Large group gatherings and mobility have been identified as risk factors for increasing the spread of COVID-19 | THE INDEPENDENT | With the end of year approaching and many African families planning get-togethers, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to be on high alert for a possible surge …
Read More »UN urges Africa to develop clear competition rules for AfCFTA to boost trade
Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | The UN on Thursday urged Africa to develop clear competition and consumer protection rules for African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in order to boost trade. Mukhisa Kituyi, secretary general of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) told a trade forum in Nairobi that …
Read More »African conservationists sound alarm over surging human-elephant conflicts
Nairobi, Kenya | Xinhua | Sub-Saharan African countries should invest in innovative wildlife conservation models to stem the escalating human-elephant conflicts driven by competition for space, campaigners said on Friday. John Scanlon, CEO of Elephant Protective Initiative (EPI) Foundation said that urbanization, shrinking habitat and climatic shocks were behind the spike …
Read More »New Google-IFC report estimates Africa’s Internet economy to be $180 billion in next five years
Johannesburg, South Africa | THE INDEPENDENT | The e-Conomy Africa 2020 report released today by Google and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), estimates that increased access to faster and better quality internet, and Africa’s commitment to creating the world’s largest single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area, …
Read More »Over 600 mln Africans lack electricity despite huge renewable energy potential
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The African Union (AU) Commission on Thursday revealed that over 600 million people across the Africa lack access to electricity despite the continent’s abundant renewable energy potential. “Currently, more than 600 million Africans lack access to electricity with many still relying on traditional biomass …
Read More »AU deeply concerned over influx of foreign terrorist fighters into Africa
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Xinhua | The African Union (AU) on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the growing threat to peace and security in Africa posed by terrorism, radicalization and violent extremism, as well as by the influx of foreign terrorist fighters into the continent. According to a statement, the AU …
Read More »An evolutionary jolt helped cattle to spread across Africa
Now genetics must make them more productive | OLIVIER HANOTTE | African cattle breeds are astonishingly diverse, and often quite beautiful. They range from the dark-red Ankole of southern Uganda, with their massive heat-dissipating horns, to the Boran which thrive in the dusty plains of northern Kenya, to Ethiopia’s sturdy …
Read More »Tough times for Africa’s upstream oil and gas
How is the Covid-19 pandemic impacting investment in large-scale oil and gas developments in sub-Saharan Africa? Ian Lewis sees tough times ahead Getting upstream oil and gas projects off the ground in sub-Saharan Africa was challenging before the Covid-19 pandemic. Now the operating environment is even tougher, as the industry contends with …
Read More »Why low COVID-19 death rates in Africa
Examining the theories so far | KEVIN MARSH AND MOSES ALOBO | As the threat of a COVID-19 pandemic emerged earlier this year, many felt a sense of apprehension about what would happen when it reached Africa. For example, the Standard newspaper in Kenya reported on April 22 that “Anywhere …
Read More »Can MTN’s new CEO fix current troubles?
The South African telecom firm plans to refocus on Africa and mobile money | THE INDEPENDENT | MTN Group’s new CEO Ralph Mupita is expected to manage by capitalising on technological growth and demographic dividends within Africa to cement its position as the continent’s largest telecom services provider. He comes …
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