EcoFlow (za.EcoFlow.com), a leading eco-friendly energy solutions company, has reached a new milestone with the launch of its latest innovation, the PowerStream (https://apo-opa.co/3Tiz7Jv), a mini home solar system that potentially helps users save on energy bills. This groundbreaking expandable system can also provide backup power when connected to a portable power station, making it a simple, flexible, and reliable energy source at home.

With over 2.5 million users worldwide, EcoFlow has established itself as a leader in the portable power industry. During load shedding last year, the EcoFlow portable power stations helped power over 50,000 families in South Africa. The PowerStream marks the company’s expansion into the home solar energy solutions market, responding to the growing demand for sustainable and reliable energy solutions that households can depend on.

“Home solar energy solutions play an increasingly important role in an age of frequent energy crises, and that’s what inspired the EcoFlow PowerStream,” said Bradley Chetty, Key Account Director at EcoFlow South Africa. “EcoFlow is committed to a future where everyone can care for their families and combat climate disasters, aging grids, and rising energy bills, and PowerStream is our first step towards that future.”

Keep Home Powered During Load Shedding

The PowerStream is an expandable system that includes the EcoFlow PowerStream Microinverter, solar panels, and EcoFlow portable power stations if users want to store excessive energy generated through the system.

When incorporating portable power stations into the system, the stored energy can continue to power the home throughout the night, and provide users with peace of mind during load shedding by keeping the essential devices up and running – from heavy-duty appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators to low-wattage devices like phones and tablets.

With a maximum 800W solar input, the PowerStream generates around 1277kWh[1] of electricity annually, covering a great amount of electricity an average household consumes yearly. Using the EcoFlow app, users can keep track of the solar energy captured, and the estimated saving on energy costs, and get a clear picture of their home energy usage.

A Plug-and-Play System with High Compatibility

The PowerStream is designed for the users to install by themselves as the microinverter, solar panels and portable power stations are all plug-and-play. The solar panels also fit in different scenarios, including flat or house balconies, house gardens, and house Façades. Using the EcoFlow super-flat cables, users don’t need to drill through walls or windows to connect the system outdoors to indoors.

The system is compatible with 99% of solar panels on the market and works with all EcoFlow portable power stations, including the DELTA Pro, if users want to store more surplus energy and save more on energy bills. With a base capacity of 3.6kWh and expandable up to 7.2kWh, the DELTA Pro provides reliable power for 99% of home appliances, making it one of the best companions for the PowerStream.

An Entry-level System for Every Home

The PowerStream is an ideal home solar system for beginners, especially if they have already been using solar panels and EcoFlow portable power stations at home. The PowerStream microinverter features a compact design and is lightweight. It can easily blend in users’ houses or apartments.

Plus, when users look to enjoy outdoor activities, they can disconnect the portable power station and use it on the go. If moving to new apartments or houses, the entire system can be easily unplugged and packed to go.

Price and Availability

Currently available on the EcoFlow South Africa website (https://apo-opa.co/48AtQ4B), the PowerStream comes in different kits with an Early Bird discount till 31st March 2024.

The No-Storage Kit includes only the PowerStream microinverter, two EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panels, one solar cable, and one EcoFlow AC cable. The kit is priced at R 14,999 for an Early Bird discount.

The 3-kWh Storage Kit includes the PowerStream microinverter with the EcoFlow solar cable and AC cable, an EcoFlow DELTA Pro portable power station with an EB cable and two EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panels. The kit is currently priced at R 61,999 for an Early Bird discount.

To learn more about kits with different storage options, please visit: za.EcoFlow.com

Specs

EcoFlow PowerStream Microinverter

Weight

Approx. 3 Kg

Waterproof

IP67

Dimensions

242 × 169 × 33 mm

Max. Charging&Discharging Power

600W

PV Input Power

400W x 2

DC Input Output

600W

Max. Input Voltage

55Vd.c. (PV Port)/ 59Vd.c. (DC Port)

Max. Input Current

13A

AC Output-Grid Tied

600W

Max. AC Output Current

2.8A

Charging Voltage

30 – 58 Vd.c.

Communication

Wi-Fi&Bluetooth

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EcoFlow.

About EcoFlow:
EcoFlow is a leading eco-friendly energy solutions company with the vision to power a new world. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow aims to become a reliable and trusted energy companion for individuals and families across the world, providing accessible and renewable power solutions at home, outdoors, and in mobile spaces. Today, with operational headquarters located in the USA, Germany, and Japan, EcoFlow has empowered more than 2.5 million users in over 100 markets worldwide.

France has become the first country in the world to explicitly include the right to abortion in its constitution.

Parliamentarians voted to revise the country’s 1958 constitution to enshrine women’s “guaranteed freedom” to abort.

The overwhelming 780-72 vote saw a standing ovation in the parliament in Versailles when the result was announced.

President Emmanuel Macron described the move as “French pride” that had sent a “universal message”.

However anti-abortion groups have strongly criticised the change, as has the Vatican.

Abortion has been legal in France since 1975, but polls show around 85% of the public supported amending the constitution to protect the right to end a pregnancy.

And while several other countries include reproductive rights in their constitutions – France is the first to explicitly state that an abortion will be guaranteed.

It becomes the 25th amendment to modern France’s founding document, and the first since 2008.

Following the vote, the Eiffel Tower in Paris was lit up in celebration, with the message: “My Body My Choice”.

Before the vote, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal told parliament that the right to abortion remained “in danger” and “at the mercy of decision makers”.

“We’re sending a message to all women: your body belongs to you and no one can decide for you,” he added.

While resistance from right-wingers in parliament failed to materialise, President Macron has been accused of using the constitution for electoral ends.

Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary, and accused the president of trying to use the cause to boost his left-wing credentials.

Since 1975 the law has been updated nine times – and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.

France’s constitutional council – the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws – has never raised a query.

In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.

So many jurists say abortion was already a constitutional right.

The constitutional change was prompted by recent developments in the US, where the right to abortion was removed by the Supreme Court in 2022. Individual states are now able to ban the procedure again, ending the right to an abortion for millions of women.

The move to enshrine abortion in the French constitution has been welcomed by many.

“This right (to abortion) has retreated in the United States. And so nothing authorised us to think that France was exempt from this risk,” said Laura Slimani, from the Fondation des Femmes rights group.

“There’s a lot of emotion, as a feminist activist, also as a woman,” she said.

But not all support it, with the Vatican repeating its opposition to abortion.

“There can be no ‘right’ to take a human life,” the Vatican institution said in a statement, echoing concerns already raised by French Catholic bishops.

It appealed to “all governments and all religious traditions to do their best so that, in this phase of history, the protection of life becomes an absolute priority”.

ALSO READ:

• French Senate backs enshrining right to abortion in constitution

• Why Macron hopes abortion rights are a political winner

The US Supreme Court has struck down efforts by individual states to disqualify Donald Trump from running for president using an anti-insurrection constitutional clause.

The unanimous ruling is specific to Colorado, but it also overrides challenges brought in other states.

Colorado had barred Mr Trump from its Republican primary, arguing he incited the 2021 Capitol riot.

The court ruled that only Congress, rather than the states, has that power.

The top court’s decision clears the way for Mr Trump to compete in the Colorado primary scheduled for Tuesday.

Mr Trump is the front-runner for the Republican nomination and looks likely to face a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s general election.

On Monday, the ex-president immediately claimed victory following the ruling, taking to his Truth Social media platform to claim a “big win for America”. The message was followed by a fundraising email sent to supporters of his campaign.

Speaking from his estate in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, soon afterwards, he said that the decision was “very well crafted” and will “go a long way towards bringing our country together, which it needs”.

“You can’t take someone out of a race because an opponent would like it that way,” Mr Trump added.

Colorado’s Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, said that she was disappointed by the ruling and that “Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot”.

Additionally, the watchdog group that brought the case in Colorado, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew), said in a statement that while the court “failed to meet the moment”, it is “still a win for democracy: Trump will go down in history as an insurrectionist”.

Maine and Illinois had followed Colorado in kicking Mr Trump off the ballot on similar grounds.

The efforts in both those states were put on hold while his challenge to the Colorado ruling was escalated to the Supreme Court.

“We conclude that states may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office,” the court’s opinion says. “But states have no power under the Constitution to enforce Sections 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the presidency.”

The nine justices ruled that only Congress can enforce the 14th Amendment’s provisions against federal officials and candidates.

Part of the Civil War-era amendment – Section 3 – bars federal, state and military officials who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the US from holding office again.

Groups including Free Speech For People had argued that the attempt to delay the peaceful transfer of power on 6 January 2021 matched the definition of insurrection outlined in the amendment.

One of the court’s justices, Amy Coney Barrett, wrote separately that the fact that all nine justices agreed on the outcome of the case is “the message that Americans should take home”.

“The court has settled a politically charged issue in the volatile season of a presidential election,” Justice Barrett wrote. “Particularly in this circumstance, writings on the court should turn the national temperature down, not up.”

But the court’s three liberal justices argued that the ruling seeks to “decide novel constitutional questions to insulate this Court and [Trump] from future controversy” by announcing “that a disqualification for insurrection can occur only when Congress enacts a particular kind of legislation”.

“In doing so, the majority shuts the door on other potential means of enforcement,” they added.

Atiba Ellis, a law professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, told the BBC that while the court’s concerns about Mr Trump’s exclusion from the ballot are “fair”, the ruling “may have far-reaching consequences”.

“It opens the door to constitutional interpretation matters that weren’t at issue in the case. The decision throws the problem to Congress at a time when partisan deadlock will guarantee inaction on this matter,” Mr Ellis added. “The decision effectively ensures that the question of the former president’s constitutional eligibility under Section 3 will not be resolved prior to the 2024 election.”

Another legal scholar, Albany Law School’s Ray Brescia, said the court’s decision prevents a situation in which there is a “patchwork of states with different processes”.

“If the court was to allow Colorado to proceed in this way, what’s to stop some rogue prosecutor in another state from saying that a candidate from a different party is not a viable candidate because they engaged in insurrection?” he said.

Republican voters in Colorado and 14 other states will vote on Tuesday in a marathon contest dubbed Super Tuesday.

The former president is widely expected to sweep the board and defeat his sole remaining opponent, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, in every battleground.

ALSO READ:

• Nikki Haley beats Donald Trump in Washington DC for first primary victory

• Trump’s legal defeat in Colorado may turn into political gold

Haiti‘s government declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed a major prison.

At least 12 people were killed and about 3,700 inmates escaped in the jailbreak.

Gang leaders are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whose whereabouts are unknown since he travelled to Kenya.

Gangs control around 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years.

A government statement said two prisons – one in Port-au-Prince and the other in nearby Croix des Bouquets – were stormed over the weekend.

It said the acts of “disobedience” were a threat to national security and said it was instituting an immediate night-time curfew in response, which started at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Monday).

Haitian media reported that police stations were attacked, distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the jails.

Speaking to the BBC from Haiti, Serge Dalexis from the International Rescue Committee said that many police stations were under gang control on Friday, with “many police killed over the weekend”.

Among those detained in Port-au-Prince were suspects charged in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.

Gang violence has further escalated since his assassination in 2021. Mr Moïse has not been replaced and presidential elections have not been held since 2016.

In the capital, gangs have erected barricades to prevent security forces from encroaching on their territory, while their strongholds in Port-au-Prince’s vast shantytowns are still largely on lockdown.

Schools and many businesses are closed, and there are reports of looting in some neighbourhoods.

People are scared and the streets are empty, Boby Sander from the humanitarian aid organisation Food for the Hungry told the BBC.

Since Friday, 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and many are now staying in a school building in the centre of Port-au-Prince, Mr Sander said.

His organisation has only been able to provide them with hygiene kits to last a few days. “We don’t have adequate capacity to deal with the complexity of the need increasing,” he added.

The latest upsurge in violence began on Thursday, when the prime minister travelled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenya-led multinational security force to Haiti.

Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed Barbecue) then declared a co-ordinated attack to remove him.

“All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united,” said the former police officer, who is accused of being behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince.

Haiti’s police union had asked the military to help reinforce the capital’s main prison, but the compound was stormed late on Saturday.

On Sunday the doors of the prison were still open and there were no signs of officers, Reuters news agency reported. Three inmates who tried to flee lay dead in the courtyard, the report said.

A journalist for the AFP news agency who visited the prison saw around 10 bodies, some with signs of being shot.

One volunteer prison worker told the Reuters news agency that 99 prisoners – including former Colombian soldiers jailed over President Moïse’s murder – had chosen to remain in their cells for fear of being killed in crossfire.
Anger at the shocking levels of violence, on top of the political vacuum, have led to several demonstrations against the government, with protesters demanding the resignation of the prime minister.

Under a political deal, he was due to stand down by 7 February – but planned elections were not held and Prime Minister Henry remains in post.

Speaking to the BBC’s Newsday, Claude Joseph – who was serving as acting prime minister when President Moïse was assassinated and who is now head of the opposition party called Those Committed to Development – said Haiti was living through a “nightmare”.

“He [Ariel Henry] agreed to step down on 7 February. Now he decides to stay, despite the fact that there are huge protests throughout the country asking him to step down… now those criminals are using violent means to force him to step down.”

ALSO READ:

• Haiti violence: Gangs free 4,000 inmates in mass jailbreak

• Gunfire near Haiti airport disrupts flights for second day

A UN team has concluded there are “reasonable grounds to believe” sexual violence, including rape and gang rape, was committed during the Hamas attacks in Israel on 7 October.

They also said there was “convincing information” that hostages had been subjected to sexual violence.

The trip was led by Pramila Patten, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict.

Hamas has denied its gunmen sexually assaulted women during the attacks.

“The mission team found that there are reasonable grounds to believe that conflict-related sexual violence occurred in multiple locations during the 7 October attacks,” the UN report said.

These happened in at least three locations – the Nova music festival site and its surroundings, Road 232, and Kibbutz Re’im, it added.

On 7 October Hamas gunmen infiltrated southern Israel, where they killed about 1,200 people and took 253 others hostage.

Israel responded by launching a military campaign in Gaza, during which 30,500 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Reports of sexual violence carried out by Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK and others – began to emerge soon after 7 October and have accumulated steadily ever since.

The BBC has also seen and heard evidence of rape, sexual violence and mutilation of women.

In the report, the UN said it had “found clear and convincing information that sexual violence, including rape, sexualized torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment has been committed against hostages”.

It also said it “has reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing against those still held in captivity”.

The UN team visited Israel between 29 January and 14 February.

The mission made up of Ms Patten and nine experts and was not investigative in nature, but designed to gather and verify allegations, the UN said.

It added that 33 meetings were held with Israeli representatives, and more than 5,000 photographic images were examined as well as 50 hours of video footage.

The report said that “despite concerted efforts to encourage” victims to come forward, the team was unable to interview any of them.

Some allegations of rape and sexual violence could not be verified or were “unfounded”, the report explained, including the graphically publicised case of a pregnant woman whose womb was reportedly torn open and her foetus stabbed.

It also said it had not been able to establish a discernible pattern of genital mutilation.

The UN team said it also received information about sexual violence against Palestinian men and women in detention settings, during house raids and at checkpoints after 7 October.

Israel has rejected similar allegations made previously by a panel of independent UN experts as “despicable and unfounded”.

Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has accused the UN of trying to “keep quiet the serious UN report”.

He criticised UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for not convening the Security Council to discuss the findings and in order to declare Hamas a terrorist organisation.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Mr Guterres “has fully supported” Ms Patten’s work in her visit to Israel.

“In no way, shape or form did the secretary-general do anything to keep the report ‘quiet.’ In fact, the report is being presented publicly today,” Mr Dujarric said.

ALSO READ:

• Israeli report says Hamas sexual violence ‘systematic and intentional’

• We are not representing Hamas – SA Foreign Minister

The United States government has imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, along with other senior officials, for corruption and human rights abuses.

On Monday the US government said leaders in Zimbabwe were siphoning off public resources for personal gain.

This move scraps the old executive sanction order introduced in 2003 and moves 11 individuals and three entities onto the global list – the Global Magnitsky sanctions program.

“These illicit activities support and contribute to a global criminal network of bribery, smuggling, and money laundering that impoverish communities in Zimbabwe, southern Africa, and other parts of the world,” a statement said.

The US also criticised the targeting of civil society and severe restrictions on political activity.

As well as President Mnangagwa, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga and businessman Kudakwashe Tagwirei have also been sanctioned.

Mr Mnangaga’s wife, Auxillia Mnangagwa, was also hit with sanctions because she “facilitates her husband’s corrupt activities”.

The US government said the egregious behaviour of some of the most powerful people and companies in Zimbabwe matched the actions of the worst human rights abusers and corrupt actors in the world.

The US assured that “sanctions on theses individuals and entities do not represent sanctions on Zimbabwe or its public”.

The government of Zimbabwe has not commented on the latest allegations but has dismissed previous sanctions as part of a Western plot to bring about political change.

ALSO READ:

• ‘Life is hell’: Zimbabwe flood survivors lament loss of land, livelihoods

• Shock in Zimbabwe as Finance Minister named Africa’s best

Children are dying of starvation in northern Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief says.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency’s visits over the weekend to the Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals were the first since early October.

In a post on social media, he spoke of “grim findings”.

A lack of food resulted in the deaths of 10 children and “severe levels of malnutrition”, while hospital buildings have been destroyed, he wrote.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported on Sunday that at least 15 children had died from malnutrition and dehydration at the Kamal Adwan hospital.

A 16th child died on Sunday at a hospital in the southern city of Rafah, the Palestinian official news agency Wafa reported on Monday.

Dr Tedros reported “severe levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, hospital buildings destroyed” in northern Gaza, where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.

“The lack of food resulted in the deaths of 10 children,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The visits were the WHO’s first in months “despite our efforts to gain more regular access to the north of Gaza”, he wrote.

“The situation at Al-Awda Hospital is particularly appalling, as one of the buildings is destroyed,” he added.

The UN warned last week that famine in Gaza was “almost inevitable”.

A senior UN aid official warned that at least 576,000 people across the Gaza Strip – one quarter of the population – faced catastrophic levels of food insecurity and one in six children under the age of two in the north were suffering from acute malnutrition.

And the regional director of the UN’s children’s agency, Unicef, said “the child deaths we feared are here, as malnutrition ravages the Gaza Strip”.

“These tragic and horrific deaths are man-made, predictable and entirely preventable,” Adele Khodr said in a statement on Sunday.

The Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK, US and others – after the group’s gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 back to Gaza as hostages.

More than 30,500 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s health ministry.

ALSO READ:

• Israel-Gaza war: Kamala Harris urges more aid for starving Gazans

• Journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza in open letter

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has been ranked number one in all three categories in the Bloomberg Capital Markets League Tables Report for African Capital Markets. Afreximbank is ranked as number one Mandated Lead Arranger, Bookrunner, and Administrative Agent for Sub-Saharan Africa Borrower Loans. These rankings recognize the Bank’s leadership role in facilitating capital from within and outside of the continent, from a diverse range of investors and stakeholders to fulfill the financing needs of African member states and organizations.

Topping these prestigious rankings in all three categories simultaneously for the first time in the Bank’s 30-year history is a testament to the Bank’s remarkable growth, its systemic relevance on the continent, and its leading market position in the African loan markets. Despite the challenges faced by the African syndicated loan market in 2023, with volumes remaining relatively subdued at US$32 billion and a total of 82 loans only closing during the year, the rankings reflect Afreximbank’s unwavering commitment to its mandate.

Notably, the Bank has almost doubled its market share in both the Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) and Bookrunner categories, rising from 8% and 9% in 2022 to an impressive 19% and 14% in 2023, respectively. In the Loans Agency category, Afreximbank retained a significant 15% market share, while achieving a remarkable milestone of securing the position of the number one facility agent for the first time ever. The Bank’s specialized agency team is committed to growing the provision of these loans’ agency and security trustee services and is actively managing some of the largest loans on the continent.

These statistics reflect Afreximbank’s pivotal role in proactively stepping in to close the funding gap across various industry sectors and recognise the Bank’s continued leadership in mobilising and leveraging African capital from within and international capital from outside the continent from a diverse range of investors and stakeholders to meet the financing needs of African borrowers.

Afreximbank’s increased market share is particularly noteworthy in the challenging sectors of oil and gas and sovereign finance. Landmark financings in 2023 facilitated by the Bank include the US$1.3 billion Project Gleam facility for Angolan Ministry of Finance , the most significant “Green Loan” in Africa to date; partial prefunding of the US$2.7 billion multi-sourced financing for Ministry of Finance&Planning Tanzania’s backed development of Lots 3-4 of the Standard Gauge Railway; the US$ 1.3 billion annual facility for Angolan national oil company Sonangol; and a US$ 2,25 billion initial commitment of the US$ 3.3 billion crude oil prepayment facility for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Prof. Benedict Oramah, commented;

“These outstanding rankings in the Bloomberg League tables underscore Afreximbank’s commitment to driving economic growth, facilitating capital flows within the African continent while reflecting our resilience and ability to navigate challenging market conditions. The success of our rankings is a testament to the hard work and commitment of my colleagues and reinforces our position as a trusted financial partner for African organizations. We look forward to servicing their financing requirements for many years to come.”

The Bloomberg Capital Markets tables showcase the top arrangers, bookrunners and advisors across a broad array of deal types in the financial sector including loans, bonds, equity and M&A transactions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of September 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$33.4 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$5.8 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

In a shocking turn of events, a senior magistrate, Terence Mashaire, has found himself in legal turmoil as he is accused of accepting a bribe to manipulate a trial verdict.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe shared on their X account how the accused and the bribery planned to turn a verdict into a innocent one beyond the court.

Details of the Alleged Bribery

According to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), Mashaire allegedly received groceries, stationery, and a Defy Microwave from the defendant, Allen Bhaswi, in September 2023.

The gifts were purportedly given as a token of appreciation for the favourable ruling in Bhaswi’s case.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) revealed that the accused and Bhaswi went beyond a professional relationship, engaging in communication before and after court sessions.

The case, which concluded in December 2023, resulted in a ruling in favour of Allen Bhaswi.

It is alleged that Mashaire accepted a Solo Defy Microwave, groceries, and stationery as gifts from Bhaswi. Law enforcement officers later discovered the stove at Mashaire’s residence, providing further evidence of the alleged bribery.

Even after the conclusion of the case, Mashaire’s involvement did not cease. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) appealed the judgment in the Allen Bhaswi case.

Mashaire reportedly continued to advise Bhaswi on the legal proceedings at the High Court. An additional allegation states that Mashaire received USD450 through Ecocash from Bhaswi.

Terence Mashaire has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in court on 4 March 2024 for a bail ruling.

The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the judiciary. The potential influence of external factors on legal decisions is being questioned.

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-IDB.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed several agreements with Uzbekistan, amounting to US$ 715 million, on the sidelines of the Arab Coordination Group meeting, which was held from 4th to 5th March 2024 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

ITFC has been actively supporting the Government and local banks in Uzbekistan since 2018, with total financing approved for the country standing at US$773 million. This financing is geared towards supporting the production of cotton and wheat, ensuring food security, and helping stabilize prices for essential commodities, as well as supporting the trade finance needs of private sector and SME clients. In addition, ITFC will continue supporting local banks with technical assistance through new Integrated Trade Solutions in the coming years.

The collaboration also encompasses the “Trade Connect Central Asia+ (TCCA+)” Program, a flagship initiative developed by ITFC. The TCCA+ targets the expansion and economic integration of trade and investment cooperation among six countries: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The first agreement is a Framework Agreement on cooperation for the period of 2024 – 2026, amounting to US$600 million. This agreement was signed by H.E. Mr. Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade and IsDB Governor of Uzbekistan, and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of ITFC. The agreement aims to strengthen areas of cooperation between ITFC and Uzbekistan, focusing on trade finance, agricultural and food security financing for the public sector, support for state-owned enterprises, and financing for small and medium enterprises in sectors like pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, textile, and manufacturing.

The second agreement is a US$100 million Murabaha Financing Agreement signed by Mr. Ilkhom Norkulov, First Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance, and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of ITFC. This financing agreement aims to contribute to food security and agriculture in Uzbekistan, through procurement of strategic agricultural goods, to ensure a stable supply of wheat throughout the year. This initiative helps to stabilize wheat prices and support local farmers.

Additionally, ITFC signed a Line of Trade Financing Agreement jointly with AgroBank and its subsidiary SmartBank, amounting to US$15 million. This agreement will support SMEs and the private sector in Uzbekistan, boosting private sector contributions to the country’s economic development. The line of financing will  provide Sharia-compliant trade finance solutions to private sector and SME clients of AgroBank and its subsidiary SmartBank. This financing will be focusing on sectors like food and agriculture, manufacturing, and textile, and will aim to promote  financing of green projects.

Commenting on the signings, Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of ITFC said: “The agreements signed today strengthen our collaboration with Uzbekistan and are a testimony of our commitment to the socio-economic development in Uzbekistan and the Central Asia region at large. We believe the projects and programs that will benefit from the approved financing will positively contribute to national economic growth. We are pleased to be covering key sectors such as food security and the private sector which align with our focus on contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 8 (Decent Work&Economic Growth).

With a focus on key sectors such as trade finance, agriculture, and SME development, these agreements are meant to stimulate growth, ensure food security, support SMEs, and create sustainable economic opportunities. ITFC remains dedicated to driving positive change in Uzbekistan and the region, leveraging its expertise and resources to foster prosperity and resilience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

Contact Us
Tel.: +966 12 646 8337
Fax: +966 12 637 1064
E-mail: ITFC@itfc-idb.org

Social Media:
Twitter: @ITFCCORP
Facebook: @ITFCCORP
LinkedIn: International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)

About the International Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC):
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving the socioeconomic conditions of people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided US$75 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity-building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund approved, in Abidjan on 27 February 2024, $11.96 million Grant to speed up the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, headquartered in Kigali, Rwanda.

The financial support from the African Development Bank Group’s Regional Public Good window, together with a contribution of $1.93 million from the Rwandan government, is intended to implement the Regional Pharmaceutical Sector Support Project in Rwanda.

“The project should produce considerable benefits (outputs and outcomes) throughout Africa,” stated Aissa Touré Sarr, head of the African Development Bank’s Rwanda country office. “The leading-edge research and technological innovations of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (https://apo-opa.co/49DqOxy) should improve health care outcomes by providing access to advanced medicines and treatments, tackling prevalent diseases and contributing to the continent’s overall health resilience.”

The support from the African Development Fund should help improve access to advanced pharmaceutical technologies and strengthen the regulatory framework of the pharmaceutical industry in Africa.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, whose creation was approved in June 2022 by the African Development Bank Board of Directors, signed a host country agreement in December 2023, with the government of Rwanda, where it is based.

Given the difficulties that African countries face in accessing technology to manufacture medicines and vaccines in their own countries, this foundation will act as a transparent intermediary that promote and negotiate with pharmaceutical multinationals and other countries in the South on sharing technology, know-how, and patents protected by intellectual property rights. 

The foundation will build the capacity of African pharmaceuticals so that they commit to increasing local production as part of a systematic approach to learning new technologies and bringing production plants up to standard technologically. It will strengthen human and professional competences in the sector and in the R&D ecosystem, as well as in pharmaceutical and vaccine innovation to develop the skills needed for a thriving sector on the continent.

The African Development Fund grant will be used to purchase office equipment — furniture, hardware and software — and to enable the Foundation, to which the Rwandan government granted the status of an international agency, to recruit experts and relevant specialized technical firms to provide a range of specialist health and pharmaceutical services. In addition to administrative and human resources, some experts will be responsible for establishing financial and contract award systems.  

The project will also support information and awareness raising, consultancy services, training manufacturers in good manufacturing processes, and study trips for tacit knowledge transfer. It will also improve the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products, accelerate the implementation of a regional mutual recognition system, in line with harmonizing the regulations on medicine in the East African Community. It will therefore support several activities, including joint evaluations of medical product documentation, joint inspections of good manufacturing practices, signal detection and investigations of medical products, as well as post-marketing surveillance activities of antibiotics.

The African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation will collaborate closely with the African Union Medicines Agency, Africa CDC, the European Union, the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, the Medicines Patent Pool, philanthropic organizations and bilateral and multilateral agencies and institutions.

The first institution of its kind to collaborate with the public and private sectors in Africa, North America, Europe and the rest of the developing world, the foundation has agreed a memorandum of understanding with the European Investment Bank. In addition, it receives substantial support from Germany.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa’s development. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The AfDB has a field presence in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, and contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
 

With 180 million barrels of proven oil reserves – and up to 5 billion of estimated oil reserves – the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is embarking on an extensive exploration campaign to harness its resources for enhanced energy security and GDP growth. As the country intensifies upstream activities, the Invest in African Energy (IAE) (https://Invest-Africa-Energy.com) 2024 forum, slated for 13 – 14 May in Paris, will spotlight lucrative investment opportunities spanning the DRC’s oil and gas value chain.

Featuring Africa’s key policymakers and industry leaders – including the confirmed participation of Didier Budimbu Ntubuanga, Congolese Minister of Hydrocarbons – the IAE forum will connect energy and infrastructure projects with global investors, aimed at advancing oil and gas exploration, transport, processing and distribution in the DRC and East African region. The country currently produces 25,000 barrels of oil per day from its Coast Basin, in partnership with independent hydrocarbon producer Perenco. Yet with additional hydrocarbon-rich basins remaining untapped – such as the highly prospective Albertine Graben, shared with Uganda – the DRC represents a frontier market with significant upside for oil and gas explorers.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/49krKXM) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2024 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

With Perenco and French major TotalEnergies already active in the country, the DRC is looking to strengthen collaboration with international partners to drive upstream investment. To realize this objective, the DRC launched an upstream market expansion initiative, initiating a 30-block licensing round in early-2022 aimed at unlocking oil reserves valued at up to $650 billion.

In January 2023, the DRC awarded exploration and production licenses for three Lake Kivu gas blocks to North American energy companies Symbion Power, Winds Energy&Production and Alfajiri Energy. The awards pave the way for the development of a $300-million, 60 MW gas-to-power project by Symbion Power, which could unlock further expansion of the country’s gas value chain. Perenco’s launch of a new offshore gas production and training platform last May also serves to propel domestic gas production, while training the local workforce.

The DRC is prioritizing collaboration with regional governments and stakeholders to attract investment and foster local content development. Last July, the country signed an agreement with Angola for the joint development of Block 14, situated on the maritime border of the two countries. The agreement not only encourages investments from block operator Chevron, but also increases Angola’s supply of refined petroleum products to the DRC, thereby enhancing energy resilience in the country. Moreover, the partnership provides for knowledge-sharing initiatives aimed at establishing best practices and expanding both countries’ respective oil and gas industries.

Last May, the DRC signed an agreement with Uganda that would see oil produced from the DRC’s Albertine Graben transported via the planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline and exported to global markets. The DRC also forged an agreement with Equatorial Guinea in 2022 for the construction of a refinery and storage facilities. Both initiatives are set to usher in a new era of mid- and downstream development, facilitating the export of the DRC’s crude oil to new markets. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

The Gender Mainstreaming Awards, a powerful indicator of progress towards gender mainstreaming in the corporate world, proudly returns for its 12th event across Africa. Developed by Business Engage (www.BusinessEngage.africa), these awards inspire private corporates to champion gender mainstreaming as a strategic imperative. The Awards also recognise individuals who are contributing to this success.

This year, in collaboration with Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), RCL FOODS, AECI, Assupol and Rand Merchant Bank, the 2024 Gender Mainstreaming Awards are set to elevate Africa as the focal point of gender mainstreaming success.

The Gender Mainstreaming Awards, held annually, honour those who have made tangible contributions to gender mainstreaming. The winners and finalists have consistently demonstrated their unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the African business arena.

The JSE, RCL Foods, AECI, Assupol and Rand Merchant Bank in partnership with Business Engage invite you to participate in the celebration of gender mainstreaming by nominating outstanding individuals and corporates for the 12th Gender Mainstreaming Awards, scheduled for 31 October 2024. Entries are open to corporates and individuals across various categories, reflecting the diversity of your company’s commitment to gender mainstreaming. For more information, visit www.GenderAwards.com.

Vuyo Lee, Director of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the JSE, stresses, “As a key contributor to the functioning of the South African economy, at the JSE, we believe that promoting gender equality is not only a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity.  By recognising and celebrating the efforts and achievements of companies that prioritise gender equality, the Gender Mainstreaming Awards promote principles of inclusivity, diversity, and representation, ultimately fostering sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity”.

Tasmin Coleman, HR Director: Diversity and Inclusion, Growth and Groceries&Spreads commented. “We are proud to be a sponsor of this year’s 12th Africa Gender Mainstreaming Awards, celebrating individuals and corporates who have made a tangible impact on achieving Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Aligned with our purpose of “Growing what Matters,” RCL FOODS is committed to advancing gender empowerment through various initiatives within our organization. Our commitment extends to improving gender representation at leadership levels and fostering a culture that is both diverse and inclusive for all”.

The Gender Mainstreaming Awards extend their reach across East, West, and Southern Africa, crowning an overall Africa Champion. In 2023, simultaneous in-person events across different African regions showcased the Awards’ growing influence, with thousands of attendees celebrating gender mainstreaming success. This continental approach aims to position Africa as the gender hub for exporting stories of gender mainstreaming to the world.

AECI’s Group Chief People Officer, Khabonina Ramoupi, added “As part of our ongoing commitment to gender equality and inclusion, AECI is proud to announce our partnership with Business Engage. This sponsorship reflects our dedication to advancing gender mainstreaming in our organization, our industry and beyond.  Gender mainstreaming is a key focus for our Sustainability journey and enables us to build a more diverse, robust workforce for a more peaceful, prosperous sustainable future.  We are excited to be part of the annual Gender Mainstreaming Awards and look forward to the positive impact it will have on advancing gender equality”.

The Gender Mainstreaming Awards comprise 9 private sector categories for corporates, highlighting achievements in areas like board representation, workplace empowerment, disability, entrepreneurship, disability, and community engagement.  There are also three individual categories, the Inclusive Leader Award, Positive Role Model and RMB’s Africa’s Fearless Thinker Awards.

“Diversity has become a critical differentiator and an essential part of providing excellent service, not matter what sector you operate in. Cultivating an environment in which gender inclusivity is intrinsic in everything we do is key, and it is important to acknowledge the role that all genders play in successful business,” says Nana Phiri, Head: Corporate Client Group at RMB.

Bridget Mokwena-Halala, CEO of Assupol, highlights the importance of gender equality in all spheres of corporate. “Assupol is a big supporter of gender equality and actively promotes diversity in the workplace. We believe that everyone should have equal opportunities and be treated fairly, regardless of their gender or background. This is why we are proud to be involved in the 2024 Gender Mainstreaming Awards which recognise organisations that prioritise inclusivity and gender equality in their operations.”

As we continue the journey of gender mainstreaming, Colleen Larsen of Business Engage asserts, “We believe the best way to influence change is to strengthen and grow the current conversation, then couple that with deliberate actions.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Business Engage.

For media inquiries, interviews, or further information, please contact:
Nelson Mabela
Business Engage Association NPC
Email: nelson@businessengage.co.za

About Business Engage Association NPC:
Business Engage Association NPC, established in 2005, is an exciting and inventive non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting gender mainstreaming in the private sector. It is a shared-value initiative which currently 115 corporates across Africa contribute to on an annual basis. The initiative includes various programmes based on driving the business case for gender mainstreaming.  The vision is to ensure that Africa becomes the hub for gender  mainstreaming whereby good news stories are shared with the rest of the world rather than relying on international data to benchmark our success. 

Visit us at www.BusinessEngage.africa.

About AECI:
AECI is a diversified chemicals solutions company employing 7 168 people at more than 100 sites. We have a presence in 22 countries on six continents. Founded in 1896 to service South Africa’s burgeoning gold and diamond mining industries, the company was formally established in 1924. AECI was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in 1966. A mainstay of the economy in South Africa, over the years we have expanded our presence and evolved our product and service offering to a broad base of customers. Our products and services include, mine-to-mineral solutions, water treatment solutions, chemical raw materials and related services, asphalt and bitumen for road construction, food and beverage ingredients and commodities, vitamin and mineral animal feed premixes, crop protection products and plant nutrients as well as property leasing and provision of utilities. Our operating businesses are structured into four key operating business segments – AECI Mining, AECI Water, AECI Agri Health and AECI Chemicals. 

For more information visit: www.AECIworld.com

About Assupol:
Assupol Life is a South African fully fledged life insurer which has become a household name, synonymous with high-quality service and affordable products tailored for our focused markets. With a focus on innovation, we offer a comprehensive range of affordable funeral, life, savings, investments, and retirement products to meet the needs of the South African market. With a strong emphasis on transformation, we encourage real change in the equal representation of women within the private sector. We are proud to have a workforce that is 85% African, and we actively promote the appointment of women in key positions, striving to contribute to a society that supports and empowers women. With over 110 years of serving those who serve, Assupol Life remains a leader in the financial services industry and continues to uphold its legacy as a caring company since its inception.

For more information visit: www.Assupol.co.za

About JSE:
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history of operating as a marketplace for trading financial products. It is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world-class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself on being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.  The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for 136 years. As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates unlocks value&makes real connections happen. 

For more information visit: www.JSE.co.za

About RCL FOODS:
RCL FOODS is a deeply rooted South African business with more than 30 much-loved brands including Yum Yum peanut butter, Nola mayonnaise, Ouma rusks, Pieman’s pies, Number 1 mageu, Sunbake bread, Supreme flour, Selati sugar, Simply Chicken, Rainbow chicken, Bobtail and Canine Cuisine dog food, Catmor and Feline Cuisine cat food, and Molatek and Epol animal feed. We are more than 10 000 people working together towards a powerful purpose: We Grow What Matters.  

For more information visit: www.RCLFOODS.com

About RMB:
Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) is a leading African corporate and investment bank (CIB) and part of the largest financial services group (by market capitalisation) in Africa – FirstRand Bank Limited (which is wholly owned by FirstRand Limited). We offer our clients innovative, value-added advisory, funding, trading, corporate banking, and principal investing solutions.

With a presence in 10 African countries, we have a significant footprint on the continent. We also have access to a network of retail banks, representative offices and branches across Africa, the UK, India and the US.

For more information visit: www.RMB.co.za 

Canon EMEA (www.Canon-CNA.com), the world’s leading imaging company, continues its sponsorship of the Canon Young Champion of the Year category at the Global Good Awards for the fifth year running to highlight the achievements of young campaigners. Entries for the Canon Young Champion of the Year category open today, closing on 3 May.

The Canon Young Champion of the Year Award recognises young leaders who are driving positive change across any area of sustainability and use their examples to encourage others to take action. The award started as an extension of Canon EMEA’s Young People Programme (https://apo-opa.co/3P2mks8), which gives young people the knowledge, skills and confidence to tackle sustainability issues that matter to them using creativity and critical thinking.

Last year, Raheen Fatima and Manyasiri ‘Pear’ Chotbunwong were named the winners of the under 16s and under 21s categories. The judges praised Raheen’s work as an activist, which has seen her help to educate young people around the world on a range of topics, using the Sustainable Development Goals as a basis. To date, Raheen has taught more than 5,000 young people from 20 different countries.

Meanwhile, Manyasiri ‘Pear’ Chotbunwong, founder of feminine health non-profit organisation H.E.R. (Health. Equity. Respect) was recognised for her efforts in supporting women’s access to period products, education, healthcare and employment. Through her organisation, she has helped to distribute over 10,000 reusable and FDA-approved sugarcane fibre pads to women in five countries through partnerships with 30+ schools and NGOs.

Previous winners of the Canon category have gone on to represent Canon at global events including Expo 2020 Dubai and some of last year’s finalists featured in a TV and social media global video campaign with Warner Brothers Discovery brand, Cartoon Network

Peter Bragg, Canon EMEA Sustainability&Government Affairs Director said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Global Good Awards for the fifth year running. I look forward to seeing applications over the next months highlighting the hard work and achievements of young sustainability campaigners. This is an important time to recognise young sustainability champions making a real difference in their communities”.

To determine this year’s Canon Young Champion of the Year Award winner, an inspiring bench of judges have been announced including Executive Director at UN Global Compact Network UK, Steve Kenzie, Sustainability advisor and author of Be the Change Books, Georgina Stevens, 2023 Canon Young Champion of the Year finalist Jodie Bailey-Ho, and photographer and Canon Ambassador, Laura El Tantawy.

Details on the Canon Young Champion of the Year category

The award is open in two categories – under 17s and under 25s – both of which are free to enter and welcome entries from participants of Canon Youth Programmes and for external youth activists. Judges will consider applications from more than one candidate per entry, for example where groups or siblings have worked together to campaign for a good cause. Entries are open now (https://apo-opa.co/3V2lzTB) and will close on 3 May 2024.

To apply, entrants must submit up to 1250 words, a personal video statement and as many as six captioned images that tell their story and the change they’ve been working towards. Using the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (https://apo-opa.co/3P6nX82) as a guide, entries may focus on any form of social and environmental sustainability activism, whether it’s a local community project or a large, global initiative.

Winners of the Young Champion Award will receive a Canon EOS R50 Content Creator Kit and will be invited to a masterclass with a Canon Ambassador. Shortlisted finalists will also receive a certificate, sustainably made medal and a joint masterclass with a Canon Ambassador.

Entrants may submit an entry for themselves if they are over 18, or alternatively they can be nominated by a parent, guardian, company, or the charity or organisation which they are working with but must be an integral part of the application process.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3T4u12k) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

Nikki Haley has defeated Donald Trump in the Republican primary in Washington DC.

This is her first victory over the former President in the 2024 campaign to become the Republican presidential candidate.

She lost in South Carolina, her home state. But she is the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history.

Mr Trump however has a huge lead over Ms Haley and is likely to face Joe Biden in the November election.

The BBC’s US partner CBS reports that Ms Haley will receive all 19 Republican delegates who were up for grabs in Washington DC, giving her 43 delegates nationwide – well behind Mr Trump’s 247.

Ms Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN, won 62.9% of the vote, to Mr Trump’s 33.2%.

It is seen as a largely symbolic win, as the capital is a heavily Democrat-leaning jurisdiction, with only about 23,000 registered Republicans in the city.

Local party officials said 2,035 Republicans participated in the primary, the Washington Post reported.

Ms Haley’s campaign national spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said: “It’s not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos”.

The Trump Campaign, however, was quick to dismiss Ms Haley’s win, calling her the “Queen of the Swamp”.

“While Nikki has been soundly rejected throughout the rest of America, she was just crowned Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders that want to protect the failed status quo. The swamp has claimed their queen,” Trump Campaign press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said.

Mr Trump has dominated every state primary or caucus so far in the Republican campaign, and is poised to win more delegates this week, on Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states and one US territory will nominate their candidate. It is the biggest day of nominating contests, with 874 Republican delegates’ support at stake.

Ms Haley has vowed to stay in the race until at least 5 March, when thousands of people in will cast their votes on Super Tuesday.

A delegation from Access Bank Ghana PLC has visited former President John Mahama to officially inform about the untimely death of its CEO, Dr Herbert Wigwe.

Announcing the visit in a Facebook post, Mr Mahama disclosed Herbert was a friend he had the pleasure of knowing during his tenure as Vice President.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer eulogised the deceased for his dedication and efforts in making the Access Bank brand a household name in Africa and the world.

He also extended his heartfelt condolences to the Wigwe family, the management, and the staff of Access Bank during this incredibly difficult time.

“The passing of Dr. Wigwe, his wife, son, and friend, the former Chair of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Agunbanjo, shocked us all and is very difficult to accept,” he mourned.

Mr. Wigwe, was killed in a helicopter crash in the United States of America, on Friday, February 9, 2024, evening.

He was among six people. including his wife and son who died in the crash.

Meanwhile, his family will begin with a celebration of his professional legacy at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on March 4 and will end with an outing service at the Redeemed Christian Church Of God (RCCG), Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo, Ikwerre LGA, Rivers, on March 10.

ALSO READ:

• ACCESS Bank Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe reported dead in helicopter crash

• Mahama mourns Access Bank CEO

Listen to the soundbite

Download the soundbite

The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition has launched its sixth annual continent-wide search for 10 exceptional entrepreneurs who are striving to make a positive impact in their local communities. The application form can be accessed for free on ABH’s official website (https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org/) starting today.

Since its inception in 2019, ABH has spotlighted and supported some of Africa’s brightest entrepreneurial minds. The ABH top 10 finalists (Heroes) over the last five years:

have created 123,000 direct and indirect jobs in Africa
are serving over 37.5 million customers in Africa and beyond
have raised over US$153 million (not counting debt raises)
operate in 52 African countries

As ABH enters its sixth year, it is calling on entrepreneurs across Africa to pitch on the biggest entrepreneurial stage in the continent. ABH encourages applicants from all 54 countries, from all business sectors, of all ages and genders, to submit their applications in English or French. Along with invaluable benefits such as training, exposure and networking opportunities, the top 10 finalists will also compete for their share of US$1.5 million in grant money.

Audio

“Over the past five years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible growth of our Heroes. Many of our Heroes have leveraged the grant funds to expand their geographic footprint, hire talent, grow their operations and invest in new products and services. It’s been heart-warming to see our Heroes collaborate with each other and to tap into the ABH network of judges and experts. We are motivated to continue to play our part in supporting the African entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are calling on all eligible African entrepreneurs who are creating positive impact to join us in this journey!” says Zahra Baitie, Head of Partnerships&Programs, Africa’s Business Heroes.

Applications for ABH 2024 are open from now until May 19, 2024. The top 50 finalists will be announced in July, followed by the announcement of the top 10 in September. The final winners will be unveiled at the Grand Finale in November.

To apply, and for more information about ABH 2024, please visit ABH’s website (https://apo-opa.co/3uUYEPD) and follow ABH on Twitter (@africa_heroes), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3KZTXKa), TikTok (https://apo-opa.co/48DjD7o) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3YDG5bH).

For more details, read the full press release on the launch of this year’s ABH Prize Competition here: https://apo-opa.co/48HeTgS

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

Press Contact:
Africa’s Business Heroes Press Room
abh.press@list.alibaba-inc.com

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
English: Tracy Walakira
tracy.walakira@apo-opa.com
French / Arabic: Malika Bouayad
malika.bouayad@apo-opa.com

About Africa’s Business Heroes:
The Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy. It aims to support, inspire and enable the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors who are building a brighter future for the continent, by offering grant funding, training programs and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over 10 years, each year the ABH Prize Competition features 10 entrepreneur finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.

Nilepet is a major employer and incubator of talent in the petroleum industry of South Sudan. Its new, modern HQ marks a shift to being a more active and ambitious national company.

South Sudan’s national oil company Nilepet today opened its new headquarters in Juba, marking a significant milestone for the corporation. H.E. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan, officially cut the ribbon at the new building.

The project took six years to complete, over the tenure of four managing directors, with the final stages and inauguration achieved under Managing Director Bernard Amour Makeny. At the opening, Nilepet (officially the Nile Petroleum Corporation) gathered together all international partners in South Sudan’s upstream petroleum segment, including CNPC, Petronas, ONGC, Sinopec and Tri-Ocean, as well as the joint operating companies Greater Pioneer Operating Company, Dar Petroleum Operating Company and Sudd Petroleum Operating Company. Also present were heads of Nilepet’s joint ventures and subsidiary firms.

“For all the young people, this truly is the beginning of the journey of transformation of Nilepet. I want us to change our mindsets,” said Makeny at the opening ceremony. “What produces results is commitment, integrity and the love of being a citizen … We need to prove that today we can build a better company if we work as a team. No more division. No more segregation. No more gender imbalance.

As South Sudan’s primary employer, with 2,000+ staff, Nilepet has a fundamental role in the human capacity development of the nation. The new headquarters, dubbed ‘the Home of Transformation’, can hold up to 1,100 staff. It signifies Nilepet’s growing ambition across the spectrum of energy activities, in particular the upstream business, where Nilepet recently grew its stake in Dar Petroleum Operating Company from 8% to 10%.

The building further demonstrates the corporation’s dedication to equipping South Sudanese nationals with the skills to build a competitive energy sector. Makeny emphasized that it is vital for Nilepet’s vision to engage further with international investors and partners, with accountability, efficiency and professionalism as core values.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

About Nilepet:
Nilepet is the Host Sponsor and Gala Dinner Sponsor of the seventh edition of the South Sudan Oil&Power conference on 25-28 June 2024. For the first time this year, the event – which is organized by Energy Capital&Power – includes a mining forum, and free-to-attend youth workshops hosted by energy business leaders. The event is organized by Energy Capital&Power.

EMURGO Africa (www.EMURGO.africa), the investment and commercial arm of Cardano in Africa, today announced the launch of EMURGO Labs, a dedicated development entity for emerging Web3 technologies. EMURGO Labs is designed to support the growth of established and nascent Web2 and Web3 organizations. EMURGO Labs is set to spearhead the digital transformation across borders, leveraging the transformative power of the Cardano blockchain.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/3V3SDLg

EMURGO Labs will serve as the central hub for fostering the growth of both established and burgeoning Web2 and Web3 organizations throughout the region. By leveraging the unparalleled power and potential of the Cardano blockchain, EMURGO Labs aims to empower innovation, facilitate cross-border expansion, and contribute to the overall expansion of the global blockchain ecosystem.

“The launch of EMURGO Labs marks a significant step forward in our mission to unlock the transformative potential of blockchain technology in Africa, Middle East and GCC,” said Ahmed M. Amer, CEO of EMURGO Labs. “Through comprehensive support services, strategic partnerships, and industry-leading expertise, I am confident that EMURGO Labs will become the premier destination for Web3 ventures seeking to thrive in this dynamic region” added Amer.

EMURGO Labs is dedicated to delivering a broad spectrum of services, meticulously designed to meet the evolving needs of the digital era, enabling organizations to seamlessly migrate from Web2 to Web3 while also enhancing and expanding the capabilities of already established Web3 entities.

Blockchain Solutions Development: Partnering with global enterprises, startups, and accelerators, EMURGO Labs is at the forefront of investing in and developing groundbreaking blockchain solutions with real world use cases

Custom Software Development: Tailored software solutions are crafted to drive digital transformation, propelling enterprises into the future.

UI/UX Design: With a focus on user-centric design, EMURGO Labs ensures intuitive user experiences and sleek interfaces for Cardano blockchain applications, setting a new standard in usability and aesthetics.

Aiming to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders, from Web2 and Web3 startups, banks, and large corporations to governments and the wider business community, EMURGO Labs is strategically positioned. By appealing to investors, blockchain enthusiasts, media, and policymakers, it is poised to become a pivotal player in the global blockchain ecosystem. For more information or to explore partnership opportunities, please visit https://apo-opa.co/3uNgPa2

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EMURGO Africa.

For more information, please contact:
Omar Badr
Marketing Director
omar@emurgo.africa

PROVIDING IMPACTFUL SOLUTIONS ON CARDANO
www.EMURGO.africa

About EMURGO Africa:
EMURGO Africa is the investment and commercial arm of Cardano in Africa and the MENA region, using blockchain technology to address challenges on the ground and empower individuals and businesses across the continent. Focused on supporting entrepreneurs in the Web 3.0 space, EMURGO Africa also provides tailored solutions for startups, corporations, and governments through EMURGO Labs to foster the development of blockchain-enabled ecosystems.

The Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Prize Competition has launched its sixth annual continent-wide search for 10 exceptional entrepreneurs who are striving to make a positive impact in their local communities. The application form can be accessed for free on ABH’s official website (https://AfricaBusinessHeroes.org/) starting today.

Since its inception in 2019, ABH has spotlighted and supported some of Africa’s brightest entrepreneurial minds. The ABH top 10 finalists (Heroes) over the last five years:

have created 123,000 direct and indirect jobs in Africa
are serving over 37.5 million customers in Africa and beyond
have raised over US$153 million (not counting debt raises)
operate in 52 African countries

In 2023, ABH published a five-year impact report that details the impact ABH Heroes have had. The full report can be accessed here: https://apo-opa.co/3T4mErL

As ABH enters its sixth year, it is calling on entrepreneurs across Africa to pitch on the biggest entrepreneurial stage in the continent. ABH encourages applicants from all 54 countries, from all business sectors, of all ages and genders, to submit their applications in English or French. Along with invaluable benefits such as training, exposure and networking opportunities, the top 10 finalists will also compete for their share of US$1.5 million in grant money.

“Over the past five years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing the incredible growth of our Heroes. Many of our Heroes have leveraged the grant funds to expand their geographic footprint, hire talent, grow their operations and invest in new products and services. It’s been heart-warming to see our Heroes collaborate with each other and to tap into the ABH network of judges and experts. We are motivated to continue to play our part in supporting the African entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are calling on all eligible African entrepreneurs who are creating positive impact to join us in this journey!” says Zahra Baitie, Head of Partnerships&Programs, Africa’s Business Heroes.

To date, nearly 100,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the ABH Prize Competition. Last year’s winners were chosen from 27,267 applicants from sectors spanning agriculture, education and training, energy, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail. The competition cumulated in the Grand Finale, where the top 10 finalists mounted Africa’s largest augmented reality-powered stage to present their businesses to a panel of esteemed judges.

Dr. Ikpeme Neto, CEO and Founder of Wellahealth Technologies, ABH 2023 First Prize Winner says: “Participating in the ABH Prize Competition has been a transformative experience for Wellahealth Technologies, profoundly impacting our journey as a startup. ABH not only provided us with financial assistance but also offered unparalleled opportunities for entrepreneurship training, networking, and exposure. I urge fellow entrepreneurs across Africa to seize this extraordinary opportunity to enjoy a wealth of benefits that can catalyze growth and success for your ventures.”

WellaHealth (www.WellaHealth.com) provides affordable healthcare plans that start at less than a dollar a month to cover care common conditions delivered via pharmacies and remote doctors. The company serves over 300,000 individuals and is aiming to reach one million within 18 months and expand to 10 million within the next five years, extending its services in Nigeria and throughout Africa.

ABH constantly explores effective ways to help the participating entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level. As with previous years, the journey to this year’s Grand Finale will also include access to a community of business leaders, innovators, industry experts and investors as well as multi-disciplinary boot camps and training sessions.

To better facilitate the engagement with entrepreneurs and facilitate applications, this year ABH will organize a series of roadshows in multiple countries, including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. These events will be conducted in collaboration with local entrepreneur organizations and ABH community members. Participants will gain valuable insights into the ABH initiative as well as enhance their chances of success in the competition. Further details regarding the roadshows and information sessions will be disseminated via ABH’s official social media channels and newsletters.

Applications for ABH 2024 are open from now until May 19, 2024. The top 50 finalists will be announced in July, followed by the announcement of the top 10 in September. The final winners will be unveiled at the Grand Finale in November.

To apply, and for more information about ABH 2024, please visit ABH’s website (https://apo-opa.co/3uUYEPD) and follow ABH on Twitter (@africa_heroes), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3KZTXKa), TikTok (https://apo-opa.co/48DjD7o) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3YDG5bH).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).

Press Contact:
Africa’s Business Heroes Press Room
abh.press@list.alibaba-inc.com

For media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
English: Tracy Walakira 
tracy.walakira@apo-opa.com
French / Arabic: Malika Bouayad 
malika.bouayad@apo-opa.com

About Africa’s Business Heroes:
The Africa’s Business Heroes Prize Competition is a philanthropic initiative sponsored by the Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Philanthropy. It aims to support, inspire and enable the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors who are building a brighter future for the continent, by offering grant funding, training programs and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Over 10 years, each year the ABH Prize Competition features 10 entrepreneur finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of US$1.5 million in grant money.

Pecan Energies (www.PecanEnergies.com), the operator of the Deepwater Tano/Cape Three Points (DWT/CTP) block offshore Ghana is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its rebranding journey.

The company has evolved with a new name, logo, and a revitalized brand identity to better reflect its commitment to building prosperity and enabling growth for African communities. Underlining this transformation is Pecan Energies’ new tagline: “Unlocking Prosperity.”

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) acquired Pecan Energies in April 2023, laying the foundations for a new brand identity. AFC is a multilateral financial institution created by African sovereign states to provide pragmatic solutions to Africa’s infrastructure deficit and challenging operating environment. The acquisition was a demonstration of AFC’s commitment to ensure that Africa’s natural resources, including its vast oil and gas reserves, are developed sustainably while retaining value on the continent. Pecan Energies holds a 50 per cent stake in the DWT/CTP block offshore Ghana.

“Pecan Energies represents our ambition to become the Pan-African oil and gas operator of choice in offshore deep waters of Ghana. Our new brand is dedicated to value creation, one of our core values. This also includes an unwavering commitment to transparency in how we harness our commercial and technical expertise for developmental outcomes in Ghana and beyond,” said Eiliv Gjesdal, Chief Executive Officer of Pecan Energies AS.

Pecan Energies is making good progress towards a Final Investment Decision (FID) following the successful approval of its Plan of Development (PoD) for the DWT/CTP contract area by Ghanaian authorities. Under its new ownership and identity, the goal is to realize the full social and economic impact potential of the entire DWT/CTP block. The block has discoveries of approximately 550 million barrels of recoverable oil equivalents, in addition to a significant exploration portfolio.

“As we embrace our new identity, sustainability, localization, empowerment, and giving back aren’t just commitments — they’re woven into the very fabric of our business,” said Kadijah Amoah, Chief Executive Officer of Pecan Energies Ghana Limited.

Key Highlights of the Rebrand:

New Logo: The logo is a culmination of modern design elements that represent the company’s forward-thinking approach. It has been designed to be clear, simple, and bold and stems from a series of shapes and symbols that evoke collaboration and mutual benefit. 

Brand Palette&Typography: Adopting a palette that represents our devotion to the sustainable development of the natural resource was essential and plays a central role in creating and sustaining brand recognition.

Vision and Mission: Our vision and mission speak to our aspiration to mature and produce resources in a safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible manner for the mutual benefit of the Ghanaian people, the company, and our partners. Our goal is to unlock greater prosperity in Ghana and beyond.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pecan Energies.

Media Contact:
T +233 30274 4140
E info@pecanenergies.com
PecanEnergies.co

About Pecan Energies:

Pecan Energies is the operator and 50 per cent shareholder in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block (DWT/CTP) offshore Ghana. It is fully owned by Africa Finance Corporation. Our partners in the DWT/CTP block are: Lukoil Overseas Ghana Tano Limited, 38 per cent, Fueltrade Limited 2% and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, 10%.

Read more about Pecan Energies at www.PecanEnergies.com 

US Vice-President Kamala Harris says people in Gaza “are starving” and has urged Israel to “significantly increase the flow of aid” there.

She said “there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks”, which would “get the [Israeli] hostages out”.

Earlier, Israel did not attend truce talks in Egypt, saying Hamas was not giving a list of hostages still alive.

Hamas told the BBC it was unable to do so because of the Israeli bombing.

Hamas’s team and mediators from the US and Qatar are understood to be in Egypt’s capital Cairo for the planned negotiations.

Pressure for a ceasefire deal intensified after Thursday’s incident outside Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian enclave where at least 112 people were killed when crowds rushed an aid convoy and Israeli troops opened fire.

Speaking at an event in Alabama on Sunday, Ms Harris said: “What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal feed, women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.

“As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed.”

The vice-president stressed that “our common humanity compels us to act”, reiterating President Joe Biden’s commitment “to urgently get more life-saving assistance to innocent Palestinians in need”.

On Monday Ms Harris is due to have talks in Washington with Benny Gantz, an influential member of Israel’s war cabinet, to discuss a possible ceasefire deal and increased humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Ms Harris said “there is a deal on the table and as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let’s get a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families, and let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.”

She also said “the Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.”

She was speaking in Selma, Alabama, at an event marking the 1965 attack by state troopers on civil rights demonstrators, known as Bloody Sunday.

The Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 back to Gaza as hostages.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says at least 30,410 people, including 21,000 children and women, have been killed in Gaza since then, with some 7,000 missing and 71,700 injured.

A senior Hamas official, Dr Basem Naim, told the BBC’s Newshour programme on Sunday that the group was unable to provide Israel with a full list of surviving hostages. “Practically it is impossible to know who is still alive because of the Israeli bombardment and blockage. They are in different areas with different groups.

“We have asked for a ceasefire to collect that data”, he said, adding: “we cannot accept any preconditions”.

The UK, US and their Western partners consider Iranian-backed Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.

ALSO READ:

• Israel-Gaza war affecting people of diverse backgrounds; let’s pray for peace – Agyinasare

• Israel-Gaza war: More than 100 reported killed in crowd near Gaza aid convoy

France is preparing to become the first country in the world to put the right to abortion in its constitution.

On Monday, parliamentarians from the upper and lower chambers will meet in special session in the Palace of Versailles, summoned by President Emmanuel Macron.

If, as expected, they vote for the government’s motion by a three-fifths majority, then the country’s 1958 constitution will be revised to enshrine women’s “guaranteed freedom” to abort.

It will be the 25th amendment to the Fifth Republic’s founding document, and the first since 2008.

Spurred by the end of federal protection of abortion rights in the US two years ago, supporters are exuberant over the revision – which they see as insurance against any similar backpedalling in France.

Polls show around 85% of the French public support the reform. Resistance from right-wingers in parliament has failed to materialize.

Opposition, instead, has largely focused on the politics of the move: President Macron is accused of debasing the constitution for electoral ends.

Critics say the revision is not necessarily wrong in itself, but unnecessary – and they see a weakened president trying to use the cause to boost his left-wing credentials and to flush out opposition to abortion.

Political

President Macron lacks a majority in the National Assembly and faces an uphill task getting any reforms into law.

His January reshuffle of his government meanwhile slanted it to the right.

Following controversial laws last year on pension reform and immigration, this has given the jitters to left-leaning components of his Renaissance party – for whom the abortion revision is now a welcome re-balancing.

“It is a big relief to be able to proclaim our unity again on an issue over which the whole of the party can agree. There have been a lot of tensions inside Renaissance, but now we can remind ourselves of the values we share,” said one left-wing member of the party who asked not to be identified.

But, in taking up what had originally been a left-wing parliamentary initiative, Mr Macron was doing more than just shoring up his left-wing support. He was also setting a trap.

With European elections approaching in June, the president hoped the constitutional revision on abortion might open a clear fault line between his party and its main opponents, Marine Le Pen’s far-right.

If enough parliamentarians from the right and far-right objected to the reform, then they could easily be cast as reactionaries.

Unfortunately for him, neither the Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) nor the conservative Republicans (KLR) took the bait.

Given a free vote in Assembly and Senate debates which preceded Monday’s special congress, most right-wing parliamentarians voted for the bill.

No parallel

Which is not to say many of them did not have misgivings about the constitutional reform. They just decided it was not worth fighting.

In fact the main argument against the revision has nothing to do with the matter of abortion. The argument is over whether abortion is a matter for the constitution.

In France, the right to abortion has been enshrined in law – not, as it was in the US, by a single supreme court ruling – since 1975.

Since then the law has been updated nine times – and on each occasion with the aim of extending access.

France’s constitutional council – the body that decides on the constitutionality of laws – has never raised a query.

In a 2001 ruling, the council based its approval of abortion on the notion of liberty enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is technically part of the constitution.

So, according to many jurists, abortion is already a constitutional right.

“Beyond being a symbol,” says Anne Levade, a law professor at Paris-Sorbonne University, “the revision will change absolutely nothing.”

Misuse of constitution?

She and other experts worry the purpose of the constitution – to set out a sparse set of immutable rules inside which law and politics can function – risks being undermined if it becomes a repository for a succession of “rights”.

What if in the future elected representatives become convinced having a child is also a right? Will surrogate motherhood be put in the constitution? Or what about gay marriage? Or the attainment of carbon reduction targets?

“There is a French particularity which leads politicians – in an almost Pavlovian way – to look for a constitutional change each time they want to signal the importance they attach to an issue,” Levade laments.

Supporters of the reform however say it must happen to guard against a new wave of “reactionary” social change in Europe that could bring to power those who are minded to restrict the right to abortion.

They point to countries like Malta, Hungary and Poland where limits are already in place or the subject of much debate.

“In women’s rights, symbols count,” feminist lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo said of the constitutional change.

“Tomorrow they become our battlements. To wait until abortion was actually under threat would be to wait too long.”

ALSO READ:

• France announces new visa fees for foreign students, tougher dependent rules

• I’m not a fan of IGP Dampare but… – Frances Essiam

Swiss voters have given themselves an extra month’s pension each year – in a nationwide referendum focusing on living standards for the elderly.

The government had warned that the increased payments would be too expensive to afford.

But almost 60% of voters said ‘yes’ in Sunday’s poll. Separately, 75% rejected raising the pension age from 65 to 66.

The maximum monthly state pension is €2,550 (£2,180; $2,760) – not enough, many say, to live on in Switzerland.

The cost of living in Switzerland, particularly in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, is among the highest in the world.

Health insurance premiums, which are obligatory for everyone, have been rising fast, and older people sometimes struggle to pay them.

Women who may have had work breaks to raise a family, and immigrants recruited decades ago to work in Swiss factories, restaurants, or hospitals, can find it particularly difficult to make ends meet.

More and more people are working into their 70s not out of choice, but out of necessity. Meanwhile among the younger generation, work related stress and burnout are increasing.

The proposal to increase pensions came from the trades unions – but was opposed by the Swiss government, parliament, and business leaders, who argued it was unaffordable.

Voters in Switzerland often take their government’s advice about money matters: a few years ago they actually rejected an extra week’s holiday a year.

This time they said enough was enough, using the power that Switzerland’s system of direct democracy gives them to vote themselves an extra month’s pension each year.

The initiative also secured the required double-majority: getting the popular vote, and also majorities in most of the country’s 26 cantons.

The result was described as a “historic victory for retirees” by Avivo, a Swiss association that defends the rights of current and future pensioners.

The move brings the state pension into line with Switzerland’s salary system, which is also paid in 13 instalments, meaning workers get a double payment in November.

The system was originally designed to help people ahead of Christmas, and the annual tax bill. As Swiss retirees pointed out, pensions were taxed too, and Christmas fun did not stop at 65.

In a further sign the Swiss are keen that life should not be all work and no play, they also overwhelmingly rejected raising the retirement age.

These votes would, the government said repeatedly, have to be paid for.

Voters, though, looking at Switzerland booming economy, whose success is in large part thanks to their hard work, clearly believe their country can afford it.

ALSO READ:

• Swiss nationals donate ultrasound machine to Ayikuma CHPS Compound

• Swiss prosecutor calls for criminal probe into FIFA President

A series of explosions have rocked Crimea, after a reported Ukrainian drone attack on the peninsula which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Video posted online shows a blast allegedly near a fuel depot in the south-eastern city of Feodosiya.

Russian officials said 38 drones had been shot down. The Kerch bridge which connects Crimea with Russia was temporarily closed.

The attack comes as Ukraine continues to urge allies to boost arms supplies.

Russian troops have recently made gains in Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to sustain its forces with Western-made arms. Moscow took control last month of the key eastern town of Avdiivka.

However, according to British military intelligence, this has come at a huge cost. In its latest update, it said February had been the deadliest for the Russians since the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022 – with 983 killed and wounded per day.

“Today, Russia has highly likely lost over 355,000 personnel killed or wounded during the Ukraine war,” it said. It is not clear how the figure was reached.

Russia does not provide a record of casualties.

A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Ukraine had lost 31,000 troops since 24 February 2022. He also claimed that 180,000 Russian troops had been killed since then.

Russia has not reported any damage from the latest attack on Crimea, although eyewitnesses have reported windows shaking and car alarms going off. Kyiv has not confirmed its forces were involved.

On Saturday, a Russian drone hit a block of flats in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing at least 12 people, including five children. Sunday is a day of mourning in Odesa and the region.

In a separate development on Sunday, Russia targeted the southern Kherson region, killing one person and injuring another three, according to Ukrainian officials.

They also said 16 people were injured in Russian shelling of the town of Kurakhove, in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

Russian forces have launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukrainian targets since they invaded the country more than two years ago.

In retaliation Ukraine has targeted Russian sites, notably oil facilities.

On Saturday a drone struck a residential building in St Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. About 100 people were evacuated and there were no reports of casualties.

With its airbases, troop concentrations, training grounds and the Black Sea fleet, Crimea has been a key target for the Ukrainians.

At one point last year, it was thought that it intended to launch a full-scale attack to retake the peninsula.

In particular, Ukraine has repeatedly hit Russia’s Black Sea fleet. Satellite images last year showed many of the Crimea-based warships had left the peninsula for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

Last month, the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk off the coast of Crimea, according to Ukraine’s armed forces.

Its sister ship Novocherkassk was hit while in port in Feodosiya in December last year.

In one of the biggest strikes on the Black Sea fleet, last September Ukraine attacked naval targets and port infrastructure, using as many as 10 missiles and three unmanned boats. It caused a large fire at a Sevastopol shipyard.

Ukraine’s biggest scalp in naval warfare has so far been the sinking of Russia’s flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, the Moskva, in April 2022.

Ukraine has also targeted the Kerch bridge several times as it is an important resupply route for Russian forces occupying parts of the country’s south.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to retake Crimea and all territories seized by Russia.

Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to keep fighting Russia – a much bigger military force with an abundance of arms and artillery.

Ukrainian troops have been running out of ammunition as supporters of former US President Donald Trump in Congress refuse to approve a $61bn (£48bn) military aid package.

ALSO READ:

• Nato allies reject Emmanuel Macron idea of troops to Ukraine

• Ukraine war: Indians ‘duped’ by agents into fighting for Russia

Armed gangs have stormed the main prison in Haiti‘s capital Port-au-Prince, releasing many inmates.

The vast majority of about 4,000 men held there have now escaped, a local journalist told BBC News.

Among those detained were gang members charged in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moïse.

Violence in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, has worsened in recent years. Gangs aiming to oust PM Ariel Henry control 80% of Port-au-Prince.

The latest upsurge in violence began on Thursday, when the prime minister travelled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenyan-led multinational security force to Haiti.

Gang leader Jimmy Chérizier (nicknamed “Barbecue”) declared a co-ordinated attack to remove him.

“All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united,” said the former police officer, who is thought to be behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince.

A wave of shootings left four police officers dead and five injured. The French embassy in Haiti advised against travel in and around the capital.

Haiti’s police union asked the military to help reinforce the prison, but the compound was stormed late on Saturday.

On Sunday the doors of the prison were still open and there were no signs of officers, Reuters news agency reported. Three inmates who tried to flee lay dead in the courtyard, the report said.

One volunteer prison worker told the Reuters journalists that 99 prisoners – including former Colombian soldiers jailed over President Moïse’s murder – had chosen to remain in their cells for fear of being killed in crossfire.

Violence has been rife since President Moïse’s assassination. He has not been replaced and elections have not been held since 2016.

Under a political deal, elections were to be held and the unelected Mr Henry was due to stand down by 7 February, but that did not happen.

In January, the UN said more than 8,400 people were victims of Haiti’s gang violence last year, including killings, injuries and kidnappings – more than double the numbers seen in 2022.

ALSO READ:

• Gunfire near Haiti airport disrupts flights for second day

• Wife of Haiti’s assassinated President indicted in his killing

Hundreds of protesters in the Senegalese capital Dakar have called for elections to be held before the end of President Macky Sall’s term on 2 April.

Mr Sall sparked huge protests when he postponed last month’s elections and failed to announce a new date.

On Saturday, protesters from opposition parties and campaigning groups called the president a dictator and demanded the release from prison of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko.

Delegates taking part in political crisis talks last week, which were organised by the president but boycotted by the opposition, recommended holding elections in June.

ALSO READ:

• ECOWAS Commission keeps close-eyes on Senegal presidential elections

• Senegal election delay ruled unlawful

Some 170 people including women and children have been “executed” in attacks on three villages in Burkina Faso, a public prosecutor has said.

Aly Benjamin Coulibaly appealed for witnesses to help find those who attacked Komsilga, Nordin and Soro.

Separately, army chiefs warned of the increased risk of attacks by militants, “including attacks on urban centres”.

The country’s army seized power in 2022, but more than a third of Burkina Faso is controlled by insurgents.

Mr Coulibaly said he had launched an investigation into the village attacks in Yatenga province on 25 February.

The AFP news agency reported that dozens of women and children were among the dead.

It was not known which group was behind the attacks.

They are not believed to be related to other recent violence – attacks on a church as well as a mosque and army bases – elsewhere in the country.

On Friday, the country’s army chief warned soldiers to stay vigilant due to an increased risk of suicide attacks by militants.

He said there were also “fears of a series of large-scale attacks” against security forces in cities.

Humanitarian workers say Burkina Faso is one of the world’s most-neglected crises.

Years of rampant insecurity has forced more than two million people from their homes, and the UN estimates that a quarter of all children under five have stunted growth resulting from hunger.

The military seized power two years ago promising to win the battle against rebels, yet the violence continues.

“The epicentre of terrorism has now conclusively shifted out of the Middle East and into the central Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa,” said the Institute for Economics and Peacepicentere earlier this week.

The Sahel includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger among other nations.

Flights at Port-au-Prince airport in Haiti’s capital have been disrupted for the second straight day by heavy gunfire nearby, as the Caribbean nation grapples with surging gang violence and political instability.

The US Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert on Friday, warning of gunfire and disruptions to traffic near the domestic and international terminals of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, as well as surrounding areas including a hotel and the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police.

“The US Embassy is temporarily halting travel of official US personnel to the airport and instructing any US personnel at the airport to remain there,” the embassy said.

It comes a day after shootings erupted across Haiti’s capital, forcing flight cancellations and killing at least four people during an attack on a police station.

American Airlines said Thursday it had suspended its daily service between Miami and Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince.

“We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation as needed,” spokesperson Laura Masvidal told CNN.

Haitian airline Sunrise Airways told CNN that it suspended “all flights until further notice to ensure the safety of passengers, ground crews, and aircraft.”

Rapid gunfire near the airport had “caused damage to some aircraft and endangered users” of the domestic terminal, according to Sunrise Airways.

A US flight carrying dozens of Haitian deportees was also canceled, according to a source with knowledge of the operation and a lawyer for one of the deportees.

Immigration lawyer Philip Issa told CNN on Friday that his client was removed and taken back to detention facilities after boarding the plane in Miami Thursday.

“It’s baffling that we’ve continued to deport people to Haiti when the conditions are so dire,” he said, while also complaining that US authorities had failed to provide food to the detainees or let them out since 4 p.m. the previous day.

CNN has reached out to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement for comment.

Surging gang violence

Haiti has been gripped by a wave of unrest and gang violence in recent years.

Warring gangs control much of Port-au-Prince, choking off vital supply lines to the rest of the country. Gang members have also terrorized the metropolitan population, forcing some 200,000 people to flee their homes amid waves of indiscriminate killing, kidnapping, arson and rape.

Some 1,100 people were killed, injured, or kidnapped in January alone, in what the United Nations called the most violent month in two years.

More than 8,400 people were victims of such violence through last year, according to a report from the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BIUH).

Waves of crime and violence began to sweep across Haiti following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Public frustration has mounted against Prime Minister Ariel Henry for his failure to put a lid on the unrest, especially after he failed to hold elections supposedly slated for last month, citing the escalating violence.

On Wednesday, Henry told other Caribbean nations’ leaders during a regional summit that he would hold polls no later than August 31 next year, his first confirmation on when a vote will finally go ahead.

Leaders from the CARICOM regional bloc – a political and economic grouping of 20 developing countries and mostly island states – said they agreed to dispatch a team to assess the electoral needs of Haiti.

A powerful Haitian gang leader said gun fights that broke out across Port-au-Prince on Thursday were aimed at overthrowing Henry’s government, multiple media outlets reported.

Jimmy Cherizier, known as “Barbecue,” said in a video shared on social media that the battle will “not only topple the Ariel [Henry] government,” but “change the whole system,” according to international news agencies and Haitian media. CNN cannot independently verify the video’s authenticity.

An attack on Bon Repos Police Station, north of Port-au-Prince, on Thursday left at least four people dead and three wounded, a security source told CNN.

Three other people were injured in separate attacks across the capital – one at the airport, a second near a prison in downtown Port-au-Prince, and a third inside the prison, the security source said.

National President of the Actor Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has confirmed the death of actor John Okafor, popularly known as Mr. Ibu.

In a post on Instagram, Mr Rollas revealed that the actor, who had been unwell for months, died of cardiac arrest. 

The actor was unable to survive and passed away on Saturday, March 2. He was 62.

“Sad day for Actors Guild of Nigeria. Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier today and Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest according to his manager of 24 years, Mr Don Single Nwuzor. I announce with a deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu didn’t make it. May his soul rest in peace,” Mr Rollas’ post read.

In October 2023, family of the actor revealed that he had been battling some health issues and had undergone multiple surgeries.

He had earlier made a passionate appeal and announced a fundraiser to offset his medical bills at a Lagos hospital.

Mr Ibu had said he had been hospitalised for two weeks because of a “strange and dangerous illness”.

The actor later celebrated his birthday, hopeful of a speedy recovery.

However, on 6 November 2023, Mr Ibu’s leg was amputated, barely a month after he solicited prayers and financial assistance from his fans.

Announcing the leg amputation on the actor’s Instagram page, his family said the amputation was to increase his chances of recovery.

They said the development was complex but necessary.

On 17 December 2023, the family of the 62-year-old actor further revealed the reason behind his inability to be flown abroad for additional treatment.

The family explained in a statement that doctors deemed him ‘Not Fit To Fly,’ rendering it challenging to arrange his departure for advanced medical treatment due to the airlines’ refusal to transport him.

According to the family, the cause of the illness was not diabetes but a persistent clotting of blood in Mr Ibu’s leg, stemming from diseased blood vessels, along with other health challenges that posed a significant risk to his life.

Mr Ibu was discharged in January and was seen with Nollywood actor, Ken Erics who visited him.

The Enugu-born actor, prior to his death, featured in more than 200 Nollywood movies.

They include Mr Ibu (2004), Mr Ibu and His Son, Coffin Producers, Husband Suppliers, International Players, Mr Ibu in London (2004), Police Recruit (2003), 9 Wives (2005), Ibu in Prison (2006) and Keziah (2007).

Decision is a “very important” step, says Mattias Grafström, FIFA Secretary General ad interim and Chair of The IFAB’s Board of Directors; FIFA (www.FIFA.com) to launch global campaign to raise awareness of concussion symptoms; Decision is among several law changes confirmed at the 138th Annual General Meeting.

The decision to make permanent concussion substitutes part of the Laws of the Game, taken by The IFAB at its 138th Annual General Meeting, was based on extensive medical research and out of concern for the welfare of the players.

“I think we’re not afraid to take on responsibilities and we really want to base all our decisions on data and also medical advice,” said FIFA Secretary General ad interim Mattias Grafström following the meeting in Loch Lomond, Scotland. “This is also the basis [on which] we took the decision today on the permanent concussion substitution, which I think is a very important step moving forward,” added Mr Grafström, who was confirmed as the new Chair of The IFAB’s Board of Directors.

FIFA also confirmed that it would launch a global campaign to raise awareness of how to recognise the symptoms of concussion and treat them appropriately, and that it would continue to invest in gathering more medical expertise about concussions.

“If there’s any doubt about any player’s ability to continue due to a suspected concussion, then they should be taken off the pitch, they should be assessed properly,” said Noel Mooney, Chief Executive of the Football Association of Wales. “And the medical evidence we’ve got suggests there is no amount of time that will allow that to happen and let them still take part in the game. And fundamentally, the protection of the players has to come first.”

He added: “Why would you risk a player coming back onto the field who may be concussed because the only tests you can carry out at the side of a pitch won’t give you the concrete understanding of whether a player is concussed or not? So it’s very simple. If there’s any doubt about player safety, then the player should be removed from the pitch.”

The decision will be incorporated into the next edition of the Laws of the Game, which will come into effect on 1 July 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.

Contact for African media: 
AfricanMedia@fifa.org

Veteran Nigerian actor, John Okafor popularly known as Mr Ibu has passed on.

The actor died in a hospital in Lagos state on Saturday, March 2. 

According to family sources, the actor has been on life support after he underwent a second surgery for his ailment recently.

The family source said that his blood pressure has been over 200 after he had the surgery and that efforts were being made to stabilize it before he sadly passed away this evening. 

The actor battled with constant clotting of blood on his leg (diseased blood vessels) and other health challenges for years.

In October 2023, he came out publicly to seek financial assistance to treat his ailment. There were plans to fly him abroad for further medical care but that plan was aborted by his doctors who believed he wasn’t fit to fly.

During the course of his treatment, his leg was amputated in November 2023.

The actor is survived by his wife and children. He was 62 years old.

 The veteran actor was very famous for his sterling interpretation of humorous roles in movies.

In the vast expanse of the salt industry, Daniel McKorley, stands as a beacon of innovation. As the Founder and CEO of The McDan Group of Companies, he carries the torch for modernisation in salt production.

His recent address at the Global Conference on Advances in Salt and Marine Chemicals in India illuminated the pressing need for transformative change within the industry.

Mr. McKorley’s fervent advocacy for research and technology reverberated throughout the conference halls. With eloquence, he painted a portrait of possibility, highlighting how advancements in these areas could revolutionize salt harvesting.

It was not merely about increasing profits, but about ushering in a new era of sustainability and efficiency.

In his address, Mr. McKorley dissected the challenges plaguing the global salt industry with surgical precision.

Lack of innovation, outdated infrastructure, and technological deficiencies formed the trifecta inhibiting progress. Yet, he didn’t dwell on the negatives; instead, he offered a roadmap to redemption.

His proposal was simple yet profound: invest in research and development, embrace cutting-edge technologies, and forge partnerships that transcend borders.

From automated mining to drone-assisted surveillance, the arsenal of innovation he suggested was formidable. It wasn’t just about enhancing productivity; it was about minimising environmental impact and securing the industry’s future in a rapidly evolving world.

But Mr. McKorley’s vision extended beyond mere profit margins.

He recognised the critical role salt plays in pharmaceuticals and envisioned a collaborative ecosystem that ensured its uninterrupted supply.

His call for a global consortium of salt producers and pharmaceutical companies echoed a sentiment of unity amidst diversity, where knowledge sharing and resource optimization were paramount.

As he wrapped up his address, Mr. McKorley underscored the imperative of public-private partnership. It wasn’t a solitary journey; it was a collective endeavor to sculpt a future where salt wasn’t just a commodity but a catalyst for progress.

ALSO READ:

• Ada Traditional Council seeks state security for Songor Salt Project

• Songhor lagoon project: Minister speaks highly of ElectroChem [Listen]

The United States on Thursday cautioned that it might limit foreign aid to Ghana if President Nana Akufo-Addo signs a new bill criminalising LGBTQI+ activities into law.

Ghana’s Parliament on Wednesday approved legislation that could lead to prison sentences of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ+ and five years for forming or supporting LGBTQI+ organizations.

US State Department spokesperson Matt Miller expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the bill, stating, “So we have made very clear what our opinion is on that law – you can look at my statement yesterday – and we have made that clear in private conversations with the Government of Ghana as well. I don’t think I should get any more specific than that, but if this bill becomes law, it would certainly have a chilling effect on foreign investment and tourism in Ghana”. 

He added that the enactment of the bill could affect U.S. assistance to the country.

“You’ve seen that same chilling effect bear fruit in Uganda, which passed a very similar law in the past, and I can say that should the bill pass, it would potentially have ramifications on U.S. assistance in the country”.

While the bill awaits Akufo-Addo’s assent, he has indicated his willingness to approve it if it aligns with the wishes of the majority of Ghanaians.

The United States provided over $211 million in assistance to Ghana in fiscal year 2022, supporting various sectors including agriculture, malaria prevention, and AIDS combat efforts. The extent to which aid would be affected by the new law remains uncertain.

Although many African nations criminalize same-sex relationships, recent legislative efforts across the continent have sought to reinforce such laws.

Ghanaian parliamentarian Sam George, who sponsored the bill, celebrated its passage online, emphasizing the protection of national values.

However, the proposed legislation drew swift condemnation from the United States, echoing similar criticism directed at Uganda for its harsher anti-LGBTQ+ measures.

State Department spokesperson Matt Miller underscored Ghana’s tradition of tolerance and respect for human rights, expressing concern that the bill could undermine these values.

In Uganda, the law includes severe penalties such as the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality” and life imprisonment for “homosexuality,” prompting the U.S. to restrict $20 million in aid to the country.

Amnesty International has urged President Akufo-Addo not to sign the bill, emphasizing the importance of respecting the human rights of all individuals.

Amnesty’s country director for Ghana, Genevieve Partington, condemned the legislation, citing reports of rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals since the bill’s introduction in parliament.

ALSO READ:

• Anti- LGBTQI+ Bill: We’re ready for you in court – Prof Gadzekpo told

• Anti-LGBTQI Bill: Sam George issues stern warning to US

José Peseiro, the head coach of the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, has left his role following the expiration of his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

In a statement released on X, the Portuguese coach expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “Yesterday, we concluded our contract with the NFF. It was a pride and honour to coach the Super Eagles. It has been 22 months of immense dedication, sacrifice, emotion, and enormous enthusiasm. We feel a sense of fulfilment.”

Peseiro’s initial contract with the NFF ended just before the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.

He agreed on an extension until the end of the tournament after reducing his salary from $70,000 to $50,000.

Despite leading Nigeria to the AFCON final, where they lost 2-1 to the host nation Ivory Coast, both parties decided to part ways.

Peseiro thanked the NFF and expressed his gratitude to those who made his tenure memorable, including Sir Amaju Pinnick, President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, and all the staff and players.

“We would like to express our gratitude to Sir Amaju Pinnick (the president who signed us), President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Secretary Dayo Enebi, the NFF, all the Staff, and especially all the PLAYERS, with whom leading has been a great pleasure.

“Guys, we are thankful; it has been a privilege to be part of this family. We will miss you, but we will always be there for you, no matter where you are. A big hug to all of you.”

During a five-day visit to Ethiopia, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Ted Chaiban, urged the international community to immediately scale up their support for children and families to avert a deepening humanitarian catastrophe throughout the country.

“Ethiopia is facing multiple crises and needs are outpacing our response,” said Chaiban. “The El Niño-driven drought, which has hit northern, central, and southern Ethiopia, is having a ravaging impact on millions of children. For 2024, it is projected that almost 1 million children will suffer from acute malnutrition and around 350,000 pregnant and lactating women will be malnourished.”  

Chaiban visited one of the hardest-hit drought areas in Tigray where malnutrition rates have surpassed the emergency threshold.  

“This is a region where families’ coping mechanisms have been exhausted,” said Chaiban. “I met one mother, called Lemlem, and she told me that just when she thought things were getting better, the drought hit. She had a look of real despair in her eyes.”

To further complicate the situation, there is a public health emergency taking place across the nation with outbreaks of cholera, measles, dengue fever and malaria.

“These are killer diseases for children and are easily preventable,” said Chaiban. “In addition, the country is dealing with the impact of conflict which is also exacerbating the situation for vulnerable communities.” 

UNICEF, in strong collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia and other partners, are working tirelessly to respond to the crises, providing nutritional support, as well as access to safe water, routine immunization, education and child protection services. But much more needs to be done.

“If we act now, we can save the lives of millions of children,” said Chaiban. “But we need resources so that we can increase our humanitarian response. We also hope for a peaceful way forward to address the unresolved disputes, so we can reach all children in need, no matter where they are.”

The UN in Ethiopia is seeking US$3.24 billion, and UNICEF is appealing for US$535 million to ensure children get the help they so desperately need.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org) has been awarded the prestigious “Middle East&Africa Deal of the Year” at the just concluded Project Finance International (PFI) 2023 awards ceremony in London. The PFI awards, one of the oldest and most globally recognized project finance publications, which honours achievement and ingenuity in the global project finance market, recognised AFC’s successful acquisition of Lekela Power B.V. (Lekela), Africa’s largest wind platform, alongside its partners – Infinity WorldWide, the principal sponsors of Infinity Power Holdings (IPH), Masdar, the renewables energy company of the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The award was presented to AFC for its innovative financial structuring on the Lekela acquisition, where AFC deployed a suite of equity and quasi equity instruments for the investment. Following the acquisition of Lekela, Infinity Power is now the largest renewable energy company in Africa. Today, IPH has 1.3 GW of operational solar and wind power projects in South Africa, Egypt, and Senegal, and an impressive 14GW project pipeline at various stages of development. Through its operations, the company avoids more than 3.4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year, generates more than 4,000GWh of zero carbon energy and powers more than 1.2million homes. The company is a UN recognized sustainability climate leader, having been rated 1st of 672 global utilities on ESG by Sustainalytics in 2021. Over the next 4 years, Infinity Power plans to triple the generation capacity of its operations.

Commenting on the award, Sameh Shenouda, AFC’s Chief Investment Officer, said, “We are honoured and grateful to receive this prestigious award on behalf of AFC and all our partners. It is a testament to our commitment to address Africa’s energy crisis in a sustainable and climate responsible manner. Our investment in Infinity and acquisition of Lekela Power is one of our many transformational projects that accelerates Africa’s instrumental role in the global energy transition, whilst contributing significantly to value addition, job creation, industrialisation and economic growth on the continent.”

Since its creation in 2007, AFC has been prioritising closing Africa’s crippling energy deficit responsibly and efficiently, with development impact at the forefront of decision making. The Corporation has financed over 3,000MW of power generation and has current beneficial ownership interests in 1400MW, all of which is sourced from renewable energy. The successful close of the Lekela acquisition follows the Corporation lead development role in the recent landmark inauguration of Djibouti’s first-ever wind farm, advancing its stated ambition to become the first nation in Africa to rely entirely on renewable sources for electricity by 2035.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception.
www.AfricaFC.org

On February 29th, during a stakeholder engagement session, Health CS Nakhumicha S. Wafula endorsed the Social Health Insurance (SHI) Regulations, emphasizing their pivotal role in advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Kenya.

Nakhumicha stressed the critical importance of these regulations in ensuring that quality and affordable healthcare services are accessible to all citizens.

She urged Members of Parliament to swiftly approve the regulations, citing their proposed enhancements in deductions and mandatory contributions to the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).

Additionally, Nakhumicha highlighted the inclusive nature of the proposed healthcare package, expressing confidence that it would alleviate the financial burden of medical bills for all citizens, regardless of their social status.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Stellantis Middle East and Africa (MEA) (www.Stellantis.com) has shown robust performance in 2023, effectively advancing its Dare Forward 2030 objectives despite global challenges. Key achievements include:

Net Revenues up 64% versus 2022 to €10.560 billion
Shipments up 43% versus 2022 to 616,100 units
Adjusted Operating Income (AOI) up by 111% versus 2022 to €2.503 billion
Market Share up, reaching 14.9%, a 3-point gain versus 2022
LCV Regional Market Position: ranked 2nd in 2023, 1st in Q4 2023
Customer centricity: Top Level of Performance of the Group with n.1 position in quality of service and n.2 position in quality of product

Stellantis MEA’s performance in 2023 reflects a steady alignment with the Dare Forward 2030 strategy, focusing on offering mobility solutions that answer the needs of our customers in the MEA region. Market share grew to 14.9%, a notable step towards the 22% leadership market share 2030 goal outlined in the Dare Forward 2030 MEA section of the plan, suggesting an expansion in market presence.

Samir Cherfan, Chief Operating Officer Stellantis Middle East and Africa commented: “The region is very dynamic, and we have ambitious plans. We are aiming to become the n.1 regional market player with one million vehicles sold by 2030 of which 35% will be electric. We want to move to over 90% regional production autonomy meaning producing in the region for the region, which will position us by far as the most localized player in the region. Thanks to the strong engagement of our employees and partners, we are advancing at full speed in achieving our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan”.

These accomplishments highlight Stellantis MEA’s pivotal role in Stellantis “Third Engine” and its dedication to growth and customer satisfaction. Progress was made in several strategic areas, including:

Industrial Expansion:

Algeria: start of production of Fiat 500 in December 2023 in Tafraoui plant manufacturing.
Morocco: progress in the announced doubling of the production capacity in Kenitra manufacturing facility to reach 400,000 vehicles by 2024 along with 72,000 electric micro-mobility objects with 3 models Citroen Ami, Opel rocks-e and Fiat Topolino that has been added to the product portfolio in 2023.
Egypt: Announcement of production with a new automobile plant, enhancing market position and strengthening Stellantis footprint.
South Africa: Announcement of the building of a new plant in 2025 with a maximum capacity of 100,000 unites by 2030.
Turkey: Production increase with the allocation of “K0” model to Tofaş.

Product Innovation:

111 Launches across 77 Markets in 2023 of which 21 BEV launches.
In 2023, Stellantis made significant strides across diverse regions, from Turkey through the Middle East, North Africa, to Sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa. Fulfilling its commitment to enhancing customer mobility and innovation, the company collected 13 awards for a range of models in various markets.

Commercial Growth:

Turkey: announcement of the merging of all Stellantis commercial activities under one single entity TOFAS enabling increased business synergies and value creation for all Stellantis brands and segments.
Morocco: improvement of the distribution setup and network structure. 
Algeria: Start of import operations and development of a distribution network with more than 50 points of sales covering 65% of the Algerian territory in less than one year.

Purchasing Excellence:

Reached an annual purchasing value of € 5.6 billion, with a robust development in our supplier ecosystem across the region.

Building on 2023 momentum, Stellantis MEA enters 2024 with a focused strategy aiming to:

Consolidate the Stellantis position in the Mediterranean crown and the French overseas territories by achieving above 30% market share by 2030.
Enhance commercial performance across key markets, ramping up in the Middle East, South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa with a market share above 12% by 2030.
Continue to build on sourcing autonomy.
Make significant strides in micro-mobility.
Continue to nurture and hire local talent.

These efforts will maintain the growth trajectory and continue delivering exceptional value to Stellantis MEA customers and stakeholders.

For reference, Stellantis MEA strategy is to reach by 2030:

Over 22% market share
Over 25 % LEV Mix
Over 12% Adjusted Operating Margin
Around 55 launches
A self-sourcing rate above 70%

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Stellantis.

For more information, contact:
Yolande PINEDA
yolande.pineda@stellantis.com
www.Stellantis.com

Follow Stellantis:
Twitter: https://apo-opa.co/3vlSjMN
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/48ww7hl
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/47bvoRH
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3wlGwPg

About Stellantis:
Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider. Its storied and iconic brands embody the passion of their visionary founders and today’s customers in their innovative products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. Powered by our diversity, we lead the way the world moves – aspiring to become the greatest sustainable mobility tech company, not the biggest, while creating added value for all stakeholders as well as the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit www.Stellantis.com

A Ghanaian journalist and LGBTQI+ activist, Ignatius Annor, is heartbroken over the passage of the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.

Mr Annor has said the news of the passage on Wednesday, February 28, hit hard that he couldn’t concentrate at work and had to take the day off.

In a Facebook post, the US-based journalist said he feels the pain of every Ghanaian yearning to be themselves and has also lost an opportunity to visit his family.

“Here is what I know, living in truth is the most powerful tool I know,” he stated.

Ignatius for the first time in February 2021 openly declared he was gay.

According to Ignatius Annor, he had kept his alignment with the community a secret for fear of losing his job and the stigma that it could generate.

Although his mother in January 2017, mentioned such a community is “demonic”, the activist believes his mother’s stand was because of “what has repeatedly been fed into the mind and ultimately the hearts of people.”

Read the full post below:

Meanwhile, the Bill currently proscribes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activities and criminalises their promotion, advocacy and funding.

Persons caught in these acts would be subjected to six months to three-year jail term with promoters and sponsors of these acts bearing a three to five-year jail term.

The Bill would now require presidential assent to come into force.

But critics have called on Akufo-Addo to reject the Bill, arguing it violates and infringes on fundamental human rights and have threatened to initiate legal action against it.

ALSO READ:

• I’m gay, fear forced me to deny it – Ghanaian journalist comes out on…

• Reject anti-LGBTQI+ bill – Akufo-Addo told

Devi Paulsen-Abbott, CEO of event producer Energy Capital&Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com), took home the prestigious Association of African Exhibition Organizations (AAXO) ROAR Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Exhibition Industry. The award recognizes her remarkable dedication to the sector and is a testament to both her invaluable support to AAXO and visionary leadership at ECP.

The AAXO ROAR Awards were held on Thursday in Johannesburg and aimed to Respect Opportunities, Achievements and Recognition across the African exhibition industry.

Paulsen-Abbott’s dedication to excellence and innovation in the industry has been instrumental in ushering in a new era of creative exhibition solutions in Africa. Since joining the board of AAXO in 2017, she has proven herself invaluable to the organization and industry at large. Under her Chairmanship (since 2022) as well as her membership in the Exhibition Challenge Committee, AAXO has continued to promote the African exhibition industry, ensuring the sector returns to its full potential following the global COVID-19 pandemic.   

At the same time, under her leadership as CEO of ECP, the company has grown to new heights, and now represents the leading investment platform for the African energy sector. ECP’s strong lineup of events across the continent have emerged as the official platforms for government to connect with global investors, while African energy and service providers showcase the latest innovations and offerings in African energy.

“I am deeply honored to receive the AAXO ROAR Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Exhibition Industry. I have always believed that African exhibitions provide a platform for industry leaders and stakeholders to come together to share ideas, drive innovation and promote the best of what Africa has to offer. I am grateful to AAXO for this recognition and look forward to continuing to drive excellence and innovation in the exhibition industry,” stated Paulsen-Abbott.

The AAXO ROAR Award is an accolade in the exhibition industry that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the sector. The awards acknowledge excellence in the industry and Paulsen-Abbott’s win is a testament to her leadership, vision and commitment to African exhibitions.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

About Energy Capital&Power:
ECP is the African continent’s leading investment platform for the energy sector. Join us at our world-class investment-focused events in Africa and worldwide. ECP’s events, reports, content and other services are built to serve the African energy community. For more information, visit www.EnergyCapitalPower.com.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has declared a national disaster to tackle the prolonged drought affecting the country.

Addressing the nation on Thursday afternoon, Mr Hichilema said 84 districts out of a total of 116 were affected.

Zambia has been experiencing poor rain, with fears mounting that the country may experience hunger and struggle to meet its electricity demands as most of its energy is from water sources.

Water levels at Kariba Dam – which Zambia and neighbouring Zimbabwe use for hydroelectricity – had fallen to about 11.5% of usable storage as of last December.

The president said the drought would affect the generation of more than 450 megawatts of power.

He said almost half of the land used for planting crops had been affected by the dry spell.

Mr Hichilema said his government would work to ensure that additional maize and other food was brought into the country to make up the deficit.

He said he would use Zambia’s defence forces “in this fight to save our lives and save families and create a longer term solution to drought”.

“We will work together to get together farmers to plant more crops. We shall also enhance the social support programmes for the farmers that have been affected by the drought,” he said.

“We call upon all our local and international partners to avail any excess food on hand to provide relief. Some partners have already extended their commitment to offer their support, such as the British, the UN system, the World Bank Group and others.”

He called on farmers to use irrigation methods to cope with the dry spell. An estimated one million farmers have been affected by the drought.

Mr Hichilema said his government would work with different stakeholders, opposition politicians and the church to tackle the situation.

Social media has been awash with videos and pictures of fields with dying crops.

ALSO READ:

• Supporting flood emergency response in Congo

• Ghana and Zambia to boost cooperation, trade and investment

President Joe Biden and Donald Trump have made competing visits to the US border in Texas, each seeking to stress they can tackle illegal immigration.

The issue is one of the most polarising in US politics, and will be central to this year’s presidential election.

November’s contest looks likely to be another showdown between the two men.

Mr Biden accused his Republican rival – who spoke of the “very dangerous” situation at the border – of hindering his efforts to crackdown on crossings.

Republicans in the House of Representatives have blocked bipartisan border reforms, in what Democrats say is an effort masterminded by Mr Trump to deny them a win before the election.

In Texas, Mr Trump said he would “take care” of the issue of illegal immigration if he was re-elected. He has previously promised mass deportations if he wins power again.

The issue is an intense focus because more than 6.3 million migrants have been detained crossing into the US illegally during Mr Biden’s tenure – a higher number than under previous presidencies.

However, experts say the reasons for the spike are complex – with some factors pre-dating his government and sitting outside American control.

In his speech, Mr Trump said “thousands” of migrants from the Middle East and Africa were illegally crossing from Mexico. In fact, the majority of those caught doing so are from Latin America.

He also attacked what he has recently termed “Biden migrant crime”, although there is no national data giving evidence of migrant-driven crime waves in US cities.

Supporters and protesters alike assembled during Mr Trump’s visit to Eagle Pass, a Democrat-run town where Republicans are making political headway by attacking Mr Biden’s running of the border.

Enriqueta Diaz, 81, told the BBC she backed Mr Trump’s proposals to further militarise the border. “You have to follow the law,” she said, pointing out that her own mother, a Mexican, had gone through a citizenship process herself.

Mr Trump met the state governor, Republican Greg Abbott, who has battled the federal government by trying to use powers of his own to halt illegal crossings – as well as bussing migrants to northern cities.

Meanwhile, Mr Biden – who quipped that he did not realise his “good friend” Mr Trump was due to visit Texas on the same day – headed to meet border officials in Brownsville.

Speaking after Mr Trump, he stressed the urgency of action and need for more resources to police the border. The bipartisan border reform bill had been “derailed by rank partisan politics”, he said.

He launched a direct appeal to his rival to “join me” on the issue.

The president travelled to Texas with Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who has became the target of Republican fury over the illegal immigration issue.

Earlier this month, Mr Mayorkas became the first US cabinet member to be impeached over accusations from his political adversaries that he had failed to do enough to stop illegal migration.

Mr Biden has defended his colleague, who is unlikely to be convicted because the US Senate is narrowly controlled by members of his party.

Mr Trump has made the issue of illegal immigration central to his political career, and embarked on the building of a border wall with Mexico during his 2016-20 presidency.

He is only opposed by Nikki Haley in his quest to win the Republican nomination to run for the White House again. On the Democratic side, Mr Biden is largely uncontested in his own presidential bid.

The importance of the border issue has been highlighted by polling. More than two-thirds of respondents to a poll in January by the BBC’s US partner CBS said they disapproved of Mr Biden’s handling of it.

In another Texan border city, Laredo, the manager of a community centre described to the BBC how border agents were bussing migrants and asylum centres because they were “overwhelmed”.

Far beyond Texas, the influx of illegal migrants has pushed processing facilities and social services in major American cities to the brink – straining Mr Biden’s ties with some Democratic state officials.
Migrants who recently arrived in Chicago – having been sent there from Texas under the initiative of Mr Abbott – described to the BBC their struggles finding shelter and work.

Karen Diaz, who entered the US last month from Venezuela with her three young children, said she simply wanted a steady job rather than handouts.

Dilcia Guillen-Oliva, who arrived from Honduras just five days ago, said she had been sleeping in a church and on public buses as she struggled to find place in a shelter.

In a separate development on Thursday, a federal judge blocked a controversial new law planned by Mr Abbott in Texas that would criminalise illegal border crossings under the threat of jail-time.

SB4, as it is known, intends to give officials sweeping powers to arrest anyone suspected of illegally crossing from Mexico.

But in his ruling, the judge sided with the Biden administration, which argues that the planned legislation would interfere with the powers of the federal government. Mr Abbott has vowed to appeal.

ALSO READ:

• Biden slams Trump criticism of Nato as ‘shameful’

• Trump calls Biden ‘enemy of the state’ over FBI raid

At least 112 Palestinians are said to have been killed and 760 injured trying to get desperately needed aid in Gaza.

Crowds descended on a convoy of lorries on the coastal road south-west of Gaza City, in the presence of Israeli tanks.

Israel’s military say tanks fired warning shots but did not strike the convoy. Some Palestinians say troops fired directly at them.

A Palestinian witness told the BBC most of those who died had been run over as lorry drivers tried to move forward.

Israeli aerial footage shows hundreds of people on and around lorries, while graphic videos posted online show bodies loaded on to emptied aid lorries and a donkey cart.

Giving the figures of 112 dead and 760 injured, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry accused Israel of a “massacre”.

The UN Security Council has scheduled a closed-door emergency meeting to discuss the incident.

France said “fire by Israeli soldiers against civilians trying to access food” was “unjustifiable” and US President Joe Biden expressed concern the incident would complicate efforts by mediators to broker a temporary ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

The medical charity MSF said it was “horrified” and called for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire”.

The incident came hours before Gaza’s health ministry announced that more than 30,000 people, including 21,000 children and women, had been killed in Gaza since the start of the current conflict on 7 October. Some 7,000 were missing and 70,450 were injured, it said.

The UN is warning of a looming famine in the north of the territory, where an estimated 300,000 people are living with little food or clean water.

The Israeli military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas – which is proscribed as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the UK and others – after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 253 hostages.

Thursday’s incident took place shortly after 04:45 (02:45 GMT) at the Nabulsi roundabout, on the south-western edge of Gaza City.

A convoy of 30 lorries carrying Egyptian aid was making its way north along what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as a “humanitarian corridor” when it was surrounded by civilians, with people climbing on to the trucks.

“Some began violently pushing and even trampling other Gazans to death, looting the humanitarian supplies,” said the IDF’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm Daniel Hagari. “The unfortunate incident resulted in dozens of Gazans killed and injured.”

Israeli tanks, he said, “cautiously tried to disperse the mob with a few warning shots” but pulled back “when the hundreds became thousands and things got out of hand”.

“No IDF strike was conducted towards the aid convoy,” he said, insisting the Israeli military had been trying to help the aid convoy reach its destination.

Another IDF spokesman said some civilians had approached Israeli soldiers at a nearby checkpoint, ignoring warning shots. Fearing a threat, the soldiers fired at them in a “limited response”, he said.

A Palestinian witness, speaking to the BBC, described panic in the crowd and among the drivers, who tried to move forward. Most of those who died were run over, the witness added.

Hamas rejected the IDF’s account, citing “undeniable” evidence of “direct firing at citizens, including headshots aimed at immediate killing”.

Dozens of casualties in a critical or severe condition were brought to the nearby al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where medics were unable to cope with the sheer volume and severity of cases.

One man at the hospital who was cradling the body of this dead friend, Tamer Shinbari, told the BBC he had gone to the Nabulsi roundabout hoping to get a bag of flour for his family. He said Israeli soldiers had opened fire “and the aid lorry ran over the bodies”.

All or most of the casualties being treated at two other hospitals, Kamal Adwan and al-Awda, were said by officials there to have bullet or shrapnel wounds.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a rival of Hamas based in the occupied West Bank, accused Israeli forces of a “heinous massacre”.

A spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres said he condemned the incident and called again for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages”.

The north of Gaza suffered widespread devastation after being the focus of the first phase of the Israeli ground offensive and has been largely cut off from humanitarian assistance for several months.

Last week, the World Food Programme said it had been forced to suspend aid deliveries to the area after its first convoy in three weeks had been surrounded by crowds of hungry people close to an Israeli checkpoint and had then faced gunfire in Gaza City.

On Tuesday, a senior UN aid official warned that at least 576,000 people across the Gaza Strip – one quarter of the population – faced catastrophic levels of food insecurity and one in six children under the age of two in the north were suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting.

Ten children died from dehydration and malnutrition at hospitals in northern Gaza in recent days, the health ministry said.

ALSO READ:

• Journalists call for foreign media access to Gaza in open letter

• Gaza doctors: ‘We leave patients to scream for hours and hours’

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in collaboration with the Civil Service Training Centre (CSTC), has implemented a new Learning Management System (LMS) to help train civil servants using e-learning.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, February 29, JICA Expert, Masashi Yamanaka noted that this e-learning platform will help strengthen civil servants’ skills and capacity, adding that it is essential to improve education and training.

Explaining the concept of LMS, he stated that the platform uses a hybrid learning system where 70 per cent of the training is done online and 30 per cent is done in person.

This allows civil servants the opportunity to use laptops, phones and other technological devices to take the training classes when they cannot make a trip to the training centre.

“Our vision is to provide more opportunities for everyone to be trained. In Accra, you can still do training in person and places like Kumasi, they can do Zoom training. But there are a lot of regions with limited or no access to the internet. In that case, they can use the e-learning,” Mr Yamanaka explained.

“So this is not replacing all the training with e-learning, no. We are just increasing our options so that we can cover more population and get more opportunities for more people,” he added.

Additionally, JICA provided funding for purchasing professional quality video cameras, photocopiers, hybrid training rooms and studios, 16 laptop computers and other equipment to improve learning and training, Mr Yamanaka said.

Yearly, the Civil Service Training Centre (CSTC) trains about 5,000 lower and middle-level personnel in the civil and public service.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic affected the in-person tutoring in place, making classes move online, but with many challenges including poor internet connectivity.

JICA helped CSTC develop an e-learning platform and created e-learning courses to aid in implementing the centre’s new learning management systems.

The nearly two-year project that began in June 2022, aims not just to strengthen the human resource capacity of the civil service but also increase the number of trainees yearly which in turn improves the civil service.

JICA hopes that by the close of the project in March 2024, four e-learning courses namely ADIIB Analogous Grade Cohort-1, Cohort-2, Cohort-3, and Report Writing Skills Course will be completed.

A pilot run of the project has seen a favourable response from participants. The delivery of the courses will, however, commence soon.

Mr Yamanaka noted that there are also ongoing efforts to develop courses that implement kaizen, a Japanese term meaning change for the better or continuous improvement.

He believes that continuously and consistently developing people’s skills regardless of how small will ensure the growth of the civil service and in turn benefit the country.

“If you improve yourself by 1% every day continuously, it can have a great impact. Gradually, there will be accumulation of more growth, and you will become greater than today.”

“We believe that we can do the same thing here in Ghana. If we continue improving our field every day, then it will take us to the peak, that is how we can change the course of the country,” Mr Yamanaka added.

Meanwhile, CSTC is open to collaborating with any potential client to work on tailor-made courses for the institution.

Also speaking at the event, the Principal at the CSTC, Mrs Dora Dei-Tumi, said she is hopeful the institution will be able to expand its services and grow the number of civil servants trained every year.

She noted that it is important to train these civil servants to improve their skills and capacity and, in turn, offer good services to Ghanaians and use the training to push for their promotion.

A leading critic of Chad’s military leader, Mahamat Déby, has been killed in a shootout with security forces, officials say.Y

Yaya Dillo’s death comes after the government blamed him for a deadly attack on the country’s security agency. He denied the accusation.

On Wednesday, heavy gunfire was heard near his party’s headquarters in the capital, N’Djamena.

Mr Dillo was also a cousin of President Déby, who has been in power since 2021.

Mr Déby was named by the army to succeed his father who was killed by rebels after three decades in power.

The unrest in the Central African country follows the announcement that presidential election will be held on 6 May.

These elections are intended to return the country to constitutional rule.

Before his death, Mr Dillo was widely predicted to be his cousin’s main opponent in the election.

He was the leader of the Socialist Party Without Borders (PSF).

Communications Minister Abderaman Koulamallah told the AFP news agency that Mr Dillo had died on Wednesday “where he had retreated, at the headquarters of his party. He didn’t want to surrender and fired on law enforcement”.

The authorities said 12 others also died in the shootout.

Mobile phone and internet networks in Chad have been down since the reported attack on the National Security Agency (ANSE) headquarters.

Amaury Hauchard, a journalist based in N’Djamena, told the BBC on Thursday evening: “For 24 hours, people have not had access to the internet – only a few hotels have access.”

He added that Mr Dillo’s death had raised doubts about whether the election could still be held as planned

On Wednesday, Mr Dillo said the accusation he was behind the ANSE attack was intended “to make me afraid so that I don’t go to the election”.

The PSF denied the government’s version of events, saying its members were the ones who had come under attack.

The party’s general secretary told Reuters news agency that soldiers had targeted them while they were trying to retrieve the body of their colleague Ahmed Torabi.

Mr Torabi had been arrested and shot dead on Tuesday, before his body was dumped outside the ANSE building, the PSF said.

The government had accused Mr Torabi of attempting to assassinate the president of the Supreme Court.

This was not Mr Dillo’s first violent run-in with security forces.

When running against the current president’s father, Idriss Déby, for the presidency in 2021, state forces killed Mr Dillo’s mother, son and three others, the PSF said.

The party said the assailants were attempting to arrest Mr Dillo.

At the time, the government contested the PSF’s death toll, saying three people had been killed.

ALSO READ:

• Chad set for first election since end of civilian rule

• Chad fighting: Heavy gunfire in N’Djamena after attack on security HQ

The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has maintained Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as his running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

According to JoyNews sources, the names that have come up as possible running mates include the former Chief of Staff – Julius Debrah, former Kumasi Mayor Kojo Bonsu, the NDC Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey constituency – Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings and Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

John Mahama has submitted names to the National Executive Committee and the Council of Elders of the party for scrutiny.

The NEC and the Council of Elders of the party are preparing to deliberate on Mr Mahama’s choice for running mate but a highly placed source has confirmed to JoyNews that the former president will nominate Prof Opoku-Agyemang to partner with him for the 2024 general elections.

Speaking to JoyNews‘ Parliamentary correspondent, some MPs expressed their support for Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s nomination to partner with Mr Mahama in the December general elections.

The NDC MP for Tamale Central, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed said; “I think all the names you have mentioned are capable than Dr Bawumia but I really don’t think it will make any sense changing the running mate we used in the 2020 elections. 

He said it was very clear that there were some impacts being made by the running mateship of Prof Naana Jane and it wouldn’t make no political sense to replace her.

“I really don’t think there will be any changes. I will be shocked if there are any changes and the only way there could be a change is if Prof Naana says she is no longer willing to contest,” he told Kwaku Asante.

On her side, the Deputy Minority Whip, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah also backed the running mate position of Prof Opoku-Agyemang.

She remarked, “Why should it be another name? …. She was supporting way back before she came to the limelight. People were supporting behind and she was part of those people.”

Mrs Cudjoe-Ghansah stated that it is time for women to lead, emphasising that it starts from the vice president position.

“I believe the choice of a female running mate shows a commitment to gender equality and participation in leadership. John Mahama has made it and he’s going to do it again.

“We couldn’t get the general elections because of one or two reasons and this time, he’s going to name her again and have the first female vice president for Ghana,” she said.

The NDC MP for Kintampo North constituency, Joseph Kwame Kumah also backed the call to retain Prof Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate.

“I’m a gender activist, and I’m very sensitive when it comes to gender. For me, our mother Naana Jane did marvelously well.”

MORE:

• Anti-LGBTQI+ bill: What changed your mind? Prof Gadzekpo asks Sam George

• Prof Gadzekpo, others being funded by LGBTQ+ organizations – Sam George claims [Listen]

• Mahama rescues K.K. Kabobo

The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), a subsidiary of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) dedicated to fostering development impact, is pleased to announce the Arab Republic of Egypt’s accession to its Establishment Agreement.

With Egypt’s longstanding position as a founding shareholder and the host country of Afreximbank’s headquarters, this recent development underscores Egypt’s commitment to supporting Afreximbank and FEDA’s mission of catalyzing intra-African trade and export development. The signing of FEDA’s Establishment Agreement opens avenues for strengthening trade relations between Egypt and other African nations.  

The inclusion of Egypt in FEDA’s membership base significantly expands the reach of FEDA’s interventions with its primary objectives of providing sustainable capital to African economies. FEDA’s intervention places great emphasis on industrialization, intra-African trade, and the development of value-added exports. 

Professor Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank and Chairman of the Boards of both Afreximbank and FEDA, expressed gratitude for Egypt’s accession, stating, “We warmly welcome the signing of the FEDA Establishment Agreement by the Arab Republic of Egypt. This momentous occasion exemplifies Egypt’s unwavering support for Afreximbank and its initiatives since inception. With Egypt onboard, FEDA is well-positioned to enhance its transformative investments within the country.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

About FEDA:
The Fund for Export Development in Africa (“FEDA”) is the impact investment subsidiary of Afreximbank set up to provide equity, quasi-equity, and debt capital to finance the multi-billion-dollar funding gap (particularly in equity) needed to transform the Trade sector in Africa. FEDA pursues a multi-sector investment strategy along the intra-African trade, value-added export development, and manufacturing value chain which includes financial services, technology, consumer and retail goods, manufacturing, transport&logistics, agribusiness, as well as ancillary trade enabling infrastructure such as industrial parks.

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of September 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$33.4 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$5.8 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

We are delighted that you have decided to apply to the World Rugby (www.World.Rugby)/Capgemini Women in Rugby Leadership Programme. The Programme aims to support talented women so that they can develop their leadership potential in rugby. We have awarded 73 scholarships since 2018.

The criteria for applications are:

Applicants must be involved in their rugby union or region as a board member, or staff, or volunteer.
Applicants must have leadership aspirations and demonstrate their professional development plan in their application.

Applicants must send their C.V. and a letter of endorsement from their union – Please note that failure to send the letter of endorsement will be disqualifying; this is to ensure that applicants are involved in their union/region

In 2022, Capgemini became a global partner of the Leadership programme and we are delighted with Capgemini’s ongoing support. As part of this partnership, Capgemini will be providing the scholars with a range of professional and personal development opportunities. They include:

Leadership Coaching Sessions: scholars will be connected to a Leadership Coach from Capgemini and have a few coaching sessions
Access to NEXT platform: a one-stop shop for the scholars to learn about leadership with leading content from HBR and much more
Connected Manager: a Harvard Business certified programme. Scholars can join a team to discover Harvard Business Review best in class content and practical tool management
Leadership Series: scholars will sharpen their leadership practices and impact through experiential and peer learning
A leadership summit in Capgemini Les Fontaines Campus near Paris: connect together, be inspired by Capgemini leadership speakers, network with some leaders in Capgemini

Please visit https://apo-opa.co/3SZbQLj for more information on how Capgemini supports women’s rugby.

In addition to the Capgemini offering, scholars will get an additional discretionary grant up to £5,000, subject to the activity plan that scholars proposed, and that World Rugby approves. Each scholar will also be matched to a mentor. Mentors can be from the world of rugby, other sports, businesses or Capgemini.

The discretionary grant can be used to fund leadership, coaching, mentoring, education and training activity, that support your professional development in rugby. This can include related travel and accommodation costs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Rugby.

In a devastating incident that unfolded in Karoi, three men died when a room where they had illegally stored fuel exploded and engulfed in flames.

The incident, which occurred on the 24th of February 2024, has left the community in shock and prompted a warning from the police regarding the dangers of such practices.

Confirming the tragic event, National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi shared details of the incident in a statement.

According to the police report, the fire erupted after a room located in the Chikangwe high-density suburb, where the victims had stored fuel for illegal resale exploded. The intense flames quickly engulfed the house, leading to the tragic loss of lives.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the death of three people in a fire incident which occurred at a house in Chikangwe, Karoi on 24th February 2024 after the room in which the victims used to stock fuel for illegal resale exploded,” stated Assistant Commissioner Nyathi.

The police have since identified and revealed the names of the 3 victims who died in the fire incident.

The police have urged the public to refrain from storing fuel in their homes or public spaces, emphasizing that these actions are not only in violation of public safety regulations but also pose significant environmental risks.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police warns the public, motorists, and illegal fuel dealers against storing fuel in their homes or public places as this is in breach of the country’s laws on public safety and environmental regulations,” Assistant Commissioner Nyathi warned.