Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT

By Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus If our planet were a patient, it would be admitted to intensive care. Its vital signs are alarming. It is running a fever, with each of the last nine months the hottest on record, as we hurtle towards the 1.5 degree threshold. Its lung capacity is compromised, with the destruction of forests that absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. And many of the earth’s water sources – its lifeblood – are contaminated. Most concerning of all, its condition is deteriorating rapidly. Is it any wonder, then, that human health is suffering, when the health of the…

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The Facebook President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, at a meeting with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi on Monday, March 18, said that Kenyan digital content creators will now be able to monetise their content on Facebook and Instagram, as from June, 2024. This will revolutionise digital creation in the country. However, to be eligible for monetization, a creator must have at least 5,000 followers, be over 18 years old, have at least 5 active videos on their Facebook pages, and have accumulated 60,000 minutes of video views in the past 60 days, including live videos. “Kenyan content…

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By Bonface Orucho An upsurge in demand for horticultural products across global markets, particularly in Europe, spurred a significant increase in agricultural export revenues for several African countries last year. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), reported via his blog that South Africa’s agricultural exports surged to a record US$13.2 billion in 2023, a 3% increase from the previous year. “The products that dominated the export list were citrus, maize, apples, pears, nuts, wine, soya beans, sugar, wool, grapes, berries, avocados and fruit juices,” Sihlobo explained. Fruits and wine were key exports to…

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The restrictions are prompted by the 12th package of EU sanctions against Russia dated December 19, 2023 Microsoft and Amazon will suspend access to their cloud products in Russia from March 20, Russian company, Softline, said. The company notes that it has received this information from Microsoft and Amazon. “For Russian companies, this means that it will be impossible to use these products or access the data contained in them from March 20, 2024,” it said. Elena Volotovskaya, Vice President for Investments at Softline, also published a letter from Microsoft on her Telegram channel. As the Russian company warned, due…

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The Kenya Defence Forces, in a concerted effort to enhance road safety standards in its operations, completed a two-day benchmarking exercise at Bamburi Cement Plc. The exercise centered on the role of data and technology in driver, vehicle, journey, load, and contractor management – critical pillars used to address road safety and responsible driving behaviors at the listed cement company. It included visits to the Bamburi Special Products (BSP) and Nairobi Grinding Plant in the Industrial Area and Athi River respectively. Speaking during the visit, Colonel Boniface Chomba, the head of Kenya Army Corps of Transport’s (KACT) delegation, said the…

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The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) has launched a two-year Master of Arts in Strategic Communications programme as it seeks to expand its influence on communications training in the region. It will provide a range of electives including health and development, political, financial and investor relations and environment as well as climate change programmes. “This programme has been designed to address the unique and complex challenges facing communication professionals, policymakers, corporates, risk and crisis communication teams, government entities and leadership in the developing world,” said GSMC Dean, Prof. Nancy Booker. The new programme, whose course…

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