Jordanian psychologist Manar Bashara conducts a counselling session at a mental health clinic in Azraq refugee camp run by UNHCR and the International Medical Corps. Every day she sees around five people. © UNHCR/Lilly Carlisle
Q&A: ‘Before the pandemic, refugee mental health was severely overlooked. Now it’s a full-blown crisis’ UNHCR’s Senior Mental Health Officer Pieter Ventevogel says COVID-19 has been a tipping point for many refugees in distress. But with the crisis comes an opportunity.
Bishar A. Hussein, Director General of the UPU (Photo UPU)
SWITZERLAND: This year the UN is marking its 75th anniversary with the UN75 initiative, which, throughout 2020 has gathered public perspectives on global challenges and ideas on how to tackle them.
Mr. Yofi Grant, CEO Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. ( Photo: GIPC)
GHANA: Ghana has recorded total investments of US$869.47 million, with total FDI value amounting to US$785.62 million between January to June 2020 as FDI inflow showed rare strength in the final moments of the second quarter of the year, undeterred by the Covid-19 pandemic. The total FDI of US$785.62 million represents investment recorded by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) (https://www.GIPCGhana.com/) and the Petroleum Commission.
Verena Utzinger (File Photo SABC)
Africa Business Day (ABD) took on a new virtual form in 2020 in a bid to ensure with certainty that it could be conducted in a safe and meaningful way in the current context of COVID-19. The innovation coincides with its 10 anniversary.
Verena Utzinger (File Photo SABC)
Africa Business Day (ABD) took on a new virtual form in 2020 in a bid to ensure with certainty that it could be conducted in a safe and meaningful way in the current context of COVID-19. The innovation coincides with its 10 anniversary.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, pan Igbo cultural organization has disassociated the Igbo nation and people from statements credited to the leader of Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on the destruction of Yoruba assets in Lagos.
NIGERIA: The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has condemned in very strong terms the unwarranted shooting and killing of unarmed protesters by security men in different parts of the country.
Pan-African housing development financier Shelter Afrique has signed an agreement with the Rwanda Social Security Board to scale up the development of large-scale affordable housing in Kinyinya, a suburb of Kigali city, according to an official statement recently issued in Kigali.
The continent’s largest development finance institutions have emphasized that a sustained and collaborative approach among development partners to scale up project development activities, will boost the number of bankable projects attracting investor interest and contribute to closing the infrastructure finance gap in Africa.
(From left to right) Vera Songwe, Irene Ochem and Arunma Oteh, former Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank and Academic Scholar, Oxford University(Source: (AWIEF)
SOUTH Africa: The 6th edition of the annual conference and Award of the Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum will hold on 2nd and 3rd December 2020. The theme of the edition according to the organization is: “Reimagining business and rebuilding better.”
Chief Obasanjo
NIGERIA: Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has appealed to the government and people of Nigeria to eschew violence and embrace peace and dialogue in finding solutions to the challenges “we face as a country”
Some of the over 2,523 pupils benefitting from the project
Uganda: For several years now, typhoid fever and diarrhoea cases have fallen significantly in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, especially in the major district of Kawempe, according to an African Development Bank report published on 7 October.
Fruit seller Diana Kumi is also known as the “Queen Mother of Oranges” at her market
GHANA: In Ashaiman, a district town in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, shoppers know they can count on Diana Kumi to have the municipality’s freshest fruit for sale. However, for years, Esi Maame Kumi – also known by her popular nickname “Queen Mother of Oranges” in the Twi language – held court in a crowded open-air market that she describes as more like an open sewer.
Switzerland : At an extraordinary meeting held on 18 October 2020, the Federal Council took several measures across Switzerland to counter the sharp increase in infections with the corona virus. Starting from Monday, October 19, spontaneous gatherings of more than 15 people are prohibited in public spaces. A mask must be worn in public places. A mask requirement also applies in all train stations, airports and at bus and tram stops.
VP Osinbajo (Businessday.ng)
NIGERIA: The National Economic Council has directed the immediate establishment of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry across the country to receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units, according to a release from the office of the Vice President of Nigeria
Noël Koutera Bataka
(Togo First) - Togo’s minister of agriculture, Noël Koutera Bataka, wants to put an end to the illegal fertilizer trade in the country. “It was brought to my attention that some informal networks importing fertilizers of questionable quality feed illicit supply chains across the Togolese territory,” he declared.
Johnson Odibo NIDO Swiss President
"A village is not made up of a handful of heroes, but of many people" - CHINUA ACHEBE (Things Fall Apart).
The Nigerians in the Diaspora Organization (NIDO) is made up of the Nigerians living in Diaspora. About 6,351 Nigerians live in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In line with the Central Vision of NIDO Europe, NIDO Swiss brings Nigerians living in Switzerland and Liechtenstein together; to identify those willing to offer their skills to assist Nigeria’s national development.
(AU) The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in partnership with the International Health Regulations (IHR) Strengthening Project of Public Health England (PHE), launched a new web-based tool, AVoHC Net, to facilitate rapid deployment and better administration of a standby workforce for public health emergencies across Africa.
(APA) The BUA Group, a Nigerian conglomerate concentrating on manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture, has signed a deal with Axens of France to refine 200,000 barrels per day of crude oil in Nigeria.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and President Paul Kagame (l)
(AfDB) - African leaders on Tuesday reaffirmed their support for the African Development Bank Group and its leadership under Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as he begins his second five-year term with a renewed mandate to foster sustainable development on the continent.
(AfDB) - As the prevalence of COVID-19 accelerates across Africa, over 40% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have access to clean water and are unable to heed the advice of health experts to wash their hands as a primary way to stop the spread of the virus. Preventing infection thus remains out of reach for many.
Mondia Pay to become the preferred digital payment solution for African telcos (Source: Mondia)
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Mondia Pay digital payment entity, says it is in the process of acquiring more new clients which can lead it to become “the preferred digital payment solutions provider for telecom operators across Africa.” It disclosed that, last year, it registered 5.3 billion transactions on its platform with telcos across the continent.
Source: African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)
SOUTH AFRICA – AUDA-NEPAD (the African Union Development Agency and the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development) has announced the launch of the MSME Academy, in partnership with Ecobank Group.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Canon Central and North Africa proudly showcased the compact and versatile 5.9K CCNA next-generation professional Cinema EOS System cameras. African Film directors, including Kunle Afolayan and Merzak Allouache, hailed the EOS C500 Mark II which elevates their latest productions. During the inauguration of the camera, Canon unveiled a knowledge-sharing initiative for the African filmmaking community.
Victor Williams (Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)(Source: National Basketball Association (NBA)
USA – The Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Adam Silver has announced the appointment of Victor Williams as the CEO of NBA Africa, effective 17 August 2020.
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UAE makes Avani Barbarons Resort Available to Seychelles
SEYCHELLES, 04 April 2020
Under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the ‘Avani Barbarons Seychelles Resort’ will be made available to the Government of Seychelles to be used by the Department of Health as a facility to accommodate their health personnel and supporting frontline service members, in the efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19.
In addition to our weekly brief on the spread of COVID-19 and the actions that Africa CDC is taking to help member states, Africa CDC has begun to share a weekly brief detailing the latest changes in scientific knowledge and public health policy changes, as well as updates to the latest guidance from WHO and others.
(Ecofin Agency) - The United States announced the freezing of $130 million worth of aid to Ethiopia. The measure is to pressure the country as part of the negotiations for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
(Togo First) - Togo will try to raise 25 billion FCFA on the regional financial market by September 11.
“(Business in Cameroon) - Ibom Air currently deploys a fleet of five 90-seat Bombardier CRJ900 regional jets,” an article published on Forbes on August 4, informed.
For the 2020 crop year, the operational teams of Bolloré Transport & Logistics have processed 10,575 tonnes, or 940 TEU, of mangos via air and maritime transport.
SWITZERLAND – Simonetta Sommaruga, President of the Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Norman Gobbi the president of the Ticino cantonal council will open the new Ceneri Base Tunnel, and will officially hand it over to the operator Swiss railways, SBB on 4 September.
SOUTH AFRICA – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted that his government had made missteps in efforts to control the coronavirus pandemic, but the lockdown was needed to lessen the disease from spreading among the people.
WorldStage Newsonline – The Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) have urged the Federal Government to intervene in the heavy import duties they used to pay for imported meters.
The Rwandan Ministry of Education is considering the recruitment of 7,200 teachers to support the development of a 12 year basic-education especially in remote rural areas as schools are set to reopen in September, an official source confirmed Tuesday to APA in Kigali.
According to Dr Irenée Ndayambaje, the Director General of the Rwanda Education Board, the recruitment intends to bridge the student-teacher ratio which stands at 59:1 in primary and 29:1 in secondary schools.
[ANGOP] Luanda -- At least 2,648 people have got infected in the last 15 days in Angola, which is 30 percent of the total number of positive cases so far recorded in the country.
[Zimbabwe Independent] Following months of spirited propaganda and claims that drawdowns of a Covid-19 stimulus package announced in May had kicked off, industrialists have told Finance minister Mthuli Ncube to come out clean on the strain such a rescue package would place on the government's finances.
[This Day] Abuja -- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced additional development assistance of $136.5 million, which is about N52 billion to support Nigeria under a bilateral Development Objectives Assistance Agreement (DOAG) with the United States signed in 2015.
[Monitor] Mercy Ayiru, a 34 - year - old lady died while undergoing an operation to remove uterine fibroids.
[Dalsan Radio] The Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) has released US$9.26 million to scale up priority life-saving assistance to nearly 300,000 people affected by floods in Somalia. These critical funds, part of the SHF 2020 Reserve Allocation, will support national and international non-governmental partners operating in Banadir, Hiraan, Lower Juba, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle regions through integrated and Cluster-specific interventions.
[The Point] The people of Sami District in Central River Region north of The Gambia have claimed that they are yet to receive their cooking oil as government food package relief; three months after the distribution of the food items ended.
[Cameroon Tribune] He spits fire in his recent hit titled "Njansang" whose video was released October 11, 2020.
[New Dawn] One of the Liberia'sinternational artists based in Australia,Kolando Baby Zulu, popularly known as 'Kzee-Bigname' urges local musicians here to produce songs or music that portrays Liberian culture.
[New Era] Award-winning artist Big Ben, and Namibia's leading songbird Erna Chimu have been selected to perform with some international artists at the third Euro-Namibian music festival slated for 30 October at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) Windhoek.
[Cameroon Tribune] She kept her audience spell-bound during a music performance October 16, 2020 in Yaounde
[Nyasa Times] Urban Music People (UMP) and Mibawa Television have partnered to beam live this year's blended award ceremony which take place on December 19, 2020.
[New Era] It Is Official PDK's song, 'Saka', featuring Top Cheri, King Elegant and Athawise has been voted the Song of the Year, making it the biggest song, according to the fans. The song was recently performed as the closing song at MTC's Knockout Project against Homelessness.
[This Day] Stakeholders in the education sector, Friday threw their weight behind the ongoing strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), for improved funding for the revitalisation of public varsities and new salaries for the lecturers.
[SNA] El- Dein -- Wali (governor) of East Darfur State, Dr Mohamed Issa Elaio met in his office a delegation of El-Dein University led by the University Acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Al Sadiq Abdulla.
[Ghanaian Times] Tamale -- Stanbic Bank Ghana has presented a cheque worth GHc 10,000 in support of the Yaa-Naa Educational Endowment Fund.
[GroundUp] Provincial education department blames contractor and dwindling budget for dilapidated state
[The Herald] PRESIDENT Mnangagwa arrived in Bulawayo yesterday evening for the Lupane State University (LSU) graduation ceremony today and a meeting with chiefs tomorrow to discuss issues affecting Matabeleland.
[Vanguard] The federal government yesterday directed all public hospitals in the country to treat all #EndSARS protest victims with injuries free.
[Daily Maverick] Fly SAX wants to only purchase SA Express's flight routes, landing rights and aviation-related licences. The offer excludes SA Express assets, including its aircraft fleet, engine parts and spares for the aircraft. These assets will be sold through a public auction.
[The Herald] Zimbabwe and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday launched an initiative to boost tourism in and around Victoria Falls to help strengthen the country's tourism industry that has suffered a sharp decline in visitors due to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic.
[263Chat] October 22, 2020--The Government of Zimbabwe and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, today launched an initiative to boost tourism in and around Victoria Falls to help strengthen Zimbabwe's tourism industry, which has suffered a sharp decline in visitors because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
[New Era] Namibian international model Meriam Kaxuxwena, also known as MK, is not impressed with the news that South African singer Lira has been chosen as Namibia's tourism ambassador for FENATA, further saying she needs her endorsement.
[SAnews.gov.za] Tourism Deputy Minister Fish Mahlalela says opportunities must be identified to grow rural tourism.
[Foroyaa] Gambia Government in collaboration with the Senegalese Government in March 2020 closed its air space, sea and land borders in a bid to curb the spread of COVID 19. This decision by the two states came in the wake of the confirmation of the first case of COVID 19 on 17th March 2020.
After the brutal murder of teacher Samuel Paty, France is once more debating its core values. "It's all up to the individual," says Romy Strassenburg, former editor-in-chief at Charlie Hebdo’s German edition.
William Kentridge is South Africa’s best-known artist. But what makes his work so alluring? An exhibition in Hamburg finds out by tracing each stroke of his brush.
[This Day] "The Danfo Driver in all of us" written by Niran Adedokun, a lawyer, writer and journalist progress nerve-racking insights into the frail framework of Nigeria's democracy.
[This Day] Writer, entrepreneur, and winner of WawaBook Literary Fellowship 2018, Veralyn Chinenye, has announced the publication of her mini-autobiography, Lessons From Twenty Somethings. The book, set to be released on October 10, 2020, is a deeply personal account of her learning, quest, curiosity, experiences and travels in her twenties and offers hands-on advice and lessons for young people at every stage of their twenties.
We asked what unity means to you. Find out here if you won a DW backpack in our prize drawing.
The celebrated performer talks about a struggling classical music industry, and makes a plea to politicians to better support musicians during the ongoing pandemic.
[Observer] Marie Gareth Nizigama, UN Women Liberia country: "UN Women has not given any money before and will not give money to any candidate or implementing partner."
[The Point] In 2018 the European Commission through the European Development Fund issued a grant amounting to Euro 333,000 to ActionAid International The Gambia (AAITG) for the implementation of a 3-year project on Strengthening Women's Economic Initiatives in Central River Region (CRR) south.
[Malawi News Agency] Lilongwe -- Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati has warned that her ministry will punish anyone involved in gender based violence (GBV) against girls, women and the elderly in the country.
[New Era] Walvis Bay -- In the latest incident of sexual and gender-based violence in Namibia, a 29-year-old woman was allegedly raped at gunpoint by a stranger in the Kuisebmond township area.
[Daily Maverick] "So, should [the next Chief Justice be a woman], I have no particular objection to that. I just want to make sure that all those qualities are there."
[UNFPA] A team of gender-based violence responders performs a rapid needs assessment in flood-affected areas. © UNFPA Sudan/Sufian Abdul-Mouty
Borussia Dortmund beat struggling Schalke in the Revierderby to go joint-second in the Bundesliga. Opening goal-scorer Manuel Akanji set up the victory after recovering from a coronavirus infection.
On Sunday, Chileans will go to the ballot boxes to decide whether they want to replace the Pinochet-era constitution, or not. Those pushing for change are hoping reforms will address growing social inequalities.
As more European nations see record death and infection tolls from the coronavirus, many are reimposing curfews, partial lockdowns and other restrictions on public life to slow a second wave of COVID-19.
A week after the murder of history teacher Samuel Paty, many in France have been championing the country's fierce secular values. But some say the long-held belief is fueling divisions — and extremism.
A Cold War bunker in a small German town housed darknet internet servers that facilitated illegal online activity. The group allegedly operating the servers are on trial — but are they responsible for 250,000 crimes?
Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned Germans to stay at home and reduce all unnecessary contact and travel after the number of infections hit a new record high. The country's death toll also passed 10,000 on Saturday.
[Nyasa Times] Malawi Parliament on Friday adjourned sine die after concluding its seven-week 2020-21 National Budget meeting but failed to tackle the controversial Termination of Pregnancy Bill.
[Zimbabwe Independent] President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday vowed to crack down on non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for critisising his government over escalating incidents of human rights abuse.
[Zimbabwe Independent] For many years, the government has misled Zimbabweans into believing that the stinking corruption and mismanagement that has grounded State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) is under control.
[Zimbabwe Independent] HIGH level corruption has established permanent roots in Zimbabwe, defying government attempts to stop it through comprehensive legal frameworks governing public procurement processes, according to Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ).
[ANGOP] Luanda -- Angola is on the verge of returning to the State of Emergency, said Friday the Minister of State and head of the Civil Affairs Office to the President of the Republic.
[New Zimbabwe] Sharp divisions have emerged in the Zanu PF presidium, pitting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his deputy, Constantino Chiwenga, over the remaining District Coordinating Committees (DCC) elections.
The death of the chairman comes at a time when his son, the de facto leader of the Samsung Group, is grappling with legal issues. A potential restructuring could also be on the horizon over Lee's stakes in key companies.
[Zimbabwe Independent] TEXTILE industry experts have bemoaned the demise of Zimbabwe's clothing sector as a result of serious competition from second-hand wear and cheap imports that have hit hard formal retailers such as Edgars Stores.
[Zimbabwe Independent] The US$2,23 billion debt accumulated by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) in the 12 months since July 2019 could be grossly understated, as fresh details emerged this week indicating the central bank could be violating borrowing rights to sustain the foreign currency auction system.
[New Zimbabwe] Victoria Falls -- Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has launched the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) here which will kick start the operationalisation of the Victoria Falls Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
[New Zimbabwe] Mutare -- A Mutare man has been admitted in hospital after he sustained serious injuries recently when he was stabbed by a neighbour over a US$100 debt.
[Nation] Kenya's plan to have a nuclear power plant will now wait beyond the 2030 timeline envisioned when the idea was conceptualised.
Borussia Dortmund beat struggling Schalke in the Revierderby to go joint-second in the Bundesliga. Opening goal-scorer Manuel Akanji set up the victory after recovering from a coronavirus infection.
[Cosafa] Lesotho captain Boitumelo 'Queen' Rabale has welcomed what she regards as a tough draw for the upcoming COSAFA Women's Championship set for South Africa after the Mountain Kingdom country was drawn against Zambia and Malawi in Group B.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -- Michael Olunga is enjoying the form of his life, literally.
[New Zimbabwe] The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has committed to providing funding for Covid-19 testing for local players and officials as the football governing body prepares for return of the popular sport after a seven-month hiatus.
[Nyasa Times] Malawi football giants Mighty Wanderers will return to its traditional blue and white colours five years after adopting orange and black colours of the Japanese second hand car sellers Be Forward who have been bankrolling the club.
[Nation] Gor Mahia legends from Nyanza have said that the building of Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium will play a key role in nurturing talent in the region.
[Ghanaian Times] The title of this article is an extract of the concluding paragraph of chapter 8 of the National Cultural Policy of Ghana, published by the National Commission On Culture in 2004.
[New Era] The Environmental Investment Find of Namibia (EIF) recently received a certificate of merit and was among the most decorated institutions at this year's Karlsruhe Sustainable Finance Awards & Certification Ceremony, which was held at the Achat Hotel in Karlsruhe, Germany on 30 September 2020.
[Namibian] THOUSANDS of Cape fur seals have aborted their unborn pups, worrying marine scientists in Namibia and South Africa.
[Botswana Daily News] Jwaneng -- As part of his efforts to promote small stock farming President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has been traversing the country, since July, giving promising farmers bucks to boost production.
[World Bank] Niamey -- With great emotion, Fati remembers the day she learned she could no longer join the members of her association due to social distancing measures put in place by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) last spring. "This group is more than an association for me. It is my family. It would be very taxing for me to separate from them," she said.
[Namibia Economist] The National Youth Service launched a charcoal production project in its pilot phase at Gemsbokpan farm in Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa region with the aim to create employment opportunities for 55 youths.
[This Day] Country Manager, Dimension Data Nigeria, Olugbenga Olabiyi, speaks on the company's recent rebranding and its commitment to drive the Nigerian enterprise market through enhanced customers' experience. Excerpts:
[Nairobi News] President Uhuru Kenyatta praised a 26-year-old Kenyan innovator who earned global recognition with his invention of smart hand gloves capable of converting sign language movements into audio speech.
South Africa: Science and Innovation Establishes a Platinum Valley to Serve As an Industrial Cluster
[Govt of SA] South Africa is to establish a Platinum Valley that will serve as an industrial cluster bringing various hydrogen applications in the country together to form an integrated hydrogen ecosystem. The initiative is part of the government's economic recovery plans.
[Govt of SA] Platinum Valley project to pull SA's hydrogen initiatives into one ecosystem
[The Herald] Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
[The Conversation Africa] Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa commit resources to promote agricultural innovations. This is based on the assumption that rural livelihoods are mainly agricultural and that the innovations will increase agricultural production and household income.