King Mohammed VI of Morocco visits RwandaA leading Moroccan pharmaceutical company, Cooper Pharma on Wednesday signed a deal that paves way for construction of a plant in Rwanda to manufacture antibiotics.The plant is set to be operational in 2019. It will be built on a plot of 10,000 square metres in the Kigali Special Economic Zone in Rwanda’s Gasabo district.The deal is one of the outcomes of talks between the government and the visiting high-level delegation from Morocco led by King Mohamed VI. The King arrived in the country on Tuesday for a three- day state visit.According to the New Times, the drugs that will be locally produced include beta-lactam antibiotics, which are among the most commonly prescribed drugs, including Penicillin, grouped together based upon a shared structural feature, the beta-lactam ring.Rwanda Development Board chief operating officer Serge Kamuhinda said that the deal will play a major role in reducing the trade deficit created by a heavy import bill.The agreement is reportedly the second of its kind by Cooper Pharma, after the one previously signed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.According to a statement, Cooper Pharma Laboratories and RDB signed a memorandum of understanding for the construction of the first such pharmaceutical plant in Rwanda.King Mohamed VI and his delegation are in Rwanda on the first leg of his three nation tour that will also see them visit Tanzania and Ethiopia.
The Berbers of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains
Berbers are the most hospitable people i have come acrossAfter my six hour trek at the Atlas mountains, i was hosted by a Berber family living 2500 m above sea level. During my one night stay with this family i learnt a lot from them.The village where i spent the night consists of 15 families. There is only one school in this village, no hospital but there is plenty going round there.It was an experience worth noting. The place has no mobile service whatsoever. Despite being disconnected from the rest of the world, i felt at home living among the Berbers.They are very hospitable people despite language barrier. I just realized that sign language is as important because it came in through for me.So how do they live?A family definitely consists of both mother, father and children. The fathers or men are responsible for farming while the women prepare meals, give birth and heard cattle. The young boys will accompany their fathers in the farming fields, while the girls help out their mothers in house chores and rearing of cattle.A family will share two meals together; breakfast and dinner. After having their breakfast each family member takes up their chores for the day, they are united back in the evening while having dinner.MealsBread is a famous food in Morocco and in the Berber community as well. Everything you eat is accompanied with bread, which is tasty by the way.They seat round a table and eat from one big plate.They have a famous tea ”Moroccan whiskey” they call it. This is drunk at any time of the day. Its basically a mixture of herbs and green tea with lots of sugar.The tea is meant to give you energy and relax you as well. Trust me i needed this one after 6 hours trekking and another 7 hours of trek to my next destination.
SA’s Anderson to face Nadal in U.S. Open final
Anderson, 31, admitted that he was stunned to have risen from 80th in the rankings in January when he appeared destined for hip surgery and a lost season in recovery. Image courtesy: Sky Sports Anderson, 31, admitted that he was stunned to have risen from 80th in the rankings in January when he appeared destined for hip surgery and a lost season in recovery. Image courtesy: Sky SportsMoments after qualifying for his first Grand Slam final, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson raced to hug his friends and family in the players’ box, standing on a large flower plot to reach them.His joy and enthusiasm were evident after his impressive 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 triumph over Spanish 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in a U.S. Open semi-final Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.“I really don’t know what to say right now,” Anderson said.“I don’t know if the team hug is the right thing to do for the finals but I felt it was the appropriate thing to do.”Achieving his career dream, 32nd-ranked Anderson booked a Sunday final date against world number one Rafael Nadal, who beat Argentina’s 24th-seeded Juan Martin del Potro early on Saturday morning (S.A. time).“It has been a long road. This means the world to me,” Anderson said.“This is why we work so hard. It was an unbelievably tough match for me.“I was nervous at the start. I’m sure Pablo was as well. I really had to dig deep there.“I’m over the moon. I’m happy to have another shot.”Anderson, 31, admitted that he was stunned to have risen from 80th in the rankings in January when he appeared destined for hip surgery and a lost season in recovery.“It was very difficult at the end of last year. I was told I probably needed surgery on my hip,” Anderson said.“Here I am just nine months later after thinking I might have to undergo a year’s worth of hip surgery recovery so this means the world to me.”That was clear when he made his move to the flower pot and went into the stands to hug his crew, notably brother Greg, who helped nurture Anderson’s Grand Slam dream since childhood.“He has been with me since I started the game at 5 years old,” Anderson said.“We’ve played so many matches.”
At least 45 killed in ethnic fighting in South Sudan –…
SPLA soldiers At least 45 people have died in fighting between ethnic groups in South Sudan’s northern state of Western Lakes, a local official said, in a new source of violence in a country already devastated by a four-year civil war.SPLA soldiersShadrack Bol Maachok, the state’s information minister, said the clashes in Malek county started after a group of young people from the Ruop ethnic group attacked rival youth from the Pakam tribe on Wednesday and Thursday.Early on Friday, the Pakam fighters launched a revenge assault on the Ruop, with the fighting still raging late into the day.“It was a very heavy fighting, it has left more than 45 people dead and many injured,” he said.The death toll is likely to climb as the area is remote and officials are still trying to gather information on the incident, he said.In the clashes, houses were burned down and properties destroyed, Maachok said, adding that South Sudan’s military, SPLA, had deployed troops from the state capital Rumbek to try to stop the violence.The UN mission in South Sudan UNMISS estimated the death toll at more than 50 and said it had dispatched a military patrol to the area to establish the level of destruction and the impact on civilians.“We hope to engage the leaders of the fighting parties to press the need to refrain from revenge attacks. We will also intensify patrols to deter further violence,” UNMISS said.South Sudan was plunged into war in 2013 after a political disagreement between President Salva Kiir and his former vice president Riek Machar escalated into a military confrontation.The fighting has killed tens of thousands, uprooted about a quarter of the country’s population of 12 million people and left its small, oil-dependant economy moribund.Violence between rival communities is common in parts of South Sudan, often triggered by quarrels over scarce grazing land and cultural and political grievances. But the death toll is rarely large.The minister said this week’s skirmishes stemmed from disputes dating back to 2013 but it was not clear what exactly sparked the grievances.
Zimbabwe’s new leader wants Trump golf courses
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson MnangagwaZimbabwe’s new president said on Wednesday he would welcome the US president to build a golf course in his country.“If President Trump came here today when I am still around I would… say: ‘Oh, Mr President, Zimbabwe is open for business’,” President Emmerson Mnangagwa said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.“I know Americans like to play golf – come and build golf courses… build hotels, I will give you incentives,” he added. “We are open and we want to catch up with the rest of the region.”He was replying to a question about reported remarks by Trump earlier this month in which the US president allegedly complained about opening borders to immigrants from “shithole countries”.Mnangagwa took office in November after a shock military takeover led to the resignation of long-time president Robert Mugabe.In his appearance at Davos, he promised to hold a fair vote and to accept the result if he loses.
Nigerian police open fire on Shi’ite Muslim protesters
FILE – Shi’ite Muslims take part in a rally in Kano, Nigeria, Oct. 24, 2015. (REUTERS)Vowing that the only thing that will stop their protests is the release of their leader, dozens of Shi’ite Muslims marched in the Nigerian capital of Abuja Monday demanding the government free Ibrahim Zakazy.Zakazy, who heads the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has been jailed since December 2015, when security forces killed hundreds of members in a crackdown on a group estimated to have 3 million followers.Monday’s protests quickly turned violent as Nigerian police fired bullets and tear gas to disperse protesters. Organisers said at least one demonstrator was killed and several were wounded by gunfire.“As we started protesting they started shooting tear gas and using water cannons,” Abdullahi Muhammad, an IMN youth leader, told Reuters by phone. “We refused to disperse and they used bullets as well, and they shot so many people.”“They want to push us to violence but they couldn’t, so that is why they are using live ammunition, thinking that killing will stop us. No amount of killing will stop us,” he added.Muhammad said he witnessed police dragging bullet-hit protesters into a van and sitting on them, adding that he did not know if they were dead or alive.At least eight other IMN members were hit by bullets and were now receiving treatment, Muhammad told Reuters. An IMN statement said at least one protester was killed.Police said in a statement the protesters had injured 22 officers, and they arrested 115 demonstrators.The IMN statement said about 230 members were arrested.The violent repression of the group and the detention of its leader have drawn accusations that President Muhammadu Buhari’s government is abusing human rights. The IMN, which has held regular peaceful protests in Abuja in recent months, says Zakzaky must be freed after a court ruled his detention without charge illegal.The crackdown has sparked fears that IMN could become radicalised, in much the same way the Sunni Muslim militant group Boko Haram turned into a violent insurgency in 2009 after police killed its leader.Nearly all of the Muslims that make up around half of Nigeria’s population are Sunnis. The IMN was founded in the 1980s after the revolution in mainly Shi’ite Iran in 1979, which inspired the group’s founders.
Nigeria to probe ruling party’s chief over corruption allegation
Nigeria widens corruption probe targeting army officers Nigeria Crackdown On Corruption Nigeria’s ruling party endorses Buhari for second term
Nigeria’s anti-graft body said Wednesday that it would probe the allegation of corruption leveled against the chairman of the country’s ruling party during the recently concluded party primaries.Rasheedat Okoduwa, spokesperson for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission (ICPC) told reporters in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, that Adams Oshiomhole, chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), would be investigated.The ICPC’s decision to investigate Oshiomhole came barely one week after he was quizzed by the country’s secret police over alleged anomalies in the APC primaries.He was quizzed by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) over a complaint from some aggrieved governors that he allegedly received bribes during the recently held primary elections of the party.Oshiomhole, during the DSS interrogation, was asked to resign from his position as national chairman, according to reports.The APC chairman has been engaged in a war of words with some state governors.At least two governors had openly criticized the party chairman for rejecting their preferred candidates for the 2019 general elections.The country’s next general elections are scheduled for February-March 2019.Related
Kipchoge, Salah lead Africa in pouring tributes for Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant, 41, died in a Helicopter crash on Sunday alongside his daughter Gianna and seven other people on board.Africa has joined the rest of the world in mourning basketball legend Kobe Bryant who died in a Helicopter crash on Sunday alongside his daughter Gianna and seven other people on board.The group was flying to Thousand Oaks, California, for a basketball game where Gianna was expected to play and Kobe was expected to coach.The cause of the helicopter crash has yet to be revealed but initial reports indicate it may have been caused by bad weather.Sports personalities from across the world have taken lead in mourning the former Los Angeles Lakers star.Africans have also sent their messages of condolence to the family of Kobe.World marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge was at the forefront in mourning a fellow athlete.https://twitter.com/EliudKipchoge/status/1221730449770319872?s=20Egyptian football star Mohamed Salah was quick to pass his condolences to Kobe’s family;My heartfelt condolences go out to the families and friends of Kobe and of those who died in the terrible accident.— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) January 26, 2020Former Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire striker Didier Drogba hailed Kobe as a ” true champion and a great man.”https://twitter.com/didierdrogba/status/1221734103898361857?s=20South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighter’s Party tweeted;EFF sends its heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the entire basketball fraternity on the passing of Basketball legend, Kobe Bean Bryant and his daughter, Gianna Bryant.May their souls rest in perfect peace.#RIPKobeandGianna pic.twitter.com/SMfB6hB7MW— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) January 27, 2020The U.S. Embassy in Kenya also sent it’s message of condolence through Twitter;We join Kenyans in the sport fraternity in mourning the death of @NBA basketball star Kobe Bean Bryant and his daughter in a fatal helicopter crash in the United States. Our deepest condolences go out to his family, friends and fans across the world including Kenya. pic.twitter.com/He4MCvHN0Y— U.S. Embassy Nairobi (@USEmbassyKenya) January 27, 2020Kenya’s football captain Victor Wanyama said Kobe had given the world some of its best moments.R.I.P legend, and Thank you for giving us some of the best moments of our life. #24 pic.twitter.com/BMeCV7Qq1v— Victor Wanyama (@VictorWanyama) January 26, 2020 Talk Africa: Industrializing Africa Africa Rising Related World pays tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant
Experts warn of public health threat after discovery of parasite ‘resistant…
World health experts advises Malawi to invest in hygiene FILE PHOTO: A worker takes a mosquito to analyse it for the presence of malaria parasite. (Photo by CRISTINA ALDEHUELA / AFP)Researchers warned that Africa faces a major public health threat following a discovery that the parasite that causes malaria was able to resist treatment by artemisinin – a drug commonly used in the fight against the disease.The results were published by Nature, a weekly journal of science, following the analysis of blood samples from patients in Rwanda.Artemisinin and its derivatives are strong medicines known for their capability to quickly reduce the number of Plasmodium parasites in the blood of patients with malaria.A team of scientists from the Institut Pasteur, working together with the National Malaria Control Program in Rwanda, the World Health Organization, Cochin Hospital and Columbia University led the research.According to the study, a specific mutation of the parasite which is resistant to artemisinin was discovered in nearly 8 percent (7.4 percent) of patients observed at one of the health centres.A mix of two drugs, artemisinin and piperaquine, is what is mainly used to treat malaria.“In addition to the risk of imported resistance, the likelihood of resistance emerging locally in Africa has increased in areas where control measures have reduced the disease transmission intensity,” the study said.The study said that there was increasing concern of resistance to artemisinin (ART) derivatives which was now widespread in parts of South East Asia. Resistance to partner drugs piperaquine and mefloquine was also common in the aforementioned area.Medical experts warned that the resistance of malaria parasites to Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT) partner drugs can lead to treatment failure.The study also pointed out that the resistance of parasites to chloroquine and pyrimethamine was suspected to have contributed to millions of additional malaria deaths in young African children in the 1980s.“Early detection of resistance provides the best chance of minimizing its lethal impact.”The vast majority of malaria cases occur in Africa and India and are caused by the P. falciparum parasite carried by female Anopheles mosquitoes.In 2018, there were 213 million malaria cases and 360,000 related deaths in the African region, accounting for over 90% of global cases.Related Health experts update public about latest findings on coronavirus
AU launches center for monitoring public health threats
A ‘Grand’ Gesture From The Police To Moffat Moutain Rescue Team
A spokesperson for the police stated “Moffat Mountain Rescue are volunteers but are regularly called out by Dumfries & Galloway Police Division to assist with missing people, those lost or injured in the hills or during incidents such as flooding or bad weather.We are always grateful for the assistance they provide.“Moffat Mountain Rescue Team has been coming to the aid of walkers, climbers and members of the local community, from toddlers to the elderly since 1969.The team primarily covers the eastern area Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, a large rural area which offers a wide variety of recreational fun and attracts outdoor enthusiasts of all ages and level of ability.The Team is a registered Scottish charity (No.SCO07510). We continue to rely on the generosity of individuals and companies to maintain our equipment and fund training. If you would like to make a donation to the team, please go to the donation page.Explore their website HEREPicture courtesy of Dumfries Police AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to FacebookFacebookFacebookShare to TwitterTwitterTwitterShare to LinkedInLinkedInLinkedInOfficers from Dumfries Community Policing Unit recently presented a cheque for £1000 to members of Moffat Mountain Rescue.Over recent years the Canteen fund at Loreburn Street Police Station managed to raise some funds therefore it was decided to donate some money to Moffat Mountain Rescue.