GEM Sites Bi-Weekly Updates
November 10th to November 21th 2023
South Africa
A third-year student at Mangosuthu University of Technology has died of injuries sustained in a lightning storm in Durban on Friday. In a notice to staff and students on Monday, the institution identified the student as Mpumezi Mndwetywa from the department of mechanical engineering.
The storm led to a fire in some of the rooms on the third floor of Craiglee, an external university residence in Glenwood. Mndwetywa was asleep in his room. The university said counselling services will be available for students affected by the tragedy.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) party said on Thursday that it would support a parliamentary motion calling for the Israeli embassy in South Africa to be closed. The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will propose the motion later on Thursday, also calling for the suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has adjusted the 2023 school calendar in light of the public holiday President Cyril Ramaphosa declared on 15 December. Schools will close on Thursday, 14 December 2023, as the following day is a public holiday to celebrate the Springbok’s victory at the Rugby World Cup, where South Africa beat New Zealand by 12–11 last month in France…
Kenya
The World Bank has announced its intention to pursue a loan and investment agreement worth Sh1.8 trillion for Kenya over the next three years. The Kenya Kwanza government will find economic relief in the package, which consists of conditional loans and guarantees worth hundreds of billions of shillings. The package will help to alleviate the government’s struggle with mounting debts and a depreciating shilling. However, it also promises a fresh round of economic pain for Kenyans, said analysts.
This is because the World Bank is anticipated to require the implementation of more fiscal and economic reforms, which may involve imposing additional taxes and restructuring of State-owned agencies. Kenya and Germany have reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering their bilateral ties for the betterment of their respective citizens. President William Ruto expressed Kenya’s strong interest in expediting labour agreements between the two nations to facilitate increased labor mobility. He stressed that organized migration would help curtail illegal relocation and offer more Kenyans the chance to work in Germany. During a meeting on Monday, held on the sidelines of the G20 Compact with Africa Investment Summit in Berlin, President Ruto remarked, “Structured migration will play a pivotal role in curbing illegal relocation while creating ample job opportunities for Kenyans in Germany.”
Rwanda
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom unanimously ruled that the government’s plan to send more than 24,000 refugees to Rwanda in a controversial 140 million pounds ($174m) deal is unlawful. In blocking the deal, the apex court upheld a ruling by lower court over the last year that asylum claimants sent there were also at risk of being returned to their home countries, contrary to an international law principle known as non-refoulement. “There are substantial grounds for believing that asylum seekers would face a real risk of ill-treatment by reason of refoulement to their country of origin if they were removed to Rwanda,” part of the judgment read on Wednesday.
Lebanon
An Israeli bombardment of southern Lebanon has killed three journalists, according to Lebanese media, as hostilities grow along Israel’s northern border. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported on Tuesday that an “enemy bombing” killed three people in the Tayr Harfa area, about 1.6km (1 mile) from the Israeli frontier. Lebanese channel Al Mayadeen TV said two of its staff were among the victims. The third person killed was said to be a local journalist and “contributor” to the channel. “Correspondent Farah Omar and cameraman Rabih Me’mari were killed by an Israeli attack,” Al Mayadeen said in a statement.
Lebanon’s leaders, divided along political and sectarian lines, are known for agreeing on very few matters. But an intensifying border conflict with Israel and a significant number of civilian deaths has unified them on one issue: if Lebanon is dragged into all-out war, the state will have no choice but to defend itself. “Lebanon was clear: we don’t have a desire for war but what is happening is an intensification by Israel, which is targeting civilians – and it’s a violation of the rules of engagement,” a source close to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri told The National this week.
President Joe Biden's energy security adviser Amos Hochstein was traveling to Israel on Monday to discuss issues related to the northern border with Lebanon, including how to stop the Gaza conflict from spreading, a U.S. official said. "This trip builds on Hochstein's visit to Beirut earlier this month where he made clear the United States does not want to see conflict in Gaza escalating and expanding into Lebanon," the official said. "While in Israel, Hochstein will emphasize that restoring calm along Israel's northern border is of utmost importance to the United States and it should be a top priority for both Israel and Lebanon."
Malawi
The salary increment has come at a time many Malawians are complaining following the 44 percent devaluation as their lives have been heavily affected.
Speaking to Malawi24 Chithyola said the increment will help civil servants to deal with some challenges they have encountered following the 44 percent devaluation. “This is a provision to cushion civil servants from the kwacha realignment as alluded to by His Excellency the President during his National address a few days ago,” said Chithyola.
Speaking to Malawi24 Chithyola said the increment will help civil servants to deal with some challenges they have encountered following the 44 percent devaluation. “This is a provision to cushion civil servants from the kwacha realignment as alluded to by His Excellency the President during his National address a few days ago,” said Chithyola.
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) says there is an increase in cybercrimes in the country which are exposing children to harmful content online. This has been disclosed during a training of trainers of trainers conducted by MACRA on how to protect children from cybercrimes in Lilongwe.
Speaking on behalf of MACRA, Broadcasting Manager Matilda Kanjeli said there is harmful content online which is exposing children to exploitation. “Malawi as a country has seen a surge in cyber bullying, harassment, misinformation and the spread of fake news. “This has made our children and young adults exposed to a wide range of explicit, hateful, sexual and harmful content making them more vulnerable to exploitation,” said Kanjeli.
Speaking on behalf of MACRA, Broadcasting Manager Matilda Kanjeli said there is harmful content online which is exposing children to exploitation. “Malawi as a country has seen a surge in cyber bullying, harassment, misinformation and the spread of fake news. “This has made our children and young adults exposed to a wide range of explicit, hateful, sexual and harmful content making them more vulnerable to exploitation,” said Kanjeli.
Comments
Post a Comment