African Leaders for Nutrition (ALN) (Photo: African Union)
ETHIOPIA: African countries have made progress toward eradicating malnutrition and stunting but need to do more to mit United Nations malnutrition targets by 2025. This was the main message of a meeting that took place during the 33rd African Union Summit.
Alisée de Tonnac CEO (Photo EIT Europe)
SWITZERLAND: After its world tour across over 80 countries and five regional Summits in Africa, Asia, CEE, LATAM, MENA, Seedstars, an emerging market startup community and investor has announced this year’s Global Summit and the 7th edition holding in Lausanne, Switzerland will be held from March 30 to April 3rd.
Photos: Sisu Global
USA: Hemafuse, a surgical autotransfusion device, will revolutionize blood access across Africa. It is designed to salvage and recycle whole blood from cases of internal bleeding. The device can be used in both emergencies and scheduled procedures to recover blood from where it pools inside of a patient, into a blood bag, where it is immediately available to be re-transfused back to that same patient.
James Chester, Acting CEO of Africa Oil & Power (Source: Africa Oil & Power Conference)
ANGOLA: The Government’s decision to reform its oil sector has been yielding positive results, according to the country’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum H.E. Diamantino Pedro Azevedo.
UAE: Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach has completed its renovation program of 11 Imperial Suites designed by famous French interior architect Sybille de Margerie.
Dr. Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation. Photo Business Day
KENYA: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany has taken another giant step to empower Africa in cancer matter, after making history by training the first African oncologists in many countries, to build cancer care capacity in the continent.
‘Trees of Knowledge’
United Kingdom: Zimbabwean AI expert William Sachiti, CEO of UK-based start-up Academy of Robotics (www.AcademyofRobotics.co.uk) has published an open-source technology known as ‘Trees of Knowledge’ to improve access to education through smartphones in Africa.
Mohammed al-Amoudi
(Ecofin Agency) - Ethiopia is starting the year 2020 on a good note. The businessman Mohammed al-Amoudi announced he is investing 4 billion birr (about $126 million) to build a huge and modern edible oil processing plant in the country. The first stone was laid on Dec 28 in Addis Ababa in the presence of the City Mayor Takele Uma, local media reported.
(Ecofin Agency) - Construction of the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, the deal which was signed since March 2014, will start by 2022. The good news was announced by AfDB Chairman, Akinwumi Adesina, on the sidelines of the 56th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held Saturday in Abuja.
(Ecofin Agency) - Between 2000 and 2018, Rwanda’s economy grew by an average of 8%, the Finance Minister, Uzziel Ndagijimana (pictured), announced during the 17th National Dialogue held on 19 and 20 December 2019, in Kigali.
Akinwumi Adesina AIL
(AfDB ) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed the candidacy of African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina for a second term at the helm of the institution.
The stake-holders at the signing of the agreement
Malawi will soon add 46 MW of clean energy to the local power supply. Thanks to the US$67 million investment into the country’s solar projects recently concluded. The first phase of the project is expected for completion in March 2020.
(AfDB) - The African Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a $60m loan to Elnefeidi Group Holding Company to help finance its long-term agriculture and food expansion programme.
Jutta Urpilainen
(Ecofin Agency) - The European Union announced it is investing an additional €30 million in the AfricaConnect project designed to build a high-capacity Internet network for research and education networks across Africa.
The Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UNO Geneva, Ambassador Audu Kadiri flanked on the immediate right and left by Hon Akande-Sadipe and Hon Ogunlola. respectively when they paid a courtesy at the Nigerian Mission
Nigerians in the Diaspora gathered recently in Geneva to celebrate their country’s independence day. The occasion was the 59th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria organised by Nigerian in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) aimed to foster stronger ties between them, the diplomatic and business communities in Geneva, Switzerland.
In a drop by with the President of the United States Donald J. Trump, held in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on 15 October, the Director General of the Universal Postal Union Bishar A. Hussein proudly displayed the letter revoking the United States’ decision to withdraw from the UN specialized agency for postal matters.
At an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting recently held in Abidjan, Governors of the African Development Bank, representing shareholders from 80 countries, approved a landmark $115 billion increase in capital for the continent’s foremost financial institution.
This year’s 1-54 art fair in London was a real delight. Galleries from across Africa and the diaspora showcased art from the four corners of the continent including artists from Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has launched the National Gender Policy in Agriculture.
The Document would promote and ensure the adoption of gender sensitive and responsive approaches towards engendering plans and programmes, in such a way that men and women have equal access and control of productive resources and facilities to bridge gender gaps.
More News
2nd from left Aliko Dangote (Photo: Aliko Dangote Foundation)
An Interview with the creator Giselle Rufer
DELANCE SWISS WATCHES
The story of your NESCAFÉ begins long before it reaches your cup. The tiny coffee bean, which is dried, roasted and ground into the powder that you brew for your coffee, is deeply rooted in West Africa, touching many lives.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Thursday apologised to the Nigerian government after a spate of deadly xenophobic attacks in the country.
(Ecofin Agency) - The government of Benin adopted this week its Finance Act for 2020. The new budget of 1,986.9 billion CFA Francs ($3.3 billion) is 5.8% higher than the 1,877 billion CFA Francs ($3.1 billion) adopted in 2019.
(Ecofin Agency) - Optical fiber Internet provider Angola Cables and TM Global, the wholesale arm of Telekom Malaysia Berhad, entered into a partnership to connect Asia to South America via a submarine optical fiber.
(Ecofin Agency) - The Sierra Leonean microfinance institution A Call to Business Savings and Loans (ACTB) will receive $1.5 million from the Dutch Development Finance Fund (FMO) as the Fund’s first commitment to the West African country’s financial sector.
(Ecofin Agency) -Maroc Telecom announced on August 26 it has signed an investment deal with the government for MAD10 billion (about a billion dollars). Funds, disbursed by the incumbent operator, will be pumped into the development and strengthening of telecommunications infrastructure, broadband and very high speed (mobile and fixed) deployment across the country.
President Vladimir Putin
(Ecofin Agency) - Exchange between Africa and Russia last year reached a total of $20 billion, we learnt. While the black continent imported $17.4 billion worth of goods, it sold only $3 billion to Russia, making a $14.5 billion for Vladimir Putin’s country.
(Ecofin Agency) - Some Chinese companies committed to invest $1.4 billion in energy and mining projects in Africa. They expressed their intention during the visit to Beijing of the African Chamber of Energy (CAE), an organization bringing together government actors and companies involved in the development of the African energy sector.
[The Point] His Excellency Ma Jianchun, the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to The Gambia has said that the Chinese government considers the health of foreigners, including Gambians, living in China, as equally important as that of Chinese citizens.
[The Point] Caritas Gambia and Day One Health; an American humanitarian organisation operating in health and education sectors have donated medical equipment to Bundung maternal and child hospital, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Bansang General Hospital, St. Lazarus clinic, Farafenni and Serrekunda general hospitals.
[Nation] National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) officials announced earlier this week that they would adopt austerity measures to keep the insurer afloat, but insiders are wondering what happened to about Sh6 billion it held in reserve for turbulent times, such as these.
[WHO] New Cancer Cases on the decrease in Mauritius
[East African] The Kenyan government will disburse Ksh1.3 million ($13,000) for the upkeep of Kenyan students in Wuhan, the Chinese city that is the epicentre of the Covid-19 virus epidemic.
[United Nations Human Rights Council] Experts urge leaders to redouble peace efforts ahead of February 22 deadline
[New Frame] Ladysmith Black Mambazo continues seamlessly thanks to the foresight of its founder, who leaves a legacy for his sons and continues to inspire others from his hometown.
[Premium Times] YBNL boss, Olamide Adedeji, has signed an international music distribution deal with an American music company, Empire Distribution.
[The Herald] All is set for the second edition of the Star FM Music Awards show to be held at Jay's Steak House in Avondale, Harare on Saturday.
[The Herald] The passing on of Zimbabwean music legend Oliver Mtukudzi did not lead to the fall of his band, The Black Spirits.
[Ghanaian Times] Heavens will come down at the ICGC Calvary Temple , Sakumono, on February 16, 2020 as the evergreen songstress, Diana Antwi Hamilton leads gospel lovers with exciting worship tunes.
[SAnews.gov.za] Cabinet has sent condolences to the family and friends of Joseph Shabalala, the legendary musician and founder of the Grammy Award-winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
[Ghanaian Times] The Global Union of Ghana Scholars (GUGS) has applauded the government for efforts it is making to provide for Ghanaian students in the Wuhan city of China, but says it should begin the process of evacuating them.
[Ghanaian Times] The Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and the UNESCO Ghana country mission have met to discuss preparations towards the launch of the first World Engineering Day (WED) on March 4, 2020.
[Nation] Teachers now want talks with their employer on the implementation of professional development programmes.
[Nation] A total of 100,000 primary school teachers will from July earn higher salaries in a new Sh7 billion deal.
[263Chat] Government has shelved the new examination fees gazetted by the Zimbabwe Examination Council following wide outcry from education stakeholders.
[Kubatana.net] The Government of Zimbabwe has bowed down to our demand of scrapping the recently announced Zimsec School fees in the face of Austerity. We welcome the move as it mean a win for our fight for pro-poor education. This will allow our students mainly in poor rural areas to sit for exams.
[Nation] Nakuru's tourism industry and trade could be affected by 'false' information about coronavirus, Governor Lee Kinyanjui has warned.
[New Dawn] Monrovia City Court Judge Jonah Jallah on Tuesday reserved ruling into the travel ban (case)filed against businessman Musa Bility, Liberia Bank for Development and Investment or LBDI and others following arguments and counter arguments between the state and defense lawyers.The case is an offshoot of the economic sabotage case against former Liberia Airport Authority or LAA Managing Director Ellen Corkrum and others.
[Foroyaa] The Gambia Government on Monday, 17th February 2020 said England based Sun Newspaper's article that The Gambia is a place where sex beast buy children and toddlers to rape was misleading and untrue.
[Dalsan Radio] Budget carrier Jambojet has frozen plans to fly to Mogadishu after Somali authorities failed to grant the airline a morning landing slot.
[Observer] Ellen Corkrum hired Cllr. Syrenius Cephus, who is now Solicitor General and under whose watch the charges against her were recently dropped.
[News24Wire] Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan has said that the R3.5bn in emergency funding that SAA received from the state-owned Development Bank of Southern Africa earlier in the year may be depleted by early March.
In the hours after the tragedy, an outpouring of grief was quickly followed by attempts to come to terms with the tragedy — and a heated debate over terminology: an act of a disturbed individual, or of terrorism?
As movements such as #MeToo challenge commonly held beliefs, the Barbican Arts Centre in London is examining male identities through photography.
New leadership, red carpets stars, exciting programming and a Nazi-era related scandal: Get the lowdown on this year's Berlinale as it starts on February 20.
Cologne musicians are protesting right-wing radicalism and anti-Semitism. One song is dedicated to a Jewish carnival association; others are demanding "No Kölsch for Nazis" and are openly contesting right-wing ideas.
[New Frame] Silvia Federici expands on her analysis in Caliban and the Witch, exploring how the body is central to the reproduction of capitalism but also to anti-capitalist resistance.
Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was released from a Russian prison in September 2019. By then, friends had already filmed his most recent movie. "Numbers" premiered at the Maxim Gorki Theater in Berlin.
[Government of Mauritius] The priority of Government is to ensure the protection of one and all and the issue of gender-based violence has an impact not only on victims, families and children, but also on the country in terms of productivity and costs to the economy.
[News24Wire] Lobby group Sonke Gender Justice wants "appropriate remedial steps" to be taken against ANC MP Boy Mamabolo and EFF leader Julius Malema for their "politicisation" of gender-based violence (GBV) during Tuesday's debate on the State of the Nation Address.
[Daily News] FAIDA Mohammed Shaib, like majority of Zanzibar women, had for many years survived as a mere destitute housewife, with literally nothing to count on as her reliable source of earning. But, that was before 2016.
[African Arguments] Maybe not. But there will be a shift.
[UN News] The people of South Sudan have been "deliberately starved" in different parts of the country for ethnic and political reasons, and sexual violence against women and men as a weapon of war is ongoing, UN investigators said on Thursday.
[Capital FM] Nairobi -At least 200,000 women across 47 counties in the country will receive entrepreneurship training and access to capital investment from the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) this year.
The prestigious London School of Economics says it has not decided yet to accept sponsorship from the Chinese IT firm Huawei. But its name is being dragged through the mud nonetheless.
Tea production is a key industry in Kenya, where millions of people depend on it for a living. Can waste from sugarcane make processing the crop more environmentally friendly?
Flying is bad for the environment, but is it bad for health? DW looks at typical diseases caught during flights and how to avoid them.
Ashraf Ghani's re-election as Afghan president has been slammed by his political opponents. Experts say the success of an imminent US-Taliban deal now depends on how much support Ghani receives from Washington.
In the hours after the tragedy, an outpouring of grief was quickly followed by attempts to come to terms with the tragedy — and a heated debate over terminology: an act of a disturbed individual, or of terrorism?
As movements such as #MeToo challenge commonly held beliefs, the Barbican Arts Centre in London is examining male identities through photography.
[East African] South Sudan's Council of Ministers has endorsed the return to 10 states plus three special administrative areas, paving the way for a legal framework that will allow a transitional government of national unity (TGoNU) to be formed.
[East African] South Sudan's transitional legislative assembly has passed key amendments to the Constitution, allowing the country to return to 10 states.
[The Conversation Africa] The Nigerian government recently announced that it had released about 1,400 Boko Haram suspects. The reason given was they had repented and were to be re-integrated into society. The government said the releases - which happened in three tranches - were part of its four-year old de-radicalisation programme called Operation Safe Corridor.
[Nyasa Times] Malawi Police in Salima District have arrested, Chingeni Kadam'manja, one of the security operatives from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to Minister responsible for Disaster Management Affairs, Everton Chimulirenji, for allegedly being found in possession of 61 sack bags and 45 plastic bags of Indian hemp locally known as chamba.
[Monitor] The state prosecutors in a case in which Bobi Wine's music promoter, Andrew Mukasa, is accused of disturbing President Museveni's peace have asked court to issue an arrest warrant against their witness, a CID officer Henry Mugumya.
[Lesotho Times] If ever Acting Chief Justice 'Maseforo Mahase's detractors needed any ammunition to oppose her recommendation by outgoing Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, it was supplied to them by the judge herself last Wednesday.
China is Africa's biggest player in the infrastructure sector. European contractors have fallen behind. And they are struggling to come up with ways to regain market share they've lost to Chinese builders.
[Monitor] As several millions of locusts tear through Turkana wilderness to advance to greener grasslands in Uganda, emotions are high among local farmers across the country.
[New Zimbabwe] Top journalist and now social commentator Hopewell Chin'ono has slammed government for giving fuel dealer Zuva Petroleum the greenlight to sell fuel in US dollars while other businesses are still restricted to the much resented Zim-dollar.
[263Chat] Government will soon allow locals with free funds to pay passports fees in foreign currency with the move only awaiting a Statutory Instrument from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
[New Zimbabwe] Top MDC politician and ex-Finance Minister Tendai Biti has told Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya to consider shutting his mouth than make a fool of himself through presenting a meaningless monetary policy statement.
[Nyasa Times] Prophet Shepherd Bushiri's cheap maize sales has invaded Salima and reports shows thousands of people turning up to buy the staple.
[The Point] Samger FC gaffer Sulayman Kuyateh has vowed to promote his side back to the top flight of Gambian football despite his side's failure to win in nine consecutive matches in the second division.
[Foroyaa] Bantunding FC were yesterday held to a thrilling 1- 0 win by Kolli Kunda FC.
[Foroyaa] Source GFF.org-Real De Banjul regained lead on GFF League Division One Table following a one nil win over struggling Marimoo FC at the Manjai Kunda Football field at the week ending Match Day Ten of the country's Premier League. The win has propelled the Whites to 21 points from 10 outings with four victories on the trot leaving an acre of 3 points before second place GAF on 18 points while Marimoo remains two points above the relegation zone.
[Foroyaa] Gambia's Assan Ceesay has offered an apology to Carl Dickson an opponent he inadvertently kicked in the face.
[Nairobi News] Kenya Under 20 forward Abraham Dawo is in Spain for a three-month trial with second-tier side Real Union FC.
[The Point] BK Milan, Friday defeated Fortune 1-0 in the week-ten match, played at the Box Bar Mini Stadium in Brikama to end their winless run in the 2019-2020 Gambia Football Federation GFF first division league season.
[Seychelles News Agency] A first-of-its-kind project in Seychelles will show an integrated approach to the management of marine, coastal and terrestrial ecosystems of the island nation, stretching from mountaintop to coastline.
[Ghanaian Times] President Akufo-Addo said his 'frequent' visits to the Volta Region was not an agenda to harvest from where he did not plant, contrary to the assertions by opponents of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
[FrontPageAfrica] Cote d'Ivoire -the European Union Non- State Actors Project enters its 4th and final year of implementation, partner countries of Liberia, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire have all met to review what worked, what did not work, and how what worked well can be factored into ongoing national sustainable forest programs in the 3 West African countries.
Sudan: Government and Darfur Track Agreed On Formation of Committee to Deal With Civil Service Issue
[SNA] Juba -The government and Darfur track at the Juba negotiation forum have agreed on formation of a joint committee to deal with the civil service issue.
[Ghanaian Times] The people of Okanta, a farming community near Nsawam has appealed to the government for the provision of a technical and vocational centre to give the youth skills training to become self-employed.
[New Dawn] There is little doubt the West African sub-region is endowed with abundant natural resources. The region is home to some of the best and largest deposit of gold, bauxite,rutile,diamond, timber, oil and gas, iron ore, uranium, coal and rivers. It hosts the Upper Guinea Forest[the Lungs of West and North Africa],with a massive green fortress protecting the region from being overtaken by the Sahara Desert. Then factor in the rich marine resources including, eye popping lobsters, shrimps, crabs, fish in its oc
[East African] Tanzania is set to review the contentious arbitration law. A key part of the draft Bill for the proposed 2020 Arbitration Act, tabled in parliament on January 28, includes clauses allowing investors to access international arbitration.
[Nyasa Times] Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has withdrawn a letter to Public Appointment Committee of Parliament which summoned the Commission to appear before it on Monday, February 10, saying they will now proceed to attend the meeting, other than ducking it for fear of contempt of court.
[Nation] Dar es Salaam. Legislators asked the government on Tuesday to stop a review the laws with a view to issuing more serious punishments to rapists who target children.
[Nyasa Times] Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general, Eisnhower Mkaka, has been reproved by commentators, including the party's sympathisers, for his "politics of glorification and gratification" after he referred to Lazarus Chakwera as president of Malawi and his wife, Monica, as First Lady of the country at what was dubbed as a "thank you" rally for the people of Msundwe, in Lilongwe, on Saturday.
[Citizen] Dodoma -Arguments broke out here yesterday between Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the leader of the Opposition in the Parliament Freeman Mbowe over indefinite ban on political rallies and the need for an independent electoral body.
[Daily Maverick] While a Daily Maverick audit of President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address in 2019 reveals precious little effective progress in a year, he remains the most popular leader in SA by many miles.
[Daily Maverick] Greta Thunberg's generation is making the most noise about the environment right now. But they are frustrated that they seem powerless to implement the changes they'd like to see. Most of the world's politicians are old, male, ponderous and conflicted by their relationships with the fossil-fuel industry. But in the meantime, young people all over the world are adapting their lives and business ideas to be the change they want. South Africa is no exception. In the final article of the five-part series, Mave
[This Day] The Co-founder, My Music Africa, Mr. Dolapo Taiwo, spoke about challenges of digital transformation and the need for government to invest in technology in order to enhance innovation across Nigeria. Excerpts:
[Citizen] The pace of digital transformation in Tanzania's education system has seen the establishment of different digital tools and technology to create a forum for convenient learning.
[Seychelles News Agency] Imagine wearing clothes woven from organic threads like from a banana tree. You may soon be able to buy such an item thanks to a Seychellois entrepreneur.
[Daily Maverick] Innovation is doing something new and different and getting it out there. Innovation is both new things and how one does new things. Innovation is what South Africa needs badly. Now.
[UNEP] In the two years since Mariama Mamane won the Young Champions of the Earth prize back in 2017, she has taken great strides in her mission to provide people in Burkina Faso with energy.