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A Muslim boy was beaten in India for entering and drinking water from a Hindu temple.
https://www.dawn.com/news/1612503/muslim-boy-beaten-for-drinking-water-from-hindu-temple-in-india

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Officials located December recording of Trump call in a trash folder on Georgia investigator's device

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Officials located December recording of Trump call in a trash folder on Georgia investigator's device

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Officials in the Georgia Secretary of State's Office located a recently released recording of former president Trumps's call to a state investigator in a trash folder on her device, a state official familiar with the situation confirmed to CNN.

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trump investigation: officials located december recording of trump call in a trash folder on georgia investigator's device - cnnpolitics

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Officials located December recording of Trump call in a trash folder on Georgia investigator's device

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Officials in the Georgia Secretary of State's Office located a recently released recording of former President Donald Trump's call to a state investigator in a trash folder on her device, a state official familiar with the situation confirmed to CNN.

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https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/beijing-china-sandstorm-dust-air-quality-gobi-desert-14409010

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Program to strengthen evidence use gets underway with Ghana study

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Program to strengthen evidence use gets underway with Ghana study

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Strengthening Evidence Use for Development Impact, or SEDI, is a program designed to promote evidence-based policymaking in three countries—Ghana, Pakistan, and Uganda in order to improve policy outcomes.
SEDI released its first country study in collaboration with ACET, the consortium’s lead organization in Ghana. The report closely examines the role of evidence in Ghana’s macro-level policymaking as well as in three selected sectors: economic development, public financial management, and health.

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Accra, 11th March - As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to unfold, policymakers around the world have had to make rapid, difficult decisions to save lives and protect livelihoods. In this environment, relying on evidence is more critical than ever to ensure well-informed, balanced, and effective policy responses. Now, a new global consortium is working with governments to deepen that approach beyond the pandemic and across sectors.

Strengthening Evidence Use for Development Impact, or SEDI, is a five-year program designed to promote evidence-based policymaking in three countries-Ghana, Pakistan, and Uganda-in order to improve policy outcomes. The SEDI consortium is led by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and comprises national, international, and regional partners, including the African Center for Transformation (ACET).

This week, SEDI released its first country study in collaboration with ACET, the consortium's lead organization in Ghana. The report closely examines the role of evidence in Ghana's macro-level policymaking as well as in three selected sectors: economic development, public financial management, and health. It asks the central question, "What role does evidence play in shaping and influencing decision-making and policymaking in Ghana-and why?"

According to Richmond Commodore, ACET Research Analyst and one of the report's lead authors, the study also explores the various factors that shape the flow of evidence, "including the actors who control the "rules of the game, especially in relation to issues of gender and inclusion."

The report finds growing momentum in Ghana to strengthen evidence generation and use, although stakeholder interviews revealed key structural challenges, such as limited capacity to appraise and synthesize evidence and limited coordination between those who produce evidence-such as think tanks and research institutions- and those intended to use it-policymakers.

Political interests are also a considerable factor. "We found that ruling governments tend to use evidence to support existing positions, rather than to inform positions," Commodore said, "and to drive long-term policy through short-term party manifestos."

The realities of Ghana's political economy-and the related challenges to incorporating objective evidence into the process-have had "significant effects" not only on the policy decision-making process but also on the country's pursuit of economic transformation, according to the study.

Claire Hutchings, OPM Senior Portfolio Leader and SEDI Program Director, said that addressing such issues is what the SEDI program is all about.

"We recognize that policy making is an inherently political process," she said, "but believe that better use of evidence in policy and practice is critical to progress and sustainable development."

The Ghana study got underway in 2019, so it does not address COVID-19 specifically. But the use of evidence has helped governments better manage and mitigate the risks generated by the pandemic-health risks of course but also risks to education, social cohesion, and economic stability. As Hutchings points out, the SEDI program is well positioned to support governments in these efforts.

"A partnership with governments is central to our approach," she said. "We are committed to working with policymakers on the real policy problems they are grappling with."

The Ghana study identifies key opportunities and constraints in each of the sectors analyzed, as well as ways in which SEDI can help the government improve outcomes. Possible examples include increasing the capacity and incentives for evidence use and engaging stakeholders directly to help translate and apply available evidence.

"Strengthening institutional capacity for evidence use is complex and requires sustained political commitment," Commodore said. "But we found a high level of interest in Ghana, within government and civil society. This presents a real opportunity."

Similar studies in the other two SEDI countries, Pakistan and Uganda, are forthcoming. The program is funded by the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

- END -

Download SEDI Ghana Report Download Executive Summary

Notes to Editor.

About ACET

The African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) is a pan-African economic policy institute supporting Africa's long-term growth through transformation.

We produce research, offer policy advice, and convene key stakeholders so that African countries are better positioned for smart, inclusive, and sustainable development.

About SEDI

Strengthening Evidence Use for Development Impact (SEDI) is a five-year programme (2019-2024) that is working on increasing the use of evidence by policymakers in Uganda, Ghana, and Pakistan. In partnership with country governments, this programme aims to develop capacity and promote innovation in increasing evidence- informed decision making. SEDI is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The SEDI consortium is led by Oxford Policy Management (OPM) and comprises national, international, and regional partners. The national lead organisations - the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) in Ghana, the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC) in Uganda and the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Pakistan - provide programme leadership and coordination in each country.

Media Contact

Belinda Ayamgha Communications Coordinator

T: +233 (0) 302 210 240/0544 342 012

M: +233 (0) 268 182 817

Email: bayamagha@acetforafrica.org

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african center for economic transformation acet growth continent gains countries progress agriculture rural employment manufacturing sectors exports commodities natural resources development economies government policy research advice institutional poverty productivity technology

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New program to strengthen evidence use gets underway with Ghana study

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Accra, 11th March - As the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to unfold, policymakers around the world have had to make rapid, difficult decisions to save lives and protect livelihoods. In this environment, relying on evidence is more critical than ever to ensure well-informed, balanced, and effective policy responses.

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In Pictures: Sarah Everard vigils held across country

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In Pictures: Sarah Everard vigils held across country

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Planned events were called off because of Covid restrictions, but hundreds gathered at Clapham Common on Saturday, near to where Ms Everard was last seen alive.

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Organisers also cancelled vigils that were due to be held across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, York, Sheffield and Brighton - with many holding virtual events instead.

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In Pictures: Sarah Everard vigils held across country

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Organisers also cancelled vigils that were due to be held across the UK, including in Edinburgh, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, York, Sheffield and Brighton - with many holding virtual events instead.

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A college in the  northern Nigerian state of Kduna was ttacked by gunnmen, and they abducted dozens of students. the attackers stormed the institution overnight. 180 students and staff were rescued by the Nigerian army, byt 30 students remain missing.

About 800 students have been seized since December in several raids on schools in northern Nigeria. They have all been released after negotiations with the gunmen.

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This week, neighbouring Niger state announced it was shutting all secondary schools for a fortnight for "risk assessments". Three other northern states - Kano, Yobe and Katsina - have also shut some secondary schools.

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Nigeria student kidnapping near Kaduna army base

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This week, neighbouring Niger state announced it was shutting all secondary schools for a fortnight for "risk assessments". Three other northern states - Kano, Yobe and Katsina - have also shut some secondary schools.

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Grammys 2021: Trevor Noah’s opening monologue took no prisoners…

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Grammys 2021: Trevor Noah’s opening monologue took no prisoners…

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Trevor Noah, a comedian from South African, is being honored for his speech at the Grammys last night.

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Insurrectionists, cocaine users... and even Boris Johnson: No-one was safe when Trevor Noah delivered his opening monologue at the Grammys on Sunday evening. The event, which took place overnight, was hosted in a huge open-air tent in Los Angeles - and was punctuated by a set of coronavirus restrictions.

Trevor Noah kills it as Grammys 2021 host

In true Trevor Noah style, he made light work of the Royal Family, a year of being stuck on Zoom, and even the host city itself. The Soweto-born superstar took no prisoners in a speedy opening monologue, which has already drawn praise and laughter from the critics.

We've clubbed together the five stand-out quotes from the iconic, curtain-raising speech. Look, we knew our boy was going to come through in style, but his side-splitting quips caught everyone by surprise:

Grammy's 2021: The best of Trevor Noah's opening monologue

Naked uncles and Zoom chaos...

"This is not a Zoom background, right, this is real. My uncle isn't gonna walk behind me naked, even though I told him I was having an important meeting. That's not gonna happen tonight."

Trump supporters skewered

"As you can see here, we are outside. We get to enjoy the great Los Angeles air, which I know maybe as dangerous as COVID, but we're willing to take the risk. Tonight is going to be the biggest outdoor event this year - besides the storming of the Capitol."

Trevor Noah takes a swipe at the Royals

"Nominees [will be seated at tables in the same area] during their categories, noting that there will be more tension in that tent than at a family reunion at Buckingham Palace."

No, not THAT 'white stuff'

"This is going to be the rare awards show where the white stuff going up peoples' noses are cotton swabs. Very safe."

Get it right up you, Boris...

"It's crazy to think that someone that talented and handsome as Harry Styles is from the same place as Boris Johnson."

Such an honour! Thank you. 🙏🏾 #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/0VmN7mwZgc
- Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 15, 2021

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Grammys 2021: Trevor Noah's opening monologue took no prisoners...

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Insurrectionists, cocaine users... and even Boris Johnson: No-one was safe when Trevor Noah delivered his opening monologue at the Grammys on Sunday evening. The event, which took place overnight, was hosted in a huge open-air tent in Los Angeles - and was punctuated by a set of coronavirus restrictions.