Community Op-Ed: Saying “Yes” to New Zoning, New Businesses, and New Opportunities

Last month, New York City hit an economic milestone, with more total jobs than ever before in our city’s history. Our administration is proud of the work we have done to ensure our economy has made a full recovery — and we are determined to keep working to create jobs and opportunity for all New Yorkers. Our “City of Yes for Economic Opportunity” proposal is one of the many ways we are aiming to create new pathways to prosperity. We are seeing transformative changes in how we live and work, and our city’s rules and regulations must adapt to these new realities — especially when it comes to antiquated zoning laws from decades ago. Rules that made sense in the days of the rotary telephone are getting in the way of doing business in the age of the smartphone. We recently kicked off the public review process for this ambitious... Read more

Community Op-Ed: Helping New Yorkers live longer

When we came into office, we promised that we would ensure that our prosperity would be felt across the five boroughs. And the health of our people is key to that prosperity. But despite coming out of a once-in-a-century pandemic, life expectancy in this city has not fully recovered. Between 2019 and 2020, overall life expectancy in New York City fell to 78 years. So, it is time we gave New Yorkers some extra life. That is why we recently launched HealthyNYC, our ambitious plan to extend and improve the lifespan of all New Yorkers to 83 years by 2030. HealthyNYC sets clear goals to reduce the greatest drivers of premature death, including chronic and diet-related diseases, overdose, suicide, maternal mortality, violence, and COVID-19. Pill boxes, injections, and doctor's appointments should not define the lives of New Yorkers — we can and we must invest in helping all New Yorkers... Read more

The Mayor Eric Adams press conference addressed subjects related to his phones ‘ seizure by the FBI, the war in Israel, the education…

The Mayor of New York Eric Adams has held on November 11, 2023, a press conference to speak about  “ many things” he and his team are facing right now in the city. The war between Israel and Hamas, the suspension of Amtrak train, the education, and the FBI agents ‘ raid on the home of the New York City mayor’s chief fundraiser , 25 -  year – old Brianna Suggs as well, are subjects that were discussed. “ Something that’s really impacted me now is what’s happening on our streets every day. The incident that played out in Israel has really impacted this city. This is an international city and things that happen across the globe, they play out in the City of New York, even during the war in Ukraine,” said mayor Eric Adams as he talked about Israel war against Hamas. “ Since October 7th terrorist attacks,... Read more

MAYOR ADAMS LEADS JEWISH, MUSLIM, AND CHRISTIAN FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN DISCUSSION TO TACKLE HATE ACROSS FIVE BOROUGHS

New York City Mayor Eric Adams yesterday convened a meeting with Jewish, Muslim, and Christian faith and community leaders in the wake of a recent spike in hate crimes across both the Jewish and Muslim communities since October 7, 2023 — when Hamas launched a terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. In the five weeks since the attacks, tensions have risen across NewYork City and the rest of the globe, unfortunately leading to a rise in hate crimes in certain communities. Mayor Adams brought these leaders together yesterday to discuss how to fight hate within the five boroughs and how New Yorkers can work together to create a safer, more accepting New York. “There is no place for hate in our city and we need all of our houses of worship to come together in this moment and talk about how we bring light into the darkness that we are all... Read more

MAYOR ADAMS, DOT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, LYFT ANNOUNCE EXPANSION, IMPROVEMENTS TO CITI BIKE SYSTEM AS RIDERSHIP REACHES RECORD HIGHS

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and Lyft today unveiled plans to expand and improve the Citi Bike system to meet ridership demand and growth and to promote cycling and micromobility. By the end of next year, Citi Bike will double its electric bike fleet and pilot at least two electrified charging/docking stations, with plans to electrify 20 percent of stations in the coming years. Citi Bike will also introduce new price caps to its e-bike pricing model, and has already added 2,800 classic bikes and replaced 2,200 existing bikes as a part of its Phase 3 expansion.  Since its launch 10 years ago, Citi Bike has become a ubiquitous part of the fabric of New York City, and now is the largest bike share program in the nation and the fastest-growing transportation network in the city’s history with 200 million... Read more

BurkinaBe In Action Inc., “ My passion is to bring community together,” said Chairwoman Alizeta Diallo

BurkinaBe In Action, Inc. in partnership with Association des Burkinabe de New Jersey,   has brought together in October 29,2023 in New Jersey community groups and panelists from different agencies such as immigration, and labor department. The event called “cultural bridges: navigating legal /immigration services together ,” was an opportunity to discuss issues related to immigration, jobs, and family with several attorneys. [caption id="attachment_7696" align="alignleft" width="300"] Alizeta Diallo chairwoman of BurkinaBe In Action[/caption] “My passion is to be able to bring people together and to offer programs to community,” said Alizeta Diallo the founder and the chairwoman of “BurkinaBe In Action, Inc.” a nonprofit organization. Six attorneys were available to talk about themes such as family  and humanitarian immigration, child and delinquency cases, labor and unions. The audience has a chance to ask questions, and to discuss in private with attorneys. Dean Dafis the Maplewood mayor has welcomed the event and... Read more

Community Op-Ed: New Yorkers are Spreading the Love. Here’s how you can get involved

We all love New York City. And this year, New Yorkers have been showing their love by lending a helping hand as part of our Spread Love campaign. Since March, nearly 30,000 New Yorkers have given more than 235,000 hours of their time to help out our neighbors in need. Thanks in no small part to the sacrifices of volunteers, our city is back better than ever. Jobs are at an all-time high and crime is down. We overcame the darkest days of the pandemic because of the selfless work of everyday volunteers. But so many of our neighbors — especially young people, families, and older adults — still need our help. Imagine what would happen if every New Yorker committed just one hour a week to an act of service. The result would be transformative.  There are so many opportunities to get involved. It can be as simple as... Read more

Community Op-Ed: Investing in clean, green public space for all New Yorkers

 So much of New York City’s history was about changing the natural environment – cutting it down, clearing it out, paving it over. But going forward, we know that the future is about working with nature, building a greener, cleaner, safer city for all. From parks and playgrounds to streets, sidewalks, bike lanes and even beaches, our Administration is committed to investing in the quality and cleanliness of our public spaces all across the five boroughs. This past week, we announced two major initiatives that will transform what it feels like be outside in New York City: A historic expansion of our greenway network, and an ambitious citywide trash containerization effort that will revolutionize the way we keep our streets clean. For far too long, New Yorkers in the outer boroughs have not had the same level of access to bike lanes and greenways that people in Manhattan have, and... Read more

MAYOR ADAMS, GOVERNOR HOCHUL, MTA LAUNCH “SUBWAY SURFING KILLS – RIDE INSIDE, STAY ALIVE” PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today unveiled “Subway Surfing Kills – Ride Inside, Stay Alive” — a new comprehensive, multi-channel public information campaign in partnership with the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD). The new campaign centers around, is designed for, and was created by New York City teenagers — putting the youth voice front and center in a peer-to-peer effort to deter this dangerous behavior among young people.  “Each subway surfing death takes tragically strips young New Yorkers of promising futures said Mayor Adams. “We cannot endure another tragedy on our trains. That’s why we are partnering with the MTA on an innovative campaign to raise awareness, and we have recruited true social media experts to help lead... Read more

Kamou Malo: Former police chief who has brought hope to Burkina Faso as a football coach

What would make one quit the chance of being a police commissioner to become a football coach? For 59-year-old Kamou Malo, passion was his only driving force. Kamou Malo gave up the police commissioner's exam in Burkina Faso for a coaching diploma and now here he is in the semi-final of the African Cup on Wednesday (20:00) against Senegal, with the prestige of the local coach. "It was a difficult choice. I had to take the competitive examination for commissioner, the dates overlapped," Kamou Malo, told AFP. "I was a police officer in Koudougou, where I also coached ASEC (Association Sportive des Employés et Commerçants) in the first division, then I had the opportunity to go to Germany for a training course to get a coaching license," said the coach who guided the "Stallions" to the last four of AFCON. Born in Fing in 1962, not far from Bobo-Dioulasso, he... Read more

Biden’s declaration: America’s democracy ‘is rising anew’

President Joe Biden declared that “America is rising anew” as he called for an expansion of federal programs to drive the economy past the coronavirus pandemic and broadly extend the social safety net on a scale not seen in decades. Biden’s nationally televised address to Congress, his first, raised the stakes for his ability to sell his plans to voters of both parties, even if Republican lawmakers prove resistant. The Democratic president is following Wednesday night’s speech by pushing his plans in person, beginning in Georgia on Thursday and then on to Pennsylvania and Virginia in the days ahead. In the address, Biden pointed optimistically to the nation’s emergence from the coronavirus scourge as a moment for America to prove that its democracy can still work and maintain primacy in the world. Speaking in highly personal terms while demanding massive structural changes, the president marked his first 100 days in office by... Read more

A rally to end the violence against Black women: electoral officials, clergy, community leaders, and Harlem residents stand together

A rally to call for justice, and to end the violence against Black women has  brought together on January 30th 2021, New York City  electoral officials, clergy,  community leaders, and Harlem residents in Harlem as the police is actively searching for three men who assaulted a 31 – year – old mother. The young woman whose name has not been revealed was bitten, beaten, spit on, and robbed on Monday January 18, 2021 on West 128th street by three assailants upon leaving a liquor store on West 128th street. “We will come together and bring those who commit this crime to justice,” said New York State Senator Brian A. Benjamin who wondered why the assailants are still on the loose. He has promised that “we will keep doing anything to bring these guys to justice.” “We feel what you feel,” said Eric Adams the Brooklyn Borough President as he spoke... Read more

New York City public schools are giving free internet-enabled iPads to students

New York City public schools will be continuing academic instruction through Remote Learning for the rest of the school year. To keep students connected and able to learn from home, the DOE is lending internet-enabled iPads to students who are in need of a device. Families that want to request a device should call DOE at 718-935-5100 and choose Option 5 on the menu for help getting a device with internet connection. Or they can fill out the Remote Learning Device Request form at https://coronavirus.schools.nyc/RemoteLearningDevices. DOE will use the contact information provided on the form to reach out to the family to schedule delivery of the device. Everyone who fills out a request form online, with a staff member, or over the phone, will be sent follow up emails and texts. Priority will be given to students most in need. All devices are granted on a temporary basis and will later need to... Read more

The Director General  of World Health Organization condemns the remarks of the French racist doctors

The Director-General  of World Health Organization ( WHO)  Dr. Tedros Adhanom hold this morning a press conference regarding Covid – 19 and The African Journal was part of that. Here is a very important  quote from Dr. Tedros who condemns the remarks made by two French scientists ( Jean-Paul Mira and  Camille Locht )  who said that vaccine against covid – 19 should be tested in Africa. “ On the vaccine issue , there was a comment last week from some couple of scientists who said the testing ground for the new vaccine would be in Africa. To be honest, I was so appalled . It was a time when I said when we need solidarity this kind  of racist remarks actually will not help. It goes against the solidarity. Africa cannot and will be not a testing ground four any vaccine. We will follow all the rules to test... Read more

Capital Preparatory Bronx Charter School To Open In August

A new school in the Bronx seeks to hire teachers for the upcoming school year as it prepares to open its door for children. Capital Preparatory Bronx Charter School will begin its academic year in August 2020 with 6th and 7th graders, with the lottery deadline for parents to apply set for April 1st.  “We can design a school that is so acutely aligned to our community’s needs,” said Dr. Steve Perry, explaining how important the institution is. A school of such high stature needs great teachers.  Isaiah Brown, the Founding Principal for the Capital Prep, refers to their educators as illuminators stating, “illuminators spark interest in the minds of young persons and therefore inspire them to do great things.” The school is looking for 10 illuminators and administrators for all subjects. Being bilingual in foreign languages such as Arabic, French, Spanish, and Bengali, is a huge plus. “One of... Read more

Book Review: Red Zone: Cuba and the Battle Against Ebola in West Africa

Coming soon from Pathfinder Press Advance book information announcement Publication date: February 10, 2020 Red Zone: Cuba and the Battle Against Ebola in West Africa Author: Enrique Ubieta Gomez Publisher: Pathfinder Press www.pathfinderpress.com orders@pathfinderpress.com Languages: English; Spanish   ISBN: 978- 1- 60488-114-1 (English)            978-1-60488-113-4 (Spanish) LCCN: 2019955382(English)             2019953442( Spanish)         Page count: 278 Format: Trade paper Price: US$17.00 Book description : “Just as the Cuban combatants in Angola set an example that can never be erased, the heroic actions of Cuba’s army of white coats will occupy a place of honor.” FIDEL CASTRO, OCTOBER 2014 In 2014 three West African countries were hit by the largest epidemic on record of the deadly Ebola virus. In response to an international call for help, Cuba’s revolutionary socialist government provided what was needed most – and what no other country even tried to deliver. In a matter of weeks, more than... Read more

What is the role of women in new technologies?

The second edition of the Women in Business leadership meeting organized by the Africa CEO Forum kicked off on Monday. For the next two days, nearly 250 participants from 31 countries will discuss innovation and the role of women in new technologies. A highly dynamic sector with the development of artificial intelligence… which women must seize, explains Hajer Khader Bizri, deputy director of the Women in Business Initiative.  Women are under-represented in scientific fields and this poses a real problem because afterwards we have what is called a bias in innovation and we end up with biased innovations because they are tested and thought of only by men. So there is really this challenge of having more women who create algorithms, who are in the scientific fields so that the products and services that companies put on the market are adapted to the whole of humanity, said Hajer Khader Bizri, Deputy Director,... Read more

Burkinabe scientists attempt killing mosquitoes with spider venom

 Burkinabe scientists in one of the country’s village plagued by malarial mosquitoes, are conducting an experiment to test whether a fungus genetically-engineered to produce a toxin found in spider venom can provide a breakthrough in the worldwide fight against malaria, a deadly mosquito-borne disease that killed an estimated 435,000 people in 2017, according to the World Health Organization. “If we can find a solution against this disease which killed my child, other people we will thank god. They should do everything to eradicate this disease,” said Dramane Ouedraogo, a dedicated father that has visited his son’s grave every day since the two-year-old died of malaria, n the village of Soumousso. Brian Lovett, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland leading the project said the idea is to target the mosquitoes using the natural characteristics of the fungus and spider venom.  The scientists have engineered the DNA of the Metarhizium pingshaense fungus... Read more

Trump Administration to LGBT Couples: Your ‘Out of Wedlock’ Kids Aren’t Citizens

Children of U.S. citizens are falling victim to a policy that de-recognizes their parents’ marriage—and strips them of their birthright citizenship No parent can ever be fully prepared for the arrival of a new baby. But when Roee and Adiel Kiviti brought home their newborn daughter Kessem two months ago, they figured that they were as ready as they could be. After all, they’d gone through the same process two years earlier with their son Lev, who, like Kessem, was born with the help of an egg donor and a gestational surrogate in Canada. “It was as straightforward as one can imagine,” Roee told The Daily Beast, recalling the ease of bringing Lev home in late 2016, the infant’s newly printed Canadian passport in hand, soon to be supplanted by an American one. But this February, when Kessem’s fathers contacted the U.S. consulate in Calgary to obtain a Consular Report... Read more

Boukary Sawadogo signed copies of his book, “African Film Studies: An Introduction” in New York

“African Film Studies: An Introduction”, the book, which is presented deeply the African cinema was launched in December 4, 2018 at Schomburg Center, in Harlem in a room that was became small as many people came to support the author, and understand better what African cinema is about. “The book is divided into seven chapters, which are themselves organized under three main parts: history, aesthetics, and criticism of African cinema,” said Boukary Sawadogo who authors the book and who is an assistant professor of cinema studies at City University of New York (City College). Mr. Sawadogo was praised by Dr. Jerry W. Carlson, professor and chair of Department of Media & Communication Arts, and who said he is the one the Department was looking for. He also said that Mr. Sawadogo has his full support. Focusing his speech on the African cinema, Mr. Sawadogo said that “the understanding and appreciation... Read more

Africa Investment Forum exceeds expectations, participants agree

The Africa Investment Forum (www.AfricaInvestmentForum.com) ended on a high note with the closing panel comprising heads of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) unanimously lauding the unique initiative, calling it an exceptional gathering that “exceeded all expectations.” President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), Akinwumi Adesina told the more than 1,000 delegates, “The needle is shifting, pointing to the right direction, pointing to Africa. I am thankful for the investors, I am thankful for the confidence they have in Africa. Africa has grown up. Africa is not going to be developed by aid. It will be developed by investment and I think you are beginning to see it.¨ Participants from DFIs, institutional investors, sovereign wealth, equity and private sector CEOs from across the continent congregated in Johannesburg, South Africa to attend the first ever transaction-based Forum on the continent. At midday Friday, of 61 transactions valued at US$40.4 billion tabled for discussions... Read more

Le mariage est un contrat

Si vous êtes mariés sous un régime de biens communs ou si vous n’êtes pas encore mariés et que vous voulez vous mettre la corde au cou, il y a sans nul doute une facette de cet engagement que vous pouvez ignorer. A travers ces lignes Bérenger Ouédraogo nous en dit plus. Un contrat est une convention (c’est-à-dire on s’entend) par laquelle on s’engage à faire ou à ne pas faire quelque chose.  Dans le cas du mariage, on parle plus souvent d'alliance, d'où la bague d'alliance. Ce contrat doit être bilatéral, c’est-à-dire, les contractants s’engagent réciproquement, les uns envers les autres et de façon explicite pour éviter les suppositions. Les catholiques parlent de sacrement (qui veut dire « signe »), mais cela n’annule pas le caractère contractuel du mariage. Le contrat se vérifie et trouve sa véracité dans le consentement matrimonial libre des conjoints. Le Catéchisme de l’Église Catholique en son... Read more

Interview: “Prof Boukary Sawadogo is talking about his new and second book

By : Bazona Barnabé Bado

Do you like African cinema, or do you want to know better about it? You have the good news: “African Film Studies: An Introduction” is a book that will allow you to explore and understand Africa through the lenses of African filmmakers. Dr. Boukary Sawadogo the author of that new book through this interview is talking about the book he took three years to write.  African Film Studies: An Introduction is the title of your new book and the second one you’ve written. Yes, it was published by Routledge in late September 2018. My first book, Les Cinémas francophones ouest-africains, 1990-2005, was published by Harmattan in 2013. Why did you decide to write a book that deals specifically with African film? I realized there is a great need for a teaching and learning resource for African cinema. There are plenty of scholarly books on African cinema but almost no textbooks... Read more

L’ÂME SŒUR : MYTHE OU RÉALITÉ?

Aujourd’hui dans notre rubrique « Famille » Wendlassida A. Bérenger Ouédraogo qui,  dans son article sur le choix du conjoint, nous parle de « l’âme sœur ». Il s’interroge : l’âme sœur est – il un mythe ou une réalité ? A vous de décider. Très souvent, des gens ont de la peine à se trouver et à se choisir un conjoint. L’on dit communément son âme sœur ou sa moitié. Ce peut être un mythe ou une réalité. De ces deux points de vue dépend notre attitude.           L’âme sœur vue comme un mythe. Vous allez rechercher le prince charmant, l’homme ou la femme idéal(e) qui serait uniquement créé pour vous et serait quelque part en attente d’être retrouvé(e). Selon le mythe, il existerait un être, juste pour vous, dont vous allez tomber amoureux instantanément. La théorie de l’âme sœur se trouve dans « le Bouquet de Platon ». Selon Platon, les êtres humains, à... Read more

A bloodless malaria test by a young Ugandan inventor won Africa’s top engineering prize  

  The $33,000 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation has been awardedto a 24-year old Ugandan engineer for his invention of a bloodless malaria test. Before now, small blood samples taken from suspected patients in hospitals or pharmacies were used to test for malaria but with Matibabu, the device developed by Brian Gitta and his team, there is no need for pricking. When a person is infected, the malaria parasite takes over a vacuole of the red blood cells and significantly remodels it. For Matibabu to work, it is clipped onto a person’s finger and using light and magnetism, a red beam of light scans the finger for changes in colour, shape and concentration of the red blood cells. A result is produced within a minute and sent to a mobile phone linked to the device. Matibabu (Swahili for ‘treatment’) is low cost, reusable and because the procedure is non-invasive, does not require specialist training. Malaria alone... Read more

Imagine Africa with one language, and one currency !

By : Barnabé Bazona Bado

How powerful would be Africa, the continent of 54 countries, and thousands of dialects, if its people choose to speak one language and have one currency? A dream I would say. A utopia some critics may argue. Let’s have that dream! For many years Africa has been Known as the cradle of Humanity. First it was Charles Darwin who suggests in 1871 in a book that Africa may be the birthplace of humankind. What was a speculation in 1871 becomes strongly true in 1925 when Raymond Dart, an Australian anatomist who worked at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, publishes in the journal Nature his findings after digging into a rock delivered at his house. He coined the term “Australopithecus africanus” after studying the fossil discovered in 1924. Australopithecus africanus is the human ancestor so far although David R. Begun, a professor at the University of Toronto (Canada) challenged that... Read more