The post Cervical Cancer and HPV: Every Woman Needs to Know This appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Cervical cancer kills more women in Africa than almost any other cancer. Sub-Saharan Africa has some of the highest cervical cancer rates in the world, accounting for a disproportionate share of global deaths from this disease. Yet cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and, when caught early, most treatable cancers known to medicine. This tragic gap between what is possible and what is happening is a public health emergency.
The culprit behind almost all cervical cancers is the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) — a common sexually transmitted infection that most sexually active people will encounter at some point in their lives. Here is what you need to know to protect yourself.
What Is HPV?
HPV is a group of over 200 related viruses, most of which are harmless. However, certain high-risk strains particularly HPV 16 and HPV 18 can cause cervical cancer if the infection persists and goes untreated. HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Condoms reduce but do not eliminate transmission. Many people with HPV have no symptoms and do not know they are infected.
Prevention: Vaccination
The HPV vaccine is one of the most important medical breakthroughs of recent decades. It is safe, highly effective, and ideally given before a person becomes sexually active, typically between ages 9 and 14. Many African countries have now introduced HPV vaccination into their national immunisation programmes, including Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
If you have a daughter, please make sure she receives the HPV vaccine. If you are an adult woman who missed vaccination, speak to your doctor the vaccine may still offer some benefit up to age 45.
Early Detection: Pap Smears and VIA
Cervical cancer does not develop overnight. There is typically a long precancerous stage that can be detected and treated before it becomes cancer. A Pap smear (or Pap test) is a simple procedure done in a clinic, where cells are taken from the cervix and examined under a microscope. Women should begin Pap smears at age 25 (or within three years of becoming sexually active) and repeat every three to five years.
In settings where Pap smears are not available, Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) is a low-cost, effective alternative widely available across Africa. A healthcare provider applies diluted vinegar to the cervix and looks for abnormal changes visible to the naked eye.
Breaking the Stigma
Cervical cancer is not a punishment. HPV is not a mark of immorality. It is a common virus, and protecting yourself against it is simply responsible healthcare. Unfortunately, stigma surrounding sexual health prevents many African women from getting screened or vaccinated. We must change this narrative in our families, our communities, and our places of worship.
Schedule your screening. Vaccinate your children. And tell every woman you love to do the same.
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]]>The post First Energy Africa Appoints Industry Veterans as African Energy Sector Adapts to Funding Shift appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Africa’s energy industry is undergoing a fundamental shift in how it finances oil and gas development, with access to conventional bank financing becoming increasingly limited amid growing environmental pressures. While traditional funding sources have tightened, industry leaders say the continent continues to attract significant investment by adapting to new investor expectations and emphasizing political stability and long-term governance.
According to the African Energy Chamber, Africa continues to attract approximately US$41 billion in global exploration spending, underscoring sustained investor interest in the continent’s resource potential despite evolving financing dynamics.
Akit, who has raised more than US$5 billion in equity and debt financing throughout his career, says African energy companies are increasingly turning to private investors, international investment funds, and regional financial institutions as traditional banking channels narrow.
“It has become more difficult to get funding from the traditional banks we used to rely on,” Akit said. “So companies have had to look elsewhere—from private investors, international funds, and local banks. Finding the investment for African energy projects hasn’t been a big problem, but to convince these newer investors to say yes, we’ve had to be more flexible around valuation.”
While Africa’s resource potential remains attractive, Akit argues that today’s investors are focused less on what lies beneath the ground than on the stability of the governments overseeing those resources.
“Investors worry about political stability,” he explained. “Not just whether the government supports foreign investment today, but whether that support will still exist if a new government takes over.”
He added that the greatest barrier to investment is no longer oil prices or geological risk.
“The biggest obstacle isn’t oil, or geology, or even price. It’s trust. Investors are asking African nations to make a commitment that outlives any single leader or election, because nobody wants to put years of money into something, only to have the rules change halfway through.”
Industry observers note that predictable regulatory environments have been central to the success of emerging energy producers such as Guyana, whose consistent investment framework has helped attract billions of dollars in offshore development.
Kozak, a professional engineer and former oil and gas research analyst with more than 40 years of experience across African and South American resource markets, believes African nations can significantly increase production while ensuring citizens benefit from their natural resources, provided governments strike the right balance between fiscal competitiveness and national development.
“The Guyana lesson is very clear—the country must not give away their resources,” Kozak said. “Development of future discoveries should be reasonable for the country with jobs created, industry created, and education of the country’s labor force.”
He emphasized that governments must create tax and royalty systems that are attractive enough to encourage exploration while still delivering fair returns for both investors and host nations.
“Countries need to have a fiscal regime that makes it attractive enough for companies to do the groundwork for exploration, and attractive enough that if an oil discovery is going to be developed, the company gets a reasonable economic return on their investment.”
Industry leaders say achieving that balance will be critical if Africa is to reach its long-term production target of 13.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2030.
For consumers facing elevated fuel prices across many African markets, executives argue that stronger institutions and consistent investment policies could ultimately translate into greater domestic energy production, economic growth, and improved energy security.
As competition for global investment intensifies, the consensus among industry leaders is that building long-term institutional trust—rather than relying solely on abundant natural resources—will determine which countries successfully convert underground reserves into lasting economic benefits.
SOURCE: Agencies/ AfricaNews
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]]>The post Human Rights groups warn of growing ‘goon’ culture in Kenya appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Kenyan human rights organisations are warning of an alarming rise in the use of hired gangs—commonly referred to as “goons”—by political actors seeking to intimidate rivals, disrupt demonstrations and suppress civic activism ahead of the country’s 2027 general elections.
Demas Kiprono, Executive Director of the International Commission of Jurists Kenya, described the phenomenon as a recurring feature of periods of intense political competition.
“Whenever there is high political contestation in Kenya, there are things that happen to human rights and democratic freedoms that we find abhorrent,” he said, warning of “the proliferation of goonism” by individuals allegedly paid to violate the rights of others for political gain.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, the use of politically sponsored gangs amounts to what scholars describe as “informal repression.”
“What you call goonism is what is scholarly known as informal repression,” said Ernest Oduor, the commission’s Head of Communication. “It is where the state outsources violence to informal groups.”
He argued that such tactics serve two purposes: undermining the legitimacy of protest movements while allowing authorities to avoid direct responsibility for violence.
Rights advocates have expressed concern over what they describe as insufficient police action against the groups, despite repeated incidents involving political rallies, demonstrations and civil society events.
An investigation by AFP found that politicians can recruit armed gangs for as little as 500 Kenyan shillings—about four US dollars—a day, with payments increasing depending on the political figure hiring them.
Many recruits come from Nairobi’s impoverished informal settlements, where unemployment and limited educational opportunities leave young people vulnerable.
One 27-year-old man, identified only as Marius, told AFP he abandoned his dream of becoming a surgeon after his family could no longer afford school fees. He has worked as a hired enforcer since he was 17.
“You end up being a goon to at least earn something,” he said.
Another recruit, Daniel, who studied criminology but failed to secure formal employment, said many graduates remain locked out of the job market.
“They say education is the key, but honestly speaking we never find the padlock open,” he said.
Human rights groups and analysts allege that security forces have, in some cases, failed to intervene while gangs attacked protesters or opposition gatherings.
AFP reported witnessing armed groups operating alongside police during anti-government protests last year, while CCTV footage from June reportedly showed officers moving with armed men who stormed a civil society meeting at Nairobi’s All Saints Church.
Police spokesperson Michael Muchiri rejected suggestions of institutional collusion, describing the allegations as “preposterous” and insisting that any officers involved were acting independently and remained under investigation.
“The National Police Service is determined to ensure the goon culture does not gain a foothold in this country,” he said.
The use of politically mobilised youth groups is not new in Kenya.
Analysts trace the practice back to the early 1990s under former President Daniel arap Moi, when the Youth for KANU ’92 movement was accused of vote buying and political violence.
Current President William Ruto was among the organisers of that campaign and was later charged by the International Criminal Court over the 2007-08 post-election violence, although the case was eventually dropped after witness-related issues.
Some former gang members interviewed by AFP claim demand for hired enforcers has risen again since Ruto took office in 2022, particularly during youth-led protests over corruption and the rising cost of living.
The government did not respond to AFP’s requests for comment.
Rights organisations warn that unless authorities address the growing reliance on politically sponsored gangs, Kenya’s democratic process could face increasing instability.
Kiprono argues that the solution lies in strengthening independent policing rooted in constitutional principles and community trust.
“To deal with this goonism we need an independent, strong police that is governed by the constitution and is democratic,” he said.
With election campaigns expected to intensify over the coming months, observers fear the combination of economic hardship, political rivalry and organised violence could threaten the credibility of Kenya’s 2027 polls.
SOURCE: By Dominic Wabwireh with AFP/AfricaNews
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]]>The post U.S., Iran trade claims over Strait of Hormuz as tensions escalate appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>The latest violence was triggered after Iran struck a commercial container ship near the coast of Oman, prompting U.S. forces to launch strikes on what they described as Iranian military targets, including air defense systems, radar sites, missile equipment and fast attack boats.
The U.S. Central Command said the Strait of Hormuz is a critical international waterway for global trade and insisted that Iran does not control it.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard rejected that claim, declaring the strait to be Iranian territory and warning that it would not tolerate what it called illegal U.S. interference.
The exchange comes as both sides approach the halfway point of a 60-day interim agreement that was intended to pave the way for broader peace talks. Instead, negotiations have stalled as military confrontations continue around one of the world’s most important shipping routes.
Missile alert sirens sounded in Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Kuwait activated its air defenses amid fears of further Iranian retaliation. Explosions were also reported in several parts of Iran following the latest U.S. strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, and the renewed confrontation has raised concerns that the conflict could once again disrupt international shipping and regional stability.
SOURCE: Agencies/AfricaNews
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]]>The post Shock in South African football: World Cup star Jayden Adams dies at 25 appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>South African police have launched an investigation into the death of World Cup footballer Jayden Adams after his body was discovered on Saturday at a property in the Cape Town neighbourhood of Schotsche Kloof.
In a statement, police confirmed that an inquest had been registered following the discovery of the body of a 25-year-old man. Authorities have not disclosed a cause of death and said the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Adams’ father, Juanito Adams, said the family is waiting for the results of an autopsy before making funeral arrangements.
“As you all know, it was an untimely death. The family is struggling to process it,” he told South African broadcaster eNCA. “It won’t be easy to carry on. People say it will become easier, but it won’t. You just learn to live with it.”
The midfielder, 25, played in all three of South Africa’s group-stage matches, helping the national team reach the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup for the first time in its history.
He did not feature in South Africa’s 1-0 defeat to Canada in the round of 32 on June 28, just two weeks before his death.
South Africa’s Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie, urged the public and media not to speculate about the cause of Adams’ death while the investigation is ongoing.
McKenzie also revealed that Adams had played in his country’s group-stage match against the Czech Republic only hours after learning that his grandmother had died, describing the midfielder’s commitment as remarkable.
The football world paid its respects during the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, with moments of silence held before the England vs. Norway and Argentina vs. Switzerland matches.
As investigations continue, tributes continue to pour in for a player whose performances helped write a memorable chapter in South African football history.
SOURCE: By Dominic Wabwireh with AP / AfricaNews
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]]>The post Liberia’s Ruling Party Urges Boakai to Reshuffle Cabinet appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>The committee is calling on President Boakai to reshuffle his government, arguing that some officials have failed to support the party’s principles and the government’s agenda.
Unity Party National Chairman Rev. Luther Tarpeh said the committee will compile the list and submit it to the President’s office.
Tarpeh said the party wants some ministers and directors replaced, adding that underperforming officials should not weaken service delivery to Liberians.
“As we move toward the end of the first half of our administration, we are calling on President Joseph N. Boakai to reshuffle the cabinet. This is long overdue,” Tarpeh said. “There are some members in our government who are not performing well. We will do the list and submit it to your noble office. We want to see some ministers replaced immediately. We want to see some directors replaced.”
Tarpeh also said the Unity Party-led government remains focused on delivering results for Liberians. He said the party will commend progress where it is recorded but will also speak out where it sees setbacks.
He reassured Liberians that the government remains on course and will continue to prioritize the well-being of the people.
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]]>The post LOUD WHISPERS: Let Us Pay Attention appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Within a couple of months, Mrs Benson 2 was pregnant. That was of course very good news for Mr Benson, but I don’t need to tell you what a disaster it portended for Mrs Benson 1. The usually reserved but friendly Mrs Benson became visibly miserable. She could barely respond to greetings and walked with her head down as if she wanted to make herself as invisible as possible. I was not the one who noticed all this. It was my mother. It surprised me that my mother, who is a very private person, decided to make Mrs Benson’s plight her business. I asked my mother why she was worried about Mrs Benson, after all they were not friends and she was much younger than my mother. My mother told me that she seemed lonely and had no support system around her. According to my mother, it would only be a matter of time before she totally unraveled, and her rival would edge her out and take over the home she had struggled so hard to build. Mrs Benson was from Ondo State where my parents come from, so there was also an element of community solidarity there.
One day, my mother sent for Mrs Benson, and they had a long meeting. My mother offered her a shoulder to cry on, and advised her to look after herself, starting with improving her appearance. In her depression and misery, Mrs Benson had started to look much older than she actually was. Mrs Benson was very grateful for my mother’s offer of support. True to her word, my mother supported Mrs Benson in every way she could, and after a while the results of my mother’s interventions became visible. Mrs Benson looked a lot better and stopped walking as if she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. She loved spending time with my mum, and I was surprised to see how pretty Mrs Benson was when she laughed. Mrs Benson 2 had her baby, it was a girl. There was a big naming ceremony and even though Mrs Benson 1 was very supportive, I know that her heart was broken. My mother kept telling her it would be alright, and to have patience. Guess what? Mrs Benson 1 got pregnant shortly after. And she had a boy. Mr Benson went crazy with joy. The naming party this time around was much grander than that of her rival. Mrs Benson danced all night. It was a wonderful victory and I was ever so proud of my mother for being such a good friend.
I have never forgotten this lesson from my mother. As Africans, we used to take great pride in our communal bonds and our capacity to provide support systems for one another. Things are not that way anymore. Urbanisation, migration, poverty and other variables have changed this positive narrative. We are now mostly on our own. Even when we have the best of intentions to keep in touch with family and friends, we are always too busy to keep the promises we make to help others. We don’t notice when we have not heard from a friend or relation for a while. We assume they are getting on with their lives. When they don’t show up for events involving mutual friends or family we don’t worry about it. Who has time to look out for someone else? Who is looking out for me?, we ask ourselves. When we see people we know posting strange things on social media, what do we do? We probably simply ignore them.
Over the past year I have had cause to call up at least two people to ask them how they are doing, based on disturbing posts on social media. Each time they were grateful to have been asked, and they agreed to seek healthier ways of addressing their challenges. I hate getting involved in other people’s business. So how do we help those who need it if they don’t ask? How do we draw the line between being concerned for people engaging in strange behaviour and invading their privacy? I do know that we can at least let the people concerned know that we care and will be there for them and leave it at that. What we should not do is pretend that everything is alright.
When we are confronted with challenges involving ourselves or people we know especially if they involve mental or emotional health, we don’t seek professional help because there are very few services available. We lay siege to our houses of worship. We make demi-gods out of mere mortals and place our fates in their hands. Those who need help don’t get or feel any better. Everything feels so hard, too difficult for them. They don’t feel heard. They are told that they are too lazy, too weak, not prayerful enough, and not hardworking enough. They are advised to seek ‘deliverance’. Every morning is not greeted as a blessing, but as another dark cloud. Till they find themselves standing at the railings of a bridge, staring into the ocean. Trying to summon the courage to do one last thing that they think they have control of – to end it all. And when they go over the bridge, we start with our recriminations and regrets. The ‘woulda’, ‘coulda’, ‘shoulda’ is relentless. As I write this, there is someone we know who is struggling to stay afloat. They might not think of killing themselves, but they are probably miserable enough to feel hopeless and worthless. We all know people who are being suffocated due to poverty, illness, poor fortune, violent relationships, all kinds of situations that can slowly but surely snuff the life out of someone formerly known as a functional human being. We might not always be there for the people who need us due to things beyond our control, but as much as we are able to, we should try our best.
A friend of mine, who I will call Leila, passed away in London in 1997. I had not seen her for a few months, and then I heard she was seriously ill. I could not reach her on the phone, and she lived in Cambridge, which was not a place to visit all the way from London without an appointment. I called Gifty, a mutual friend and asked if she had heard that Leila was ill. Gifty was much closer to Leila than I was, and if there was anything wrong, she would know. She told me that she had not seen Leila in months, and all attempts to set up a meeting had not worked. She promised to make more of an effort to find out what was going on with her. I was worried when I heard this, and I told Gifty that I was going to Tunisia for a meeting and I made her promise to check on Leila and get some news. By the time I got back from my trip, Leila had passed away. The tears we shed at her funeral were not just about losing a friend. They were tears of regret and anger. Our friend had deliberately isolated herself from us because she did not want us to know the nature of her illness. It turned out that people in her community from Zimbabwe knew what was wrong with her, but instead of rallying to support her, they gossiped about it and carried on in denial. We nominated Gifty to give the eulogy on behalf of our own network of friends. Gifty is one of the sweetest women I know, I had never seen her lose her temper.
That day, as we listened to Gifty speak, polite, but visibly angry, the gravity of what had happened sank in. Gifty stated in very clear terms that we had failed one of our own, with varying degrees of culpability. Most of Gifty’s anger was directed at people from Leila’s community, and rightfully so. Back in the day, HIV/AIDS was considered a terrible thing, no one wanted to deal with it, and nothing much has changed. Leila had lost her husband two years before to what was said to be a brain tumour. Shortly after he passed away, she fell ill. She struggled with her condition almost entirely by herself in cold, lonely, Cambridge. As if that was not bad enough, two days after I got back from Tunisia, my husband sat me down to give me more terrible news. A young family friend, a doctor in London had committed suicide. No one knew how depressed and desperate he had been. It was a terrible time. Let us pay attention. We don’t need to meddle or be intrusive. Just pay attention and be there when you are needed.
I feel deeply for everyone who has ever been close to breaking point. Life can be very harsh. We all need help. Let us support one another with anything we can offer – a listening ear, kind words, financial support, prayers, moral support and non-judgmental advice. You never know when you might be able to pull someone back from the brink. Mrs Benson found a friend who paid attention and lifted her out of despair when she needed it the most. Leila would still have died, but at least her friends would have been able to hold her hand and soothe her. As you stand for someone today, may someone stand for you in your moment of need.
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender and Development Specialist, Leadership Coach and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women.
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]]>The post Nigeria Issues Stern Warning to South Africa Over Killings of Citizens appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>The warning, one of the strongest issued by Abuja in recent years over the safety of its citizens in South Africa, came as the Federal Government condemned what it described as a disturbing pattern of extra-judicial killings, hate speech and growing Afrophobic violence, insisting that South African authorities must urgently bring perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said the continued attacks had reached an intolerable level, declaring that while Nigeria remained committed to diplomacy and African solidarity, its patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
“We wish to place the Government of South Africa on notice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed,” the statement by the spokesperson of the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa said.
The latest diplomatic row was triggered by the killing of two Nigerians on June 28.
One of the victims, Emeka Iroegbu, was allegedly tortured to death by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria, during what the ministry described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.”
The ministry further alleged that the same officers had earlier, on April 20, been responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Ekpenyong, noting that despite the identities of the four officers being known to the South African Police Service (SAPS), no arrests had been made.
In a separate incident, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as “Big Joe,” was reportedly shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
Describing the incidents as part of a wider pattern of violence against foreigners, the Federal Government questioned the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa and accused some groups of deliberately criminalising Nigerian migrants to justify attacks against them.
It said the repeated killings, particularly those allegedly involving law enforcement officers, raised serious questions about state responsibility under international law.
The ministry also condemned recent remarks reportedly made by a spokesperson of the South African Government urging Nigerians leaving the country because of xenophobic protests to disclose where illegal drugs were hidden.
Abuja described the comments as inflammatory, unprofessional and capable of inciting hatred against Nigerians, warning that public officials should refrain from making sweeping statements that reinforce dangerous stereotypes.
It equally criticised anti-immigrant organisations such as March on March and Operation Dudula, accusing them of fuelling violence against fellow Africans through hate campaigns and xenophobic mobilisation.
The government demanded immediate investigations into the latest killings and other unresolved cases involving Nigerian victims, insisting that criminal allegations against anyone should be handled through due process rather than mob justice or extra-judicial executions.
While assuring Nigerians in South Africa that diplomatic engagement with Pretoria would continue, the ministry urged them to remain vigilant, avoid violence-prone areas and relocate to safer neighbourhoods where necessary.
It also disclosed that the evacuation of registered Nigerians who wish to return home is continuing.
The government appealed to Nigerians at home not to embark on reprisals against South African businesses or citizens, stressing that dialogue remained Nigeria’s preferred option in resolving the crisis.
The latest warning revives longstanding tensions between Africa’s two largest economies over repeated xenophobic attacks against African migrants, particularly Nigerians.
Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have experienced periodic strain since the end of apartheid, despite both countries maintaining strong diplomatic, political and commercial ties and jointly playing leading roles within the African Union.
Beginning in the late 2000s, waves of xenophobic violence in South Africa claimed dozens of lives and destroyed businesses belonging to foreign nationals. Nigerians have frequently featured among the victims, alongside migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Somalia, Ethiopia and other African countries.
The attacks reached global attention during the widespread anti-foreigner violence of 2008, while renewed outbreaks in 2015 and 2019 triggered strong diplomatic protests from Nigeria. The 2019 violence forced the Federal Government to boycott the World Economic Forum on Africa held in Cape Town, while Air Peace evacuated hundreds of stranded Nigerians back home.
Although both governments subsequently established diplomatic mechanisms, including an Early Warning Mechanism and the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission, reports of harassment, extra-judicial killings and attacks against Nigerians have continued to surface.
Sunday’s strongly worded statement signals Abuja’s toughest posture in recent years, suggesting that beyond diplomatic protests, Nigeria may be considering additional measures should South African authorities fail to halt the killings and prosecute those responsible.
With xenophobic demonstrations once again gaining momentum in parts of South Africa, the latest developments threaten to reopen one of the most contentious issues in relations between the continent’s two leading powers.
SOURCE: By Michael Olugbode in Abuja/ This Day/AllAfrica
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]]>The post UN Secretary-General calls for AI regulation appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Speaking at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, Guterres said AI must be developed in the service of humanity and not allowed to shape humanity’s future without clear rules and accountability.
He warned that AI is transforming economies, workplaces, elections and global security at a pace that governments and institutions are struggling to match. Guterres said stronger international cooperation is urgently needed to ensure the technology is safe, fair and respects human rights.
The UN chief also raised concerns over AI’s growing environmental impact, urging technology companies to disclose the energy demands of their AI systems and commit to powering data centres with renewable energy by 2030.
His strongest warning focused on the military use of artificial intelligence. Guterres called for a ban on autonomous lethal weapons capable of selecting and attacking targets without meaningful human control, arguing that decisions over life and death should never be delegated to machines.
He said the world has a narrow window to establish effective global safeguards, warning that today’s decisions will determine whether AI becomes a force for progress or a source of greater risk for future generations.
SOURCE: By Rédaction Africanews and AP
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]]>The post Tanzania on edge ahead of planned protests appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Police armed with riot gear have flooded the streets after calls for July 7 protests against political repression, despite a government ban on all political gatherings.
Authorities insist the deployment is routine, but officials have warned that anyone taking part in demonstrations will face tough action.
The tensions come less than a year after disputed elections sparked unrest that rights groups say left thousands dead. The government puts the death toll at 518.
Many Tanzanians say memories of those killings and ongoing reports of abductions and disappearances have left people too afraid to protest.
Opposition leaders accuse President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s government of intensifying its crackdown on dissent, pointing to the imprisonment of Chadema leader Tundu Lissu on treason charges and continued restrictions on political activity.
SOURCE: By Rédaction Africanews and AP
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]]>The post FIFA cleared Balogun to face Belgium after Trump intervention, sources say appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Balogun had been set to miss Monday’s last-16 knockout clash with the Belgians after receiving a straight red card following video review for stepping on the foot of a Bosnian defender in a round-of-32 clash that the US won 2-0.
Under FIFA rules, a straight red card automatically triggers a one-game ban, which cannot be appealed by the player’s team.
But world football’s governing body said Sunday the ban will now be suspended for a year, in a stunning move for which no specific explanation was offered.
Two sources familiar with the matter told AFP that Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino asking him to review Balogun’s punishment.
“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The decision was immediately slammed by Belgian football officials, who released a statement saying they are “astonished” by a move that is in “direct contradiction” with FIFA’s own rules.
The Royal Belgian Football Association is “investigating all potential options” to “safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport,” it said.
“I didn’t know that at the FIFA World Cup, the 5th of July is now the 1st of April, and that it’s April Fool’s Day,” added Belgium coach Rudi Garcia, at a press conference.
Trump spoke with Infantino on Wednesday, the same day that the red card was given, sources told AFP on condition of anonymity.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also publicly called for the card to be rescinded.
The decision to suspend the ban was taken by FIFA’s disciplinary committee.
Top scorer Balogun has been key to the USA’s progress in the tournament, netting three times, and his absence against Belgium would have been a blow to the team in the game in Seattle.
The stakes are huge for the co-hosts. Playing on home soil, a strong US start to the tournament has raised expectations to fever-pitch levels among the American public.
The co-hosts are targeting a historic run to at least the quarter-finals, which they have not reached since 2002, or even further.
Balogun himself had said Friday the red card ban was “something I have to just accept.”
But US players and officials welcomed the news Sunday.
“It’s a fair decision because it should have never been a red card,” said head coach Mauricio Pochettino, calling the punishment “too big” for an uninentional foul.
“It’s not that we are victims, but we are not the bad men, the mean ones here,” he said.
Star forward Christian Pulisic called the decision a “boost” while governing body US Soccer said it was “pleased.”
In its statement, FIFA pointed to “article 27 of the FIFA disciplinary code” which allows the suspension to be “suspended for a probationary period of one year.”
Balogun would serve the ban only if he commits another similar foul in the next year, it said.
There is some precedent for the decision.
Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo earned a three-game ban for an elbow during qualifying last year, but had two matches of his ban suspended.
The move, which allowed Ronaldo to play in Portugal’s World Cup opener, drew criticism at the time.
“We’re not defending the national team or the federation. We are defending football, whether it’s ethics or integrity,” said coach Garcia on Sunday, as Belgium protested the latest U-turn.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said it was “a bit of a surprise” that Balogun was cleared to play just a day before the match.
“Had it been done earlier, we’d have been able to be mentally more prepared, perhaps,” he said
SOURCE: Africa News/AP
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]]>The post Second Ebola treatment centre opens in North Kivu appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>With a capacity of 20 beds, the centre is aimed at improving specialist care and easing pressure on local health facilities.
“This Ebola Treatment Center is the second standardized centre to be built in our province of North Kivu,” said Prisca Luanda Kamala, Provincial Minister of Health, North Kivu Province.
“We have the Ebola Treatment Center (ETC) in Katwa, and now this one at the Beni General Hospital. Of course, according to our plans, many more ETCs and transit centres are set to be built, and we are only just getting started. All of this is in the interests of our people, because when people fall ill, the government has a responsibility to protect its citizens.”
The city of Beni, where the new centre is located, has also recorded its first Ebola survivor, a female patient who was discharged in late June, a rare positive milestone in the country’s fight against the outbreak.
“This document certifies that our sister Kavira Mukelu Charline is no longer considered an Ebola patient, but rather is considered cured, someone who has overcome the disease,” said Jeremie Katsavara, a doctor treating Ebola patients.
“So she will help us to create awareness, to help us spread the message within the community that Ebola is not a foregone conclusion.”
Medical teams say her recovery shows that early treatment can save lives. They are urging communities to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear.
“Thank you very much, for accepting the care provided by our teams and for all the efforts they have made on your behalf. We believe you can tell the community and others that the disease really does exist and that if someone agrees to seek treatment in time, they have a very good chance of recovery,” said Michel Tosalisana, chief medical officer of Beni Health Zone.
As of Sunday, the DRC has reported more than 1,500 confirmed Ebola cases in three provinces, including 506 deaths. More than 250 patients have recovered, while 628 remain in isolation or under hospital care.
SOURCE: By Rédaction Africanews and AFP
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]]>The post LOUD WHISPERS: Rivers of Blood appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>One day, Malomo asked Baba Bamise, ‘Why do you keep sending these people away? Don’t you think people will stop coming to you and go somewhere else?’ Baba Bamise smiled and replied, ‘I can only give people what I have. I can only tell people what I know. I can give them herbs that will make them healthy. If they are healthy, they can work. If they can work, they can build wealth. A healthy young man can farm. A healthy young woman who is not lazy can trade. I can counsel people to be content with what they have and have peace of mind. If your mind is at rest, you will be at peace with people around you. That will attract good luck and fortune. It will also bring love. Without all these things no one can be successful. I can pray for people that God will bless the work of their hands and show them their true path in life. There are those who have dealings with evil spirits and can do such charms and change destinies, but I am not one of them and I do not want to be’. Baba Bamise practiced what he preached. In addition to his calling as a diviner, herbalist, and healer, he had farms and his two wives were successful traders. Malomo inherited Baba Bamise’s work. He tried to be true to all he had been taught. He too refused to dabble into dangerous encounters with evil spirits. These were however different times. Many young people had become desperate for money. There was a Yoruba saying, ‘When you harvest your yam, eat it discreetly’. This was to guard against undue displays of affluence that could attract jealousy and bad luck. These days, this saying is virtually unknown. The practice now is to let the whole world know the location of your farm, exactly when you are planting the yam, the specie of yam, the harvest dates and display photographs of the many ways in which you will eat the yam that has not even been planted – boiled, fried, pounded or grilled.
Malomo had colleagues who were also facing the same pressures. A number of unscrupulous ones told him that their strategy was to lure young people into parting with huge sums of money by telling them to go and do things they believed no one in their right minds would do. They too were shocked at the things young people were prepared to do for money. If you want to get rich, go and sleep with a mad woman. Go and sleep with your mother. Bring the head of your father. Bring a new born baby. Go and eat faeces. Go and sleep with a dog.
The more outlandish the assignment they were given the more the greedy young men and women committed themselves. Sometimes the people concerned would get lucky with their fraud business, seduction of a wealthy partner or armed robbery and make a lot of money. This was the proof they needed that the charms were effective. They used most of it to make even more deadly charms and to bring in other people who would be given the same terrible conditions.
Malomo looked at the well-dressed young man who had come to him. According to his visitor, he had done a money charm before and it had worked. Now, he wanted an even more powerful charm that would bring him more money. ‘What were you asked to do the last time you did such a charm?’, Malomo asked.
The young man said he had been asked to walk naked through seven streets between 1.am and 3.am, carrying a sacrifice. ‘What are you prepared to do this time? Every desire requires a sacrifice’ Malomo told him. The young man nodded and said, ‘I am ready to do anything. Anything’. Malomo then gave him the details of what was required. ‘Bring me three babies, three twelve-year old virgins, three pregnant women, three grandmothers. If you can bring all of them, I will drain their blood for you to bathe in and make the charm for you’. The young man frowned, thought for a minute and nodded. ‘I will be back with them all’ he said. A shocked Malomo started to shiver as if he had a fever. As the young man got to the door, he called him back and asked him, ‘tell me how are you going to get all these persons? What will you do to get them?’. The young man replied, ‘I will think carefully and plan. I need to be strategic to achieve my goal. I need to be courageous because this is not a task for cowards. I will ask my friends for help so we can do it together. There are also people I know who have a ready supply of such things and I can easily buy from them’. Malomo smiled and asked him, ‘If you have all this courage and all these skills and capital, why don’t you use them for a legitimate business? I was taught long ago there are three things in this world you cannot have a charm for. A charm cannot make you rich. A charm cannot bring you love. A charm cannot protect you from death. If there is anyone who claims they can give you any of these charms, they are lying. Every desire requires a sacrifice, but it should not be blood. If you are prepared to bathe with the devil, know you will certainly die in a river of blood’. The young man stared at Malomo in silence, then he shrugged and left. That night, Malomo called on the spirit of Baba Bamise:
Baba, wherever you are, I greet you in the name of our Creator
I greet you in the name of our ancestors
Baba, our children have lost their way
Our children are choking on their own vomit
Our children are running errands for the devil
Our children are doing the unthinkable and unspeakable
Our children are bathing in rivers of blood for things of the world
Our children are dying young
I don’t know what to do
Please tell me what to do
Malomo fell asleep exhausted. In his dreams, Baba Bamise sat next to him on the bed, ‘My son, I tried to teach you all I could. You learnt and you are teaching others. Keep learning. Keep teaching. There are no charms for riches. There are no charms for love. There are no charms for immortality. If you want the children to live, teach them hard work.
Teach them patience. Teach them selflessness. Teach them how to live on in the hearts of others. Teach them how to plant and harvest yam and to eat it with dignity. Teach them that you cannot plant cassava and expect yams to grow. Teach them pride in the work of their hands. Teach them that the devil’s blood never washes away’.
Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi is a Gender Specialist, Leadership Coach, Policy Advocate and Writer. She is the Founder of Abovewhispers.com, an online community for women. She can be reached at BAF@abovewhispers.com
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]]>The post Australia toughens kids’ social media ban, doubles potential penalties for tech firms appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>The government will also strengthen the information-gathering powers of its internet regulator, the eSafety Commissioner, allowing it to compel social media companies to provide evidence of what they have done to stop under-16s from getting an account.
“I’m heartened by the shift in conversation and the global momentum we’ve seen since introducing the social media minimum age, but it’s clear big tech are not doing enough to comply with the law – there are still too many children on social media,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
The statement said that since the ban has been put in place, more than 5 million under-16 accounts have been deactivated or restricted.
But numerous studies have also shown that age-assurance mechanisms, such as taking a selfie, which have been put in place by tech companies, are easily circumvented by children and that in many cases, the children have never been asked to prove their age.
Among Sydney’s grownups, Penny Lilley said on Sunday she doubted stiffer penalties would prompt improvements from platforms “when they make so much money as well off of people being on their websites”.
Another Sydneysider, Zara Keats, told Reuters she felt platforms “haven’t really done as much as they said they were going to” in upholding the ban.
“I have family who are still using it actively, and I have to sort of sit there and pretend like it’s not illegal for them to do so,” Keats said.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal on Wednesday that looked at 408 adolescents, 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect. Two-thirds of underage users stayed online by self-declaring an age over 16 or posting a selfie that the platform accepted as over 16, it said.
In April, an industry body representing tech suppliers blamed problems enforcing the ban on social media platforms’ weak deployment of tools available to run age checks rather than the limits of the technology.
“Based on the regular updates I receive from the eSafety Commissioner, it is clear to me that social media platforms are adopting tricks straight out of the big tech playbook and doing the bare minimum to get by,” Minister for Communications Anika Wells said in the statement.
In addition to empowering the regulator to demand information from the social media platforms, planned updates to the law will also allow it to gather information from third parties such as age-assurance or app store providers to assist in testing claims made by the platforms.
A spokesperson for the prime minister said the timing of introducing the amendments to the law to parliament had not yet been decided, but the government would have more to say on the matter soon.
Message board website Reddit (RDDT.N), is separately challenging the ban in Australia’s highest court, seeking to overturn it on free speech grounds. The government has said it will defend against the lawsuit.
Reporting by Sam McKeith and Cordelia Hsu in Sydney; Editing by Edwina Gibbs
SOURCE: REUTERS
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]]>The post Europe on high alert as killer heat set to move east and south appeared first on AboveWhispers.
]]>Scientists said the heatwave, which began on June 20, was the worst recorded in Europe, where the climate is changing faster than the global average.
Temperatures were peaking in France and Britain, where records for June have been broken. But in Italy, the heat was expected to intensify into the weekend, bringing the summer’s first readings of 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).
Paris hit a June record of 40.9 C on Wednesday. Even though temperatures were expected to ease, authorities braced for more casualties.
“There will be consequences in terms of the number of additional deaths,” French Health Minister Stephanie Rist told reporters.
Across the continent, cultural landmarks have been forced to close, and farming has suffered. In Britain, doctors said the hot weather was affecting critical equipment such as MRI scanners in hospitals.
Extreme heat caused the surface of the A2 motorway in Germany to buckle and rupture over several lanes on Thursday evening. In Austria, the national rail company warned that train tracks could buckle in the coming days.
Even Sweden was not immune from the ball of heat rolling across the continent; a cargo train derailed late on Thursday as high temperatures caused track buckling, stopping traffic between Stockholm and the country’s second-biggest city Gothenburg.
Britain’s Met Office extended a red heat alert, covering a large area of southern and eastern England, into a third day for the first time, while a temperature of 36.9 C meant the British record for the hottest June day had been broken on three successive days. Hundreds of schools remained closed and London’s emergency services said calls for help were up 50%. A teenage boy died after entering a lake in central England, police said.
A red alert was issued for almost the whole of the Netherlands and many schools were closed as temperatures up to 40 C were expected, inflicting misery on visitors.
“I was expecting ‘hot’, but not this hot,” 20-year-old New Zealander Ruby Prescott said, hoping for cooler air inside Amsterdam’s main art gallery, the Rijksmuseum.
Electric fans flew off the shelves in Britain, and Asian air conditioning manufacturers reported a European sales boom. In France, the state-owned power utility EDF pledged to spend €80 million ($90 million) on cooling systems for schools and day-care centres.
The heatwave, which has pushed temperatures as much as 18 C above their seasonal average, according to the Reuters Climate Monitor, is being driven by a weather pattern known as an Omega block.
This traps a bulging ball of hot air over regions for extended periods, with cooler air on its fringes.
The present heatwave, which moved up from the Iberian Peninsula towards Western Europe, will begin shifting by the end of the month, hitting central Europe and the Balkans, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said.
Scientists said the record-breaking heatwave would have been “virtually impossible” without manmade climate change, which has made this week’s stifling night-time temperatures 100 times more likely than they would have been even two decades ago.
“Over the region studied, this heatwave is the most severe ever recorded,” the World Weather Attribution group of climate scientists said in their latest analysis.
For scientists, sweltering night-time temperatures are of particular concern. Temperatures overnight have not dropped below 22C, depriving the human body of the ability to recover and shed the excess heat from the day, and which can drive excess deaths, John Kennedy, WMO Head of Climate Information said.
Hilary Williams, clinical vice president of Britain’s Royal College of Physicians, said overcrowding and heat in hospital wards were putting patients, staff and infrastructure under severe strain.
“People are far too hot,” she told BBC Radio, adding that some critical equipment, including MRI scanners and cancer treatment machines, was being affected by the heat.
French doctors and hospital workers reported an increase in emergency calls and treatment.
Patrick Pelloux, a doctor for emergency services in Paris and president of the association of French emergency room doctors, confirmed that there had been 55 deaths in the care of emergency healthcare services in Paris in the space of 24 hours.
“Fifty-five is enormous,” he told Reuters. “Normally it’s three or four over 24 hours. It’s really excess deaths (due to the heatwave), that is clear.”
Reporting by Juliette Jabkhiro, Inti Landauro, Sudip Kar-Gupta, Makini Brice, Nicolas Delame, Dominique Vidalon, Friederike Heine, Giselda Vagnoni, Sam Tabahriti, Olivia Le Poidevin, Bart Meijer, Johan Ahlander and Francois Murphy; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Ros Russell
SOURCE: REUTERS
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