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Ethiopia pardons more than 3,000 political prisoners

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Ethiopia pardons more than 3,000 political prisoners

Abdul Sadiq - January 23, 2019

ETHIOPIA Ethiopia’s determination to reform has seen up to 13,000 people who were previously charged with or convicted of...

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sky news africa In the year up through July 2015, some 175,000 migrants were plucked to safety in the Mediterranean from smugglers’ boats and brought to Italy. From August 2016 through July 2017, the number was even higher — about 183,000. In the last few years, Italian authorities have made it difficult for humanitarian rescue ships operating in the central Mediterranean Sea. Some of the charity boats have ended up impounded in Italian ports for technical reasons. And when anti-migrant leader Matteo Salvini was Italy’s interior minister in the previous government, humanitarian rescue boats were sometimes kept at sea for days or weeks at a time with migrants aboard while waiting permission to disembark. Commenting on the latest figures, Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese said many of those setting out from Tunisia in small boats and reaching Italy are Tunisians determined to escape economic hardship in their homeland, not refugees fleeing conflict. She and Italy’s foreign minister will visit Tunisia on Monday, along with two European Union commissioners, to try to boost solidarity with Tunisia and its “young democracy,” Lamorgese said. While thousands of migrants, many from sub-Saharan Africa, still set out for Europe from lawless Libya, where human traffickers have been based for years, according to Italy’s latest figures more migrants reached Italy by sea from Tunisia than from Libya. Italy has a repatriation agreement with Tunisia that allows Italian authorities to relatively quickly send back to Tunisia those found ineligible for asylum.

Migrants increasingly reaching Italy by sea from Tunisia

August 15, 2020

Sky News Africa Match your words with action, Nigeria ex CAN youth president to Arewa, Shettima

Match your words with action, Nigerian ex CAN youth president to...

January 11, 2020

Istanbul opposition leader sentenced to nearly 10 years

Istanbul opposition leader sentenced to nearly 10 years

September 6, 2019

'Worst over': Australia begins flood clean-up

‘Worst over’: Australia begins flood clean-up

February 6, 2019

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sky news africa Trump moves to limit foreign workers in federal agencies

World News

Senior US conservatives divided on Trump’s future

Collapsed wall kills 22 in Mumbai monsoon chaos

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Collapsed wall kills 22 in Mumbai monsoon chaos

Millions of Hindu pilgrims took the plunge into sacred rivers at the world's largest religious gathering Monday, led by ash-smeared holy men and accompanied by religious chanting. On the most auspicious day of the months-long Kumbh Mela festival, devotees rose at dawn in the northern city of Allahabad to immerse themselves at the confluence of three rivers -- the Ganges, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. Thousands of Naga Sadhus, a devout, fierce and famously nude sect of followers of the Hindu god Shiv, and other holy men clad in saffron robes, led the mass bathing in the chilly waters, some brandishing swords and tridents. Hindus believe that bathing in the sacred rivers cleanses them of sin and Monday's Mauni Amavasya Snan -- the "no moon day" -- is considered the holiest of the gigantic 48-day festival that runs until March 4. More than 30,000 police were on duty to manage the huge crowds and prevent the deadly stampedes that have marred previous gatherings. Authorities have spent about $40 million on an operation to block drains and make sure others undergo special cleansing so that waste water pouring into the rivers does not threaten the pilgrims. AFP / SANJAY KANOJIA Pilgrims have been streaming into a temporary tent city three times the size of Manhattan island to participate in the festival's high point Special skimmer boats collected waste from the surface of the rivers and more than 40,000 temporary toilets have been installed. Pilgrims have been streaming into a temporary tent city -- three times the size of Manhattan island -- in buses, trains and cars to participate in the festival's high point. The confluence of the three rivers is considered especially holy and Hindus believe bathing there during the Kumbh helps cleanse sins and bring salvation. Nearly 12 million people attended the inaugural bathing ritual on January 15 and about 120 million are expected during the whole festival. Devotees meditate on the banks of the rivers after the dip and collect Ganges water in cans to take home. Many observe complete silence for the rest of the day after their ritual bath. According to Hindu mythology, gods and demons fought a war over a sacred pitcher, or kumbh, containing the nectar of immortality. During the clashes, a few drops fell to earth at four different locations -- one being Allahabad. The historic city was recently renamed Prayagraj by the state's Hindu government but is still widely known as Allahabad, the name it was given by Muslim rulers hundreds of years ago.

World News

Millions take the plunge at India’s religious mega festival

Nigeria polls: Dino Melaye tweets win, presidential results expected 'soon'

Politics

Nigeria polls: Dino Melaye tweets win, presidential results expected ‘soon’