One of the French doctors who proposed that testing for Coronavirus treatment should begin in Africa because they supposedly "don't protect themselves" has since apologized, after facing serious backlash for his insensitive and ignorant suggestion. On Wednesday, Dr. Jean-Paul Mira, he head of intensive care at the Cochin Hospital in Paris, appeared in an interview on French television channel, LCI, alongside fellow physician, Camille Locht to discuss the coronavirus pandemic. At one point, Mira actually proposed that testing for COVID-19 treatments should begin in Africa.
"If I can be provocative," Mira began, "shouldn't we do this study in Africa where there are no masks, no treatment, no intensive care? "A bit like we did in some studies on AIDS. We tried things on prostitutes because they are highly exposed and do not protect themselves." Locht, the research director at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, agreed with Mira, adding that they were already considering "a parallel study in Africa." Both of them were heavily criticized by the public for their outrageous ideas, including by Star Wars actor, John Boyega, who tweeted, "Africa isn’t a testing lab you pieces of sh*t."
Mira has since apologized for what he said. "I want to present all my apologies to those who were hurt, shocked and felt insulted by the remarks that I clumsily expressed on [TV] this week," he said in a statement. Africa currently has the lowest number of confirmed coronavirus cases out of all six continents, although it has been suggested that these statistics are merely a result of poor access to testing. The virus hit Europe and North America the worst.
Trump Administration’s Travel Ban Expansion Criticized For Targeting African Countries
The travel ban now includes six new countries.
The notorious travel ban enacted by the Trump administration has now been expanded, CNN reports, to include six additional countries. Immigration restrictions will be imposed on Nigeria, Eritrea, Tanzania, Sudan, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar (known as Burma), excluding immigrants who have been of service to the United States. This amendment has caused similar backlash as the initial travel ban signed three years ago, which was heavily perceived as Trump’s efforts to ban Muslims from the U.S. In the same vein, many see the addition of these mostly African countries as a discriminatory measure. However, the White House maintains that the travel ban is essential to the upkeep of national security.
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After the Trump admin went to the Supreme Court in 2018, the third iteration of the travel ban was upheld after previous versions were challenged in court. The current policy prevents seven countries from entry to varying degrees: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela, and North Korea. Chad was taken off the list last April due to its enhancement in security measures. Unlike the original ban, this new adjustment only includes categories of immigration visa applicants. While only green card lotteries will be restricted from Sudan and Tanzania, all immigrants from Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria will be banned from the U.S. The updates to this policy were made in the wake of the U.S.’s efforts to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak in China. The White House announced on Friday that foreign nationals who have traveled through China in the last 14 days would be denied entry to the country.
Akon Has Finalized The Agreement For "Akon City"
Akon is really about that life.
It’s one thing to change the game on a musical level; to be fair, Akon has probably done that a few times during his triumphant artistic run. It’s another thing entirely to change the game on a societal level, another accomplishment the singer can add to his lofty repertoire. Enter “Akon City,” Akon’s latest and most ambitious project by far.
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As previously reported, Akon has been working on developing his own city in Senegal, having been in the construction phase since March 2019. “We started construction in March, and stage two is going to be 2025. It’s in Senegal, West Africa,” he explained to Nick Cannon, before confirming the economy would be based in Akoin. While the whole thing feels surreal, rest assured that Akon City is happening. In fact, Akon recently took to Instagram to celebrate the latest major development.
“Just finalized the agreement for AKON CITY in Senegal,” he writes, sharing an image from the meeting. “Looking forward to hosting you there in the future.” While it’s unclear as to when the proverbial doors will open, we look forward to following the historic rise of Akon City, something that still feels surreal to type out. Congratulations to Akon for doing his part to make the world a better place.
Meek Mill Onboard With Cardi B’s Plan To Move To Africa: "I Made My Mind Up"
Meek Mill is saving up for a new mansion in Africa.
Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill has big goals and aspirations for himself in the next ten years. The man wants to become a billionaire, following in the footsteps of his friends Jay-Z and Diddy, as well as other rap superstars who transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship. Focusing on prison reform right now, Meek Mill has been very vocal about his plans to level up both personally and create change in the world around him. With a potential war on the horizon between the United States and Iran, some high-profile celebrities are thinking of getting away from Trump and America as soon as they can. Cardi B is leading the charge, begging her husband Offset to move with her to Nigeria. It would appear as though Meek Mill is on-board with that plan, taking the baton from the Bronx songstress and echoing her sentiment.
While his reasoning may not be exactly the same -- after all, Meek sent a message thanking the troops just the other day -- he has expressed an interest in buying up a massive property in Africa to live in. Taking to Twitter, Mill told his audience that he's already made up his mind on where he wants to settle down in the future, choosing a continent on the absolute opposite end of the planet.
"I’m up thinking about some new dreams," said the rapper. "I made my mind up im copping a mansion in Africa when I run it up!!!"
How do you feel about stars like Meek Mill and Cardi B potentially packing their bags and leaving the States for good?
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Nigerian Government Responds To Cardi B’s Call For Citizenship: "Doors Are Open"
The Nigerian government is ready for Cardi's return.
The sudden fever to be anywhere but the United States in the wake of suspected aftermath of Donald Trump's latest airstrike in Iran is not immune to celebrity status, and Cardi B was among the most vocal public figures in a seemingly joking interpretation of the situation.
Saturday, the rapper took to Twitter to declare that she would be applying for Nigerian citizenship as a safety measure in the event that total war broke out between the middle eastern nation and her home country. Soon enough, however, her plea for citizenship was met with an immediate reaction from the chairman of Nigeria's diaspora commission.
"@iamcardib As one in charge of the Diaspora for Ngr, We can’t wait to receive you again," penned Abike Dabiri-Erewa in a tweet. "Our doors are open, sister. And you need to talk a walk through the Door of Return in Badagry. It’s an indescribable experience."
Ludacris Obtains Citizenship In Wife Eudoxie’s Home Country Of Gabon
Somehow he threw in Zamunda and Wakanda, too.
Many black entertainers are campaigning for black people to make Africa their home. Jidenna recently shared that after he was evicted from his rented Georgia mansion in 2017, he decided to make his way back to the Motherland. Famed radio host Ebro Darden has also been vocal about the topic, and when Cardi B heard the news that Donald Trump ordered the airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Qasem Soleimani, she said she was applying for citizenship in Nigeria.
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Ludacris spent the holidays with his family in his wife’s home country of Gabon on the western coast of central Africa. On Thursday, Luda shared a video of himself receiving his dual citizenship along with all of his family members. “Starting My New Year off with Dual Citizenship!” he wrote in the video’s caption. “?? AFRICA IM OFFICIAL!! Momma & Kids Too. The Best Gift of the Decade ?Award goes to @eudoxie ✊? #thebridges.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, I just became an official citizen of Gabon,” the rapper said in his clip. “Of Africa! I am a loyal citizen of Zamunda! I mean, Gabon,” he joked. “This is the greatest day of my life! And Wakanda. All of that.” Congrats to the Luda on his Gabon-Zamunda-Wakanda citizenship. Check out his clip and more photos from his visit below.
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