By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known to you the halting made known by Amnesty International on its work in India due to a “continuing crackdown” and “harassment” by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The human rights watchdog said the bank account of its India branch has been frozen by the right-wing government, forcing it to lay off staff and stop campaign and research work in the South Asian nation.

Rights body says it shut its operations due to a continuing gov’t crackdown over the last two years.

Amnesty accused the government of running an “incessant witch hunt” against human rights organisations.

Source___Aljazeera

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil to you of what young American Democrats think of Joe Biden.

As we all know, Joe Biden is about to be crowned as the Democrats’ presidential nominee – but what do young millennials and Generation Z voters who support the party think of their candidate?

At the age of 77, the former vice-president is half a century older than the dozen voters we spoke to – yet it’s his moderate politics rather than the age gap which has many struggling to get excited.

Some said he is the best option Americans have. Others say he is an incredible being, a listener, moderate leader , a liberal in an image of immoderate.

Others say, the one person to restore equality and transparency in America.

Source___ BBC

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production disclose to you the warning made by the leader of the Gambia Moral Congress to President Adama Barrow, saying he should not crush himself by attempting to perpetuate his stay in power

According to Standard Newspaper, Mai Fatty said the rejection of the draft bill was an outcome of executive complicity, political convenience, personal interests among other parochial considerations.

Addressing a press conference at the GMC National Secretariat on Thursday, Mai contended that a ‘forensic evaluation’ of the rejection of the draft constitution promulgation bill would show that the desire of the PPP and NRP not to endanger President Barrow’s political ambitions, APRC’s quest to protect its legacy [1997 Constitution] and the choice by the justice ministry of a wrong section of the law to push the bill all precipitated its failure.

“September 22nd 2020 will go down in the history of The Gambia as a day of ‘The Great Betrayal’. This was the day when a group of politicians, acting as known proxies for and on behalf of an ill-guided leadership, attempted to kill our collective national aspiration for a fresh start,” he rued.

To Mai, the jettisoning of the bill undermines the hopes and aspirations of the majority of Gambians, who in 2016, voted against Jammeh to end the continuation of the state of affairs at the time. This, he added, is an indication that the electorate voted for systemic change that would embrace the values of reform programs, strengthening of government institutions and enthronement of the principles of inclusive democracy.

He argued that the desire for Gambians to see an end to self-perpetuating rule by ensuring a term limit, reform of the country’s institutions, reduction of the powers of the executive in parliament’s favour, consolidation of judicial independence through enhanced remuneration package have all be torpedoed by narrow-minded considerations.

Mai took a swipe at the Justice ministry for not putting its house in order before taking the bill to the House.

Source___Standard Newspaper

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production disclose to you Nigeria’s hitting of 58,000 COVID-19 cases after recording 213 new infections.

The country also confirmed two new deaths as a result of the virus, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The country has now recorded, in total, 58,062 new cases of the novel coronavirus, with 49,606 cases discharged and 1,103 deaths reported across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Friday’s new cases were reported from 17 states, including Lagos (51), Plateau (51), FCT (29), Rivers (18), Ondo (12), Oyo (9), Osun (8), Gombe (7), Ogun (7), Kaduna (5), Enugu (4), Edo (3), Jigawa (3), Kano (3), Benue (1), Delta (1), Sokoto (1)

Earlier on Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the death toll for the virus might hit two million if there is no relentless global action to combat the disease

Source___Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil to you the attack on convoy which was conveying officials of the Borno State Government in Nigeria by Boko Haram near Monguno town.

The officials were ambushed by Boko Haram terrorists on Friday while they were journeying to Baga, where Governor Babagana Zulum is expected to receive returning IDPs.

It is still uncertain what the real casualty figure is, but sources say at least five security men might have been killed in the ambush.

It was, however, gathered that the casualties include both police, military personnel, and an unspecified number of civilians.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier belonging to the police as well as state government vehicles were reportedly hijacked in the attack.

Governor Zulum had flown in an Airforce chopper to Baga earlier today, where he performed the Friday prayers with troops.

It was, however, gathered that the casualties include both police, military personnel, and an unspecified number of civilians.

An Armoured Personnel Carrier belonging to the police as well as state government vehicles were reportedly hijacked in the attack.

Governor Zulum had flown in an Airforce chopper to Baga earlier today, where he performed the Friday prayers with troops.

The governor is expected to receive about three thousand civilians who will be transported from IDP camps both in Maiduguri and Monguno on Saturday.

Govt’s convoy attack, a growing concern

The attack on Friday is the second of its kind, stirring great concern.

Earlier in July, the convoy of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, narrowly escaped a terror attack in Baga town.

Source__Channels TV

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production discloses to you the warning put forward by The World Health Organization (WHO) that the global death toll from COVID-19 could double to two million before a successful vaccine is widely used – and could be even higher without concerted action to curb the pandemic.

“Unless we do it all, (two million deaths) … is not only imaginable but sadly very likely,” Mike Ryan, head of the UN agency’s emergencies programme, told a briefing on Friday.

The number of confirmed deaths some nine months since the new coronavirus was detected in China is currently at 988,965. Overall, more than 32.5 million infections have been registered, while almost 22.5 million people have recovered.

“One million is a terrible number and we need to reflect on that before we start considering a second million,” Ryan told reporters when asked how high the death toll could go. “Are we prepared collectively to do what it takes to avoid that number? “If we don’t take those actions … yes, we will be looking at that number and sadly much higher.”

With the pandemic showing no signs of slowing, Ryan said “we are not out of the woods anywhere” and stressed young people should not be blamed for a recent increase in infections after the easing of restrictions and lockdowns around the world.

Rather, indoor gatherings of people of all ages were driving the rise in case, he said.

The WHO warning came as cases in the United States, the hardest-hit nation in the world, crossed the seven-million mark – more than a fifth of the global total despite accounting for only four percent of the world population.

Source___ Aljazeera

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known to you the questioning of Bollywood star Deepika Padukone by India’s narcotics board in an investigation linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Padukone is among six people to be summoned – two other actresses will also be questioned on Saturday.

BBC said, Rajput’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly buying drugs for him – claims she has denied.

The case has fuelled months of media coverage and speculation in India.

Actresses Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor are among those who will be questioned on Saturday, according to news reports. Another actress, Rakul Preet Singh, was questioned on Friday.

Rajput, 34, was found dead in his flat in Mumbai on 14 June. Police at the time said he had killed himself.

But his family later registered a police complaint against Chakraborty, accusing her of abetment to suicide and other crimes, all of which she has denied.

The case is now being investigated by three federal agencies.

With investigators drip-feeding nuggets of information to the media, rumours and conjecture over what happened and who is responsible have been rife.

What is the case?

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seems to be pursuing two investigations – the first into Rhea Chakraborty, her brother and Rajput’s former house manager.

All three were arrested for allegedly organising and financing the actor’s alleged consumption of cannabis. They have denied any wrongdoing.

The second investigation, which followed on from the first, is into claims of widespread use of drugs in Bollywood, according to local media.

Sources___ Reteurs, BBC

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production unveil the decision to be taken by Swiss voters on Sunday whether to abandon their free movement of people agreement with the EU.

According to BBC, supporters say the move will allow Switzerland to control its borders and select only the immigrants it wants.

Opponents argue it will plunge a healthy economy into recession, and deprive hundreds of thousands of Swiss citizens of their freedom to live and work across Europe.

The justice minister says that would create a situation “worse than Brexit”.

Why does non-EU member Switzerland need to bother with free movement?

Switzerland decided long ago not to join the EU, but it does want access to Europe’s free-trade area, and it wants to co-operate with Brussels in areas like transport, the environment, and research and education.

The price for this is to sign up to the EU’s major policy “pillars” including free movement, and Schengen open borders.

The EU has consistently told the Swiss there will be no cherry-picking: leaving free movement would mean leaving those lucrative trade arrangements too.

Why now?

The proposal comes from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), and is a successor to a referendum held in 2014 (also from the People’s Party) to introduce quotas on immigrants from the EU.

That passed by a whisker (50.33% said yes, 49.67% said no), obliging the Swiss government to find a deal Brussels would accept. In the end a compromise was agreed: Swiss employers had to prioritise workers permanently resident in Switzerland, in job sectors where unemployment is already high.

The SVP dismissed the deal as so weak as to be virtually meaningless, and are now back with a second demand to get out of free movement altogether.

So what are the pros and cons?

Thomas Aeschi of the SVP believes abandoning free movement will bring all sorts of advantages, from “being able to select the highest qualified immigrants” to “less land speculation, lower house prices, and lower rents”.

Source___BBC

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production disclose to you the knife attack in Paris which led to detainment of seven people in connection with the attack.

A man armed with a meat cleaver wounded two people in the attack on Friday.

The main suspect, identified as an 18-year-old man of Pakistani origin, was arrested near the scene. Police said six others were in custody and being questioned.

The attack is being treated as a terrorist incident.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said it was “clearly an act of Islamist terrorism”. He said police had underestimated the threat level in the area.

The attack came as a high-profile trial was under way of 14 people accused of helping two jihadists carry out the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo, in which 12 people were killed.

What do officials say happened?

According to BBC, in their interview with state broadcaster France 2 late on Friday, Mr Darmanin described to then stabbing as “a new bloody attack against our country, against journalists”.

“It’s the street where Charlie Hebdo used to be. This is the way the Islamist terrorists operate,” the interior minister said.

He said he had ordered security to be stepped up around synagogues this weekend for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The main suspect has not been named, but Mr Darmanin said he arrived in the country three years ago “as an isolated minor” of Pakistani nationality.

The minister added that the suspect was not known for being radicalised, but had a previous arrest for carrying a screwdriver – and gave no details.

Source___BBc

PARTIES CLASH OVER REJECTION OF DRAFT CONSTITUTION

By Amie T. Camara

Afrinity Production make known to you the rejection made by Gambian political parties concerning the draft constitution.

According to Standard, at least six political parties have reacted to the sensational rejection of the draft constitution at its second reading at the National Assembly after it failed to secure the backing of 42 members.

A total of 23 lawmakers yesterday voted against the draft constitution after days of debate that will be remembered for its bitter wrangling.

A ‘YES’ vote would have paved the way for a referendum and possibly a new constitution that could give birth to a new Gambian republic.

UDP

In his reaction, the spokesperson of the United Democratic Party Almamy Taal said the 1997 constitution was perfectly designed for “a day like this where the majority will want one thing but the small minority will scuttle that process. If 50+1 was the threshold in the 1997 constitution, this constitution would have passed but now everybody has seen it. All the political parties are on one side apart from the APRC and NRP and the MPs that were expelled from the UDP one side making a lot of noise.”

GDC

The Gambia Democratic Congress leader, Mamma Kandeh said the decision of the lawmakers who rejected the draft acted based on politics and not national interest.

“It is very disappointing that the lawmakers have rejected the draft. But this is not a surprise to me because, frankly, there is no transition because the government has never taken the reforms very seriously. It is very sad that we have spent D116 million in vain,” he said.

APRC

The APRC spokesperson Musa Amul Nyassi said: “When I said I was going to reject the draft constitution I meant it. I am glad some of my colleagues at the chamber have listened and they tried to find out why I came up with that conclusion and thank God when they followed the concerns, they came back to me to say there is nothing that will make them pass this draft.

GMC

The leader of the Gambia Moral Congress, Mai Ahmad Fatty said: “As expected, the bill has been rejected by a negative vote of 23, with 3 abstentions. Some 116 million Dalasi just thrown into the toilet by 23 MPs, along with more than money’s worth. The draft will not proceed and the 1997 Constitution rules. I am bereft of words.

Source___ Standard News Paper