school, classmates and teacher.

Despite the circumstances, she doesn't give up. In her free time she solves the fascicle exercises that the school is offering for students to study at home.

According to her, the government and education agents must create strict biosecurity measures, control social distancing, divide the class into small groups, put buckets of water for hand washing. Victoria told us that her classroom is composed of 60 students, at this time the teachers must compulsorily divide the class into small groups.

 "When girls are in school, they are busy and their minds are doing something. But this pandemic has delayed the girls studying and acquiring knowledge."

Distribution of school material

What schools can do?

To stay safe, there are a number of steps schools should take to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include:

Physical distancing. The goal for students and adults is to stay at least 6 feet apart to help prevent the spread of the virus. However, research has found that spacing desks at least 3 feet apart and avoiding close contact may have similar benefits--especially if students wear cloth face coverings and do not have symptoms of illness. Teachers and staff should stay 6 feet apart from other adults and from students when possible. Teachers and staff should also wear cloth face coverings, limit in-person meetings with other adults and avoid areas such as staff lounges.

When possible, schools should use outdoor spaces and unused spaces for instruction and meals to help with distancing. For example, activities like singing, band and exercising are safest outdoors and spread out.

Classroom changes. To help limit student interaction outside the classroom, schools should consider:

• Having teachers move between classrooms, rather than having students fill the hallways during passing periods.

• Allowing students to eat lunches at their desks or in small groups outdoors instead of in crowded lunchrooms.

• Leaving classroom doors open to help reduce high touch surfaces such as doorknobs.

Testing & temperature checks. The CDC currently does not recommend COVID testing of students and staff​. Testing only shows whether a person is infected at that specific moment in time and may not be useful in preventing outbreaks in school communities. Taking students' temperatures at school may also not be feasible, but you can monitor your children's health at home and keep them home if they are not feeling well. Schools should frequently remind students, teachers, and staff to stay home if they have a fever of 100.4 degrees F or greater or have any signs of illness.

Why students should go back to school–when it​ is safe

​Schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents. In addition to reading, writing and math, students learn social and emotional skills, get exercise, and have access to mental health support and other services that cannot be provided with online learning. For many children and adolescents, schools are safe places to be while parents or guardians are working. For many families, schools are where kids get healthy meals, access to the internet and other vital services.

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Airlines push for coronavirus tests before international flights

Global airlines are calling for airport coronavirus tests for all departing international passengers to replace the quarantines they blame for exacerbating the travel slump.

Rapid and affordable antigen tests that look for pieces of the coronavirus in swab samples from people's noses and throats - and that can be administered by non-medical staff - are expected to become available in the “coming weeks” and should be rolled out under globally agreed standards, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said during an online media briefing.

“We don’t see any alternative solution that would be less challenging or more effective,” IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac said.

Airlines hammered by the coronavirus pandemic are pressing governments to embrace alternatives to blanket travel restrictions that are still hampering a traffic recovery - and that are now tightening again in Europe amid resurgent case numbers.

With rapid antigen tests becoming available for as little as $ 7 each, by Juniac said, airlines will push for their use to be endorsed by the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations agency that oversees global aviation rules.

IATA believes production could be quickly increased to millions per day and the tests phased in between late October and the end of the year, “helping to save a part of the winter season”, by Juniac told Reuters television.

A global agreement is needed to ensure predeparture test results are uniformly accepted by the destination country, he said, adding, “It will also boost passenger confidence that everybody on the aircraft has been tested.”

Evolving position

The airlines ’position has evolved alongside testing technology. IATA argued a month ago for new rules to recognize laboratory-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests - which also look for virus fragments - conducted 48 hours before departure.

Last-minute airport screening is more effective because it “seals off the system” against forged certificates or infections contracted just before travel, by Juniac said on Tuesday.

Antigen tests are faster but less sensitive and therefore slightly more likely to miss positive cases than the PCR alternatives, although the accuracy gap has narrowed.

Among companies marketing the new tests, German diagnostics specialist Qiagen said earlier this month that it planned to launch a COVID-19 antigen test that provided results in 15 minutes and could be deployed in airports or stadiums.