August 9, 2021

Expereo announces the grand opening of their new Center of Excellence in Dubai

Dubai Office – Raed and Irwin

Irwin Fouwels, Expereo CEO, and Raed Rached, Managing Director for Expereo Middle East.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Aug. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Expereo, the leading global provider of managed Internet, SD-WAN, SASE, and Cloud Access solutions, announces the opening of their brand new state of the art 10,000 sq. ft Customer Support Excellence Center in Dubai, UAE.

The Center represents Expereo’s latest expansion of their presence in the UAE, complementing their global Customer Support presence in the Philippines and Buenos Aires, supported by expert Network Engineering Centers in the Netherlands, France, and USA. The latest UAE Center will house more than 100 talented experts from 18 different nationalities speaking 32 languages, ensuring a truly global customer experience and quality of service across Expereo’s global Internet and cloud access supplier base.

Boasting state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, Expereo’s latest Customer Support Excellence Center will operate fully cloud native with multilayered security controls. Expereo’s environmental and social responsibility program has been a key driver in the planning and design. Decommissioned technology and legacy IT equipment will be donated to educational institutions within the developing world. The new Center is designed to minimize energy consumption, eliminate single-use plastics, and improve employee well-being with state-of-the-art facilities and air quality management.

Commenting on Expereo’s latest growth in global presence, Irwin Fouwels, CEO says:

“As we grow our suite of cloud fabric connectivity solutions and global enterprises accelerate the transformation to internet-based networking, we are committed to providing world class and truly global support capabilities; from initial architecture design, to deployment and support. To do so we attract the best talent, and do so at scale. Over the last 18 months, we have adopted working-from-home policies balancing employee-wellness, customer experience and productivity. The addition of our new state-of-the-art UAE facilities will allow us to do so at scale, delivering on our ambition to provide an unrivaled customer experience.”

Raed Rached, Managing Director for Expereo Middle East says:

“The new Center of Excellence will harness talent in pursuit of maintaining our customers’ mission-critical infrastructure and cloud applications. This follows Expereo’s strategy to empower, adopt, monetize and rapidly accelerate our customers’ transition to a cloud-based ecosystem. The new center provides our customers with the ability to utilize next-generation connectivity and offers them unrivaled capabilities to prepare them for tomorrow’s challenges. I am deeply proud of the experts who have enabled Expereo to reshape and evolve the telco industry by positioning the customer experience at the heart of everything that we do.”

About Expereo
Expereo is the leading provider of managed network solutions, including Global internet connectivity, SD-WAN, SASE and Cloud Acceleration services. Expereo is the trusted partner of 30% of Fortune 500 companies and powers enterprise and government sites worldwide, helping to enhance every business’ productivity with flexible and optimal Internet performance.

www.expereo.com
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6d1c2d83-3b9b-47b8-a814-46cd05570a46

Contact:
Conor McGee
conor@grammatikagency.com

August 9, 2021

Food Aid Only Reaching Half of Tigrayans in Need

Food aid from the United Nations only reached half of its intended recipients in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the World Food Program (WFP) said Monday.

WFP said it delivered food to a million people in war-torn Tigray in June and July, but that shortages of fuel and telecommunications mean another million people slated to receive assistance have been out of reach.

The United Nations has estimated that 5.2 million people – a shocking 90% of the population of Tigray – is in need of food assistance.

“People in Tigray are suffering due to lack of humanitarian support over the past month – we need to reach them now before they fall into famine. WFP is calling for all parties to agree to a ceasefire and guarantee an unimpeded flow of humanitarian supplies into Tigray, so that we can deliver lifesaving food and other emergency supplies safely before it’s too late,” said Michael Dunford, WFP’s Corporate Response Director for Tigray.

The war erupted in Ethiopia last November between the federal government in Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused Tigrayan troops of attacking federal military camps.

The war in Ethiopia has caused a devastating humanitarian crisis mostly in the Tigray region.

Tens of thousands of Tigray residents have fled to neighboring Sudan since the conflict began.

Source: Voice of America

August 9, 2021

Henok Mulubrhan: Talent from the cycling stronghold Asmara

Around 6200 kilometers as the crow flies between the birthplace of Henok Mulubrhan and Tromsö, the starting point of the Arctic Race of Norway, where the Eritrean competes in the jersey of the Qhubeka – NextHash team. At the moment he is still listed as a trainee, but from the coming season Mulubrhan will be part of the professional team. Before the 4th stage, radsport-news.com spoke to the probably greatest African U23 talent.

“In Eritrea the temperature is almost always 22 or 23 degrees. It’s totally different here in the north. Sometimes there is snow, sometimes it is raining. It’s different than at home, but I already know it from Italy, ”explained Mulubrhan, who has lived in Lucca, Tuscany for two years and has already achieved a few results for the Qhubeka junior team since 2020. Last year he finished both the Tropicale Amissa Bongo (5th) and the Tour de Rwanda (10th) in the top 10.

Mulubrhan has its roots in a cycling stronghold. In the past few years, talented cyclists have made the leap to Europe from his hometown Asmara. Natnael Berhane (Cofidis), Natnael Tesfatsion (Androni – Giocattoli – Sidermec), Merhawi Kudus (Astana – Premier Tech), Mekseb Debesay (Bike Aid) and Biniam Ghirmay (Intermarché – Wanty – Gobert) also come from the Eritrean capital. “In Eritrea, cycling is the most important sport of all. Everyone is a cycling fan, every family wants to support their child in cycling, ”emphasized the 21-year-old.

The average European probably doesn’t immediately think of cycling when they hear Mulubrhan’s homeland. “I wish people would come to Eritrea or at least look at pictures. When there is a race with us, there are enormous crowds by the wayside, ”he enthused about the enthusiasm for cycling. The European cycling fan knows exactly these pictures from another African country: Rwanda. Every year there is a folk festival on the Mur de Kigali as part of the Tour of Rwanda (2.1) that is second to none.

“The Tour de Rwanda copied it from us!”, Said Mulubrhan, who made a very modest and balanced impression, but when mentioning the Tour of Rwanda said very firmly: “In 2010 they didn’t even have enough races. But then they came to us, they saw how we are doing. And now it’s really fantastic there too. People love cycling! “

“Five or six cycling teams in Asmara”

This is also reflected in the Eritrean structures. “There are five or six cycling teams in Asmara,” reported Mulubrhan. And these are not “just” everyone. “Every Sunday there is a local league race,” he reported.

The U23 driver has long outgrown this league. Mulubrhan is currently doing his first race in the second highest category north of the Arctic Circle. He already knew how to convince in low-class races, not only in Africa. In the difficult Giro dell’Appennino (1.1), for example, he crossed the finish line in sixth place. The winner at the time, Ben Hermans (Israel Start – Up Nation), was also the strongest driver on the royal stage of the Arctic Race. Mulubrhan finished in 23rd place 1:03 minutes behind and is now 29th in the overall standings.

After the Arctic Race, the upcoming neoprofi will head to the Tour de l’Avenir in France, where he is a candidate for the top ten. He has already proven his potential this season by finishing seventh in the Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta. In contrast, the classic profile of the U23 World Cup in Flanders is less likely to suit him. “But I’ll try. We go there for our country. There’s a lot going up and down, short steep climbs, I’ve heard. And a lot of wind. And it will probably rain in Belgium too ”, laughed Mulubrhan, before thanking him in a friendly way for the interview and after a handshake continued his preparation for the stage.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

August 9, 2021

Danakali directors demonstrate confidence in potash strategy through placement participation

Danakali Ltd (ASX:DNK, LSE:DNK, OTC:SBMSF) directors have demonstrated their faith in the company’s sulphate of potash strategy through placement participation, as approved by shareholders at the annual general meeting held on July 30.

On May 12 the company received A$20.3 million, before costs from institutional and sophisticated investors as well as senior Danakali executives to support the early works program at the Colluli Potash Project in Eritrea.

Change of director interests

Executive chairman Seamus Cornelius acquired 1 million shares for A$430,000, increasing his interest in a direct holding to 9.5 million shares. He also holds a further 600,000 and 4,308,037 shares in two indirect interests.

Non-executive director Neil Gregson acquired 80,000 shares in a direct interest for A$34,400, marking his first share purchase.

Test-work confirms production rates

Recent test-work at Colluli has confirmed production rates and outlines a path to lower operating and capital costs.

Colluli Mining Share Company (CMSC), a joint venture vehicle with ownership split between Danakali and the Eritrean National Mining Corporation (ENAMCO), conducted the extensive test program over a six-month timeframe.

Promisingly, analysis has revealed the project’s sulphate of potash (SOP) production rates align with a previous front-end engineering and design study.

The test-work program proves Danakali can produce SOP using only filtered seawater, lowering the opex and capex costs tied to the compound’s production.

Colluli hosts the world’s largest JORC-compliant solid salt and sulphate of potash reserve, weighing in at 1.1 billion tonnes.

Source: Dehai Eritrea Online

August 9, 2021

At Least 51 Killed in Mali Village Raids, District Official Says

At least 51 people were killed when Islamist militants raided three villages in central Mali near the border with Niger, a district administrator said on Monday.

The towns of Ouatagouna, Karou and Deouteguef were simultaneously attacked around 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to a note from the Asongo district administrator to the governor of Gao region.

Houses were ransacked and burned to the ground and herds of livestock carried away, said the note, which was seen by Reuters.

“Provisional toll is 51 killed, several other injured,” it said.

No group has yet taken responsibility for the attacks in the area where Malian troops, French and European forces, and United Nations peacekeepers have been battling insurgents linked to the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

Mali’s army spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembele confirmed the attacks but gave no further details.

Other local sources told Reuters that militants stationed themselves at the towns’ entrances and fired indiscriminately upon civilians.

The administrator said Malian troops were sweeping the area. He also requested military escort to “help with the funerals, reassure the populations and offer condolences to the bereaved families,” according to the note.

Source: Voice of America

August 9, 2021

Kenyan Aid Group Helps Women During Pandemic

Aid groups say COVID-19 has caused greater suffering, both psychologically and economically, to women compared to men, especially in developing countries like Kenya. One aid group took it upon itself to step in and make a difference.

Kenyan beautician Cynthia Okewe was full of hope when the business she opened four years ago started making a profit.

But the COVID-19 pandemic slashed her income by more than 80%, making daily life a struggle and sending her into a deep slump.

“So many people have died and done so many things because of COVID. And now, even me, myself, I got the counseling because I needed to understand myself and know and cope with the COVID-19 and know what’s going on around me so that I can cope well without hurting myself, because I got into depression because of COVID-19,” she said.

Okewe received telecounseling help from the Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) in Nairobi’s Kibera, Africa’s largest urban slum.

The counselors target women and girls, who they say are more vulnerable to pandemic shocks than men because of fewer jobs and higher job losses. Nerea Akoth, lead counselor at the organization, says woman have been hit on multiple fronts.

“With COVID, a lot of things have happened. We’ve seen an economy that has gone down. We’ve seen jobs have reduced. So, even the small jobs that are available for the women is no longer there. So, women are actually strained, and they find themselves in tight situations. They have to provide, yet there are no job opportunities,” Akoth said.

The counseling service is supported by aid group Care International, in Kenya, which has been advocating for women’s rights for more than two decades.

Dorothy Aseyo, senior manager for the women’s voice and leadership program, told VOA that while the COVID-19 pandemic posed a new challenge, the group managed to help about 9,000 women so far.

“The psycho-social aspect has come in very strongly because of the need of differentiated impacts of either COVID-19 or any other issues that women and girls have been facing in Kenya. And this actually has meant that we need to support them to receive psycho-social support because of the mental health issues and also the other effects of COVID-19 on their health,” Asyeo said.

The U.N.’s COVID-19 gender assessment report, released last December, found that nearly half of female-led households affected by COVID-19 needed economic and social support.

For thousands of women like Okewe, the counseling has provided a much-needed lifeline.

Source: Voice of America

August 9, 2021

Guinea Reports West Africa’s First Known Marburg Virus Death

Authorities in West Africa have confirmed the region’s first known case of Marburg virus after at least one person in Guinea died of the hemorrhagic fever disease, the World Health Organization said Monday.

Health officials said they were trying to track down everyone who might have come into contact with the patient, who had sought medical treatment in Gueckedou.

The case was reported in the same part of Guinea where the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic started and ultimately killed at least 11,325 people. A much smaller outbreak of Ebola earlier this year also hit the same area near Guinea’s borders with Sierra Leone and Liberia, leaving 12 dead.

The Marburg virus belongs to the same family as Ebola, and previously outbreaks have erupted elsewhere across Africa in Angola, Congo, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda.

The new West African case was confirmed by a laboratory in Guinea and again by the Institut Pasteur in nearby Senegal, according to WHO.

“The potential for the Marburg virus to spread far and wide means we need to stop it in its tracks,” said Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa. “We are working with the health authorities to implement a swift response that builds on Guinea’s past experience and expertise in managing Ebola, which is transmitted in a similar way.”

Marburg outbreaks start when an infected animal, such as a monkey or a fruit bat, passes the virus to a human. The virus then spreads from human to human by contact with an infected person’s body fluids.

Marburg symptoms include high fever and muscle pains, and some patients later bleed through body openings such as the eyes and ears. There is no approved drug or vaccine for Marburg, but rehydration and other supportive care can improve a patient’s chances of survival.

Case fatality rates have been as high as 88% in previous outbreaks, but WHO said the figure has varied based on the strain and how cases were managed.

Source: Voice of America