BONN, Germany, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Government of Egypt, in cooperation with Germany, Switzerland and other partners, has pledged to assess and further address the issue of unregulated hunting and bird netting practices along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. The agreement came as top-level officials from those countries joined representatives from the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and its relevant Agreements, NGOs and key wildlife experts at a one-day meeting at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany on 29 November. The meeting, organized and facilitated by the UNEP-administered Secretariat of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA)…
Author: apofeed
PARIS, France, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com), the global specialist in energy management, and DONG Energy, one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, announced today an agreement to cooperate on a technological and commercial partnership for a more sustainable energy supply of remote islands in Africa. The ambition is to enable African electric network operators of remote or isolated island grids to increase the share of renewable used while maintaining grid stability and reliability for consumers.Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/schneider_electric.jpgOf the world’s fifty-two Small Island Developing States (SIDS), six are in Africa. They include; Cape Verde,…
WASHINGTON, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Press StatementMarie HarfDeputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCDecember 4, 2013The United States is appalled by today’s reports of the murder of innocent women and children outside of Bangui. This horrifying account is the latest in a string of reports that illustrate the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) that could lead to an escalation in violence and further atrocities.We are working with our partners in the international community, including through our efforts on the United Nations Security Council, to find the swiftest and most effective…
OTTAWA, Canada, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Following ongoing reports of violence in the Central African Republic, including a United Nations report today of an attack on civilians near the capital Bangui, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:“Canada is very concerned by the recent acts of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). We call for an immediate end to the violence against civilian populations of all faiths and on humanitarian workers active in the country.“Canada strongly condemns those fuelling tensions between communities that have lived in peace with one another in the past.…
ABUJA, Nigeria, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Nigeria during November 13-26 to conduct discussions for the 2013 Article IV consultation. The mission met with Finance Minister and Coordinator Minister of the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, senior government officials, members of the Legislature, and representatives of the private sector. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Gene Leon, the Fund’s mission chief and senior resident representative in Nigeria, issued the following statement:“Nigeria’s economy has continued to perform strongly in 2013. Real GDP grew by 6.8…
BASEL, Switzerland, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — • Africa’s healthcare challenges are compounded as it begins to face a dual disease burden as non-communicable diseases rise • In addition to existing corporate responsibility efforts such as its Malaria Initiative, Novartis is implementing innovative commercial models, utilizing new technologies and increasing healthcare education and training • African countries seen as the next set of fast growing markets as middle class projected to grow substantiallyToday, Novartis senior executives gather in Basel, Switzerland for the first-ever Novartis Africa Day (http://www.novartis.com), to review the company’s innovative work in Africa, including growing commercial…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 4, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Commission of the African Union (AU), convened a two day consultative workshop from 3-4 December 2013, to review the AU DDR operational guidance documents on issues of Detention, Women and Children in armed conflict, Reintegration and developing frameworks for National DDR initiatives, which will assist the AU’s engagement in DDR related activities.The meeting was opened by Dr. Tarek A. Sharif, Head, Defense and Security Division (DSD), and brought together DDR experts from selected Member States, representatives from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), representatives from Center of Excellence (Kofi Annan…
DUBLIN, Ireland, December 4, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD began an eight day visit to Kenya and Uganda today to promote increased trade with East Africa and see the impact of Ireland’s aid programme. The Minister’s visit comes a month after he led a successful Trade Mission to Nigeria and South Africa, in which almost 40 companies participated. This mission secured new contracts worth more than €7m in the financial services, telecommunications and education sectors. The Minister will explore opportunities for Irish companies in the Kenyan market in sectors including oil and…
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 4, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 407th meeting held on 4 December 2013, devoted an open session to the theme: “Women, children and other vulnerable groups in conflict situations in Africa”. The meeting was held in pursuance of the decision adopted by Council at its 223rd meeting held on 30 March 2010, to convene such a session once every year.Council took note of the statements made by the Commission, the Representatives of Namibia, in its capacity as the country that championed the adoption of…
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 4, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) assisted in the transfer of five Sudanese Armed Forces personnel released today by the Sudan Liberation Army – Ali Karbino (SLA-AK), an armed opposition group in Darfur. The soldiers were handed over to the Sudanese authorities in Al Fashir, North Darfur. “So far in 2013, ICRC staff in Sudan have facilitated the handover of 78 persons: 37 Sudanese armed forces personnel and 36 civilians released by armed opposition groups, and five South Sudanese prisoners of war released by the Sudanese government,” said Jean-Christophe…