China has reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the first time since the pandemic began, marking a major turning point in the global battle to contain Covid-19. At a news conference on Thursday morning, officials from China’s National Health Commission announced there had been just 34 new cases in the past 24 hours — all imported from overseas — and eight new deaths, all in Hubei, the province where the virus was first identified. There were no new reported cases in Hubei at all on Wednesday. The milestone will likely be held up as proof of the ongoing success of China’s sweeping, top-down efforts to control the virus, despite persistent allegations that local officials mishandled the initial outbreak. Just last month, mainland China was reporting thousands of new cases every day, and was considered the most high-risk infection area in the world. In the weeks following the early…
Protect The Women in Your Lives: Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle shocked a school in the United Kingdom with a surprise visit, asking the men to honor the women in their lives. Prince Harry’s wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, visited the school Friday to offer an International Women’s Day message. “You have your mothers, sisters, girlfriends, friends in your life, protect them,” she said. “Make sure that they are feeling valued and safe. And let’s all just rally together to make International Women’s Day something that is not just on Sunday, but frankly feels like every day of the year.” The surprise visit took place at the Robert Clack Upper School in Dagenham in east London. The community was the site of famous strikes by female sewing machinists at a Ford plant, an equal pay fight depicted in the 2010 film “Made in Dagenham.” In one of her final duties as a senior British royal, Meghan urged the…
All-Female Ethiopian Flight Crew Aims to Inspire
To celebrate International Women’s Day, an all-female flight crew from Ethiopian Airlines flew from Addis Ababa to Washington D.C. The flight marked the sixth consecutive year the airline has made the symbolically important flight with a female crew. “Ethiopian Airlines aims to show African girls that there are no professions reserved for men only and inspire them to have no limits to their dream of becoming anything they set their hearts to,” said Rahel Assefa, marketing vice president for the airline. “In short, as we say back home at Ethiopian, on this day we fly to inspire.” The largest airline in Africa has made hiring women a priority and said 40% of its employees are female including 32% of management positions. The airline has female pilots, aircraft technicians, engineers, flight dispatchers, load controllers and ramp operators. Rahel said too often on the African continent girls are taught that their only…
ARDD Honours Women in Security Forces, Civil Society Organizations
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) celebrates the achievements of the women’s rights agenda, particularly the implementation of Jordan’s National Action Plan (JONAP) on the UN Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security. Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction, while stressing the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts to maintain and promote peace and security, according to the UN’s website. The ARDD, on behalf of Jordan National NGOs Forum (JONAF), represented by the Arab Cultural Forum, brought together representatives from the government, security agencies, educational institutions, representatives of civil society organisations and diplomatic missions in Jordan at Al Hussein Youth Sport City to mark the event, according to an ARDD statement. The…
UOB, Prudential Launches Financial Solution for Women in Singapore
United Overseas Bank and Prudential Singapore launched a financial solution for women in Singapore that combines a savings account with complementary medical insurance for six female-related cancers. United Overseas Bank (UOB) designed a solution for women who may not be placing enough emphasis on their own financial and health needs such as the 37 percent who put the needs of their loved ones before themselves, according to a 2017 survey by UOB and Prudential Singapore. Among married women, this figure went up to 52 percent. The survey also found that close to one in two women (45 percent) say they want a savings account that comes with free critical illness protection. To help women protect their wealth and health, UOB and Prudential Singapore have worked in partnership to offer women a dedicated savings account that comes with free coverage for six female-related cancers. The coverage amount is based on their…
Excitement as Ugandan Court Sets Dr Stella Nyanzi Free
The International War Crimes Division of the High Court in Kololo, Kampala has ordered for the release of Dr Stella Nyanzi from Luzira Prison where she has been for months. Dr Nyanzi was last year convicted and sentenced to 18 months for harassing President Museveni. She however, appealed against the conviction and sentence citing unfairness and that the trial court erred in law. On Thursday, Justice Henry Peter Adonyo who heard her appeal ordered for her “immediate release” from prison. The judge noted that Buganda Road trial magistrate, Gladys Kamasanyu had no jurisdiction to convict Dr Nyanzi of cyber harassment. In addition, Justice Adonyo said no evidence was adduced by prosecution showing the location- of the device- where the offence was committed; either Uganda or out of the country. “Prosecution did not as well ascertain the kind of device which was used to send as the digital prints were not…
Kosovo’s New Government Includes Most Women Since Independence
Appointment of six women in leadership posts represents highest percentage since end of the war more than 20 years ago. Vjosa Osmani has a clear vision for how she and her government will run the country. “Every single law that comes to the assembly should be seen through the gender lens,” said Chairwoman of the Assembly of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmai in an interview with Al Jazeera, less than a month after being elected as the first woman to serve as Kosovo’s speaker of the Assembly. Osmani is among a new generation of politicians who have entered the political scene in Europe’s youngest nation, instilling hope that was lost during previous governments led by former Kosovo Liberation Army commanders and where corruption and nepotism ruled. Besides Osmani, five women were appointed ministers of the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry…