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Africa News Tonight

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VOA Newscasts

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VOA Newscasts (2 Minute)

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Blinken, Ghani, Confirm US Commitment to Afghanistan in Call

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 01:32:00 +0700

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken underscored the American commitment to Afghanistan Tuesday during a call with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.

According to State Department spokesman Ned Price, they discussed the need to “accelerate peace negotiations” and achieve an “inclusive” political settlement that allows the Afghan people to have a say in choosing their leaders and prevents Afghan soil from being used to threaten the United States and its allies and partners.

Both leaders condemned recent Taliban attacks that have seen the group make strategic gains, including capturing nine of 10 districts in Helmand province.

On Tuesday Afghan forces, backed by the U.S., launched airstrikes on the Taliban to stave off the capture of the city Lashkar Gah. Should the city fall, it would be the first provincial capital to be taken over by the Taliban in years.

In recent weeks, the Taliban have also captured key border crossings with Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan. The provincial capitals of Kandahar and Herat provinces are also reportedly under siege.

U.S. and NATO forces have completed more than 95% of their troop withdrawals, with 100% expected to be reached by Aug. 31.

The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, told a security forum that neither side to the conflict can win militarily.

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Health Chat

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 01:32:00 +0700

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New York City Bars, Restaurants, Gyms to Require Proof of Vaccination

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 01:32:00 +0700

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday people engaged in indoor activities including fitness clubs, bars and restaurants will be required to be vaccinated, beginning later this month, the first major city in the United States to make such a requirement.

At a news conference, De Blasio said the city will create a Key to NYC Pass, available by providing proof of vaccination. The new policy will be phased in over few weeks, during which time the city will coordinate with the business community and educate the community on the process, with the final details to be announced and implemented the week of August 16.

FILE - New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks to people as he gives away face masks for using in public spaces to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), May 16, 2020.

The new rule will require all workers as well as patrons of businesses to be vaccinated.

De Blasio has focused on getting as many New Yorkers vaccinated as possible while resisting calls to mandate masks indoors, as several cities and counties in California have done.

De Blasio also said Monday he was making "a strong recommendation" that everyone wear a mask in public indoor settings but stressed that the city's "overwhelming strategic thrust" remained getting more people vaccinated.

Official data indicate about 66% of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated.

The announcement comes a day after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a mandate requiring all frontline workers in state hospitals get vaccinated or find new positions off the front line.

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International Edition

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Health Chat

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Health Chat

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New York City Bars, Restaurants, Gyms to Require Proof of Vaccination

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:59:00 +0700

FILE - New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio speaks to people as he gives away face masks for using in public spaces to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), May 16, 2020.

The new rule will require all workers as well as patrons of businesses to be vaccinated.

De Blasio has focused on getting as many New Yorkers vaccinated as possible while resisting calls to mandate masks indoors, as several cities and counties in California have done.

Official data indicate about 66% of adults in New York City are fully vaccinated.

The announcement comes a day after New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued a mandate requiring all frontline workers in state hospitals get vaccinated or find new positions off the front line.

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International Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:59:00 +0700

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New York Governor Cuomo Sexually Harassed Multiple Women, Report Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:59:00 +0700

New York state Governor Andrew Cuomo sexually harassed numerous women in violation of federal and state laws, according to a report released Tuesday by New York’s attorney general.

Letitia James said Cuomo’s alleged targets are current and former employees of the state government.

The probe uncovered a “climate of fear” created by Cuomo’s behavior that included unwanted kisses, groping, hugging, and making unacceptable remarks, said James.

She said the investigation also found that the Democratic governor retaliated against at least one former employee for complaining about his actions.

The nearly five-month investigation was performed by two outside attorneys whom the state attorney general hired. They spoke to 179 people, including complainants, current and former members of the governor’s office, state troopers, and other state workers.

James said the only reason the probe was launched was because of the “heroic women who came forward.”

Cuomo did not immediately comment on the report, which is expected to be taken into account in an ongoing investigation by the state legislature into whether there are reasons for Cuomo to be impeached.

The legislature is also investigating the assistance Cuomo received from top aides to write a book about the coronavirus pandemic, preferential treatment his relatives got during COVID-19 testing last year, and his administration’s decision not to publicly disclose some data relating to nursing home fatalities for several months.

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VOA Newscasts

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VOA Newscasts (2 Minute)

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Turkey Wildfires Scorch Recovery in Hobbled Tourism Sector

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:59:00 +0700

Wildfires scorching some of Turkey’s most popular destinations have upended a nascent recovery in the country’s tourism sector hobbled for more than a year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scenes of happy beachgoers flocking to coastal areas turned nightmarish as fires forced mass-evacuations of tourists and locals alike in cities such as Bodrum and Marmaris.

Tuesday marked the seventh consecutive day Turkish firefighters battled the blazes, fueled by abnormally high summer temperatures and strong winds. The fires have been blamed for at least eight deaths and forced numerous residents, many of them farmers, to flee.

10,000 Flee Turkey Wildfires; Greece Power Grid Threatened

At least 8 people have been killed in Turkey since Wednesday; EU sends firefighters

Beyond physical destruction, the economic impact is already costly.

“We are devastated,” said Huseyin Aydin of Bordum Tour, a travel agency that books boating excursions in the Mediterranean Sea. “All the routes for the boat tours have been canceled as of now, and they will also be canceled into next year because all the nature sightseeing parts of our tours are completely burned.”

Aydin told VOA his business will have to shift to other tourist ventures or risk shutting completely.

Elsewhere in the country, things look less grim.

Tourists visit the 150A.D Roman temple dedicated to Apollo the Greek and Roman god of music, harmony and light, in Antalya, southern Turkey, June 20, 2021

In Istanbul, crowds of tourists can be seen strolling the streets after the Turkish government lifted almost all pandemic-related restrictions to boost economic activity and stimulate the country’s vital tourism sector.

“It’s been an overwhelmingly positive experience,” said Tania Nel, a resident of Qatar who has spent almost a month traveling Turkey.

“It was a country that I could enter easily, with just a PCR [COVID test], and obtain a visa for online. I've always wanted to see Turkey and, with other countries being closed, it seemed like a very obvious choice,” she told VOA. “Things being comparatively cheap here also meant I could stay longer and see quite a lot of regions in the country.”

Turkey sought to remain an international tourist destination throughout the pandemic, requiring only a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country and exempting foreigners from some restrictions, such as curfews and travel limitations within the country. Nel said ease of access drew her to Turkey.

“I had originally planned to travel to South Africa in July to see my family, but they experienced a spike in cases and stricter restrictions, hence the decision to come to Turkey,” Nel said, who is originally from Cape Town, South Africa.

Lagging recovery

Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism says incoming foreigners in June of this year barely topped 2 million, less than half the total recorded in June 2019 which saw over 5 million foreign visitors.

That hits especially hard in Turkey, where tourism is a key contributor to the national economy. The Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation describes Turkey’s tourism economy as “one of Turkey’s most dynamic and fastest growing sectors,” accounting for more than two million jobs and more than 7% of total employment.

Arriving tourists report receiving especially warm greetings by cash-strapped hospitality workers.

“They welcomed all tourists like royalty,” Nel said.

Low tourism levels have capped the economic stimulation usually expected during the summer. Many businesses report continued and intense financial hardship.

“We are in a really hard time economically at the moment,” said Turgay Karahan, who owns two gift shops in an area of Istanbul frequented by tourists.

Foreign tourists visit Buyukada, the largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, off Istanbul, Turkey, July 14, 2021.

A lack of customers forced Karahan to let employees go and work longer hours for a fraction of pre-pandemic earnings.

“We’re working more but we’re also earning less. Most of the money we make is spent on taxes and rent. Therefore, as an employer I am in a very hard spot,” Karahan told VOA.

Numerous cafes, restaurants, and bars in Istanbul and elsewhere have permanently closed since the pandemic first struck.

Karahan spoke wistfully of the throngs of tourists that used to pack into his gift shops.

“In the past, Turks felt like foreigners on this street because so many international tourists were here. Before the pandemic, you’d see tourists from England, Germany, France, Italy all crowding the streets in the summer. Nowadays, it’s not like this at all,” he said.

Lost earnings

The financial pain is also felt by Kuzey Yucehan, who owns a restaurant around the corner from Galata Tower, a top Istanbul tourist attraction.

“For months we were only operating for takeaway [orders], but the business that brought was not sustainable. Because of that, we have many problems with making ends meet and being profitable,” Yucehan told VOA, adding that many businesses have had to fend for themselves.

“Although in the media the government presented themselves as helpful and generous toward businesses in Turkey, we did not receive any financial relief as an independent business,” Yucehan said. “We hope that COVID passes and the world will get back to normal soon.”

This report includes some information from Reuters.

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VOA | VOA Newscasts

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VOA | VOA Newscasts

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VOA | VOA Newscasts (2 Minute)

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VOA | Turkey Wildfires Scorch Recovery in Hobbled Tourism Sector

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:58:00 +0700

Wildfires scorching some of Turkey’s most popular destinations have upended a nascent recovery in the country’s tourism sector hobbled for more than a year by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scenes of happy beachgoers flocking to coastal areas turned nightmarish as fires forced mass-evacuations of tourists and locals alike in cities such as Bodrum and Marmaris.

10,000 Flee Turkey Wildfires; Greece Power Grid Threatened

At least 8 people have been killed in Turkey since Wednesday; EU sends firefighters

Beyond physical destruction, the economic impact is already costly.

Aydin told VOA his business will have to shift to other tourist ventures or risk shutting completely.

Elsewhere in the country, things look less grim.

Tourists visit the 150A.D Roman temple dedicated to Apollo the Greek and Roman god of music, harmony and light, in Antalya, southern Turkey, June 20, 2021

Lagging recovery

Arriving tourists report receiving especially warm greetings by cash-strapped hospitality workers.

“We are in a really hard time economically at the moment,” said Turgay Karahan, who owns two gift shops in an area of Istanbul frequented by tourists.

Foreign tourists visit Buyukada, the largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara, off Istanbul, Turkey, July 14, 2021.

This report includes some information from Reuters.

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VOA | Sonny Side of Sports

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:58:00 +0700

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VOA | Africa 54

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:58:00 +0700

On this edition of Africa 54: Kenyan officials have given citizenship to 1,600 stateless Shona community in the country; More than two dozen people are the latest group among hundreds of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean sea during the past three days; And at least 30 corpses have washed up on the Sudanese banks of a river that adjoins Ethiopia's northern region of Tigray.

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VOA | South Sudan in Focus

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Aug 2021 00:58:00 +0700

Four people are arrested in connection to the death of a medical worker in Jonglei State; South Sudan swears in new members of parliament as stipulated in the revitalized peace agreement; and some mothers in South Sudan find it difficult to balance breastfeeding with additional daily demands.

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VOA | Africa News Tonight

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Heat Wave in Southern Europe Spawns Wildfires in Turkey, Italy, Greece

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 3 Aug 2021 01:33:00 +0700

A record-breaking heat wave across southeastern Europe has fueled deadly wildfires in Turkey as well Greece and Italy and threatened the national power grid in Greece.

Firefighters from the European Union arrived in Turkey on Monday where they joined local volunteers in fighting deadly wildfires along its coastline for a sixth day, The fires have been blamed for the deaths of eight people in recent days. There were no reports of additional deaths Monday.

Opposition politicians in the country are criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for what they deemed his sluggish and out-of-touch response to the fires.

Italian firefighters are using helicopters to fight fires along that country’s Adriatic coast and in the Sicily region. The National Fire Brigade Corps (Vigilli del Fuoco) reports air tankers from Canada helped fight more than 715 flare-up fires in the past 24 hours.

In this photo released by the Italian Firefighters, a view of a violent wildfire that burned the historical pinewood in Pescara, central Italy, Aug. 1, 2021.

The Associated Press reports in Greece, where temperatures reached 45° C (113° F) inland, workers with health conditions were allowed to take time off work. Also, coal-fired power stations slated for retirement were brought back into service to shore up the national grid, under pressure due to widespread use of air conditioning.

Greek firefighters on Monday fought local fires on the Greek island of Rhodes and in the city of Patras.

EU data show this year's fire season has been significantly more destructive than most, with experts saying that climate change is increasing both the frequency and intensity of such blazes.

University of Bristol professor of climate science Dann Mitchell told the AP that the heatwave in southeast Europe “is not at all unexpected, and very likely enhanced due to human-induced climate change.”

(Some information in this report came from the AP, Reuters and AFP.)

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Ghani Announces Afghanistan Security Plan, Promises Improvements in 6 Months

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 3 Aug 2021 01:33:00 +0700

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani announced Monday that he finally has a clear plan to counter Taliban offensives across the country after his government was heavily criticized for its seeming lack of strategy in the last three months.

The militants have made unexpectedly swift territorial gains, including taking over several key international border crossings as foreign forces withdraw from the country.

“I want to tell you that a clear plan is prepared for reaching stability in six months and the implementation of the plan has started,” Ghani said in his address to a special joint session of the Afghan parliament. This was the first time since the withdrawal announcement that he was addressing lawmakers.

Without sharing specifics, Ghani said the military will be responsible for defending strategic targets while the police, under the Interior Ministry, will defend cities and strategic district centers. The National Directorate of Security (NDS), Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, will coordinate the people’s militias called the anti-Taliban uprising forces.

“The reality is that we have faced an unexpected situation in the last three months. . ...We are facing an influx of domestic and foreign propaganda," said President Ghani, calling on all parliamentarians to help mobilize the population in support of Afghan security forces.

FILE - A member of an anti-Taliban militia fires a machine gun during a fight with Taliban insurgents in Mukhtar, on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan, March 28, 2021.

He blamed the deterioration in the country’s security to a “sudden decision” by the United States and NATO forces to leave but said it was now up to Afghans to manage the fallout.

For many years, the U.S. has publicly expressed its desire to leave Afghanistan, with multiple statements by former President Donald Trump and the campaign promises of President Joe Biden.

There was an expectation, however, that President Biden, unlike his predecessor, would listen to his Pentagon advisers who wanted to keep a small military footprint on the ground.

“We did not go to Afghanistan to nation-build. And it’s the right and the responsibility of the Afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country,” Biden said last month about the U.S. drawdown.

The U.S. and Taliban signed a deal in 2020 that would see the U.S. leave Afghanistan in exchange for the insurgents reducing violence and finding a negotiated end to the long-running war with the government in Kabul. Violence, however, has increased since then. The United States blames the Taliban for the unrest.

Ghani has ruled out repeated rumors that Taliban advances were caused by a secret deal. Instead, he acknowledged that lack of preparation and weakness in mid-level leadership caused district after district to fall to the militants, often without resistance.

Supporters of the Taliban carry Islamic flags after the Taliban said they seized the Afghan border town of Spin Boldaka across from the town of Chaman, Pakistan, July 14, 2021.

Ghani accused the Taliban of oppression as well as strengthening their relations with international terrorist groups rather than cutting them as per the deal they made with the Americans in Doha in February 2020.

“Reports of Taliban atrocities are spreading across Afghanistan. I follow all these reports closely,” he said.

The Afghan president made it clear that he thought the Taliban would not partake in meaningful peace negotiations until the situation on the battlefield changed.

In a joint statement following Ghani’s address, parliament reiterated its support for the country’s democracy, human rights, including women’s rights, and freedom of speech.

Ghani’s former political rival and the head of Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) lauded the statement, followed by the senior most U.S. official in Afghanistan.

“Today alongside other leaders of the country I attended the extraordinary joint session of the AFG National Assembly. They declared their unanimous support for the republic, the #ANDSF & a just & durable peace in the country. I thank & commend them for their historic decision,” Abdullah Abdullah tweeted.

Today alongside other leaders of the country I attended the extraordinary joint session of the AFG National Assembly. They declared their unanimous support for the republic, the #ANDSF & a just & durable peace in the country. I thank & commend them for their historic decision. pic.twitter.com/68Lbc64oFH
— Dr. Abdullah Abdullah (@DrabdullahCE) August 2, 2021

“As friends and allies of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, we support you, the Afghan people,” tweeted the U.S. chargé d’affaires, Ross Wilson.

As friends and allies of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, we support you, the Afghan people. https://t.co/QdcHvIYdVW
— Chargé d’Affaires Ross Wilson (@USAmbKabul) August 2, 2021

Ghani’s address comes at a time when the Taliban have increased attacks on Afghan cities, besieging several of them simultaneously. At least three cities, Kandahar, Herat, and Lashkar Gah have seen intense fighting over the last few days.

“In Lashkar Gah, #Helmand province, fighting in the city has brought life to a standstill. People are trapped in their homes and there are many casualties due to airstrikes, bullets and mortars. The @MSF supported Boost hospital treated 70 war wounded patients from 29-31 July,” said a statement from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) on Twitter.

In Lashkar Gah, #Helmand province, fighting in the city has brought life to a standstill. People are trapped in their homes and there are many casualties due to airstrikes, bullets and mortars.

The @MSF supported Boost hospital treated 70 war wounded patients from 29-31 July https://t.co/g7VSUu7JPK
— MSF Afghanistan (@MSF_Afghanistan) August 2, 2021

The international non-profit aid group said it performed an unprecedented 10 surgeries in one day in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province.

The Afghan Defense Ministry confirmed that the U.S. Air Force helped push back Taliban advances. Most of Helmand’s districts are under Taliban control.

“#US Air Forces targeted #Taliban terrorist in #Lashkargah city today morning. 7 terrorists were killed and a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed as a result of the #airstrike,” Defense Ministry spokesman Fawad Aman said. He later revised the Taliban death toll to 18.

#US Air Forces targeted #Taliban terrorist in #Lashkargah city today morning. 7 terrorists were killed and a large amount of their weapons and ammunition were destroyed as a result of the #airstrike.
— Fawad Aman (@FawadAman2) August 2, 2021

The Taliban issued a statement in Pashto blaming “American drones” and Afghan “gunship helicopters” for bombing and injuring civilians in Lashkar Gah, including women and children.

On Sunday, the Afghan government boosted Herat city’s defenses with hundreds of special forces troops. The city had seen intense fighting on its outskirts and many credited 70-year-old former warlord Ismail Khan and his militia for saving the city from falling under a Taliban onslaught.

Late Saturday, Taliban rockets hit Kandahar airport, partially damaging a runway and forcing authorities to temporarily shut down the airport.

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