Seychelles present at the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union

Seychelles Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Mr. Conrad Mederic, is leading the Seychelles delegation to the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union from 14th to 15th February 2024 in Addis Ababa. This year’s Summit is centred on the theme “Educate an African fit for the 21st Century: Building resilient education systems for increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant […]

February 15, 2024 2

APO International

Five new teams, three new countries to compete in 2024 Basketball Africa League season tipping off on March 9 in South Africa

Defending BAL Champion Al Ahly (Egypt) Among Seven Teams That Have Competed in the BAL (https://BAL.NBA.com/) Before, Alongside First-Time Participants from Burundi, Central African Republic, Libya, Morocco and Rwanda. Season will Tip Off with First-Ever BAL Game in South Africa Featuring 2022 Runner-Up Petro de Luanda (Angola) Taking on First-Time BAL Participant FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco) at SunBet Arena in Pretoria at 4:00 p.m. CAT. Tickets on Sale Now at BAL.NBA.com (https://apo-opa.co/49CJjBQ), Ticketmaster.co.za (https://apo-opa.co/4bBotol) […]

February 15, 2024 12

APO International

Bangladeshi peacekeepers step up when it matters, earn United Nations (UN) medals

Take a bow, Bangladesh, because 150 of your finest sons (120) and daughters (30), serving for peace and with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the states of Warrap and Western Bahr El Ghazal have recently been awarded #UN medals for their outstanding work. During a fine ceremony in Wau, attended by the UNMISS Force Commander himself, shiny pieces of metal were pinned to the proud-swollen chests […]

February 15, 2024 3

Business / Economics

The rise of robo-retail: Who gets left behind when retail is automated?

By Mathew Iantorno, University of Toronto Canada’s first robotic cafe, RC Coffee, opened in Toronto in October 2020. The flagship location of the coffee chain revived the long-dormant retail concept of the automat: a restaurant where food and drinks are served by technology, rather than human staff. The new coffee automat consisted of a touchscreen for placing orders, a window that allows customers to watch a […]

February 15, 2024 22

Health / Medical

Why forgetting is a normal function of memory – and when to worry

Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock, CC BY Alexander Easton, Durham University Forgetting in our day to day lives may feel annoying or, as we get older, a little frightening. But it is an entirely normal part of memory – enabling us to move on or make space for new information. In fact, our memories aren’t as reliable as we may think. But what level of forgetting is actually normal? Is it OK […]

February 15, 2024 17

Namibia

Nedbank and AMT mobile planetarium school excursions commence

The UNAM/Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) programme began late last month with school excursions in Windhoek to provide hands-on astronomical education and inspire young minds in the field of astrophysics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The UNAM/AMT Mobile Planetarium is an inflatable, interactive facility designed to bring the wonders of the cosmos directly to learners in Namibia. Senior AMT team member Emmy Iiyambo told Nampa on Thursday […]

February 15, 2024 57

APO International

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) returns to the Dollar market with tight five-year print

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-ps.org), a Jeddah-based supranational, has printed a USD 500 million Sukuk maturing in February 2029. The Sukuk issuance, which was oversubscribed with an orderbook over USD 2.2 billion, subscribed by 4.2 times from 46 investors, demonstrating the confidence of investors in the ICD's vision and prospects. The proceeds from the sukuk issuance will be invested in development assets, facilitating […]

February 15, 2024 4

APO International

Testing the tests: Scientists seek out best on-the-spot diagnostics for deadly Nipah and Lassa

Scientists who specialize in viral detection are embarking on a search for the most reliable on-the-spot tests for two viral diseases that have the potential to cause deadly epidemics. In a four-year project funded by CEPI and led by FIND, the team will examine and evaluate all available point-of-care testing options for the two diseases. They will work to advance the best performing ones for further testing, approval and widespread […]

February 15, 2024 10

Africa

From Dreaming to Drawing: Omotunde Akiode’s Journey from Screenwriter to Acclaimed Animator

By Gbemisola Esho, via bird story agency Omotunde Akiode sits at her workstation in Lagos, appearing to doodle. To the occasional visitor, this may look like play but the result of the creative session will be a very real cartoon character, possibly for an acclaimed African cartoon series -- like Supa4. “I grew up watching Sesame Street, the Muppet show animations on television. I saw the […]

February 15, 2024 21

Month: February 2024