World News

As the Jamaican government requires vaccinations for students 12 and over in order to resume face-to-face classes and more adults get inoculated amid an unprecedented surge in coronavirus cases, it was confirmed that the country doesn’t have a compensation programme should someone get injured from the vaccine. The confirmation came as the overseer of the vaccination program for the Ministry of Health & Wellness Dr Melody Ennis said that, as of August 24, there were 303 notifications of adverse events related to the vaccine, up from 249 at the time of her last report on July 29.

“It is an honour to be able to speak to you, leaders from across the world, men and women who in the past year have been part of the fight against our common enemy the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Many of you will have spent sleepless nights and long hours struggling to ensure the safety and future of your people. You will have spent restless days working to hold back the tide of infection and striving to find a way to keep your people, your country, indeed your very society safe. You have shown leadership and I thank you for that.

If we do not invest more in protecting biodiversity, development cannot be sustainable and we will not eradicate hunger or achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, said the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) ahead of his participation in the IUCN World Conservation Congress, in Marseille.

“Biodiversity is a cornerstone of healthy and sustainable food systems,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD.

Over 3,000 buyers have so far registered to attend IMEX America from across the planner community – event agencies, associations, corporate planners and independents – all with business to place and many at a senior level (defined as C-level, directors, owners/partners).

Agencies currently account for 47 per cent of the total, corporate buyers 22 per cent while association buyers make up 9 per cent and independent buyers 18 per cent (other – 4 per cent).

The mayor of New Orleans has called on residents to evacuate unprotected city neighbourhoods as Hurricane Ida bears down on the Louisiana coastline. "What I am told is that this storm will not be weakening," Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.

Hurricane Ida has intensified over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico ahead of its expected arrival on the southern US coast. It has already brought heavy rain and high winds to western Cuba.

Ghana’s chief Imam Sheikh Osman Sharubutu has donated more than $8,000 (£5,800) to support the construction of a controversial national cathedral.

The African country has a history of inter-religious harmony, although the donation is regarded as unusual. The 102-year-old cleric said the gesture was to strengthen peaceful co-existence between Christians and Muslims.

The US intelligence community has been unable to determine the origins of Covid-19, and is split on whether it leaked from a lab or developed in nature, according to a new report. The report issued by the office that oversees the nation's 18 spy agencies did conclusively determine that it was not developed as a biological weapon.

Experts warn that time is running out to gather evidence of its beginnings.

The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority has introduced a new option to the extended-stay ‘Live it’ program, in response to travel trends and customer demand.

Visitors can now embrace island life in Saint Lucia with a multiple entry visa for up to one year. Through both options of the program, Saint Lucia is inspiring travellers to immerse themselves in local culture, while exploring the destination’s natural beauty on an extended stay vacation or working remotely with ease.

French-American entertainer and World War II resistance fighter Josephine Baker will be interred in France’s Pantheon Mausoleum after a successful petition. France will bestow one its highest honours on famed Black French-American entertainer, Josephine Baker. 

A request to have her remains interred in the Pantheon Mausoleum has been approved. An aide to Emmanuel Macron confirmed to AFP that the ceremony would take place on November 30.

Private jets filled the runway of the airport in the northern Nigerian city of Kano as members of Nigeria's elite and West African dignitaries flew in for the wedding of the president's son and the daughter of a prominent religious and traditional leader.

The marriage of Yusuf Buhari to Zahra Nasir Bayero is one of Nigeria's biggest celebrity events of the year. Thousands attended the event at the palace of the Emir of Bichi, a town in Kano state.

An annual report conducted by researcher, James McKay, and published by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine, has ranked the Federation of St Kitts & Nevis' Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme as the world's best. The report, known as the CBI Index, is one of the industry's most comprehensive and reliable tools for comparing CBI programmes on the market.

The nation was also awarded perfect scores in the Ease of Processing and Due Diligence pillars. St Kitts & Nevis has achieved maximum points for its due diligence procedures for five consecutive years.

As their memorable and groundbreaking trip draws to a close, centurians Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd have completed something that many thought would never happen, returning home to Africa. After receiving countless gifts, honorary titles and many happy memories, they will be bidding farewell to Ghana, and we wish them all the best, and a safe flight home.

It has been an honour for The Phoenix Newspaper to be Media Partners throughout this momentous visit, and we would like to personally wish Mother Fletcher and Uncle Redd the best of health and happiness for the future.

Look out for full coverage in the September edition of The Phoenix Newspaper!

We've been following the story of two of the survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Fletcher, age 107 and her brother Hughes Van Ellis (Uncle Redd), age 100 during their return to Ghana, and yesterday they took part in an Official Naming Ceremony after The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ghana Tourism Authority Beyond the Return, Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President and the Diaspora Africa Forum came together.

Dressed entirely in white, signifying the new beginning, the siblings were in attendance with some of their family members.

It was announced that Maki Kaji, the Japanese man known as the "Godfather of Sudoku", has died.

He gave the number puzzle its name after publishing it in his magazine Nikoli in the 1980s. Since then the popular game - involving placing the numbers 1 to 9 in each row, column and square of a 9 by 9 grid - has spread around the globe.

Upgraded Points recently published the results of a vaccine survey that reveals how Americans feel about various travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. With ongoing debate surrounding personal freedoms and the ability to travel unhindered throughout the country, most now believe that proof of vaccination should be a requirement. 

The survey also indicated which generation was more likely to disagree with vaccination passports and how both male and female respondents feel about the issue. Upgraded Points regularly conducts and provides such in-depth reports for traveling and credit card usage, as well as helpful tips and resources for travellers.

Uganda is to take in 2,000 refugees who have fled Afghanistan after Taliban militants took power on Sunday.

The deal was agreed following a request from the US government. The first group of 500 Afghans were expected to arrive on Tuesday, but officials now say discussions about the arrangements are still ongoing.