Category: Healthcare

TESTOUR, Tunisia: Elias Chebbi inspected a beehive in a field in Tunisia, minutes after a buzz on his phone warned him of a potential problem. The 39-year-old beekeeper opened a flap in the hive to reveal a low-cost, locally made sensor dedicated to measuring key environmental variables. An app on his phone then warns him if action needs to be taken. “Thanks to this, I can relax,” he said. “It tells me remotely everything that’s happening.” Chebbi has two of the sensors, entirely produced in Tunisia by the only company of its kind in North Africa. He periodically places one in each of the 100 … Continue reading “Hive mind: Tunisia beekeepers abuzz over early warning system”

Nigerian atheist activist Mubarak Bala, detained in April 2020, was sentenced Tuesday to 24 years after pleading guilty to 18 charges in a blasphemy case. The 37-year-old was accused of writing Facebook posts criticising Islam and its prophet, which the court said were capable of breaching public peace in Nigeria’s conservative Muslim north where sharia law is enforced alongside common law. “The court hereby sentences Muhammad Mubarak Bala to 24 years… This will take into consideration the time he served awaiting trial,” Kano-based judge Faruk Lawan said. His lawyer James Ibor objected to th… Continue reading “Nigerian atheist sentenced to 24 years in ‘blasphemy’ case”

Syrians have been reacting to the painful events unfolding in Ukraine on social media, not only through an outpouring of sympathy but also with this message to the world: “We told you so.” Syria was a prelude, and a testing ground, for Vladimir Putin’s war in Europe. “The lack of accountability for these crimes against humanity is giving the green light to Putin and other authoritarian regimes to start new wars and spread chaos and instability,” the American Coalition for Syria said in a statement of solidarity with Ukrainians. An artist in northwest Syria showed his support for Ukrainians by … Continue reading “Commentary: Russia’s attacks in Syria were a prelude to Putin’s war on Ukraine”

Two Turkish journalists convicted of violating Turkey’s state secrets law were released late on Tuesday the very same day they returned to prison after losing an appeal against their jail sentences, their lawyer told AFP. The 2020 trial concerned a news report alleging that a Turkish intelligence officer was killed in Libya after Ankara provided support to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli. In September that year, the Istanbul court sentenced Aydin Keser, Ferhat Celik and Murat Agirel – who works for the Yenicag daily – to four years and eight months in jail each on charges of violating … Continue reading “Turkey frees reporters jailed after failed appeal”

Abuja, Nigeria February 08, 2022. After the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, the 35th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union was held physically at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa from 5-6 February 2022. Several speeches graced the opening ceremony of the Assembly, including those of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, HE Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat; the Prime Minister of Ethiopia HE Mr. Abiy Ahmed; the SG of Arab League States, HE. Ahmed Aboul-Gheit ; the Secretary General of the United Nations, HE Mr. Antonio Guterres; the President of Palestine, HE Mr. Mahmoud… Continue reading “ECOWAS commission led by President HE Jean-Claude Kassi brou participates in the thirty-fifth ordinary session of the assembly of the African Union”

H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, has been elected as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU) for the year 2022 by the African Union’s Heads of State and Government. The event took place today, Saturday, February 5, 2022, as part of the ongoing Thirty-Fifth (35th) Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly, which was held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa under the theme “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent: Strengthening Agro-Food Systems, Health and Social Protection Systems for the Acceleration of Human, Social,… Continue reading “President Macky Sall of Senegal, Takes Over as New Chairperson of African Union AU for 2022”