(Posted 25th January 2024)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Microsoft Teams is making it easier to control your webcam and audio during meetings
The Verge
Microsoft is finally giving Teams users an easier way to control audio and video features during meetings. The software giant has started testing easily accessible tools for switching cameras, audio sources, speaker output, and much more. These new features are part of an update available for Microsoft Teams Public Preview today…Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
Secretary Antony J. Blinken At an Event on Food Security and Economic Growth At the AfricaRice Headquarters
U.S Department of State
Thank you very much. Well, good afternoon, everyone. And for me, it was both a pleasure and fascinating to be here, both with my colleague from the African Development Bank and also from AfricaRice, just to see the extraordinary work that’s being done to get to a place where, as President Biden has said, Africa feeds itself – and actually, more than itself, a place where Africa feeds the world. And that is not only very possible – I’m convinced that it can happen…Read More>>
Secretary Blinken Opens Newest American Corner in Nigeria, Kicks Off 20th Anniversary Year as Vital Global U.S. Engagement Resource
U.S Department of State
Today in Lagos, Nigeria, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of American Corner Lekki, the newest addition to the United States’ global American Spaces network that comprises more than 600 cultural and information centers in more than 140 countries in every geographic region worldwide. This year, American Corners, supported by local partners and part of the American Spaces network…Read More>>
The United States and Angola: Partnering for Prosperity
U.S Department of State
Secretary Antony J. Blinken will visit Luanda, Angola, January 24-25, where he will meet with President João Lourenço and Foreign Minister Tete Antonio to discuss the U.S.-Angola bilateral relationship and commitments made during the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit on key areas such as climate, food security, global health cooperation, economic engagement, and trade…Read More>>
ENERGY
Lithium Breathes New Energy Into Kamativi Infrastructure
Africa Energy Portal
Kamativi Mining Company (KMC) which recently started extracting lithium from the old tin mine, has constructed close to 4km of a new road and is also rehabilitating a 20km stretch on the Cross Dete-Binga Road.With plans to increase production of spodumene concentrate from 1 000 to 6 000 tonnes per annum starting in June, KMC has also gone an extra mile rehabilitating infrastructure in Kamativi…Read More>>
HEALTH
Rwanda to acquire 200 ambulances for enhanced healthcare delivery
New Times
Rwanda is set to acquire 200 ambulances so as to enhance medical response across the country, according to Minister of Health, Dr Sabin Nsanzimana.Nsazimana announced the development, on January 23, during the 19th National Dialogue Council, or Umushyikirano, a forum in which Rwandans discuss issues of national importance including national development, unity, and youth empowerment…Read More>>
Health Ministry Launches Program To Help Fight TB By 2030
Capital FM
The Ministry of Health has launched a program to help fight Tuberculosis by 90 percent by 2030.The National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Lung Health 2023/24-2027/28 was launched by Public Health and Professional Standards Principal Secretary Mary Muriuki.According to the PS, the plan is expected to reduce the mortality rate because of tuberculosis related ailments…Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Nairobi Building Approvals Rise To Sh195.1 Billion
Capital FM
The value of building approvals in Nairobi grew by Sh50.3 billion to Sh195.1 billion in the 11 months to November last year, despite the high cost of building materials.Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that this was an improvement from Sh144.9 billion during a similar period in 2022…Read More>>
Mutasa South is new site for Mutare Airport
Herald
Plans by the Government to relocate the Grand Reef Airport near Mutare to Mutasa South District where there is enough flat land for a new modern airport are at an advanced stage with the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) set to conduct a feasibility study at the new site.At the same time other roads around Mutare are to be rehabilitated under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2)…..Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
State Plans to Supply Over 7,000 Tons Tea Product
Ground News
South West Ethiopia Coffee, Tea and Spices Authority stated that it has planned to deliver over 7,000 tons of tea product to central market this budget year. Of the planned amount, so far, some 3,100 has already been delivered to the central market…Read More>>
Economy to expand by 4.3% in 2024 buoyed by agriculture
African News
The International Monetary Fund IMF projects Burundi’s economy to expand 4.3% this year from 2.7% in 2023. In a statement released by the fund on Monday, the IMF said “growth is projected to accelerate … supported by strong agricultural production, productive investment, and the ongoing reforms”. The fund added that fuel shortages had hampered economic activity in 2023….Read More>>
ICT
Seychelles’ Cabinet of Ministers Approves New Virtual Assets Law to Be Submitted to Parliament
All Africa
Seychelles’ Cabinet of Ministers approved the new virtual assets law that will be submitted to the National Assembly, said the Vice President last week.Ahmed Afif said in a press conference that now that the Cabinet has given its stamp of approval “this will be presented to the National Assembly as soon as it reconvenes.”….Read More>>
Speaker calls for laws to promote AI
Herald
Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has called for crafting of legislation that promotes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the implementation of national policies, saying it will help the country realise its developmental goals as Zimbabwe aims to attain an upper middle income status by 2030…Read More>>
FINANCE
Micro Insurance a Better Mechanism in Reaching Small Scale Farmers Financially
All Africa
Agriculture is the mainstay of the nation’s economy and almost 80 percent of the population earns their living from the sector. It also contributes up to 85 percent of export earnings.However, the subsistence and traditional way of farming made the sector vulnerable to climate variation which poses drought and flood to the other extreme…Read More>>
