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The selection for the race sees a raft of new faces, spearheaded by Nizzolo, who recently his 32nd birthday. Among his support will be long-term friend Matteo Pelucchi, who makes his first start for Team Qhubeka ASSOS (TeamQhubeka.com).

Lukasz Wisniowski has impressed during the team’s recent training camp in Spain and his experience will be invaluable alongside the likes of Andreas Stokbro and Sean Bennett, the American also making his debut for the team.
The impressive Michael Gogl will likely take on the shared role of road captain where he will be leaning heavily on new recruit Simon Clarke for support. The Australian has merged seamlessly into Team Qhubeka ASSOS and promises to be a major asset for the team this season.
Meanwhile, we have sought the assistance of our ardent fans to formally announce our team for this race and will look to continue doing that throughout the season. This is something new and we are very excited about it.
Our team’s supporters, particularly in light of our recent challenges and in line with our drive for success into the future, are key for us to continue to create meaningful change with the Qhubeka Charity in changing lives with bicycles.
The five-day race gets underway on Wednesday, 3 February with a 141km stage starting and finishing in Bellegarde, and concludes with an 11km individual time trial in Alès.
Giacomo Nizzolo
As always for the first race of the season I’m very excited and it will be interesting what is our current level. We had a good camp but I don’t feel at my absolute optimum as I have had an issue with my knee. I feel that it’s been getting better and better every day at the camp, even when I wasn’t able to train exactly how I’d wanted to.
So I think we go there without pressure but obviously if there is an opportunity to score a result we will try every day where there is a chance. I think that we also have some good guys for the overall too in Michael Gogl and Simon Clarke and it will be interesting to see how we can go in the sprint with the new guys. Obviously with Pelucchi there is a long history but we have to, as a team, find our place in the bunch.
Simon Clarke
After a really good block of training over the off-season, including my own mini training camp with Michael Gogl, it was good to finally meet everyone at our camp in Spain.
It was a really good camp and now I can’t wait to get started with my new team here in France. We’ll be looking to take what we worked on there straight into our racing, so I’m looking forward to the season ahead with confidence.
Gino Van Oudenhove &#8211; Sports Director
It has been a hectic run in the last two months for riders, staff and management to put things together. To get to this point everyone has done an amazing job and now we can start our first race well prepared and with confidence.
Etoile de Bessèges will be an exciting race with some sprint possibilities. So, from the first race, we can put all hands on deck in support of Giacomo.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
For further enquiries: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS (TeamQhubeka.com) is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka (Qhubeka.org) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.
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Nizzolo leads Team Qhubeka ASSOS at Etoile de Bessèges

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After the great success of Virtual agrofood &#038; plastprintpack Africa (www.Virtual-Africa.net) in November 2020, the German trade show specialist fairtrade Messe (www.fairtrade-messe.de) is launching another digital format with the Virtual for all Middle East Africa (www.Virtual-MEA.net) from 31 May to 02 June 2021. The organisers&#39; aim with this event is to contribute to deepening global relations with the Middle East and Africa in the agrofood &#038; plastprintpack sector.

A brief review of November&#39;s Virtual for all Africa also gives an indication of what participants at the new event can expect. A total of 2,353 registered participants from 87 countries attended. 64 exhibitors from 17 countries received 8,783 visits to their virtual stands and their products were consulted 2,008 times. 3,540 visitors attended 67 panel discussions, presentations and product demos with a total of 98 speakers. These facts, together with high satisfaction scores on both the exhibitor and visitor side, have made Virtual for all Africa the most important agrofood &#038; plastprintpack online event with an Africa focus.
“30 years of experience in organising international trade fairs in the Middle East and 25 years in Africa enable us to establish the new Virtual for all Middle East Africa on a solid footing. At the same time, we are going down innovative digital paths so that our exhibitors and attendees can communicate and do business in the best possible way,&#8221; explains Martin März, fairtrade founder and managing partner.

And fairtrade managing director Paul März outlines: “Virtual for all MEA 2021 will benefit from two innovations: Firstly, in addition to our proven partners in the Maghreb and in West and East Africa, we are setting further regional focuses. In Africa with Egypt and South Africa and in the Middle East with Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

And secondly will we complement the award-winning event platform we already used for Virtual for all Africa 2020 by a mobile app that will bring notifications regarding appointments between exhibitors and attendees directly to the smartphones, helping to ensure that agreed B2B appointments actually happen.&#8221;

Participation for visitors is complimentary. Exhibitors can choose between various exhibitor and sponsorship packages.

Relevant content &#038; inspiring speakers in panel sessions, presentations &#038; product demos 

In addition to the B2B meetings, Virtual for all Middle East Africa 2021 will offer a large-scale conference programme extending over the entire three days addressing relevant and currently highly debated topics.

Focus on investment in agrofood &#038; plastprintpack in Middle East Africa 

For three days, the focus will be on Middle East Africa and on agricultural production, food and beverage technology, food ingredients, food trade, as well as plastic, printing and packaging materials, raw materials and technology.
• agro: To diversify Africa’s economies and revive its rural areas, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed US$ 24 billion towards agricultural industrialization. According to the German Engineering Federation VDMA, MEA&#39;s agricultural machinery imports amount to well over €2 billion annually.
• food + bev tec: Imports of food processing &#038; packaging technology account for €4.683 billion in 2019 (VDMA)
• food ingredients: With 1.6 billion inhabitants, MEA has long been one of largest food markets in the world. Expenditure in the F&#038;B sector is growing steadily, and F&#038;B production is by far the largest segment of the MEA processing industry.
• food + hospitality: According to the African Development Bank, MEA’s annual food imports are estimated to rise from US$ 85 billion to US$ 170 billion by 2025.
• plast: Since the Middle East is a huge exporter of plastics in primary forms, and Africa only produces 39% of its required plastic raw materials itself but imports 61%, the Middle East &#038; Africa fit very well together to outbalance their needs. African Imports of plastics raw materials, for instance, grew by 5.9% annually between 2011 and 2017, from 4,220 kt to 5,939 kt, +41%. And the Middle East’s exports of such material grew from 16,607 kt in 2011 to 25,280 kt in 2017, an annual increase of 7.25%. (EUROMAP) MEA’s imports of plastics technology made up for €1,779 billion in 2019. (VDMA)
• print: MEA’s imports of printing &#038; paper processing technology represent €1,368 billion in 2018, up 7.8 per cent to 2017. (VDMA)
• pack: MEA’s imports of packaging technology make up for €2.291 billion in 2019, +3.2% compared with 2018. (VDMA)
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Fairtrade Messe und Ausstellungs GmbH &#038; Co. KG.
For more information: www.Virtual-MEA.net
Contact for Press and Media: fairtrade Messe GmbH &#038; Co. KG Herr Luca Leiser Public Relations Kurfürsten-Anlage 36 D-69115 Heidelberg Tel +49 / 62 21 / 45 65 22 l.maerz@fairtrade-messe.de www.fairtrade-messe.de
Contact for Exhibitors: fairtrade Messe GmbH &#038; Co. KG Frau Freyja Detjen Project Management Kurfürsten-Anlage 36 D-69115 Heidelberg Tel +49 / 62 21 / 45 65 19 f.detjen@fairtrade-messe.de www.fairtrade-messe.de
About fairtrade 1991-2021: 30 years of Valuable business contacts
30 years of experience in organising international trade fairs in the Middle East and 25 years in Africa. As an ambitious team of experienced and young professionals, we are always ready for new challenges. 
Whether we are going down innovative digital paths with our Virtual Events to support our exhibitors and industry participants even in difficult times. Or opening up new markets with professional international trade fairs. We always find the best possible way to create valuable business contacts for our customers and partners.
Founded in 1991 by Martin März and managed together with his son Paul, who joined the company in 2016, we at fairtrade feel committed to the values of a family business and team spirit. 
And it is the team of mostly in-house qualified personnel that makes fairtrade so special. For 15 years now, we have been educating students in the fields of Business Administration &#8211; Exhibition, Convention &#038; Event Management and Business Administration &#8211; Media &#038; Communication Management, who receive their vocational training at fairtrade and complete the theoretical part of their studies at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University in Ravensburg and graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree. 
In active exchange with a global network of competent partners, fairtrade has long been one of the leading organisers of professional international agrofood &#038; plastprintpack trade fairs in Africa and the Middle East.
ISO 9001:2015 certified, we strive for high customer satisfaction with excellent service and innovative products. 
fairtrade is a member of UFI The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry.
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fairtrade launches Virtual for all Middle East Africa 2021

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The United Nations in Somalia strongly condemns the terrorist attack on Hotel Afrik which left many people dead or injured.

“We are appalled by this reprehensible and senseless attack on a venue frequented by innocent civilians, and condemn it in the strongest terms,” the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan, said. 
According to reports, Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Hotel Afrik in Mogadishu on Sunday afternoon, and engaged in an hours-long siege before being dislodged by the Somali security forces.
The United Nations in Somalia expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM).

United Nations in Somalia condemns attack on Mogadishu hotel

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Daily: Laboratory test: 7,109 Severe cases: 252 New recovered: 274 New deaths: 2 New cases: 629

Total: Laboratory test: 1,962,552 Active cases: 12,693 Total recovered: 122,862 Total deaths: 2,093 Total cases: 137,650
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (31 January 2021)

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Twelve weeks since the start of conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, meaningful humanitarian operations have still not begun. Aid organisations are unable to reach the Central and Western parts of the region, and two refugee camps are completely inaccessible. In the few instances where agencies are accessing the region, it is limited to areas along major roads or the capital Mekelle. Aid workers face an unpredictable approval process with blurred lines of authorizations, as well as unclear and shifting approval procedures.

Reacting to the persistent humanitarian access challenges into Tigray, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Jan Egeland, said:
“In all my years as an aid worker, I have rarely seen a humanitarian response so impeded and unable to deliver in response for so long, to so many with such pressing needs. As an international community, we are clearly failing to deliver against the humanitarian imperative we are facing.
Twelve weeks since the fighting began, the basic elements of a response on the scale needed are still not in place. It is false to say that aid is increasingly getting through. Aid has only gone to the places with little conflict and more limited needs and is not keeping pace with the humanitarian crisis as it inevitably grows over time. Millions of women, children and men, including refugees, are in a truly desperate situation, suffering alone without aid or protection.
We know this can change overnight. The government has in the past consistently proven that it can effectively coordinate the delivery of aid at the scale needed in many other parts of Ethiopia and we believe it can do so again. I strongly urge all authorities to do whatever it takes to enable unrestricted and unconditional access to those most in need, regardless of their locations.
The entire aid sector, NRC included, must also recognise our failure to define the scale of the crisis, to respond early, to coordinate and to speak out – all of which has crippled the collective response.
We must all act now and play our part to ensure aid reaches the millions of people suffering in Tigray.”
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Statement by Secretary General Jan Egeland: Aid still not reaching Tigray

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As of 31st January 2021, 865 new cases (out of 6,759 tests) and 2,557 recoveries. Sadly, we recorded 18 new deaths [MTSRIP].
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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (31 January 2021)

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98 people have tested positive to the disease, out of a sample size of 3,739 tested in the last 24 hours. The total confirmed positive cases are now 100,773. The cumulative tests so far conducted are 1,186,951.

County distribution; Nairobi 86, Meru 2, Mombasa 2, Nakuru 2, Busia 1, Kajiado 1, Kiambu 1, Kisumu 1, Machakos 1 and Nyeri 1.

52 patients have recovered from the disease. 29 are from our various health facilities while 23 are from the Home-Based Isolation and Care program. Total recoveries now stand at 83,907. 8 patients have succumbed to the disease pushing our cumulative fatalities to 1,763.

471 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 1,408 are on Home Based Isolation and Care. 25 patients are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), 14 of whom are on ventilatory support and 11 on supplemental oxygen.

16 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 13 of them in the general wards and 3 in the High Dependency Unit (HDU).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (31 January 2021)

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685 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria:

Lagos-355 Kaduna-58 Nasarawa-46 Kano-40 Akwa Ibom-33 Katsina-26 Ogun-25 Osun-21 Rivers-16 Edo-15 Oyo-13 Ondo-12 Borno-11 Ekiti-9 Kebbi-3 Plateau-2

131,242 confirmed 104,989 discharged 1,586 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (31 January 2021)

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The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), together with research partners Perinatal HIV Research Unit (PHRU), Epicentre, and Genesis Analytics, are currently conducting a survey on Healthcare Utilisation and Seroprevalence of COVID-19 in three districts in South Africa, referred to as the HUTS survey.

The NICD has been monitoring respiratory diseases, such as influenza and pneumococcal disease, in South Africa since 1984. These surveillance systems include pneumonia and influenza-like illness surveillance systems conducted at 15 hospitals and clinics in five different provinces in South Africa. As part of the surveillance, individuals are enrolled and samples are collected to test for pathogens of public health importance, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Bordetella pertussis. As of March 2020, the testing of samples for COVID-19 was included. The survey is be conducted in the same districts where the NICD has these long-standing surveillance programmes.
Although these surveillance programmes have provided the NICD with valuable data and allow for the monitoring of trends, they only give a limited view of the complete burden of disease. Surveillance thus far has been limited to situations where the patient has accessed health services, which means those who haven’t visited clinics or hospitals are not included. The confirmation of COVID-19 infection depends PCR or antigen testing, and is usually only performed for those who seek medical assistance as a result of their illness, which is unlikely the case for those who have only experienced mild or no symptoms.
We know from COVID-19 studies in other countries that the majority of infections have been mild with medical care not required, however, the percentage of mild or asymptomatic infections in communities in South Africa is not known. As such, more in-depth research is required to understand how many people have been infected and thereby the community burden of COVID-19. Whilst collecting this data, additional research questions are being addressed, including Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of COVID-19, and the economic effects that COVID-19 has had on households, as well as healthcare utilisation and costs during the pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented suffering throughout the world, including in South Africa. We want to give South Africans the opportunity to share their experiences of COVID-19, and how they have been personally affected. Understanding the specific needs of our own population will help to better inform policy and guidelines. We hope that people will take this opportunity to be part of the response” – Prof Cheryl Cohen, Centre Head of the CRDM, NICD.
The HUTS survey will include:

 	A total of 7,200 households will be included in the healthcare utilisation survey, and of these, a total of 2,304 households will also be included in the seroprevalence arm of the survey; data will be collected equally across three provinces, namely, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. 	Households have been randomly selected to be part of the surveys, and trained field workers from Epicentre will visit the selected households to collect data on general household demographics, COVID-19 KAP, household member screening for respiratory illness, and record of death. 	Within each household, individuals who report having experienced respiratory illness since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa will be asked questions about healthcare utilisation and costs related to their illness. 	A selection of households have been randomly chosen to be included in the seroprevalence part of the survey. These households will be visited by field worker teams that have qualified nurses (phlebotomists) who will request to take a blood sample from each individual in the household to test for COVID-19 antibodies, which indicate whether a person has had COVID-19 previously. Individuals who agree to take part in the study will have the opportunity to receive their test results. Individuals will also be requested to provide a sample to be tested for HIV; and household members will also be offered the opportunity for HIV testing on-site, or a referral to a local testing centre. 
The survey has been designed to collect similar information to other surveys being conducted, both in South Africa and globally. It is vitally important to understand how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the lives of the people of South Africa, and to not only rely on international data to drive decisions made for South Africa.
“We desperately need better data on SARS-CoV-2 transmission from our context; we cannot keep extrapolating from European and Asian counterparts, when our epidemic clearly has different dynamics. This is a superb team, with tons of experience in infectious disease pandemics, and I look forward to their data enabling more coherent responses to the pandemic” – Prof Francois Venter, Ezintsha.
The HUTS research consortium would like to request all the randomly pre-selected households to take this opportunity to participate in this survey. The results of the survey will be crucial in assisting the government in both planning and development of the national response to the COVID-19 epidemic in the country.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Institute for Communicable Diseases, South Africa (NICD).

Coronavirus – South Africa: The National Institute for Communicable Diseases conducts healthcare utilisation and COVID-19 Seroprevalence survey

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By Charné Hundermark

South Sudan is re-directing its focus on power sector development in a bid to dramatically transform its electricity market, which faces a deficit of approximately 170 MW and has led to one of the lowest electricity access rates globally. Through the development of several power generation projects expected to boost installed capacity, along with the implementation of the South Sudan Electricity Master Plan, the country is working to expand distribution systems and increase access to electricity nation-wide.
According to state-owned utility South Sudan Electricity Corporation (SSEC), more than 90% of the population lacks access to the national grid. As a result, an estimated 70% of businesses in the country rely on diesel-powered generators to operate, significantly limiting output. The primary challenge facing the domestic power sector is its lack of quality infrastructure needed for power generation, transmission and distribution. In conjunction with limited financial resources and technical knowledge, development in the country has been slow and maintenance of existing infrastructure has been weak. That said, financing gaps represent a high-impact opportunity for foreign direct investment, while local capacity limitations provide the opportunity for knowledge and skills transfer. In short, South Sudan is uniquely positioned to attract investors who are looking to build the power sector from the ground up.
Power projects make headway 
South Sudan is targeting the rehabilitation of the national grid through infrastructure replacement, grid maintenance and expansion. In November 2019, SSEC began operating the first section of the capital’s distribution network. Through the construction of new 33 kV lines – a replacement of the existing 11 kV lines – and 13,450 prestressed concrete poles, the Power Construction Corporation of China has been instrumental in the development of the grid project, along with a $14.6-million loan from World Development Bank.
“Our plan is to cover everybody in the whole city with grid power,” said Jacob M. Deng, Director of Planning and Projects, SSEC, in an article (https://bit.ly/36yeobM) by IEEE Spectrum. “I hope that Juba will be liberated from this darkness.”
In the same month, South Sudan launched a newly built 100 MW power plant to supply electricity to the capital and surrounding area. Developed by the Ezra Group of Companies, the power plant will be implemented in four phases – 20 MW expected in the first phase, 30 MW in the second phase, 20 MW in the third phase and 30 MW in the fourth phase. Currently in operation, the power plant speaks to the success of private-public partnership models for South Sudan’s electricity sector. Accordingly, the Government is working on the rollout of similar partnerships to bring power to all regional cities.
That said, Deng acknowledges that diesel-fired generation is not a long-term solution for South Sudan. Therefore, the country is turning to renewables to expand power generation capacity. In early-2020, SSEC completed technical evaluations for a 20 MW solar farm and 35 MWh battery storage system planned outside of Juba. Financed by the African Export-Import Bank, the solar farm will offset domestic power deficiencies by providing a sustainable source of clean energy. Additionally, South Sudan is turning to hydropower developments to expand its electricity market. With a proposed 120 MW hydropower project near Juba, the country is actively looking for investors to aid in the development of hydro resources, as well as has launched a call for consultants to assist in crafting the nation’s renewable energy development program. Clean energy investment will enable the country to reach its target of up to 40 MW of additional power from renewable resources.
Policy-backed progress 
South Sudan’s primary energy challenge is its infrastructural deficit. To address this challenge, the Government has initiated the South Sudan Infrastructure Action Plan (IAP) for the development of basic infrastructure that – in conjunction with other policies that prioritize local capacity-building and a skilled labor force – will provide the foundation for industrial growth. By developing infrastructure as a pre-condition for growth and strengthening the environment in which public and private institutions operate, the Government aims to stimulate the national economy as a response to COVID-19 and reduced economic output.
Additionally, the Government of South Sudan has implemented the Juba Power Distribution System Rehabilitation and Expansion Project (PDSRE), an initiative aimed at strengthening the distribution networks in Juba to provide electricity supply from current and future generation facilities. Backed by the South Sudan Development Plan (SSDP) and the IAP, the PDSRE aims to provide reliable electricity access in Juba and prioritizes the development of energy infrastructure across the country. By expanding distribution systems in the capital and increasing access to electricity, the PDSRE is expected to significantly improve quality of life and initiate a process of industrialization.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference.Media filesDownload logo

South Sudan Pursues a Power Sector Revival (By Charné Hundermark)

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The Agency for Air Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, ASECNA, the Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd, NIGCOMSAT and Thales Alenia Space (www.ThalesAleniaSpace.com), joint venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %) joint efforts to accelerate SBAS development for aviation in Africa.

Following the broadcast of a SBAS (Satellite-Based Augmentation System) signal over Africa &#038; Indian Ocean (AFI) region since September 2020, providing the first SBAS open service in this part of the world via NIGCOMSAT-1R Satellite, the 3 partners have successfully conducted on 27 January 2021 a series of 5 flight demos at Lomé International Airport. The goal was to show in real configuration the efficiency of the technology developed in the frame of the early open service as part of the « SBAS for Africa &#038; Indian Ocean » programme which pursues the autonomous provision over the continent of SBAS services, to augment the performances of the satellite navigation constellations GPS and Galileo.
These tests were carried out by means of the ASECNA calibration aircraft (ATR42-300), which has been equipped for the occasion by Pildo Labs with specific sensors and embarked VIPs and pilots in 5 rotations over Lome airport. The aim of the experiment was to demonstrate the ability of the system to allow landings on the two ends of the runway without deployment of local ground infrastructure and with a performance level close to the use of Instrument Landing Systems (ILS). It demonstrates the benefits of the future operational safety-of-life SBAS services, expected from 2024, in terms of flight safety, efficiency and of environmental protection.
The outcomes of the demonstrations, as a crucial step forward the provision and use of satellite navigation services in the Africa and Indian Ocean region, were debriefed on 28 and 29 January during an international outreach event on SBAS in aviation in Africa, gathering airlines, aircraft manufacturers and other aviation stakeholders from all over the world.
“We are proud to support the SBAS for Africa &#038; Indian Ocean open service and to have contributed to the success of these inflight demos using our geostationary communication satellite NIGCOMSAT-1R navigation payload”, declared Dr. Abimbola Alale, MD/CEO of NIGCOMSAT Ltd. “The SBAS demonstration flight feat is in line with policy direction of the Honorable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of Federal Republic of Nigeria; Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) FNCS, FBCS, FIIM for value addition and propensity not only in the Telecommunications Sector but Aviation, Maritime, Rail Transport, Precision Agriculture, Survey, Oil &#038; Gas and Mass-Market Applications for sustainable development beyond Nigerian shores”.
“Our longstanding expertise acquired with the development of EGNOS [1] SBAS in Europe and KASS SBAS in Korea combined with our new leading-edge satellite positioning technologies makes Thales Alenia Space the ideal partner to best support countries to implement their own SBAS efficiently. We hope these series of demos will help to accelerate SBAS adoption in aviation in Africa”, declared Benoit Broudy, Vice President Navigation business at Thales Alenia Space.
“I’m proud to have demonstrated the utility and efficiency of the SBAS services in the continent. This event will bolster the deployment of the “SBAS for Africa &#038; Indian Ocean” system, the navigation solution for Africa by Africa, which will enhance air navigation safety and efficiency for the benefit of the whole continent, in line with my vision for the unification of the African Sky”, stated Mohamed Moussa, Director General of ASECNA.
[1] European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Thales Alenia Space.
Media Contact: ASECNA Harouna Kindo Email: kindohar@asecna.org Tel: +221 77 375 36 69 or +221 33 849 67 23
Abdoulaye Faye Email: fayeabd@asecna.org Tel: +221 77 649 01 92
Thales Alenia Space Sandrine Bielecki Tel: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94 sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com
Tarik Lahlou Tel: +33(0)6 87 95 89 56 tarik.lahlou@thalesaleniaspace.com
Cinzia Marcanio Tel: +39 (0)6 415 126 85 cinzia.marcanio@thalesaleniaspace.com
Marija Kovac Tel: +39 (0)6 415 129 91 marija.kovac-somministrato@thalesaleniaspace.com
NIGCOMSAT Ltd Mr. Adamu Idris (GM Corporate Affairs) Tel: +234 (0)8037861323 aidris@nigcomsat.gov.ng
Dr. Lasisi Salami LAWAL (SBAS Project Manager) Tel: +234 (0)8055233708 lasisi@nigcomsat.gov.ng
About ASECNA: ASECNA (https://bit.ly/2MJb5HE) is an International public organisation. Its main mission is to provide air navigation services within an airspace of 16,500,000 square kilometers, divided into six flight information regions (F.I.R) as defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ASECNA also develops solutions for airport management, aviation infrastructure studies and construction, equipment maintenance, calibration of air navigation instruments and training for civil aviation staff. Its 18 Member States are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo.
About Thales Alenia Space: Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space (www.ThalesAleniaSpace.com) delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.15 billion euros in 2019 and has around 7,700 employees in nine countries.
About NIGCOMSAT: Nigerian Communications Satellite Ltd (NIGCOMSAT) (www.NIGCOMSAT.gov.ng) is a company and agency under the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy whose mission is to be the leading satellite operator and service provider in Africa. NIGCOMSAT Ltd owns and operates the Nigerian Communications Satellite. The company provides innovative and cutting-edge satellite communications solutions by operating and managing a geostationary communication satellite-NigComSat–1R, built to provide domestic and international satellite services via a 2-way satellite communications services across West, Central, South East Africa, Europe and Asia. The satellite is a hybrid Communication Satellite with a payload for navigation overlay services (NOS) system similar to EGNOS.
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ASECNA, in conjunction with NIGCOMSAT and Thales Alenia Space to accelerate SBAS development for aviation in Africa

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By Clarence Seedorf (Chair, Black Impact Foundation) and NJ Ayuk (Chair, African Energy Chamber [www.EnergyChamber.org])

There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has sent global energy markets reeling. Oil and gas has undeniably been one of the hardest-hit industries, with prices still struggling to rebound from the collapse in demand during the first quarter of 2020. Coupled with increasing concerns about climate change and its effect on conventional energy production, it seems difficult to find a bright spot.
 But there is one, and it’s Suriname.
In the year since news reports first began describing a novel coronavirus in China, the resource-rich waters off the South American nation have become the target for increased drilling activity, and a growing number of producers are taking a chance on the region’s potential.
Last April, for example, Apache Corporation and Total reported a significant oil offshore discovery. The successful Sapakara West-1 well was actually Apache-Total’s second find in the 1.4 million-acre Block 58; they made Suriname’s first-ever offshore discovery at the nearby Maka Central-1 exploration well In January 2020. In fact, Apache is so convinced of the promise this region holds that it dropped its Permian Basin rigs in Texas to concentrate more fully on Suriname. And though Apache and Total may have been among the first to achieve drilling success offshore Suriname, they are clearly not alone. Exxon Mobil and Petronas announced a discovery in December 2020, and Shell has purchased Kosmos Energy’s participating interests in the region.
Friendly Fiscal Policy
With the U.S. Geological Survey putting the resource potential of the Guyana-Suriname basin at more than 13 billion barrels of oil — and only 26 wells currently in place — there’s no question why majors and independents are drawn to the area.
But what makes drilling offshore Suriname even more attractive is the favorable business environment being touted under the leadership of President Chan Santokhi, who took office last year.
Suriname has put in place a producer-friendly regime that the oil and gas industry has been quick to notice. Suriname’s 30-year production-sharing agreements are considerably longer than those offered by neighboring countries, giving oil companies more time to ramp up activities and continue producing. Suriname also takes a smaller cut of the proceeds compared to its neighbors. Combined with a lower overall cost of production, oil companies can achieve profitability even if oil trades in the $30 to $40 per barrel range.
This is all very good news, indeed. This is just the kind of strategy that’s necessary today to attract international oil companies (IOCs), and we encourage African countries to follow in Suriname’s example.
What remains unclear is how Suriname will steward the potential opportunities and revenues arising from its hydrocarbon bounty. Will it take its lead from Ghana, Norway, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and other nations that are leveraging natural resource wealth to help the local population? And how can it avoid the mistakes of oil states that have seen their riches primarily line the pockets of foreign companies?
We are advocating for Suriname to harness the transformative power of oil and gas. We want to see everyday people benefit from these major oil discoveries. We envision oil-based wealth leading the country on a sustainable, profitable path. Built upon best practices from around the world — as reported in Mr. Ayuk’s book, Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals — we would like Suriname’s leaders, civil society and business community to consider a plan incorporating local content, empowering women, improved governance, and more.
Local Level Impacts
Let’s focus first on how the oil and gas industry can support economic development through local content, as that has far-ranging consequences. As explained in Mr. Ayuk’s book, local content policies are derived from a simple philosophy: A nation’s natural resources belong to the people, so the people should benefit from their development. To a large extent, however, indigenous workers and supply industries have not historically reaped the kinds of economic and social rewards one would expect.
But increasingly, enlightened companies are adopting stronger local content initiatives in host companies. That includes ExxonMobil in Guyana.
In the oil and gas business, progress isn’t made overnight. Including exploration, the discoveries off the waters of Guyana were 10 years in the making. But from the start, ExxonMobil and its direct contractors prioritized local hiring. By the time production in the Stabroek Block began in December 2019, 1,700 Guyanese were among the company’s rank-and-file, comprising more than half the total local workforce, in fact. Since first oil in 2015, ExxonMobil and its direct contractors have spent $180 million with more than 630 local suppliers, setting the economy ablaze. Predictions by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Guyana’s economy would expand by 86% in 2020, compared to just 4.4% a year earlier, are now being tested by the coronavirus outbreak. However, an eventual return to business as usual could still result in unparalleled economic and gross domestic product growth.
Unfortunately, we can’t always rely on businesses to do enough of the right thing without encouragement—and regulations that safeguard against exploitation. Governments that create clear, reasonable local content regulations, develop resource corridors and special economic zones, provide tax relief, address skills gaps, and create a strong framework for industry partnerships can help oil and gas companies move local content practices forward.
In a growing number of countries, local content isn’t being left to chance or the benevolence of Big Oil. For example, in 2010, acting President Goodluck Jonathan signed the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Local Content Development Bill 2010 into law. Designed to build the capacity of indigenous firms, the law obligated upstream oil companies to provide opportunities for participation by local companies and workers. That included backward linkages through procurement of locally produced materials.
Other countries, including Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have all incorporated local content requirements into their legal frameworks through various avenues, including legislation, regulations, guidelines, industry contracts, and bidding practices. As Billions at Play notes, Tanzania requires a succession plan where foreign workers will be replaced by nationals. The government of Ghana will only permit a company to be labeled as “indigenous” when 80% of its executives and senior managers are Ghanaian citizens.
Employment is just one area where local content is being legislated, however. To support state-controlled training programs for indigenous personnel, the government of Angola levies a tax on petroleum production, refining and processing companies equal to US$0.15 per barrel produced. Companies engaged in prospecting must contribute an annual fixed amount of US$100,000; for companies in the exploration stage, that number jumps to US$300,000.
Comprehensive Strategy
Local content development is essential, but it’s just part of what Suriname must do to capitalize on its new-found resource wealth. We believe leaders must also:

 	Establish gender diversity policies for extractive industries. I think we can all agree that there is a serious lack of women working in oil and gas at all levels, but particularly in leadership roles, and the dearth is detrimental to companies as well as the countries where they operate. But the government of Suriname doesn’t have to submit to the same old standard. The country can require that companies working within their borders hire women, compensate them fairly, use women-owned suppliers and subcontractors, provide adequate family leave protections, and create education and training for girls and women, including STEM. 	Ensure strong governance. National oil company Staatsolie should follow Guyana’s lead and create an oil and gas industry regulator, removing itself from any oversight role. In addition, Suriname must refuse to allow corruption and authoritarianism to continue within its borders. This is hardly an isolated issue. As described in Mr. Ayuk’s book, during the period from 2000 to 2011, high oil and gas prices sent Africa’s economic growth to new levels. Yet most of the money never made it to the people. Instead, it was siphoned off by political elites through shell companies. The world is watching how Suriname will manage its oil revenues, especially as it rebounds from the economic slump of 2017-2018. 	Promote industrialization. Suriname can take a page from Trinidad and Tobago’s playbook. The twin nation’s robust natural gas industry and monetization strategies have enabled the development of a strong manufacturing sector, including the Port of Point Lisas Industrial Estate. For decades, Trinidad’s ample natural gas reserves were considered nothing more than a cheap way to keep its oil production, refining, and power generation facilities going. With Port of Point Lisas, Trinidad is attracting natural gas users who consume large amounts for both export and downstream industries. In Suriname’s case, oil can be used as feedstock for petrochemicals, creating jobs and injecting cash into the national economy. 	Form strategic partnerships with neighboring nations. Trinidad and Tobago has also been a major exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from offshore areas. But when output began declining, the country sought a new supply source for its LNG plants, which it found offshore Venezuela. A 2007 agreement between the two nations allows for cross-border reservoir exploitation. 
Apply Lessons Learned
Trinidad Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley recently said the Caribbean is “being heralded as the next major oil and gas province,” and the discoveries in Guyana and Suriname further bolster his claim. But to take full advantage of the economic opportunities they present, the Surinamese government, Citizens, civil society, and business community needs to apply lessons learned from other areas and to consider the expertise of those who have helped those nations reach their potential. Only then can Suriname’s people be assured that the celebration around new oil includes them, as well.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Suriname-born goodwill ambassador Clarence Seedorf is one of the greatest football players in history and the only one to win the Champions League with three different clubs. In addition to his distinguished career as a midfielder, Seedorf coached on four continents. His mission to make the world a better place was recognized by Nelson Mandela, who named him a Legacy Champion in 2009. This select group of philanthropists is helping to ensure that Mr. Mandela&#39;s legacy lives on. Seedorf holds an Honoris Causa degree in humanities, has earned the highest civil decorations from the Netherlands and Suriname, and has served as both a UEFA Global Ambassador for Diversity and Change and juror for the FIFA Diversity Award. He is a business consultant and public speaker.  

NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, CEO of pan-African corporate law conglomerate Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.
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Suriname Oil Discoveries are Cause for Celebration, but Only If We Apply Proven Lessons to Make it Work for Everyone (By Clarence Seedorf and NJ Ayuk)

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Total cases: 15,304 (+186) Recovered: 10,087 (+283) | 64.8% Active cases: 5,021 Tests: 886,268 (+10,782) Deaths: 196 (+3) | 1.3% Test positivity rate: 1.8%
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (31 January 2021)

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Africa Union Member States (55) reporting COVID-19 cases (3,555,356), deaths (90,529) and recoveries (3,037,832) by region: Central (87,718 cases; 1,604 deaths; 73,940 recoveries): Burundi (1,613; 2; 1,155), Cameroon (29,617; 462; 28,045), CAR (4,989; 63; 4,908), Chad (3,321; 117; 2,372), Congo (7,887; 118; 5,860), DRC (22,771; 671; 15,031), Equatorial Guinea (5,516; 86; 5,286), Gabon (10,748; 68; 10,260), Sao Tome and Principe (1,256; 17; 1,023) Eastern (360,223; 6,835; 287,779): Comoros (2,718; 90; 1,678), Djibouti (5,932; 63; 5,845), Eritrea (2,135; 7; 1,594), Ethiopia (137,021; 2,091; 122,588), Kenya (100,675; 1,755; 83,855), Madagascar (18,743; 279; 17,930), Mauritius (569; 10; 528), Rwanda (15,118; 193; 9,804), Seychelles (1,186; 4; 987), Somalia (4,784; 130; 3,700), South Sudan (3,929; 64; 3,613), Sudan (27,371; 1,804; 21,300), Tanzania* (509; 21; 178), Uganda (39,533; 324; 14,179) Northern (1,085,885; 29,397; 921,565): Algeria (107,030; 2,890; 73,152), Egypt (165,418; 9,263; 129,293), Libya (118,631; 1,877; 98,706), Mauritania (16,608; 422; 15,596), Morocco (470,691; 8,259; 448,628), Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (39; 6; 30) Southern (1,698,226; 48,645; 1,478,936): Angola (19,782; 464; 18,015), Botswana (21,293; 134; 17,198), Eswatini  (15,666; 562; 10,238), Lesotho (8,664; 172; 2,552), Malawi (23,497; 687; 8,318), Mozambique (38,654; 367; 23,955), Namibia (33,944; 352; 32,378), South Africa (1,449,236; 43,951; 1,292,921), Zambia (54,217; 763; 48,000), Zimbabwe (33,273; 1,193; 25,361) Western (323,304; 4,048; 275,612): Benin (3,786; 48; 3,398), Burkina Faso (10,580; 120; 9,052), Cabo Verde (13,981; 133; 13,103), Côte d&#39;Ivoire (28,178; 152; 25,818), Gambia (4,090; 128; 3,792), Ghana (65,427; 405; 60,357), Guinea (14,475; 82; 14,064), Guinea Bissau (2,614; 45; 2,421), Liberia (1,939; 84; 1,760), Mali (8,069; 330; 5,937), Niger (4,516; 159; 3,726), Nigeria (130,557; 1,578; 103,712), Senegal (26,523; 628; 21,970), Sierra Leone (3,528; 79; 2,278), Togo (5,041; 77; 4,224) *No update since 7 May 2020.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).Media filesDownload logo

Coronavirus: African Union Member States reporting COVID-19 cases as of 31 January 2021, 6 pm EAT

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25 riders, together with a full complement of staff, spent nearly two weeks in Spain following an intensive training schedule while also finalising plans and preparations for the season ahead.

In 2021, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (https://TeamQhubeka.com) had 17 new riders joined the team including the likes of former Vuelta a Espana winner Fabio Aru, Simon Clarke, Kilian Frankiny, Robert Power and Sean Bennett.
The European and Italian National champion – Giacomo Nizzolo – together with Victor Campenaerts and Nicholas Dlamini are among those retained this season, and form a key foundation of the team’s mission to draw awareness to the Qhubeka Charity in changing lives through bicycles.
Due to current travel restrictions in place, two Team Qhubeka ASSOS riders were unable to travel to the team training camp. New recruit Sergio Henao remains at home training in Colombia and will travel to Europe as soon as possible, while the same goes for the Australian, Dylan Sunderland.
Giacomo Nizzolo
The camp has been really good. I had to manage an issue with my knee as I came into camp so wasn’t able to take part in all of the training as set out for the team but I definitely feel much better now than when I arrived. So personally I feel really good and overall for the team too there was a great atmosphere. I think the guys have worked pretty hard and we’re ready to start now.
For the group to gel it’s been easier than I thought it might to be honest, not that I had any doubts about it but it was really nice to be together from day one. I feel already that we have a good group and that’s the base for results so let’s hope it all goes to plan.
I’m really looking forward to showing off my new jersey as the current European champion, which is super-cool. Assos did a great job, so for that I thank them, and I hope to show off the jersey this season to the best of my ability.

Fabio Aru
It was an amazing experience for me! I’ve got to know all the guys really quickly and I feel great, not only with them but also the entire staff. It feels like I’ve been in this team for many years already and that’s a really good position to start my new adventure with Qhubeka ASSOS. I’m really proud to be part of this super team, and of course now to be a member of the Qhubeka project.
It’s true that this does feel like a restart for me, this training camp was very important for me to get to know everyone and the atmosphere is really, really nice; I can say that I’ve never had an atmosphere like this before.
My approach for the season will be to take it race by race, so I will start in Provence and then we’ll see, but the most important thing is that I am happy and I can’t wait to start my new season.
To all the fans out there – old and new – please follow us, support us and we will look to make you all proud; we will have a lot of stories to tell.

Nicholas Dlamini
The camp has really been a good one – particularly because I missed both that we had last year – the atmosphere has been amazing and we’ve all bonded very well.
With 17 new riders it feels like a whole new team with new dynamics and ways of work and so I’d imagine that this year will be very different compared to previous years, so I look forward to that.
The training has been great and on our last ride we actually rode a little harder up Rocacorba with everybody knowing it was the final day and you wanted to finish the day broken as then you had a couple of days to recover. We started up the climb, not at a very high pace, but then started going harder and harder with guys dropping and then there were only four left in the last 2kms. Then the pace stayed very high with everyone trying to drop each other, luckily I was still there in the last 1km and I was able to kick around them and get over them, just beating Fabio. So that was my first, unofficial, win of the season!
It’s also been a very special time for our family and it’s an incredible feeling (to be a dad), a life-changing experience. It also brings a bigger meaning to life and gives me a greater purpose than I had before. It’s a journey I really look forward to and the start of something great.

Victor Campenaerts
Great camp! I’ve just checked and I did 40 hours on the bike in 10 days and with only one day of rain, so we were really lucky. It’s been a really good atmosphere, with good training and I think we all got to know each other really well. If you see the change in the atmosphere from the first dinner to the last dinner it was a big difference, so I’m really positive going into the season.
Normally my goals for the season are results – top 5s or win a TT – but now it will be more special with my first immediate goal being the opening weekend in Belgian. I’ve never done those races and as I almost live on the parcours it will be special for me. I want to do those races feeling good, that’s my goal – to end those races satisfied.
Douglas Ryder
We had a hugely successful time spent together in Spain, preparing and sharpening ourselves for the season ahead. We looked spectacular in our new 2021 kit and our vehicles have taken on a look that is sure to excite.
Every single person in our organisation has showed that they’re clearly aligned with the team’s goals and we will all be part of the difference we are making in moving the world forward. While in camp we embraced and committed to the spirit of Ubuntu – “I am because we are” – and will fight for each other every single day.
This year will be exciting, challenging and possibly for our sport at times quite daunting but one that we will absolutely take head-on, as one team.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
For further enquiries: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS (TeamQhubeka.com) is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka ASSOS (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka (Qhubeka.org) is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.
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Team Qhubeka ASSOS training camp hailed a “huge success”

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New Cases: 146 Total Confirmed: 3,528 Deaths: 79 Recovered: 2,278 Total in quarantine: 548 Discharged from quarantine: 13,527
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Coronavirus – Sierra Leone: COVID-19 update (30 January 2021)

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New cases: 477 Total active cases: 14282 Lost to follow-up: 134 Total number of tests conducted: 142615 (2226 new) Total confirmed cases: 23,497 Total recovered: 8318 (503 new) Outcome under investigation: 76 Total deaths: 687 (23 new)
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Nizzolo leads Team Qhubeka ASSOS at Etoile de Bessèges

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Nizzolo leads Team Qhubeka ASSOS at Etoile de Bessèges

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