AU, TikTok join forces to empower African youth on digital safety

ADDIS ABABA, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) and TikTok, the video-sharing social networking platform, have announced a joint initiative called the Safer Together campaign to empower African youth with the knowledge and tools to navigate the digital world safely.

The 55-member continental bloc said in a statement Sunday that the campaign, which was launched at the recent TikTok Safer Internet Summit in Ghana, aims to empower not only Africa's young people but also parents and educators on digital safety.

Prudence Ngwenya, director of the Women, Gender and Youth Directorate at the AU Commission, lauded the partnership as a vital step toward empowering Africa's youth and safeguarding their digital future.

"The Safer Together campaign is in line with the AU's ongoing efforts to promote and advocate not only for safe online experiences for young people in Africa but also for their mental well-being through the One Million Next Level Initiative," Ngwenya said.

The One Million Next Level Initiative seeks to provide opportunities for 300 million African youth by 2030 in the areas of education, employment, entrepreneurship, as well as health and well-being, according to the AU.

Ngwenya noted that while access to the internet can help children and young people stay connected, improve their digital literacy, and diversify their livelihoods, it is crucial that they are provided with a safe environment to reap the benefits of digital platforms.

The campaign includes a wide array of in-app activities, such as educational video content, hashtag challenges, endorsements by content creators, and notifications, the AU said.

The joint initiative will also provide "Digital Safety Toolkits" to support educators and guardians in tackling key digital safety topics, available through a dedicated microsite on TikTok, offering an engaging guide for fostering safer online behaviors.

Fortune Mgwili-Sibanda, government relations and public policy director for TikTok in Sub-Saharan Africa, underscored TikTok's commitment to nurturing a digitally safe environment for all.

"Our partnership with the AU women, gender, and youth directorate reinforces TikTok's deep commitment to the diverse tapestry of markets across Africa," he said.

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2024-03-25 22:03:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

Top drivers gear up for WRC Kenya Safari Rally Challenge

NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The highly-anticipated World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in Kenya is only hours away, with the stage set for what is predicted to be a wet showdown in the East African savannah.

This year's Safari Rally has been moved up to the Easter slot from June and is now the third round of the 2024 FIA WRC following the opening two races in Monaco and Sweden. The Safari has been held in June since its return to the global championship in 2021 following a 19-year absence, and following heavy rains that started to hit the country over the weekend, drivers are expecting a mud bath.

The event will be flagged off in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Thursday before the drivers compete in a Super Special Stage within the city. The crews will then move to Naivasha, 80km northwest of the Kenyan capital for the three-day rally proper that concludes on Sunday.

With a lineup of 29 entries comprising top contenders from across the world, anticipation for the rally has reached fever pitch. Several drivers have already arrived in Kenya, eager to tackle the challenging terrain and compete for glory in one of motorsport's most revered events.

Championship leader Thierry Neuville is seeking his first Safari victory, having been forced to retire from the 2021 and 2023 editions. "We had a good kick-off of the season as we are still leading the championship. Coming here to Kenya now, much earlier in the season, we are really looking forward to the race," the Hyundai driver told reporters at Masai Mara Game Research on Sunday.

"We know it's a windy season as well, so it's going to be probably a different challenge than what we have seen in the previous years. But it's always exciting to be here and it's some kind of adventure and much different than all the other rallies," he added.

Neuville leads the standings on 48 points, three ahead of Welshman and Toyota Gazoo Racing rival Elfyn Evans.

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2024-03-25 22:09:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

Xinhua News | Chinese, Nauruan presidents hold talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Nauruan President David Adeang held talks in Beijing on Monday. #XinhuaNews

2024-03-25 22:10:16
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Philippine Navy joins search for 11 passengers of 2 missing boats

MANILA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Navy on Thursday deployed a helicopter to search for 11 missing passengers of two motorboats that capsized off Palawan province.

Commodore Alan Javier, the commander of the Philippine Naval Forces West, said the boats sank on Wednesday near Ilian Bay in Roxas, a coastal town northeast of Palawan's capital Puerto Princesa.

"Despite challenging conditions, the Naval Forces remains resolute in its commitment to locating the missing motorized boats and ensuring the safety of its passengers," Javier added.

He said the ongoing search and rescue operations involved personnel from various agencies. ■

2024-01-26 00:43:15
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

South Africa calls on overseas nationals to register to vote in 2024 elections

JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa on Thursday called on its citizens living abroad to register to vote in the country's national and provincial elections that will be held this year.

"The IEC is pleased to announce that over 18,469 South African citizens living in 101 countries around the world have started registering to vote using the newly launched online registration portal system," IEC's Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo said when addressing the media in Johannesburg.

Noting that the system has been operational since December 2023, Mamabolo said the IEC appeals to citizens living outside the country who are eligible to vote to take advantage of the upcoming registration weekend on Jan. 26-28.

Mamabolo said the upcoming 2024 elections offer an important opportunity for all South Africans to have their voices heard, and they have put in place all necessary measures to ensure that all eligible citizens vote in the 2024 elections.

South Africa will hold the presidential and parliamentary elections and local government elections this year. ■

2024-01-26 00:41:30
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

Roundup: Global experts applaud China's achievements in human rights protection

GENEVA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- China's accomplishments in safeguarding human rights are truly noteworthy, and the citizens have ample reasons to take pride in these commendable achievements, said Peter Hediger, a Swiss sinologist, historian and international security policy expert.

He made the remarks at an event titled "Human Rights and Chinese Modernization" on Wednesday in Geneva.

Zhu Hongli, deputy secretary general of The China Society for Human Rights Studies, noted that the respect for and protection of human rights are integral aspects of modernization, as China has stayed committed to modernization and progressed through promoting human rights.

In recent years, China's legislative, executive and judicial organs have adopted a series of measures to strengthen the judicial protection of women's rights, said Dai Ruijun, senior fellow of Institute of International Law of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The comprehensive revision of the Law on the Protection of Women's Rights and Interests in 2022, she said, has added a new chapter on "remedial measures," and established a number of new systems to deal with the lack of effectiveness of rights remedies.

Remina Xiaokaiti, an associate professor of Xinjiang University, said that human rights in Xinjiang have significantly advanced as part of China's modernization efforts.

The remarkable economic and social progress in Xinjiang has improved people's living standards and the sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security among all ethnic groups, she said, adding the rights to employment and education for all ethnic groups have been effectively safeguarded.

Xiao Wu, an associate professor from Southwest University of Political Science and Law, said that China has been enhancing its governance of Xizang in accordance with legal principles, establishing a strong basis for the rule of law to ensure the long-term stability and high-quality development of Xizang.

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2024-01-26 00:39:45
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DPRK conducts test of underwater nuclear weapon system

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted a test of its underwater nuclear weapon system in the eastern waters, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Friday.

A spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence of the DPRK announced the move in a press statement, said the report.

The DPRK tested the "Haeil-5-23," an underwater nuclear weapon system under development, in response to the joint maritime exercises by the United States, Japan and South Korea earlier this week, the statement said.

It accused the three-day trilateral naval drill as an act of destabilizing the regional situation and seriously threatening the security of the DPRK.

The underwater nuke-based countering posture of the DPRK armed forces, it said, is being further rounded off and the country will continue its maritime and underwater actions to deter the hostile military maneuvers of the navies of the United States and its allies.

It "strongly denounces the U.S. and its followers for their reckless acts of seriously threatening the security of the DPRK from the outset of the year and sternly warn them of the catastrophic consequences."

South Korea, the United States and Japan have jointly conducted naval drills in southeastern waters off Jeju Island involving warships of the three nations, including the U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, from Monday to Wednesday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing a Wednesday press release by the country's Joint Chiefs of Staff. ■

2024-01-19 12:40:30
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China leads global manufacturing sector for 14 consecutive years

BEIJING, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- China has remained the world's top manufacturing hub for 14 consecutive years, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said Friday.

The country's large manufacturing enterprises, each of which has an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.8 million U.S. dollars), saw their combined value-added output increasing 5 percent year on year in 2023, said Xin Guobin, vice minister of MIIT, at a press conference.

The total value-added industrial output went up 4.6 percent year on year in 2023, up 1 percentage point from that of 2022, Xin said.

By the end of November last year, the number of large industrial enterprises reached 483,000, up 32,000 from that at the end of 2022, he added. ■

2024-01-19 12:30:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

UN Security Council reaffirms support for Colombia's peace process

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Thursday released a statement reiterating its "full and unanimous support for the peace process in Colombia."

The council members highlighted the importance of "ensuring the comprehensive implementation" of the 2016 Final Peace Agreement in Colombia and praised the progress made, especially following the local elections.

They emphasized the crucial role of newly elected officials in fostering peace and the "full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women from diverse backgrounds in the peace process."

Commending the attention given to rural reform provisions, the council recognized the progress in land distribution to peasant and ethnic communities and the adoption of the Comprehensive Reintegration Programme.

They also expressed concern about the ongoing threats and violence faced by former combatants and social leaders, stressing the need for "further implementation of the action plan of the Comprehensive Programme for Safeguards for Women Leaders and Human Rights Defenders."

The council welcomed the Colombian government's commitment to the ethnic chapter of the peace agreement, expecting 60 percent of its implementation by 2026.

Additionally, they anticipated the completion of Colombia's first National Action Plan for implementing UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.

The council praised the Colombian government's efforts to broaden peace through dialogue and negotiations with the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional and other groups, emphasizing the importance of good faith negotiations to reduce violence.

The council reaffirmed its dedication to working closely with Colombia to support the comprehensive implementation of the peace agreement, underscoring the commitment of both parties. ■

2024-01-19 12:18:45
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]

Iran's navy seizes U.S. oil tanker in Sea of Oman

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's navy reported Thursday the seizure of an American oil tanker in the Sea of Oman, citing retaliation for the U.S. "stealing" of Iran's oil in April 2023, according to a statement published on the Iranian army's public relations website.

The statement said the navy took control of the "St Nikolas" tanker on Thursday following a judicial order and confirmation from Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization.

The vessel, previously named "Suez Rajan," had "stolen" an Iranian oil cargo under U.S. guidance last year, the statement said, adding that the Iranian oil was then transferred to U.S. ports and handed over to the United States.

The "St Nikolas" tanker was carrying oil in the Sea of Oman on Thursday morning when it was seized by Iran's navy as a response to the alleged U.S. actions, the statement added.

The seized oil tanker is being transferred to Iranian ports for subsequent handover to judicial authorities, the navy said. ■

2024-01-11 22:27:00
[Source: Xinhua] [Full Text]