World News

A five-second video has done the impossible - brought social media users in India and Pakistan together. When Pakistani video creator Dananeer Mobin uploaded the video on her Instagram page on 6 February, little did she know that she would become an overnight internet star in both nations.

On the face of it, there is nothing special about it. She says: "This is our car, this is us, and this is our party". The video shows a bunch of young people enjoying themselves. And that is where the answer lies. When the news has been mostly about death and despair recently, the happy faces in the video cheered people up in the two countries - who are usually at odds on most things because of the decades of sometimes deadly animosity between the two nations.

"What could be better than sharing love across the border at a time when there is so much trouble and so much division around the world," she said. "I'm glad my neighbours and I are partying together now because of my video."

Dananeer Mobin, 19, whose Instagram bio says "call me Geena", is a social media influencer from Pakistan's northern city of Peshawar. Her posts usually centre around fashion and make-up.

In the viral video, she says the line in her native Urdu "Yeh humari car hai, Yeh hum hain, aur yeh humari pawri ho rahi hai" (you already know the translation!), swinging the camera around as she speaks to the viewer. She uses the English word for "party" but pronounces it "pawrty".

She explains in text below the video that she's poking fun at "burgers", who come to visit the northern mountainous parts of Pakistan on holiday. Pakistanis use the term "burger" to describe the rich elites who may have studied or worked outside Pakistan and speak with an American or British-tinged accent. The burger was very expensive when it first came to Pakistan, as opposed to the local version - the humble bun kebab.

"It's not my style to talk like this in burger style…. I did it just to make you all (my Instagram followers) laugh," Dananeer says. She even says in the post that this is meme-worthy content. And she was clearly right.

Far from being offended, Pakistanis starting recreating the short clip and doing what Pakistani Twitter does best: making memes. It wasn't long before some high-profile actors and cricketers got involved.

The Pakistan Cricket Board shared a video of the Pakistani national team doing their version of the video after winning a series against South Africa. It also saw an explosion in popularity across the border after an Indian DJ took her phrase "ye humari pawri hori hai" (we are partying) and turned it into a catchy song.

Yashraj Mukhate, who has taken meme-able videos and turned them into songs before, gave a shout out to the "pawri girl @dananeerr".

Have a listen.

Soon, Indian social media users also jumped into the "memefest". And then the floodgates opened - from brands to police officials, all of them joined the "pawri" mood. And here is India's Press Information Bureau wading in to tell people about their fact checking initiative.

The police in India's Uttar Pradesh state also joined in to tell people that they could be called in case a "pawri" in the neighbourhood was disturbing their sleep. But as everyone gets in on the action, Dananeer would like to make one thing clear.

"I know how to say party - and I know it is not pawri," she says.

Widely known as CBN (which denotes central bank of Nigeria), this name came to the fact that he, Chief Francis Diele, worked with the central bank of Nigeria.

He once worked at the head office in Abuja as the deputy director of human resources, before subsequently being transferred to Portharcourt (Ph) as the branch controller. There he worked until his death.

Called ‘a father’, ‘an angel’ ‘a friend’, ‘a rock’, and a man fiercely loved by all, he stood tall and sure, whose strength and values were inestimable.

A father to all, Chief was seen as the only one who people felt they could count on whose legacies and foot prints will never be departed from.

He left a big hole in people’s hearts. God used him to be a vessel to a source of joy and inspiration - not just to his people’s class but to all who came across him. He was strong through to the very end.

Although the world is full of pains, God has used him here on earth to be a pillar of strength. In him a king was seen by all.

This, by many, is not end, but a time to soar with the angles and praise the Lord. He will be seen again, by his followers, once their own race is accomplished here on earth.

Chief Diele, Chimezie Okwudiri Francis was a man of honour, who will watch over all so they can feel his presence always.

Losing him now just doesn’t seem fair. On behalf of 2018 class (PH.D) Esut Nigeria.

by Emeka Alex Akwaeze

US$3.8 billion, that’s how much the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will now be able to invest in the world’s rural poor. This, thanks to an unprecedented record-high financing target set by governments from 177 countries at IFAD’s annual Governing Council.

At a time when many nations are facing severe economic challenges, this move demonstrates the importance global leaders place on investing in effective long-term rural development as critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This strong vote of confidence significantly boosts IFAD’s capacity to address the devastating socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 and climate change. With this unprecedented funding, IFAD will reach approximately 140 million people in the world’s most fragile and remote areas over three years.

When combined with an expansion of IFAD’s pioneering climate change adaptation programme (ASAP+), a new private sector financing programme, and co-financing by national and international partners, IFAD aims to deliver a total programme of work of at least $11 billion from 2022-2024.

“Today our Member States made it clear that the fate of the poor and hungry matters. All of us are united in our battle against the impacts of COVID-19 and a rapidly changing climate – but none feel the impacts more profoundly than rural people in the world’s poorest countries,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD. “It costs less to invest in sustainability and building long-term resilience to shocks than it does to respond to repeated humanitarian emergencies,” he added. “That is why the Sustainable Development Goals exist, and this increased commitment to IFAD is an important step to delivering on them. The contributions pledged so far show our Member States are determined to eradicate poverty and hunger, and are confident in the impact of IFAD’s work.”

Already, 67 countries have announced new pledges totalling more than $1.1 billion in support of IFAD’s Twelfth Replenishment (IFAD12), a process whereby Member States define strategic priorities and commit funds to the organization for its work in 2022-2024. More pledges are expected throughout 2021.

In a strong show of support, the governments of Germany and France issued a joint statement that said; ‘As IFAD12 is both ambitious and necessary to address rural poverty at this critical time, the German government and the French government have both decided to significantly increase their financial support to IFAD to an all-time-high. We urge all Member States to join us in making an ambitious contribution.’

IFAD is unique among international financial institutions in the high number of Member States - usually more than 100 – that contribute voluntarily to its core funding. This includes some of the world’s poorest countries, who were among the first to announce significantly increased pledges last year, highlighting the value they place on their partnership with IFAD, and putting pressure on traditional donors to step up.

In a strong show of support and recognition for the leader who has successfully showcased the importance of long-term rural development as a key solution to the global challenges the world is currently facing, Member States have reappointed Gilbert F. Houngbo as President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for a second term at its annual Governing Council meeting. With an even more ambitious agenda at the heart of his second mandate, and a particular focus on technologicial solutions, innovative financing models and new private sector partnerships, IFAD will continue tackling hunger and poverty and address the devastating impacts of climate change, youth unemployment and most recently COVID-19, leading on the ground to ensure no one is left behind.

“With the pandemic still devastating rural areas and the projections for increased poverty and hunger, the need for IFAD to scale up is more urgent than ever,” said Houngbo, who has been IFAD’s President since 2017. “Today it is COVID, yesterday it was a tsunami, and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. The threat from climate change and extreme weather will not diminish, and we should prepare. No rural woman or man should ever be in a position of having to sell his or her meagre assets – or be forced to migrate – in order to survive” Under Houngbo’s continued leadership, IFAD aims to double its impact by 2030 and offer a life out of poverty and hunger to millions more people. The goal is to ensure 40 million people per year increase their incomes by at least 20 per cent by 2030, which is double what IFAD currently achieves.

To this end, Houngbo has called on donors to contribute significantly more to IFAD, to deliver an overall programme of work of at least US$11 billion from 2022 to 2024, including through a new private sector financing programme and an expansion of its pioneering climate change adaptation programme. This will help rebuild stronger rural economies as countries recover from the impacts of COVID-19, and help these marginalised rural populations become far more resilient to climate change and other shocks.

In his acceptance speech, Houngbo said that addressing the devastating impacts of climate change and reversing the decline of biodiversity are amongst his highest priorities. Last month IFAD launched the Enhanced Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme (ASAP+), which aims to be the largest fund dedicated to channeling climate finance to small-scale producers. Houngbo envisages the programme to mobilise $500 million and help more than 10 million people adapt to an unpredictable climate. Despite their disproportionate vulnerability to climate change, small-scale farmers currently receive only 1.7 percent of global climate finance.

Another of Houngbo’s goals is to address the major challenges rural young people face in finding decent employment, which has an enormous impact on instability and migration. In Africa, 60 per cent of young people live in rural areas and between 10 and 12 million young people enter the job market every year. With increased investments in agri-preneurs and rural small and medium-sized enterprises, IFAD aims to create greater employment opportunities for rural youth. This builds on Houngbo’s focus over the past four years, to engage more with the private sector to bring expertise, innovation and much needed investments to rural areas.

Under Houngbo’s leadership, IFAD expanded its programme of work to reach 36 per cent more poor and vulnerable people. At the end of 2019, 132 million people in more than 90 countries benefited from IFAD’s investments. However in his speech Houngbo recognised the huge financing gap threatening the world’s ability to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goal of zero hunger by 2030. To this end, he has led IFAD to start diversifying its funding sources to maximise the support it can give to the world’s poorest people. In 2020, IFAD was the first UN fund to receive a credit rating, with both Fitch and Standard and Poor’s announcing AA+ ratings. These strong ratings will help IFAD mobilize more funds from various potential investors at a favourable cost.

Houngbo also spoke about the importance of food to rural people. As the majority of them work in agriculture, food is not just critical for sustenance, but also for their livelihoods. He stressed the need for investing in sustainable food systems that enable rural populations to earn decent incomes, have nutritious diets and to lead dignified lives, and the key role IFAD will play in putting this on the global agenda during the upcoming UN Food Systems Summit.

Small-scale farming systems produce half of the world’s food calories, but these farmers are often the ones that go hungry. IFAD is the only multilateral organisation focused solely on addressing hunger and poverty in rural areas where three quarters of the world’s poorest and most food insecure people live. Decades of progress on extreme poverty are now in reverse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As many as 150 million people could fall into extreme poverty by 2021 and an additional 136 million people are expected to go hungry.

It has been announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their second child. A spokesperson for the couple said that Harry and Meghan are preparing to welcome a new sibling for their son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said the Queen and Prince Philip, as well as the Prince of Wales, as well as the other members of the Royal Family are delighted and wish them well.

Their child will be eighth in line to the throne, and it comes after Meghan revealed that she had suffered a miscarriage last July. The spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother.

"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child." A friend of the Duke, Misan Harriman, who is also the photographer who took the photo that accompanied their pregnancy announcement, tweeted: "Meg, I was there at your wedding to witness this love story begin, and I am honoured to capture it grow. Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on this joyous news!"

For Harry and Meghan – who now live in California - their second child will be the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's 10th or 11th great-grandchild depending on whether he or she arrives before or after Zara Tindall's baby, which is also due in 2021. The couple’s baby is entitled to be a Lord or a Lady.

The news comes after the Duchess revealed in November that she had suffered a miscarriage during the summer. She was praised for sending a powerful message to others who have lived through the same trauma by speaking about the issue.

The announcement comes soon after the royal family celebrated the arrival of Princess Eugenie's first child - a baby boy and a grandson of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Photo by @misanharriman

The Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) has won 4 honours in the prestigious Stevie Awards for sales and customer service. The Agency secured gold, silver, and bronze awards recognizing its sales performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

JAMPRO won Gold in the “Sales Process of the Year” category, and Diane Edwards, the Agency’s President, also won Gold as “Business Development Executive of the Year”. Ms. Edwards also won Silver in the “Woman of the Year in Sales” category. JAMPRO’s final win was in the “Sales Distinction of the Year” category, where the Agency got Bronze.

The Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world’s top honors for customer service, contact center, business development and sales professionals. More than 2,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry, across 51 nations, were considered in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 160 professionals worldwide on nine specialized judging committees.

JAMPRO was acknowledged for its overhaul in operations to attract more investments into Jamaica and facilitate export of Jamaican products. These internal changes allowed the Agency to become more efficient, increase number of leads generated, and improve engagements with clients to better meet their needs.  

JAMPRO President, Diane Edwards, said she was pleased with the recognition of the JAMPRO team, saying the Agency and its staff continue to be committed to Jamaica’s economic development. She said, “Dedication, professionalism, and determination are key characteristics of the JAMPRO team, and this has resulted in the Agency, and Jamaica, receiving accolades for our performance during the pandemic, as we continue to work to strengthen the economy and facilitate growth.

“We are grateful for this recognition; now, we must push harder to reveal those much-needed economic opportunities, and propel Jamaica’s economic expansion in 2021.”

The Australian state of Victoria will enter lockdown for a third time in a bid to suppress an outbreak of the UK strain of coronavirus. Officials this week found 13 cases stemming from a quarantine worker who became infected at a Melbourne hotel.

With the lockdown beginning, the government has said the Australian Open tennis tournament would continue in the state's capital, Melbourne. Spectators will be banned from attending the event, which had previously allowed up to 30,000 visitors a day. Tickets will be refunded, tournament director Craig Tiley said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the current outbreak was not linked to the quarantine hotels used by the tennis players. He stressed that a "circuit breaker" was needed to combat the "hyper-infectious" strain which he said had likely already seeded other infections in the community.

"This is the fastest-moving, most infectious strain of coronavirus that we have seen," he said, adding that almost 1,000 close contacts had already been reached. Prior to this outbreak, Victoria had not seen a local infection for 28 days and the state had largely eliminated the virus.

Many Melbourne residents have expressed dismay but also resignation over the retreat into lockdown again. Last year, in Australia's winter, the city endured one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns to overcome a second wave which led to more than 90% of Australia's 29,000 cases and 909 deaths.

"We've built something precious, and we have to make difficult decisions, and do difficult things, in order to defend what we've built," Mr Andrews said. "I am confident that this short, sharp circuit breaker will be effective. We will be able to smother this."

The state will be under the following restrictions for five days:

·         People must stay at home except for shopping, exercise, caregiving and essential work needs

·         No gatherings allowed

·         Travel is restricted to within 5km (3.1 miles) of the home

·         Mask wearing is mandatory in public

·         Places of worship and all non-essential venues are closed

·         Schools are closed except for children of essential workers

Meanwhile, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia have announced travel bans on people from Melbourne. Further border closures are expected. International flights to Melbourne will also be cancelled, authorities said.

Eleven-year-old Naa Koshie Manyo-Plange who has won the latest Ghana Spelling Bee says she read a lot of books to broaden her vocabulary. Ms Koshie said that her parents encouraged her and she watched the movie Akeelah and the Bee to learn from the starring.

She said: "We had training and we were given a certain group of words to study, so we had to study them and come with about 100 words from that group."

The national finals were held last weekend with 60 competitors all hoping to win the coveted trophy and cash prize of around $1,700 (£1,200).

"I think its important to take part in something like the spelling bee - because if you lose it helps you to be a good loser and when you win it helps you not gloat, and builds resilience because it makes you want to come back for more," she says.

New Orleans announced on Friday that it will be ordering the closure of all indoor and outdoor bars and banning to-go drinks starting through Mardi Gras day today. During a news conference, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the large crowds seen on Bourbon Street last weekend "unacceptable."

Cantrell referred to the crowds as superspreader events, calling them dangerous and a risk to lives and the progress the city has made in stopping the spread of Covid-19. In addition to indoor and outdoor bar closures, Cantrell said bars operating as restaurants will also be closed to the public. Packaged liquor sales will be prohibited in the French Quarter and the Central Business District, and all sales of to-go drinks will be banned during this time.

"I think we were all hopeful that we could strike the necessary balance for a safe and fun Mardi Gras, but given these new variants, the recent large crowds in the Quarter and the potential for even larger crowds this weekend and as we move into the weekend of Mardi Gras, it has become very apparent that it is hard to do" Cantrell said. The city's website also cited last year's Mardi Gras celebrations, where community spread of coronavirus caused New Orleans hospitals to reach capacity.

The mayor said she would rather be accused of doing too much than doing too little when it comes to the health and safety of the residents, especially hospitality workers. The Mardi Gras closures have many businesses frustrated. Scott Wood, who owns Courtyard Brewery in the Lower Garden District, said this is probably the seventh or eighth time he's shuttered his business during the pandemic.

"The city had known Mardi Gras was going to be a problem for months and had no clear plan disseminated. For them to spring this on us a week out, while Mardi Gras festivities are already in swing, is unfortunate and frustrating," Wood said via email. The new restrictions involving bars and alcohol sales will be in place from 6 a.m. today, through 6 a.m. Wednesday, February 17.

The Mardi Gras restrictions also include limiting vehicle and pedestrian traffic at certain times on busy streets including Bourbon Street, Frenchman Street and Decatur Street.

Parades, second lines and other gatherings were already prohibited under the current Modified Phase Two restrictions in the city. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 25 people and indoor gatherings may include no more than 10 individuals. Masks and social distancing are required.

New Zealand's parliament has backed down in a dispute with a Maori MP who refused to wear a tie.

Rawiri Waititi was allowed to address the chamber, a day after being ejected for breaking its dress code by wearing a traditional pendant called hei-tiki instead of a tie. The parliament speaker later said ties would no longer be required as part of appropriate business attire. He said it was a win for the many generations to come. He said it meant that parliament is a place that people can freely express their cultural identity.

He said: "This was always about the greater cause of the subjugation and assimilation that Maori have had to face for the past 181 years." Mr Waititi was ejected from parliament over a rule that male MPs can only ask questions in the debating chamber if wearing a tie.

Speaker Trevor Mallard twice prevented the Maori Party co-leader from asking questions before he was removed from the chamber. As he left the room Mr Waititi said."It's not about ties, it's about cultural identity."  The incident marked the latest dispute between the two men over the issue.

Late last year, Mr Waititi was told that he would be ejected from the House if he did not wear a tie. The MP has previously described ties as ‘colonial nooses’. When he returned, he was given permission to ask a supplementary question while wearing his Maori pendant.

Mr Mallard later announced that following a majority decision by the Standing Orders Committee - which reviews and considers the rules that govern how the House operates - ties would no longer be required.

He wrote on Twitter: "As Speaker, I am guided by the committee's discussion and decision, and therefore ties will no longer be considered required as part of 'appropriate business attire'. I acknowledge those who felt this was an important issue worthy of further consideration."

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern previously said she did not object to people refusing to wear ties, but that there were bigger things to be focusing on. "I don't think New Zealanders care about ties," she said.

The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) has published a list of clinics and medical premises where international visitors can book a Covid-19 test before returning to countries that require a negative result, such as the UK. Over 100 medical practices spread all over the country are included in the document approved by the Ministry of Health.

These medical practices can carry out two types of Covid-19 testing: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and lateral flow antigen tests; and some of these practices can do the testing at hotels. Results of the PCR tests will be delivered by email within 48 hours and within two hours for the antigen tests. Costs of the PCR tests vary from $100 (approximately £75) in and around the country’s capital city of San Jose – where the main international airport is located – to $150 (approximately £110) elsewhere.

Gustavo Segura Sancho, Costa Rica’s Tourism Minister, said: “Costa Rica is a safe destination to visit in 2021. The country has an exemplary healthcare system; easily accessible from the whole country; compulsory Covid-19 insurance to enter the country; reliable testing data; and clear protection protocols in place. We are really looking forward to welcoming our British friends again.”

Last year, Costa Rica’s sector-wide Covid-19 recovery efforts were recognised by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), who gave Costa Rica its Safe Travels stamp, which allows travellers to identify destinations and businesses which have adopted the global standardised health and hygiene protocols.

Visitors from the UK and all over the world can enter Costa Rica as long as they complete a digital epidemiological form and have travel insurance that covers accommodation in case of quarantine and medical expenses due to Covid-19 illness – this insurance can be also acquired at the airport in Costa Rica. A negative result of the PCR Covid-19 test is not necessary for passengers who enter the country by air.

India has suspended mobile internet services in three areas around the capital, Delhi, where farmers are staging a hunger strike in protest at new agriculture laws. The government said the shutdown would continue until Sunday night to "maintain public safety".

Tens of thousands of protesting farmers have been camped out on Delhi's outskirts for more than a month. Talks between unions and the government have failed to break the deadlock.

The protest made international headlines when a tractor rally ended in violent clashes that left one protester dead and dozens of police officers injured. Some demonstrators stormed Delhi's historic Red Fort and occupied it until police pushed them back.

The interior ministry said mobile internet services had been suspended at Singhu, Ghazipur and Tikri - the districts where farmers have gathered. Farmers' leaders said the one-day hunger strike had been timed to coincide with the anniversary of the death of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. Union leader Darshan Pal said: "The farmers' movement was peaceful and will be peaceful

Reports suggest that protesters reacted angrily to the internet shutdown with farmers accusing officials of trying to "create a panic" and "killing democracy." The government action comes amid rising tensions at the locations where farmers are based.

Ghanaians paid their last respect to former president Jerry Rawlings, during the second of a four-day event organised in his honour by the government and his family.

Rawlings' coffin was displayed at Accra International Conference Centre, where the body remains until today. The former president will be buried tomorrow (Wednesday).

Born in 1947 to a Scottish father, James Ramsay John, a pharmacist from Castle Double, and Ghanaian mother Madam Victoria Agbotui from Dzelukope of the Volta Region, the former leader who staged two coups and later led the West African country's transition to a stable democracy, he trained as an air force officer and came to power in 1979 after leading his first coup, and then transferring power to civilian rule soon after.

His burial was delayed, in part, because of disagreements between Ghana's current political leaders.

Credited with embedding democracy in Ghana and establishing social and political stability during two decades in public life, Rawlings, a former air force officer, twice led military take-overs, before later returning the country to multi-party politics and winning elections.

Jerry Rawlings’ daughter Zanetor said of him: “My father was very loving and was passionate about a lot of things.”

Late former President Jerry John Rawlings will be accorded a Commander-in-Chief status at his burial service with the Ghana Armed Forces set to fire a 21-gun salute as well as offering other military courtesies to him.

He died in November, age 73, and was survived by his wife, Nana Konandu Agyeman, three daughters- the afore-mentioned Zenator, Yaa Asantewa, Amina and a son, Kimathi Rawlings.

As President Joe Biden has stamped his own mark on the Oval Office with furnishings reflecting his own tastes and politics Kamala Harris smashed through one of America's highest glass ceilings as she became the first woman, first Black and person of South Asian heritage to be appointed vice president, as she blazes a trail in the most diverse White House ever.

As running mate to the President’s Joe Biden, Harris, 56, enters the post having already forged a unique path, as California's first Black attorney general and the first woman of South Asian heritage elected to the US Senate.  Following the inauguration, the new Vice President tweeted; "A new chapter begins today.

“Let's get to work" as she now becomes a heartbeat away from leading the United States.

The 46^th President of the USA, Mr Biden entered his new office to sign a series of executive orders hours in to his new lauded position; including signing 10 executive orders to tackle Covid-19 which has ravaged the US - Vaccination will be accelerated and testing increased. Emergency legislation will be used to increase production of essentials like masks.

The president said it would take months to defeat the pandemic but America would "get through this" if people stood together. The moves come only a day after he was sworn in.

With the president, aged 78, expected to serve only one term in office, VP Harris would be favoured to win the Democratic nomination in 2024, giving her a shot at more history-making -- as America's first female president.

"While I may be the first woman in this office, I won't be the last," she said in a November speech, her first after US networks projected Biden and Harris as the winners over Trump and former vice president Mike Pence.

On his way out of the White House, Trump left a note for his successor — continuing a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan in 1989. There was no word on the message said.

Ugandans are celebrating the resumption of internet services after a shutdown was imposed ahead of the recent election. However, social media platforms remain blocked and are only accessible using Virtual Private Networks (VPN).

President Yoweri Museveni, who won an unprecedented sixth term in office, had accused the platforms of being biased. Bobi Wine, presidential candidate for the opposition National Unity Platform, alleged the poll was marred by fraud.

The party's spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi accused Mr Museveni of shutting down the internet to prevent them from sharing evidence of fraud. He said that the party was in the process of collecting election results forms that have evidence of irregularities.

Mr Ssenyonyi told the Reuters news agency that NUP's offices had been raided saying;

"They don't want work to continue at our offices because they know that we are putting together evidence to show the world how much of a fraudster Museveni is." President Museveni said that the poll could be the "most cheating-free" in the history of the country.

The electoral commission declared Mr Museveni the winner with 59% of the vote, with his closest challenger Bobi Wine, a pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, garnering 34%. Mr Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986. His party is also on course to secure an overwhelming majority in the 500-member parliament.

Yogananda Pittman, a senior-ranking female law enforcement officer and HBCU graduate, has made history after her recent appointment as the acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police department.

Pittman began her law enforcement career with the United States Capitol Police in April 2001, and she has steadily worked her way up the ranks to be named Assistant Chief of Police in October 2019.

In 1991, she graduated from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. In 2018, she completed the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and graduated from the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives’ CEO Mentoring Program. In 2019, she earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

“It is very important for young female law enforcement officers to see someone who looks like them in leadership positions,” Yogananda says. “It says to them that these positions are obtainable and available to them. I enjoy being a mentor. I was very fortunate to have great mentors myself.

“Often officers will stop me and ask my advice, and it means a lot to me to be able to discuss their future plans and offer my insights. I am very appreciative of WIFLE and its mission, and for their selecting me for this honour.”

Her appointment came just one week after the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., was breached by hundreds of Trump supporters, which resulted in multiple injuries and at least 5 deaths.