South Africa’s rand raced to its highest in more than eight weeks against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, as optimism about a global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic boosted riskier assets, with investors looking past Sino-U.S. trade tensions. At 0605 GMT, the rand traded at 17.4700 per dollar, 0.91 per cent firmer than its previous close. The currency was at its strongest since March 27. “The optimistic recovery narrative is holding within markets, keeping the...
The South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday warned that the country’s COVID-19 cases are going to get much worse as he announced that the lockdown measure is to be eased. According to the President, a third of the country’s more than 22,000 cases had been recorded in the last week. He added that the current lockdown in the country could not be sustained. From June 1, more restrictions would be lifted, he announced. Ramaphosa’s statement...
Africa has so far been spared the worst impact of the coronavirus, but World Health Organisation (WHO) is worried the continent could face a “silent epidemic” if its leaders fail to prioritise testing for it. “My first point for Africa, my first concern, is that a lack of testing is leading to a silent epidemic in Africa. “So, we must continue to push leaders to prioritise testing,” WHO Special Envoy Samba Sow, told a news...
Uganda has reported 14 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the East African country to 212, according to a Ministry of Health statement issued on Monday. Tests were conducted, on Sunday, on 1,739 samples collected from cross-border cargo truck drivers, contacts of the previously confirmed cases and community, the statement said. “All new cases are contacts to previously confirmed truck drivers. “All contacts were under quarantine at the time...
Carbon Express enables users to initiate and complete transactions such as P2P transfers and bill payments from the keyboard without launching the Carbon App or leaving the current app that they are using. Instead, they will be able to access services from the touch of their keyboard enabling quicker Instagram or Whatsapp commerce. Carbon Express maintains the same PCI DSS compliant model of encryption, authentication, and security as Carbon’s other services, thereby guaranteeing the security...
The World Bank said its board of executive directors has approved $48 million to help Uganda fight a desert locust invasion threatening livelihoods. The funds, under the Emergency Locust Response Programme, will help Uganda monitor and manage locust swarms to limit the growth of existing and new desert locust populations, the bank said in a statement. The funds will also provide livelihood protection and restoration to the affected households, communities and vulnerable groups. “The project...
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday reported that COVID-19 cases in Africa as at May 21, had risen to over 95, 000. WHO Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo, gave the update on its official twitter account @WHOAFRO. “There are over 95,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases on the African continent – with more than 34,000 recoveries and 2,995 deaths,” it said. The figures showed that South Africa, Algeria and Nigeria had the highest reported cases...
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of World Health Organisation (WHO), says Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has started 42 days countdown to end Ebola in the country. Ghebreyesus who stated this in a statement posted on WHO website, said there was continued hope to end the virus. “The last person who was being treated for Ebola in the DRC recovered and was discharged on May 14. “On that day, the DRC Ministry of Health announced the...
United Kingdom on Thursday said it would be investing up to 20 million Pounds in the African Union’s new ‘Africa anti-COVID-19 fund’ to slow down the spread of coronavirus and save lives. The British High Commission in Nigeria said in a statement that the funding was announced by UK International Development Secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan. According to the statement, this makes the UK the largest national donor to the fund which was announced by Cyril Ramaphosa,...
United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for global solidarity with Africa, warning that the coronavirus pandemic threatens the continent’s progress. “It will aggravate long-standing inequalities and heighten hunger, malnutrition and vulnerability to disease,’’ Guterres said in a video message. According to him, already, demand for Africa’s commodities, tourism and remittances are declining. “The opening of the trade zone had been pushed back and millions could be pushed into extreme poverty,’’ Guterres said. The...
