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Ministry of Higher Education this morning has thanked its cooperating partner, Astria Learning (https://AstriaLearning.com) for its unwavering support in Education Management. During a meeting with the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Kayula Siame at Ministry of Higher Education this morning, Astria Learning Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jeff Bordes donated One Million face masks to be distributed to all Higher Education Institutions.

Mrs Kayula expressed her gratitude for the cooperation and support Astria Learning has been rendering to supporting Colleges and Universities in the advancement of learning through provision of digital tools. “Digital resources continue to enable easy access of education to students and have enabled research which is critical to education and for that, Astria Learning’s digital platforms and partnerships are greatly appreciated.” She added.

Permanent Secretary Mrs. Siame Kayula assured that the donation of the face masks will be distributed to all institutions and will go a long way to support students through the pandemic.

Mrs. Kayula elatedly expressed her welcome to see a deepening cooperation with Astria Learning through provision of devices such as the Edutablet and the Astria Digital Library.  She said this will ensure that students have the right devices to access eLearning.

Astria Learning Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Jeff Bordes reassured his pledge and support to the Ministry of Higher Education through the donation of the One Million face masks.

“We are in a time of crisis and our focus is to support in every way possible as it is not about profit but about numbers and ensuring we reach the rural communities.” Dr. Jeff Bordes said.

Dr. Bordes added that it is his wish to see that all rural and outskirt communities are able to access education and hence the company is working through various means to make this possible which will include unlimited access to resources not only available on android but also desktops.

It was announced that Astria Learning and the Ministry of Higher Education will work together to provide portable tablet computers called EduTabs to colleges and universities designed specifically for learning to enable easy access to educational materials-Anytime, Anywhere.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Astria Learning.

Partnership with Ministry of Higher Education

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This weekend marks the beginning of the much-awaited World Rugby Sevens Repechage in Monaco. With three African nations representing the continent on the big sporting stage in Monaco this weekend, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all teams and their coaches and supporting staff.

Download Olympic Repechage Men&#39;s 2021: https://bit.ly/2SAKHTX
Download Olympic Repechage Women&#39;s 2021: https://bit.ly/3gL02JC
Twelve women&#39;s and ten men&#39;s teams will be competing in a round robin this weekend to secure their spot in the world’s biggest sporting event, the Olympics being held in Tokyo from 26th to 31st July.
The women’s competition will feature Argentina, Colombia, France, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Russia, Samoa, and Tunisia. While the men’s tournament will involve Chile, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, Samoa, Tonga, and Zimbabwe.
This evening, the men’s tournament kicked off with Zimbabwe playing against Mexico, where the men played a brilliant defence game, and managed to score 3 tries. With a win of 21 &#8211; 0. Setting the benchmark for the rest of their games.
Leading the pack for Africa, the Tunisian Women’s’ World Rugby Sevens team will be playing against Papua New Guinea at 14:08 hours (Local Monaco Time) tomorrow while Madagascar is set to compete against Hong Kong later that evening at 19:11 hours (Local Monaco time).
Speaking on the occasion, Paula Lanco &#8211; President of the Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee, remarks, “This weekend is going to be a powerful punch of excitement and emotions, we are looking forward to some free-flowing Rugby with many great tries that will make audiences erupt and roar. But more importantly, the women’s tournament is not only a means of entertainment and pride but also an opportunity to inspire millions of women especially girls around the globe to pursue their dreams, fight for equality and to believe that anything can be achieved with hard work, patience, and perseverance. This is a remarkable moment in history that has the potential to ignite the imagination of our future generations. Here’s wishing all the teams all the good luck they need; we absolutely cannot wait to find out which of the two women’s team will make to Tokyo this year.” 
With their sight set on an Olympic glory, the respective captains from Madagascar, Tunisia and Zimbabwe teams remain enthused and highly hopeful. The women’s tournament will be particularly enthralling as two of the twelve women’s squads that have arrived in Monaco will be securing their admission into the Olympics club, thereby lending both teams from Africa i.e., Tunisia and Madagascar a chance to be part of global stage and spotlight at the Olympics. With 5,000 world-wide fans watching the tournament live from the stadium, millions are anticipated to tune-in from their homes on digital devices to watch history being made over the weekend. Some viewers from certain locations across the world can access live telecast of the games, however the energy, excitement, joy, and thrill will be experienced by all audiences alike.
“The sport of Rugby as thrill-seeking as it is, carries along with it a rich history, heritage and legacy of undeniable sportsmanship. Outstanding women and men from different parts of Africa have come together to fight for one goal and one trophy. I am keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that this hard work is paid off and we see a flag from the African continent rise in the sky at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. My best wishes are with all the African teams and players.” says Khaled Babbou – President of Rugby Africa.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
For media enquiries please contact: N: Lerato Chiyangwa E: Rugby@apo-opa.com
News&#038;results: Follow @RugbyAfrique on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook Website: www.RugbyAfrique.com
Women’s Ruby in Africa: On the African continent, women’s rugby has seen tremendous growth. In the last decade it increased from 50 000 female players in 2012, to over 260 000 in 2018 and 350 000 in 2020.
For this tremendous growth to continue, strong leadership in women’s rugby needs to continue, the Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship is one of the tools that will enable this.
Africa will also be well represented when South Africa participates in the next rugby World Cup women in New Zealand in 2022 and Kenya in the Olympic Games in 2021.
About Rugby Africa: Created in 1986, Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com), previously the African Confederation of Rugby (Confédération Africaine de Rugby – CAR), is one of the six regional associations composing World Rugby (www.WorldRugby.org), the international organization responsible for the governing of Rugby Union and Rugby Sevens. Rugby Africa unites all African countries which play rugby union, rugby sevens, and women’s rugby. Rugby Africa organizes the qualifying competition for the Rugby World Cup, and Africa Sevens, a qualifying competition for the Olympic Games. Rugby Africa has 39 members.

Sending warm wishes of good luck to all African teams competing at the World Rugby Sevens this weekend!

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Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, held a virtual meeting with Hon&#39;ble Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana today. MoS recalled fondly his visit to Botswana in November 2018.

The two ministers, in their discussions, touched upon all aspects of the mutually-beneficial India-Botswana relations, in particular, bilateral cooperation in the health, trade, education and defence sectors. Minister Kwape conveyed his government’s appreciation for the capacity-building slots that India offers every year to young Botswanians and expressed his interest in the tele-medicine and tele-education opportunities offered by the e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati programmes.
The two ministers agreed to exchange trade and other delegations and to resume high-level visits at the earliest.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs &#8211; Government of India.

Virtual interaction between Minister of State for External Affairs & Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Botswana (June 17, 2021)

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Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Republic of Senegal H.E Ambassador Melaku Legesse met with H.E. Regis Onanga M. Ndiaye, Dean of Africa Ambassadors group and Ambassador of Gabonese Republic to Senegal and discussed issues of common concern between the two friendly countries.

During the meeting, Ambassador Melaku briefed the reasons that forced the government of Ethiopia to carry out the law enforcement operation in Tigray, the recent status of the region, the government&#39;s commitment in the provision of humanitarian assistance for people in need in the region and its readiness to conduct joint investigations with international organizations related to alleged human rights violations.
On the GERD, Ambassador Melaku underlined that Ethiopia firmly believes the management and utilization of the Nile should be based on the internationally recognized principle of equitable and reasonable utilization causing no significant harm and cooperation. He also noted Ethiopia’s conviction that the ongoing AU-led process will contribute to the realization of this objective in the spirit of finding African solutions to African problems. Ambassador Melaku also briefed the ambassador on the Ethiopia-Sudan border. Issue and the government&#39;s commitment and preparations for the upcoming 6th national election.
Ambassador Regis Onanga M. Ndiaye on his part, said the GERD is a flag ship project for Africa. He appreciate Ethiopia’s commitment to find an African solutions for African problems. Finally, He expressed his wishes that Ethiopia would succeed in its reforms and overcome the current challenges it is facing at national and regional levels.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dakar, Senegal.

H.E Ambassador Melaku Legesse Confers with the Dean of Africa Ambassadors group in #Senegal

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Dlamini becomes first black South African to compete at Tour de France; Dlamini, Bennett and Campenaerts all make first Tour de France starts; Aru, Henao, Clarke and Gogl add significant experience; Walscheid looks to flat stages and time trials; The spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are – on show to the world.

Team Qhubeka ASSOS continues to make history as we are thrilled to announce our eight-rider roster for the 2021 Tour de France which includes a debut for Nicholas Dlamini, who becomes the first black South African ever to compete at the showpiece event.
Nicholas Dlamini on Tour de France selection: https://bit.ly/3gBjAji
Team Qhubeka ASSOS, Africa’s UCI WorldTour team, will make its seventh appearance at the Tour de France having first competed in 2015 (MTN-Qhubeka). Over that period the team has won seven stages; and worn the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys respectively.
Dlamini’s selection is a landmark moment for the South African-registered team as he becomes the latest rider to progress from our development team and onto the UCI WorldTour, and subsequently earn his selection to compete at the world’s biggest cycling race.
The 25-year-old, who grew up in an informal settlement in Cape Town, first caught the eye as a runner before moving into cycling where his talents saw him move to the UCI’s World Cycling Centre Africa in Potchefstroom, South Africa. It is from here that he first earned a spot in our UCI Continental outfit – Team Qhubeka &#8211; based in Lucca, Italy.
In his second season with the continental team, Dlamini rode as a stagiaire on our WorldTour team and then turned professional in 2018. Since then he raced across the world, including twice competing at the Vuelta a Espana (2019 and 2020) and has worn the king of the mountains jersey at both the Tour Down Under and the Tour of Britain.
2020 saw his season heavily affected by an arm injury, as well as the broader impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the cycling calendar, but 2021 has seen Dlamini selected to represent Team South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and now being called up to our Tour de France squad.
Dlamini’s style of racing will likely see his talents deployed in the offensive strategy the team will look to pursue during the race, while also playing a key supporting role in the flatter stages.
Bennett (25) makes his Tour debut following on two previous Grand Tour starts at the Giro d’Italia, and having made his first start for our team at Etoile de Besseges in February. The Californian comes into the race having impressed with his aggressive racing and versatility in serving the team’s ambitions during the course of the race; and offers a perfect foil for the team’s strategic objectives.
Giro d’Italia stage-winner Victor Campenaerts also makes his Tour de France debut in 2021 and comes into the event in confident mood. The Belgian world hour record holder, who made a name for himself as a time triallist, has changed his approach in 2021 and scored a momentous victory in Gorizia a month ago.
Italian Grand Tour-winner Fabio Aru has steadily seen his form build during the course of 2021 and will bring an incredible amount of experience to our roster. After starting the year racing cyclo-cross, the Sardinian has racked up 33 races days, most recently completing the Criterium du Dauphine.
In 2017 he finished 5th overall as he won stage five and also wore the maillot jaune for a period. 2021 will mark his fourth start at the event.
Michael Gogl was the team’s standout rider at the 2020 Tour de France and his performances during the course of this year, punctuated by his sixth-place finish at Strade Bianche, sees him perform an integral role in our team. His position as a road captain, alongside Simon Clarke, is invaluable. This will be the 27-year-old’s fourth participation at the Tour de France, having first ridden in 2017.
Fellow road captain Simon Clarke starts the Tour de France for a sixth time, with three previous top-10 stage finishes. The 34-year-old rides his first Tour for Team Qhubeka ASSOS and starts his 15th Grand Tour in total. Clarke, whose father hails from Cape Town, will celebrate his birthday on the final stage in Paris, on Mandela Day.
Max Walscheid will ride his second Grand Tour of the year after an excellent performance at the Giro d’Italia. Two top-10 finishes in the two individual time trials in Italy saw the 1.99m German thrilled with the improvements he’s made in this discipline and with a number of opportunities on offer in the flatter stages he will be hopeful of causing an upset.
Our eight-rider line-up is completed with the inclusion of Colombia’s Sergio Henao. The hugely experienced 33-year-old makes his fourth appearance at the Tour with a best performance of 12th overall in 2016, and his ability to play both a supporting role as well as take on the race for himself provides the team with some exciting options.
The 2021 Tour de France gets underway in Brest on 26 June and finishes on Paris on 18 July. Stay tuned to the final week of build-up to the event with further exciting news set to come from the team.
FAN ANNOUNCEMENT
Throughout 2021 Team Qhubeka ASSOS has sought to do things in differently by asking our fans to announce our line-ups for the races. The response to this initiative has been incredible, and seen our supporters engage with the team in a completely unique way that’s further enriched their relationship with the team.
Our 2021 Tour de France team announcement is a special tribute to all of our fans and partners who together with us celebrate the true spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are.
The announcement video, which can be viewed here, is a special collaboration celebrating the time, effort, love and care that they’ve shown the team in celebrating our purpose and making a meaningful impact in the world in spreading the message that bicycles change lives.
2021 Tour de France line-up [squad numbers]:
Simon Clarke – Australia [09]
Michael Gogl – Austria [07]
Victor Campenaerts – Belgium [55]
Max Walscheid – Germany [13]
Sean Bennett – USA [31]
Nic Dlamini – South Africa [17]
Sergio Henao – Colombia [10]
Fabio Aru – Italy [21]
QUOTES
Douglas Ryder – Team Principal
This year is an incredibly special one for us – for so many reasons &#8211; and now at the Tour de France we again will have the opportunity to showcase our unique purpose-driven team to the world. 
Selection for a Tour de France team is always very difficult, and what we’ve seen again this year is riders across our squad put their hand up for selection. Our final roster is one that I know will do our team, partners and supporters proud in the true spirit of Ubuntu.
Riding your first ever Tour is such a special moment and I couldn’t be more delighted for Nic, Sean and Victor. We have huge amounts of experience in Fabio, Michael, Simon and Sergio while Max – together with Victor &#8211; shone at the Giro and will be looking to carry that confidence into this race.
For Nic, what a moment though; his story is simply an incredible one and for him to have earned this opportunity shows that dreams really do come true, and for the team to have provided that opportunity makes me incredibly proud.
He’s always been an individual that has stepped up and taken the opportunities that he’s fought for; and he does so again as he lines up at the startline in Brest on the sport’s biggest stage in front of the world. This will culminate in an incredible moment for him, South Africa and especially for our team. 
His selection speaks to everything about what we’ve created and built with this team through providing hope, an opportunity and then ultimately the platform to be on the biggest stage of all, the Tour de France.
I know that the spirit coursing through the squad in the way we’ve performed this year will again be on show for the world to see, and I can’t wait for racing to get underway. 
Bicycles Change Lives
Nicholas Dlamini
Being selected to ride in my first Tour de France is an absolute dream come true for me. It’s always been an absolute childhood dream for me and now that I’m about to live it makes it feel surreal. 
I think it speaks to what the team is about, the Ubuntu spirit, and how we change people’s lives because it is honestly a very special moment: to come from a small township and then to go to the Tour de France. 
Considering where I come from it would simply have been impossible for me to have the opportunity to ride at the Tour de France if it wasn’t for Team Qhubeka ASSOS. The platform that they’ve provided me, and other riders from Africa, to compete at the highest level in cycling has been critical. 
I really hope that this will serve as a reference of hope and inspiration to many young South Africans, and people around the world, who have been working really hard to reach their dreams, my hope is that they take from this that anything is possible. 
I want to race the tour to inspire more kids on Qhubeka bikes to follow in my footsteps and to experience the world like I have, for more kids in communities to put their hands up for bikes to work hard like I did, to dream big. I am living my dream.
Fabio Aru
I am incredibly excited to get my Tour de France campaign underway with Team Qhubeka ASSOS. Throughout the season, I’ve been working towards the race with my focus on being in the best possible condition for the start. 
It’s a race that I love, and in 2021 will be one that I will approach with my teammates in the true spirit of Ubuntu. We’ve seen the way that the team has raced this year, and particularly at the Giro d’Italia, and we look forward to continuing in the same way. 
We’ll look to race aggressively throughout and target stage victories, which I look forward to playing my part in by racing in a way that continues to shine a spotlight on our purpose as we changes lives with bicycles and the Qhubeka Charity.
Simon Clarke
It&#39;s a great honour to be selected once again for the event which is the pinnacle of our sport, this time with a new team with amazing drive and pride. 
The team raced with a special dynamic at the Giro which really made everyone sit up and take notice, and we intend to continue this at the Tour de France. Can’t wait to get cracking.
Michael Gogl
Of course I am extremely happy and motivated to go to the Tour de France. It will be my fourth Tour and with a strong motivated squad, with riders for every terrain, we will continue what worked out really well in the last period; that is to race aggressively and try to hunt stages as one team.
On top of that, riding for Team Qhubeka ASSOS in the biggest yearly sporting event fills me with pride and will most certainly push me even more to put the Qhubeka Charity firmly into the spotlight.
Max Walscheid
I am so incredibly proud to line up again for my second Tour de France with Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
I think I’ve had a great year so far but chances to go for myself were rare but still I’m happy have attained some good results but more so to have been part of great team results and achievements. 
Now I am extremely thrilled to represent our team in the sprints and go for results on the biggest stage possible. We have a very versatile team and I’d like to be a key part in achieving results in the flat stages.
Victor Campenaerts
This year’s Tour de France will be my first and after the Giro I’m really eager to do my second Grand Tour of the year as we had a blast. We achieved some big successes but also just had a really good time because we really are one team and we race in the spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are. This makes it really nice to race, and especially to race a Grand Tour with this family.
Sean Bennett
This is an absolute dream come true and I can’t wait to get the race started. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the way that the team has raced in 2021 as it suits my approach on the bike perfectly. I think that together with the spirit in the group, and racing in that way, that we can continue to be successful.
Sergio Henao
It’s always exciting to be selected for the Tour de France, the most important race in the world. This is very special for me as a return to the Tour in new colours, new jersey and with a new team. We go into the race with high expectations after the good experiences the team has had during the course of the season – and most recently the Giro. 
We have to fight for stages and of course maintain a good image of the team. Personally I’ve done some excellent, very hard, preparation at high altitude but have lacked a bit of racing rhythm situation but with confidence I’m sure that we’ll do everything for the team. I’m really looking forward to this month of summer coming up and I’m going to enjoy it a lot, working always as a collective, as a team.
Lars Michaelsen
With this team we go into the Tour de France without a specified GC contender and without any top-top-top sprinter but importantly with a group of riders who have a clear goal to take opportunities and play their part in the race. 
How will that exactly unfold? Well it’s hard to tell, but if we divide the stages we have six sprint stages, 5-10 possibilities of breakaways, two individual time trials and four hilltop finishes where we’ll probably see the big GC riders going for it. 
You can divide it in many ways but I choose to be optimistic in that we have these of somewhere between 5-10 stages where we will try to be represented in breakaways. In the sprints we will support Max Walscheid as well as we can, and look to take any and all opportunities on offer.
Our Ubuntu spririt – I am because we are – will be what carries us into this race and we can’t wait to get going.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.

Dlamini becomes first black South African to compete at Tour de France

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The Africa Renewable Energy Fund II has achieved its first close at €125 million, following a joint investment of €17.5 million from The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Climate Technology Fund through the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org).

AREF II, a successor to the original Fund, is a 10-year closed-ended renewable energy Private Equity Fund with a $300 million target capitalization. The Africa Renewable Energy Fund II, managed by Berkeley Energy, invests in early-stage renewable energy projects, thereby not only de-risking the most uncertain phase of power projects, but also promoting increased green baseload in Africa’s generation mix.
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Climate Technology Fund will each contribute roughly €8.7 million to mobilize private-sector investment into Africa’s renewable energy sector. The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa will also contribute financing to the AREF II Project Support Facility, which funds technical assistance and early-stage project support to improve bankability.
Other investors include the U.K’s CDC Group, Italy’s CDP, the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO) and SwedFund.
“We are proud to be associated with Berkeley Energy and other like-minded investors, and look forward to AREF’s continued success and leadership in promoting sustainable power development on the continent,” said Dr. Kevin Kariuki, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.
In 2012, the African Development Bank selected Berkeley Energy, a seasoned fund manager of clean energy projects in global emerging markets to set up AREF. AREF II has a sharper strategic focus than its predecessor on “green baseload” projects that will deliver firm and dispatchable power to African power systems through hydro, solar, wind and battery storage technologies.
Luka Buljan, Berkeley Energy’s Managing Director, said: “We are very excited to have reached this milestone with strong support from our backers. The catalytic tranche from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa and the Climate Technology Fund will assist in mobilising private institutional investors up to full fund size of €300 million. We now look forward to concluding the fundraising and delivering projects that will provide clean, reliable and affordable energy across African markets.”
“AREF is intertwined with the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa’s history and success, and we have worked closely over the last decade to create precedents in difficult markets and challenging technologies. We look forward to continued collaboration to accelerate the energy transition in Africa,” said Joao Duarte Cunha, Manager for Renewable Energy Initiatives at the African Development Bank and Coordinator of the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: o.terry@afdb.org
Technical Contact: Joao Duarte Cunha Division Manager, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Dept j.cunha@afdb.org
About SEFA: SEFA is an African Development Bank-managed special fund providing catalytic finance for renewable energy. SEFA’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal 7. SEFA was established in 2011 in partnership with the Government of Denmark (https://bit.ly/3wC28SE) and has since received contributions from the Governments of United States (www.usaid.gov), United Kingdom (https://bit.ly/3cTlueb), Italy (www.minambiente.it), Norway (www.norad.no/en/front), Spain (www.mineco.gob.es), and Sweden (www.sida.se), Nordic Development Fund (www.ndf.int) and Germany (www.bmz.de/en). SEFA is housed in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department (PERN) under the Power, Energy, Climate, and Green Growth (PEVP) complex.
About CTF: The $5.4 billion CTF is one of the two multi-donor trust funds within the wider Climate Investment Funds (CIF). It promotes scaled-up financing for demonstration, deployment and transfer of low-carbon technologies with significant potential for long-term greenhouse gas emissions savings. The Bank became an Implementing Entity of the CIF in 2010 and since then has approved over $588 million in CTF resources for a total of 10 projects across Africa.

Africa Renewable Energy Fund II secures EUR125 million first close with SEFA and CTF investments

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Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, announced the winners of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother FASHION AWARDS 2020 from Ghana, Namibia and Zambia. The awards are by Merck Foundation in partnership with the First Lady of Ghana, H.E. Mrs. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO; the First Lady of Namibia, H.E. Mrs. MONICA GEINGOS and the First Lady of Zambia, H.E. Mrs. ESTHER LUNGU, who are also the Ambassadors of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother emphasized, “Big congratulations to the 21 winners of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Fashion Awards 2020. We launched these awards in partnership with our long-term partners and my dear sisters; H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana; H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia; and H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia. I am thankful for their support and contribution as Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother. In 2021 we have launched the fashion awards in partnership with 20 Africa first ladies to give opportunity for these countries however the awards are open for all countries. The 21 winners of 2020 across the three countries have been recognized for their extraordinary creative designs that deliver strong and influential messages to empower infertile women and say ‘No to Infertility Stigma’ and create meaningful fashion trends to educate their communities that ‘Fertility is a Shared Responsibility.”
Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Fashion Awards 2020 winners are rewarded with $500 each to execute and showcase their winning designs so that people can have the opportunity to wear them and build advocacy to break the Infertility stigma for women and men. 
Merck Foundation appreciates the creativity of winners and considers it to be instrumental to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless in the communities, hence, Merck Foundation additionally rewarded all the winners with one year of access to an online educational training program called “MasterClass”. The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course in English that can be accessed anywhere within the Internet network.
“I encourage the winners to be the ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother Advocate’ to further empower infertile women and all women and girls in general and to eliminate infertility stigma. I also welcome them as valuable members of ’Merck Foundation Alumni’”, added Senator, Dr. Kelej.
Here is the list of Award Winners:
Here are the winners from Ghana in partnership with H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother.
GHANA
 	Leticia Ashie Owusu 	Gifty Amonu Essel 	Kizito Ronald Jr 	Placid Leke 	Anuja Bharti 	Paul Akrofie 	Desmond Nhyira Amankonah 
Here are the winners from Namibia in partnership with H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother.
NAMIBIA
 	Linrico Humphries 	Stephany-Lee Schmidt 	Aina Shigwedha 	Hope Gowera 	Ndara Immanuel 	Eugenia Benard 	Paulton Luciano Witbooi 
Here are the winners from Zambia in partnership with H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother.
ZAMBIA
 	Nelly Banda 	Ruth chimbala 	Cecilia Njobvu 	Linda Ngwira 	Naomi Soko 	Gibstar makangila 	Kasonde Makangila 
“Together, with the fashion industry, we would continue to play an instrumental role in eliminating the infertility stigma and empowering women in education and at all levels. I hope to receive many such outstanding entries from all African designers and students for our Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021, announced in partnership with 20 African First Ladies”, explained Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej.
Details of Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021
Who can apply?
All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility stigma, and/or Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
Last date of submission:
30th August 2021
How to apply? 
Entries can be submitted by sending the original sketches as an attachment(s) on:
submit@merck-foundation.com
The Subject line of the mail should mention: Merck Foundation FASHION AWARDS “More Than a Mother” 2021
Please specify your name, institution name, country, and contact details in the mail.
10 winners will be granted $500 each to execute their designs. 
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: bit.ly/2LdbD8F Twitter: bit.ly/2LesKH8 YouTube: bit.ly/3sdHMxm Instagram: bit.ly/2LC26rm Flickr: bit.ly/2XqzQdU Website: Merck-Foundation.com Download Merck Foundation App: bit.ly/2MmNvAU
About ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign: “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe, effective and equitable fertility care solutions. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education&#038;Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
With “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child. 
The Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” are:

H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, 			The First Lady of Botswana
H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia
H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia
H.E. SIKA KABORE, The First Lady of Burkina Faso
H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana

H.E. AISHA BUHARI, The First Lady of Nigeria
H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE,
The First Lady of Burundi
H.E. CONDÉ DJENE, The First Lady of Guinea Conakry
H.E FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone
H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic
H.E. CLAR WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia
H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia
H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville
H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi
H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe
H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, THE First Lady of Democratic Republic of Congo
H.E. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique

The Former First Lady of Burundi, H.E DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The Former First Lady of Chad, H.E. HINDA DÉBY ITNO, The Former First Lady of Malawi, H.E. PROFESSOR GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA and The Former First Lady of Niger, H.E AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU have worked successfully with Merck Foundation as Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Ambassadors to break the stigma of infertility and empower infertile women in their countries.

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as; • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Fashion Awards • ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Film Awards • Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it • Children storybook, localized for each country

About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&#038;equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (bit.ly/2MU6Fht), Twitter (bit.ly/3scVf8t), Instagram (bit.ly/3boJ0jr), YouTube (bit.ly/3sf4aWX) and Flicker (bit.ly/3snPHZ8).

Merck Foundation and First ladies of Ghana, Namibia and Zambia recognized winners of “More than a Mother” Fashion Awards with the aim to raise awareness about infertility and breaking its stigma in their countries

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While the scramble for second place on the standings will be a big driving force for a few Women’s Premier Division teams this weekend as the competition enters round seven, the teams participating in Group 2 of the First Division will look to build momentum after kicking off their competition last week.

The EP Queens and Cell C Sharks Women will kick off the Premier Division action on Saturday in Port Elizabeth at 12h00, while the Boland Dames take on log-leaders, DHL Western Province, in the Western Cape derby in Wellington at 14h00, where the hosts will hope to create the upset of the season. Both matches will be streamed live on www.Springboks.rugby.

The main match-up of the round will play out at Loftus Versfeld where the Blue Bulls Women will go full-out to defeat the Border Ladies as they attempt to reduce the gap between the sides on the log with an eye on closing in on second place for a possible final berth. This match will be broadcast live on SuperSport Variety 4 at 13h00.

The two matches in the First Division will see the Pumas begin their campaign against the Valke in Standerton and the Leopards go up against the Limpopo Blue Bulls in Potchefstroom, with both encounters kicking off at 13h00.

Premier Division

The EP Queens will be hunting their fourth victory in five outings against the Cell C Sharks Women and their second win a row in the competition when the sides meet at the Wolfson Stadium on Saturday.

Both teams have struggled to find their rhythm this season with the Port Elizabeth outfit winning only two of their six games up to now and the KwaZulu-Natalians one. But with only four pool rounds remaining – including this match – both teams will be hoping to make their way off the lower end of the table with relegation looming for the last-placed side this season.

The EP Queens have been superior on attack this season, scoring more than double the number of points as the visitors, but they have conceded more points, which is something they will want to improve on.

In Wellington, defending champions DHL Western Province will enter their clash against the Boland Dames as favourites after earning six wins on the trot this season and given their impressive form, which has seen them top the attack and defence statistics.

The Dames, however, have a newfound confidence after registering back-to-back wins against Cell C Sharks Women and EP Queens, and they will enter the match feeling they have nothing to lose.

The Blue Bulls Women, meanwhile, will enter their clash against the Border Ladies knowing that a victory would be invaluable in opening up the door for them to possibly force their way into the top two in the next few weeks, as they trail Border by only seven log points.

The home side stumbled last week after back-to-back wins and will be keen to return to their winning ways as the business end of the competition approaches, but they will be wary of the fact that the Border Ladies are under pressure to win to maintain their breathing space on the table over Boland and the Blue Bulls with an eye on earning a final berth.

Both teams have been good on attack this season, but the Blue Bulls will look to tighten up their defence.

First Division

The Pumas will kick off their 2021 campaign against a determined Valke outfit at Standerton High School on Saturday after having a bye in the opening round of Group 2 of the First Division last week.

With the Valke making their return to the competition last week for the first time since 2016, the Pumas will look to take advantage of the fact that the Brakpan team are still finding their feet, which should set the scene for a competitive encounter.

The Leopards, in turn, will go in search of their fourth successive victory against the Limpopo Blue Bulls and their second win in as many games when the teams cross paths at Olën Park.

The Potchefstroom side got their campaign off to an encouraging start last week with a 41-17 victory against the Valke, and with their main rivals in the group – the Mastercard Golden Lions Women – having registered a comprehensive 66-0 win last week, they will be mindful of the fact that a favourable points difference will be vital if they attempt to pip them for a possible final berth this season.

Women’s Premier Division fixtures (Saturday, 19 June):

EP Queens v Cell C Sharks Women Time: 12h00 (live stream on www.Springboks.rugby) Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth Referee: Johre Botha Assistant referees: Local referees

Blue Bulls Women v Border Ladies Time: 13h00 Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Referee: Maria Mabote Assistant referees: Local referees TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni TV: SuperSport Variety 4

Boland Dames v DHL Western Province Time: 14h00 (live stream on www.Springboks.rugby) Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington Referee: Divan Uys Assistant referees: Local referees

Women’s First Division Group 2 fixtures (Saturday, 19 June):

Pumas v Valke Time: 13h00 Venue: Standerton High School, Standerton Referee: Angie Bezuidenhout Assistant referees: Local referees

Leopards v Limpopo Blue Bulls Time: 13h00 Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom Referee: Siyanda Pikoli Assistant referees: Local referees
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Rugby Union.
Media Contact: Rugby@APO-opa.com

Women’s Premier Division R7 and First Division R2 Preview

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), in cooperation with the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) (www.CCOIC.cn/ecms), hosted the 2021 China &#8211; Middle East&#038;North Africa International Trade Digital Expo.

Organized by the CCOIC, this virtual exhibition is intended to rebuild a two-way supply chain to help connect buyers and suppliers and help entrepreneurs from the MENA region who are looking for investment opportunities in China. The event will hold until June 24. It is expected that more than 1000 enterprises will participate in the exhibition. Meanwhile more than 10000 overseas visitors will participate in B2B meetings.

During the event, six sessions will be held from selected industries, such as infrastructure and production capacity cooperation, agriculture and food, home decoration and building materials, textile and clothing, consumer products, along with a special session on the China-Turkey relations.

On June 15, the &#8220;Infrastructure and Capacity Cooperation&#8221; session was held online. Representatives from Future Cities Council of Tunisia, China Mobile International Middle East FZ-LLC, Trade Chamber of Cairo and China-Africa Lekki investment Ltd, attended the online meeting and delivered informative key-note speeches. More than 100 Chinese enterprises from the industry attended the B2B meeting along with tens of professional buyers from the Middle East and North Africa.

Bonnie Chen, Deputy Managing Director of China Mobile International Middle East FZ-LLC, announced that China Mobile is actively building the &#8220;information highway&#8221;, pop point, IDC and other basic networks around the world to provide global customers with the large-scale and high-quality connectivity of &#8221; intelligence connection global&#8221;. The company has built and invested more than 70 land and sea cables with a transmission bandwidth of more than 90T. 2Africa cable is the largest cable project so far, connecting 23 countries in MENA and Europe. It is expected that domestic and foreign enterprises can carry out cooperation with China Mobile in various fields, create an Information Alliance ecology, and jointly promote the transformation of &#8220;digital intelligence&#8221; of enterprises.

Dr. Kamal El Dessouky, Vice president of Trade Chamber of Cairo believes that “The One Belt, One Road” Initiative is regarded by Egypt&#39;s trade association as the basis for the Cairo-China partnership, which is the main emerging economy in North Africa.
Egypt&#39;s unique geographical advantages provide great opportunities for Suez&#39;s economic corridor and with the &#8220;One Belt, One Road&#8221; initiative, the country is looking forward to strengthen exchanges and economic cooperation with China.

Mr. Lai Siqing, Director of Nigeria Lekki Free Zone and The Deputy Managing Director of China-Africa Lekki Investment Ltd introduced in detail the construction and development of Free Zone, the progress of special preferential policies and investment promotion. Mr. Lai welcomed Chinese enterprises to join in the Free Zone. The event has built a bridge for enterprises at home and abroad and made important contributions to bilateral cooperation.

Subsequently nearly 100 domestic and foreign enterprises participated in B2B meetings online, which meets the demand between exhibitors and purchasers in advance and makes accurate matches during the meetings.

The event is hosted by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and organized by China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC).
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC).
For more information, please log on to www.globaltradeweek.com/ccpit2021 or contact the following:
China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) Ms. Zhou Xuan: +86-10-82217251 Email address: zhouxuan@ccoic.cn Mobile: +86 188 1098 2800 (WhatsApp)

China-Middle East & North Africa International Trade Digital Expo 2021

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Hyve Group Plc, organisers of Africa Oil Week (www.Africa-OilWeek.com) have signed a 3-year deal with the CTICC in Cape Town, reaffirming their long-term commitment to the continent.

South Africa’s Tourism Minister Hon. Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane said “I am delighted with the news that from 2022, Hyve Group will be hosting Africa Oil Week and Future Energy Series Africa in South Africa for the following three years and beyond.
It is worthy to note the continued commitment of Africa Oil Week to the social and economic development of South Africa and the wider Pan African community. The event has put Africa at the heart of every decision, and we are proud to call Africa Oil Week partners of Africa in every sense of the term.
The opportunities for international visitors remain as strong as ever and we very much look forward to welcoming all delegates once again for a safe and inspired visit to our beautiful country”.
The news comes after Africa Oil Week recently announced the 2021 edition will temporarily move to Dubai to ensure the safe and wellbeing of their attendees and to provide the greatest opportunity of holding a live event. Africa Oil Week will now be the only large-scale African upstream event taking place in person in 2021.
The CTICC echoed Hon. Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane’s delight with Wayne De Wet, Chief Financial Officer saying “We are extremely happy to announce our continuing partnership with Hyve Group as their venue of choice for Africa Oil Week for at least the next three years, taking us to 2024. Through a strong, collaborative relationship we are confident we can continue to host these senior, market leading events at the highest standard expected by all attendees.
The events serve critical industries that play a significant role in the development of economies across Africa. We are delighted to play our role in hosting such impactful dialogue between leading stakeholders and governments from around the world. We welcome the commitment to South Africa, the wider continent and look forward to working with Hyve for many years to come”.
Paul Sinclair, Director at Hyve is also excited to return to Africa next year stating “We have come along way in our journey with Africa and for Africa, this next chapter in the show’s history reaffirms our unwavering commitment to the continent and will ensure we continue driving sustainable economic development into upstream oil and gas as well leading the conversation on the energy transition at South Africa’s best suited venue in CTICC”.
Africa Oil Week will run this year from 8-11 November in Dubai and return to Cape Town in 2022 (31 October – 4 November)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil Week.
For more information or to request an interview please contact: On behalf of Africa Oil Week Shelby O’Brien Email: shelby.obrien@hyve.group
About Africa Oil Week: Africa Oil Week is the meeting place of choice for the continent’s upstream oil and gas sector. Now entering its 27th year, the event brings together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, the G&#038;G community and service providers.

South Africa’s Tourism Minister delighted Africa Oil Week will return to Cape Town for 2022 and the long term

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Acronis (www.Acronis.com), a global leader in cyber protection and Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com), Africa’s UCI WorldTour cycling team, today announced the Official Cyber Protection Partnership which will be supported by Pan-European cloud services distributor, Resello (www.Resello.com).

Through this partnership, Acronis and Resello will provide Team Qhubeka ASSOS with award-winning cyber protection technology.
“As a cycling team at the pinnacle of the sport we are a high-performance sporting organisation, but it’s our unique purpose that sets us apart as we race to change lives with bicycles.
“As an organization that races across the globe over 250 days a year we are constantly in motion; and by working together with Acronis and their distribution partner Resello, we have a great shared opportunity to showcase the ultimate in integrated data protection and cybersecurity solutions (https://bit.ly/3wDIc1Y).
“Our team is underpinned by the philosophy of Ubuntu – I am because we are – and this valued partnership is yet another opportunity to highlight the platform that our team is able to provide in making a meaningful, positive, impact in the world,” said Douglas Ryder, founder of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Ronan McCurtin, Acronis VP Europe, Turkey and Israel, said: “Professional cycling is a high-performance sport where the whole team has to work together to maximize results such as the victories achieved during the Giro d’Italia, just as cyber protection requires an integrated solution to provide superior protection. That is why we are very excited to welcome Resello as our latest Acronis #CyberFit Cloud Distribution Partner. We are proud to support Team Qhubeka ASSOS to achieve success together.”
As Africa’s only UCI WorldTour team, Team Qhubeka ASSOS races for something greater than just victories. Their long-standing partnership with the Qhubeka Charity and its #BicyclesChangeLives campaign ensures people in Africa move forward with the help of a bicycle, improving access to schools, clinics and jobs. Moving forward Qhubeka and Acronis will also further collaborate on providing schoolchildren in South Africa with bicycles through the Acronis Cyber Foundation Schools Initiative.
“As a cloud services distributor we are very excited to work together with Team Qhubeka ASSOS and Acronis to progress and achieve wins together. Resello’s mission is to make “as-a-service” easy to understand, manage and sell. The more successful our partners are, the more successful we are. I guess in that sense we follow the same Ubuntu philosophy as Team Qhubeka ASSOS,” said Harald Nuij, Managing Director at Resello. “Qhubeka ASSOS uses their service course in The Netherlands as their base of operations from which they support their riders challenging for wins and achieving victories all over Europe. Similarly, as a Pan-European cloud services distributor we support partners and their customers all over Europe in achieving success with data protection and cybersecurity solutions such as Acronis Cyber Cloud,” Harald Nuij added.
As part of the Acronis #CyberFit Sports partnership Resello will provide Team Qhubeka ASSOS with the award-winning Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud (https://bit.ly/3iOR4Oe). This unique machine intelligence (MI) powered solution integrates data protection with cybersecurity (https://bit.ly/3xuAKpS), which helps prevent cyberattacks. Acronis Cyber Protect uniquely combines automation and integration, ensuring the prevention, detection, response, recovery, and analysis needed to safeguard all workloads while streamlining protection efforts. Acronis technology is designed to address the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of modern organizations at the highest levels of business and competitive sport.
“We have enjoyed a great partnership with Acronis for many years now, and we look forward to seeing what victories come next for Team Qhubeka ASSOS,” concluded Harald Nuij, Managing Director at Resello.
Acronis #TeamUp Program for managed service providers
Acronis is also proud to announce that its #CyberFit Sports (www.Acronis.sport) program is open to managed service providers (MSPs) (https://bit.ly/2SxVcr9) who are invited to deliver Acronis Cyber Protection solutions to world-class sports properties on behalf of Acronis and enjoy a rich world of sports benefits and brand exposure.
MSPs are invited to review the #TeamUp program and apply to become an official #CyberFit Delivery Partner at https://bit.ly/3gVSnID
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
For further enquiries: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
Acronis Ana Paula Schaepers PR Coordinator Benelux – DACH +49 175 7568116 anapaula.schaepers@acronis.com
Resello Martijn Couprie Senior Marketeer +31 88 002 8200 martijn.couprie@resello.com
About Acronis: Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions. With advanced anti-malware powered by cutting-edge machine intelligence and blockchain-based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment – from cloud to hybrid to on-premises – at a low and predictable cost.
Founded in Singapore in 2003 and incorporated in Switzerland in 2008, Acronis now has more than 1,600 employees in 33 locations in 18 countries. Its solutions are trusted by more than 5.5 million home users and 500,000 companies, including 100% of the Fortune 1000, and top-tier professional sports teams. Acronis products are available through 50,000 partners and service providers in over 150 countries in more than 40 languages.
About Resello: Resello is a ‘cloud native’ distributor and Microsoft CSP Indirect Provider. Our automation platform accelerates digital transformation and helps MSPs, VARs, System Integrators, ISVs and other IT resellers run a successful cloud business. It enables partners to manage customers and provision products and usage all in one place, including productivity and security cloud solutions such as Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Azure, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, and Vade for M365. Founded in 2013, Resello supports partners in 40+ countries in Europe from their offices in Zwolle (the Netherlands) and Eschborn (Germany).
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.

Team Qhubeka ASSOS welcomes Resello as Acronis #CyberFit Cloud Distribution Partner

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Truecaller (www.Truecaller.com), the world&#39;s most trusted and accurate Caller ID and telephone search engine, is rolling out a new feature to further augment the user experience. The new feature Smart SMS has been introduced based on user feedback and is designed to cater to the evolving needs of our consumers. It offers a host of new services to make day-to-day communication a lot more convenient.

Smart SMS is powered by state-of-the-art machine learning models that adapt based on the feedback you give it. It supports users with important messages from banks, billers, travel companies, delivery companies and so much more.
Smart SMS also helps users stay protected from spam and fraud. Only the essential information within an SMS is highlighted and all SMS messages are categorised and easily accessible. From keeping track of your expenses to last minute changes to your travel, Smart SMS is the future of SMS that will make life a whole lot easier.
Commenting on the new addition, Zakaria Abdulkadir Hersi, Director of Business Development&#038;Partnerships Africa at Truecaller said: “Roughly 80% of SMSes one receives daily are from businesses, disengaging users from important/useful messages. To combat that, SMS apps need to become smarter by filtering out spam and categorising useful information. At Truecaller, we constantly strive to offer the best user experience by adding unique features that fit in with our core mission: to make communication safer and more efficient for everyone. Truecaller has evolved into a powerful communication hub and for the people who wish to use the app to its fullest, we want to streamline the experience as much as possible for an efficient calling and messaging experience for our end user.”
Truecaller uses the same powerful algorithms used to identify spam callers in SMS as well. The SMS intelligence is built into the app itself and it can work offline &#8211; nothing leaves your device, including all OTPs, bank SMSes and financial information. The feature also offers a Smart Inbox that identifies unknown SMS sender numbers and SMS sender IDs are resolved to business names with logos.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Truecaller.
About Truecaller: People use Truecaller to stay ahead. It helps them know who’s getting in touch by providing a search engine for telephone numbers, filtering out unwanted calls&#038;SMS and focusing on what really matters. The company provides services such as a dialer that offers caller ID, spam detection, messaging&#038;more. Truecaller’s mission is to build trust everywhere by making communication safe&#038;efficient. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the company was founded in 2009 by Alan Mamedi&#038;Nami Zarringhalam. Investors include Sequoia Capital, Atomico&#038;Kleiner Perkins.

Truecaller launches Smart SMS Feature in Africa

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Fuel management and payment solutions specialists Payment24 (www.Payment24.co.za) have launched a new module in their comprehensive solutions suite, bringing contactless, cardless and secure fuel payments to market.

Payment24’s latest innovation, FastLane, is described as ‘biometrics for the vehicle’ which instantly identifies any vehicle enrolled in the system as it drives into the forecourt, and then authorises refuelling and automates payment. The solution is designed to allow petroleum companies and organisations operating their own fuelling homebases to improve service and efficiency, and reduce the risk of fraud.
The FastLane system uses cameras and artificial intelligence to detect a vehicle’s registration number, make, model, colour and type as it drives into the refuelling station. This data is sent to the Payment24 cloud, and if the vehicle is registered in the system, refuelling could be pre-authorised or a push notification can be sent to the FastLane companion app for driver verification and authorisation. The pump will release the fuel allocation and payment will be deducted automatically, with a receipt sent via the app. As a B2C solution, the registered driver will authorise refuelling and payment, but the system also enables fuel allocations and payment to be controlled by fleet owners and industrial fuelling station owners to speed up processes and reduce the risk of theft and fraud.
Payment24 CEOs Shadab Rahil and Nolan Daniel report that FastLane adds yet another layer of security to Payment24’s portfolio of over 20 fuel and fleet management solutions. It offers service station owners, fleet managers and even individual consumers greater efficiency and a better refuelling experience, with the added advantage that drivers and petrol attendants do not have to touch cards or keypads in order to make payments during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Says Daniel: “We are advancing to a stage in which the vehicle becomes the payment mechanism, taking away the time and effort that was traditionally needed to refuel a vehicle. Using advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence, we have made ‘paying by car’ a lot faster and more secure than using something like a fleet card. It’s the gateway to a world of cashless transactions, real-time visibility, and satisfied customers. Payment24 FastLane is a way to distinguish yourself, giving customers peace of mind and building loyalty with them.”
Built for conditions across Africa, the smart FastLane solution is very light on energy requirements and can run offline. Rahil notes: “You don’t need constant connectivity to approve transactions, which is perfect for mines with limited connectivity, and in rural fuel stations across Africa.”
Rahil says FastLane offers a number of benefits: “For fuel stations, the benefits include more sophisticated, faster service and a better customer experience. By fast tracking authorisation and payment, they can move vehicles off the forecourt much faster and accommodate more customers. Our smart technology also supports analysis – fuel station management can use the data for assessing factors like traffic patterns, dwell time, repeat visits and customer behaviour to help improve logistics and operations.”
Curbing fuel fraud across Africa
Payment24’s mobile and cloud based strategy and hardware agnostic approach is allowing the company to address key challenges facing petroleum companies and fleet managers in regions with limited infrastructure and countries with developing economies.
Payment24 operates in seven countries in Africa, with a strong partner network Ghana, Namibia, Botswana, Nigeria, and UAE, as well a footprint in Europe and the U.S. The company’s range of technologies are helping petroleum companies and fleet owners to effectively manage fleets and fuel, and curb rampant fuel theft and fraud, which have become a major challenge as fuel theft becomes more lucrative.
The rising cost of fuel has seen fuel fraud overtake vehicle maintenance as the main reason why fleet managers are using technology to monitor their vehicles and fuel consumption, says Rahil .“From a fleet manager perspective, one of the main challenges &#8211; if not the main challenge &#8211; is to prevent fraud when it comes to fuel payments,” he says. “If you consider the fact that large vehicles can take up to 1,000 litres of diesel at a time, poorly managed refuelling could cost businesses a significant amount of money, so advanced fraud prevention solutions are crucial,” Rahil says.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Payment24.
About Payment24: Payment24 is an international technology development firm specialising in fuel payment solutions for the transport and fleet industries. The company’s solutions – including the Payment24 fuel management platform, fleet fuel management solutions, mobile fuelling solutions, and vehicle tracking, telematics and geofencing solutions – are developed out of South Africa to support smart fleet and fuel management and payments in Africa. Based in Cape Town, Payment24 has partnerships and a presence in countries across Africa, and in North America and Latin America, and is currently expanding its reach into 18 additional African countries. Visit: www.Payment24.co.za.

Payment24 introduces ‘vehicle biometrics’ to fast track refuelling

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World Peace Tracts (www.PeaceTracts.org) Sweden, 10th June 2021 The African continent is in need of sustainable peace. Although many countries have made some progress, there are still so many challenges that the people face on a daily basis. Africa needs a way to work together and find new ways to solve problems in order to grow economically and become prosperous for all its citizens. World Peace Tracts has started the process by creating the Pan African Peace Accords, which will help bring about an economic solution for peace through capital acquisition opportunities for capitaless families across Africa.

The new Pan African Peace Accords will design the process of capital acquisition for capitaless African families to make capital ownership economically purchasable and formally as a way to build sustainable peace.
This will allow people from all over Africa who have no access or are denied of the right to own land, natural resources, and property legally, an opportunity for economic prosperity and improved living conditions. World Peace Tracts is not an organization that exists just in theory; it is composed of experienced business leaders from around the world.
African economies have been torn apart by war and poverty. In the past 50 years, Africa has seen more than 500 conflicts that killed more than 10 million people. The Pan African Peace Accords has been formed to develop Peaceful financing tools that can build Chad, Sudan and South Sudan as pilot for building economies in Africa fall into several categories based upon the criteria used in selecting their ownership constituencies.
Peaceful Solutions to African Economies and Sustainable Peace provides an overview of the current state of Africa&#39;s economy in relation to its sustainability, as well as potential solutions for peace building.
Yosef Yomotov, one of the leading global peace negotiators who participated in countless negotiations for peace-making efforts among other World Peace Ambassadors. Yosef is now reaching out to Sudanese people, as well as business leaders/investors and influencers in African continent, to become part of a new Pan African Peace Accords.
Yosef Yomotov is spearheading this Pan African Peace Accords which he hopes will end with some form of negotiated settlement between Chad, Sudan and South Sudan.
The World is Moving Towards Sustainable Development 
Sustainable development includes a range of activities such as market-based economic policies, recycling or conservation to ensure that the needs of future generations are met and that environmental issues do not have long-term consequences. One form of sustainable development is called Green Zones which has been successfully implemented in developing countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda by encouraging people to grow crops with less need for water or fertilizer.
African economies have been marred by violence and war. However, there are peaceful solutions to these economic problems that can provide sustainable peace for Africa. The Pan African Peace Accords has developed a new model of finance called &#8220;Peaceful financing tools&#8221; which is based on the three criteria used in selecting their ownership constituencies: 1) Supportive Local Governments; 2) Economically Progressive Investors; 3) Intelligently selected Philanthropists.
The Sustainable Development Goals call for a world without poverty or hunger by 2030. One of the most critical elements to achieving this goal is addressing development challenges through sustainable peace and economic growth on a regional level.
The Pan African Peace Accords intends to use four criteria in selecting the ownership constituencies: 1) Scale of economic activity (domestic or international); 2) Assets that can be mobilized; 3) Risk profile of business activities; and 4) Local knowledge. In developing these businesses, the Pan African Peace Accords will consider all sectors including extractive industries, manufacturing, agriculture, finance/banking.
The idea of peace bonds came from the concept that we are all in this together. The goal is to share the burden of rebuilding as best as possible. One way is a &#8220;Peace Bond&#8221; program intended to offer loans to businesses at low interest rates with payments deferred until peace is restored.
Another option is an equity participation where citizens of each country are offered stocks on equal terms with dividends paid out from the profits generated by those shares they own in companies operating there.
The following are the four proposed models: 1) The Democracy Model; 2) The Sustainable Development Model; 3) The Rural Development Model; 4) And the Equitable General Stock Ownership Plan.
It is with great honor that we introduce you to our work on sustainable peace, a solution that is sorely needed not only for Africa but also for the rest of the world. The initial step towards peace will be taken by using three different models to finance development in Chad, Sudan and South Sudan.
The Pan African Peace Accords Uses Different Types of Financing to End Conflicts in Africa. 
In order to end conflicts in Africa, there must be sustainable peace. This can only happen if African economies are stabilized and rebuilt.
A post-conflict environment is an investment opportunity for many. There are trillions of dollars available in the world to invest and rebuild, but there needs to be a new set of tools in order to facilitate that type of investment. Chad, Sudan and South Sudan have all been subject to conflict over the past decade with years of upheaval and war leaving them unable to provide basic services like food security or healthcare for their citizens. It is not possible for these countries without outside support.
Community Ownership Is the Key to Financing 
Ownership is a key component to financing. Ownership can be achieved through capital markets, agricultural development funds, clean energy production projects with community-owned utilities companies, educational scholarships for promising students who would otherwise not be able to afford college and women&#39;s ownership in the workplace. Capital markets are very important because they provide funding for businesses which need it. This includes seed money as well as investments that enable growth of a company.
In order to be successful, any organization needs a sustainable revenue stream. There are many ways to generate income for an organization including through the provision of goods and services, government grants, private donations or from selling stocks and bonds. However, in some cases this may not be enough because these sources of income can often dry up. One way that has been proposed is community ownership where there is a financial stake in the company for members of the local community.
$4 Trillion Is Being Spent on Wars Every Year. 
The United States spends $4 trillion on wars every year. In a recent study published by The Washington Post, it was found that although $4 trillion is being spent on wars every year, trillions of dollars could be saved if military budgets were cut by 50%. In addition to reducing the cost of war substantially there are other costs such as health. The more money we spend in warfare, the less we have for public services and essential needs like healthcare and education.
Africa is a continent that has long been plagued by violence and unrest. For decades, it was ruled by the colonial powers of Europe and North America who extracted natural resources from Africa without paying any benefits to the people of Africa.
AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Listing on SECDEX Exchange in June 2021 
AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Listing on SECDEX Exchange www.SECDEX.net  in June 2021. The goal is to explore a Capital Market AEEX Gold Coin Custodial Certificate Listing on SECDEX Stock Exchange in Seychelles with a planned private sector Gold Coin minting facility to be set up in South Africa and potentially in Sudan, Chad or South Sudan for foreign direct inflows worth $1.9 Billion.
&#8220;Weownomy&#8221; To Launch New Gold Coin to Save Lives 
Weownomy Social Currency is a new gold coin social currency with the objective of solving many of the economic problems that are currently being faced by developing countries.
The key to this goal is a new social currency for a new Weownomy social networking platform. This pilot gold coin program is also designed to provide African countries with a peaceful financing tool and increased foreign exchange as well as alleviate poverty in these nations through &#8220;weowns&#8221; gold coins.
Weownomy is a start-up social media company based in the United States with an innovative and altruistic goal: to provide financial aid for communities suffering from poverty. In order to achieve this goal, Weownomy has created a pilot program for Digital Gold Coin Electronic Payment System which will provide Chad, Sudan, South Sudan and other African countries with access to international trade markets.
The new social currency gold coin being launched by Weownomy offers investors from all over the world opportunities to invest in improving African communities.
The idea behind this new social gold coin currency system is not only providing countries in these regions with an alternative currency but also introducing them to the economic benefits of using an alternative Weownomy social network income platform www.Weownomy.global that will pay users for using it.
This new social currency will be used by the communities in these three countries who are marginalized due to poverty, unemployment or civil war. This social currency is backed by gold from (AEEX) reserve and could help save lives.
A revolution in the financial sector is coming to Africa. Weownomy, a new social gold coin currency and electronic payment system will be introduced to Chad, Sudan and South Sudan with the launch of Digital Gold Coin Electronic Payment System. The pilot project aims to provide peace financing tools for the region as well as increased foreign exchange which would allow people in these countries to save lives.
Weownomy is the first of its kind in the world, integrating gold coin into electronic payment systems. The pilot project which has been created by the initiative of Ssemakula Peter Luyima a World Peace Ambassador and philanthropists will be implemented on an experimental basis over a period of one year.
Weownomy Social Currency is a &#8220;gold coin&#8221; created by Weownomy to address poverty, food insecurity and financial exclusion in Chad, Sudan and South Sudan. A total of 1 million weowns coins to be minted by AEEX South Africa Ltd with a new gold coin facility to be set up in South Africa and Sudan.
“weowns” gold coins a new and revolutionary social currency which seeks to solve some of the most serious problems faced by many African countries. It will provide Chad, Sudan and South Sudan with a peaceful financing tool and increased foreign exchange.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Peace Tracts.
About World Peace Tracts: Since 2006 World Peace Tracts has promoted peace in conflict zones across the world.

A Peaceful Solution to African Economies and Sustainable Peace

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Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is the recipient of the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy as the 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year, the NBA (www.NBA.com) announced today.  He is the third player to win the annual award with Charlotte, joining Larry Johnson (1991-92) and Emeka Okafor (2004-05).

Ball received 84 first-place votes and earned 465 total points from a global panel of 99 sportswriters and broadcasters. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards received the other 15 first-place votes and finished in second place with 309 points. Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton finished in third place with 114 points. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote. 
Ball averaged 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, 5.9 rebounds and 1.59 steals in 28.8 minutes in 51 games (31 starts), leading all rookies in assists and steals and ranking second in points and rebounds.  He is the seventh rookie to average at least 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.50 steals in a season since steals became an official statistic in the 1973-74 season, joining Magic Johnson (1979-80), Penny Hardaway (1993-94), Steve Francis (1999-00), Chris Paul (2005-06), Michael Carter-Williams (2013-14) and Ben Simmons (2017-18).  Ball was one of two NBA players to reach all four of those averages this season, along with Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler.
On Jan. 9, Ball recorded 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists against the Atlanta Hawks at 19 years, 140 days old, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to have a triple-double.  In other standout performances, Ball posted a career-high 34 points, eight assists and zero turnovers against the Utah Jazz on Feb. 5 in his third career start, and he had 30 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 1.  Despite missing 21 games with a wrist injury, Ball finished with the second-most assists (313) and third-most three-pointers made (92) by a rookie in Hornets history. 
Ball was selected as the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in each of the first three months of the season (December/January, February and March).  He was also named to the U.S. Team for the 2021 NBA Rising Stars rosters.
Charlotte selected Ball with the third overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.  Ball played for the Illawara Hawks of Australia’s National Basketball League during the 2019-20 season, where he was named the NBL Rookie of the Year.
The Kia NBA Rookie of the Year trophy is named in honor of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Eddie Gottlieb, one of the NBA’s founders.  Gottlieb coached the Philadelphia Warriors to the 1946-47 championship in the league’s first season.
The voting results for the 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award are below.  The balloting was tabulated by the independent accounting firm Ernst&#038;Young LLP.  Complete ballots for each voter will be posted at PR.NBA.com after the announcement of all end-of-season awards. 

VOTING RESULTS: 2020-21 KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Player (Team)
1st Place Votes (5 Points)
2nd Place Votes (3 Points)
3rd Place Votes (1 Point)
Total Points
LaMelo Ball (Charlotte)
84
15
0
465
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota)
15
75
9
309
Tyrese Haliburton (Sacramento)
0
9
87
114
Saddiq Bey (Detroit)
0
0
3
3

Below is the all-time list of recipients of the Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award.
KIA NBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1952-53 – Don Meineke, Fort Wayne 			1953-54 – Ray Felix, Baltimore 			1954-55 – Bob Pettit, Milwaukee 			1955-56 – Maurice Stokes, Rochester 			1956-57 – Tom Heinsohn, Boston 			1957-58 – Woody Sauldsberry, Philadelphia 			1958-59 – Elgin Baylor, Minneapolis 			1959-60 – Wilt Chamberlain, Philadelphia 			1960-61 – Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati 			1961-62 – Walt Bellamy, Chicago 			1962-63 – Terry Dischinger, Chicago 			1963-64 – Jerry Lucas, Cincinnati 			1964-65 – Willis Reed, New York 			1965-66 – Rick Barry, San Francisco 			1966-67 – Dave Bing, Detroit 			1967-68 – Earl Monroe, Baltimore 			1968-69 – Wes Unseld, Baltimore 			1969-70 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee 			1970-71 – Dave Cowens, Boston (tie) Geoff Petrie, Portland (tie) 			1971-72 – Sidney Wicks, Portland 			1972-73 – Bob McAdoo, Buffalo 			1973-74 – Ernie DiGregorio, Buffalo 			1974-75 – Jamaal Wilkes, Golden State 			1975-76 – Alvan Adams, Phoenix 			1976-77 – Adrian Dantley, Buffalo
 			1977-78 – Walter Davis, Phoenix 			1978-79 – Phil Ford, Kansas City 			1979-80 – Larry Bird, Boston 			1980-81 – Darrell Griffith, Utah 			1981-82 – Buck Williams, New Jersey 			1982-83 – Terry Cummings, San Diego 			1983-84 – Ralph Sampson, Houston 			1984-85 – Michael Jordan, Chicago 			1985-86 – Patrick Ewing, New York 			1986-87 – Chuck Person, Indiana 			1987-88 – Mark Jackson, New York 			1988-89 – Mitch Richmond, Golden State 			1989-90 – David Robinson, San Antonio 			1990-91 – Derrick Coleman, New Jersey 			1991-92 – Larry Johnson, Charlotte 			1992-93 – Shaquille O&#39;Neal, Orlando 			1993-94 – Chris Webber, Golden State 			1994-95 – Grant Hill, Detroit (tie) 			Jason Kidd, Dallas (tie) 			1995-96 – Damon Stoudamire, Toronto 			1996-97 – Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 			1997-98 – Tim Duncan, San Antonio 			1998-99 – Vince Carter, Toronto 			1999-00 – Elton Brand, Chicago (tie) 			Steve Francis, Houston (tie)      			2000-01 – Mike Miller, Orlando
2001-02 – Pau Gasol, Memphis 			2002-03 – Amar’e Stoudemire, Phoenix 			2003-04 – LeBron James, Cleveland 			2004-05 – Emeka Okafor, Charlotte 			2005-06 – Chris Paul, New Orleans/Oklahoma City 			2006-07 – Brandon Roy, Portland 			2007-08 – Kevin Durant, Seattle 			2008-09 – Derrick Rose, Chicago 			2009-10 – Tyreke Evans, Sacramento 			2010-11 – Blake Griffin, LA Clippers 			2011-12 – Kyrie Irving, Cleveland 			2012-13 – Damian Lillard, Portland 			2013-14 – Michael Carter-Williams, Philadelphia 			2014-15 – Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota 			2015-16 – Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota 			2016-17 – Malcolm Brogdon, Milwaukee 			2017-18 – Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 			2018-19 – Luka Dončić, Dallas 			2019-20 – Ja Morant, Memphis 			2020-21 – LaMelo Ball, Charlotte
 			 		 	 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
About Kia America: Headquartered in Irvine, California, Kia America continues to top quality surveys and is recognized as one of the 100 Best Global Brands.  Kia serves as the “Official Automotive Partner” of the NBA and offers a complete range of vehicles sold through a network of more than 750 dealers in the U.S., including cars and SUVs proudly assembled in America.*
For media information, including photography, visit www.Kiamedia.com.  To receive custom email notifications for press releases the moment they are published, subscribe at www.Kiamedia.com/us/en/newsalert. 
*The Telluride, Sorento and K5 are assembled in the United States from U.S. and globally sourced parts.

Charlotte’s Lamelo Ball Wins 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award

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 African governments across the continent should accelerate efforts and provide adequate funding to ensure that all children can enjoy their right to an education, Human Rights Watch said today to mark the African Union’s Day of the African Child.

Despite important progress over the past decades to ensure wide ratification and implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, many African children are denied their fundamental right to education. This includes tens of thousands of girls who face discriminatory barriers due to pregnancy, parenthood, or child marriage. Children in at least 18 African countries are affected by attacks against education and the military use of their schools.
“Children across Africa face many interconnected abuses and barriers every day to their right to an education,” said Carine Kaneza Nantulya, Africa advocacy director at Human Rights Watch. “Millions of children have been excluded or have fallen behind on their learning during the pandemic, and the economic impact has forced many to take on often hazardous and gruelling work, forcing them to drop out of school.”
The 2021 African Union theme focuses on accelerating implementation of its Agenda 2040, which outlines the AU’s commitments to secure progress for children and young people. Ensuring the right to free, quality, and inclusive education, and reducing inequality in access to quality education is key to carrying out this agenda.
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, sub-Saharan Africa had the world’s highest out-of-school rates and the highest rates of exclusion. Thirty-two million primary-school-age children and 28 million adolescents of secondary-school age were out of school. Pandemic-related school closures, and the lack of access to remote offline or online learning, have exacerbated previously existing inequalities.
Millions of children already faced financial, social, and discriminatory barriers and were at high risk of being excluded from a quality education – especially girls, children with disabilities, children from low-income households, and those living in areas affected by armed conflict. The increased reliance on private schools or unlawfully levied school fees and other indirect costs in public schools have long been a barrier for many children, including in countries that theoretically guarantee universal free primary and secondary education.
The pandemic has further exacerbated Africa’s socioeconomic inequalities and exposed existing gaps in education, health, and social protection systems, with significant impact on children’s lives. Nationwide school closures also contributed to an increase in child labor. Many children had no access to remote learning.
In countries including Uganda and Ghana, where cash assistance programs for families during the pandemic have been insufficient, many children have been forced into exploitative and hazardous child labor to support their families. In many cases, children had already dropped out of school before the pandemic because they could not afford to pay school fees, or were working grueling and long hours not only to support their families, but to earn money so they could return to school.
New estimates from the International Labour Organization and UNICEF found that in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of children in child labor grew by 16.6 million between 2016 and 2020, driving the first increase in global rates in 20 years.
The African continent has the world’s highest adolescent pregnancy rates, and teenage pregnancies increased during lockdowns in various countries. Across Africa, tens of thousands of students are barred from school because they became pregnant or are parents. Many countries do not have policies for re-entry after giving birth or to manage adolescent pregnancy in schools.
Governments that have made strong commitments in recent years to ensure that pregnant girls and mothers can attend school should swiftly put the promise into action. They should follow the examples of Sierra Leone, Uganda, and São Tomé e Principe, which recently removed bans or amended policies to ensure that pregnant students and parents can resume formal education in public schools.
African governments should urgently adopt plans to redress the right to education for millions of students who are at risk of not returning to school once schools reopen for in-person teaching, as well as those who aged out of compulsory education during the pandemic. They should also ensure that primary and secondary education are fully free, guarantee quality, inclusive education to children with disabilities, strengthen public education systems, and ensure adequate investment and resources for education.
The African Union should also press governments to urgently adopt laws and policies that encourage girls to stay in school, and stop banning pregnant girls from continuing with their education and succeeding academically, Human Rights Watch said.
In response to the increase in poverty during the Covid-19 pandemic, governments should provide cash allowances to families who need them. Governments should ensure that schools do not charge any fees or expect family contributions and follow up with children most at-risk of dropping out to ensure that they return to school.
All African Union countries should endorse the Safe Schools Declaration, an intergovernmental commitment to strengthen the prevention of, and response to, attacks on students, teachers, schools, and universities during wartime. Although 30 African countries have endorsed the declaration – and have been leaders in implementing its commitments over the past year, children, teachers and schools are under attack, including in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Nigeria.
The ongoing fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is depriving many children of an education, with all parties to the conflict using schools as military bases, and soldiers damaging schools, destroying classrooms, and taking away learning equipment, Human Rights Watch found. In Nigeria, schools and schoolchildren are the target of high-profile attacks and abductions by armed groups, including insurgency groups like Boko Haram.
The African Union should continue its call on member states to ensure that children are safe from attacks against education and restrict the use of schools for military purposes, Human Rights Watch said.
“To achieve the AU’s Agenda 2040, the African Union should ensure that all African children have access to a good quality education, and that they are safe from violence, exploitation, or discrimination in any context,” Kaneza Nantulya said. “African governments should ensure that children are front and center in their pandemic recovery plans, prioritizing education, and urgently tackling longstanding problems in public education systems caused by the absence of legal frameworks, and inadequate policies and resources.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Africa: Prioritize Education to Safeguard Children’s Rights

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The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, can confirm that over 270 migrants and refugees were handed over to the Libyan Coast Guard by the ship “Vos Triton”, sailing under the flag of Gibraltar.

“Vos Triton” had rescued the group in international waters during their attempt to reach Europe on 14 June. On 15 June, the Libyan Coast Guard returned them to the main port of Tripoli, from where they were taken into detention by the Libyan authorities.
The two organizations reiterate that no one should be returned to Libya after being rescued at sea. Under international maritime law, rescued individuals should be disembarked at a place of safety.
IOM and UNHCR staff are in Libya, providing life-saving humanitarian assistance. However, the agencies reiterate that the basic preconditions to ensure the safety and protection of rescued migrants and refugees post disembarkation are lacking; therefore, Libya cannot be considered a safe place.
In the absence of predictable disembarkation mechanisms, maritime actors should not be obliged to return refugees and migrants to unsafe places. IOM and UNHCR call on States to coordinate so that merchant vessels rescuing people in distress are granted swift permission for disembarkation in a place of safety, to avoid lives being placed at risk.
The Libyan Coast Guard has returned more than 13,000 people to Libya this year, already surpassing the number of people intercepted or rescued and disembarked in all of 2020. Hundreds of others have perished at sea.
The continuing departures from Libya highlight the need for a predictable rescue and disembarkation mechanism along the Central Mediterranean route, with immediate effect and in full compliance with international human rights principles and standards.
Migrants and refugees disembarked in Libya often end up in appalling conditions where they may be exposed to abuse and extortion. Others go missing and are unaccounted for, raising fears that some may have been channeled into human trafficking networks.
IOM and UNHCR call for an end to arbitrary detention in Libya, through the establishment of a judicial review process, and advocate for alternatives to detention starting with the immediate release of the most vulnerable.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Organization for Migration (IOM).

APO

Partnership with Ministry of Higher Education

Sending warm wishes of good luck to all African teams competing at the World Rugby Sevens this weekend!

Virtual interaction between Minister of State for External Affairs & Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Botswana (June 17, 2021)

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Africa: Prioritize Education to Safeguard Children’s Rights

IOM and UNHCR Condemn the Return of Migrants and Refugees to Libya

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APO

Partnership with Ministry of Higher Education

Sending warm wishes of good luck to all African teams competing at the World Rugby Sevens this weekend!

Virtual interaction between Minister of State for External Affairs & Dr. Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Botswana (June 17, 2021)

H.E Ambassador Melaku Legesse Confers with the Dean of Africa Ambassadors group in #Senegal

Dlamini becomes first black South African to compete at Tour de France

Africa Renewable Energy Fund II secures EUR125 million first close with SEFA and CTF investments

Merck Foundation and First ladies of Ghana, Namibia and Zambia recognized winners of “More than a Mother” Fashion Awards with the aim to raise awareness about infertility and breaking its stigma in their countries

Women’s Premier Division R7 and First Division R2 Preview

China-Middle East & North Africa International Trade Digital Expo 2021

South Africa’s Tourism Minister delighted Africa Oil Week will return to Cape Town for 2022 and the long term

Team Qhubeka ASSOS welcomes Resello as Acronis #CyberFit Cloud Distribution Partner

Truecaller launches Smart SMS Feature in Africa

Payment24 introduces ‘vehicle biometrics’ to fast track refuelling

A Peaceful Solution to African Economies and Sustainable Peace

Charlotte’s Lamelo Ball Wins 2020-21 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award

Africa: Prioritize Education to Safeguard Children’s Rights

IOM and UNHCR Condemn the Return of Migrants and Refugees to Libya

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