Month: December 2024

From January 1, Belgium will ban the sale of single-use vapes, marking a significant step in its national anti-tobacco strategy aimed at protecting young people’s health.

This decision aligns with the European Union’s goal to create a tobacco-free generation by 2040, which seeks to cut smoking rates across the 27-member bloc from 25% to less than 5%.

Single-use vapes, often marketed with appealing flavors and vibrant packaging, have gained popularity among teenagers but have come under fire for their addictive nicotine content and environmental impact. “The problem is that young people start using vapes without always knowing their nicotine content, and nicotine is addictive,” said Nora Melard, spokeswoman for Belgium’s Alliance for a Tobacco-Free Society.

Belgium proposed banning disposable vapes to the European Commission in 2021, receiving approval in March 2024. Under the new law, all sales of single-use e-cigarettes will be prohibited, following in the footsteps of France, which also plans to enforce a similar ban with stiff fines of up to €100,000 for violations.

Critics of disposable vapes point to their accessibility, low cost—typically half the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes—and their appeal to young users, with some products allowing thousands of puffs. Moreover, health experts warn that habitual nicotine use among adolescents could harm brain development and potentially lead to the use of other addictive substances.

Beyond health concerns, environmental groups have labeled disposable vapes an “ecological disaster.” These products, often made with plastic and lithium batteries, are typically discarded after just five days of use, contributing significantly to electronic waste.

While some young users question why traditional tobacco products aren’t also banned, others welcome the move. “It’s good to stop selling them,” said Yona Bujniak, a Brussels resident. “A lot of young people don’t think about the consequences when they start.”

As Belgium enforces its ban, tobacco shops across the country are reporting dwindling supplies of disposable vapes, signaling the end of a short-lived trend with long-term implications for health and the environment.

179 deaths have been confirmed in one of South Korea’s worst aviation disasters, which occurred at an airport in the southwest of the country on Sunday.

Some footage appears to show the aircraft touching down without employing its wheels or landing gear.

It then skidded off the runway and crashed into a barrier, before bursting into flames.

More than 30 firetrucks and several helicopters brought the blaze under control.

The plane had been carrying 181 people; it was operated by the country’s most popular budget airline, Jeju Air.

Authorities are looking into what led to the accident, which unfolded moments after the pilot issued a mayday call. The pilot had called for help not long after the control tower warned of birds nearby.

Fire officials have suggested it may be the result of a bird strike that triggered landing gear failure. They have also indicated that bad weather may have played a part.

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100 after spending more than a year in hospice care. Carter, a Georgia peanut farmer who served one turbulent term in the White House, later established himself as a global humanitarian and champion of democracy.

Political Career and Presidency

Carter emerged on the national political scene by defeating incumbent President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. Running as a Washington outsider, he promised to restore trust in the government in the wake of the Watergate scandal. However, his presidency from 1977 to 1981 was marked by significant challenges, including high inflation, fuel shortages, and the Iran hostage crisis, which overshadowed his administration. These issues contributed to his loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election.

Post-Presidency Achievements

After leaving office, Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, founded The Carter Center in 1982. The nonprofit organization aimed to advance human rights and alleviate suffering worldwide. Through the Center, Carter became an influential figure in international diplomacy, election monitoring, and disease eradication efforts.

In 2002, Carter’s extensive humanitarian work was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize. He was celebrated for his efforts in promoting peace and democracy, conflict resolution, and public health initiatives, making him one of the most active and internationally engaged former presidents in U.S. history.

Final Years and Legacy

The Carter Center announced that Jimmy Carter passed away on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia. His death comes over a year after he entered hospice care and follows the passing of his beloved wife, Rosalynn, in November 2023. The couple spent most of their lives in Plains, deeply rooted in their community and dedicated to service.

Carter’s legacy is marked by his post-presidential contributions to global peace and health, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to improving the human condition. His work has left an indelible mark on both national and international stages, reflecting his enduring dedication to humanitarian causes.

As the nation mourns the loss of Jimmy Carter, his legacy as a compassionate leader and tireless advocate for justice and human rights continues to inspire future generations.

Polls have closed in Chad’s first parliamentary election in 13 years. This time there is a push towards ending a military rule.

The voting ended at 6:00pm local time on Sunday. Provisional results are expected by January 15 and final results by January 31.

The main opposition is boycotting Sunday’s vote after accusing authorities of not overseeing a credible electoral process.

The oil-exporting country of 18 million people, among Africa’s poorest, had not had a free and fair transfer of power since it became independent from France in 1960.

At least 8 million voters are registered to elect 188 legislators in the new National Assembly.

Sunday’s election comes at a critical time for Chad, which is battling several security challenges from Boko Haram and the break in decades long military ties with France, its key ally.

José Filomeno Dos Santos, the son of Angola’s ex-president imprisoned for fraud, has been pardoned by the country’s current leader, Joao Lourenco.

Back in 2020, Dos Santos was handed a five-year jail term for fraud, after $500m was sent from the national bank of Angola to an account in Britain.

Several others were also sentenced; among them was the ex-governor of Angola’s national bank.

The case was part of an anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by Lourenco.

The Dos Santos family, meanwhile, allege that they are the targets of a political witch hunt.

Dos Santos is among some 50 prisoners who have been granted pardons by the president; they are to be freed on January 1st.

A presidential decree posted on social media cited “good behaviour’’ of the convicts, as well as an “absence of social danger” in freeing them.

It added that the move was in connection with the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence from Portugal next year, and that the pardon sought to foster a “climate of harmony, leniency and fraternity”.

French energy giant TotalEnergies is scrambling to unlock billions of dollars in frozen US funding for its natural gas project in Mozambique.

The multinational wants the $4.7 billion loan from the Exim Bank of the US approved before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, Jeune Afrique reported this week.

The bank had approved the credit back in 2019 but did not proceed as Islamist violence in the Cabo Delgado region forced Total to pull staff from the project in Afungi. Total has since contracted a consultancy firm to carry out lobbying work in Washington.

It fears that the new administration could bring about bureaucratic delays or impose new conditions. The outbreak of post-election violence in Mozambique has aso raised concerns in Washington.

But in a letter to US authorities on December 3, Total boss Patrick Pouyanne sought to reassure Washinton – writing that the security situation in Cabo Delgado had remarkably improved.

With the help of Rwandan and southern African forces, Mozambique has retaken territory from the insurgents and allowed some displaced civilians to return to their homes.

In February, Exim Bank’s Transactional Risk Committee approved a decision to restart of the loan, but no vote by the boardwas taken.

Total’s project in Mozambique has faced opposition from a section of Democratic lawmakers who are against American financing going to fossil fuel projects.

Candidates for Chad’s local and parliamentary elections are holding their last rallies ahead of voting on Sunday.

In the capital Ndjamena, residents and young people decry poor representation. They want the the election to produce better leaders for the city.

‘’There are a lot of things to be done. The city needs a lot of things for its urbanisation,” said Tadjo Djabongodi, a resident of Ndjamena.

But disenchanted by the outcome of the presidential vote in May, many do not think Sunday’s exercise will bring much change.

‘’We don’t have a real candidate who’s going to win, so I am not expecting anything. It won’t be any different from the elections that have already taken place,” said Samadar Abdou in Ndjamena.

The ruling MPS party has been exhausting every avenue to hold on to its majority. Its leaders say they aim to win all the seats in the town halls and parliament to hand President Mahamat a stronger mandate.

The party of the runner up in the presidential election and former prime minister Succes Masra party is boycotting the exercise. Chad’s opposition is deeply divided and fragmented, with little means to mount any meaningful challenge against the ruling MPS.

The election comes just seven months after the presidential election which extended the Deby family rule over the Central African oil producer.

At least 69 people, including 25 Malians, lost their lives when a makeshift boat heading from West Africa to Spain capsized off the coast of Morocco on December 19, according to Malian authorities.

The boat, carrying about 80 passengers, left only 11 survivors, Mali’s Ministry of Malians Abroad confirmed in a statement on Thursday. A crisis unit has been established to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

This tragedy highlights the dangers of the Atlantic migration route, one of the deadliest pathways for migrants seeking a better life in Europe. The route spans the West African coast, passing through Mauritania and Morocco to reach Spain’s Canary Islands.

The surge in migration via this perilous route stems from years of conflict in Mali and the broader Sahel region, coupled with unemployment and the devastating effects of climate change on agricultural livelihoods.

Migration rights group Walking Borders reported earlier this year that nearly 5,000 migrants died attempting the journey in just the first five months of 2024—a record toll underscoring the escalating crisis.

As authorities investigate the incident, the tragedy serves as a grim reminder of the risks thousands face in search of safety and opportunity.

Syrian insurgents intensified their security measures on Thursday in Damascus after clashes erupted between Islamists now in power and supporters of Bashar Assad.

Convoys of armed insurgents were deployed at the entrances of Damascus city.

Clashes between Islamists who took over Syria and supporters of ousted President Assad’s government killed six Islamic fighters on Wednesday and wounded others, according to a British-based war monitor.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighters were killed while trying to arrest a former official in Assad’s government, accused of issuing execution orders and arbitrary rulings against thousands of prisoners.

The fighters were from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, which led the offensive that toppled Assad earlier this month.

In the capital, Damascus, Alawite protesters scuffled with Sunni counter-protesters and gunshots were heard.

The Associated Press could not confirm details of the shooting.

Alawite protests also took place along the coast of Syria, in the city of Homs and the Hama countryside.

Syria’s transition has been surprisingly smooth but it’s only been a few weeks since Assad fled the country and his administration and forces melted away.

The insurgents who ousted Assad are rooted in fundamentalist Islamist ideology, and though they have vowed to create a pluralist system, it isn’t clear how or whether they plan to share power.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev reacted said on Wednesday that a criminal case had been brought over the AZAL passenger plane crash in Aktau, Kazakhstan.

“The Azerbaijani public will be regularly informed about both the results of the commission’s work and the progress of the criminal case,” said Aliyev during a briefing upon his emergency from the “Unofficial CIS Summit” in St. Petersburg.

The Azerbaijani airliner with 67 people onboard crashed Wednesday near the Kazakhstani city of Aktau, killing 38 people and leaving 29 survivors, a Kazakh official said.

The Embraer 190 was en route from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus when it was diverted and attempted an emergency landing 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from Aktau, Azerbaijan Airlines said.