COVID-19: HEALTH MINISTRY CLOSES VACCINATION POSTS DUE TO HOLIDAY

 Luanda - Angola’s Health Ministry (MINSA) announced Sunday the closure of vaccination posts across the country on the bank holidays, celebrated on 2 and 11 November.

The health institution suspends vaccination on November 2 to mark All Souls Day and November 11 (Independence Day).

According to a note from the institution, the posts reopen days immediately after the holidays.

Data released point to 6. 2 million people vaccinated until last Thursday, 28 October.

Angola expects to vaccinate around 60 percent of its population by December this year.

There are 175 vaccination posts created in Angola to administer the vaccines of AstraZeneca, simopharm, Sptunik and Johnson& Johnson.

 

PRESIDENT WANTS CONCRETE ACTIONS FOR ENVIRONMENT

 Luanda - Angolan president João Lourenço on Saturday called for concrete actions to protect the environment.

"We have reached a time when it is no longer enough to talk. It is not enough to be aware (...). It is necessary to take concrete actions, small or large", he said.

Speaking at mangrove reforestation project launch ceremony, also called "Blue Carbon", João Lourenço said that the action, if it is multiplied, will certainly have its impact on the defence of the environment.

He pointed out the human being as the main responsible for the damage that the environment has been suffering, adding that it was "the action of man that led to the current situation of droughts, floods, typhoons, hurricanes, tsunamis and fires".

João Lourenço noted that all these disasters that have been observed all over the world are consequences "of man's irresponsibility, no matter where he is".

In the mangrove area, commune of Ramiros, Belas municipality, in Luanda, João Lourenço said there were no reasons for conflicts between the construction of leisure infrastructure on the seafront and the maintenance of protected areas, in the case of mangroves.

The incumbent of Executive Power said that the country has a lot of space to build, so the competent authorities should instruct investors where to build the infrastructure.

The Head of State reaffirmed the Angolan Government's commitment to environmental protection.

He noted that this is a way forward, having said that the mangrove replanting project is an example of this commitment, in a partnership between Sonangol and Associação Otchiva, aimed at protecting mangroves.

"Sonangol is a public company, represents the interests of the State and is providing (...) public resources for the protection of the climate and the protection of the environment", he said.

Mangrove reforestation

As part of the Blue Carbon project, the Head of State and the first lady, Ana Dias Lourenço,  planted around 200 mangrove trees in a 200 meter perimeter along the coastline of the Ramiros commune, Belas district. The project is an initiative of Sonangol, in partnership with the Otchiva organisation. During the launch, the two institutions signed a cooperation protocol.

After the ceremony, President João Lourenço offered two vehicles to support the Otchiva Association.

SONANGOL WITHDRAWS MEANS FROM CHINA SONANGOL GROUP

 Luanda - Angola’s National Fuel Society (Sonangol) said that it has recovered, in the favour of the Angolan State, some means belonging to the China Sonangol Group (CS), in partial compensation with interest for the debt.

They are six catamarans, 33 speedboats and a yacht, whose the amounts related to the debt have not been revealed.

Sonangol confirms to have started a recovery process of credits on the China Sonangol Group (CS) related to the funds historically borrowed.

The decision followed the China Sonangol group’s failure to settle the debt.

Sonangol recovered the vessels it identified in Vigo, Spain, in the partial compensation with interest for the debt. 

However, Sonangol decided to transfer to the State side the recovered means so that they can be used accordingly with its needs, said the company in its press release reached Angop.

 

COVID-19: ANGOLA RECORDS 73 NEW CASES, 5 RECOVERIES

 Luanda – Angola announced Saturday 73 new infections, one death and five recoveries in the latest 24 hours.

The statistics are contained in Covid-19 daily report, adding that 42 infections were detected in Luanda.

The source also refers to 13 new cases as having been announced in Cuanza Sul, 10 in Zaire, 7 in Cabinda and 1 in Huila.

The new infections - 42 men and 31 women - belong to 2-67 year age group.

The single case of the death occurred in the country’s capital, Luanda.

Angola has totaled 64,374 cases, 1,709 deaths, 53,235 recoveries and 9,431 active patients.

ANGOLAN PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN GLASGOW FOR CLIMATE CONFERENCE

 

Luanda – Angolan head of State João Lourenço arrived Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland, to participate in the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26).

The Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, who is accompanied by a high-level delegation, will speak at the event that takes place from 31 October to 12 November.

On the sidelines of the conference, the President of the Republic will fulfill a diplomatic agenda filled with meetings with relevant political personalities.

João Lourenço arrived in the Scottish capital accompanied by the first lady, Ana Dias Lourenço.

Climate Conference

About 200 delegations, including government entities, business leaders and representatives of civil society, are taking part, from Sunday, in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26).

The event aims to reflect and alert the Nations to the impact of global warming.

Designated as COP26 (26th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change), the meeting takes place one (1) year late due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The climate emergency has led many of the world's experts and leaders to emphasize its importance for the direction of Planet Earth in this area, in the coming years.

The 26th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference is crucial for control of climate change.

31 OCT - 12 NOV 2021 GLASGOW COP26. UNITING THE WORLD TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE.

The UK will host the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 31 October – 12 November 2021.

The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The UK is committed to working with all countries and joining forces with civil society, companies and people on the frontline of climate change to inspire climate action ahead of COP26.

https://ukcop26.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/COP26-Explained.pdf

Meta: Facebook’s new name ridiculed by Hebrew speakers

Facebook’s announcement that it is changing its name to Meta has caused quite the stir in Israel where the word sounds like that for “dead”.

To be precise, Meta is pronounced like the feminine form of the Hebrew word.

A number of people have taken to Twitter to share their take on the name under the hashtag #FacebookDead.

The emergency rescue volunteers Zaka even got involved, telling their followers on Twitter: “Don’t worry, we’re on it”.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Another Twitter user said: “Thank you for providing all Hebrew speakers a good reason to laugh.”

Facebook isn’t the only company to be ridiculed over translations of its branding.

Here are a few examples of when things got lost in translation.

‘Eat your fingers off’

When KFC arrived in China during the 80s, its motto “finger lickin’ good” didn’t exactly go down well with the locals.

The motto’s translation in Mandarin was “eat your fingers off”.

But it didn’t harm the company too much. KFC is one of the largest fast food chains in the country.

Image caption,The phrase ‘finger lickin’ good’ did not translate well in Mandarin

‘Manure’

Rolls-Royce changed the name of its Silver Mist car as mist translates as “excrement” in German.

The car was named Silver Shadow instead.

Meanwhile when Nokia released its Lumia phone in 2011, it didn’t exactly get the reaction it was expecting.

In Spanish, Lumia is a synonym for a prostitute, although it apparently only appears in dialects with a heavy gypsy influence.

Honda however had a lucky escape. It almost named its new car the Fitta, which is a vulgar description for vagina in Swedish. It apparently did not translate well in a number of other languages.

Apparently the issue was detected early on and a decision was made to name the vehicle Jazz in most countries.

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President’s ‘clean-up call’ worries Tunisians

Tunisians on social media have expressed concern at President Kaïs Saïed’s call for “the true Tunisian nationalists to clean up the country” from the those who “have embezzled the country’s funds”.

Speaking in a ministerial meeting, the president did not specify who were the “true nationalists” nor did he identify those who had “embezzled the country’s funds”.

It is seen by many as a divisive move and a dangerous call for the president’s supporters to harass his opponents.

“This statement means setting up militias from ‘the true nationalist’ to clean up the country with violence and abduction. It is a call for civil war,” wrote Mohamed Dhifallah on Twitter, in just one example.

Mr Saïed has been under pressure from opposition parties and organisations in the country as well the international community to restore the democratic institutions in the country.

Since suspending parliament last July lawyers, MPs, politicians and journalists have been arrested for taking a stand against the president’s decisions. TV channels and radio stations critical of Mr Saïed have also been shut down.

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Puneeth Rajkumar: Indian film star dies age 46

Puneeth Rajkumar, a prominent film actor from southern India, has died at the age of 46.

The star of Kannada cinema worked on more than 29 films and won the national award for “the best child artist” earlier in his career.

Rajkumar died of a heart attack in Bengaluru on Friday, his manager confirmed.

Offices and shops in Bengaluru have closed fearing violence following his sudden death.

There has been a sudden outpouring of grief among his fans who have gathered outside his residence in the city.

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told reporters that Rajkumar was taken to the doctor, complaining of intense fatigue after visiting the gym.

He was then rushed to hospital, where he later died.

His body will be placed at the Kanteerava Stadium for fans to pay their respects.

Rajkumar was known for his dancing skills and was a playback singer like this father Rajkumar. His first appearance was in the film “Bettadu Hoovu”, alongside his father, when he was just 10 years old.

A decade later, he appeared in “Appu” and continued starring in films, with his last movie appearance in 2017.

Rajkumar’s elder brother Raghavendra Rajkumar said his family were “in a state of shock” and urged everyone to remain peaceful.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rajkumar on Twitter.

“A cruel twist of fate has snatched away from us a prolific and talented actor, Puneeth Rajkumar. This was no age to go,” Mr Modi said.

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Belgium hands over Rwanda’s colonial-era songs

Belgium’s ambassador to Rwanda has handed over a digital copy of traditional songs, music and stories recorded during colonial rule to officials in the capital, Kigali.

It includes more than 4,000 recordings made since 1954, mostly by former Belgian officials which have been kept at the Royal Museum of Central Africa in Belgium’s capital, Brussels.

“This is the first step, we expect more materials and objects of our heritage from Belgium,” an official from Rwanda’s cultural heritage academy told BBC Great Lakes.

Belgian forces occupied Rwanda, which had been part of German East Africa, during World War One.

The repatriated recordings will be placed in a museum where members of the public will be able to access them.

These materials will help to “educate and inspire Rwandan youth in our traditional music and arts”, the official said.

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Generation Google EMEA Scholarships 2022/2023 for women in computer science & gaming (7,000 EURO award)

Application Deadline: December 10, 2021 

The Generation Google Scholarship: for women in computer science was established to help aspiring computer scientists excel in technology and become leaders in the field. Selected students will receive a 7,000 EUR award (or local equivalent) for the 2022-2023 academic year. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of each candidate's impact on diversity, demonstrated leadership, and academic background. The program is open to qualified students who meet all the minimum qualifications. Women interested in computer science are strongly encouraged to apply.

Requirements

Be currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a university for the 2021-2022 academic year

Intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time student in a Bachelors, Masters, or PhD program at an accredited university in Europe, Middle East or Africa for the 2022-2023 academic year

Be studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field

Demonstrate a strong academic record

Exemplify leadership and demonstrate a passion for improving representation of underrepresented groups in computer science and technology

Click here to apply:https://bit.ly/3pPFbuy

Deloitte One Young World Education Scholarship 2022 (Fully Funded to attend the One Young World Summit in Tokyo, Japan)

Application Deadline: December 8th, 2021 

As a longstanding partner of One Young World, we are proud to support the Deloitte One Young World Scholarship 2022 which will enable 5 outstanding young leaders to attend the One Young World Summit in Tokyo, Japan on 16 – 19 May 2022.

This scholarship is intended for young leaders focussed on improving the education, skills, and access to opportunity for people in their communities, countries, or world at large. The scholarship is seeking candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to:

Improve access to education, skills, or employment opportunities for those that may be left behind by the rapidly changing global economy. For example, women and girls, disadvantaged youth.

Create skills development or lifelong learning opportunities for people to prepare for the future workforce, including in areas where there are talent shortages.

Accelerate entrepreneurship, new types of employment, or provide opportunities for people to overcome traditional barriers to employment.

Eligibility

Aged 18 – 30*
Nationals of all countries will be eligible to apply for this scholarship
Evidenced commitment to delivering positive change
Demonstrated capacity for leadership

Understanding of key local and/or global issues

Track record of generating impactful and innovative solutions to address education and skills challenges

Benefits

Access to the One Young World Summit 2022 in TokyoTravel restrictions permitting

Hotel accommodation in a private room between 16 and 19 (inclusive) May, 2022

The cost of travel to and from Tokyo (economy class)
Catering which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner (provided by the hotel and during the Summit)
Ground transportation between Summit venues

Click here to apply:

https://bit.ly/3Eq6XCd

Claudette Colvin: US civil rights pioneer wants record cleared

US civil rights activist Claudette Colvin, who in 1955 at the age of 15 refused to give up her seat on a bus for a white person, is seeking to have her criminal record expunged.

Ms Colvin, who is now 82, was convicted of assaulting a police officer while being arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, and put on probation.

She is challenging in court the fact the probation never officially ended.

Her case happened nine months before Rosa Parks famously did the same.

“I am an old woman now,” Ms Colvin said in a sworn statement. “Having my records expunged will mean something to my grandchildren and great grandchildren. And it will mean something for other black children.”

Speaking to a crowd of relatives and activists in Montgomery, she said: “I guess you can say that now I am no longer a juvenile delinquent.”

• CONTEXT: Before Rosa Parks, there was a 15-year-old girl
• LONG READ: The black migrant who fought US segregation

In an interview with the BBC in 2018, Ms Colvin said she “was not frightened but disappointed and angry” because she knew she “was sitting in the right seat”.

She was the first person to be arrested for challenging Montgomery’s bus segregation policies, but her story remains relatively unknown. It was Rosa Parks who became one of the main figures of the civil rights movement after her case led to the boycott of the bus system.

Ms Colvin said she had been inspired by the great anti-slavery campaigners Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. She would end up testifying in the landmark case that effectively ended segregation on buses, in 1956.

Her lawyer said the probation had cast a shadow over her life. Ms Colvin left Alabama at the age of 20 and spent decades in New York, but her family always worried what might happen when she went back for visits, according to the Associated Press.

Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said he supported Ms Colvin’s request.

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Sudan coup: World Bank suspends aid after military takeover

The World Bank has suspended its aid to Sudan, after the military there staged a coup against the civilian government.

Political leaders were arrested on Monday, sparking nationwide protests and international condemnation.

The African Union (AU) has also suspended Sudan from the bloc over the “unconstitutional” seizure of power. The US has frozen $700m (£508m) in aid.

Sudan’s civilian and military leaders had been in a fragile power-sharing agreement for the past two years.

The World Bank and AU moves put further pressure on the coup’s leader, Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan, to reinstate the civilian government.

Gen Burhan was in charge of the power-sharing agreement, and has said the coup was needed to avoid “civil war”. He has insisted that Sudan is still moving towards democracy and elections in 2023 – but his reasoning and the sudden takeover have been widely rejected.

The president of the World Bank, David Malpass, said in a statement: “I am greatly concerned by recent events in Sudan, and I fear the dramatic impact this can have on the country’s social and economic recovery and development.”

In March, Sudan was able to access $2bn in grants from the World Bank for the first time in nearly 30 years, after it finally cleared debt it owed. During a rare visit to the capital Khartoum, Mr Malpass said that the country was making some economic progress, after years of being in a deep crisis.

• Sudan coup: A simple guide
• In pictures: Sudan coup protesters take to streets

The AU tweeted that while it welcomed the release of the prime minister, who was detained on Monday, Sudan will remain suspended from its activities until the civilian government is reinstated.

Meanwhile, street protests have gone on for a third day, with at least 10 people killed after soldiers opened fire on crowds. Troops are reported to have been going house to house in Khartoum arresting local protest organisers.

Trade unions representing doctors and oil workers say they are joining the demonstrations, as are staff at the Sudanese Banking Association.

“We stand firmly against any military action and any form of dictatorship,” the association’s spokesman, Abdul Rashid Khalifa, told the BBC.

• Why Omar al-Bashir was overthrown
• Are military takeovers on the rise in Africa?

The agreement between civilian and military leaders was signed in 2019 after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown. The power-sharing was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy but has proven fragile with a number of previous coup attempts, the last just over a month ago.

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US issues first gender-neutral ‘X’ passport

The United States has issued its first gender-neutral passport.

The document has an “X” in the gender box, signalling that the holder does not identify as either male or female.

It was issued to Dana Zzyym, a 66-year-old intersex activist, who sued the State Department over the issue in 2015.

The US Navy veteran said it was “an exciting moment for me” after getting the new passport. “I get to go places and say ‘yes, this is who I am’.”

Zymm, who identifies as non-binary, was previously denied a passport after failing to mark male or female in an application.

Before getting the new passport, Zymm said “it felt like I was in prison”.

“You’re denied a status of being human and it’s like I was not a citizen of this country because I was denied access to leave and only felons and prisoners are not allowed to travel.”

In June, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the X marker would be offered as an option on passports.

Before, people needed medical certification to mark their gender as different from the one on their birth certificate.

• Beyond ‘he’ and ‘she’: The rise of non-binary pronouns
• Biden kicks off inclusive LGBT agenda

More than 10 countries, including Canada, Germany, Australia and India, already offer a third gender on documents.

The State Department already allows people to self-select male or female on their passport, and says it plans to make the option of a third gender widely available.

“I want to reiterate, on the occasion of this passport issuance, the Department of State’s commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ persons,” said spokesman Ned Price.

The move, which gives choice to nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming US citizens, is the latest move in President Joe Biden’s LGBT agenda.

The president appointed a special envoy, Jessica Stern, to advance LGBT human rights around the world.

Ms Stern said the new gender designation should reduce the “dehumanising harassment and mistreatment that so often happens at border crossings when a person’s legal documentation does not correspond with their gender expression”.

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