AFRICA

Kenya census to include male, female and intersex citizens

Kenya will become the first country in Africa to collect data on intersex people in its national population census, in a major victory for rights activists. The August survey will determine the number of citizens who do not identify as either male or female. Intersex people in Kenya often face …

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Nigerian MPs flee chamber after snake falls from roof

Lawmakers in the south-western Nigerian state of Ondo abandoned their session on Thursday as a snake dropped from the roof, local media are reporting. Members were about to begin the business of the day when the snake dropped from a hole in the ceiling, bringing the day’s work to an …

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BREAKING: Court approves historic R5bn settlement in silicosis saga

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has approved the historic R5bn settlement agreement in the lengthy silicosis case. Judge Leoni Windell found that “all the parties made an effort to ensure that the settlement agreement is reasonable, adequate and fair.” “The terms of the settlement agreement demonstrate that they succeeded …

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Libya recovering bodies of drowned migrants

The authorities in Libya are still recovering the bodies of those who drowned after their boat sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Tarik Argaz told the BBC’s Newsday programme. He added that, according to some survivors, there were between 250 and 300 migrants and refugees on board …

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Cuba to train 40 Zongo medical students yearly

The Government of Cuba has accepted to train 40 brilliant but needy medical students a year from Zongo, inner city and other deprived communities in Ghana. This follows a proposal by Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to the Government of Cuba to extend the special arrangement between the two countries …

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Second-year SHS students to remain on double-track

The government has announced that second-year senior high school (SHS) students will remain on the double-track system when the next academic year begins in September this year. The announcement follows the delay in the execution of the additional projects being embarked on by schools operating the double-track system in the …

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Scores feared drowned in shipwreck off Libya

Up to 150 people may have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, the UN refugee agency says. A further 150 people were rescued by fishermen and returned to Libya by coastguards, the UNHCR said. It is not clear if the migrants were on one or two boats …

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WAEC withholds WASSCE results of 26,434 students

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has withheld the entire results of some 26,434 candidates pending the conclusion of investigations into various cases of examination malpractice detected during and after the conduct of the examination. The Council in a statement signed by Mrs. Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, Head of Public Affairs for …

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Avoke’s return: Heavy police presence on UEW campus

A huge number of heavily armed police officers have taken over the security of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in anticipation of the return of the ousted Vice-Chancellor of the school, Prof Mawutor Avoke, who, together with some staff who were also dismissed, stormed the campus on Tuesday to, …

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UEW impasse: Afful-Broni is the “legal, legitimate” VC – Napo

Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has backed the current Vice Chancellor of the University of Education, Winneba, Professor Anthony Afful-Broni,  saying “there’s only one Vice-Chancellor” at the University. Mr. Prempeh’s support comes on the back of brewing tensions in the University with a combined team of National Security Operatives and …

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Govt to reintroduce national high school certificates

Government has revealed it will reintroduce the issuance of national certificates aside the WASSCE, as part of the rolling out of new curriculum for basic schools. According to the Education Minister, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the certificates will be a prerequisite for gaining employment in the country. Speaking at a stakeholder …

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Jammeh ordered us to kill 44 Ghanaians – Gambian soldiers confess

Two Gambian soldiers working for a hit squad controlled by former President Yahya Jammeh on Monday admitted to participating in the 2005 execution of 56 West African migrants, including 44 Ghanaians on the orders of Jammeh. Lieutenant Malick Jatta and Corporal Omar A. Jallow revealed to Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and …

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Free SHS: 1.3 million students expected in school this year – Napo

The Student population in Senior High Schools will be around 1.2 million after this year’s admissions, Education Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh has disclosed. Speaking at the Meet The Press encounter in Accra on Wednesday, he said the figure would be some 400,000 increase from the current population of about 800,000. …

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‘Hepatitis B, C infections, leading causes of death in Ghana’

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has identified the country as having prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections, which are leading causes of death from infectious diseases globally. A statement released by the GHS in Accra yesterday, said about 421 people died out of 117, 095 viral hepatitis …

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UEW saga: Fmr VC, dismissed staff chased out by Police

A combined team of National Security operatives and Police personnel Tuesday afternoon chased out some dismissed staff of the University of Education, Winneba. The dismissed staff who stormed the Council Chamber Tuesday, July 23, included the former Vice Chancellor Professor Mawutor Avoke, the former Finance Officer Arkorlie, and Dr. Ofori …

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2 shot dead as Police engage armed robbers in shootout

The Edo State Police Command, on Monday, announced the death of two armed robbery suspects in a gun duel with its men during an operation in Benin. Two teenage car snatchers were killed in a similar circumstance last week. Monday’s incident took place at the Ekehuan community near the Asoro …

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Henry Rotich: Kenyan finance minister denies corruption charges

Kenya’s finance minister has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption in court, after spending the night in police custody. Henry Rotich is accused of flouting procurement procedures in awarding a contract worth more than $450m (£405m) for the construction of two dams to an Italian firm, CMC de Ravenna. …

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Students abusing ‘Tomtom’ and ‘energy’ drinks – FDA

The consumption of concoctions made from a mixture of ‘TomTom’ toffees crushed into energy drinks is the emerging trend of drug abuse among students, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said. Mr Gorden Akurugu, Volta/Oti Regional Director of the Authority said the phenomenon was widespread among teenagers in the …

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Masawudu Mubarak; The Sacrificial Lamb For Muntaka Mubarak?

The so-called democratic political party has bared its undemocratic teeth to one of its own. Walking majestically to the Asawase Constituency office of the NDC, Masawudu Mubarak, clothed in innocence, asked to be sold the nomination forms of the party to enable him to contest in the parliamentary primaries of …

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BREAKING: Residents flee as bandits wreck havoc, kill 20

Suspected armed bandits attacked some villages in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday night and killed more than 20 persons. A source in the LG said the assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the villages at night and started shooting indiscriminately. He said, “More than twenty villagers …

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Breaking: Commotion as man climbs aircraft at Lagos Airport

There was palpable anxiety at the Lagos Airport on Friday when an unknown man carrying a bag climbed the fuselage of the aircraft. The aircraft which had passengers on board was parked at the apron preparatory for taxing through the taxiway into the runway for take-off. Apparently beaten security on …

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