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The “Africa’s Business Heroes” (ABH) prize competition (www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org) will close applications for its third annual edition on June 7. Already, thousands of entrepreneurs from across Africa have already submitted their applications and are vying for a chance to become one of Africa’s Business Heroes.

At a time when many businesses are reeling from the impact of Covid-19, ABH offers 10 finalists a share of a US$1.5 million cash grant, a spotlight to share their businesses and stories as well as unparalleled networking, training and mentorship opportunities.
ABH is committed to being a fully inclusive and pan-African initiative and is aiming to have all of the countries and regions of Africa be well-represented in this year’s edition. ABH has received applications from nearly every African country and is looking for greater representation from applicants in Southern Africa, Francophone countries and North Africa. They are calling on entrepreneurs and small business owners to apply, especially those in Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d&#39;Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Malawi, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, and Zambia.
“We are gratified to have received such a positive response to our ongoing call for applications. Given the challenges over the past year, it has become even more important to enable as many talented entrepreneurs as possible. We want to give entrepreneurs from areas still underrepresented this opportunity to grow their businesses and tell their stories.” said Zahra Baitie-Boateng, Head of Partnerships and Programmes at ABH. “We are looking for people who are on a mission to build successful businesses that create jobs and solve challenges in their community.”
Although North and Central Africa have been underrepresented in number of applications, ABH has received excellent applications from those regions in past editions, with two entrepreneurs from North Africa making the Top 10 in 2019 and a Central African entrepreneur making it to the Top 10 in 2020. West Africa has also done well throughout the competition, with 11 of the top 20 winners in 2019 and 2020. To date, Zimbabwe has led the way in the Southern African region and East Africa is a region where women entrepreneurs have been particularly successful with five female top 10 finalists, including 2020’s first-place winner Chebet Lesan.
The central theme of this year’s competition, “It’s African Time”, is a bold call to action for entrepreneurs that are defying stereotypes and challenges to drive positive impact and growth through their businesses. The ABH prize competition is the flagship philanthropic program of the Jack Ma Foundation, and is open to all African business founders or co-founders of Africa-based businesses or social enterprises with a track record of three years or longer. African entrepreneurs from all sectors, age groups and genders are welcome.
In the long-term, ABH is committed to supporting and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa, and will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs over a ten-year period. Each year, 10 outstanding finalists will come together in a grand finale to pitch their businesses and share their stories with a distinguished judging panel of business legends. Finalists will gain access to the ABH network of entrepreneurs, investors and mentors, public attention, and expert advice and feedback. Each finalist will also receive a cash grant, the winnings are as follows:
 	1st Prize Winner: $300,000 	2nd Prize Winner: $250,000 	3rd Prize Winner: $150,000 	Other Top 10 Finalists (7): $100,000 	$100,000 will also be allocated for the finalists to participate in a global immersion program. 
To learn more and apply to Africa’s Business Heroes 2021:
 	Please visit www.AfricaBusinessHeroes.org or email info@africabusinessheroes.org 	Follow us Twitter (https://bit.ly/3fN5ZFx), LinkedIn (https://bit.ly/3ysWDqE), Instagram (https://bit.ly/3wiAWYE) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3f5Uslw) 	You can also refer an outstanding entrepreneur (https://bit.ly/3u4Hpor) that you would like to see become an ABH finalist 
Applications will be open online until June 7th and following a rigorous evaluation process, the semi-finalists will be announced in August. The top ten finalists for 2021 will be unveiled in September before they go on to compete for the top prize at the grand finale. 
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH).
Press Contacts: Holly Zhao (+1)5054693316 holly.zhao@alibaba-inc.com
Miriam Forte  (+44)7534247780  m.forte@alibaba-inc.com 
About Africa’s Business Heroes: The Africa’s Business Heroes prize competition is the flagship philanthropic initiative spearheaded by the Jack Ma Foundation aimed at supporting and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs across all sectors, who are building a more sustainable and inclusive economy for the future of the continent. Over a ten-year period, ABH will recognize 100 African entrepreneurs and commit to allocating grant funding, training programs, and support for the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Each year, the ABH prize competition and show will feature ten finalists as they pitch their business to win a share of $1.5 million in grant money. Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba Group and the Jack Ma Foundation, created the prize after he made his first trip to Africa in 2017 and was inspired by the energy and entrepreneurial potential of the young people he met with.

Two Weeks Left to Apply for 2021 Africa’s Business Heroes (ABH) Competition

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By Hany Fekry, Regional President &#8211; Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa, Network International (www.Network.ae) 

Many in the payments industry have been predicting so for years. That digital payments are inevitable for the future.
It&#39;s only a matter of time, the experts said over and over again.
But while the technology has continued to take over commerce worldwide, digital payments in Africa have not neared anywhere close to global adoption rates.
The challenges with developing the digital payment sector in the sub-Saharan continent are well catalogued. Challenging infrastructure, low income levels and the well-established virtues of cash – immediacy, ubiquity and trust – have all constrained the development of electronic payments in African countries.
In Nigeria, cash has remained king and financial services have remained stagnant despite decades of efforts to do away with old-fashioned paper money.
That was, until COVID-19 hit. In the aftermath of the virus outbreak, we have seen digital banking emerge across Nigeria with heightening consumer demand for efficient ways to access banking records and complete financial transactions outside physical branches and traditional card payments.
The fear of paper currency as a carrier for coronavirus has jolted the banking sector into massive digital disruption, signalling a powerful inflection point for payments in Africa. And we see this as just the start of the shift in how consumers, merchants and issuers choose to transact.
Online deposit, mobile banking apps, cards and e-bills payment have become the norm overnight, with card and virtual card payments becoming one of the most important non-cash transaction channels.
With the power to oust physical currency, the potential of plastic as a medium of exchange is unrivalled. Banks that build their Issuance business now not only contribute to the foundation on which this transition can take place, but also position themselves to reap the rewards of this seismic fundamental shift.
As banks work to respond to the increased demand for digital payments induced by the pandemic, banks needed to tap into the considerable advantages held by our African markets including our youth demographic.
While the rest of the world is ageing, the median age of the population in Africa is just 19, compared to Europe at 42, for example. The young people of Africa have been increasingly engaging with financial products in different ways, ready to trail blaze the use of modern payment services.
This proliferation of digital banking prompted Network International to gain first mover advantage and lead the transformation in Nigeria by partnering and providing issuance solutions to financial institutions to help them respond to the changing needs of their customers.
Additionally, in the current economic climate, banks in Nigeria have been able to tap into our experience and expertise in creating virtual card solutions (VC) for emerging markets. Issuers also benefit from Network&#39;s advanced digital infrastructure and robust security protocols, avoiding the need to invest in expensive card management infrastructure.
As we power digital transactions with the capability to issue virtual cards through API Integration connected to existing channels of financial institutions such as mobile, Internet banking and ATMs, we believe the potential exists for banks to multiply returns from virtual card Issuance. Banks that incorporate virtual payment cards into their business strategy also gain greater opportunity to cross-sell other products and services.
Virtual card issuance has the potential to transform into a strategic, high value generating asset for banks, while allowing bank customers to enjoy the convenience, flexibility, safety and security of cashless payments to fulfil their financial and lifestyle needs.
We remain committed to fostering agile innovation by deploying our best-in-class technology to support digital and financial inclusion of Nigerian consumers and businesses. Because, ultimately, furthering digital adoption is going to be dependent on the people, platform and partnership.
Cash may not be gone just yet. But with this fundamental change accelerated by Covid-19, our payments ecosystem has now truly been ordained and will have profound implications for people, businesses, and society.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.
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A seismic fundamental shift is underway in Nigeria’s digital banking sector (By Hany Fekry)

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Daily: Laboratory Test: 4,376 Cases: 293 Severe Cases: 495 New Deaths: 8 Recovery: 1,677

Total: Laboratory Test: 2,687,134 Active Cases: 36,359 Total Cases: 269,194 Total Deaths: 4,076 Total Recovery: 228,757 Total Vaccinated: 1,655,244
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 Reported Cases in Ethiopia (23 May 2021)

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Victor Campenaerts raced to an incredible 3rd stage win at this year&#39;s Giro d&#39;Italia for Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com), at today&#39;s stage 15 ending in Gorizia. This victory followed his teammates, Mauro Schmid and Giacomo Nizzolo, triumphs on stages 11 and 13 respectively.

Team Qhubeka ASSOS, already having it&#39;s best ever Giro d&#39;Italia, started the 147km stage 15 with clear intentions to continue building on that success. From the gun, Campenaerts and teammate Max Walscheid were the first two riders to attack. After getting an initial gap, the race was then neutralized due to a mass crash in the peloton, which included Mauro Schmid. The young Swiss star was able to continue and finish but he suffered from multiple abrasions to his right side.
Fortunately, most of the riders that went down, were without serious injury, and able to continue. When racing got underway for a second time, it was again Campenaerts and Walscheid who were first to attack. This time a third Qhubeka ASSOS rider also got involved though, as Lukasz Wisniowski infiltrated the front group too.
15 riders forced themselves clear from the peloton and quickly built a race winning lead. With three riders up the road, Qhubeka ASSOS were in a favourable position despite being closely marked.
Coming toward the race finale, Walscheid, Wisniowski and Campenaerts began attacking and counter-attacking the break as the group did contain a strong mix of climbers and sprinters, who were possiblyon paper at leasr favoured for victory ahead of the Qhubeka ASSOS trio. However, it was the team work that proved the greatest asset on the day as the Belgian UCI world hour record holder managed to escape with two others in tow, Albert Torres (Movistar) and Oscar Riesebeek (Alpecin-Fenix), with 23km to go.
Campenaerts and Riesebeek were able to dislodge Torres on the final climb, as the rain came pouring down, adding further drama over the closing kilometers. From the top of the climb, the duo held onto a 15 second gap over their nearest chasers, and despite attacking each other a couple of times each, they went on to decide the stage in a two-up sprint.
Campenaerts had that extra kick in the legs to take a brilliant win, his first ever Grand Tour stage victory of his career.
Victor Campenaerts
I&#39;ve been chasing a WorldTour, and specifically a Grand Tour, stage win for so long; having been four times second, twice third, once fifth, and I&#39;ve always targeted victories in time trials. I&#39;ve come so close but I decided to change how I race and focus more aggressively on racing on the road bike, and focusing a little less focus on the TT. 
I am at my first Grand Tour with another objective and we&#39;ve already had two victories with the team here. I can&#39;t say that I helped Mauro that much in the break for his win but I helped Nizzolo for his victory and now I helped myself to a big victory &#8211; what a day! I had big, big help from the whole team especially Max and Wizzy, who were also in the break with me.
For two years we&#39;ve speaking about Ubuntu in the team &#8211; I am because we are &#8211; which is about riding as a team. We cannot go alone, we&#39;re stronger as a team together, and the spirit we have in the Giro is building up to an even greater spirit. Our mission as a team is to change lives with bicycles and the Qhubeka Charity, these successes mean that we play our part in changing the world.
I also hope that these victories is great exposure for the team, to keep the team alive for the future. It hasn&#39;t been easy to keep it alive and we needed this, so I am just so happy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
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.
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Ubuntu inspires Victor Campenaerts to sensational Giro d’Italia stage 15 victory

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Total daily tests: 431 New confirmed cases: 1 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,551 Active cases: 46 Recoveries: 17,833 (4 new) Currently admitted: 6 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (23 May 2021)

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Total cases: 26,688 (+30) Recovered: 25,097 (+77) | 94% Active cases: 1,242 In critical condition: 2 Tests: 1,406,017 (+5,125) Test positivity rate: 0.6% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (23 May 2021)

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Tapping into the burgeoning talent of the youngest region of the world, Rugby Africa (www.RugbyAfrique.com) is excelling at continuing to bring development programmes to Africa as they spearhead the World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby Programme with the Official Partner of Get Into Rugby in Africa being Société Générale.

A central part of their ongoing strategy to grow the game around the world, Get Into Rugby is a programme that enables unions and regions to increase the number of players, coaches and referees entering the game. It also promotes the values of the game and allows boys and girls to enjoy playing for the first time in a safe, environment, in line with the principles of World Rugby&#39;s Charter for Rugby.
With the fastest growing population and youngest population, Africa is ripe for this mass participation programme. Keen to harness the potential of African youth to grow rugby’s numbers and popularity, Rugby Africa has done consistently well since the inception of the programme by introducing rugby to 500 000 children every year and touching 3.5 million children’s lives.
Commenting on the success of the programme to date, Development Officer in charge of Participation Programmes at Rugby Africa, Mostafa Jelti said: “Today, 36 unions are registered and participate actively in the Get Into Rugby project. 316,300 new players have been registered all over Africa since January 1st, 2018. 46 % of these players are girls. In addition to that, 4 700 trainers, teachers and referees were trained in Africa, among others by Regional Development Officers since the beginning of 2018. It has also opened the doors of schools in several countries where rugby is now part of the curriculum.”
Cognisant of COVID-19 and how that would have affected the programme, Jelti remarked that following the outbreak of the COVID-19, governments across the continent imposed a ban on sports activities to minimise the spread of the disease. Consequently, unions had to stop the Get Into Rugby activities. However, as governments continue to relax COVID -19 restrictions, most unions are progressively implementing return to play protocols.
“In anticipation of the return to Get into Rugby activities, Rugby Africa is organising online workshops to prepare Unions’ Get into Rugby Coordinators and their respective Regional Development Officers and coaches towards a safe return to play. Through online workshops we can host a group of participants, drawn from the respective unions’ Get Into Rugby workforce to interactive sessions. So far, two workshops have been held. During the first webinar, participants were given an update on the World Rugby’s new Get into Rugby strategy.
“World Rugby is currently reviewing the Get Into Rugby strategy to align it with World Rugby’s new participation plan. The webinar also focused on managing a mass participation programme amid the unique challenges experienced in Africa. Secondly, the webinar dealt with the topic of Long-Term Player Development with particular attention on skill progression through game- based coaching.”
Jelti said that future online sessions will focus on:

 	Coaching children: A holistic approach to develop better rugby players and better people. 	Implementation of the new World Rugby Get Into Rugby Strategy. 	Identification of and building relationships with partners to unlock funding and support. 	Get Into Rugby coordinators are encouraged to propose other topics relevant to them. 
Speaking about the overall strategy for the growth of the game Community Rugby President at Rugby Africa and member of the Community Rugby Committee at World Rugby, Rolande Boro said, in line with World Rugby’s updated strategy for the programme, Rugby Africa will look at helping unions to create a pathway from grassroot levels to senior levels and bridge the gap between participation at a young age and active playing at club level.
Alluding to Africa’s challenges including availability of resources and the perceptions communities and parents have about rugby, Boro said that the first step was to make the programme attractive by allowing all children access, not just the a few privileged.
“By allowing all children access, we ensure that sessions are fun, turning values into virtues  through storytelling, healthy eating and addressing the physical, social, and emotional welfare of the children. Secondly, availability of resources could be addressed with a school approach,  utilising teachers, and volunteers as coaches,  linking resources to coaches rather than schools    and teams, and making use of the game-based approach in coaching.”
She added that beyond participation, Rugby Africa wants to grow the number of players and thus transform mere participants into players. Get Into Rugby also helps raise the popularity of the game, getting more people to know about rugby, follow rugby and become fans or get involved   as coaches, first aiders or administrators.
In addition, Rugby  Africa  has  engaged  Regional  Development  Officers  who  assist  unions by offering technical and administrative support. They also organise and coordinate the support coming from partners such as World Rugby and Société Générale who have been very helpful with donating 1 000 balls to unions, where Societé Générale has a presence.
For more information log onto &#8211; Get Into Rugby &#8211; Rugby Afrique (www.RugbyAfrique.com/get-into-rugby)
 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
About Rugby Africa: Created in 1986, Rugby Africa, previously the African Confederation of Rugby (Confédération Africaine de Rugby – CAR), is one of the six regional associations composing World Rugby (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.
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Rugby Africa Continues to Raise African Talent Through the Get Into Rugby Programme

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Total cases: 26,658 (+57) Recovered: 24,020 (+53) | 90.1% Active cases: 1,289 In critical condition: 1 Tests: 1,400,892 (+4,387) Test positivity rate: 1.3% Vaccinated: 350,400  Deaths: 349 (+0) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (22 May 2021)

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Total daily tests: 503 New confirmed cases: 4 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,550 Active cases: 49 Recoveries: 17,829 (5 new) Currently admitted: 6 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 672 Total vaccinated to date: 35,227
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 daily update (22 May 2021)

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Newly confirmed cases : 279 Recoveries: 187 Active cases : 2800 Deaths : 4
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia.

Coronavirus – Namibia: COVID-19 update (22 May 2021)

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35 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Lagos-9 Kano-8 Yobe-7 Rivers-4 Akwa Ibom-3 FCT-2 Katsina-1

165,979 confirmed 156,468 discharged 2,067 death
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 case update (22 May 2021)

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As of 22nd May, we report 186 new cases out of 7,594 tests (2.4% positivity); 83 recoveries; 4,891 vaccinations and sadly 1 new death (MHSRIP).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 Daily Status Update (22 May 2021)

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As at 22 May 2021, Zimbabwe had 38 679 confirmed cases, including 36 445 recoveries and 1 586 deaths. To date, a total of 630 348 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Child Care, Zimbabwe.

Coronavirus – Zimbabwe: COVID-19 Daily Update (22 May 2021)

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Following the completion of stage 14 of the 104th Giro d’Italia finishing atop the Monte Zoncolan, Team Qhubeka ASSOS’ (TeamQhubeka.com) European and Italian champion Giacomo Nizzolo has withdrawn from the race.

The 32-year-old won his maiden Grand Tour stage in sensational fashion taking victory in stage 13 in Verona, ending a near decade-long wait for the victory and sparking emotional scenes.

Nizzolo had specifically prepared for the sprint opportunities at the Giro in order to finally achieve his goal of winning a stage. After finishing a tough stage on Monte Zoncolan the decision was taken for him to withdraw, in order for him to rest and recover and then, together with the team, focus on his upcoming goals.
It concludes an excellent race for the Italian after also twice finishing second – on stages two and five – while also wearing the leader’s jersey for the points classification, the maglia ciclamino.
Nizzolo’s win came just two days after that of debutant Mauro Schmid in Montalcino, and in addition to strong individual performances from Victor Campenaerts and Max Walscheid.

Giacomo Nizzolo
Everybody knows how much I love this race, and what it means to me. To finally win a stage here has been a dream come true, and the raw emotion at the finish line in Verona showed that. I will treasure that memory for the rest of my life.
I came into the race in good condition, with fast legs and focus on the flat sprints, but have been struggling on the climbs which has really taken its toll. So we decided it would be best for me to stop, and to recover, to look forward to the future.
For our team this has been an incredible Giro d’Italia so far. We speak about the spirit of Ubuntu within our squad – “I am because we are” – and I think it’s evident for everyone to see in the way we are racing just how tight we are as a group and organisation.
My win in Verona wasn’t just a victory for me and those behind the scenes but as importantly it continued to showcase our team’s purpose in riding for something more, for the impact that bicycles can have in changing lives which we are doing everyday together with the Qhubeka Charity.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
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.
Media files

Nizzolo departs the Giro d’Italia with maiden Grand Tour stage victory in hand

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After an in-person hearing in New York, Mike Ehrenstein of Ehrenstein|Sager successfully persuaded the U.S. Court to respect the Angolan forum, overcoming arguments that Angola is inadequate because the nation is plagued by corruption and its legal system affords no due process.  In its ruling dismissing the case, the Court flatly rejected the corruption and rule of law challenges, concluding:

 	The Court finds that Plaintiff’s vague concerns about “corruption” in Angola and lack of “due process” in Angolan courts do little to show that Angola lacks procedural safeguards or is an inadequate forum…The Court thus concludes that Angola offers an adequate alternative forum for Plaintiffs to pursue these claims. 

Background: On May 7, 2020, Aenergy, an Angolan power company, sued the Republic of Angola in the federal court in New York seeking $1.1 Billion in damages for Angola’s alleged wrongful termination of 13 contracts to construct and maintain power plants in Angola. The Angolan defendants, represented by U.S. lawyer Mike Ehrenstein of Ehrenstein|Sager, moved to dismiss the complaint arguing that the case could only be arbitrated or litigated in Angola as required by parties’ contracts.

Why This Matters: International investment into Angola has been hampered by the misimpression that Angola remains corrupt.  In its May 19, 2021 ruling, however, a U.S. Court determined for the first time that Angola is an adequate forum, with adequate safeguards for due process and rule of law.

“I am very pleased with the ruling. It is a victory for Angola, credible investors and for my good friend and superstar lawyer Mike Ehrenstein. Mike never gave up and in all our conversations, he was so hopeful and committed. This ruling reinforces the hope that African countries and Africans have when it comes to the fairness of the American judiciary as compared to many rulings against Africans in the UK and European courts, that have been seen as biased”.  Stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (http://EnergyChamber.org).
“It is my hope that this landmark court decision establishes a precedent and also encourages African countries that when we respect the independence of the Judiciary, sanctity of contracts and the rule of law, frivolous claims by fictious investors will be thrown out of courts and arbitration”. Concluded Ayuk.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
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US Court Delivers a landmark decision respecting Angola a forum for litigation in a 1.1 bn USD claim by Aenergy

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African Union Member States (55) reporting COVID-19 cases (4,741,000), deaths (127,923) and recoveries (4,288,857) by region:

Central (171,015 cases; 2,687 deaths; 154,507 recoveries): Burundi (4,451; 6; 3,655), Cameroon (77,429; 1,189; 70,497), CAR (7,037; 96; 6,583), Chad (4,919; 173; 4,719), Congo (11,476; 150; 10,391), DRC (30,825; 779; 27,603), Equatorial Guinea (8,436; 112; 7,801), Gabon (24,107; 147; 20,976), Sao Tome and Principe (2,335; 35; 2,282)

Eastern (637,759; 12,369; 519,269): Comoros (3,930; 146; 3,710), Djibouti (11,490; 152; 11,313), Eritrea (3,921; 14; 3,711), Ethiopia (268,520; 4,060; 225,580), Kenya (167,535; 3,043; 114,394), Madagascar (40,692; 785; 38,950), Mauritius (1,292; 17; 1,161), Rwanda (26,601; 349; 24,967), Seychelles (9,764; 35; 7,826), Somalia (14,594; 767; 6,639), South Sudan (10,652; 115; 10,462), Sudan (34,889; 2,515; 27,949), Tanzania** (509; 21; 178), Uganda (43,370; 350; 42,429)

Northern (1,429,940; 42,880; 1,260,957): Algeria (126,434; 3,405; 88,126), Egypt (251,539; 14,611; 185,243), Libya (182,899; 3,105; 169,733), Mauritania (19,049; 458; 18,231), Morocco (516,449; 9,115; 504,757), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (737; 45; 683), Tunisia (332,833; 12,141; 294,184)

Southern (2,032,565; 63,799; 1,911,098): Angola (31,909; 709; 26,513), Botswana (54,151; 784; 48,449), Eswatini (18,546; 672; 17,824), Lesotho (10,795; 320; 6,427), Malawi (34,261; 1,153; 32,262), Mozambique (70,551; 831; 68,868), Namibia (52,433; 759; 48,951), South Africa (1,628,335; 55,719; 1,534,350), Zambia (92,920; 1,266; 91,019), Zimbabwe (38,664; 1,586; 36,435)

Western (469,721; 6,188; 443,026): Benin (8,025; 101; 7,893), Burkina Faso (13,410; 165; 13,225), Cabo Verde (29,033; 254; 26,456), Côte d&#39;Ivoire (46,874; 298; 46,282), Gambia (5,968; 175; 5,727), Ghana (93,521; 783; 91,458), Guinea (22,963; 155; 20,614), Guinea Bissau (3,749; 68; 3,478), Liberia (2,142; 85; 2,022), Mali (14,236; 512; 9,418), Niger (5,364; 192; 5,027), Nigeria (165,944; 2,067; 156,462), Senegal (41,023; 1,129; 39,710), Sierra Leone (4,117; 79; 3,112), Togo (13,352; 125; 12,142)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
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