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Statement at the Conclusion of the IMF Article IV Consultation Mission to Nigeria

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ABUJA, Nigeria, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited Nigeria during November 13-26 to conduct discussions for the 2013 Article IV consultation. The mission met with Finance Minister and Coordinator Minister of the Economy Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, senior government officials, members of the Legislature, and representatives of the private sector. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Gene Leon, the Fund's mission chief and senior resident representative in Nigeria, issued the following statement:

“Nigeria's economy has continued to perform strongly in 2013. Real GDP grew by 6.8 percent in the third quarter of 2013 (compared to third quarter 2012), supported by robust performances in agriculture, services, and trade. Oil theft/production losses have adversely impacted export receipts and government revenues, leading to a significant drawdown from the Excess Crude Account. Inflation declined to 7.8 percent (end-September 2013) from 12 percent at end 2012, in part owing to lower food prices and monetary policy implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The exchange rate has been stable, and the banking sector is well capitalized with low levels of non-performing loans.

“Although the outlook is positive, risks need to be managed. Growth is projected to increase to about 7 percent in 2014, while inflation should remain subdued in the single digits. Nigeria could be affected, however, by a decline in oil prices, the pace of recovery in global economic and financial conditions, capital outflows, continued losses in oil production, or increased security concerns. At the same time, the economy can manage such shocks given a relatively flexible exchange rate regime, improved financial crisis management capacity, and a stable banking system. But fiscal buffers are low and a sustained high rate of growth is needed to reduce unemployment, and poverty.

“Fiscal consolidation is progressing well, and the momentum needs to be preserved through the ongoing election cycle. Key public financial management reforms are underway, including the implementation of a Treasury Single Account (TSA) and integrated information management systems, but lower-than-budgeted oil revenues are impacting budgetary plans at Federal, State, and Local levels and highlighting the need for rebuilding fiscal buffers to manage oil revenue volatility. Moving toward a sustainable non-oil primary deficit path will require resolve in continuing fiscal consolidation, including through resisting procyclical election spending, mobilizing non-oil revenue, improving efficiency in the public sector, and strengthening transparency in oil sector governance.

“The current monetary stance is appropriate and should remain geared towards sustaining low inflation and a stable financial system. Managing liquidity in the banking system remains a priority, and will be aided by the implementation of the TSA and prudent fiscal management. Likewise, the CBN has maintained stability of the naira, containing inflation and facilitating business confidence. However, the continued importance of oil receipts and the magnitude of portfolio flows present potential vulnerabilities, and exchange rate flexibility may be a useful tool in the event of persistent pressures. Ongoing initiatives to strengthen the supervisory framework, including supervision of banking groups, should continue, and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria's activities phased out gradually.

“To promote inclusive growth and mitigate the impact of vulnerabilities, ongoing structural and institutional reforms should be pursued resolutely. The 20/20 Vision and the Transformation Agenda provide a framework for ongoing reforms, including the privatization of the generation and distribution of energy, initiatives to increase food security and viability of agriculture, and programs funded through the Universal Basic Education Commission to improve human capital development. In addition, access to financial services for small-and medium-size enterprises, which have been key in many countries to enabling all to benefit from growth, could be improved. Other initiatives to improve the business environment and investment promotion could support diversification across sectors, but should be underpinned mainly by improvements in productivity and competitiveness. Growth in the next decade will need to rely on the continued implementation of reforms to strengthen institutions, improve efficiency, and prioritize quality infrastructure investments.

“The mission would like to thank the authorities and technical staff for their excellent cooperation.”


Canada Condemns Violence Against Christian and Muslim Communities in the Central African Republic

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OTTAWA, Canada, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Following ongoing reports of violence in the Central African Republic, including a United Nations report today of an attack on civilians near the capital Bangui, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird today issued the following statement:

“Canada is very concerned by the recent acts of violence in the Central African Republic (CAR). We call for an immediate end to the violence against civilian populations of all faiths and on humanitarian workers active in the country.

“Canada strongly condemns those fuelling tensions between communities that have lived in peace with one another in the past. Freedom of religion is a basic right for everyone and is a priority of the Government of Canada.

“We urge all parties in the CAR to refrain from all forms of violence, to facilitate free and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need, and to respect the basic human rights of all communities in the country.

“Central Africans deserve to live in peace without fear of persecution. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to follow the evolving security and humanitarian situation in the CAR. In 2013, Canada contributed more than $6.9 million in humanitarian assistance to help meet the urgent needs of those affected by this conflict.”

Deteriorating Situation in the Central African Republic

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WASHINGTON, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Press Statement

Marie Harf

Deputy Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

December 4, 2013


The United States is appalled by today's reports of the murder of innocent women and children outside of Bangui. This horrifying account is the latest in a string of reports that illustrate the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) that could lead to an escalation in violence and further atrocities.

We are working with our partners in the international community, including through our efforts on the United Nations Security Council, to find the swiftest and most effective vehicle for stabilizing the situation. We recently announced $40 million in assistance to the African Union-led stabilization mission (MISCA), to help protect civilians, and provide security throughout the country. We welcome France's decision to reinforce its military presence in the Central African Republic.

The United States remains committed to supporting the international community's efforts to find a solution that protect civilians, restores security, ensures greater humanitarian access, and puts CAR on a path back to democratic governance.



Africa: Schneider Electric partners with DONG Energy for a more sustainable energy supply of remote islands in Africa

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PARIS, France, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com), the global specialist in energy management, and DONG Energy, one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe, announced today an agreement to cooperate on a technological and commercial partnership for a more sustainable energy supply of remote islands in Africa. The ambition is to enable African electric network operators of remote or isolated island grids to increase the share of renewable used while maintaining grid stability and reliability for consumers.


Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/schneider_electric.jpg


Of the world's fifty-two Small Island Developing States (SIDS), six are in Africa. They include; Cape Verde, Comoros, Guinea Bissau, Mauritius, São Tomé and Príncipe and Seychelles. These countries range in size from the smallest, Seychelles, which is composed of 115 small islands representing the largest number among African SIDS, to the largest, Guinea Bissau, which comprises close to 80 islands.


In Africa alone, at least 300 remote islands distanced from mainland grids exist. These isolated island grids are often heavily diesel-dependent, incurring high electricity costs and subject to fluctuating fuel prices. This is a barrier for local economic development, for improving living standards and for reducing carbon emissions. Many island utility operators aim to replace diesel with renewable generation to reduce costs and reach renewable targets. However the main challenge of integrating intermittent renewable energy is the ensuing complexity of balancing the grid and maintaining reliability and stability. In effect this can cap the amount of renewable energy which can be efficiently integrated.


With Dong Energy's virtual power plant technology and Schneider Electric's market-leader distribution grid field devices and management systems, the partners will address these crucial environmental issues. The aim is to create a new platform offering real-time generation and demand forecasting, monitoring and control.


“DONG Energy has developed a virtual power plant system called Power Hub, which aggregates loads and generation capacity for network flexibility through a software platform. The system has already successfully demonstrated its capability and value in optimizing, balancing and improving the stability of remote micro-grids at the Faroe Islands. Integrating Power Hub with Schneider Electric's power and grid management software platform will enable us to deliver a unique solution that address an important challenge of how to run an isolated electricity system in a safe, economically optimal manner, while making maximum use of renewables. Not only in Europe, but also in Africa and globally” says Evert den Boer, Senior Vice President in DONG Energy.


“Alongside DONG Energy, Schneider Electric will bring its market-leader expertise in grid field devices, network automation and grid management systems in a uniquely modular approach to virtual power plants in order to overcome the operational challenges of dynamically balancing supply and demand.” confirms Frédéric Abbal, Executive Vice President of Schneider Electric's Energy Division. “Our joint architecture includes Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), Power Control System (PCS) and Renewable Control Center (RCC) applications offering real-time generation and demand forecasting, monitoring and control. Thanks to weather and load forecasting and fast load shedding capabilities, island utility operators will be able to operate sustainable, efficient and economically viable power systems and benefit local communities.”


Schneider Electric enjoys active collaborative partnerships with utilities to test and validate innovative solutions endeavoring to solve their operational, environmental and regulatory concerns. Schneider Electric's global footprint in more than 100 countries and unique position on both the demand and supply side of the grid will connect all energy players (generators, network operators and prosumers).


Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Schneider Electric SA.


Media Contact:

APO (African Press Organization)

schneider@apo-opa.org

+41 22 534 96 97



About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management, with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com) offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments. The Group has leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machines Manufacturers, Non-Residential Buildings, Data Centers & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the company's 140,000 plus employees achieved sales of €24 billion in 2012 through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most out of their energy.

http://www.schneider-electric.com


About DONG Energy

DONG Energy is one of the leading energy groups in Northern Europe and we focus on providing energy and converting the energy system to a more renewable and sustainable production.Our business is based on procuring, producing, distributing and trading in energy and related products in Northern Europe. DONG Energy has approximately 6,500 employees and is headquartered in Denmark. The Group generated DKK 67 billion (EUR 9.0 billion) in revenue in 2012.

For further information, see www.dongenergy.com.








Countries agree to cooperate to end the illegal trapping of protected bird species in Egypt and Libya / International Coordination Meeting Agrees on Plan of Action to Address the Issue of Bird Trappi

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BONN, Germany, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Government of Egypt, in cooperation with Germany, Switzerland and other partners, has pledged to assess and further address the issue of unregulated hunting and bird netting practices along the Mediterranean coast of Egypt.

The agreement came as top-level officials from those countries joined representatives from the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and its relevant Agreements, NGOs and key wildlife experts at a one-day meeting at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany on 29 November.

The meeting, organized and facilitated by the UNEP-administered Secretariat of the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) and sponsored by the Government of Germany, sought to take stock of available data on the issue of bird netting.

It resulted in a Plan of Action agreed by all stakeholders, which aims to ensure that the practice of bird trapping in Egypt and Libya is both sustainable and legal, and calls for efforts to better understand current trends in hunting and trapping.

Egyptian Minister of Environment, Laila Iskandar, said, "The Egyptian Government is working towards strengthening the enforcement of domestic laws which limit hunting and stipulate specifications for the nets so as to leave openings for bird species to complete their migration cycle. At the same time, Egypt welcomes cooperation with international partners to improve and strengthen enforcement and further assessments."

“The Egyptian Government, in cooperation with its Swiss counterpart, is currently carrying out a study to fill in gaps in current data. The problem of hunting birds has other socio-economic dimensions and we need to work with local communities to find alternative livelihood activities for those who have traditionally relied on bird hunting as a source of income," she added.

The hunting and trapping of migratory birds in Egypt and Libya – in particular through the use of mist nets along vast stretches of the Mediterranean coast – have become issues of growing public concern in a number of countries. Despite the presence of a number of regulatory frameworks, the challenge lies in the proper enforcement of these regulations.

The agreed Plan of Action includes four main objectives, ranging from increasing knowledge on the scale, impact, socio-economic and legal aspects of bird trapping, to ensuring that effective legislation and regulations are in place and being adequately enforced.

The plan also includes elements on building capacity of local Government, NGOs and local communities to effectively address the bird trapping issue as well as to increase awareness and promote bird conservation in both countries and internationally.

“The action points which were identified in Bonn are targeted and clear”, said CMS Executive Secretary Bradnee Chambers. “We now have a strong basis for effective and coordinated actions on the ground in the months and years to come.”

He added: “The agreement of the Plan of Action is a sterling example of collaboration between diverse partners under the auspices of an environmental convention. It proves that we can work together in a way that not only brings together the efforts of stakeholders, but actually amplifies them.”

Quail catching in Egypt is a traditional form of hunting that takes place during the autumn season every year. Under the Egyptian law, licenses are issued to local communities to catch quail. In recent years, however, the number of quail around the world has been seen to decline due to hunting and a number of other factors – including pollution, habitat destruction, poisoning and climate change.

While quails themselves are not endangered, their hunting frequently results in the bycatch of many more non-huntable and protected species.

The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), a German environmental NGO, recently helped to raise awareness of the issue of illegal and indiscriminate trapping through a petition of 115,000 signatures. NABU has also made a commitment to continue to support and implement the agreed Plan of Action with part of the funds it raised in the recent campaign.

--

For more information: www.unep-aewa.org/press/

Statement by H.E. Anne Mamakau Mutelo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to Ethiopia, AU and UNECA at the PSC open session on women and children’s vulnerability in conflict situations

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ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Statement by H.E. Anne Mamakau Mutelo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to Ethiopia, AU and UNECA at the PSC open session on women and children's vulnerability in conflict situations


Your Excellency Ambassador of The Gambia and Chair of the PSC for December

Your Excellencies Members of the PSC

Your Excellencies Distinguished Invited Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of Her Excellency Anne Namakau Mutelo, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.


Ambassador Mutelo would have loved to be here with us all today but due to other commitments she cannot make it. She sends her warm regards and thanks for the invitation extended to her to participate in this Open Session and wants to assure you that she is here in spirit. I now wish to read Ambassador Mutelo's statement and I quote:

“ I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to you and to the Peace and Security Council for the invitation extended to me to take part in this open session on such an important subject. It is estimated that close to 90 per cent of current war casualties are civilians, the majority of whom are women and children, compared to a century ago when 90 per cent of those who lost their lives were military personnel.

Although entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, women and girls are particularly affected because of their status in society and their sex. Parties in conflict situations often rape women, sometimes using systematic rape as a tactic of war. Other forms of violence against women committed in armed conflict include murder, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy and forced sterilization.


Mr. Chairperson

It was in recognition of the plight and vulnerability of women and children in armed conflict that Namibia initiated the idea of coming up with a resolution that would sensitise the international community towards their suffering and put mechanisms in place to alleviate such suffering.

The United Nations Charter not only committed its members to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, it also unequivocally reaffirmed fundamental human rights and the equal rights of men and women. Despite this strong commitment, the understanding of the impact of armed conflict on women and girls and the role of women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding developed slowly within the United Nations.

It took several decades to develop a strong normative framework and strengthened operational policies and procedures and make the UN system increasingly responsive to the needs and priorities of women and girls in countries in conflict.

Early efforts to address the situation of women in armed conflict include the consideration by the Commission on the Status of Women in 1969 whether special protection should be accorded to women and children during armed conflict and emergency situations. In 1974, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Protection of Women and Children in Emergency and Armed Conflict.

Building on this early work on women in conflict, the four United Nations World Conferences on Women focused on the linkages between gender equality, development and peace: Mexico in 1975; Copenhagen in 1980; Nairobi in 1985; and Beijing in 1995. Over the years, the focus of the discussions on women and peace shifted from overall political issues to the impact of war on women and girls and their role in peacebuilding.


Mr. Chairperson

The Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in 1995, identified women and armed conflict as one of 12 critical areas of concern. Since the Beijing Conference there have been important developments at the international level in the treatment of crimes committed against women in situations of armed conflict.

In 2000, the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly entitled "Women 2000: gender equality, development and peace for the twenty-first century" reaffirmed the commitments made in the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The outcome document called for the full participation of women at all levels of decision-making in peace processes, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. It also addressed the need to increase the protection of girls in armed conflict, especially the prohibition of their forced recruitment.

In 1993, the General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, which recognized that women in situations of armed conflict are especially vulnerable to violence.

Mr. Chairperson

The work on the situation of children in armed conflict also contributed to a deeper understanding and greater urgency on these issues. In 1996, the Secretary-General's study on the impact of armed conflict on children emphasized the roles and experiences of girls and highlighted the ways in which they are placed at high risk during armed conflict.

In 1997, the Secretary-General appointed a Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict with a mandate to protect and promote the rights of war-affected children and ensure that those rights are comprehensively addressed by the main actors at all levels.

The efforts of the Special Representative have resulted in the inclusion of child protection officers in the mandates of the United Nations peacekeeping missions and, more recently, the development of a monitoring and reporting mechanism namely, Security Council resolution 1612 of 2005.

Mr. Chairperson

How did United Nations Security Council 1325 on Women and Peace and Security come about? In March 2000, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement on International Women's Day on 8 March 2000. It recognized the link between peace and gender equality, and the fact that women's full participation in peace operations was essential to sustainable peace. This was an important precursor to resolution 1325.

A thorough review of the United Nations peace and security activities was undertaken by a high-level panel convened by the Secretary-General in 2000, which resulted in the Report of the Panel on the United Nations Peace Operations. The report recognized the need for equitable gender representation in the leadership of peacekeeping missions.

The seminar on the gender perspectives of multidimensional peacekeeping missions led to the development of the Windhoek Declaration and the Namibia Plan of Action on Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Multidimensional Peace Operations in June 2000.

The Windhoek Declaration was another critical step leading to the adoption of resolution 1325 of 2000.

On 31 October 2000, the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 under the presidency of Namibia. This resolution was the culmination of several decades of growing realization of the diverse roles that women play both in conflict resolution and building peace and the result of active involvement and advocacy by women's organizations.

The resolution has galvanized the UN system, Member States and civil society organizations and has become one of the best known and the most translated resolutions of the Security Council.

Resolution 1325 has led to the deployment of gender advisers in peacekeeping operations and at headquarters, the development of a gender resource package and training materials. Since its adoption, resolution 1325 has also led to the inclusion of more comprehensive information and data on women and gender issues in both thematic and mission-specific reports presented to the Security Council for its review.

Mr. Chairperson

The United Nations Security Council holds an annual Open Debate on Women and Peace and Security at United Nations Headquaters in New York every October. During the open debate held on 18 October 2013, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2122, focusing on women, rule of law and transitional justice in conflict-affected situations. This new resolution puts in place a roadmap for a more systematic approach to the implementation of commitments on women, peace and security.

At the initiative of the Embassy of the Republic of Namibia, a Roundtable was held at the Headquarters of the African Union on Monday, 11 November 2013 to commemorate the 13th Anniversary of the adoption on 31 October 2000 of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace and Security.

Participants highlighted the need for women to remain engaged in conflict resolution efforts while emphasizing the need for the Peace and Security Council (PSC) to effectively advance the issues of women and peace and security. Participants were also in agreement that the commemoration should become an annual event on the calendar of the African Union Commission.

I, therefore, wish to call upon the Peace and Security Council of the African Union to consider including on its calendar the annual observation and commemoration of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 here at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa as from 2014.

I Thank You!”

End of Quote


Large increase in 2013 world cereal output expected / Food warnings issued for Sahel and Central African Republic

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ROME, Italy, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- World cereal production will reach a new high of almost 2 500 million tonnes, including rice in milled terms, according to new FAO estimates. The figure is almost 8.4 percent more than last year and some 6 percent above the previous record in 2011, according to the latest issue of the Crop Prospects and Food Situation Report.


While global cereal production is expected to increase, FAO warned that food security conditions in several parts of Africa and elsewhere are deteriorating.


In the Sahelian countries of West Africa - Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal - crops and pastures have been affected this year by late onset and early cessation of rains. The situation could lead to a new surge in food insecurity and malnutrition in the 2013/14 marketing year. A large Malian population displacement due to civil unrest is also contributing to regional food insecurity.


In Central African Republic, 1.3 million people are in need of emergency food assistance due to civil unrest.


In Southern Africa, prices of cereals are near or at record levels in several countries, underpinned by tighter supplies in the 2013/14 marketing year. Dry weather has delayed planting of the 2014 crops in parts.


In the Philippines, 14 million people have been adversely affected by Typhoon Haiyan. FAO has appealed for over $30 million for agricultural rehabilitation and the World Food Programme has proposed emergency food assistance for 2.5 million people.


In Syria and Yemen, continued civil conflicts have resulted in severe food insecurity for 6 million and 4.5 million people, respectively, requiring emergency food assistance.


International food prices stable


The FAO Food Price Index, also published today, remained stable in November. It averaged 206.3 points last month, almost unchanged from the revised value of 206.6 points in October, but 9.5 points (4.4 percent) below its November 2012 value. A sharp decline in sugar prices last month nearly offset the rise in oils. Cereals averaged slightly lower, but meat and dairy values were stable.


The index measures the monthly change in the international prices of a basket of 5 commodity groups, including some 73 price quotations.


Crop prospects


The latest estimates for world cereal production mostly reflect adjustments to estimates of maize output in the United States, the Russian Federation and Ukraine, which became firmer towards the completion of the harvests.


Based on the latest figures, the overall increase in world cereal output this year comprises a rise of 7.8 percent in wheat production, of 12 percent for coarse grains, and of only 1 percent for rice.


Early prospects for the winter wheat crop, already planted in the northern hemisphere, to be harvested in 2014, are mostly favourable.


World cereal stocks are predicted to increase to 572 million tonnes by the close of the 2014 crop seasons, which is 13.4 percent, or nearly 68 million tonnes, more than in the previous year. This forecast is almost 9 million tonnes higher than reported in November, reflecting upward revisions to ending stocks of wheat and coarse grains, while ending rice inventories were reduced slightly.


The sharp expansion in world cereal stocks this season would result in the global cereal stocks-to-use ratio reaching 23.5 percent, well above the historical low of 18.4 percent registered in 2007/08.

Sanlam Awards to celebrate journalists’ role in African growth story

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CAPE-TOWN, South-Africa, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- South African financial services group Sanlam (http://www.sanlam.co.za) announced today that it had opened its prestigious financial journalism awards to reporters across Africa for the first time. The group aims to recognise and celebrate the contribution journalists across the continent are making towards the African growth story. The Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism have been rewarding exceptional reporting in South Africa since 1974.


Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/sanlam-1.jpg


Through a newly introduced award, Sanlam will award outstanding, in-depth reporting that highlights and contributes towards the economic rise of the continent. News value, rigour in reporting, originality, impact and storytelling are among the criteria that will be used in the judging of the ‘African Growth Story' award. The category is open to journalists from across the continent who work for African media vehicles (i.e. print, TV, radio or online media that are based in Africa and are targeted at African audiences).


Established 96 years ago, Sanlam is a JSE-listed South African financial services group which has expanded steadily across the African continent. It now boasts one of the largest African footprints of any South African financial services group with a presence in 10 countries in Africa - over and above South Africa - namely Kenya, Botswana, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Zambia and Tanzania.


Dr Johan van Zyl, chief executive officer of Cape Town-headquartered Sanlam, says the group is delighted to extend the invitation to journalists across Africa. “Our own growth story has made us very aware of the amazing journey that the continent is on. We believe in the potential of Africa, and in the contribution good journalism is making towards unlocking this potential and are therefore delighted to use these awards as a vehicle to honour outstanding reporting.”


The special category will recognise reporting that specifically covers and highlights the African growth story, and that deals with the economic awakening and rise of the continent as a whole in a meaningful, effective way. Stories should focus on the growth of the continent in terms of investments, infrastructural development, economic and monetary policies and related issues and challenges. Stories can be presented from a particular country's perspective, but should pertain to issues which have broader relevance for the continent.


The Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism are judged by an independent panel of judges, which includes media experts, an academic and an economist. Journalists interested in submitting their work can do so online at http://www.sanlam.co.za/journoawards, where full details can be found.


Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Sanlam Group Communications.



Media contact:


Sanlam

• Ainsley Moos, Head: Group Communications

+27832964697 or ainsley.moos@sanlam.co.za

• Pearl Majola, Sanlam Group External Communications

+27832867476 or pearl.majola@sanlam.co.za


Atmosphere

• Marissa Visagie, Senior account manager

+2771146 7941or marissa@atmosphere.co.za





New weather system enhances mission capability of Kenyan Defense Forces

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NAIROBI, Kenya, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A team from Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa recently installed a new weather system at the Kenyan Military Airport in Nairobi.


The team included U.S. service members from the J3 Meteorological and Oceanographic Office, J3 Special Operations Command and Control Element Weather System and Support Cadre and the 411th Civil Affairs Battalion.


Before the new system was installed, the Kenyan Defense Forces relied on data from a civilian weather system which can be very time consuming.


The system, officially called the TMQ-53 Tactical Meteorological Observing System, assists war planners and combat weather teams through a collection of weather sensors connected to a computer. The system uses low-earth orbiting satellites to collect data, enabling the transmission of mission-critical weather data within an hour after receiving it.


The new system provides current weather conditions to the Kenyan Defense Forces, which will enhance the safety of future missions.


"Enhancing safety and effectiveness of the Kenyan Defense Forces ground and air operations was one of many positive results of the mil-to-mil engagement," said U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Rachel Martin, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa Joint Meteorological and Oceanographic Officer.


Joining the mission with METOC were J3 WSSC technicians to help install and provide working knowledge of the system to KDF personnel.


"As subject matter experts, we went there to ensure the location was right for the system and properly installed," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Harlan Rogers, noncommissioned officer in charge of the cadre. "The Kenyans we were working with were very sharp, fast learners, and their attention to detail was amazing."


Senior Airman Michael Becker, the cadre's lead technician, explained how the TMQ-53 system worked.


"The event in Kenya was a unique experience and very rewarding," Becker said. "Going to Kenya to install the TMQ-53 while communicating to the Kenyan Defense Force how proper maintenance and handling the equipment helps it last longer builds that trust in our relationship with them."


Becker also noted that he enjoyed learning some of their language and culture, and liked trying their cuisine. He said it was an experience he will never forget and would love to go there again.


CJTF-HOA supports partner nations such as Kenya in military to military engagements in order to defeat violent extremist organizations in East Africa.


Africa Forum – 100 innovations for sustainable development: Schneider Electric’s BipBop access to energy program doubly recognized

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PARIS, France, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com) announces that two projects in its BipBop (1) access to energy program have been chosen to participate in the “Africa Forum – 100 innovations for sustainable development” taking place in Paris on 4 and 5 December 2013. This forum was initiated by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, prompted by the Deputy Minister responsible for Development, Pascal Canfin, in partnership with the French Development Agency (AFD).


Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/schneider_electric.jpg


Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/mohammed_saad_president_africa_schneider_electric.jpg (Mohammed Saad, President Africa, Schneider Electric)


The “Africa Forum – 100 innovations for sustainable development” aims to highlight innovative concrete examples and practical solutions on a national or local scale, in such varied fields as health, the environment, agriculture and food safety, education and new technology. In addition to the entrepreneurial nature and economic viability of these innovations, their contributions to sustainable development and their social and environmental dimensions will be recognized. The event follows on from the Development and international solidarity forums, closed on March 1st 2012 by the French President. It is evidence of France's support, via the AFD Group, for the promotion of innovative sustainable development in Africa.


Two projects developed by Schneider Electric in the context of BipBop, its access to energy program, were selected from the 100 projects presented:


- “Energy and Microfinance” project in Cameroon – Sponsored by the PAMIGA (Participatory Microfinance Group for Africa) association, in collaboration with Schneider Electric and the MIFED in Cameroon, this project consists of offering micro-credit solutions in rural and urban areas to finance the purchase of solar solutions. Such schemes can boost the economic development of individual tradesmen and small businesses. Schneider Electric provides solutions which meet the needs identified by microfinance institutions (MFIs) and uses its local partners (distributors, integrators, installers) to assure the customers of these MFIs of the availability of these affordable solutions, combined with a quality service. The customers of these MFIs are offered two types of credit: “light” credits which offer low-energy solar lighting systems; and “energy” credits, designed to provide solar solutions suitable for the needs of an income-generating activity. This project has also been initiated in Tanzania and Ethiopia.


- The decentralized rural electrification project at Abu Monkar in Egypt - This Schneider Electric project paved the way for development of the first solar power plant built in the Egyptian province of New Valley. The solar power plant at Abu Monkar, built more than 75 miles from the nearest grid, delivers 108 kWh/day, enough to meet all the village's basic needs (school, mosque, homes, etc.). Schneider Electric also trains the residents of Abu Monkar to ensure optimal operation and maintenance of the power plant.


"The strength of the BipBop program relies on the combination between the R&D capabilities of Schneider Electric and the engagement of our local employees who all know perfectly their own countries' problematic and ecosystems. Answering the rural energy challenge is key both for the continent's economical development and for the people who directly benefit from light, from a better agriculture, education or healthcare. It is an exciting challenge and I think all our employees who made these two BipBop projects happen can be very honored and proud to see their efforts recognized by the French government", states Mohammed Saad, President of Schneider Electric in Africa.


In the context of the Forum, René Pierrot Ekoé, Sustainable Development Engineer at Schneider Electric Cameroon and sponsor of the “Energy and Microfinance” project, was selected with 20 other project sponsors to speak on 5 December 2013 and share the Group's ideas on best practice.


(1) Acronym for Business and Innovation for the People at the Base Of the Pyramid


Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Schneider Electric SA.



Media Contact:

APO (African Press Organization)

schneider@apo-opa.org

+41 22 534 96 97


About Schneider Electric

As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric (http://www.schneider-electric.com) offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities and Infrastructure, Industries and Machine Manufacturers, Non-residential Building, Data Centers & Networks and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 140,000 plus employees achieved sales of 24 billion euros in 2012, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.

http://www.schneider-electric.com

http://www.schneider-electric.com/bipbop





UN Envoy to Somalia condemns Bossaso attack

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MOGADISHU, Somalia, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, has strongly condemned a violent attack on Puntland government forces today.

At approximately 11 am this morning, a suicide car bomber targeted Puntland forces in the port city of Bossaso; reports suggest that several people were killed and dozens injured in the attack.

Puntland is in the midst of an electoral process that should lead to a new parliament this year and presidential elections in January 2014.

“Such cowardly acts will serve no purpose,” SRSG Kay said. “We stand by the people of Puntland as they strive for stability and prosperity.”

He expressed his sincere condolences to those who lost loved ones and wished all those injured in the attack a quick recovery.


MSF teams treating wounded in Bangui, Central African Republic

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GENEVA, Switzerland, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Following attacks since 5am this morning in Bangui, Central African Republic, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) teams are responding and have treated wounded in hospitals in the city. Sylvain Groulx, the general coordinator of MSF in CAR, reports that around 65 wounded have been taken to the hospital Communautaire, 20 of them in critical condition, 8 have died. An MSF team has been dispatched to the hospital to support the staff. The volatile situation in Bangui means it is difficult to report a reliable number of dead and wounded at this time. MSF has also set in place contingency plans to support health centres and hospitals in the capital, with available supplies of surgical material, drugs, fuel and water, if needs arise.


Ireland / Minister Joe Costello launches new school programme in poorest part of Uganda

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DUBLIN, Ireland, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD has launched a school rehabilitation programme in Uganda.


The Minister launched the programme in Karamoja, the poorest area in the country during a visit to see the impact of Ireland's support to Uganda's most vulnerable communities and explore options to strengthen trade between Ireland and Uganda.


The Irish Aid-funded Karamoja Primary Education Programme (KPEP) involves the rehabilitation of 21 primary schools in Karamoja, the poorest region in Uganda, where three quarters of the population lives below the poverty line and where literacy rates stand at 11%.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Costello said:


“The construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories, teachers' accommodation and kitchens will support the poorest children in Uganda to access education, thereby improving their lifelong prospects and breaking the persistent cycle of poverty in a country where almost half the population is under the age of 15.”


The Minister also greeted the news that the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has granted Uganda $100 million for the next three years to support the education sector:


“Ireland coordinates the GPE's work in Uganda. I believe that this major grant will further enhance, and contribute to the provision of quality education for the nation's youth.”


Central African Republic: Security Council authorizes MISCA and France’s troops, but still no UN peacekeeping mission

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PARIS, France, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The UN Security Council (UNSC) adopted a resolution today providing technical and financial support to MISCA, the African Union's peacekeeping force currently being deployed in the Central African Republic (CAR). The resolution also authorized the deployment of more French troops to the country to help quell the escalating violence and inter-religious attacks.

Given the complicated task of stabilizing the CAR, FIDH has repeatedly called for the immediate deployment of a UN-led peacekeeping mission to this country, but the UNSC did not authorize such a UN force at this time. Nevertheless, the UNSC resolution does contain some other important elements that FIDH called for in an open letter this past week, including plans to reform the national security forces, monitor and protect human rights in the country, and the need to fight against impunity for the most serious crimes, including sexual crimes.

“The security situation in the CAR is deteriorating every day, with civilians facing increasing attacks by armed groups and no functioning national security forces to protect them,” stated Karim Lahidji, FIDH President. “The UN must give its full support to MISCA and France's forces in the CAR, and begin preparations as soon as possible to create a UN peacekeeping mission that will be able to address the long-term issues of political transition and justice for human rights violations.”, he added.

The UNSC resolution passed today also calls for the creation of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate violations of international law by all parties throughout the country, and leaves open the possibility of imposing sanctions on those found to be responsible for these crimes.

Given the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in CAR, and the risk this poses for spreading violence and instability in neighboring countries, FIDH calls for increased UN engagement in the CAR, especially in terms of protecting civilians from violence and fighting impunity for human rights violations.

ECOWAS TAKES MALARIA ELIMINATION CAMPAIGN TO COMMUNITIES

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ABUJA, Nigeria, December 5, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- ECOWAS officials and health experts from within and outside the region are meeting in Abuja to develop a Community Mobilization Plan of Action to boost the regional Malaria Elimination Campaign through the strengthening of the vector control strategy.

The meeting, which opened on 2nd December 2013, seeks to generate ideas and strategies for effective community mobilization and buy-in to make the regional anti-malaria campaign a resounding success.

In his opening speech, the ECOWAS Commission's Vice President, Dr. Toga McIntosh gave an update on the Commission's collaboration with Cuba and Venezuela to scale up malaria elimination interventions in West Africa, noting that some progress had been achieved with the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of three biolarvicides factories in Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria.

Represented by his Executive Assistant, Mr. Urias Harrington III, the Vice President said the level of progress informed the need for the development of an action plan to effectively mobilize ECOWAS communities towards the preparation for the mass application of biolarvicides, the safe substance that kills mosquitoes, the malaria vectors in their larvae development stage.

He explained that the vector control strategy would complement other anti-malaria interventions towards making ECOWAS a malaria free region.

The ECOWAS Health Advisor and focal person for the regional Malaria Campaign, Dr. Mariane Ngoulla, underscored the importance of community mobilization to the elimination campaign, saying that malaria “knows no boundaries and cannot therefore be dealt with as a country specific problem.”

She enjoined participants to come up with a framework for an integrated approach to community involvement across West Africa for the elimination of malaria, which kills a child every 40 seconds and has claimed more lives than all the wars combined in Africa.

Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) have shown that vector control is the only intervention that can reduce malaria transmission from high to zero level.



Participants at the Abuja meeting include representatives of ECOWAS Member States, partners from Cuba and Venezuela, as well as civil society organizations and other stakeholders.



Nelson Mandela dies at 95

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This is a series of videos recently published about the death of late South African president, Nelson Mandela.

Nelson Mandela dies at 95 years old in his land CNN



World Mourns Nelson Mandela: The Myth, the Man, ‘Madiba’
NYTimes.com

JOHANNESBURG — Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president and an enduring icon of the struggle against racial oppression, died on Thursday, the government announced, leaving the nation without its moral center at a time of growing dissatisfaction with the country’s leaders.
“Our nation has lost its greatest son,” President Jacob Zuma said in a televised address on Thursday night, adding that Mr. Mandela had died at 8:50 p.m. local time. “His humility, his compassion and his humanity earned him our love.”

Mr Zuma called Mr. Mandela’s death “the moment of our greatest sorrow,” and said that South Africa’s thoughts were now with the former president’s family. “They have sacrificed much and endured much so that our people could be free,” he said.

Mr. Mandela spent 27 years in prison after being convicted of treason by the white minority government, only to forge a peaceful end to white rule by negotiating with his captors after his release in 1990. He led the African National Congress, long a banned liberation movement, to a resounding electoral victory in 1994, the first fully democratic election in the country’s history.

Mr. Mandela, who was 95, served just one term as South Africa’s president and had not been seen in public since 2010, when the nation hosted the soccer World Cup. But his decades in prison and his insistence on forgiveness over vengeance made him a potent symbol of the struggle to end this country’s brutally codified system of racial domination, and of the power of peaceful resolution in even the most intractable conflicts.

Years after he retreated from public life, his name still resonated as an emblem of his effort to transcend decades of racial division and create what South Africans called a Rainbow Nation.

Yet Mr. Mandela’s death comes during a period of deep unease and painful self-examination for South Africa.

In the past year and a half, the country has faced perhaps its most serious unrest since the end of apartheid, provoked by a wave of wildcat strikes by angry miners, a deadly response on the part of the police, a messy leadership struggle within the A.N.C. and the deepening fissures between South Africa’s rulers and its impoverished masses.

Scandals over corruption involving senior members of the party have fed a broader perception that Mr. Mandela’s near saintly legacy from the years of struggle has been eroded by a more recent scramble for self-enrichment among a newer elite.

After spending decades in penurious exile, many political figures returned to find themselves at the center of a grab for power and money. President Jacob Zuma was charged with corruption before rising to the presidency in 2009, though the charges were dropped on largely technical grounds. He has faced renewed scrutiny in the past year over $27 million spent in renovations to his house in rural Zululand.

Graphic cellphone videos of police officers abusing people they have detained have further fueled anger at a government seen increasingly out of touch with the lives of ordinary South Africans.

Mr. Mandela served as president from 1994 to 1999, stepping aside at the age of 75 to allow his deputy, Thabo Mbeki, to run and take the reins. Mr. Mandela spent his early retirement years focused on charitable causes for children and later speaking out about AIDS, which has killed millions of Africans, including his son Makgatho, who died in 2005.

Mr. Mandela retreated from public life in 2004 at the age of 85, largely withdrawing to his homes in the upscale Johannesburg suburb of Houghton and his ancestral village in the Eastern Cape, Qunu.


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Nelson Mandela: full speech by president Zuma

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President Jacob Zuma address South Africa about Nelson Mandela’s death

South African President Zuma on Mandela’s death: ‘Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited’

CNN — Nelson Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of decades of apartheid, has died, South African President Jacob Zuma announced late Thursday.
Mandela was 95.

“He is now resting. He is now at peace,” Zuma said. “Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.”
“What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human,” the president said in his late-night address. “We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.”
Mandela will have a state funeral. Zuma ordered all flags in the nation to be flown at half-staff from Friday through that funeral.

Mandela, a former president, battled health issues in recent months, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalizations.

With advancing age and bouts of illness, Mandela retreated to a quiet life at his boyhood home in the nation’s Eastern Cape Province, where he said he was most at peace.

Despite rare public appearances, he held a special place in the consciousness of the nation and the world.

A hero to blacks and whites

In a nation healing from the scars of apartheid, Mandela became a moral compass.
His defiance of white minority rule and incarceration for fighting against segregation focused the world’s attention on apartheid, the legalized racial segregation enforced by the South African government until 1994.

In his lifetime, he was a man of complexities. He went from a militant freedom fighter, to a prisoner, to a unifying figure, to an elder statesman.

Years after his 1999 retirement from the presidency, Mandela was considered the ideal head of state. He became a yardstick for African leaders, who consistently fell short when measured against him.

Warm, lanky and charismatic in his silk, earth-toned dashikis, he was quick to admit to his shortcomings, endearing him further in a culture in which leaders rarely do.

His steely gaze disarmed opponents. So did his flashy smile.

Former South African President F.W. de Klerk, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993 for transitioning the nation from a system of racial segregation, described their first meeting.

“I had read, of course, everything I could read about him beforehand. I was well-briefed,” he said last year.

“I was impressed, however, by how tall he was. By the ramrod straightness of his stature, and realized that this is a very special man. He had an aura around him. He’s truly a very dignified and a very admirable person.”

For many South Africans, he was simply Madiba, his traditional clan name. Others affectionately called him Tata, the Xhosa word for father.

 

 

 

President Zuma full speech about Mandela’s death

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Full speech by president Zuma

My Fellow South Africans,

Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation has departed.

He passed on peacefully in the company of his family around 20h50 on the 5th of December 2013.

He is now resting. He is now at peace.

Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father.

Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss.

His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world.

His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family. To them we owe a debt of gratitude.

They have sacrificed much and endured much so that our people could be free.

Our thoughts are with his wife Mrs Graca Machel, his former wife Ms Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, with his children, his grand-children, his great grand-children and the entire family.

Our thoughts are with his friends, comrades and colleagues who fought alongside Madiba over the course of a lifetime of struggle.

Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.

Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause.

This is the moment of our deepest sorrow.

Our nation has lost its greatest son.

Yet, what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves.

And in him we saw so much of ourselves.

Fellow South Africans,

Nelson Mandela brought us together, and it is together that we will bid him farewell.

Our beloved Madiba will be accorded a State Funeral.

I have ordered that all flags of the Republic of South Africa be lowered to half-mast from tomorrow, 6 December, and to remain at half-mast until after the funeral.

As we gather to pay our last respects, let us conduct ourselves with the dignity and respect that Madiba personified.

Let us be mindful of his wishes and the wishes of his family.

As we gather, wherever we are in the country and wherever we are in the world, let us recall the values for which Madiba fought.

Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another.

Let us commit ourselves to strive together – sparing neither strength nor courage – to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

Let us express, each in our own way, the deep gratitude we feel for a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity.

This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow.

Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination.

A determination to live as Madiba has lived, to strive as Madiba has strived and to not rest until we have realised his vision of a truly united South Africa, a peaceful and prosperous Africa, and a better world.

We will always love you Madiba!

May your soul rest in peace.

God Bless Africa.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika.

 

Source: thepresidency.gov.za

 

 

DreamTrips Vacation Club Named “World’s Leading Travel Club” at 2013 World Travel Awards Grand Final

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PLANO, TX, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- DreamTrips™ Vacation Club (https://dreamtrips.com), one of the world's leading travel and vacation club membership organizations, was named “World's Leading Travel Club” at the 2013 World Travel Awards Grand Final, the highest honor awarded in the global travel industry. The awards ceremony, which recognizes the elite in the travel and hospitality industry, took place at La Cigale Hotel in Doha, Qatar, on November 30, 2013.


“It is a great honor to be recognized by our global industry as the world's best travel and vacation club,” said Jim Menge, Vice President, DreamTrips Product Marketing. “The award reflects the high standards we strive to maintain in the quality of our travel experiences, the caliber of our travel provider, Rovia, hospitality partners, and the energy and commitment of our worldwide staff.”


Since 1993, World Travel Awards (WTA) has acknowledged and celebrated excellence across all sectors of the global tourism industry. DreamTrips received top honors in the travel club category in recognition of its outstanding service and product offering as voted by travel agents and consumers around the world. Winners in other travel categories include Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ritz-Carlton, One World Alliance, Beaches Resorts and American Cruise Lines.


The Grand Tour of WTA gala ceremonies are regarded as milestone events in the industry calendar, attended by the industry's key decision makers, chief figure heads and the leading trade and consumer media.


“The Grand Final is a very competitive evening for our World Travel Awards nominees from all over the world, and these particular winners continue to serve as an example of the most luxurious and innovative brands with unique hospitality products and services,” said Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards. “This year's recipients, like DreamTrips, strive to set the highest possible bar to raise the standards of excellence in travel and tourism and they carry these accolades into 2014 with pride and passion.”


Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of DreamTrips.



For inquiries, contact:

Laura Wards

Email: press@rovia.com


About DreamTrips

DreamTrips delivers high-quality, one-of-a-kind curated travel and vacation experiences to its vacation club members. More information can be found at https://www.dreamtrips.com/experience-more.



About World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards was launched in 1993 to acknowledge and recognize excellence in the global travel and tourism industry. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, it is regarded as the highest achievement that a travel product or service could hope to receive. More information can be found at http://www.worldtravelawards.com.








FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter on the passing of Nelson Mandela

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GENEVA, Switzerland, December 6, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The international football community has today learnt the sad news of the passing of former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter:

“It is in deep mourning that I pay my respects to an extraordinary person, probably one of the greatest humanists of our time and a dear friend of mine: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

He and I shared an unwavering belief in the extraordinary power of football to unite people in peace and friendship, and to teach basic social and educational values as a school of life. When he was honoured and cheered by the crowd at Johannesburg's Soccer City stadium on 11 July 2010, it was as a man of the people, a man of their hearts, and it was one of the most moving moments I have ever experienced. For him, the World Cup in South Africa truly was “a dream come true”.

Nelson Mandela will stay in our hearts forever. The memories of his remarkable fight against oppression, his incredible charisma and his positive values will live on in us and with us.

As a mark of respect and mourning, the flags of the 209 member associations at the Home of FIFA will be flown at half-mast and there will be a minute's silence before the next round of international matches.”

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