BERLIN, Germany, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Michael Georg Link, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office, is travelling to New York today (Monday) for talks at the United Nations. His agenda will include attending a session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. The group develops proposals on what global sustainability goals to take the Millennium Development Goals forward after 2015 might look like.Minister of State Link will also be talking to Hervé Ladsous, UN Under Secretary General for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, about peace missions in Mali, the Sudan and South Sudan,…
Author: apofeed
WASHINGTON, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Funding Opportunity AnnouncementBureau of Population, Refugees, and MigrationNovember 7, 2013 Funding Opportunity Number: PRM-PRMOAPAF-14-001Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number: 19.517Announcement Issuance Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013Proposal submission deadline: Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. EST (noon Washington, DC time). Proposals submitted after this deadline or incomplete proposal packages will not be considered.ADVISORY: PRM strongly recommends submitting your proposal several days early to allow time to address any technical difficulties that may arise.Proposed Program Start Dates: January 1 – April 1, 2014Duration of Activity: Program plans from 12 to 36 months…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday morning 9 December, to attend events in honour of Nelson Mandela who died Thursday, 5 December.Monday afternoon Tveit will visit the Mandela home in Houghton, where he will lay roses and then offer condolences to the Mandela family. Afterwards he will be sharing in a prayer service with the family. The service will also involve South African church leaders.On Tuesday, Tveit will attend the memorial service for Mandela being held…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Celebrating the life and works of Nelson Mandela, Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Central Committee, called Mandela a “global icon of justice, peace and dignity” for Africa and the world. An anti-apartheid activist, South Africa’s first black president and a Nobel peace laureate, Mandela passed away on 5 December in Johannesburg.“We affirm the role played by this global icon for inspiring and restoring dignity for Africa and revitalizing hope for the marginalized and oppressed of the world,” said Abuom.Abuom, a member of the laity who…
VATICAN, Holy See, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — This morning in the Vatican Apostolic Palace the Holy Father received in audience the president of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Sassou N’Guesso, who subsequently went on to meet with Archbishop Pietro Parolin, secretary of State.During the cordial discussions, the Parties focused on the positive contribution made by the Catholic Church in Congolese society, in particular in the fields of welfare and education. Mention was made of the good existing relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Congo, and various themes of common interest were considered, renewing…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Republic of Turkey participated in the African Development Bank Group’s Board Meetings for the first time last week in Tunis (http://www.afdb.org), following the country’s admission as the 26th State Participant in the African Development Fund and the 78th Member State of the African Development Bank. “Our Constituency is delighted to welcome Turkey as an official member of AfDB and to our Constituency,” said Executive Director Hau Sing Tse, who represents Canada, China, Korea, Kuwait and Turkey. “Our Chair represented Turkey for the first time at the Board today [December…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and the three food agencies of the United Nations are teaming up to raise awareness of how access to financial services – such as bank accounts, short-term credit, small loans, savings and insurance – can help improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers and the rural poor. Queen Máxima joins the visit in her capacity as UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA). She arrived in Addis Ababa today at the start of a five-day trip to Ethiopia and…
LAGOS, Nigeria, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Heirs Holdings (http://www.heirsholdings.com), the pan-African proprietary investment company with interests in key economic sectors, has again demonstrated its transformational ability over ailing businesses as one of its major investments, Transnational Corporation of Nigeria plc (Transcorp), presented its laudable achievements of 2013 to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) this afternoon.Photo Tony Elumelu: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/tony-elumelu.jpg Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/heirs-holdings.jpg Management officials visited the NSE today for a ‘facts behind the figures’ presentation to the Exchange, stockbrokers and analysts, highlighting key fundamentals of the company’s business dynamics that have driven its recent impressive performance on the stock…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — AfDB President Donald Kaberuka (http://www.afdb.org) is among the world leaders and dignitaries who are in Johannesburg to pay final respects to Nelson Mandela, who will finally be laid to rest on Sunday 15 December 2013 in his home town of Qunu in the province of East Cape (formerly Transkei), South Africa. Photo Donald Kaberuka: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/donald-kaberuka-afdb-president.jpg Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png Before leaving for Johannesburg to represent the Bank Group for the rites, which last for five days beginning from Tuesday, 10 December, President Kaberuka had previously paid tribute to the late Mandela in which…
TUNIS, Tunisia, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org), on Monday, December 9 announced the official launch of the redesigned AFMI website: http://www.africanbondmarkets.org. The website displays new features including a mobile-friendly interface. AFMI also used the occasion to launch the inaugural edition of the AFMI newsletter, The African Bond Market Review (http://www.africanbondmarkets.org/en/news-events/the-month-in-review).Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.pngThe African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) is an African Development Bank Initiative designed to promote African bond markets. Since its inception, the AFMI website endeavours to be a premier knowledge management and information dissemination…
EL FASHER (DARFUR), Sudan, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — More than 20 members of the Justice and Equality Movement-Sudan (JEM/Bashar) are participating this week at a 5-day workshop on the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD), sponsored by the African Union-United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) in Khartoum. The sessions, which started on 8 December 2013, provide a platform for the participants to exchange views and better their understanding of the key provisions of the DDPD, with a special focus on the modalities and arrangements for the implementation of final security arrangements with regard to Disarmament, Demobilization…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — With the increased availability of broadband access, more affordable data costs offered by mobile operators and the consistent development of mobile devices, online shopping is gaining great traction in Sub-Saharan Africa. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/dhl_logo2.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/dhl7.jpgPhoto 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/dhl5.jpgFatima Sullivan, Head of Retail at DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (http://www.dhl.com) says that with the upcoming festive season fast approaching, consumers are increasingly choosing to purchase gifts online from both local and foreign retailers due to the ability to select from a wide range of products at competitive prices, without being limited by geographical locations,…
WASHINGTON, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — This afternoon, from the White House Briefing Room, President Obama delivered a statement on the passing of former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, calling him “a man who took history in his hands, and bent the arc of the moral universe toward justice.””We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again,” the President said. “So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set: to make decisions guided not by hate, but by love; to never discount the difference that one…
STUTTGART, Germany, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — “On behalf of the men and women of United States Africa Command, it is with great sadness and respect that I express my deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of former President Nelson Mandela and to the people of South Africa on the passing of Mr. Mandela.One of the great leaders and humanists of our time, Mr. Mandela was a man of extraordinary courage, spirit, and resiliency. He had a remarkable ability to see the good in all people. His tolerance, compassion and integrity were reflected in the vision and…
MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A Djiboutian soldier in Beletweyne has lost his life as he and his fellow soldiers carried out a morning sweep operation to collect and disarm undetonated ammunition. The incident occurred as experts of the Djiboutian mine action team were handling undetonated rocket propelled grenades when one exploded severely injuring three soldiers. One of the injured soldiers succumbed to his injuries on the way to AMISOM level 1 hospital in Beletweyne.The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Mahamat Saleh Annadif expressed his heartfelt condolences…
WASHINGTON, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — This afternoon President Obama spoke by phone with Mrs. Graça Machel to express the condolences of the Obama family and the American people on the passing of her husband, Nelson Mandela. The President thanked Mrs. Machel for the profound influence that Nelson Mandela has had on him, and underscored the power of President Mandela’s example for the people of South Africa and the entire world. President Obama expressed gratitude and thanks for the joy that Graça Machel brought to Nelson Mandela’s life, and the commitment to a peaceful, fair, and loving world…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Atlantic Energy Co-CEO, Scott Aitken (http://www.atlanticenergy.com) made a presentation at the African Oil Week, one of the largest oil and gas conferences held on the African continent held in Cape Town, South Africa 25th – 29th November 2013.Logo Atlantic Energy: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/atlantic-energy.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=763 (Kola Aluko and Scott Aitken, Co-CEOs, Atlantic Energy, at the African Oil Week)In his presentation titled: “Onshore Niger-Delta – A changing Landscape”, Mr. Aitken explained there are 100’s of underdeveloped discoveries onshore Nigeria and with the recent divestments of onshore assets by International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria, this…
NEW YORK, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:The Secretary-General is closely following the situation in the Central African Republic. He expresses his profound alarm at reports of escalating intercommunal violence in the Central African Republic, notwithstanding the urgent efforts now under way to stabilize the situation following the passage yesterday of Security Council resolution 2127 (2013).The latest reports from the ground are grim, indicating deepening conflict between Muslim and Christian communities and armed groups, with tragic consequences. Following yesterday’s attack on Bangui, the United Nations…
ABUJA, Nigeria, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — West Africa is optimistic about the prospect of securing requisite funding for its latest project to link some of its “vibrant and populated “cities through a 1028 kilometre highway project, Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Economic Infrastructure, Mr. Patrick Achi has said.Donors have shown tremendous interest to fund the project, dubbed the Abidjan-Lagos highway corridor, which will link some major cities of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo, the five countries involved in the project including their capitals.Opening a meeting of legal and infrastructure experts of the five countries on Saturday,…
BEIJING, China, December 9, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hong Lei announces:From December 9 to 11, China’s Vice President Li Yuanchao will go to South Africa as the Special Representative of President Xi Jinping to attend the funeral of former South African President Nelson Mandela.