Category: LATEST NEWS

The 2027 Women’s World Cup will take place in Brazil from June 24 to July 25. FIFA, the governing body of international football, announced these dates on Tuesday.

Thirty-two teams will compete in the Women’s World Cup, which will be held in South America for the first time.

Brazil is one of the three CONMEBOL host countries. UEFA has the highest number of slots with 11, followed by the AFC with six, CAF and CONCACAF with four each, and the OFC with one. The remaining spots will be determined through playoffs.

Spain is the reigning champion, having won the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

FIFA is expected to announce the Brazilian cities and stadiums that will host the tournament next year. Twelve applications have been submitted, including many stadiums that hosted the 2014 Men’s World Cup.

Saudi Arabia has been officially designated by FIFA as the host for the 2034 Men’s World Cup.

The Saudi proposal was the sole bid and received enthusiastic support from over 200 FIFA member federations during an online meeting led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in Zurich.

as critics denounce this decision, FIFA and Saudi officials argue that hosting the 2034 tournament could promote progress, particularly in enhancing freedoms and rights for women.

This announcement coincided with the approval of the only bid for the 2030 World Cup, which will see Spain, Portugal, and Morocco co-hosting the tournament.

Additionally, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay will each host one of the 104 matches.

This South American collaboration will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Uruguay hosting the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

The farmers are protesting, among other things, against a proposed tax increase and the removal of a 1990s tax break that exempts farm property from inheritance tax. From April 2026, farms worth more than £1 million ($1.3 million) will be subject to a 20% tax when the owner dies and the property passes to the next generation. Protesters say the changes will ruin struggling family farms.

At least 175 people have been reported dead and dozens injured after a series of airstrikes hit Sudan’s capital on Monday and Tuesday.

The attack has been linked to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) who have been waging a war with the Sudanese army in the 20-month conflict.

The first attack took place on Monday when an air strike hit a busy market in the town of Kabkabiya, 180km west of North Darfur, killing at least 100 civilians including women and children according to a rights group.

In another incident, a single shell fired at a passenger bus “killed everyone on board,” totaling 22 people, stated Ahmed Othman Hamza in a communiqué, denouncing a “massacre” committed by RSF.

In a separate incident, at least 65 people were killed in Omdurman, which is an army-controlled region, according to Khartoum Governor Ahmed Othman Hamza who also indicated that a hundred were injured during the incursion.

Tuesday marked the year’s most violent clashes between the regular army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by his former ally and deputy, General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

Sudan, a predominantly Arab country on the edge of sub-Saharan Africa, descended into civil war in 2023, as fighting erupted between the military and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces that grew out of Darfur’s notorious Janjaweed militia.

Though estimates are difficult to come by, at least 24,000 people have been killed and millions displaced in a conflict that has largely been eclipsed in the world’s attention by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Ghana has turned a new page in its democratic journey by electing Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the nation’s first female Vice President-elect.

Running alongside President-elect John Dramani Mahama, her historic win under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) banner in the 2024 elections has been widely celebrated as a groundbreaking achievement for gender representation in Ghanaian politics.

Born on November 22, 1951, in Cape Coast, Central Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang has consistently shattered barriers. A distinguished academic, she earned her Bachelor’s and Diploma in Education from the University of Cape Coast. She later pursued her Master’s and Ph.D. in English Literature at York University in Canada.

In 2008, she became the first woman to lead a public university in Ghana, serving as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast. Her tenure was marked by transformative reforms, from upgrading infrastructure to promoting gender equity within the institution.

From Academia to Politics

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang entered politics in 2013 when she was appointed Minister for Education under John Mahama’s presidency. During her time in office, significant strides were made in education, including the abolition of makeshift “schools under trees,” the construction of modern facilities, and the provision of free textbooks and school uniforms.

In 2020, she made history again as the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate, becoming the first woman nominated for the position by a major political party in Ghana. Her selection symbolized a bold commitment to inclusivity and gender equality.

The Significance of Her Election

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s election marks a monumental step for Ghana and serves as an example for the African continent. Her expertise in education and public service positions her to champion initiatives in education reform, gender equality, and youth empowerment.

Her leadership promises to bring a fresh perspective to national policies, particularly in crafting innovative strategies to advance Ghana’s education sector. Beyond Ghana, her election is a beacon of progress for female representation in African political leadership, inspiring women across the continent to pursue roles of influence.

A Nation Celebrates

Following the election results, jubilant supporters of the NDC filled streets nationwide, celebrating this historic victory. Women across Ghana expressed pride in Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s achievement, seeing it as a powerful affirmation of women’s leadership capabilities.

Looking Ahead

As Ghana transitions power, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s role will be pivotal in shaping the nation’s future. Her dedication to education, gender equality, and national unity will guide her as she takes on this groundbreaking role.

Her election is not just a win for the NDC but a triumph for all Ghanaians. It symbolizes progress, perseverance, and the promise of a more inclusive political landscape. Under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama and Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana is poised for a future defined by unity, diversity, and inspired leadership.

The Walt Disney Co.’s animated film “Moana 2” remained at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it brought in another record haul.

The film added $52 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. That brings its domestic total to $300 million, surpassing the original, and its global tally to a staggering $600 million.

The amount set a record gross for a movie on the weekend following Thanksgiving weekend, unseating “Frozen II,” which earned $35.2 million in the same time frame in 2019. The numbers are not adjusted for inflation. Originally conceived as a Disney+ series, “Moana 2” has already broken into the top five highest grossing releases of the year. Its performance means Disney has three films in this year’s top five, including “Inside Out 2” and “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The studio also has another big movie on the way before the year ends: Barry Jenkins’ “Mufasa,” out Dec. 20.

Second place at the box office was occupied by “Wicked,” which added $34.9 million, bringing its domestic total to $320.5 million in three weeks. Globally, the musical adaptation released by Universal is at $455.6 million. “Gladiator II” followed in third place with $12.5 million, while “Red One” came in fourth with $7 million.

Morocco’s tourism industry is celebrating a major milestone, with 15.9 million visitors recorded by the end of November 2024—marking a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2023, according to the tourism ministry.

November alone saw a dramatic boost, with 1.3 million tourists arriving, representing a 31% increase over the previous year. This surge reflects Morocco’s growing appeal as a global travel destination.

A portion of the growth comes from Moroccan residents living abroad, who contributed to a 17% rise in visits. This influx added an extra 1.1 million visitors, highlighting the strong connection between Moroccans abroad and their home country.

Tourism plays a vital role in Morocco’s economy, accounting for about 7% of GDP. It’s also a key source of jobs and foreign currency, making the sector essential for the nation’s growth.

To continue attracting tourists, Morocco has expanded air routes to key markets and is promoting lesser-known destinations across the country, enhancing its appeal to a wider range of travellers.

Morocco’s tourism strategy is ambitious. The country aims to welcome 17.5 million visitors by 2026, and 26 million by 2030, when it will co-host the FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

These targets reflect Morocco’s plan to solidify its position as one of the world’s top tourist destinations.

Much of Earth’s lands are drying out and damaging the ability of plant and animal life to survive, according to a United Nations report released Monday at talks where countries are working to address the problem.

The report was released at the U.N. summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on combating desertification — once-fertile lands turning into deserts because of hotter temperatures from human-caused climate change, lack of water and deforestation.

It found that more than three-quarters of the world’s land experienced drier conditions from 1970 to 2020 than the previous thirty-year period.

At the talks, which started last week and are set to end on Friday, nations are discussing how better they can help the world deal with droughts — a more urgent lack of water over shorter periods — and the more permanent problem of degrading land.

If global warming trends continue, nearly five billion people — including in most of Europe, parts of the western U.S., Brazil, eastern Asia and central Africa — will be affected by the drying by the end of the century, up from a quarter of the world’s population today, the report warned.

Sergio Vicente-Serrano, one of the lead authors of the report, said that as the atmosphere heats up because the burning of coal, oil and gas spews planet-warming emissions, it leads to more evaporation on the ground. That makes water less available for humans, plants and animals, making it harder to survive.

Farming is particularly at risk, with drier land being less productive and hurting both yields and the availability of food for livestock, the report said. That can lead to food insecurity for communities worldwide.

Aridity also leads to more migration, because erratic rainfall, degrading land and frequent water shortages make it harder for regions or nations to develop economically, the report said. It said the trend is especially noticeable in some of the world’s driest areas such as southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa and southern Asia.

Health officials in Congo have raised alarms over an unidentified flu-like illness that has killed at least 71 people in the southern Kwango province. The deaths, reported between November 10 and 25 in the Panzi health zone, include 27 patients who died in hospitals and 44 fatalities in the community.

Congolese Minister of Public Health Roger Kamba emphasized that it is still too early to determine the cause or transmission method of the disease. Speaking to reporters, he said: “It looks like a respiratory-type illness. I said: it looks like. We only received the alert four or five days ago, so don’t think that in four or five days we can already identify the mode of transmission.”

Among the hospital fatalities, 10 were attributed to a lack of blood transfusions, while 17 succumbed to respiratory complications. The illness has affected approximately 380 people, nearly half of whom are children under the age of five. Symptoms reported include fever, headache, cough, and anemia.

Dr. Diedonne Mwamba, Director General of Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, noted that the region’s vulnerability factors, such as high malnutrition rates of around 40% and a history of typhoid epidemics, complicate the situation. He stated: “We are really on maximum alert. We need to confirm through diagnostics the suspicions around whether it is a respiratory infection.”

The Panzi health zone, a remote area roughly 435 miles (700 kilometers) from the capital Kinshasa, poses logistical challenges for the ongoing investigation. Epidemiological experts are in the region collecting samples to identify the cause of the outbreak, with results expected in the coming days, according to Jean Kaseya, head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Meanwhile, Congo continues to battle an mpox epidemic, with more than 47,000 suspected cases and over 1,000 deaths, further straining the country’s healthcare system.

Health officials have urged caution as investigations continue into the mystery illness.

As Ghana’s elections on Saturday approach, a range of measures have been implemented to safeguard both democracy and security.

Incumbent Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, representing the New Patriotic Party, is facing former President John Dramani Mahama, who is running for the opposition National Democratic Congress.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, along with a delegation from the West African Elders Forum, is in Ghana to monitor the elections. Upon arriving in Accra, he affirmed, “Ghana is one of Africa’s democratic models, and we want to see the country maintain that status.”

Over 18.7 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots, choosing from 13 candidates and 276 legislators.

The widespread perception of partisanship and bias from the Electoral Commission – which some believe is in favour of the ruling party – has added to pre-election tensions. Opposition candidate John Dramani Mahama declared that his acceptance of the 2024 election results is dependent on the fairness and transparency of the electoral process.

Opinion polls have consistently predicted that the former president – John Dramani Mahama – will emerge as the frontrunner and take an outright victory. Despite Ghana’s legacy as a beacon of democracy in Africa, some fear election results could trigger unrest, and even potential clashes.

With the New Patriotic Party headquarters located only 5 kilometers away from the opposition National Democratic Congress offices, police intervention has been implemented to avoid violence.

Emilia Quaicoo, a resident of Accra, told Euronews “I’m just looking for peace, that’s all. That we don’t have chaos in the nation, just that”. Another local, Daniel Asem shared this sentiment, hopeful “that there will be a final winner, that there will be no fighting.”

The doors of 41,000 polling stations across Ghana will close their doors at 5pm local time.