World Bank Africa 2021 #Blog4Dev Essay Contest for young Africans (chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office/Attend World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2021 )

World Bank Africa 2021 #Blog4Dev Essay Contest for young Africans (chance to intern at a World Bank Africa country office/Attend World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2021 )

Application Deadline: November 30, 2020 

Are you a young African between the ages of 18 and 28 and currently residing in Africa? Here is another chance for you to have your say on building your nation and continent! As you know, Africa’s exponential youth growth comes with immense opportunities for you to inject fresh ideas, vibrancy and optimism into addressing many of Africa’s challenges.

Launched in 2014 by the World Bank Kenya office, the #Blog4Dev competition is an annual writing contest, inviting young people to weigh in on a topic critical to their country’s economic development. The competition is a way to engage Africa’s youth and provide a platform for them to share their views—and solutions—about development topics that are important to them. In 2018, it became a regional competition, open to young citizens from all 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ELIGIBILITY 

To be eligible for the #Blog4Dev competition, you must:

· Be a citizen of one of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa;

· Be between the ages of 18 and 28 on November 30, 2020;

· Not have been a winner of previous editions.

Prize:

Winning authors are eligible for several prizes, including an invitation to attend a dedicated program during the World Bank-IMF Spring Meetings 2021 (if the health situation improves), opportunities to represent Africa’s youth at high-level events, a chance to intern at a World Bank country office, or an opportunity to have their blog published on the World Bank blog Youth Transforming Africa.

Click here to apply: https://bit.ly/34esNtd

UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) Local Pathways Fellowship 2021 for young emerging Leaders

 Application Deadline: November 30, 2020 

By way of recognizing youth as the key player in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and building on the success of the past cohorts of the Local Pathways Fellows, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) is recruiting its 2021 cohort of the Local Pathways Fellows. 

Requirements

Solid understanding of the concept of sustainable development.
Passionate about the mission of the SDSN, including the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Strong knowledge in urban planning, urban environment, urban sustainability, urban tech, development practice, community engagement, advocacy, or related fields
Professional or academic experience in urban planning, urban environment, urban sustainability, urban tech, development practice, community engagement, advocacy or related fields or similar fields would be considered a strong asset
Ability to communicate effectively and report consistently
Good organizational, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills
Fluent in English and the local language of the cities they represent
Consistent and stable internet connection
Candidates must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of application

Benefits

The fellows will benefit from global visibility and exposure as champions for sustainable urban development, numerous opportunities to develop their expertise, as well as access to our vast network of SDG professionals and advocates.
Being part of SDSN Youth and the Local Pathways Fellowship enables you to be at the forefront of efforts taken by the United Nations, governments, companies, and civil society in developing and leading a global movement for sustainable development and enables you to make an impact.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY: https://bit.ly/31no3PO

Simon Cowell walks for the first time since horror bike crash

 

SIMON Cowell has been seen in public for the first time since breaking his back in an agonising accident.

The Britain’s Got Talent judge, 61, looked well on the road to recovery as he hit the shops with his girlfriend Lauren Silverman and their son Eric.

Simon was rushed to hospital in August after tumbling off an electric bike in a crash that nearly paralysed him.

He was hospitalised and needed such extensive recovery time he was unable to return to the UK to judge Britain’s Got Talent’s semis and final as planned.

But yesterday Simon was up on his feet again, going for a walk in Malibu, California – where the crash happened.

The X Factor supremo was joined on a gentle family shopping trip by Lauren, 43, and their son Eric, six.

Simon was seen carrying a bag as the family visited a beauty boutique in the beachfront city.

The star – wearing a dark T-shirt and white shorts like his son – looked relaxed as he wandered about, giving a thumbs-up to one well-wisher.

Simon’s life-changing accident caused him six weeks of agony for which he needed high-strength painkillers.

However, by last week he was well enough to celebrate his birthday, blowing out the candles on his cake at a small party thrown by his ex Terri Seymour.

He is thought to have battled his way back to health by swiming and going on walks and is focused on being on “top form” for filming on Britain’s Got Talent’s next series in January.

Simon needed surgery after his accident, which took place in the courtyard of his home.

He said at the time: “Some good advice, if you buy an electric trail bike, read the manual before you ride it for the first time. I’ve broken part of my back. Thanks for all the your kind messages.”

Liam Neeson’s ‘Honest Thief’ notches No. 1 at box office

 Liam Neeson’s thriller “Honest Thief” stole the top spot at the box office in yet another quiet weekend of moviegoing.

The Open Roads Films movie brought in $3.7 million in North America the weekend of its U.S. debut. The film, starring Neeson as a notorious bank robber who turns himself in but was double crossed by two FBI agents, opened in Canada last week.

The film also played well in markets including Miami, Chicago, San Diego and Atlanta, according to the studio.

“Honest Thief” overtook “The War with Grandpa,” which claimed No. 1 last week. Despite coming in second, the comedy starring Robert De Niro earned $2.5 million. It has garnered $7.3 million domestically within a 10-day timespan.

Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” came in third with $1.6 million. The action-thriller starring John David Washington and Robert Pattinson has totaled $50.6 million in the U.S.

SA health minister and his wife test positive for coronavirus

 South Africa’s health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize and his wife have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), Mkhize said on Sunday.

“I wish to inform the public that this afternoon [Sunday] my wife, Dr May Mkhize, and I have tested positive for COVID-19,” Mkhize said in a statement.

“We decided to go test yesterday [Saturday] when I started showing mild symptoms. I was feeling abnormally exhausted and as the day progressed I started losing appetite. My wife had a cough, was dizzy, and extremely exhausted. Given her symptoms, the doctors advised that she must be admitted for observation and rehydration,” he said.

“Our close contacts in the past week have been a few of our family members and some of my health ministry team. We have informed them and advised them to immediately isolate in their homes and be tested. I am now in quarantine at home and both my wife and I remain optimistic that we will fully recover from this virus,” Mkhize said.

He urged all South Africans to continue adhering to health protocols such as wearing face masks, keeping physical distancing, and washing or sanitizing hands.

“As a country, South Africa had made significant strides in the fight against the pandemic.

“Let us not dare regress. Whatever we do and wherever we go, we have to keep in mind that there remains a risk of a second wave. This virus only spreads through movement and contact of people. Therefore we must all play our part. We must protect ourselves and those we love.

“I will use this quarantine period to rest and recharge because our task to improve the health services of our country and the lives our people, even post-Covid-19, remains of paramount importance,” Mkhize said.

On Sunday the Health Ministry reported 703 793 cumulative confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Africa, 1 662 new cases identified since the last report on Saturday.

Recoveries now stand at 634 543 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%.

Soldiers open fire on protesters in Nigeria’s largest city

 Soldiers on Tuesday opened fire on #EndSARS protesters in the Lekki area of the state on Tuesday.

At least one person has been killed and several others injured in the heavy bombardment by the soldiers.

An eyewitness told journalists that the protesters were sitting on the floor when the soldiers arrived in the area and started shooting sporadically.

The incident caused pandemonium in the area as protesters scampered to safety.

Lagos has been rocked by violence in the last few hours.

Earlier on Tuesday, at least seven persons were killed and several others injured during a clash between protesting youths and policemen from the Olosan police station in the Mushin area of Lagos.

The injured victims are receiving treatment at the General Hospital in the area.

Suspected hoodlums also razed the Orile Iganmu central police station also on Tuesday.

The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had earlier on Tuesday declared a 24-hour curfew over the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protest in the state.

Six Russian military officers charged for cyber attacks

 Six Russian military officers have recently been charged in a hacking scheme to attack several major foreign powers, former Soviet republics and subvert investigations into nefarious activities by the Kremlin.

Prosecutors said they attacked Ukraine, the country of Georgia, and the French elections. The six are also being held accountable for Russia’s efforts to use of a weapons-grade nerve agent, Novichok, on foreign soil among other things. This was due to Russian athletes being banned after participating under their nation’s flag, as a consequence of Russian government-sponsored doping effort.

These alleged cyber attackers hacked into software using destructive malware to black out thousands of computers and cause nearly $1 billion in losses, and were intended to support Russian government efforts to undermine, retaliate against, or otherwise destabilize worldwide computer networks, claimed the Justice Department.

Interestingly, Britain has also accused Russia’s military intelligence service of carrying out cyberattacks on officials and organizations involved in planning the 2020 Olympic games.

The United Kingdom accused the GRU of targeting the “organisers, logistics services, and sponsors” of the games. The 2020 competition was scheduled to take place in Tokyo in July but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

UK’s  Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab condemned the GRU’s actions in the “strongest possible terms,” calling the unit “cynical and reckless,” in a statement published on Monday.

The statement also accused the Russian body of targeting the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in South Korea with cyberattacks.

“The UK is confirming for the first time today the extent of GRU targeting of the 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Pyeong Chang, Republic of Korea,” the government statement said.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has assessed the attacks and believes they were intended to sabotage the games, as the malware used “was designed to wipe data from and disable computers and networks.”

Covid-19: Angola reports 220 new infections, six recoveries

  Angolan health authorities announced Tuesday the reporting of 220 new cases, three deaths and six recovered.

FRANCO MUFINDA, STATE SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH

Covid-19: Angola releases list of diagnostic test prices

  Angolan Government has published the list containing prices of COVID-19 tests, with rapid tests set for 6,000 Kwanzas.

According to a joint Executive Decree of Ministries of Health and Finance, published in the country’s Gazette on Monday (19), the value of the Elisa serological test stands at 20, 000 kwanzas.

For the RT-PCR test (the most reliable) in public health facilities, the Government set  the cost-sharing at 75,000 kwanzas.

Available data indicate that private clinics are charging 180, 000 kwanzas for RT-PCR tests.

The presentation of the results of rapid tests and negative RT-PCR is mandatory for national and international trips, under the Decree on the Situation of Public Disaster.
 

As part of the new measures contained in this legal instrument, running until 7 November, the Government has created two testing regimes.

One on its own initiative (cost-sharing) and on the initiative of the health authorities (free of charge).
 

However, the Ministry of Health (MINSA) confirmed laboratories in the provinces of Huíla, Benguela and Luanda (at the National Institute for Research and Health, Central Military Hospital, Hospital Esperança, National Institute for the Fight against AIDS, Clínica Girassol, Clínica Luanda Medical Center, Endiama, Girassol, Cligest, Mediag, Centro Alada and Cidil).

The laboratories in the provinces of Huambo, Lunda Norte and Uíge are being created.
 

In his recent State-of-the-Nation Speech, the President of Republic, João Lourenço, announced that the country will soon triple its capacity from 4,000 to 13,000 tests per day, in response to the increase in the number of daily Covid-19 cases.

According to João Lourenço, the country will manage to perform 7, 000 RT-PCR tests and six thousand serological tests daily.