November, 2020 - The African Mirror

Nov

2020

Nigerian rapper Falz Falana honoured

MPHO RANTAO NIGERIAN hip-hop artist Falz (real name Folarin Folana) has been honoured by the state of Lagos, with a street named after him. The Lagos-born rapper and actor posted a picture of himself posing under a street sign with the name “Falz Falana Lane” written boldly. Under the picture he wrote, “Wahala for who no get street name o! (sic)” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Falz TheBahdGuy (@falzthebahdguy) Falana was honoured for his impact in the community, specifically with his activism in using his voice and social media presence to speak on the violence during…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Rwandan among new cardinals installed by the Pope

RELIGION

PHILLIP PULLELLA POPE Francis has installed 13 new cardinals, including the to hold the high rank, including leading Rwandan Archbishop Antoine Kambanda, further expanding the pontiff's impact on the group that will one day elect his successor. The cardinals were installed in a ceremony, known as a consistory, that was markedly slimmed down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the usual thousands, only 10 guests per cardinal were allowed in St. Peter's Basilica as the pope gave the men their ring and traditional red hat, known as a biretta. Nine of the 13 are under 80 and eligible under…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Post COVID-19: opportunity for universities to have a rethink

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITIES have a long history of operating in environments that are unstable, disruptive and unpredictable. They’ve endured political upheavals, financial crises and disruptive trends such as digital transformation and globalisation. TAWANA KUPE, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, University of Pretoria GERALD WANGENGE-OUMA, Director of Institutional Planning, University of Pretoria They’ve had to respond to demands for greater access, life-long learning and multiple competing demands from students, society, the state, industry and local communities. But the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented and a more formidable challenge. The scope and scale of its challenges have multiple dimensions. In the South African context,…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Norway to extradite suspect in 1982 attack on Paris Jewish restaurant

WORLD

NORWAY will extradite a man to France who is suspected of taking part in an attack that killed six people in a Jewish restaurant in Paris 38 years ago, the government said on Friday. At least 20 others were wounded in the bombing and shooting assault on the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in the Marais quarter in August 1982. In 2015, arrest warrants were issued against three former members of the Abu Nidal Organization, a splinter group of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), a source told Reuters at the time. The suspects were identified long after the attacks because of statements…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Iran’s Rouhani accuses Israel of killing nuclear scientist

WORLD

IRAN’S president has accused Israel of killing a prominent Iranian scientist long suspected by the West of masterminding a secret nuclear bomb programme, state TV reported. Iran's clerical and military rulers have threatened revenge for Friday's killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who Iranian media said died in hospital after assassins gunned him down in his car near Tehran. "Once again, the evil hands of global arrogance were stained with the blood of the mercenary usurper Zionist regime," a term for Israel, President Hassan Rouhani said in a statement, according to state TV. "The assassination of martyr Fakhrizadeh shows our enemies' despair…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

How global and local experience would play out in WTO top job

BUSINESS

THE global economy faces profound uncertainties, particularly in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, faith in the efficacy of international bodies such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been weakened by a power struggle between China and the US. EZEBUILO UKWUEZE, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics, Nsukka, University of Nigeria As the process for appointing a new head of the organisation moves into its final phase, it’s worth considering what front runner Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala could bring to the complex role of managing an international organisation, including designing and implementing reforms. The WTO describes itself as…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Lockdown and young people living on the streets of Harare, Zimbabwe

COVID-19

OZAYR PATEL, Digital Editor, The Conversation FOR many young people living on the streets, lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic has made their situation worse. The city of Harare in Zimbabwe was no exception. Lockdown made it difficult for young people to find food and make money in the informal economy. Researchers set up a story map – a map with text, images and multimedia content – to hear their voices and understand their experiences. It’s part of a three-year project called Growing up on the Streets, which worked with young people living on the streets in three African cities (Accra,…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Ethiopian military has taken ‘full control’ of Tigray capital, government says

NEWS

ETHIOPIAN troops have taken "full control" of the Tigray region's capital Mekelle, the government has claimed, a major development in a three-week-old war that is sending shockwaves through the Horn of Africa. "The federal government is now fully in control of the city of Mekelle," Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement posted on his Twitter page. He said police were searching for the leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who have been fighting federal forces in the northern region since November 4. "Federal police will now continue their task of apprehending TPLF criminals and bring them…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Burkina Faso opposition leader concedes defeat in election

NEWS

BURKINA Faso's main opposition leader has conceded defeat in the presidential election after initial results showed a comfortable victory for President Roch Kabore, ending a dispute in which opponents said election fraud was committed. President Roch Kabore Former Finance Minister Zephirin Diabre has met Kabore to congratulate him, Kabore said in a post on Twitter. A spokesman for Diabre confirmed the concession. It leaves Kabore free to tackle major challenges facing the landlocked West African country, including fighting Islamist groups that have killed more than 2,000 people in attacks this year and made large areas of the North and East…

Nov

2020

By The African Mirror

Militant attack on farm in northern Nigeria leaves 40 dead – sources

NEWS

MILITANTS have killed at least 40 people on a farm in Borno state in northeast Nigeria, three sources have told Reuters on Saturday. The attack, at Kwashebe Zamarmari in the Jere local government area, happened late morning local time as the workers were harvesting rice, according to a village leader, a local fighter with the Zamarmari group and a police source. A search by the authorities for the attackers has been mounted. The military and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province are both active in northeast Nigeria, where insurgency…