Month: July 2023

British Government to Increase Fees for Migrants’ Visa Applications and National Health Services to Support Public Sector Pay Rises.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has revealed the government’s plan to raise fees for migrants’ visa applications and the immigration health surcharge.

The increased charges aim to generate substantial funds for financing pay rises in the public sector.

During a press conference in London, Prime Minister Sunak stated, “The first is we’re going to increase the charges that we have for migrants who are coming to this country when they apply for visas.”

According to local news reports, the PM further mentioned the immigration health surcharge, which migrants pay to access the National Health Service (NHS). The adjustments to these fees are expected to generate over a billion pounds in revenue.

In conjunction with this measure, Prime Minister Sunak called upon unions to suspend ongoing and planned industrial actions, asserting that he had reached a “fair deal” for workers.

In a tweet, he expressed his thoughts, stating, “I just announced a fair way to end the strikes – and already all teaching unions are backing it. It’s a fair deal for workers. And a fair deal for the British taxpayer. This is a major breakthrough for parents and families across the country.”

The proposed deal entails pay increases for various sectors. Police officers are set to receive a 7% rise in the 2023-24 period, while teachers, senior NHS staff, and junior doctors will experience pay hikes of 6.5%, 6%, and 6% respectively, along with additional one-off payments.

Armed forces personnel will see a 5% increase in their salaries, also accompanied by a one-off payment.

The country’s current inflation rate stands at 8.7%, surpassing the Bank of England’s 2% target. In light of this, the Prime Minister emphasized the finality of the offer, stating, “Today’s offer is final. There will be no more talks on pay.

We will not negotiate again on this year’s settlements, and no amount of strikes will change our decision.” He expressed confidence that the momentum across public services is shifting and that the majority of individuals who are committed to serving others are returning to work.

Reports from unions, universities, and think tanks indicate that the UK government has faced significant walkouts across almost all sectors due to the impact of the Ukraine war, Brexit, and a rising cost-of-living crisis.

Nine people were killed and more than 300 arrested during protests on Wednesday against new taxes in Kenya banned by authorities, according to a human rights commission and an official source.

These rallies organized in several towns across the country were punctuated by looting and clashes between demonstrators and police, the former throwing stones, the latter responding with tear gas and live ammunition.

Police have been accused of brutality and criticized for firing tear gas at civilians, including at a school, hospitalizing dozens of children.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s Azimio alliance announced on Thursday that its protests would resume “on Wednesday, July 19, 2023”, vowing to continue street action until results are obtained on its battle over the cost of life.

The day before, nine people were killed during a new day of opposition mobilization, according to the Kenya National Commission for Human Rights (KNCHR), an independent organization, which assured AFP that it was based on a police count.

The Commission called for investigations into police brutality and looting, warning that the country was “on the brink of anarchy”.

According to the KNCHR, four people were killed in Mlolongo, a suburb of Nairobi, and five in different towns in Kenya, while many others as well as law enforcement personnel were injured.

In a statement, the KNCHR “strongly condemns the excessive force used by the police when arresting protesters. While the maintenance of law and order is crucial, it must never come at the expense of the rights of the man and the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals”.

For its part, the Independent Police Oversight Authority (IPOA), announced on Thursday the opening of an investigation into “reported deaths resulting from gunshot wounds” as well as other incidents which have caused casualties or property damage.

Police say one of the victims is a man who was killed in clashes between rival groups in Sondu, on the border of Kericho and Kisumu, the latter being a stronghold of Odinga.

“312 people who directly or indirectly planned, orchestrated or financed the violent demonstrations and acts of lawlessness (on Wednesday), including a deputy, have been arrested and will be prosecuted for various criminal offences”, declared for his part the minister . of the Interior Kithure Kindiki, vilifying “hooliganism” and “lawlessness”.

“The search for other people responsible (for this violence) is ongoing,” he added.

At the origin of the anti-government mobilization, the veteran Kenyan opposition, Raila Odinga, several times unsuccessful candidate in the presidential election, accused the police on Wednesday of having “shot, injured and killed demonstrators”. especially in Nairobi.

On Wednesday, the Minister of the Interior castigated “generalized violence” and “looting” , while assuring that “this culture of impunity” would “end” . These incidents took place a few days after other deadly demonstrations against the government of President William Ruto in several cities of the country.

At least six people were killed last Friday during these rallies, according to the Interior Ministry. NGOs then denounced violent police repression.

At the beginning of July, President Ruto promulgated a budget law which introduces a series of new taxes, despite criticism from the opposition and the population of this country affected by high inflation.

Azimio intends to organize protests every week against government policy. Mr. Odinga was defeated by William Ruto in the August 2022 presidential election, but still disputes the results, believing that the victory was “stolen” from him.

Egypt hosted a meeting of leaders from Sudan’s six neighbouring countries in Cairo on Thursday to discuss the ongoing conflict in the northeastern African country.

The peace talks, hosted by Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, were attended by the leaders of Ethiopia, South Sudan, Chad, Eritrea, the Central African Republic and Libya.

The conflict in Sudan erupted in mid-April when tensions between the military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) came to a head.

The conflict has killed more than 3000 people and wounded over 6000, according to the Sudanese health ministry. The actual death toll, however, is likely much higher, doctors and activists say.

The International Organisation for Migration say more than 2.4 million people have been forced to flee their homes due to the violence, with around 738,000 crossing into neighbouring countries.

Thursday’s meeting comes weeks after talks brokered by Saudia Arabia and the United States in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah broke down after the two warring sides failed to stop fighting and violated cease-fire agreements.

In his opening address, el-Sissi said that his vision for the crisis’ end includes a lasting cease-fire agreement, the establishment of safe humanitarian corridors and a dialogue framework that would include all of Sudan’s wide-reaching political forces.

The Egyptian leader called on both parties to commit to cease-fire negotiations organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, or IGAD, an eight-member East African bloc, headed by Kenyan President William Ruto.

So far, Sudan’s military, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have agreed to at least 10 cease-fires, all of which have foundered.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made an unexpected move in his preparations to potentially face off against Twitter CEO Elon Musk.

Zuckerberg has enlisted the help of professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters to train him for the possible showdown. UFC Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and Alex Volkanovski were seen arriving at Zuckerberg’s residence in Northern California right after the UFC 290 showcase in Las Vegas.

From images that have surfaced on social media, it appears that Zuckerberg has undergone considerable physical training as he now boasts of a ripped and athletic physique. The photos captured the trio posing together while showing evidence of the intense training regimen.

Interestingly, Elon Musk was seen training alongside accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt holder Lex Fridman, who claimed that Musk was eagerly anticipating the possibility of a clash with his rival, Mark Zuckerberg.

As their rivalry continues to captivate the public’s imagination, their sudden interest in combat sports has added fuel to the fire. With each CEO proclaiming their elite team of fighters and honing their physical abilities, it remains to be seen whether this extraordinary showdown will come to fruition.

An opponent, deputy, and former minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Chérubin Okende, part of the party of presidential candidate Moïse Katumbi, was found dead Thursday in Kinshasa, his body riddled with bullets, it was reported. learned from political and official sources.

According to the entourage of Moïse Katumbi, Mr. Okende went to the Constitutional Court on Wednesday and his relatives had not heard from him since. According to the same source, he was found dead Thursday morning in his car on a main avenue in Kinshasa.

“The government learned with horror of the assassination” of Chérubin Okende, said Minister of Communication and government spokesman Patrick Muyaya on Twitter.

“While condemning this heinous act, he instructed all security services to diligently carry out a thorough investigation in order to shed light on this unacceptable act,” he added.

This case comes as the political climate is very tense with the approach of the elections scheduled for the end of the year.

Mr. Okende, 61, resigned last December from his post as Minister of Transport along with two other pro-Katumbi ministers.

Moïse Katumbi had just announced his presidential candidacy scheduled for next December and the withdrawal of his party, “Together for the Republic”, from the ruling coalition.

President Félix Tshisekedi, in power since January 2019, will be a candidate for re-election.

To date, more than a dozen opponents have announced their intention to stand against him. The main ones, including Moïse Katumbi, consider that the electoral authorities are in the pay of power and are preparing biased elections that risk leading to fraud and chaos.

Kenya’s president William Ruto and Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi have signed a number of trade agreements during a visit by Iran to the East African country on Wednesday.

The two leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral ties, with Raisi describing his visit to Kenya as “a turning point in the development of relations between the two countries”.

The five memoranda of understanding signed on Wednesday focus on “cooperation in information, communication, and technology, fisheries, animal health, and livestock products, and investment promotion,” Ruto told reporters.

Iran also plans to to set up a “motor vehicle assembly plant” in Mombasa county, according to Ruto.

“Common political views”

The visit is the start of a three-day tour of Africa by Raisi. From Kenya, he will head to Uganda later on Wednesday before finishing his trip in Zimbabwe on Thursday.

Prior to the trip, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani expressed optimism that the three-day trip to Africa could help bolster economic and trade ties with African countries.

Iran is currently seeking to shore up diplomatic support in an effort to ease its international isolation.

Kanani said on Monday that Tehran and the African continent share “common political views”, without elaborating further.

The trip is the first by an Iranian leader to the continent in 11 years. The last leader to visit was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2013.

The UK has imposed sanctions on businesses linked to the leaders on both sides in the conflict in Sudan.

The measures apply to three businesses associated with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and three to its rival in the power struggle, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The action comes with the conflict between the regular army and the paramilitary RSF threatening to spiral into a full-blown civil war.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “These sanctions are directly targeting those whose actions have destroyed the lives of millions, according to reports.

“Both sides have committed multiple ceasefire violations in a war, which is completely unjustified.

The Foreign Office said around 25 million people had been left in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of almost three months of violence, with more than 2.2 million internally displaced.

The companies associated with the RSF identified by the Foreign Office are: Al-Junaid, GSK Advance Company Ltd and Tradive General Trading Co.

The three SAF-linked firms are: Defense Industries Systems, Sudan Master Technology and Zadna International Company for Investment.

The sanctions will ensure that any assets held by the firms in the UK will be frozen.