August 29, 2022

The 5th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation Opens in Beijing

BEIJING, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The 5th Forum on China-Africa Media Cooperation (the “Forum”) opened on August 25 in Beijing, China, combining online and offline events and sessions. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Senegal President Macky Sall, who is the African Co-Chair of FOCAC, sent congratulatory letters to the Forum.

Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, read the letters from the presidents and gave a keynote speech.

Huang noted that the letters fully reflected the great importance of China-Africa cooperation from the leaders, as well as their high expectations for further deepening media cooperation and a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between China and Africa.

Since the Forum was founded 10 years ago, it provided an important platform for Chinese and African media to facilitate dialogue and cooperation and played a significant role in deepening China-Africa friendship and strengthened the bonds among people.

The media on both sides have been upholding the spirit of friendly cooperation and working continuously to safeguard fairness and justice, telling stories about China-Africa cooperation in the new era and shouldering responsibilities to advance global development, promote common values of mankind and actively create an international public opinion atmosphere of cohesive development and cooperation.

Chinese and African media will also promote innovation convergence and deepen cooperation in areas of digital technology and digital economy to strengthen exchanges, share opportunities and improve digital governance capabilities.

The opening ceremony was hosted by Xu Lin, vice minister of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), China. Gregoire Ndjaka, CEO of the African Union of Broadcasting, Chen Jining, Mayor of Beijing, and Chushi Kasanda, Minister of Information and Media, Zambia, gave opening remarks.

The two-day event also featured an exhibition of “A Decade of Achievements: China-Africa Media Cooperation (2012-2022).”

Themed “New Vision, New Development, and New Cooperation,” the Forum held sessions on media development policy, content cooperation and innovation as well as new technology application, and digital convergence.

The Forum published a joint declaration that reviewed the decade of achievements of China-Africa media cooperation. In mapping the prospects and plans for future media development, it proposed five initiatives, including deepening cooperation and communication, supporting global development, telling stories of China-Africa friendship, promoting digital media development, and strengthening youth exchanges.

In addition, the Forum featured events such as the first broadcast exhibition of African programs in China and a short video collection on the topic of “my story of China-Africa friendship.” It also published 12 cooperative achievements in terms of program co-broadcasting, documentary creation, program innovation, and new media cooperation.

The forum was co-hosted by the National Radio and Television Administration of China, the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, and the African Union of Broadcasting. More than 240 Chinese and foreign delegates from more than 40 countries and regions attended the forum.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1886589/1.jpg

August 29, 2022

GLOBELEQ PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENT OF EGYPT TO DEVELOP A LARGE-SCALE GREEN HYDROGEN PROJECT

LONDON and CAIRO, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Globeleq, the leading independent power company in Africa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), the General Authority for Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE), the Sovereign Fund of Egypt for Investment and Development (TSFE), and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), to jointly develop a large-scale green hydrogen facility within the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

Globeleq, as lead developer and investor, will develop, finance, build, own and operate the green hydrogen project. It will be developed in 3 phases, totalling 3.6 GW of electrolysers and around 9 GW of solar PV and wind power generation. The first phase will involve a pilot project using a 100 MW electrolyser, and will initially focus on green ammonia fertilisers, while considering other end-uses of green hydrogen in the medium and longer term, including green fuels. Globeleq intends to enter into long-term off-take agreements with leading and creditworthy Egyptian and international companies, while supporting their decarbonisation plans.

Capitalising on Egypt’s best-in-class wind and solar PV resource, well-developed infrastructures, and the Egyptian Government’s investment-friendly regulatory framework, Globeleq aims to competitively produce hydrogen for exports and the local market. Egypt’s unique geographical location, at the crossroads of Africa, Europe, and Asia, with about 13% of the global trade flowing through the Suez Canal, puts the country in a position to become a global green energy hub.

Globeleq has been investing in Egypt since 2003 and currently owns the ARC for Renewable Energy S.A.E. 66 MWp solar PV plant located at the Benban Solar Park near Aswan. Globeleq aims to support the country’s ambitious renewables strategy by developing new solar PV, wind, battery energy storage, seawater desalination and green hydrogen projects in Egypt.

The British Ambassador to Egypt, Gareth Bayley OBE, indicated: “Globeleq is a leading British investor, 70% owned by British International Investment and 30% Norfund, which are respectively the UK and Norway’s development finance institutions. The company has been investing in Egypt for nearly 20 years and we are delighted with the signing of this MOU, which underscores once again the strong relationship between the UK and Egypt. The project also supports both countries’ leadership and ambitions in renewable energy and combating climate change. We look forward to continue working with Globeleq and all the stakeholders involved.”

The Norwegian Ambassador to Egypt, Hilde Klemetsdal, added: “With Globeleq’s ambitious plans, Norway continues to strengthen our investments in green hydrogen in Egypt. This is an example of just the kind of industry solutions that are required for translating the green transition into action. We value our strong cooperation with the Government of Egypt towards the green shift and the fight against climate change.”

Mike Scholey, CEO of Globeleq, said: “Bold and rapid collective action is required to put the world on a sustainable pathway. Egypt is a key country for Globeleq, and we are excited to support the Government of Egypt’s ambitious green agenda and contribute to the fight against climate change.”

Waleid Gamal Eldien, Chairman of SCZONE, mentioned: “The new agreement with Globeleq is a continuation of our commitment to implement Egypt’s vision in the transformation for green economy. The Egyptian government has ambitious energy transition plans, in addition to hosting COP27, and active steps are being taken to make SCZONE a major hub for green hydrogen. We are pleased to partner with Globeleq, one of the major renewable energy companies in the UK and globally, and this partnership reflects the interest of the global entities specialised in investing in such projects as they choose SCZONE as a destination for investment in green fuel projects, to serve the African and international markets.”

Ayman Soliman, CEO of the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, commented: “The partnerships we are witnessing are a translation to the state’s integrated strategy to diversify energy sources and localise green hydrogen production with all its components covering upstream and downstream stages, with the aim of transforming Egypt into a regional green energy hub. Our objective is to maximize the use of Egypt’s renewable energy resources in partnership with global specialised developers, whereby the goals and strategy of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt are realised. We are glad to partner with Globeleq as one of the largest British international companies working in the field of new and renewable energy and infrastructure, with a special focus on energy projects in Africa, and has vast experience in working in Egypt.”

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/612609/GLobeleq_Logo.jpg

August 29, 2022

Elon Musk Subpoenas Twitter Whistleblower Ahead of Trial

Elon Musk’s legal team is demanding to hear from Twitter’s whistleblowing former security chief, who could help bolster Musk’s case for backing out of a $44 billion deal to buy the social media company.

Former Twitter executive Peiter Zatko — also known by his hacker handle “Mudge” — received a subpoena Saturday from Musk’s team, according to Zatko’s lawyer and court records.

The billionaire Tesla CEO has spent months alleging that the company he agreed to acquire undercounted its fake and spam accounts — and that he shouldn’t have to consummate the deal as a result.

Zatko’s whistleblower complaint to U.S. officials alleging Twitter misled regulators about its privacy and security protections — and its ability to detect and root out fake accounts — might play into Musk’s hands in an upcoming trial scheduled for Oct. 17 in Delaware.

Zatko served as Twitter’s head of security until he was fired early this year.

Source: Voice of America

August 29, 2022

Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift Lead MTV Video Music Awards

Bad Bunny, the Puerto Rican Latin trap and reggaeton artist who’s among the world’s biggest stars, scored MTV’s artist of the year award Sunday at the annual Video Music Awards.

But the performer was conspicuously absent from the show: he was busy with his own blockbuster tour, playing the second night of a sold out concert at Yankee Stadium that over the weekend drew some 100,000 fans.

Bad Bunny, wearing a satin pink suit and white sunglasses, accepted the award via video and also delivered a seismic performance of his smash “Titi Me Pregunto” from the baseball stadium in New York, where the song has soundtracked the streets for months.

“Thank you so much, New York,” the 28-year-old said in Spanish to resounding applause.

“From the beginning I always believed that I could be great, that I could be one of the biggest stars in the world, without changing my culture, my language,” he said. “I’m Benito Antonio Martinez from Puerto Rico – for the whole world.”

In a sure sign that pandemic-stymied touring was back in full swing, another of the year’s biggest stars, Harry Styles, also couldn’t make it to the VMAs – which aired from New Jersey’s Prudential Center – due to his own show at Madison Square Garden.

The artist who dropped “Harry’s House” this year also accepted his award for the year’s best album via video.

Swift album on the way

Taylor Swift was also among the night’s big winners, turning heads on the red carpet in a dress dripping with crystals before winning the night’s top prize of music video of the year for her 10-minute-long film “All Too Well.”

“I’m so proud of what we made,” said the 32-year-old, who has been making good on her vow to re-record her first six albums so she can control the rights to them.

“We wouldn’t have been able to make this short film if it weren’t for you, the fans,” Swift said onstage. “Because I wouldn’t be able to re-record my albums if it weren’t for you. You emboldened me to do that.”

She then gave fans a gift in return, announcing that her new album will come out October 21.

Shortly after the broadcast’s end, the megastar revealed the new project’s name.

“Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, will be out October 21. Meet me at midnight,” she wrote on social media.

Hip hop superstar Nicki Minaj reigned over the evening as the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.

Wearing her signature pink wig, the hip-hop icon from Queens delivered a medley of her hits including “Super Bass” and her most recent single “Super Freaky Girl.”

Brazil’s Anitta also turned heads with a booty-popping performance before winning the award for best Latin video for “Envolver.”

“I was born and raised in the ghetto of Brazil, and for whoever was born there, we would never think this was possible,” she said when accepting the trophy

Johnny Depp appears

Iconic stoner comedy duo Cheech and Chong awarded the Red Hot Chili Peppers with the Global Icon Award, before the California rockers performed and also paid tribute to Taylor Hawkins, the late Foo Fighters drummer.

Eminem and Snoop Dogg opened their performance sitting on a couch as Snoop smoked a giant – albeit fake – blunt, before the pair headed to the metaverse for a trippy, animated performance of their latest collaboration “From the D 2 the LBC.”

Marshmello and Khalid performed “Numb” with neon, disorienting visuals that created a brief but heady rave effect, while South Korea’s Blackpink gave their first show at a US awards night ever.

Lizzo also performed before scoring the Video For Good award — which honors videos with social or political messages — for her song “About Damn Time.”

Wearing a cone-bra corseted dress that recalled Madonna, the superstar thanked fans for voting for her to receive the award before nodding to US politics.

“Vote to change some of these laws that are oppressing us,” the star urged.

And at the awards show that’s historically far better known for its antics than actual prizes, Johnny Depp – fresh off his controversial defamation trial against his ex-partner Amber Heard – appeared as the MTV Moonman, his head digitally superimposed on the flying astronaut.

“You know what? I needed the work,” said the 59-year-old actor.

Source: Voice of America

August 29, 2022

WHO Ethiopia celebrates World Breastfeeding Week 2022 with the global theme “Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support”

World Breastfeeding Week is commemorated worldwide in the first week of August to emphasize the importance of regular breastfeeding for babies and to encourage and support breastfeeding. The week also marks the anniversary of the Innocenti Declaration – the UN declaration on breastfeeding that was made on August 1, 1990. World Breastfeeding Week is celebrated annually across 170 countries through different activities, forums, and outreach campaigns. This year in Ethiopia, the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other partners commemorated the day in Debre Berhan Town, focusing on the importance of breastfeeding, particularly in emergency settings, considering the ongoing dynamics in the country.

As part of the commemorative event, participants visited Woinshet Camp in Debreberhan, which houses more than 25,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs). At the camp, the importance of breastfeeding and the devotion of mothers to breastfeed their babies even in difficult situations, was evident as mothers with young babies were seen breastfeeding their children.

Under this year’s theme, “Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support”, Dr Meseret Zelalem, Director of Maternal and Child Health at Ministry of Health Ethiopia, said, “Breastfeeding is the best gift a mother can give to her child as breastmilk has the right combination of essential nutrients for physical and mental development as well as protective antibodies that a baby needs.”

Over the years, Ethiopia has experienced several natural disasters and human-made emergencies such as drought, floods, locust invasions, and conflict, resulting in damage to crops and livestock as well as internal displacement.

Breastfeeding is significantly compromised during such emergencies. Families are forced to leave their homes and exposed to devastating food insecurity, poor sanitation, and disruptions of basic services. At such times, the health and life of infants and children is at greater risk from malnutrition and disease outbreaks, as displacement limits the ability of communities to practice proper infant and young child feeding and impedes on their access to essential health and nutrition services. To address this, WHO collaborated with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to develop Guideline for Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies for Ethiopia. Breastfeeding has been highlighted in the document as one of the actions to ensure young child and infant nutrition.

As stated in the WHO-UNICEF joint statement for World Breastfeeding Week 2022, globally, fewer than half of all newborn babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and death. And only 44% of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first 6 months of life, short of the World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025.

Cognizant of the importance of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding for the survival, growth and development of millions of infants, WHO and UNICEF, in the joint statement, called on governments, donors, civil society and the private sector to step up efforts to:

• prioritize investing in breastfeeding support policies and programmes, especially in fragile and food insecure contexts;

• equip health and nutrition workers in facilities and communities with the skills they need to provide quality counselling and practical support to mothers to successfully breastfeed;

• protect caregivers and health-care workers from the unethical marketing influence of the formula industry by fully adopting and implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes, including in humanitarian settings; and

• implement family-friendly policies that provide mothers with the time, space and support they need to breastfeed.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

August 29, 2022

The Ethiopian Ministry of Health Launches a Five-Year National Health Equity Strategy at a High-Level Advocacy Workshop on Health Equity

The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia launched a Five-Year National Health Equity Strategy on 18 August 2022 during a one-day high-level advocacy workshop. The workshop, jointly organized with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Ethiopia brought together representatives from Social Development, Culture, and Sports Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives, sector ministries, regional health bureaus, city administrations, academia, professional associations, donors and development partners.

In addition to officially launching the country’s new five-year National Health Equity Strategy, the workshop aimed to advocate for stronger political commitment, technical support and resource allocation for the successful implementation of the strategy. The workshop reached out to stakeholders to create a mechanism that will ensure that all government systems and structures put in place implementation modalities, allocate resources, and establish or strengthen coordination mechanisms at regional, zonal, and district levels.

Speaking at the launching event, Health Minister Honorable Dr. Lia Tadesse attested that the new national health equity strategy is built on lessons learned from the implementation of the previous health equity strategy and the broader health sector strategies. Dr. Lia called on all stakeholders and sectors to have stronger coordination and an intentional equity lens in all their programs to achieve the goals set forth in the strategy to reduce inequity at zonal and district levels.

WHO Ethiopia Deputy Representative Dr. Dlamini Nonhlanhla, commended the Ministry of Health’s leadership in the quest to ensure health equity as a key component of universal health coverage. “WHO is committed to ensuring that every Ethiopian, everywhere, realizes the right to good health and wellbeing. Successful implementation of strategies such as the National Health Equity Strategy is key to achieving this,” she underscored. “I am pleased to confirm that we stand ready to work with the Ministry of Health and other partners towards this goal.”

The National Health Equity Strategy spans five years, 2022-2026, and is an integral part of the Ethiopian Health Sector Transformation Plan. The Strategy articulates nine strategic directions that help reduce the health equity gradient: enhancing provision of equitable and quality comprehensive health service delivery, improving accessibility of health facilities in all regions, community engagement and empowerment, improving health commodity supply chain and logistics management, enhancing leadership, management and governance, ensuring the integration of health equity in all policies, strategies and program, improving public-private partnership, and enhancing health financing.

WHO Ethiopia works closely with the Ethiopian Government at national and regional levels as well as development partners to strengthen the Ethiopian health system and support the country’s strides towards health equity.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

August 29, 2022

Elections2022: Christian churches call on politicians to respect for electoral results

Cabinda – The Council of Christian Churches of Angola (CICA) appealed Monday to the head of political parties to respect the results emerged from 24 August general elections to preserve peace and tranquility.

“The moment we are living in the country should be seen as a celebration (…) the most important thing is to keep calm and respect the wish expressed at the polling stations”, said the representative of CICA in Cabinda, Rev. Albino Cassinda.

Speaking to ANGOP, the official recalled the pacifying and reconciling role of the church, which keeps peace, love and fraternity values.

Angola held general elections last Wednesday, won by the ruling MPLA party.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

August 29, 2022

Elections2022: UNITA complains about results discrepancies

Luanda – The director of communication and marketing of UNITA’s electoral campaign, Alcino Kuvalela, said Monday in Luanda that there is discrepancy between the results of the general elections calculated by his party and the definitive results disclosed by the National Electoral Commission (CNE).

Speaking to ANGOP, Alcino Kuvalela said that UNITA’s managing board will decide on the matter in the near future, adding that his party will continue to call on the CNE to conform its data with the summary minutes in the party’s possession.

Mr Kuvalela said UNITA has sent a set of complaints to the CNE about the discrepancies among the data prior to the release of the final results.

The final results announced on Monday confirmed the victory of the MPLA and its candidate for President of the Republic, João Lourenço, with 51.17 percent of the valid votes.

The president of the National Electoral Commission, Manuel Pereira da Silva, said that the percentage results from the 3.2 million in favour of the MPLA, electing 124 deputies to the National Assembly.

The final figures released on Monday by the CNE give UNITA 43.95% (2.7 million votes, thus electing 90 deputies) while the PRS got 1.14% (71,351 votes, 2 deputies), FNLA 1.06% (66,337 votes, 2 deputies) and the newcomer PHA with 1.02% (63,749 votes, 2 deputies).

CASA-CE with 0.76% (47,446 votes), APN with 0.48% (30,139 votes) and P-NJANGO with 0,42% (26,867 votes) did not elect any deputy (MP).

Source: Angola Press News Agency

August 29, 2022

Elections 2022: Final result dictates P-NJANGO, APN extinction

Luanda – The competing political parties P-NJANGO and APN will be extinct, due to their failure to reach the minimum percentage required by law in the final results of the general elections on 24 August,

Under the article 33 of the Political Parties Law, (in paragraph i), P-NJANGO and APN will become extinct because they did not reach the figure of 0.5% of the total votes cast valid in electoral processes.

The Nationalist Party for Justice in Angola (P-NJANGO) obtained 0.42% of the votes, corresponding to 26,867 voters, and the National Patriotic Alliance (APN) got 0.48%, as the result of 30,139 voters.

The National Electoral Commission (CNE) put at 6. 4 million voters, out of a universe of 14.3 million registered, the number of voters who cast their ballots in the country’s fifth general elections.

Also ran for the 2022 elections, MPLA, UNITA, PRS, FNLA, PHA and CASA-CE parties.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

August 29, 2022

Elections2022: CNE confirms sending final report on the elections to Constitutional Court

Luanda – The National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced Monday sending a copy of the Final Report on the 24 August general election results to the Acting President of the Republic and to the Chieg Judge of the Constitutional Court (TC).

On a statement to which ANGOP had access, CNE stresses that its procedure is according to the Organic Law on the General Elections.

According to the said report, the definitive results give the MPLA electoral victory of 51.17% of the votes, thus confirming the re-election of its presidential candidate, João Lourenço.

The ruling party won 3.209,429 votes, thus gaining 124 parliamentary seats

The final data made public by the CNE give UNITA 43,95% (2.756.786 votes, winning 90 MPs), PRS 1,14% (71,351 votes, 2 MPs), FNLA 1,06% (66,337 votes, 2 MPs) and PHA with 1,02% (63,749 votes, 2 MPs).

CASA-CE with 0.76% (47,446 votes), APN with 0.48%(30,139 votes) and P-NJANGO with 0.42% (26,867 votes) did not get any MPs.

Eight political forces ran in this suffrage which has as total number of voters 6.454,109, representing 44.82% of roughly 14.3 million registered voters.

Source: Angola Press News Agency