NEWS - The African Mirror

Mar

23

2023

Water, water everywhere? Investors eye Africa’s water sector

NEWS

SETH ONYANGO, BIRD STORY AGENCY INVESTORS are diving into Africa's water sector, with Metito Utilities Limited (MUL) and British International Investment (BII) being the latest to announce their entry into the market. The UK's development finance institution and the multinational utility firm have unveiled the Africa Water Infrastructure Development (AWID) venture that will develop climate-smart water projects at scale and increase water security across the continent. AWID's innovative approach to water infrastructure and provision in Africa is expected to set a sustainable commercial model, boosting long-term investment in the sector. The platform will incorporate cutting-edge green technologies and alternative energy…

Mar

23

2023

By The African Mirror

U.S. couple facing child torture charges in Uganda freed on bail

NEWS

A U.S. couple detained in Uganda since December accused of torturing a 10-year-old boy in their care was granted bail on Wednesday by a court in the capital Kampala. Nicholas Spencer and his wife Mackenzie Leigh Mathias Spencer, both 32 and from South Carolina, were initially charged with aggravated torture and aggravated child trafficking of a boy they had fostered and were living within Kampala. Since their arrest they have also been charged with overstaying a visa and working without a permit, their lawyer, David Mpanga, told Reuters. The offence of aggravated torture of a child in Uganda carries a maximum sentence…

Mar

23

2023

By The African Mirror

Angola becomes latest African country to join fight against illicit financial flows

NEWS

BIRD STORY AGENCY ANGOLA is on a mission to be more tax transparent, which could accelerate its ease of doing business ratings and curb illicit financial flows. The country recently joined the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes (Global Forum), an initiative which seeks to foster tax transparency. "We are delighted to welcome Angola as the latest Global Forum member," said Gaël Perraud, Chair of the Global Forum. "The steadily growing Global Forum membership underlines the importance given to tax transparency by the international community and demonstrates the resolve of governments to join forces in…

Mar

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Morocco, PSG star Hakimi faces rape allegations

NEWS

FRENCH prosecutors have opened an investigation following rape allegations against PSG player and Morocco team star Achraf Hakimi, a source close to the investigation said, confirming reports in several French media outlets including Le Parisien. The source said the investigation had been opened by the prosecutor's office of Nanterre, near Paris. The Nanterre prosecutor's office said it did "not want to communicate on this ongoing investigation". Neither PSG nor Hakimi could immediately be reached for comment. Le Parisien, which first revealed the investigation, said a 24-year-old woman went to police on Sunday to say she had been raped by Hakimi in…

Mar

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenyans protest against Chinese competitor’s cheap prices

NEWS

DUNCAN MIRIRI MORE than a thousand Kenyan traders protested in the capital Nairobi against a new Chinese-owned retail shop they accuse of undercutting them with ultra-low prices. Traders in Kenya and other rapidly growing economies in Africa have protested periodically against their Chinese competitors. China is Africa's top trading partner and more than 1 million Chinese are estimated to reside on the continent. Kenya's relationship with China was in focus during last year's presidential election, won by William Ruto. Ruto promised to publish government contracts with China agreed upon under his predecessor and to deport Chinese nationals working illegally. The…

Mar

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Religious, rights groups call for calm in Kenya’s second week of protests

NEWS

AYENAT MERSIE RELIGIOUS leaders and human rights groups in Kenya called for calm as a second week of protests against the cost of living increases raised fears of further violence, while President William Ruto said criminals would be held to account. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost to Ruto in last August's election, is leading the protests against the high cost of basic staples and has called for rallies every Monday and Thursday to pressure Ruto's government to take action. Late on Monday night, unknown perpetrators set fire to a church and several businesses in Nairobi's low-income Kibera district, and…

Mar

01

2023

By The African Mirror

Connecting Africa to the world: The promising future of air cargo

NEWS

BIRD STORY AGENCY WELL aware of the growth trajectory in Africa, more international air cargo airlines are entering and expanding their operations across the continent. “It is one of the fastest-growing aviation markets for both air cargo and passenger confidence,” said Hassan El-Houry, the chairperson of Menzies Aviation Group, explaining why in just the past year, there has been a surge in international cargo airlines rolling out operations in the African market. El-Houry, whose multinational air cargo company operates across Africa, explained that Africa is also an attractive investment space because the sector “will be accelerated by the African Continental…

Mar

29

2023

By The African Mirror

Kamala Harris exhorts Africans to innovate, empower women in Ghana speech

NEWS

COOPER INVEEN U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris challenged Africans to step up innovation and the empowerment of women in order to play their full part in the future of the world, as she delivered a speech to thousands of young Ghanaians in Accra. Her visit to Ghana, the first stop on an African tour that will also take her to Tanzania and Zambia, is part of a charm offensive by Washington as it seeks to counter-balance the growing influence of China and Russia on the continent. Standing in front of Black Star Gate, a monument built on the site where…

Mar

29

2023

By The African Mirror

A Green Corridor for Africa: Mining, energy and maritime giants team up to develop green shipping corridor

NEWS

BIRD STORY AGENCY AN initiative by the Global Maritime Forum is underway to develop Africa’s first maritime green corridor for iron ore shipping between South Africa and Europe. "This groundbreaking initiative is the first of its kind from Africa and represents an important step in the region’s involvement in shipping’s decarbonization," the company says in a press release on its website. Maritime green corridors are routes between major port hubs where zero-emission solutions are supported and demonstrated. The company statement indicates that the consortium has brought together iron ore miners, shippers, the steel industry, ship owners, free port operators, and…

Mar

29

2023

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s grannies kick out stereotypes on the soccer field

NEWS

SIYABONGA SISHI WEARING blue tracksuits and waving their national flag, South Africa's Vakhegula Vakhegula soccer team jogged into the stadium to cheers ahead of their first match against Team USA. It was the first day of the Grannies International Football Tournament in Limpopo province, and this team - like the others - was made up of women aged 55 and up. Vakhegula means "grandmothers" in the Tsonga language spoken in South Africa. Advertisement · Scroll to continue "At my age, I think if I was not in this sport I should have been confined to a wheelchair," said 66-year-old striker…