May 2, 2022

The leading world futurists and scientists are interested in the development of Africa

JOHANNESBURG, May 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Transdisciplinary Agora For Future Discussions (TAFFD’s) will gather the leading futurists all over the world during the Gen4IR Global Summit in South Africa. The event will take place at the beautiful Sun City resort in Johannesburg in the middle of August.

The event which is now slated August 16-17 2022 because of the aims to converge scientist, and industrial experts from diverse disciplines.

“We are working with relevant authorities through our crucial government partners to ensure ease of travel to SA. The move of the summit to August will therefore offer the best chance for all participants to attend in person and maximize face-to-face interaction, networking opportunities, and planning productive endeavors for the future.” – commented Brenda Kgomotsego Ramokopelwa, CEO at TAFFD’s.

“The growing interest from the private and public sectors worldwide in our event will require full engagement by speakers and delegates. We will therefore use this time to offer regular context, podcasts, commentaries, Zoom events that will educate, enlighten, and inspire about the prosperous future of Africa that the August summit will help unleash. We apologize for any inconvenience this move might have caused and hope to see you this August in South Africa. We thank you for your interest in the Gen4IR summit and hope you will engage with us as we lead up to our exciting event! – Ósìnàkáchì Ákùmà Kálù, founder at TAFFD’s.

Africa, with its status as having the youngest population on Earth, is strategically positioned at the forefront of the global race to be the 4IR powerhouse thanks to boundlessly creativity of African youth experienced in using tools, ideas and skills in overcoming of the myriad real-life challenges, and vast resources of the world digital technologies and startups, who are interested in this raising market. Over a million years ago, the making of stone chopping tools and the stone hand axe at Olduvai Gorge of the East African Rift Valley represented the first step in the great human journey of shaping our world and for many millions of years. The stone hand axe from Africa remained the innovative technology, which was needed by and accompanied our ancestors as they spread out of Africa and across the world. Indeed, as our tools evolve so do our ideas, and then as our tools and ideas evolve, so also do we. Our current 21st century world and humankind through a new set of modern tools characterized as exponential technologies, stands again at the verge of another radical evolution – a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), – and just as with the story of our origins, the future of this technological revolution lies again in the promise of Africa.

Currently, among the speakers of the Gen4IR conference are Ai Karaki, 4iAfrica; David Wood, futurists; Aubrey De Grey, PhD, Biomedical Gerontologist; Natasha Vita More, PhD; Jose Louis Codeiro, MIT Engineer, Immortalist; Edward Hudgins, Futurist, Human Achievement Alliance; Dr. Catherine Demetriades, Inventor of Cxai technologies and Actual Intelligence; Dr. Sarita Sharma, Author of Myriad Voices, Days V.; Ugo Chukwu, Futurist; and many more. We deliver you 4 Key mindsets and an understanding of the exponential technologies required for you. Let’s make Africa great again!

For more information, kindly visit gen4ir.org or email 2022summit@gen4ir.org.

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May 2, 2022

Chad to Delay National Peace Dialogue

DOHA, QATAR — Chad’s military government has announced it is postponing the start of landmark national talks with opposition forces and rebels, as preparatory negotiations between the two sides drag out in Qatar.

The landlocked African nation was thrown into turmoil after long-time leader Idriss Deby died fighting rebels last April.

His son Mahamat Idriss Deby seized control but promised free elections this year.

Ahead of these, he had wanted a national dialogue to start on May 10.

Before that dialogue, the government and more than 40 opposition groups have sent delegations to Doha for preliminary talks.

But they have spent much of the time in luxury hotels and have yet to meet face-to-face, as the Qatari mediators seek to establish enough common ground for the two sides to begin full talks.

On Sunday, the Chadian Foreign Ministry said it had agreed “to postpone the inclusive national dialogue to a later date to be decided, after consultations with the relevant institutions and political actors.”

Earlier, Doha had called for the postponement, saying its mediation was making “tangible” progress at “a good pace.”

The national talks had already been pushed back from February.

Qatar said a new delay would “give the participating parties more time to reach a peace agreement, in preparation for the convening of the comprehensive national dialogue.”

Doha had originally only wanted to host talks and was reluctant to become a full mediator.

But the Foreign Ministry reaffirmed Qatar’s “full support for Chad’s efforts in this political process, in order to achieve the aspirations of its people for peace, security and stability.”

Opposition groups have accused Deby’s administration of deliberately dragging out the Doha talks.

Deby, a 38-year-old general, came to power just over one year ago after his father was fatally wounded in battle.

Opposition groups are demanding that Deby rule himself out of the elections, and also want safety guarantees to allow opposition leaders, who are mostly in exile in neighboring Libya and Sudan, as well as in Europe, to return to Chad.

Qatar has previously helped in peace efforts for Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan and between the Afghan Taliban and U.S. government.

Source: Voice of America

May 2, 2022

White House Celebrates Eid al-Fitr

U.S. President Joe Biden called for religious tolerance as he hosted a reception Monday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Biden praised the contributions of Muslim Americans, saying, “Muslims make our nation stronger every single day, even as they still face real challenges and threats in our society, including targeted violence and Islamophobia.”

Biden, who is Catholic, told attendees at the event in the White House’s East Room, “There’s a lot of similarities between all the three major religions.”

He said, “For the first time in decades, three Abrahamic faiths all celebrate their holy days at the same time,” listing Ramadan, Passover and Easter.

Muslims celebrate the three-day Eid al-Fitr holiday at the conclusion of Ramadan, a holy month in which Muslims typically engage in daylong fasts.

“Through their fast, Muslims demonstrate empathy for the suffering of others, strengthening and renewing their resolve to give generously and to make the world a better place, better for all who suffer,” Biden said.

The president was joined at the White House event by his wife, Jill Biden, and Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Harris could not attend because she has been in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 last week. Her office said Monday that she had tested negative for the virus and would be back to work on Tuesday.

In a statement issued ahead of the event, the Bidens said, “The tradition of religious freedom for all strengthens our country, and we will continue to work with Americans of all beliefs and backgrounds to safeguard and deepen our collective commitment to this fundamental principle.

“This year, we will resume the tradition of celebrating Eid at the White House, and of honoring the inspiring Muslim Americans who are leading efforts to build greater understanding and unity across our nation.”

Last year’s White House Eid celebration was held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bidens also highlighted the “millions of displaced persons and refugees around the globe who are spending this sacred holiday separated from their families and unsure of their future.” They said the nation must “uphold our commitment to serving as a beacon of hope for oppressed people around the world.”

Source: Voice of America

May 2, 2022

Eight Dead, 23 Rescued in Nigeria Building Collapse

LAGOS, NIGERIA — A three-story mainly residential building has collapsed in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos, killing eight people and injuring 23 who were rescued and taken to hospitals, emergency services said Monday.

Building collapses are common in Africa’s most populous nation, where millions live in dilapidated structures and construction standards are often flouted.

The building in Lagos collapsed around 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the Ebute-Metta area of the sprawling city of more than 20 million people, Ibrahim Farinloye of the National Emergency Management Agency told AFP. Farinloye said the lower parts of the building were used as a warehouse while the second and third floors were residential.

“We have recovered eight dead bodies,” he said, “while 23 others were rescued with various degrees of injuries. They are receiving treatment in the hospitals.”

Farinloye said rescue efforts were ongoing. “We have been working since last night to clear the rubble in search of more victims,” he said.

He said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the collapse.

In January, three people, including two children, were killed and another 18 rescued when a church collapsed in a southern Delta state.

Building standards have been in the spotlight since a high-rise building under construction collapsed in Lagos in November last year, killing at least 45 people.

Bad workmanship, low-quality materials, and corruption to bypass official oversight are often blamed for Nigerian building disasters.

Since 2005, at least 152 buildings have collapsed in Lagos, according to a South African university researcher.

One of those incidents that sparked widespread anger was in 2014 when dozens of people died in a church collapse in Lagos.

Source: Voice of America