Rural Daily

Steenhuisen: Stop farm attacks or risk ‘civil war of sorts’

10Oct

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Steenhuisen: Stop farm attacks or risk ‘civil war of sorts’

Crowds gather at Senekal Magistrate Court as two appear for the murder of 22-year-old farmer Brendin Horner. Image: Twitter@SABreakingNews Farm manager Brendin Horner’s brutal torture and murder may come to mark a tipping point for South Africa, says the DA leader John Steenhuisen. “It could strengthen radical groupings on the left and right, further polarizing and racialising our society, risking a rural civil war of sorts.” Or, he says, it could strengthen the centre, spurring South Africans from all communities to come together against this attack on our farming community and food security and more broadly against lawlessness. POLITICAL OPPORTUNISM The EFF, Steenhuisen says, has been quick to use the issue of farm murders to incite violence. On Wednesday, EFF leader Julius Malema t...

Economic progress should go hand in hand with social development- King says

10Oct

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Asia-pacific

Economic progress should go hand in hand with social development- King says

As Morocco steps up measures to help the economy recover from the coronavirus repercussions, special attention is also given to generalize social development notably health coverage, family allowances, pensions and unemployment protection insurance, said King Mohammed VI. In a speech on the occasion of the opening of the Parliament’s fall session this Friday, the King stressed that measures to help the economy recover should be completed by social protection measures. The King recalled the need for extending universal compulsory health coverage for an additional 22 million individuals by end of 2022, at the latest. This should include the cost of medication, drugs, hospitalization and treatment. He also urged for ensuring universal access to family allowances for approximately seven mil...

5Oct

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World

Mellon foundation pledges $250m to ‘reimagine’ US monuments

Image captionA city employee inspects the decapitated statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston One of America's largest philanthropic organisations has announced a project to "reimagine" public monuments around the country. The Andrew W Mellon Foundation said it would spend $250m (£193m) over five years to build monuments, add context to existing ones and relocate others. The project aims to "celebrate and affirm America's diverse histories". It comes amid fierce public debate about monuments in the US, sparked by the Black Lives Matter movement. The charity said its pledge was the result of "years of discussion, research and intellectual exploration." The stories behind the statues targeted in protests Columbus and Confederate statues torn down in US Mellon has already spent $25m...

5Oct

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Asia-pacific

US announces nearly $152 million humanitarian assistance for Sahel

The United States announced last week nearly $152 million in humanitarian assistance to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel region countries of Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, and Mali. US Special Envoy to the Sahel Peter Pham announced the aid following a trip to West Africa, where he visited Mauritania and Niger. “More than $2.5 million people in the Sahel region are displaced, $3.3 million are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection services, and the United States is proud to be the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to the region,” Pham said during a conference call announcing the aid, hosted by the Wilson Center Africa Program. Pham added that the assistance will not go to the Malian military officers who recently took power in a coup, but stopped short...

5Oct

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Asia-pacific

Mali: Civilian Prime Minister appointed to lead transitional government

The Malian transitional President Bah N’Daw signed a decree Sunday, appointing former foreign minister Moctar Ouane head of government. The appointment was announced two days after the swearing-in ceremony of Transitional President Bah N’Daw, and following a meeting Saturday evening with junta officials and the transitional president. Since 2016, the newly appointed Prime Minister was Delegate for Peace and Security at the Commission of the Economic and Monetary Union of West Africa (UEMOA) in Ouagadougou. The man also served as representative of Mali to the United Nations and diplomatic adviser to the presidency. His relatives describe him as an independent man; very fussy about principles. Like the transitional president, he believes that one cannot do everything in 18 months, but h...

OCP Africa, IFC pool efforts to strengthen the rice sectors in Côte d’Ivoire and millet in Senegal

5Oct

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Asia-pacific

OCP Africa, IFC pool efforts to strengthen the rice sectors in Côte d’Ivoire and millet in Senegal

OCP Africa and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have announced this Monday a partnership to strengthen value chains of rice in Côte d’Ivoire and millet in Senegal, and to help improve the living conditions of thousands of smallholder farmers. These crops, essential to ensure food security in these two West African countries, operate at yields well below their full potential due in part to a lack of professionalization, inadequate agricultural practices, and lack of access to financing, OCP Africa, a subsidiary of Morocco’s OCP Group, the world leader in the phosphate and derivatives market, and IFC said in a joint statement. As part of this partnership, IFC will provide consulting services to farmers and agricultural groups that are members o...

5Oct

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Asia-pacific

Morocco conveys Mali message of solidarity & support for smooth transition

Morocco has sent Mali a message of support, friendship and solidarity with the Malian authorities and people following the important developments unfolding on the ground for a peaceful transition. The message was conveyed Tuesday by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who, upon the instruction of King Mohammed VI, paid a visit to Bamako. Bourita, the first senior official of a friendly country to visit Mali following the developments there, was received by interim president Bah N’daw, transitional vice-president Col. Assimi Goita and PM Moctar Ouane. Bourita also met with religious dignitaries including Bouye Haidara and Mahmoud Dicko. Bourita reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to accompany Mali through this important phase of its history, noting that the North African Kingdo...

5Oct

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Asia-pacific

Senegal: A plan worth €22.4 billion to revive economy after Covid 19 effects

How to revive the Senegalese economy? The question was at the heart of a presidential council on Tuesday, September 29. Representatives of the government, the private sector, and partners of the country were gathered around Macky Sall. The authorities presented a plan worth €22.4 billion and defined priority sectors. “After the defense, it is necessary to pass to the attack” to find the growth according to the sporting formula used by Head of State. And to do this, the authorities have adjusted their strategy, with new priorities: Accelerate food sovereignty by strengthening autonomy in basic products, where Senegal is on the right track, especially rice; sanitary and pharmaceutical sovereignty; the industrialization and digital transformation of the economy, explains Amadou Hott, Minist...

5Oct

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Asia-pacific, TRENDING NEWS

Africa stands to benefit from Morocco-US defense deal- Pentagon chief

he 2020-2030 defense cooperation deal between Morocco and the US will benefit friendly African countries, said US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. Speaking at the signing ceremony of the landmark agreement, Esper highlighted the longstanding partnership between the US and Morocco citing a convergence of views regarding a range of security threats. “Morocco is a major non-NATO ally and a gateway to Africa,” he said, adding that the two countries share the same concern to safeguard regional security and stability. In this respect, he said the ten-year military cooperation roadmap will ensure that the partnership endures for generations to come, noting that African countries stand to benefit from this deal. He recalled the importance of the African Lion military drills, “a key training ex...

24Sep

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Sports, World

IOC President Thomas Bach Offers Pep Session For Tokyo Games And Talks Up Vaccine

IOC president Thomas Bach delivered a pep talk to Japanese government officials and local organizers on Thursday that included suggestions that hundreds of millions of doses COVID-19 vaccines would be available before the postponed Olympics open in July. Bach was speaking from Switzerland in an on-line gathering of officials in Japan during the first of two days of meetings focused on how to pull off the delayed Tokyo Games. Bach pointed out that major sports events like the Tour de France have been held with limited fans and without the vaccine. But he said a vaccine or vaccines could be ready for Tokyo, although he gave few details. We have very encouraging news about the development of a vaccine and not only a vaccine, but vaccines, he said. Bach added that the International Olympic Com...