#Top5atFive: Here’s what’s happening in Lesotho and around the globe

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Happy Monday! Here’s a list of a few stories that made headlines over the weekend. 

1. Local headlines:

The Ministry of Health has confirmed eight new COVID-19 positive cases, increasing the number to 12. Two previously confirmed cases have since recovered. Seven of the new cases have a travel history from South Africa and one from Zimbabwe. 

The Ministry will continue to carry our contact tracing for all confirmed cases, find active cases and monitor those quarantining at home. The Ministry also pleads with the public to remain calm and continue maintaining safety protocols to minimize the spread of the virus. [Lesotho confirms 8 additional COVID-19 cases – Selibeng.com]

2. Local headlines

Clearing agents and traders have applied for a permit to protest at the Maseru Bridge after they held an illegal protest on Monday demanding clarity on the export code required by the South African Revenue Service (SARS). An export code is a document required and issued by SARS for purposes of exporting goods into South Africa.

One of the protestors who runs a clearing agency, ‘Masethathe Sethathe, said they have written a letter to the Lesotho customs management requesting them to resolve the matter with SARS, and they are still awaiting an answer. 

This comes after traffic came to a standstill at the Maseru Border Gate last Monday as import and export traders joined local clearing agents in protest at cross border restrictions imposed by South Africa. [Clearing agents mull protest march, The Reporter]

3. Global headlines:

Malawians return to the polls this Tuesday for a rerun of the presidential election five months after the constitutional court annulled the results of a disputed vote last year.

Incumbent President Peter Mutharika had initially been declared the winner of the May 2019 election with a slim victory of 38.5%. But opposition leaders challenged the results in court citing massive irregularities. Judges agreed with them and nullified the results in February and ordered a repeat of the election.

The opposition has now united under a single candidate and will take on President Mutharika – who is running for a second term in office. For months now, Malawians have been under a political crisis unlike any other they have faced in their history. It’s been more than a year since they turned out in their millions to vote in a new parliament and a president. [Malawi braces for a historic presidential rerun, BBC]

4. In lifestyle 

Skywatchers along a narrow band from west Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, India and the Far East witnessed a dramatic “ring of fire” solar eclipse Sunday.

So-called annular eclipses occur when the Moon — passing between Earth and the Sun — is not quite close enough to our planet to completely obscure sunlight, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible. They happen every year or two, and can only be seen from a narrow pathway across the planet.

Sunday’s eclipse arrived on the northern hemisphere’s longest day of the year — the summer solstice — when the North Pole is tilted most directly towards the Sun.

A lunar eclipse is due on July 5, with the best viewing over North and South America, southern Europe and Africa. [‘Ring of fire’ solar eclipse thrills skywatchers on longest day, TimesLive]

5. What we’re reading: 

This 5-minute read is a much-needed reminder to take time to celebrate success in your personal and professional life. Take a look if you’re looking for a few tips on how to enjoy your accomplishments or curious about the difference between celebrating and rewarding yourself. [Healthy Ways to Celebrate Success, verywellmind]

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