IMF austerity measures are ‘undermining rights’ around the world
by Olivia Rosane The International Monetary Fund continues to impose austerity measures that threaten human rights. That’s the conclusion of a Human Rights Watch (HRW) report published September 25 that looks at 39 loans approved in 38 countries between the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdowns in March 2020 and March 2023. While, at the start of the pandemic, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva...
Bridging an ocean, Angolan king visits Brazilian community descended from slaves
RIO DE JANEIRO—Residents danced and chanted on Nov. 8 in a community descended from runaway slaves in Rio de Janeiro as they welcomed the visiting monarch of the Bailundo kingdom in Angola where many of the residents trace their ancestry. King Tchongolola Tchongonga Ekuikui VI, visited the community of Camorim as part of a trip to Brazil that began three...
Cuba and Angola strengthen inter-party relations
by Leticia Martínez, Granma The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, called to continue strengthening inter-party relations, “which are the main support for political, diplomatic and economic-commercial relations,” when he received, at the Palace of the Revolution, the Secretary of the Political Bureau for International Relations...
UK falls into recession in huge blow to PM Sunak
The United Kingdom has slipped into recession just months ahead of the country’s general election, reversing Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s pledge to generate economic growth. As per the official figures released on Feb. 15 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the gross domestic product fell 0.3 percent in the final three months of 2023, following a 0.1 percent contraction in the...
Testimony begins in lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling
TOKYO—A civil lawsuit accusing Japanese police of racial profiling opened with emotional testimony from plaintiffs who said they were constantly stopped and questioned without good reason. The case, filed in January by three residents of Japan with overseas ancestry, including an American, claims their treatment constitutes discrimination and violates their human rights. Japan does not have any anti-discrimination law, nor any...
UN: Africa loss $800B in illegal transfers in recent years
GENEVA—The United Nations estimates that illegal outflows of capital from Africa totaled over $830 billion in the first 15 years of this century, much of it linked to movements of high-value commodities like gold, diamonds, and platinum—straining the ability of the continent’s governments to provide services like health care, education, and infrastructure. The UN Conference on Trade and Development on...
Ghana’s Government issues apology for rights abuse
GINNEWS The Republic of GhanaKwame Nkrumah's contribution to the decolonization process in Africa (Africaspeaks.com) ACCRA, Ghana (GIN) - The final report of the National Reconciliation Commission, appointed to investigate past human rights abuses in the country between 1957 and 1993, has just been released. The commission, set up in 2002, considered the impact of socio-economic disparities and colonial policies on the...
Sudan kicks off and extends elections
KHARTOUM, Sudan (FinalCall.com) - The first multiparty elections in over two decades in Africa's largest country will go ahead as planned despite the withdrawal of several opposition parties citing campaign irregularities. Presidential and legislative elections kicked off nationwide here as more than 16 million voters were scheduled to go to 120 voting centers across this vast nation and choose the...
Venus and Serena Williams Nigeria visit
LAGOS, Nigeria - On their first visit to Nigeria, Serena and Venus Williams wanted to inspire local kids to set their goals high. “We were really able to break the mold and win a lot of Grand Slams and a lot of tournaments and not only that, but kind of change the face of tennis,” Serena said Oct. 31 before...
Africa Watch – Self-Sufficiency is Africa’s future
‘Ghana Beyond Aid:' Self-Sufficiency is Africa's future The Oxford Africa Conference and the Oxford Business Network for Africa, earlier this year, was hosted by the Said Business School and featured Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo. During an address, held in the Nelson Mandela Lecture Theater, the African leader took the opportunity to elaborate on his “Ghana Beyond Aid” agenda. During his...