BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today’s confirmation of the death sentences on former President Mohammed Morsi and five others in Egypt comes as a result of mass trials, related to a jail break in 2011, and is a worrying development. The EU opposes capital punishment under all circumstances. The death penalty is cruel and does not serve any deterrent purpose. It represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity. The EU expects these sentences to be revised in the appeals procedure.This coincides with a court decision in another mass trial transforming the death…
Author: apofeed
NEW YORK, June 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack by Boko Haram in N’Djamena, Chad, on 15 June 2015, which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 100.The members of the Security Council expressed their deep sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous act and to the Government of Chad. The members of the Security Council wished a speedy recovery to those injured.The members of the Security Council commended Chad’s courageous and active contribution to peace and stability in…
ABUJA, Nigeria, June 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The continued fight to stamp out polio will receive an additional $40.3 million boost from Rotary (http://www.rotary.org) to support immunization activities and research carried out by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (http://www.polioeradication.org). Rotary grants these funds to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF for polio immunization, surveillance and research activities in 10 countries. Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/rotary.pngPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2184The funding commitment comes at a critical time as Nigeria – the last polio-endemic country in Africa – approaches one-year since its last case of polio, which occurred in Kano State on 24 July, 2014.…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — UN and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in South Sudan have undertaken an emergency airlift operation to deliver survival kits, containing lifesaving supplies, to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in hard-to-reach areas of Unity State. Recent violence has affected an estimated 750,000 people in Greater Upper Nile and forced approximately 150,000 people to flee their homes, many to extremely remote areas. Most were rural households, forced to abandon their lands before they could plant this season’s main crops. The humanitarian community has developed portable, lifesaving survival kits, which include mosquito nets, short-maturity vegetable seeds,…
LIVINGSTONE, Zambia, June 16, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — IBFD (http://www.ibfd.org) is pleased to announce that its inaugural Africa Tax Symposium, Trends in International Taxation: An African Perspective (http://tinyurl.com/qx6z7y4), will take place on 18 and 19 June 2015 in Livingstone, Zambia. The two-day event will present a complete picture of international taxation in the BEPS era, with special focus on Africa, and will feature prominent speakers, including IBFD tax experts on Africa, and eminent tax practitioners and professors from Africa, the United States and Europe.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ibfd.jpgPhoto: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/150616tax.jpgAs the foremost provider of information on cross-border taxation, IBFD is uniquely placed to…
PORT-LOUIS, Mauritius, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — ecosur afrique (http://www.ecosurafrique.com), the leading carbon finance group in Africa, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P), an impact investment fund dedicated to small and medium size enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa and Volta cars Rental Services (VRS), a car leasing company operating in West Africa, today announced the first ever carbon credits transaction involving a Seller and a Buyer from West Africa.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ecosur-afrique.jpgPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2183 (Fabrice Le Sache, CEO of ecosur afrique)Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/150615.pngThe transaction, which has been structured by ecosur afrique, allows VRS customers to offset the CO2 emissions of vehicles leased in…
LONDON, United-Kingdom, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — British High Commissioner to Kenya, Dr. Christian Turner, condemns further terrorist attack in Lamu and pledges continued UK support in the fight against Al Shabaab.Dr. Turner said:“I condemn the attack by Al Shabaab terrorists on a Kenyan Defence Force facility at Baure, Lamu County. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of the brave Kenyan officers who lost their lives or were injured in the attack. I should also like to praise the decisive response of the Kenyan Defence Forces, who displayed exemplary levels of expertise and courage in countering…
ACCRA, Ghana, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — On June 15, 2015, the United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) will launch the Partnership for Education: Learning activity. Learning will reach over 2 million children in Ghana through a broad- based, national project that aligns with and helps to meet Ghana’s basic education priorities. The program is aimed at improving early grade primary school literacy and exploring ways to improve numeracy. This five-year partnership with FHI360 seeks to…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Global Pacific & Partners (http://www.glopac-partners.com) will host the 22nd Africa Oil Week/Africa Upstream Conference 2015 (http://www.africa-oilweek.com), in JV with ITE Group plc, in Cape Town 26th– 30th October, at Cape Town International Convention Centre where around 1600 delegates assembled in 2014.Logo 22nd Africa Oil Week/Africa Upstream Conference 2015: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/22nd_aow_africa_upstream-2015.pngLogo Global Pacific & Partners: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/gpp_corporate_blue.pngLogo ITE Group Plc: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ite-group-plc.jpgLogo PetroAfricanus Club: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/petroafricanus.pngPhoto 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2181Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2180Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2179Photo 4: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2178Photo 5: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2177Photo 6: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2176Photo 7: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=2175Africa Oil Week is the landmark corporate occasion for the Continent, a meeting with global reputation, and…
WASHINGTON, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementJohn KirbyDepartment SpokespersonWashington, DCJune 14, 2015The United States is deeply concerned by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s travel to South Africa for the African Union summit.President Bashir has been indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide, and warrants for his arrest remain outstanding.While the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which sets out the crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the ICC, we strongly support international efforts to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.In…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The heinous attacks on civilians in Lamu and Tana River area of Kenya’s coast in mid-2014 were followed by abusive security force operations, Human Rights Watch and the Kenya Human Rights Commission said today. One year later, no one has been held responsible for the attacks. Hundreds of people have been beaten and detained without charge while communities remain vulnerable to further attacks.The 53-page report, “Insult to Injury: The 2014 Lamu and Tana River Attacks and Kenya’s Abusive Response,” documents the initial attacks, some claimed by the Somalia-based armed Islamist group…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Congolese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release two activists who were arrested three months ago, on March 15, 2015, during a pro-democracy youth workshop in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a coalition of 14 international and 220 Congolese rights organizations said today. Fred Bauma and Yves Makwambala were arrested at a workshop organized to launch “Filimbi,” a platform to encourage Congolese youth to peacefully and responsibly perform their civic duties.The government should also release and drop any charges against other activists, opposition party members, and others detained solely for their political…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Authorities of Niger and IOM’s teams in the field learned on 11 June that the bodies of 18 migrants have been found in the Sahara, IOM Niger’s Chief of Mission Giuseppe Loprete said on Sunday (14/6).Loprete added it was likely they had perished more than a week earlier, on 3 June, having died most probably from dehydration. “They succumbed after having lost their route from Arlit, Niger to Algeria due to a sand storm,” said Loprete. “And then the heat and lack of water did the rest.””This tragedy highlights a feared…
BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, June 15, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Committed to preventing crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, and to avoiding impunity for the perpetrators of such crimes, the EU confirms its continuing support for the ICC and its work.Full cooperation with the ICC is a prerequisite for the Court’s effective functioning. In accordance with established approach of the EU and its Member States, the EU expects South Africa, a founding State Party of the Court, to act in accordance with UN Security Council 1593, in executing the arrest warrant against any ICC indictee present in the…
SANDTON, South Africa, June 14, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — African leaders gathered Saturday morning at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa for the 33rd NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation meeting (http://www.nepad.org).Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/nepad-en-1.jpgWelcoming the delegation to the Opening Session, South African President Jacob Zuma commended NEPAD for keeping the dreams and potential of the African continent alive. He said, “the continent is now reaping the benefits of responsible macro-economic management and deepening integration into the world economy.” President Zuma underscored that investments in infrastructure programmes, regional integration and intra-African trade is Africa’s solution for sustainable growth and…
DAKAR, Senegal, June 12, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Visa (NYSE: V) (http://www.corporate.visa.com), a global payments technology company, today announced the launch of NotATourist, an innovative, full-fledged regional campaign aimed at driving international tourism during holidays, and making the summer holidays of cardholders rewarding. Running in key Middle East and African markets including, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Senegal until 31 August, 2015, the campaign provides cardholders with real and rich destination related information to help plan their travel as well as access to Visa’s global merchant offers and exclusive promotions.Download the Visa Global Travel Intentions…
BAMAKO, Mali, June 12, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today completed the third review of Mali’s performance under an economic program supported by a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement. The Board’s decision, which was taken without a formal meeting,1 enables the disbursement of SDR 4 million (about US$5.6 million), bringing total disbursements under the arrangement to SDR 18 million (about US$25.3 million).In a still fragile security environment, the economic recovery is gathering strength. Activity in 2014 was driven by a return to more normal levels of cereal production and strong…
CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, June 12, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Today, VOSS Solutions (http://www.voss-solutions.com) announced that it will host an IT Security Workshop on the subject of web-based security, at its headquarters in Cape Town. When: Wednesday June 17, 2015Where: Knowledge Park 3, Unit 5 Heron Crescent, Century City, Cape TownLogo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/voss.pngThe half-day IT Security Workshop is free of charge to attend, and will be delivered by the Cape Town division of OWASP (The Open Web Application Security Project) (https://www.owasp.org); an affiliation of information security professionals and technology enthusiasts. As lead sponsor of the IT Security Workshop, VOSS will host the…
GENEVA, Switzerland, June 11, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The United Nations Security Council should require more vigorous civilian protection and better human rights reporting when it renews the mandate of the Darfur peacekeeping mission in June 2015, Human Rights Watch said today. On June 10, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Edmond Mulet briefed the Security Council and relayed the secretary-general’s recommendation to renew the African Union/United Nations Hybrid Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) for 12 months. Sudan is pressing for a drawdown of UMAMID.At least 500,000 people have been displaced by fighting in Darfur over the past 16…
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, June 11, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, Said Djinnit, and members of the facilitation team that joined and supported the dialogue between the Burundian parties, met today in Bujumbura with members of the diplomatic corps. During this meeting, the Special Envoy briefed the participants on the dialogue who he facilitated starting from 5 May 2015, at the request of the Burundian parties who had agreed, by themselves, on the agenda as well as the list of participants.The Special Envoy recalled that during the dialogue, the parties maintained…