WORLD - The African Mirror

Oct

13

2020

Slovak far-right leader sentenced to four years jail for spreading hate

WORLD

SLOVAKIA’S far-right leader Marian Kotleba, whose party holds 14 seats in parliament, was sentenced to four years and four months jail for spreading hatred by holding a charity stunt that the court concluded had a Nazi theme. Kotleba, a member of parliament and former regional governor who founded a far right party, was accused of distributing cheques to poor families for 1,488 euros at an event marking the anniversary of the founding of Slovakia's Nazi-era puppet state. The number 1488 is a symbol for white supremacists, referring to a 14-word racist slogan and the Nazi salute 'Heil Hitler', which begins…

Oct

13

2020

By The African Mirror

Surge in natural disasters takes heavy human and economic toll – U.N.

WORLD

STEPHANIE NEBEHAY EXTREME weather events have increased dramatically in the past 20 years, taking a heavy human and economic toll worldwide, and are likely to wreak further havoc, the United Nations said on Monday. Heatwaves and droughts will pose the greatest threat in the next decade, as temperatures continue to rise due to heat-trapping gases, experts said. China (577) and the United States (467) recorded the highest number of disaster events from 2000 to 2019, followed by India (321), the Philippines (304) and Indonesia (278), the U.N. said in a report issued the day before the International Day for Disaster…

Oct

12

2020

By The African Mirror

Twitter flags Trump tweet for violating its rules on COVID-19 information

WORLD

KANISHKA SINGH and BHARGAV ACHARYA TWITTER flagged a tweet by Donald Trump in which the U.S. President claimed he was immune to the coronavirus, saying it violated the social media platform's rules about misleading information related to COVID-19. "A total and complete sign off from White House Doctors yesterday. That means I can't get it (immune), and can't give it. Very nice to know," Trump said in the tweet. The post was flagged by Twitter with a disclaimer. "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules about spreading misleading and potentially harmful information related to COVID-19," Twitter's disclaimer read, adding that it…

Oct

11

2020

By The African Mirror

An energized Trump appears in public for first time since COVID-19 diagnosis

WORLD

ANDREA SHALAL BOASTING about his achievements and hurling unsubstantiated allegations against his opponents, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared back to his old self as he addressed supporters at the White House in his first public appearance since being diagnosed with COVID-19. Standing alone and not wearing a mask, the Republican president spoke from the White House balcony at an event called "a peaceful protest for law & order," urging a crowd of largely Black and Latino supporters to help get out the vote in the November 3 presidential election. His appearance - amid continued questions over whether he is still…

Oct

11

2020

By The African Mirror

N.Korea unveils ‘monster’ new intercontinental ballistic missile at parade

WORLD

HYONHEE SHIN and JOSH SMITH NORTH Korea unveiled previously unseen intercontinental ballistic missiles at an unprecedented predawn military parade that showcased the country's long-range weapons for the first time in two years. Analysts said the missile, which was shown on a transporter vehicle with 11 axles, would be one of the largest road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) in the world if it becomes operational. "This missile is a monster," said Melissa Hanham, deputy director of the Open Nuclear Network. Also displayed were the Hwasong-15, which is the longest-range missile ever tested by North Korea, and what appeared to be a…

Oct

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Rights group blasts Argentina for using face recognition tech on kids

WORLD

HUGH BRONSTEIN HUMAN Rights Watch wants the city of Buenos Aires to stop using live facial recognition to identify children accused of committing crimes, the rights group has said. New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Buenos Aires started using the technology in April 2019, making Argentina the only country in the world to deploy it against people under the age of 18. Although no minors are known to have been arrested yet, the group says the methodology is riddled with misidentifications that could unjustly limit job and educational opportunities for kids wrongly accused of theft and other crimes. HRW…

Oct

10

2020

By The African Mirror

North Korea holds rare predawn military parade

WORLD

HYONHEE SHIN and JOSH SMITH NORTH Korea has held a military parade early to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of its ruling Workers' Party in a rare predawn event, South Korea's military said. The anniversary, celebrated with a raft of concerts and festivals, was closely watched around the region as it was seen as an event where leader Kim Jong Un could deliver messages to domestic and foreign audiences. Analysts had said the North might unveil new strategic weapons, but state media has not released any images or reports on a parade. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff…

Oct

10

2020

By The African Mirror

UN food agency WFP hails Peace Nobel as call to action against hunger

WORLD

NERIJUS ADOMAITIS and STEPHANIE NEBEHAY THE United Nations' World Food Programme, which has coordinated medical logistics during the coronavirus pandemic, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in what its boss said was a call to action that no one should go hungry with the wealth in the world today. The head of the awards committee called the WFP a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict, and said the COVID-19 pandemic, which the WFP says could double hunger worldwide, had made it even more relevant. At one point at…

Oct

10

2020

By The African Mirror

Trump to resume campaigning; second debate cancelled

WORLD

JEFF MASON and STEVE HOLLAND U.S. President Donald Trump will resume in-person campaigning on Saturday after being sidelined by a case of COVID-19, but a debate next week against his presidential election opponent Joe Biden was cancelled because Trump refused to participate. Trump will address a crowd of supporters on Saturday from a White House balcony on a "law and order" theme, an administration official said. A source familiar with the planning for the event said the crowd could be in the hundreds, and all were expected to wear masks. Then the Republican president will travel on Monday to central…

Oct

09

2020

By The African Mirror

U.N. food agency WFP wins 2020 Nobel Peace Prize

WORLD

TERJE SOLSVIK and NERIJUS ADOMAITIS THE United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), has won the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to combat hunger and improve conditions for peace in areas affected by conflict. The Rome-based organisation says it helps some 97 million people in about 88 countries each year, and that one in nine people worldwide still do not have enough to eat. "The need for international solidarity and multilateral cooperation is more conspicuous than ever," Berit Reiss-Andersen, chairwoman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, told a news conference. The WFP is a driving force in efforts…