NIGERIA
53 African varsities converge on Abuja to consolidate ACE impact.
Abuja – As the first phase of the World Bank-funded African Centres of Excellence (ACE), project winds down, from 53 universities located in 12 West African countries are to converge on Abuja to strengthen implementation and impact of the project.
A joint statement by Mrs Adebukola Olatunji of the National Universities Commission(NUC), Senior World Bank External Officer, Mr Mansir Nasir, and Association of African Universities’ Millicent Afriyie KyeI, confirmed the development in Abuja on Monday.
They said that the 53 universities would converge on Abuja for a 4-day biennial workshop from 25th-28th February, 2020 to strengthen the implementation of ACE impact.
They added that the event would be attended by representatives from the ACE centres, World Bank, the French Development Agency, AFD, the Association of African Universities, AAU, and NUC officials.
Sokoto To Give 1,800 Women Interest-free Loans.
The Sokoto State government, through its Giginya Microfinance Bank, will be offering interest-free loans of about 1,800 women in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 1,800 women will be selected out of 6,000 persons, to benefit from the state government’s N500 million interest-free loans.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, who made the disclosure in Sokoto on Friday, while inaugurating the Giginya Microfinance Bank, said that the scheme was aimed at fast tracking small businesses in the state.
Tambuwal said that the bank was registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to also enhance the socio-economic wellbeing of the people of the state.
He said that the small-scale loans and others would be given to women and youth entrepreneurs at the grassroots.
The governor also disclosed that a higher loan scheme for high level business owners was also being designed for higher investments.
He said that the bank would be established in each of the three senatorial districts, with diverse acceptable Islamic financial systems for people’s development.
AFRICA
ETHIOPIA- STEADY MEASURED REFORMS WILL HELP ETHIOPIA REACH HER POTENTIAL
Since the early 1990s Ethiopia has experienced reduced state repression, a relatively stable political climate, and has made encouraging strides to improve the living standards of its people. Education, health, infrastructure and economic growth have all improved, especially in the past decade.
These achievements were possible on the back of an average annual growth rate of more than 10% from 2007 to 2017, making it the fastest growing economy globally. The gains have come from a very low base however, and the government needs to do a lot more considering that the population is expected to grow rapidly from 107 million in 2018 to 175 million by 2040.
Like many African countries, Ethiopia still faces the fundamental task of providing for the basic needs of its population.
RWANDA/ UGANDA
KAGAME, MUSEVENI MEETS AT GATINA BORDER.
By Collins Mwai
The fourth Quadripartite Heads of State Summit in a bid to normalize ties between Rwanda and Uganda is scheduled for today, February 21 at Gatuna border.
Presidents Paul Kagame, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda will be joined by Angolan President João Lourenço and his Congolese counterpart Félix Tshisekedi.
The agenda of today’s meeting was reviewed and discussion of feedback from Uganda following a Note Verbale from Kigali dispatched on February 15.
The Note Verbale was sent after the third meeting of the Ad Hoc Commission on the implementation of the Luanda Memorandum of Understanding between Uganda and Rwanda held in Kigali on February 14.
Uganda was meant to respond to the Note Verbale on February 20, which Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and EAC affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe acknowledged that it was done.
African Newss Made Possible By Allafrica.com .
Politics and Deplomacy
ISRAEL.
Political Affairs: Diaspora affairs minister talks of the importance of Jewish identity
Tzipi Hotovely made history last month, when she became Diaspora affairs minister.
Not only did she become the first-ever Orthodox woman to serve as a cabinet minister, she also gave the much-maligned ministry a boss devoted to nothing but the Diaspora.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post at her office at the capital’s Malha Technological Park, Hotovely revealed that she is seeking to remain in the post after the next government is formed.
That is not something to take for granted, because the Diaspora Affairs Ministry has been joined together with other ministries in recent years and has not been given a full-time minister.
Hotovely says Post readers around the world should see her appointment as a commitment by her Likud government to serve the Diaspora better. But in order to do that, she says, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud must be allowed to form the next government.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
IRAN – St Paul’s Bomb Plot: IS Supporter Safiyya Shaikh Pleads Guilty.
A supporter of the banned Islamic State terror group has admitted plotting to blow herself up in a bomb attack on St Paul’s Cathedral.
Safiyya Shaikh, of Hayes, west London, went on a reconnaissance trip to scope out the London landmark and a hotel.
The 36-year-old, born Michelle Ramsden, was arrested after asking an undercover police officer to supply bombs.
At the Old Bailey the Muslim convert admitted preparing an act of terrorism and will be sentenced in May.
IRAN BLACKLISTED BY 200 MEMBER NATIONS OF FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif attend a meeting with Muslim leaders and scholars in Hyderabad, India, February 15, 2018 (photo credit: DANISH SIDDIQUI/ REUTERS)
Until this decision, the only other country on the FATF blacklist was North Korea.
Iran’s economy took a painful hit on Friday at the conclusion of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary, when the organization decided to return Iran to the ‘blacklist’ of countries involved in bankrolling and financing terror.
The result: More than 200 member nations and territories will comply with FATF sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
The ban will likely end talks between Iran and the European Union about exploiting the INSTEX vehicle for promoting trade in a way that circumvents United States sanctions.
Furthermore, it will more generally widen the expanding chasm between Tehran and the EU, pushing Europe closer to the US in the standoff.
UNITED STATES of AMERICA
Eleven Americans At Omaha Facility Tested Positive Of Corona Virus.
Most of the Americans who were being monitored at the University of Nebraska Medical Centerfor coronavirus after evacuating a cruise ship in Japan tested positive for the virus, the hospital says.
UMNC said in a statement Thursday that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention verified the Nebraska Public Health Lab results showing that 11 of the 13 patients have the novel coronavirus. The other two evacuees who were taken to the Omaha hospital tested negative, the statement said.
Germany
Germany shooting: The Hanau Attack.
German authorities are starting to piece together exactly what happened in Hanau, when a gunman opened fire on two shisha bars.
At least nine people died in the attack which federal prosecutors are treating as an act of terrorism.
Turkish authorities say a number of those killed were of Turkish origin. Chancellor Angela Merkel said there are signs the shooter had racist motives.
Soccer
Chelsea vs.Tottenham: Willian sends message to Mourinho
Chelsea winger, Willian, has paid tribute to Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho, in recognition of their relationship during the Portuguese time at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea winger, Willian, has paid tribute to Tottenham Hotspur manager, Jose Mourinho, in recognition of their relationship during the Portuguese time at Stamford Bridge.
According to Willian, his relationship with Mourinho was ‘special’, adding that the 57-year-old would always challenge him when he made mistakes and praises him when he played well.
Mourinho who signed Willian for Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk, coached the Brazilian at the West London club from 2013-2015 before he left the Blues for Manchester United in 2016.
Writing in his column for The Players’ Tribune, ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Tottenham on Saturday afternoon, Willian said: “Mourinho is one of the best managers I have worked with.