Personal

FIFA selects Swedish technology

africasc_admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:00:01 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. FIFA has selected tracking technology developed by Swedish Tracab to monitor, record and analyse every run, pass, shot and save at the Confederations Cup, currently under way in South Africa, and next year’s FIFA World Cup.

It's the first time that world football’s governing body has deployed a tracking system at its major tournaments and is an indication of the growing importance of data and data rights around football, the company said.

The Confederations Cup - which features the champions of each FIFA Confederation plus World Champions Italy - is a dress-rehearsal for next year’s World Cup.

Norway ups Zimbabwe aid

africasc_admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:30:59 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. Norway will increase its aid to Zimbabwe with NOK 42 million to a total of NOK 200 million this year, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai who was visiting Norway. The funds will mainly go to areas that Tsvangirai’s party, the MDC, is responsible for: basic education, health services and promoting democracy.

The funds will not be channelled through the Zimbabwean government financial system, but through the UN, the World Bank and NGOs, according to the Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Pippi takes her shenanigans to SA

africasc_admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:42:31 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. Pippi Longstocking – Swedish author Astrid Lindgren’s pigtailed creation is being staged as a musical at The National Children's Theatre (NCT).

The play has been adapted by Thomas W. Olson, and set to music by Roberta Carlson. So while Swedes familiar with he red-headed girl’s adventures will well recognize the plot, and be able to reminisce, American musical songs have also been added to the mix.

Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephrainm's Daughter Longstocking, lives alone in Villa Villerkulla with her horse and monkey Mr. Nilsson. She doesn’t go to school and nobody tells her to go to bed at night.

Pippi is a high-spirited, warm-hearted incarnation of every child's – dream of freedom and power, the theatre says, and as an adult, I have to add to this and say that Pippi is still my hero in this regard ;-)

EU parliamentarians meet about Africa

africasc_admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:44:14 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. A network of European parliamentarians (AWEPA) who are committed to putting Africa on the European political agenda – and to help strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa – will meet for a conference in Stockholm in connection with World Water Week and Sweden assuming the EU presidency, the organization announced.

About 50 parliamentarians from Europe and Africa will attend the conference during August 19-21. The main aim of the conference is to increase parliaments’ awareness of climate change, maintenance of scarce water resources and to increase effectiveness of development aid in these areas.

Commission to create African jobs

africasc_admin — Wed, 27 May 2009 08:00:00 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. The Africa Commission – launched by the Prime Minister of Denmark in 2008 ‘to help Africa benefit more from globalization’ - has delivered its final set of recommendations. The commission also presents a multi-faceted and ambitious job-creation plan for Africa’s youth.

The Commission is proposing a new consensus for international development cooperation with Africa. Focus should be directed towards private sector-led growth, which creates jobs. The Commission also decided to launch five initiatives aimed at creating job opportunities for Africa’s youth:

Norway offers financial crisis buffer

africasc_admin — Tue, 26 May 2009 05:41:39 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. The Norwegian government is proposing an additional allocation for countries that are least equipped to meet the financial crisis. According to the World Bank, Africa will be the hardest hit by the financial crisis.

In its Revised National Budget, the Norwegian government proposes to allocate NOK 200 million to address the negative consequences of the financial crisis in poor countries. These funds will be channeled via the development budget to the countries that are most poorly equipped to meet the crisis, with NOK 60 million to countries in Africa.

Norway ups aid to Zimbabwe

africasc_admin — Mon, 25 May 2009 16:00:00 -0500

Norway is increasing its aid to Zimbabwe by NOK 58 million. The money will be used to help the people of Zimbabwe and support the new Government of National Unity.

Due to the years of misrule, embezzlement and hyperinflation, the Norwegian money will not be channelled through the Zimbabwean Government’s financial system, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. The funds will instead be channelled through NGOs, the UN and the World Bank.

Swedish cholera vaccine saves lives

africasc_admin — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:00:00 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. Swedish Cruell SBL Vaccines is able to continue its support of aid organizations in their work against cholera because Swedish tourists and others are buying cholera vaccines to safeguard precious holiday time, the company said. The company is supplying vaccines for a mass vaccination effort in Zanzibar at the moment.

While the cholera bacteria can destroy a tourist holiday, cholera isn't just a problem for travelers, but can be a deathly disease for many people living in Africa, the company points out. With the campaign “One World Vaccine,” Cruell SBL Vaccines wants to show that its cholera vaccine Dukoral is important both as a vaccine for travelers and as a life-saving measure in developing countries.

ABB supports HIV/Aids orphans

africasc_admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 08:29:51 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. ABB South Africa has invested in a Starfish community project in the Western Cape to support 140 children orphaned or made vulnerable through HIV/AIDS.

Etafeni Day Centre Trust, a community-based organisation (CBO) that provides comprehensive support for the AIDS-vulnerable children and their caregivers in Nyanga, will receive R120 000 from ABB in 2009 for this project, ABB said.

"ABB's contribution will help the children tremendously and, most importantly, will give hope and opportunity to the youth and their caregivers," says Andre Van Riensburg, CEO of Starfish. “It is in taking hands and reaching out that we can touch people and make a lasting difference.”

Foreign investors watch Zuma selects

africasc_admin — Tue, 05 May 2009 09:35:43 -0500

JOHANNESBURG. With the African National Congress' (ANC) Jacob Zuma to take office as South Africa’s new president on Saturday, in the wake of the country’s elections on April 22 – what’s in store for foreign investors, Nordic and Swedish companies here?

While Zuma is still deliberating his choices for parliament posts – the appointments are imminent.

One of the most important posts – from the foreign investor’s perspective - is the head of the Finance Ministry, currently held by respected Trevor Manuel, says Mikael Edholm, Senior Project Leader, at the Swedish Trade Council.