Accra, Nov. 21, GNA -Mrs Virginia Ofosu-Amaah, a former chairperson of the National Population Council, has called for continuous policy attention on the challenges that population dynamics pose to the continent’s socio-economic development.   She noted that with the challenge of aging populations that would soon confront most sub-Saharan countries, there is still a great need for relevant and timely research of issues on population and development.   Mrs Ofosu-Amaah made the call at the launch of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Regional Institute for Populations Studies (RIPS) of the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra on Wednesday.   Arguing that only Africans can solve the continents problems, she advocated the training of competent professionals and the conduct of high quality research that feeds into policy formulation, decision making and targeted interventions as a way forward for Africa.   RIPS, a research and training institute, is a joint initiative between the United Nations and Ghana, set up in 1972 to train demographers in Africa and undertake research in population sciences.   Under the theme: “40 years of Training and Research in Population for Sustainable Development,” the anniversary celebration would be marked with a series of activities planned over the next few months.   Mrs Ofosu-Amaah asked RIPS to continue to be in tune with new developments and approaches in order to position themselves to provide leadership in linking research to policy dialogue.   She implored the university to make efforts to engage political leadership in Ghana and Africa on making research findings relevant to policy decision and actions as a means of achieving a higher quality of life for all.   RIPS spearheads a south/south initiative to promote collaboration and networking among African and Asian training and research institutions.   GNA...

Kumasi, Nov. 21, GNA - Thirty-four students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) College of Engineering were on Wednesday presented with cheques totaling GH¢57,500.00 to aid them in the pursuit of their academic programmes.     They received amounts ranging from GH¢500.00 to GH¢3,000.00.     The selection for support was based on academic brilliance and economic background.     The monies were jointly contributed by five organizations and an Australia-based Ghanaian Chemical Engineer and philanthropist, Professor Jonas Addae-Mensah.     Toyota Ghana Limited, Vodafone Ghana, Baker Hughes Ghana Limited, an oil and gas-based company, Genser Power Ghana Limited, a consultancy firm and Educational Pathway, a US-based NGO are the organizations.     Prof William Otoo Ellis, Vice-Chancellor, underlined the importance of stronger partnership between academia and industry to advance academic work through the provision of scholarship, students’ internship and infrastructure development.      This was the way to go to make the university a centre of excellence in the delivery of quality science and technology education for accelerated economic growth.      Prof Ellis thanked the donors for the gesture and said the college, in its effort to motivate engineering students and enhance their performance, had rolled out three award schemes and invited corporate bodies to help sustain them.      These include the “Top student”, “Excellent student” and the “Most Improved Student” awards.      Mr Steve Rossiter, Operations Manager of Baker Hughes Ghana Limited, urged the students to take advantage of the assistance and work hard to achieve excellence.   GNA...

Accra, Nov 21, GNA - The University of Professional Studies (UPS), formerly known as the Institute of Professional Studies (IPS) on Wednesday inducted Professor Joshua Alabi as its first Vice Chancellor in Accra.   Prof Alabi, until his induction had served the university for 25 years as a lecturer, the Dean of Faculty of Management, Pro-Rector and as Rector for four years.   Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Justice Nii Aryeetey, Chairman, UPS Governing Council, expressed his appreciation to the University Governing Council for its decision to convert the Institute into a fully fledged university.   He also commended past directors and rectors for their support towards the growth of the school, which is considered as one of the best in the country.   “Each of the six directors and rectors constructed a new block all aimed at improving infrastructural situation at the school,” he said.   He praised Prof Alabi for his rich experience in both national and international politics as well as his deep knowledge in football administration.   “Prof Alabi has a rich history as far as the management of the senior national team is concerned, and also served as a Member of Parliament for Krowor…as well as a Regional Minister for both the Northern and Greater Accra Regions.”   He cited the establishment of the University’s Quality Assurance Unit, the Public Affairs Directorate, improvement in research activities and the change of the school’s name as some of the achievements of Prof Alabi.   “Others include the establishment of an Information Communication Technology infrastructure, enhancement of library services and as well as the attainment of a Presidential Charter for the University,” he added.   In his acceptance speech, Prof Alabi, expressed appreciation for the confidence reposed in him by the University Council and called for support.   He said despite the fact that the school was touted as one of the best business schools in the country it had for years battled with its identity.   “The school did not have an identity as we could neither call it a polytechnic nor a university thereby making it difficult for us to know what was in a name,” he added.   He said the UPS Council had reviewed the curriculum of the school in an effort to give it a proper position as far as education in Africa is concerned.   He added that the Council had put in place measures to embark on more infrastructural development for effective academic work.   Prof Alabi praised UPS for the successes it had attained since its inception in 1965 by its first Director Nana Opoku Ampomah.   “We started as an Institute, and now we are a university, very soon we would start churning out PHD holders lecturing and heading other institutions in the country.”   Prof Alabi who is also an alumnus of UPS was born on March 1st, 1958 at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region, and hold holds Master Degrees in Industrial Economics and International Marketing from the Russian Economic University in Moscow and the University of Strathclyde, Scotland.   He has several publications in the areas of Political Marketing, Marketing of Infant Foods and Microfinance and serves on various boards including the Chairman of the Governing Council of Accra Polytechnic as well as Ghana Book Development Council.   GNA...

Bolgatanga, Nov. 21, GNA - A research conducted by  International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on the tomato crop in Upper East has revealed that fertilizer application without soil test was the cause of poor yield of tomatoes and other crops in the region.   This came to light at a stakeholder’s forum organised by the IFPRI in Bolgatanga to disseminate the findings to the farmers and to ensure that they were educated enough on the application of fertilizers and other soil nutrients.   Dr Mathias Fosu, a Principal Research Scientist of the Savannah Agriculture Research Institute (SARI), speaking on the topic, “Nutrient Management on the Basis of Soil Testing,” said the research revealed that almost all the farmers, particularly the tomato farmers, did not consult soil scientists to test the soil to know their nutritional status before applying fertilizers.   This, he noted, made a lot of the farmers to either over apply or under apply fertilizers which often led to poor yields of the tomato crop.   Dr Fosu stressed the need for the farmers to always consult SARI to do the soil testing for them and advised them on the right type of nutrients and the quantity to use on their farms.   “If you contact the SARI to conduct soil testing and advice, you stand the greater benefit to get good yields and save money than fertilizer application without soil testing,” he said.   Dr Fosu said the findings also showed that there was inadequate calcium in most of the soil samples in the region and that also affected the yield of tomato making the crop develop diseases that made the fruit to rot.   He said too much nitrogen in the soil as a result of excess application out of ignorance was also identified hence making most of the tomato plant grow a lot more leaves without fruiting.   Dr Fosu advised the farmers to apply manure and compost after ploughing and that nitrogen top dressing should be done within 42 to 45 days after transplanting.   Shashidhara Kolavalli, Senior Research Fellow of IFPRI, said as part of the research conducted, two persons from Ghana were sent to India to understudy good practices of tomato farming for good yields so that it could be replicated in Ghana.   Mr Cletus Acaab, Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), expressed optimism that the research finding would empower the farmers to increase their yields and be able to feed the Northern Star Tomato Factory at Pwalugu which is in high demand of raw materials for production.   Most of the farmers at the forum expressed their ignorance about the proper application of fertilizers and said the research had helped to educate them.   Mr Stephen Apana, a farmer, said: “I used to apply several bags of fertilizers consistently hoping to get more yield and did not get but now I know the tricks and will consult soil scientists to do the testing for me before application   GNA...

Deduako (Ash), Nov. 21, GNA – Madam Elizabeth Agyemang, Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom, has made available gifts totalling GH¢8,400.00 in support of two schools in her constituency.     The Elite College at Ayeduase received three desktop computers and accessories, a set of football jersey and four footballs, while the Community Special Vocational School at Deduako, was presented with bags of rice, edible oil, biscuits, bags of sachet water, toiletries, fruit drinks and cash of GH¢500.00.      Madam Agyemang underlined her determination to do everything to help develop education in the constituency and make the school environment academic friendly.       She pledged to assist students to work hard and be disciplined.        Mr Jonathan Annan, Proprietor of the college, said the computers would aid the teaching of information communication technology.        At the same presentation ceremony, Dr Emmanuel Marfo, New Patriotic Party Constituency Chairman, also made a cash donation of GH¢500.00 to the Vocational School.      Mr Simon Odei Nyarko, expressed gratefulness for the assistance.   GNA...

Takoradi, Nov. 21, GNA – Dr Roland Sowah, Western Regional HIV and AIDS Coordinator on Wednesday hinted that Preventing Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) of HIV and AIDs is yielding considerable results.      He noted that out of the 180 babies screened in the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital for HIV and AIDS, only nine were found to be positive.   Dr Sowah was speaking at a forum organised by the YMCA and Youth Challenge International, a youth advocacy network for second cycle students and Persons Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) in Takoradi.      The programme, which preceded the National AIDS Day, which falls on November 27, was on the theme: “Accelerating Towards Zero Together.”      The objective of the theme is to ensure that by 2015, there would be no HIV and AIDS related deaths, no new infections and no stigmatisation of PLWHAs.     Dr Sowah said the PMCT had achieved remarkable results and brought joy to many families.        He said the new focus is the complete elimination of any form of mother to Child transmission of the virus.       He said the region had moved from the fourth position to the seventh on mother to child transmission which was a positive indicator that the area is on the verge of attaining zero tolerance of the disease by 2015.      Dr Sowah said 40 sites and selected health facilities had also be chosen across the country to carry out HIV and AIDS surveillance every year with focus on pregnant mothers.      He reminded Ghanaians that 80 per cent of the disease is spread through unprotected sex, 15 per cent by mother to child transmission, four per cent by infected blood and blood products and one per cent through sharp objects.      Dr Sowah debunked the misconception that shaking of hands with infected persons, coughing by infected individual, spiting, eating or sleeping with HIV and AIDS patient could make one vulnerable to the disease.      He entreated the public particularly the youth who are deemed sexually active to be mindful of the existence of the disease and lead a clean live.      Mr Frederick Dadzie, Senior Programme Manager of Youth Challenge International said there is the need for the nation to focus attention on the disease in order to achieve the zero together targets by 2015.      He appealed to the President who he said is the top Council member of the AIDS Commission to chip in HIV and AIDS messages in his deliveries and channel lots of resources to the fight the disease.   GNA...

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - Ghana Media Advocacy Programme (G-MAP), a media-related non-governmental organisation, has challenged journalists to discharge their role ethically and with circumspection, to ensure free, fair and violent-free polls on December 7.   The call is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Abdul Malik Jeleel, Executive Director of G-MAP, to mark the 5th anniversary of the Center for International Media Ethics, copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Wednesday.        It reminded the Ghanaian media of their crucial role of protecting the citizenry and promoting freedom, peace, unity, good governance and democracy towards national development.   The statement also appealed to journalists to remain neutral and liaise with the Electoral Commission and other stakeholders before announcing election results.   It called on NGOs, civil society organisations and opinion leaders to support journalists to enable them to carry out their responsibilities for successful polls.   The statement advised political party leaders to avoid insults, hate speech and defamatory utterances that could results in unnecessary tension and violence as the country gears up for Election 2012.   It tasked the security agencies to be alert and check acts that can result in confusion and violence.   GNA...

Moree (C/R), Nov. 21, Vice President Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur on Wednesday went to his hometown Moree in the Central Region and asked the people to retain the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to continue with its agenda of better life for all.   He said the NDC is people-centred and development-oriented.      The Vice President who was given a rousing welcome in his maternal hometown said the NDC government was always interested in serving the people and bringing balance and equitable development and not to lord it over the people.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur visited the home of his maternal clan, the Anona Abusua, Moree-Congo, the elders and opinion leaders of Moree and addressed a durbar of chief and traditional leaders of the town.   On his entry into the town crowds of people wearing NDC paraphernalia including a procession of brass band music, sang, blew trumpets and made merry in acknowledgement of their son who rose through Deputy Minister of Finance for 12 years through an economic consultant, Governor of Bank of Ghana to the second highest political position of Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.   When he called at the family house, the head of family, Abusuapanyin Nana Segu Amanfo gave him a hearty welcome.   Other members of the family testified that he was a true son of the family and together with his mother had  participated regularly in the family’s social activities.   They pledged their support for the peace of the election and victory of the NDC.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur expressed appreciation to his kinsmen for their support, promising that the NDC would never turn its back on them.   At the gathering, Mr Ekow Panyin who said he was an ardent supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the main contender of the NDC, announced that he had defected from the NPP to the NDC because the NDC was pursuing a better agenda than the NPP.   Amidst tears, Mr Panyin pledged to follow the NDC  till death.   When the Vice President met with the elders, Nana Kwagya VII, Chief Fisherman of Moree appealed to the government to absorb the secondary school in the area into the public education system, provide a dormitory and a bus for the school, upgrade the Health Post in the area into a hospital and equip it with an ambulance.   He also appealed for the improvement of  the drainage system in the area, provision of a community centre and residential accommodation for the Police.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the drainage system which the NDC government started in the year 2000 was rather abandoned when the NDC lost power in the year 2000 election.   With cheers, the people acknowledged that the project had resumed recently and the Vice President asked the people to retain the NDC so that all projects that had begun would not be abandoned again.   Some of the projects are electrification, water improvement and sanitation.   He assured the people  that the drainage system would be completed before the end of the year.   The Vice President said the landing beach project earmarked for the area was being covered in the Chinese loan government contracted, adding that a cold store started by a private investor sometime ago would also be looked at.   He had earlier called at Cape Coast where, together with his mother, Mrs Efe Amissah-Arthur, he interacted with members of the family.   According to a family spokesperson, the Vice President belongs to the third and fourth generation of the descendants of the late statesman, Casely-Hayford.   Vice President Amissah-Arthur had also called on the Chief of Abura-Dunkwa and addressed staff and students of Aburaman Senior High School.   He urged the people to give their thumbs to the NDC on December 7.   GNA...

(A GNA feature by Albert Oppong-Ansah)   Accra, Nov. 21, GNA – My first visit to the State of Georgia, in the United States of America (USA), coincided with the peak of the 2012 US General Election.     I was part of a delegation, consisting of staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and Ghanaian journalists on an educational tour of that part of the USA.   We lodged at Atlanta, the capital city of the State, and visited exciting and historical sites, including the Coca Cola headquarters, the Cable News Network (CNN) and the Georgia Aquarium as part of the tour.   Three days to the polls that took place on November 6, some members of the delegation including myself decided to leisure about some principal streets of the city to acclimatize ourselves to the new environment.   As we strolled along the streets of Atlanta from Hyatt Place junction, where we resided, I kept wondering if residents of the area were part of the US electoral process. I hardly found billboards and posters of aspirants of the US elections.   I was surprised that USA, one of the most vociferous proponents of Western democracy, was preparing for election in a seemingly simple way though it had attracted the attention of the whole world.   As we travelled to another part of Atlanta I asked my colleagues if they had seen billboards and posters of Mr Barrack Obama, presidential candidate of the Democrats, and Mr Mitt Romney, presidential candidate for the Republicans, the main heavy weights, who were battling for the White House, and the US presidency. My question provoked a debate on the use of billboards and posters in electioneering campaigns.   I later spoke with Dr Mark Lobstein, Director of Technical Service at the US Poultry and Egg Export Council, who conducted the delegation round important sites in Atlanta, on the US electioneering.   He explained that various candidates vying for political positions channelled their messages in the form of debates through the newspapers, television and other media networks.   Mr Lobstein said: “The use of paper and billboards is not too popular during our political campaigns. One can only find small plastic poster of favourite political candidates on the lawns in front of people’s residence”.   Asked what informs the decision of the electorate during voting, Mr Michael Mathew Green, Manager of Mathew Cafeteria, said most people in the USA did not depend on political party posters and billboards to make a decision on who to vote for.   The Manger of the Cafeterias said that personally he was not bordered by whoever wins election in the US.   He said ‘’I need to work hard to meet the taste of my customers to help boost business. It is our belief that our future and success largely depends on us and not politicians”.   On the eve of November 6, the day for the US polls, I joined the Ghanaian group to visit some shops in the northern part of Georgia, and driving through the high streets, to my surprise, I only saw the message “Please remember to vote tomorrow” on an electronic billboard.   This is entirely different from what is happening in Ghana where political parties are gearing up for the December 7 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.   Since the inception of multi-party democracy in Ghana in 1992, the use of billboards, posters, flyers and souvenirs depicting presidential and parliamentary candidates has become a common electioneering feature in Ghana. This is not limited to Ghana as it is a common phenomenon in other African countries.   When I returned to Ghana, I asked some people about their views on the use of billboards and posters for political campaign.   Ibrahim Mahama, 27, resident of Tamale, said he wondered why political parties should invest in the production of posters and billboards to market their candidates, and suggested that resources should be channeled into development.   Mrs Hannah Awadzi, a journalist at the GNA, commenting on the issue, said “while people in the US will vote based on views and policies, in Ghana some people vote based on looks, personality and ethnic affiliations hence the use of posters and billboards.   Dr Mark Hanson, Director of Veterinary at the MOFA, suggested that money spent on billboards and posters could be lodged into a special account for the improvement of sanitation in Ghana.   He also said resources for such electioneering method could be channeled into the agriculture sector to improve productivity.   Notwithstanding the fact that the US electioneering might be more expensive than that of any developing country, the cost of billboards and posters would have added to the expenditure.   Political parties in Ghana should emulate the US for using the media to sell their political candidates instead of billboards and posters to reduce the cost of campaigning.   GNA...

Bawku (UE) , Nov. 21  GNA- Pupils at a Peace forum in Bawku in Upper East Region, on Wednesday appealed to stakeholders in Election 2012, to play their roles effectively to help ensure peace before, during and after the December election.   The forum, organised by World Vision (WV) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation attracted faith based organisations (FBOs), parents, political parties, the security agencies and the media.   The event focussed on Bawku, which  is one of the flashpoints in the Region.   “We the children of Ghana need peace so that we can continue with the development of our country. Whether Moslem or Christian, whether PNC (Peoples National Convention , NDC( National Democratic Congress), NPP (New Patriotic Party), CPP (Convention People’s Party), PNC  (People National Convention ) or UFP (United Front Party) we are all Ghanaians and Ghana is our homeland,” says  Miss Wasila Abdulai , a form three student of the local Methodist Junior School.   Master  Issahaku Hardi , a form two student of Mother Theresa Junior School appealed to the stakeholders not to destroy the peace the country is enjoying.   He said maintaining and sustaining  national peace would empower Ghana to become a developed country.   In a speech read on his behalf, Naba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II, Paramount Chief of Bawku   commended WV and the FBOs for organising the forum, adding that peace is very dear to his heart.   “There is no leader who does not cherish peace which is the pivot for development,” he said.   Naba Azoka asked the people in Bawku and the perpetrators of the ethnic conflict to be mindful of the devastating effects  of the clashes.   “Now due to the ban placed on motorbikes only our women are allowed to ride them and this is causing discomfort and affecting us. We need to change our attitudes to maintain peace,” he noted.   Mrs Rebecca Awuga , a teacher in Bawku entreated the children not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to cause trouble.   Madam Benedicta Pealore, Regional  Operations Team Leader of WV said Ghana needs peace to foster development .   “We are already preparing for election in December, it is important that we all pray for peaceful election,” she said.   Mr Daniel Aboko Akologo, Municipal Deputy Director of the National Commission for Civic Education warned supporters of political parties not to deface the posters of opponents’ since it is a crime.   GNA...

Basyonde (UE) , Nov. 21, GNA - Farmers in Garu Tempane District of the Upper East Region have called on Government to rehabilitate the Abanga Dam, used for irrigation.   A farmer based association known as the “Abanga Dam Association” made the call at a Press Conference at Basyonde in the Garu-Tempane District on Tuesday.   The farmers said, “the current state of the dam is bad, apart from the breakdown of the wall of the dam, the canals, valves and spillway are also destroyed. Also due to the breakdown of the wall of the dam the reservoir is not able to hold water during rainy season”.   According to the Secretary of the Association, Mr Elisha Akudugu , the current state of the dam had compelled farmers to resort to various coping strategies, including dugouts and water from rivers to undertake their irrigation activities, which he noted was not easy for them.   He said the situation became worse when the 2007 floods that hit the Region affected the facility, damaging it and rendering the farmers out of business.   According to the Secretary, a research conducted by the Association on the facility with support from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund, it had been established that the major livelihood of the people in the area is farming, particularly dry season farming. He therefore indicated that if the facility was rehabilitated, it would help improve upon the livelihood of the farmers since majority of them engaged in cultivating crops such as onions , watermelon, tomato , pepper , garden eggs and lettuce to fend for themselves and their families.   Mr Haruna Aboyala , one of the farmers said when the dam was in good shape their animals could drink from that source and they could also fetch water from there to build their houses but they could not do that anymore.   Mr Seidu Apambil , a fish farmer, said: “ I used to fish from my fish pond at the facility and could sell to get enough money to pay for my children's school fees but I cannot do that now due to the bad state of the dam.”   In an interview with the Ghana News Agency the  District Chief Executive for the area , Mr David Adakurugu, assured the farmers that the Assembly was doing everything possible to rehabilitate the dam.   He announced that it had already been advertised under the Ghana Social and Opportunity Project and very soon the process of rehabilitating the facility would commence.   Mr Ernest Beyuo Aayel , a service provider of BUSAC indicated that unlike the southern parts of the country where farmers could crop twice a year, in the Upper East Region it was not so and the farmers in the area only rely on irrigation facilities to support themselves.   He underscored the need for the government, particularly the various District Assemblies in the Upper East Region, to give serious attention to irrigation facilties in the Region by rehabilitating all of them to assist the farmers.   He indicated that the farmers' capacity building for advocacy and lobbying had been built under the BUSAC Fund including a research conducted on the irrigation facility and they were expected to undertake more advocacy and lobbying activities to effect a change.   GNA...

BEIJING, Nov. 21 (Xinhua/GNA) - China backs the mediation efforts made by Egypt and other Arab states as well as the League of Arab States (LAS) to ease the current situation in Gaza, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Wednesday.   Hua made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to a question on whether China plans to send envoys to the Middle East to act as mediators in the ongoing conflict.   "China is paying great attention to the situation in the Gaza Strip," Hua told reporters.   Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi talked with Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr over the phone about the situation there, expressing China's support for Egypt and other Arab states as well as the LAS, she said.   "We will continue to make unremitting efforts to mitigate the situation between Palestine and Israel and maintain peace and stability in the region in our own way," she said.   United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are both in Israel. Ban met with Israeli President Shimon Peres on Tuesday, while Clinton met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Tuesday night.   Hua said China has maintained close contact with Israel, Palestine and other relevant parties. "We urge parties concerned, Israel, in particular, to show maximum restraint, reach a ceasefire as soon as possible and avoid taking any actions to escalate the situation," she said.   The spokeswoman said China supports necessary actions taken by the international community, including the UN Security Council.   Also on Wednesday, Hua announced that Bassam al-Salhi, the Palestinian president's special envoy as well as secretary-general of the Palestinian People's Party, will visit China from Thursday to Saturday.   As for the agenda of the upcoming visit, Hua said the details are still being arranged.   According to the Hamas-run Palestinian Ministry of Health, 130 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip since last Wednesday, with more than 1,000 others wounded.   Meanwhile, Israel has reported that five Israelis have been killed in Palestinian rocket attacks. GNA  ...

NOUAKCHOTT, Nov. 21 (Xinhua/GNA) - Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has confirmed that he will return to his country on Saturday, after staying in the French capital for more than a month to get medical treatment and recover fully from the injuries he sustained in the Oct. 13 "accidental" shooting incident.   The Mauritanian president in an interview with the France 24 television channel on Tuesday night, expressed thanks to all Mauritanians for the solidarity they had demonstrated towards him following the "unfortunate incident."   Abdel Aziz reiterated that "he is in good health."   The Mauritanian president was accidentally shot by a junior military officer on Oct. 13 and evacuated to France for proper medication on Oct. 14.   During his absence, the Mauritanian political opposition complained about "a constitutional vacuum" and even called for "political actors to agree on a transition." GNA    ...

JERUSALEM, Nov. 21 (Xinhua/GNA) - A small bomb exploded on a crowded city bus in Israel's central city of Tel Aviv Wednesday noon, wounding at least 15, and the police is searching the area for suspects.   Four who sustained serious wounds were evacuated to the nearby Ichilov Medical Center, said Eli Bean, CEO of the Magen David Adom Emergency Service.   As roadblocks are set up and forensics probe is also underway, police sources declared the event a terror attack, saying two individuals set the bomb in the center of the vehicle and then fled either on foot or in a vehicle. A suspect apprehended by security forces in the vicinity earlier was released.   A city official told Xinhua that "Upon receiving news of the bombing, municipal teams were dispatched to the scene, including welfare, psychologists and social services to assist families of the victims."   Security forces are trying to keep onlookers from thronging the area, due to the possibility of more hidden bombs detonating, and also for the possibility of rocket attacks out of Gaza into the scene of the attack.   An Israeli government official told Xinhua that the prime minister's office is reassessing the operation in Gaza in light of the bombing.   "We are bolstering security in and around the city in order to prevent further attacks," Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told Xinhua soon after the blast.   Gaza militants on Tuesday evening fired a rocket into an apartment building in the nearby suburb of Rishon L'Tzion, wounding at least one person who did not manage to enter the building's protected room after hearing the warning siren.   Other rockets in recent days hit within and around Tel Aviv.   The bombing took place on the heavily traveled Shaul Hamelech boulevard, not far from the Defense Ministry headquarters and a major shopping center and office complex.   The bombing comes amid international efforts to achieve a cease- fire between Israel and Hamas, and as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in the country for deliberations with top officials.   On Wednesday morning, Hamas renewed rocket fire into Israel, with Israeli army forces pounding militant targets in response in order to quell the steel rain.   Hamas in the Gaza Strip had warned that it would begin a series of suicide bombings in revenge for Israel's military strikes on the Islamist group.   Tel Aviv has been witness to over two dozen similar bombings, particularly in the mid 1990's and in the first few years of the 21st century, which killed nearly 100 and wounded hundreds more. Hamas took responsibility for most of the attacks, including one outside of a dance club along the shore which killed 21 teens. GNA    ...

Juba, NOV. 21 (dpa/GNA) – Clashes between South Sudanese troops and a rebel group has left at least 16 people dead in Jonglei state, an army official said Wednesday.   South Sudanese soldiers launched an attack on a base of rebel commander David Yau Yau on Monday, army spokesman Colonel Philip Aguer said.   The attack in the Likuangole region killed at least 15 rebel fighters and one soldier, he said.   Juba has accused Sudan of supporting Yau Yau rebels with the intent of destabilizing South Sudan, an accusation which Khartoum has repeatedly denied.   Separately, South Sudan said that Khartoum had dropped bombs on the border territory Tuesday, killing at least five people.   The two countries signed a security agreement in September but the United States this week expressed concerned that, contrary to the deal, the border zone has not been demilitarized.   Rebel groups on both sides of the border have continued to fight, even after South Sudan split from Sudan in July 2011. GNA  ...

Beijing, NOV. 21 (dpa/GNA) – An envoy of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to visit China, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.   Bassam al-Salhi, secretary-general of the Palestinian People's Party, was scheduled to hold talks with Chinese officials from Thursday to Saturday on the situation in Gaza and the Palestinian bid for non-member status at the United Nations, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.   China has supported efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and backed related diplomacy by Egypt and the Arab League.   Hua said China supported the "necessary action taken by the international community, including the UN Security Council." GNA  ...

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Rome, NOV. 21 (dpa/GNA) - The head of the Catholic Church on Wednesday appealed for a truce in the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas Islamist group in the Gaza Strip.   "I feel the need to restate once again that hatred and violence are not the solution to problems. I also support the efforts of those who are trying to secure a truce and push negotiations," Pope Benedict XVI said during an audience in Rome.   "I also urge the authorities on both sides to adopt courageous decisions towards peace and to end a conflict that has negative repercussions throughout the Middle Eastern region, which is torn by too many clashes and needs peace and reconciliation," he added. GNA    ...

Athens, NOV. 21 (dpa/GNA) - The failure by eurozone finance minister to reach a decision overnight on the release of Greece's next loan tranche prompted an outpouring of angry reaction from Athens on Wednesday, with the main opposition saying the country was being "humiliated."   "The government is doing all their favours and is being humiliated in return," said Dimitris Papadimoulis, from the radical left SYRIZA party.   SYRIZA, which has been ahead in opinion polls, has said that it would cancel the reforms and fiscal measures passed by Greece's three-party coalition earlier this month as part of the country's efforts to meet the terms of its bailout agreement with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).   In a show of increasing frustration, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said delays could not continue and called on the eurozone and the IMF to live up to their commitments.   "Greece did what it had to and what it had committed to," Samaras said in a statement ... our partners now have a duty to meet the responsibilities they have assumed."   The failure by the eurogroup to reach an agreement means that Athens has to wait to find out if the loan installments will be disbursed next month. The government has said it will run out of cash reserves towards the end of November.   "Greece has delivered on its side of the bargain, but eurozone politicians have so far failed to build a consensus," said Chris Turner, head of foreign exchange strategy at ING Bank.   "This does not augur well for discussions on banking and fiscal union to be discussed at the December 13th European Union summit," he said in a note to clients.   The president of the ministers' eurogroup panel, Jean-Claude Juncker, said he remained confident that the aid would soon flow, blaming the delay on the need to carry out "precise calculations" and the wish by some ministers to consult with national leaders.   He said he intended for the ministers to resume their talks at noon on Monday. When asked about when Greece would finally receive the repeatedly delayed bailout tranche, he said: "I don't know when this will happen."   But he was quick to add that he is "massively interested in Greece getting its next tranche and I assume that it will be so."   However, therwe was only a muted reaction on financial markets, with the euro edging down 0.4 per cent to 1.2765 dollars and shares posting a modest decline in early trading Wednesday.   A major issue to be settled is how to bridge a 32.6-billion-euro (41.7-billion-dollar) gap in Greece's rescue package, which was created after the ministers last week agreed to give the country two extra years to get its finances back into shape.   A disagreement has also emerged between the IMF and the Europeans on whether Athens should have until 2020 or 2022 to cut its debt down to 120 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). Juncker said the two sides were "narrowing our positions."   Overall, ministers are also trying to determine how best to get a handle on Greece's debt, which is now expected to balloon to almost 190 per cent of GDP next year. GNA       ...

AMALLAH, Nov. 21 (Xinhua/GNA) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday that Washington was working hard to end cross-border fire between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza, a Palestinian official said.   "President Abbas urged Clinton to accelerate" efforts to broker a ceasefire, Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where Abbas and Clinton met.   Clinton arrived in Ramallah, the second leg of her emergency regional visit, which started Tuesday by meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.   Abbas told Clinton that all Palestinian factions, including Hamas that controls Gaza, "seek to enforce a mutual and comprehensive lull making sure that Israel will stop its assassinations in Gaza."   Israel launched an aerial offensive by targeting Ahmed al- Jaabari, the commander of Hamas' military wing, a week ago. The attack dealt a blow to Hamas, prompting it to shower Israeli towns with rockets, reaching for the first time the outskirts of Jerusalem and the central city of Tel Aviv. The death toll among the Palestinians had exceeded 130 while it was five in Israel.   Erekat noted that Clinton would later go to Egypt and discuss with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi about the truce efforts. Egypt is heavily involved in attempts to broker an end for the new round of hostilities.   Erekat accused Israel of delaying a truce by threatening a ground invasion in Gaza, which he described as "blackmail."   Meanwhile, Erekat said that Clinton reiterated the U.S. opposition to the Palestinian plans of upgrading their UN status to a non-member observer state, which will be presented to the UN on Nov. 29.   Clinton wanted Abbas at least to put off the bid for the UN status upgrade, while Abbas said the Palestinians have already made their decision "to put a Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem on the geographic map." GNA        ...