AFRICA

‘Save yourselves’: Ethiopia warns Tigrayans of Mekelle attack

Ethiopia’s army plans to surround the capital of Tigray with tanks and may attack the city with artillery to end a nearly three-week war, a military spokesman said, urging civilians to “save themselves”. Ethiopian forces seized the town of Idaga Hamus, 97km (60 miles) from the rebel-held Tigray capital of …

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Al Qaeda in North Africa names new leader

Al Qaeda’s North Africa branch (AQIM) has appointed a new leader and confirmed the death of its former leader Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed by the French army in June, SITE Intelligence Group said on Saturday. U.S.-based SITE, which monitors jihadist websites, said AQIM displayed the dead body of its …

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3 boys found dead in under-construction stormwater trench

Three boys – two 10-year-olds and one 9-year-old – were found dead in an under-construction stormwater trench in Hammanskraal on Saturday afternoon. City of Tshwane spokesperson Thabo Mabaso said it was not yet clear what had happened, but added there had been heavy rain in the Tshwane area on Friday …

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13 tertiary institutions hooked on free Wi-Fi

Vice President Dr Bawumia commissioned Government’s flagship Free Wi-fi Project to tertiary institutions in Accra on Friday, November 20, 2020. The project, which was executed by ECG, leverages ECG’s fibre-optic network to provide free internet connectivity to tertiary institutions. The pilot covered 13 tertiary institutions within the ECG coverage area. …

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Uganda minister: Police have a right to kill you

Uganda’s Security Minister Elly Tumwine has backed police action after 37 people were killed on Wednesday and Thursday following clashes with supporters of opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine. In a media briefing Mr Tumwine said: Quote Message: Police have a right to shoot you and kill you if you reach …

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Three years after Mugabe’s ouster, hope dissipates in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s former leader Robert Mugabe stepped down on November 21, 2017, bringing an end to nearly four decades of iron-fisted rule. His resignation came days after military tanks rolled through the capital Harare. The coup was greeted with euphoria, tens of thousands pouring into the streets to celebrate. But today, …

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Former South African President Jacob Zuma risks jail sentence

Former South African president Jacob Zuma could face jail time or a fine after he left the Zondo commission of inquiry without permission. Zuma who was seeking what he called an “impartial” judge, had accused Judge Raymond Zondo of bias and demanded he recuse himself. He instead walked out of …

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Two arrested for allegedly killing Polokwane woman

Two people were arrested in Polokwane on Thursday in connection with the murder of a 90-year-old woman and the attempted murder of her blind son, 71. The woman was killed during an alleged house robbery in Marobala village in the Sebayeng policing area, outside Mankweng, on Saturday. “The victims were …

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SABC suspends retrenchment process as protests loom

The board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has suspended the retrenchment process to allow all stakeholders to engage further. In a statement released in the early hours of Friday morning, the public broadcaster said the suspension would only last for seven days. “The SABC is committed to meaningfully …

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Seven dead in protests against arrest of Uganda’s Bobi Wine

Seven people died and at least 45 were injured in protests that erupted after police arrested Ugandan presidential candidate and pop star Bobi Wine on Wednesday, Ugandan police said. “As of yesterday evening we had seven people who lost their lives, about 45 people got injuries including an LDU (armed …

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First Vaccine to Be Made in South Africa Since Mid-1990s

Biovac, South Africa’s state vaccine company, has started manufacturing a pediatric vaccine under license from Sanofi Pasteur, marking the first time an inoculation has been made in the country since the mid-1990s. The Hexaxim vaccine protects against six leading childhood diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza B …

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Popular prophet jailed two years for fraud

Prophet Israel Oladele Ogundipe of Celestial Church of Christ Global Genesis Parish has been sentenced to two years imprisonment for defrauding a United Kingdom-based woman. The presiding judge, Justice Olabisi Akinlade, sentenced the cleric after finding him guilty on two of the seven charges brought against him. Prophet Israel Oladele …

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Steve Ayorinde Leads AMAA 2020 Jury Award

The Africa Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) has announced Hon. Steve Oluseyi Ayorinde as President of the Jury for the year 2020 honours. Steve Ayorinde has been the Chairman of the Governing Council for AMAA for over ten years, a pioneer member of the Academy, who has been with the Academy …

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UG reduces fees for 2020/21 academic year

Management of the University of Ghana (UG) has reversed its decision to increase the facility user fees for students for the 2020/2021 academic year. The students by this release, are directed to pay the exact amount they paid for the previous academic year for the 2020/2021 academic year. “After due …

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Body of murdered baby boy at mortuary for more than a year

The investigation officer, warrant Raymond Mamaila (Waterval Boven Police) told Middelburg Observer that he has been working on the case since the gruesome discovery of the body in October 2019. An old man, who was looking for wood, discovered the body in a dry river bed in a bush on the Schoonspruit …

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Zondo dismisses Zuma’s recusal application

The chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has dismissed former president Jacob Zuma’s application for him to recuse himself from hearing the former president’s testimony.   The State Capture Commission on Thursday morning heard the ruling in former president Jacob Zuma’s application …

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Fire guts Sakumono school complex

Fire has gutted the Sakumono School complex near Tema in the Greater Accra region. The incident, according to eyewitnesses began around 5 am Thursday morning. The cause of the fire is not immediately known. Personnel from the fire service have been able to bring the fire under control. More to …

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Prof Benneh murder: Second accused person at Korle-Bu for treatment

Opambour Agya Badu Nkansah, the second accused person in connection with the murder of Professor Yaw Benneh, is scheduled to receive a “particular treatment at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on November 25, 2020”, the prosecution has told the court. At the last court date, lawyer for the accused persons, Emmanuel Larbi …

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39-year-old man to die by hanging for killing lover

An Abeokuta High Court on Wednesday sentenced a 39-year-old man, Musiliu Owolabi, to death by hanging for killing his lover, Afusat Idowu. Owolabi, an automobile mechanic was convicted on one count of murder. The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, while delivering her judgment, submitted that the prosecution …

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DR Congo announces end of latest Ebola epidemic

The Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday declared the end of the country’s latest Ebola epidemic after the outbreak killed 55 people over the past five months. “I am happy to solemnly declare the end of the 11th epidemic of the Ebola virus in Equateur province” in the vast country’s …

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