Latest news with #Lourenco
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Africa should step up own vaccines, says cholera-hit Angola
Luanda: Africa should step up production of its own vaccines to deal with a range of health issues, Angola, battling hundreds of cholera deaths this year, said Wednesday. "To enable a strong and sustainable response to this crisis and future crises, it is essential to put production of medicines and vaccines on our continent," Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who also heads the African Union, told a videoconference with other African leaders, his office said. "Total dependence on external imports limits our ability to respond and compromises our health sovereignty," Lourenco said during a conference which included World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. More than 90 percent of vaccines, medicines, medical tests, and other essential health supplies used in Africa are imported, according to a report by the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP) published in April. Several African countries are battling cholera outbreaks with Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola among the worst hit. As of June 2, Angola had recorded more than 24,530 cases this year, with 718 deaths, according to the Angolan presidency. On May 27, the Sudanese health ministry reported 172 deaths from the disease in a single week in the war-torn country. Africa's dependence on imported health products has proven disastrous during previous epidemics, including Covid-19, Ebola, Marburg and mpox, the ACDCP report said. That leaves the continent at the mercy of global trade tensions, geopolitical disruption and logistical delays, it said. Public health emergencies have significantly increased in Africa, rising from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024, the report added.
Eyewitness News
18 hours ago
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Africa should step up own vaccines, says cholera-hit Angola
LUANDA - Africa should step up production of its own vaccines to deal with a range of health issues, Angola, battling hundreds of cholera deaths this year, said Wednesday. "To enable a strong and sustainable response to this crisis and future crises, it is essential to put production of medicines and vaccines on our continent," Angolan President Joao Lourenco, who also heads the African Union, told a videoconference with other African leaders, his office said. "Total dependence on external imports limits our ability to respond and compromises our health sovereignty," Lourenco said during a conference which included World Health Organization (WHO) director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. More than 90 percent of vaccines, medicines, medical tests, and other essential health supplies used in Africa are imported, according to a report by the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP) published in April. Several African countries are battling cholera outbreaks with Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola among the worst hit. As of 2 June, Angola had recorded more than 24,530 cases this year, with 718 deaths, according to the Angolan presidency. On 27 May, the Sudanese health ministry reported 172 deaths from the disease in a single week in the war-torn country. Africa's dependence on imported health products has proven disastrous during previous epidemics, including COVID-19, Ebola, Marburg and mpox, the ACDCP report said. That leaves the continent at the mercy of global trade tensions, geopolitical disruption and logistical delays, it said. Public health emergencies have significantly increased in Africa, rising from 152 in 2022 to 213 in 2024, the report added.
News18
12-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
PM Modi To Address Nation At 8 PM; First Since Operation Sindoor, India-Pakistan Ceasefire
Last Updated: This would be PM Modi's first address since Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, when India struck terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. A ceasefire was announced on May 10. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the nation at 8 pm today, which will be his first address regarding India's Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7 to target terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This would also be PM Modi's first address since India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire on May 10 after exchanging cross-border fire for four days. The Prime Minister has already spoken three times about the barbaric terror attack on April 22, in which 26 tourists were killed by Lashkar-affiliated terrorists. Prime Minister Modi had repeatedly warned Pakistan and its proxy terrorists of severe consequences for last month's deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam. Since then, he has held multiple high-level meetings with the Army, Navy, and Air Force chiefs, along with sessions involving the Union Cabinet, to assess and coordinate India's response. PM Modi's Bihar Address Two days after the Pahalgam attack, PM Modi made his first remarks in Bihar's Madhubani, where he promised 'punishment beyond imagination" for the terrorists and their backers who were responsible for killing tourists. 'India will identify, track and punish every terrorist, their handlers and their backers. We will pursue them to the ends of the earth," he said, switching to English. His speech came after India took a series of punitive measures against Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. 'The willpower of 140 crore Indians will now break the backbone of the masters of terror. The entire country is in shock over how the terrorists killed innocent civilians in Pahalgam. India is with those who have lost their loved ones in this attack," he said. Mann Ki Baat address, while he assured the families of the Pahalgam attack victims that 'justice will be served." The Prime Minister called the Pahalgam attack a desperate attempt by the enemies of the nation to derail India's progress, particularly as Kashmir was witnessing unprecedented growth in recent years, with a surge in tourism and opportunities for youth. 'Terrorists and their masters want Kashmir to be destroyed once again. That is why such a big conspiracy was hatched. In this war against terrorism, the unity of the nation is our biggest strength," he added. Talks With Angola President While holding high-level talks with Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Laurenco in Delhi earlier this month, PM Modi had expressed commitment to act firmly against terrorists and their backers. 'We are committed to taking firm, decisive action against terrorists and those who support them," he said during a press conference with Lourenco. 'We are unanimous that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity. I thank President Lourenco and the people of Angola for expressing their sympathies towards those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack." Lourenco condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and expressed his solidarity with the people of India. 'Angola was one of the first to react immediately after the sad events in the Kashmir region, where human lives were victimised," he said. First Published: May 12, 2025, 17:52 IST
Daily Maverick
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA workers at troubled Mozambique mine are paid just a fraction of monthly salary
The events at Nsimbi Mining Services reflect a broader pattern of unpaid wages and growing worker and community protests in Mozambique. A week after Nsimbi Mining Services managers were held hostage by striking miners in Mozambique's Tete province, Mozambican miners reported receiving a full month's salary on the promised date, while South African staff said they were paid late and received only about a quarter of their monthly salary. In addition, one supplier is still waiting for payment. 'Nothing yet and there's no promised date,' said the supplier. Two South African employees at Nsimbi Mining Services, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed the partial payments. One of the employees said, 'I received 60,000 meticais (about R17,000) late on Friday, 2 May from Nsimbi Mining Services, which does not even equal a quarter of my salary. I continue waiting for the rest of my money.' The miner said they had asked Craig Dube, Nsimbi's managing director, for an update on payments, and his response was, 'As I understand our communication is now through the media, let me respond through the same channel.' Daily Maverick attempted to contact Dube multiple times over the past week without receiving a response. A WhatsApp message on 3 May was blue-ticked with no response, and another WhatsApp message on 8 May appears to be unread. Daily Maverick also tried calling Dube with no success. Japie du Toit, a manager at Nsimbi Mining Services, said Dube would travel to Tete this week. Broader socioeconomic challenges Marisa Lourenco, a political analyst in Johannesburg, told Daily Maverick that the events at Nsimbi reflect a broader pattern of unpaid wages and growing worker and community protests in Mozambique. She highlighted recent protests against the Irish mining company Kenmare Resources and the French hydrocarbons firm TotalEnergies over unfulfilled promises and rights violations. In December, Agência de Informação de Moçambique reported that a large crowd had invaded Kenmare's main camp, demanding that the mining operations provide benefits for the local community. This occurred after the company failed to honour a longstanding promise to build a bridge linking Topuito (site of Kenmare's mine) to the Larde district capital. Lourenco noted that poor community relations and weak government oversight, exacerbated by corruption, had emboldened workers and communities to hold companies accountable and to often disrupt operations. 'The business environment in Mozambique is becoming more challenging as companies face communities and workers expressing grievances,' said Lourenco, emphasising that socioeconomic hardships had deepened, with poverty rates rising from 46% in 2015 to 65% today. Background Nsimbi Mining Services, which provides support services to the Moatize Coal Mine operated by Vulcan International, has struggled with delayed payments to workers since early 2024. Months of unpaid wages sparked a strike by employees last month, culminating in a tense hostage situation in which two South African managers and a Mozambican HR manager were confined in the company's Tete offices. The standoff ended after police intervention and promises of partial wage payments. The financial strain on Nsimbi is symptomatic of wider challenges facing Mozambique's coal sector. Global coal prices have slumped sharply in 2025 amid oversupply and shifting energy markets, while local disruptions, including post-election violence and logistical bottlenecks, have compounded operational difficulties. These pressures have forced major players like Vulcan International to cut jobs and restructure, intensifying economic uncertainty in mining communities heavily reliant on the industry. DM
The Print
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Banquet hosted for Angolan President by PM Modi highlights fraternal ties
New Delhi [India], May 5 (ANI): In a celebration of shared heritage and growing goodwill, a medley of Angolan Zimbho songs and Indian music was played during a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in honour of visiting Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco at Hyderabad House. During the Banquet hosted by PM @narendramodi for President H.E. Mr. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço @jlprdeangola in Hyderabad House, a medley of Angolan Zimbho songs and Indian music was played… — Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) May 4, 2025 In a post on X, the official account for India's Public Diplomacy, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), shared the glimpses, stating, 'Strengthening people-to-people ties & promoting cultural understanding. During the Banquet hosted by PM Narendra Modi for Angolan President Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco in Hyderabad House, a medley of Angolan Zimbho songs and Indian music was played, highlighting the fraternal ties between the two countries.' The banquet, held as part of President Lourenco's ongoing state visit to India, reflected the mutual appreciation and cultural diplomacy that underpins the India-Angola relationship. The event brought together dignitaries and senior officials from both nations, aiming to reinforce bilateral ties across sectors. Earlier, Union Health Minister and BJP National President JP Nadda on Sunday met with the President of Angola, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco. Angolan President Lourenco, during his state visit to India, emphasised a renewed vision for India-Angola ties, calling for a deeper economic partnership. Lourenco, on Saturday, received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu, PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar and others were also present. Lourenco also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat by laying a wreath at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial. The Angolan President also signed the visitors' book after laying a wreath, paying homage at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial. During the visit, both countries also discussed the upcoming 4th India-Africa Forum Summit. Angola, as chair of the African Union, assured India of its commitment to facilitate the summit and work with other African leaders to finalise mutually convenient dates. (ANI) This report is auto-generated from ANI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
