AFRICA

Toronto, Canada | THE INDEPENDENT |  One of Africa’s top sporting sons, basketball player Serge Ibaka has not forgotten his roots despite the current focus on helping his Toronto Raptors put up a strong defence of their NBA title. Ibaka, who hails from Brazzaville in Congo, has become a key figure …

Pay-as-you-go off-grid solar energy is bringing electricity to millions across Africa. Ian Lewis reports Falling costs and improved sales networks mean that small-scale solar power for households or micro-businesses is taking off across Africa. Crucially, this is fast becoming a self-sustaining sector that can generate its own revenues, and allowing numerous companies of …

Johannesburg, South Africa | XINHUA | The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) on Tuesday launched a program to help Africa’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to adapt business operations in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. AUDA-NEPAD, in partnership with Ecobank Group, launched the MSME Academy which will give …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA |  High-level African and Chinese experts and officials on Tuesday called for further strengthening China-Africa ties in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. They made the call during a high-level virtual China-Africa joint response to COVID-19 pandemic meeting, which brought together senior experts …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | African countries need to strengthen protection of lions and other iconic carnivores amid threats to their survival linked to poaching, habitat loss and diseases, conservationists said on Friday ahead of World Lions Day to be observed on Aug. 10. Edith Kabesiime, wildlife campaign manager at …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday established a framework for the management, coordination and integration of public port, railway and pipeline services under the Kenya Transport and Logistics Network (KTLN). In an Executive Order issued in Nairobi, Kenyatta said the network brings together Kenya Ports Authority …

Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | Working as a motorbike taxi rider in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, Joseph Musau knows at least three acquaintances who have contracted COVID-19. It was not until recently did he realize that COVID-19 was spreading at a faster speed in his country, where it took three months for …

Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA |  Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday launched Kenya’s chapter of Generation Unlimited (GenU), a UN platform which he said will assist the government in unlocking the potential of Kenyan youth. Kenyatta said the youth account for about three quarters of the Kenyan population, adding that …

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent could be long-lasting, a senior African Union (AU) Commission official stressed on Wednesday. “The consequences of the pandemic could be long-lasting,” an AU statement issued on Wednesday quoted Smail Chergui, AU Commissioner for …

Khartoum, Sudan | XINHUA | Sudan on Tuesday announced its rejection of an Ethiopian proposal regarding the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), said Sudan’s Irrigation and Water Resources Ministry in a statement. Sudan rejected the Ethiopian proposal as it stipulates that an agreement should only …