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Benin, Nigeria join African Union continental free trade bloc
September 2nd, 2020 | Uncategorized |
Wednesday, July 10, 2019
Leaders of African Union (AU) member states met in Niamey, Niger’s capital, for an AU summit where on Sunday Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Patrice Talon of Benin signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Nigeria previously announced it planned to join the AfCFTA in the week leading up to the summit. AU trade and industry commissioner Albert Muchanga announced Benin was to join. The commissioner said, “We haven’t yet agreed on rules of origin and tariff con[c]essions, but the framework we have is enough to start trading on July 1, 2020”.
Niger’s president Mahamadou Issoufou said, “Nigeria is Africa’s biggest economy and most populous country. Without Nigeria the free trade zone would’ve been handicapped.”
The agreement seeks to remove tariffs on 90 percent of commodities and better intregrate African economies.
At the opening of the AU summit, AU chairperson President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt said, “The success of the AfCFTA will be the real test to achieve the economic growth that will turn our people’s dream of welfare and quality of life into a reality”.
With Sunday’s signings, all but one of the member states of the 55-member AU have signed on to the agreement, with Eritrea the only state unsigned. African leaders have negotiated the deal over the last four years. While 54 nations have signed onto the AfCFTA, only 27 have ratified the agreement.
While many transactions in Africa occur using U.S. dollars or euros, the AU announced an electronic pan-African payment system.African Export–Import Bank president Okey Oramah said the use of third-party currencies “costs Africa between $5 and $7 billion,” further saying, “Beyond that, it also reduces trade because Africa has a scarcity of foreign exchange.”
There are reportedly 1.3 billion people in the free trade area, with the combined economies of the countries worth US$3.4 trillion. One of the stated goals of AfCFTA is to encourage more intra-Africa trade. Currently about 16–17 percent of African trade occurs between African countries. This is in contrast to the European Union members, where intra-European trade accounts for over 60 percent of trade.
The International Monetary Fund said in May the AfCFTA might be for African countries comparable to the European and North American trade blocs as an “economic game changer”.
Seven members states had bid to host the AfCFTA secretariat, the operational organ of the free trade agreement, with Ghana winning the bid.
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Woman with world’s longest fingernails loses them in car crash
August 28th, 2020 | Uncategorized |
Sunday, February 15, 2009
A woman who held the Guinness World Record for having the world’s longest fingernails has lost them in a four-car accident in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah in the United States.
66-year-old Lee Redmond was seriously injured after she was ejected from the sports utility vehicle (SUV) she had been a passenger in. It had collided with one car, causing it to collide with two other cars on Tuesday February 10. She is expected to make a full recovery.
“[Her nails] were damaged beyond repair,” reported the BBC, quoting Guinness World Records, who also said that Redmond’s nails were “a fundamental part of her life and unique character”. The cause of the crash is not yet known and an investigation is ongoing.
Redmond is credited by the Guinness Book for having a combined fingernail length of 28 feet, the longest on record. She has been growing all eight fingers and two thumbnails since 1979. Her longest of all nails was her right thumb, which was 2ft and eleven inches long.
Before Redmond was named as the record holder in 2006, Shridhar Chillal from India had the longest at a combined length of just over twenty feet.
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Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The anti-poverty group Oxfam says global warming is altering the human food supply and threatening some of the world’s poorest people with hunger. At the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Bali, the group argued developed countries should pay to address the problem, and costs could top $50 billion a year.
Climate change, which many scientists believe is fuelled by human activities, alters rain cycles and causes increased droughts and flooding. Rising temperatures mean some traditional crops do not grow as well as they used to. The United Nations predicts that in some African countries, crop yields could fall by half.
Oxfam researcher Kate Raworth says coping with these issues will be expensive.
“Oxfam has estimated that for all developing countries to adapt to climate change will cost at least $50 billion a year,” she said. “And for that to be done with justice we believe that the rich and the most polluting countries should pay the vast share of the money to make possible for those countries most vulnerable and least responsible for causing the problem to cope with the new realities they have to deal with.”
The report released by Oxfam at the conference on Tuesday says some countries are already feeling the effects of a warming planet. In South Africa, farmers are planting faster-maturing crops to adapt to unpredictable rainfall.
Bangladeshis are creating floating vegetable gardens that can thrive in spite of floods. But Mozaharul Alam, who heads Bangladesh’s climate adaptation effort, says overall improvements to the food system still leave many families vulnerable.
“Most of the agriculture is subsistent in nature,” said Alam. “So if [there is] any failure of the crop on the ground, even if there is food available in the market, unless the people has the buying capacity, that availability of the food in the market has no meaning to the vulnerable family.”
Oxfam argues the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada and Australia should be among the major sources of funds to help developing countries solve their climate change problems.
These countries have agreed in principle, but one task of the Bali Conference is to find out how much individual countries are willing to spend on climate-related issues. It also aims to begin deciding how to divide those resources between prevention of further climate change, and adaptation to the changes that are already taking place.
The conference involves thousands of scientists, government officials and development group representatives, and runs for another 10 days.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Half-a-million people have fled their homes in and around the Indian state of Orissa after Cyclone Phailin made landfall.
Wikinews interviewed specialists in meteorology about the devastation the cyclone has caused.
Questions You Must Ask Before Getting Cosmetic Surgery in Toronto
by
Dr. Daniel Martin
If you’re looking for the best plastic surgeon in Toronto, you’re bound to find many qualified choices. However, not every qualified plastic surgeon is the right fit for your particular cosmetic surgery needs. It’s important you ask the right questions before scheduling your cosmetic surgery in Toronto. These questions should help you make a proper selection after reviewing potential cosmetic surgeons in preliminary consultations.
- Does the cosmetic surgeon have proper credentials?
At the very least, the cosmetic surgeon you’re considering must be a member of the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons. There are many cosmetic surgeons that claim to e board certified, however only the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons certifies physicians and surgeons in medical specialties such as those with cosmetic surgery. Don’t forget to verify the information the surgeon provides to see if any disciplinary action was ever taken.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4eZmhScgyY[/youtube]
- How often have they performed the cosmetic procedure you want?
The cosmetic surgeon you are consulting with might be renowned for breast augmentations, but perhaps he has little experience with performing facelifts. You’ll want to choose one that is experienced in the types of procedures you’re looking to have done.
- Do I like the cosmetic surgeon’s aesthetic sense?
Beauty is absolutely in the eye of the beholder. If you’re looking to get your nose reshaped, you’ll want to look through all the before and after photos of the work your potential cosmetic surgeon has performed. Look for consistency in the results and be sure to compare faces that have similarities to yours. If you like what you see and the credentials are there, you might have just found your ideal match.
- How welcoming is the staff?
Do you feel comfortable around this cosmetic surgeon? Does the staff make you feel comfortable and welcome? Listen to your gut. The right cosmetic surgeon will answer all of your questions and won’t push you into making a decision. If you feel uncomfortable for any reason, keep looking.
- How is the operating facility?
Safety during your cosmetic surgery is extremely important. Don’t be shy about inquiry about the anesthetist or the operating facilities, which should be accredited and contain life support systems in the event that something should go wrong. Again, the right cosmetic surgeon for your needs will be happy to show you the facilities and credentials to back them up.
If you’re looking for the best plastic surgeon in Toronto, and his team of medical professionals are devoted to helping you look your best. Ask any questions and they will be happy to guide you to the best decision for your cosmetic surgery needs.
Plastic Surgeon in Toronto can help you in accomplishing your wanted look and support your certainty about yourself.
Article Source:
eArticlesOnline.com}
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This is the category for the Sydney Central Business District, a region of Sydney, Australia.
Refresh this list to see the latest articles.
- 12 March 2014: Fire burns at Barangaroo construction site, Sydney, Australia
- 1 February 2014: NSW Parliament passes alcohol-fuelled violence bill hours after drafting
- 20 September 2013: Wheelchair Rugby Tri-Nations Series begins in Sydney
- 20 August 2012: Sydney welcomes home the Australian Olympic Team
- 9 September 2007: Sydney thanked for its patience during APEC
- 8 September 2007: Up to 18 arrested, police injured in APEC rally
- 7 September 2007: Australian comedians “could have been shot” during APEC prank
- 15 August 2006: Heavy hailstorms leave Sydney appearing snowed in
- 25 August 2005: Protestors want ‘carnival not confrontation’ at Forbes conference
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Pages in category “Sydney Central Business District”
Monday, July 7, 2008
The United States bridge that collapsed almost a year ago, spanning the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is close to being reconstructed. The final sections of the northbound lanes of the new Interstate 35W St. Anthony Falls Bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota were put in place on July 5. The final segment was raised with a barge-mounted crane from the Mississippi River below. A temporary bridge now connects the two segments.
The remaining seven-foot gap will be closed in several days with concrete which is poured in place. The segments for the southbound lanes will now be raised and connected. The segments were cast in a work area which was on the 35W roadbed and were then moved to Bohemian Flats, near the University of Minnesota West Bank campus. A crane places each segment on a barge for delivery upstream to the bridge site.
The bridge may be completed as early as September, well ahead of the scheduled opening date of December 24th.
Which of the Last 20 Kentucky Derby Winners Would Win When Racing Against Each Other?
by
Lee Lane-Edgar
That’s a question we wanted to know the answer for and thought everyone in our community would like to know. Horse Racing Simulation, in partnership with the NTRA, created a virtual simulation containing the past 20 Kentucky Derby winners. We’re talking about Derby winners such as Smarty Jones, the first undefeated race horse to win the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew; Big Brown, another undefeated horse going into the Kentucky Derby; Real Quiet who was barely beaten in the Belmont to be denied his Triple Crown quest; Thunder Gulch who won the Derby at 25-1 with jockey Gary Stevens;Barbaro, who was drawing away late in the race to win the Derby by 6 lengths; Monarchos, who is the only horse besides Secretariat to win the Kentucky Derby in under 2 minutes.
Other contenders include the likes of Street Sense, who was the first Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner to actually go on and win the Kentucky Derby; Rhinestone, whose racing career was cut short when he was retired 5 days after his Derby victory; Giacomo, the second-longest shot ever to win the Derby at 50-1; Funnycide, the gelding drew a lot of fans during his brief period of fame; Silver Charm, who stalked the pace and was able to hold off the late rally by Capt. Bodgit to hold on for victory in his Derby; and several other horses including Super Saver, last year’s winner who actually gave trainer Todd Pletcher his first Derby win ever.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XQtd9cTGFM[/youtube]
Wouldn t it be great if you could build your own champion races, matching up the greatest such as Secretariat and Man o War? Wouldn t it be incredible to bring the champion horses from the 30s and 40s and race them against the top horses of the 70s and 80s? If you re into racing or fantasy sports in general, you might want to check out an exciting game that is considered the best of all horse race games horseracegame.com offers everything from a casual experience to the most in-depth, engaging world of virtual racing anyone could ever want. Want to breed your own horses and race against other players? Do you want to jockey Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby? They have it. Want to fictitiously participate in betting competitions with players worldwide? They have that, also. Virtual horse racing has never been more exciting than this free horse racing game.
We want everyone to enjoy this virtual simulation featuring the last 20 Kentucky Derby winners and let us know your feedback on who you think would have won and why we got it right or why we got it wrong.
Enjoy the race!
An ardent fan of horse racing for years, I am extremely passionate about writing articles on adventurous topics on the lines of new developments in sports, online games as well as other fields. You can find articles regarding Horse racing industries and interesting facts about the understanding of
horse race
. To know more about horse racing games online and related information log on to www.horseracegame.com.
Article Source:
ArticleRich.com
Friday, July 22, 2005
Beginning in 2006, all horses in the EU will be required to have passports, according to new rules from the European Union. Two thirds of all horses in Sweden are estimated to not have passports, Britta Lundström at the Swedish Ministry of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) told news agency TT.
If the owner of a horse doesn’t get a passport for their animal before the end of the year, they will be breaking the law. The Ministry of Agriculture has had problems reaching horse owners who don’t read horse magazines. Because of this, the ministry is planning a campaign this autumn.
The passport contains information on the owner, the race and number. A photograph isn’t mandatory but a description of the horse’s appearance is required.