SAMSUNG UNLEASHES NEW “A” SERIES SMART PHONE BRANDS

Nairobi, Kenya –  24 June, 2020

True innovation should be accessible to everyone. That’s why Samsung built Galaxy A. From a big beautiful screen to uninterrupted performance, the A series is a lineup that has everything you want from a phone in a unique yet affordable package.

“The Galaxy A Series is designed around offering real value – innovation for all. The Galaxy A11, A21 and A31 all showcase the power of technology through premium features offered at an affordable price. These devices are designed for a new generation who want to connect in awesome new ways” said Charles Kimari, Head of Department, Intergrated Mobile Division.

Below are three devices in the Galaxy A Series that have captured the imagination of many:

Overview of Galaxy A11

• A big screen for a better view
  
  Immerse yourself in the large 6.4 inch Infinity-O Display of Galaxy A11. A wide aspect ratio fills your screen with content from edge to edge. Watch your favourite videos, games and live streams in vivid HD+ TFT.
• Stylish colour in the palm of your hand
  
  Galaxy A11 helps you stand out from the crowd with a sleek look that matches your style. Its smooth curves feel like they’re made for your hand, for a grip that’s easy to hold throughout the day. Choose the colour that fits you, like the classic Black or White, or colourful Red or Blue.
• Triple camera to capture your live moments
  
  Galaxy A11’s Triple camera consists of a 5MP Ultra Wide Camera with a 115-degree field of vision like the human eye, as well as a 13MP (F1.8) camera for bright, clear photos all day. And to round out, a 2MP Depth Camera for adjusting depth of field.
• Power that keeps you going
  
  When out living life, you need a phone that can last. A 4,000mAh (typical)* battery gives you the power to stream, share and game on. And if you start running low, plug in and power up with up to 15W Fast Charging.

Overview of Galaxy A31

• See it all on a big, brilliant screen
  
  Immerse yourself in the large 6.4-inch* Infinity-U Display of Galaxy A31. A wide aspect ratio fills your screen with content from edge to edge. You can watch your favourite videos, games and live streams in vivid FHD+ Super AMOLED.

• Slim on the outside, big on the inside
  
  The Galaxy A31 is everything you want in a phone in a slim body. Housing a large 5,000mAh(typical) battery in the 8.6 mm-thick device, it fits right in your hand and comes in a geometric design with a glossy finish.

• Quad Cam lets you shoot with more perspective
  
  Go ultra high-res with a 48MP Main Cam for crisp, clear photos day and night. A 123° 8MP Ultra Wide Cam captures more of the view. Choose the upgraded 5MP Macro Cam for highly refined close-ups, and make sure the subject always stands out with the 5MP Depth Camera’s multiple Live Focus effects.

• Capture more of view from the same spot
  
  Capture the world with the Ultra Wide Camera’s wider field of vision. And with the 48MP Main Camera, your story stays bright and clear throughout the day.

Overview of Galaxy A21S

This trendy device is built around a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-O display. It boasts a 13MP selfie cam and a 20:9 aspect ratio. And the camera technology is simply stunning:

Trendy Design And Enhanced Features Including a Quadruple Camera

• Main camera (48MP) – You can take clear and bright photos at night with the high-resolution 48 MP camera
• Ultra Wide camera (8 MP) – Get ready to take shots with a 123˚ view, similar to the human eye’s 120˚
• Macro camera (2 MP) – You cancapture your subject in more detail, even down to the texture
• Depth Camera (2 MP) – Experience more of life byadding the Live Focus effect to your portrait shots more naturally

For extra security the device includes a fingerprint scanner. The Galaxy A21s includes the OneUI Core on top of Android 10 and is powered by a mega 5,000 mAh battery which supports 15W wired charging. You will also enjoy the unique holographic design that illuminates every moment with an array of colours – black, white, blue and red.

The Galaxy A11, Galaxy A21 and Galaxy 31 are just some of the incredible options in the A series. Clearly, they’re made for everyone.  All you have to do is choose the right Galaxy A for you.

GET YOUR Nokia 5.3, Nokia C1, Nokia C2 and Nokia 5310 FROM JUMIA

Nairobi, June, 26^th , 2020 – HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced its participation in Jumia Kenya 8th Anniversary celebrations. Jumia, the leading e-commerce platform in Africa, will be celebrating consumers as well as support sellers during this anniversary.

HMD Global is known to have phones that keep getting better and is ranked number one for software and security updates. Nokia smartphones ensure you enjoy a flagship experience at every price point from entry-level, mid-range to high-end phones.

A wide range of Nokia smartphones will be selling at discounted prices during the Jumia Anniversary celebrations.  The range of phones you will get include Nokia 5.3, Nokia C1, Nokia C2 and Nokia 5310.

Go beyond with Nokia 5.3. The incredible quad-camera lets you push the boundaries of photography. You can transport yourself to another world with the mega 6.55” screen. And you can say goodbye to battery anxiety with 2-day battery life1. Plus, handle any task at speed with the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 665 processor and latest Android 10 operating system – which gets better with every software upgrade for 2 years. It is selling on Jumia at Ksh 20,999

Nokia C2. Live big. Live bold. Watch your videos on the stunning 5.7” HD+ screen, using 4G enabled connectivity for faster browsing; and stay charged for longer with all-day battery life. Capture photos in rich detail with HDR and have the free space to save them all – along with your videos and apps – thanks to Android 9 Pie (Go edition). It is selling on Jumia at Ksh 7,699.

Level up to the new Nokia C1. Enjoy your entertainment – anytime, anywhere – with the large screen and all-day battery life 2. Raise your selfie game with the front-facing flash and 5 MP camera. Do more with Android 9 Pie (Go edition) – watch your favorite videos, view your photos and even find your way home all while offline. It is selling on Jumia at Ksh 6,699

Never miss a beat with Nokia 5310. Let the music flow with the MP3 player1 and FM radio and hear every call with the powerful dual front-facing speakers. Stay connected with a battery life that’s there for you day after day. And keep it fresh with the revamped design of an old favorite. It is selling on Jumia at Ksh 4,999

STATE URGED TO PRIORITIZE SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN COVID- 19 GUIDELINES

Nairobi, Kenya. June 26, 2020

The maternal mortality ratio was 362 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, which accounts for 14 per cent of all deaths to women aged 15-49. This is according to Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), 2014.

Unfortunately, these figures have increased exponentially due to the current COVID- 19 pandemic that has brought socio-economic challenges to most households, following government’s directives to impose on partial lockdown.

While the significance of addressing the pandemic has taken centre stage, the grim state of sexual and reproductive healthcare remain prevalent even before the onset of the pandemic. Lack of access to maternal products, rising cases of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child marriages, teenage pregnancies and Gender Based Violence are some of the predominant incidents recounted during this season.

In its publication, United Nations Population Fund UNFPA’s “Reproductive Health for Communities in Crisis” describes how in times of crisis, reproductive health needs are likely to be overlooked.

“Ante-natal and postnatal visits have drastically gone down. Women are no longer visiting hospitals for their check-ups or their children’s for fear of exposure to coronavirus infections. This is a red flag as it could cause maternal and child mortality,” said UNFPA Kenya Programme Coordinator Dr. Rael Mutai.

Speaking during a virtual stakeholders’ forum on the impact of COVID- 19 on sexual and reproductive health rights, Dr. Mutai said that the disruptions have resulted to maternal health medics reassigned to COVID- 19 response teams. She added that most maternal health clinics have not resumed their normal operations and may only open ahead of curfew time, inconveniencing most women to access the facilities for assistance in contraceptive methods and child’s healthcare.

Inua Dada Founder Janet Mbugua echoed Dr. Mutai’s sentiments saying that most women and girls, especially those living in the informal settlements are suffering from ‘period poverty’, a setback that has resulted to young girls engaging in transactional sex for money in order to not only access sanitary products but also to support their families.

“Due to job losses, women no longer earn their daily wages and the little they get go to providing food for their families over acquiring sanitary towels. With schools closed and movement restrictions across counties, vulnerable girls in urban slums and rural areas are really in dire need of financial and menstrual health support,” lamented Mbugua in the webinar facilitated by New Faces New Voices Kenya.

Rising cases of teenage pregnancies was also deliberated especially with the recent report that about 4,000 school-going girls below the age of 19 have been impregnated in the last four months in Machakos County, according to the County’s Children’s Department.

Plan International Gender and Inclusion Specialist Banu Khan said that while these statistics were perturbing, child pregnancy and unsafe abortions continue to intensify, as millions of children continue to spend most of their free time at home unsupervised.

A fact sheet by the World Health Organisation states that at least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in the developing world. Of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year, 3.9 million are unsafe, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity and lasting health problems.

“While schools provided a safe haven from peer support networks and studies that keep children engaged, the long duration closure has brought with it risks of sexual violence from perpetrators close to them. We must advocate for systems to address this complex issue to protect our children and their future,” said Khan.

Besides Kenya’s struggle with sexual and reproductive healthcare systems, panelists from gender-based organisations in South Africa expressed their views on how the situation is during this pandemic.

Khuluka Foundation’s Josina Machel, an activist and GBV survivor, lamented the recent demise of over 10 women attributed to cases of widespread violence against women in South Africa, in June alone. These circumstances have caused a public uproar prompting the South African Deputy President David Mabuza to make an appeal to members of parliament, “For us the time to talk on issues of gender-based violence is over, time is of the essence, we need to act now and act decisively in tackling all challenges faced by the women of our country.”

Despite the focus on girl empowerment on matters sexual and reproductive health, Graca Machel Trust Children and Youth advocate Caroline Makumbe pointed out the need to enhance response systems to create safe shelters for all GBV victims. In South Africa, stigma and cultural beliefs were a major obstacle to offer psychosocial support but with response systems, boys facing sexual violence are gradually gaining confidence to speak out and seek help and justice from the perpetrators.

Government intervention

The panelists, merged in an ongoing webinar series from various organisations, resolved to petition the policy makers in prioritizing sexual and reproductive healthcare agenda in line with the current COVID- 19 response guidelines.

While community health workers have been deployed to various counties to sensitize grassroots on the misconceptions of coronavirus, similar interventions should address the grim state of maternal health in a bid to reduce morbidity and neonatal deaths.

Collaborative partnerships and social-economic mobilisation with non-governmental organisations, community based organisations and private sector will enhance policy implementation towards creating state-run safe facilities and economic empowerment to the vulnerable. This should not only be enacted during COVID- 19 season, but also a strategized lasting resolution for structured reproductive healthcare systems.

CLERGY HAVE ABANDONED FLOCK AND NOW ENGAGED IN BUSINESSES ACTIVITIES ROYSAMBU PASTORS CRY OUT

Nairobi, Kenya 29th June 2020

By Clive Ayuko

A group representing Pastors from Roysambu Constituency of Nairobi dubbed “Voice of the Chruch Roysambu Pastors Fellowship have called
on the government to establish a task force to look into the quick re-opening of
churches. This follows the nationwide ban on social gatherings in a gazette notice issued by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of
the Covid19 pandemic. Currently the country has Six thousand and seventy (6070) confirmed cases of Covid19 with Ninteen thousand and seventy one (1971) recoveries and a hundred and forty three (143) deaths.

Speaking at the Roysambu round-about next to THIKA
ROAD MALL also referred to locally as TRM, the pastors cited a number of task
forces that have been established to look into and steadily allowed resumption of
affairs in a number of sectors to include; transport sector, the hotel industry and
tourism sector and are perplexed at the why the government is not looking into a
faster re-opening the churches and other places of worship.
Citing a number of social calamities that has ravaged the country as result of
closure of churches; to include; the exponential rise in the numbers of underage
pregnancies (many churches have counseling programme targeting youth),
suicide rates that has steadily been on the rise ( People have no church where
they can talk to God), separation of families that were once cohabiting together
due to stress resulting from loss of income, divorce rates which have steadily
been on the rise since introduction of the government ban on opening places of
worship, Christ in Action Ministry Church Spokesperson, Varity Fricker who was at
the press conference and who spoke at the event added that this can be undone by
quick reopening of churches.
The Government through “super minister” Hon Dr. Fred Matiangi Cabinet
Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government ealier in the year in a
Kenya gazette notice appointed Archbishop Antony Muheria (Chairperson)

Christ in Action Ministry Spokesperson Varity
Fricker In Purple Suit Addressing Journalists at Roysambu Roundabout.

Rt. (Rev) Bishop Obala, Rt (Rev) Bishop Obanyi, Rt (Rev) Julius Mwamba (Moderator),
Rev (Can) Chris Kamau Kinyanjui, Rev (Can) Rosemary Mbogo, Pastor Dr, Samuel
Makori, Al Hajj Hassan Ole Naado, Sheikh Sukya Hassan Omar, Shiekh Abdulatif
Abdulkarim, Rev. ( Fr Joseph Mutie, Bishop (Dr) David Oginde, Rev. Connie Kivuti,
Sujata Kotamraju, Rt. Rev. (Dr) Samuel Thiong’o Mwangi, Sheikh Ali Sudi samoja
with joint secretaries Kepha Ombacho (Dr), Francis Kuria Kengema (Dr) and Paul
Famba (Dr) to look into progressively reopening places of worship. A process the
pastors speaking at the event termed slow.
Speaking on behalf of the pastors Christ in Action Ministry Spokesperson Varity
Fricker asked the Government to also look into feeding the members of the clothe
further adding that many employees of the church are now sleeping hungry and a
number of pastors have taken to business to take care of themselves and their
families and thus abandoned their flock.

MACCOFFEE PUTS A SMILE IN THE FACES OF FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi,26th June 2020. Beverage maker MacCoffee early today morning honored the contribution of the front-line healthcare involved in the COVID-19 pandemic emergency response at the Aga Khan University Hospital staff with an assortment of products produced by the firm, in an event aimed at celebrating and appreciating the medical workers who have played and continue to play a huge role in providing medical care to Covid 19 patients.

Speaking at the event, MacCoffee Regional Head, Mr. Abhishek Rana said, “We are grateful to the frontline workers for their dedication, involvement, and commitment in fighting the COVID 19 crisis. We recognize  the health workers who work around the clock to save lives. MacCoffee therefore appreciates the critical role played by doctors, clinical officers, public health officers and laboratory technicians during COVID-19″.

Abhishek Rana Regional head MacCoffee and Dr Shawn Bolouki Vice President Health Services & Global operations AKU and CEO AKUH. Images couresty Bright Spark Media

Commenting on the donation, Mr. Sammy Chepkwony Regional Director Human Resource at Aga Khan University in E.A added. “We are so pleased today to welcome the presence and generosity of MacCoffee. This is a really an important gesture that you have given to our staff and we appreciate the entire MacCoffee team and its regional head Mr. Rana. This will go a long way in motivating the team to continue supporting the activities for helping our Covid 19 patients and indeed all other patients.”

From Left Augusta Mwangi (House keeper AKUHN) and a clinical nurse receive a hamper from Abhishek Rana(Regional head MacCoffee)

Receiving the items on behalf of the Aga Khan University  Hospital, the CEO ,Dr. Shawn Bolouki, expressed appreciation to MacCoffee, the Hindu Council of Kenya for the support and commended the companies for showing care to the health workers helping in the fight against Covid-19.

“We are very thankful to MacCoffee and the Hindu council for coming today and appreciating our staff and hopefully this will be the beginning of the close collaboration of working together to meet the needs of the community.”

Ravneet Kaur (MacCoffee team) and Pauline Ngatia (Director Marketing and Communication at the event. Images courtesy Bright Spark Media.

MacCoffee has recently been involved in supporting the frontline workers including the security work force who are right at the frontline in enforcing measures to contain the spread of Covid 19. We remain committed to supporting those providing essential services while leading the fight against COVID-19.MacCoffee strategic collaboration with the Hindu Council of Kenya to support frontline institutions is a demonstration of our commitment to work with all stakeholders to help win the fight against Covid-19”.

TO TAX OR NOT TO TAX? WHO BENEFITS? WHO LOSES? THE QUAGMIRE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FACE IN TAXING MULTI-NATIONAL COMPANIES

By Ms. Nelly Mboya and Micheal Omondi

Nairobi, Kenya 25th June 2020

News outlets, Social media platforms, blogposts, newspaper headlines have been awash with news of how, when, why and the likely impact of Britain’s move from away from being a member of the European Union EU.

Many commentators predicted doom, others predicted the birth of a more prosperous nation; albeit one that would do so through a a number of constraints.

One of the reasons for the move away from the European Union many may argue are Bi-lateral Tax Agreements. These the country may consider to be building blocks of a controversial tax system or more importantly one working against its ability to prosper or favourably tax the citizenry. President Donald Trump has in the past spoken if renegotiating a number of trade deals which he considers ” a bad deal” for the free world. A move many others content is bad for business. A move that many may considered devilish by those who benefit immensly from such tax system but angelish for American citizen who pays such tax.

This would beg the question? Should Africa and the other developing nations renegotiate some of the treaties it has signed in the past with the developed world?

A number of developing countries to include; South Africa, Rwanda, Mongolia, Zambia have terminated some treaties signed with capital and technology exporting developed countries, others such as Uganda is still re-examining if they should do so.

Netherlands and Ireland are perhaps the only two countries who have looked into the impact of their treaty networks and inturn offered renegotiation to all of their treaty partners.

The continent Africa has signed amongst its nations a number of treaties, In East Africa The EAC, In West Africa ECOWAS, in South Africa SADC and continent wise the Africa Continental Free Trade Area ACFTA.

The sigining of these treaties has in turn enabled free movement of people goods and services across a number of nations. This it has done through creation of Open Border Posts and in-turn “eliminated” barriers associated with double tax imposed by different countries on Multi-national Companies operating across borders. While this is true it has also significantly limited a developong nation signatories into if, how, and how much they can tax multi-national companies.

In such agreements who benefits mosts from such a free market systems?The Capital Importing Nations? Or the Capital And Technology Exporting Nations? A closer analysis unearths that it is the latter.

While some may argue that such laise faire economic systems are good for developing economies a number of scholars also paint the gory picture arguing that policy negotiators who negotiate such treaties may not be fully aware that signing such treaties ties their countrys’ future abilities to come up and implement new tax systems that favour the citizens.

The Tax Justice Network, an international organization involved in advocacy and sensitization of citizens on tax rights and tax policy had been conducting training to media practioners, civils society groups and students of tax, and accountants, and Kenyans at large online on Treaties signed by their governments and the Impact of the same on tax imposed in future.

Follow the conversation here https://itjacourse.taxjusticeacademy.net/courses/double-taxation-agreements/

7 REASONS WHY KALONZO WANTS TYCOON SENATOR MUTHAMA EXPELLED FROM PARTY WHY REASON 5 IS SHOCKING

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 24th June 2020

The Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya, a political party affiliated to former Vice President of the Republic of Kenya Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka early yesterday afternoon at the party headquaters in Karen, Nairobi issued a “show cause” letter to Makueni Senator Hon.Johnson Muthama asking him to explain why the party should not take displinary action against him for breaching a number of sancrosant rules that govern relation at the party.

The letter penned off by party chairman and firebrand politician Amb. Chirau Ali Makwere. A man who once christened himself as Zipapa Zipapa or loosely translated “great white shark” lists 5 major reasons why the party should discipline the tycoon.

Far Back In Dark Suit Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Party Chairman Amb Chirau Ali Makwere to his left (white hair), Senator Mutula Kilonzo Jr further left with Jubilee Vice Chairman Johnson Muthama in (Red Jacket) And Part Secretary General Sitted in (Checkered Coat) Sign Cooperation Agreement with Ruling Coalition Party Jubilee at party headquaters in Pangani, Nairobi about a week ago. Image Courtesy Whistling African.

1. Contempt and Disregard for Party Leadership

2. Spreading Malicious Propaganda and Hate among Rank and File

3. Openly associating with rival Political Parties in disregard to provisions of section 14 of the political Parties Act

4. Not attending National Executive Council Meetings Despite being a member of the National Executive Council

5. Never Setting foot at party headquaters since the party moved to Karen from Lavington.

Makueni Senator Johnson Muthama at a past event. Image courtesy citizentv.co.ke

6. Refusal to discharge duties as Wiper Democratic Movement representative at the National Super Alliance Coalition Council Coordination Committee since November 2019 despite being a co-chairman of the council. A move that the party argues has denied it of its lawful share of the Political Partiea Fund.

The most conspicious reason however to many observers for severing of ties with the tycoon who is believed to bank roll the activities of the party would be the newly penned cooperation agreement with the ruling coalition Jubilee Party.

A move that may see funds temporarily flow into the party coffers and make the Makueni Senator at the cash strapped party redundant.

Cisco Delivers Enhanced Network Insights, Enables Smarter Automation

Cisco adds new capabilities across its intent-based networking portfolio to give customers greater control, security, insights to drive better digital experiences.

News Summary:

• IT can easily segment and secure networks with intuitive, automated policies.
• Cisco DNA Center and Cisco DNA Spaces now provide greater insights into IoT endpoints.

·       Cisco SD-WAN integrated with Cisco Umbrella, helping customers evolve towards a SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architecture.

Nairobi, Kenya —June 23, 2020 –Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) has announced new intent-based networking solutions to help optimize business and network operations. As organizations face mounting challenges to deliver consistent and positive digital experiences, Cisco is driving networking advancements to keep customers connected, productive and secure. The new innovations, focused on simplifying automation and providing IT and business insights, will enable IT teams to be agile, while staying closely aligned with business objectives. This alignment has never been more important than in today’s dynamic business environment.

“In today’s everchanging world, it is critical for a business’s network to be in tune with its strategic goals, whether that’s supporting and securing a remote workforce, accelerating expansion to the cloud, or driving business transformation,” said Scott Harrell Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cisco’s Intent-based Networking Group. “With today’s announcement, Cisco is helping IT rapidly roll out advanced networking and security capabilities by simplifying and automating segmentation and cloud-based security at scale. We’re delivering on our promise to build a networking platform that continues to deliver innovation to help customers, no matter where they are on their intent-based networking journey.”

Cisco is providing advanced automation capabilities to drive better user experiences, while simplifying processes for IT. Automation has become foundational to increasing IT efficiency, enabling IT teams to become increasingly flexible and proactive while reducing the amount of time simply maintaining the network. New automation innovations include:

·       Cisco SD-WAN Innovations [link to blog]: Cisco SD-WAN powered by Viptela now offers complete cloud-native security through the integration with Cisco Umbrella to deliver protection to enterprises against major web attacks arising from SaaS and Internet access.  Cisco Umbrella offers secure web gateway (SWG), DNS-layer security, firewall, and cloud access security broker (CASB) functionality in one integrated cloud service. With automated provisioning and simplified licensing, Cisco SD-WAN unified with Cisco Umbrella is fast to deploy and easy to consume while delivering an optimized user experience and the best security protection. This convergence of security and networking is a crucial step for customers as they move towards a SASE architecture. Other new SD-WAN innovations include support for multicast and integrated voice and unified communications. 

·       Cisco User-Defined Networks: With Cisco User-Defined Networks, IT staff can provide end-users control of their own wireless network partition through Cisco DNA Center. End-users have the ability to securely onboard their devices, as well as control which devices can connect to their own personal network partition through the User Defined Network mobile app.

Cisco is expanding insights to previously unmonitored devices, granting IT the ability to drive more efficient segmentation and better manage IoT devices. Network segmentation – the act of dividing the network into smaller parts to improve performance and security – has traditionally been a difficult task, particularly in environments with an evolving and diverse ecosystem of IoT endpoints. To help solve for this challenge, Cisco is introducing:

·       AI Endpoint Analytics: With AI Endpoint Analytics, Cisco DNA Center will identify previously unknown endpoints​ at scale, then use various contextual sources and artificial intelligence to logically group them. With this information, IT can create the basis for scalable, automated policies​.

·       Group-based policy analytics: Cisco DNA Center can analyze traffic flows between groups of endpoints to design policies that can be used as the basis for proper segmentation.

Today’s wireless networks are adding immense business value, not just through the experiences they enable, but through the behavioral insights they provide. Cisco’s indoor location services platform, Cisco DNA Spaces is adding new capabilities to extend visibility and provide information to businesses as they look to maintain safe physical spaces.

·       Cisco DNA Spaces for Return to Business:Cisco has added real-time and historical analysis tools to the platform, designed to help businesses monitor workspaces to meet social distancing guidelines. Customers can leverage built-in apps to monitor real-time density in buildings and analyze how buildings are being utilized. This information is critical as businesses aim to help keep people safe, while making workspaces more effective and efficient.

·       Indoor IoT Services: Cisco DNA Spaces introduces the industry’s first Indoor IoT-as-a-Service offering on WiFi-6 access points to help customers rapidly and cost-effectively deploy indoor IoT applications at scale. Cisco DNA Spaces simplifies activation, configuration and management of a wide number of supported IoT devices, including support for Bluetooth (BLE) devices. Through Cisco’s wide ecosystem of industry partners, Cisco DNA Spaces enables asset tracking, environmental monitoring of employee safety, space utilization, room finding and other use cases across healthcare, workspaces, retail, education, manufacturing and hospitality verticals.

Cisco’s intent-based networking portfolio is designed to deliver consistent, ongoing innovation to customers. Through software-based platforms, built on industry-leading hardware, Cisco can provide the flexible, secure network a business needs to drive business transformation and stay resilient in uncertain times.

Cisco DNA Center and Cisco DNA Spaces innovations announced today will be available in the summer of calendar year 2020. Cisco SD-WAN innovations are available today.

Rosatom SMR solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa: floating nuclear power plants and beyond

Nairobi Kenya, 23^rd June 2020…There has been widespread interest in the development of civil nuclear programs in Africa. Nuclear power plants are cheaper to run than their coal or gas rivals even if we factor in spent nuclear fuel management and disposal. Other important advantage is a regularity of nuclear power supply: contrary to renewable source of energy which are dependable on the weather conditions.

Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular, has never been viewed as a robust market for nuclear power. With the emergence of small modular reactors (SMRs) technology, nuclear increases its chances to be considered as a feasible option to address regional energy needs in a low carbon and stable energy generation with predictable costs.

SMRs offer unique benefits such as easy grid connection, flexibility in terms of placement, multipurpose application and possible integration with renewables. They can be a good alternative to diesel generators providing reliable power supply and preventing harmful emissions at a competitive price. One more advantage is that they offer lower capital investment which can be crucial point while taking a decision of their deployment[1].

The latest developments of in this area feature Russian RITM series SMR designed for nuclear icebreakers, land-based small NPPs, and floating nuclear power plants. It is based on times proved pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology and Rosatom 400 reactor-years of experience in operation of small modular reactors.

This advanced technology incorporates all the best features from its predecessors – ship reactors. Rosatom has already constructed six RITM series reactors by now. RITM-200 reactors have already been manufactured and installed on Arktika, Sibir and Ural nuclear icebreakers. The technology has proven its efficiency and ultimate safety throughout all stage of the life cycle including radioactive waste management[2].

At present, Rosatom is working on the optimized version of the floating nuclear power plant based on RITM series reactors. Recently in May 2020, the Russian nuclear state corporation has fully commissioned its first floating nuclear power plant Akademik Lomonosov with two KLT-40 reactors that in a pair produce up to 77 MW of electricity. KLT-40 is a predeсessor of RITM series SMR. FNPP Akademik Lomonosov is the northernmost nuclear power plant in the world that provides electricity to the isolated Chaun-Bilibino network in Pevek, Chukotka, Russia’s Far East. 

“We are working hard to do our part in delivering the great stories from our industry, to highlight its true potential to become a catalyst for sustainable development in Africa. We all understand that nuclear will play a vital role in achieving the United Nations sustainability goals not only in Africa but across the globe,” noted Ryan Collyer, acting CEO Rosatom Central and Southern Africa speaking at the Africa Energy Indaba Forum in Cape Town (South Africa) earlier this year[3].

TAX JUSTICE NETWORK TRAINS JOURNALISTS ON HOW TO DETECT FRAUD

By Clive Ayuko

Nairobi, Kenya 22nd June 2020

The Seventh edition of the Tax Justice Advocacy, an annual event that builds capacity among journalists and civil society on matters tax took off today in a virtual forum drawing participants and industry gurus in various feilds

This years theme; ” increasing participation of civil society organizations and journalists through capacity building” aims at sensitizing journalists on tax regimes that may impede their growth.

For those who wish to take part in the virtual forum can do so using the hashtag #ITJA2020 @taxjusticeafric #IFF