insert_link 4 Africa Ethiopia Secures $3.4 Billion IMF Agreement Amid Currency Reforms Ethiopia has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a new $3.4 billion financing program, as announced by the IMF on Monday says Reuters. This agreement follows Ethiopia's decision to float its birr currency, a significant move aimed at securing IMF support and advancing a long-overdue debt restructuring process. The country, grappling with high inflation and persistent foreign currency shortages, became the third African economy to default on […] todayJuly 30, 2024 10 4
insert_link Africa Cheaper data beckons in Africa as satellite internet roll-out intensifies By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency A year after the introduction of commercial-scale satellite internet by Elon Musk’s Starlink in Africa, significant developments are beginning to reshape the continent's internet landscape, with cheaper and faster internet increasingly available in Africa as satellite infrastructure rollouts expand and competition among providers intensifies. In May, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a major internet player with a presence in 14 countries […] todayJuly 29, 2024 72
insert_link Africa SADC assessing Namibia’s readiness to hold November elections A team from the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) is currently in Namibia on a pre-election mission to assess the country’s readiness to hold the general elections later this year. Leonard Sesa, who represents Botswana in the council, told Nampa on Monday that they are in the country for a duration of two weeks to engage with different electoral stakeholders. “Our main task is to meet different […] todayJuly 29, 2024 29
insert_link Africa Eenhana Expo kicks off The 14th edition of the Eenhana Trade and Business Expo started on Monday and is being held under the theme ‘Reviving local economy through business resilience, innovation, and diversification.’ In an interview with Nampa on Monday, town council spokesperson, Ottilie Shingenge said they have a total of 192 exhibitors, two of which are international exhibitors from Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to Shingenge, this year’s expo is bigger […] todayJuly 29, 2024 22
insert_link Africa Ethiopia eases forex curbs as it awaits crucial bailout By Aymeric Vincenot Ethiopia said Monday it is easing foreign exchange curbs as part of a broader economic reform package, as the deeply-indebted nation awaits a multi-billion dollar bailout from international lenders. The value of the local currency, the birr, slid by around 30 percent against the dollar after the announcement of the measures by the central bank. "The reform introduces a competitive market-based determination […] todayJuly 29, 2024 8
insert_link Africa Nigeria’s planned protests: What we know By Laurie Churchman with Aminu Abubakar in Kano Politicians and the army have warned people against taking to the streets, but organisers say government failings have left them little choice. Both sides have made comparisons with recent protests in Kenya that forced the government to withdraw new taxes, but it is not clear what shape the rallies could take in Nigeria. With demonstrations set to start on […] todayJuly 29, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Africa leads in reducing new HIV infections – report By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Africa's prevention measures in the fight against new HIV infections are paying off, according to a new report by UN AIDS. The report, "The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads," unveiled on July 22 at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, highlights that sub-Saharan Africa has achieved the steepest reduction in HIV cases compared to 2010. “Four […] todayJuly 29, 2024 28
insert_link Africa Fossil algae show a lake once existed on Lesotho’s Mafadi summit but it vanished about 150 years ago By Jennifer Fitchett, University of the Witwatersrand and Anson Mackay, UCL Lesotho is a small, land-locked, mountainous country located in the middle of South Africa. Its Eastern Lesotho Highlands are often referred to as the region’s “water tower” because they receive some of the highest rainfall amounts in southern Africa, providing water to South Africa and electricity to Lesotho through the Lesotho Highlands Water […] todayJuly 29, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Nigerian Police Say Foreign Mercenaries Involved in Planned Nationwide Protest Police authorities in Nigeria have raised alarm that foreign mercenaries are involved in a planned protest in the country next week. Tesem Akende reports. todayJuly 29, 2024 10