Newscast - Africa

The South African government is collaborating with the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development to promote the development of green hydrogen in the country.
Minister Mondli Gungubele says the German ministry would be supporting the project with at least €12.5 million in funding.
Gungubele added that the Investment and Infrastructure Office in the Presidency has also pledged its support to a project by energy giant Sasol and the German government supported the H2Global initiative to produce sustainable aviation fuel to the international community.

Kenya has extended the suspension of all inbound and transit passenger flights from the United Arab Emirates for a further seven days.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority, Director General Gilbert Kibe, says this because of the impasse between the two countries which he says is still persisting.
The Dubai Aviator regulator had pointed out that the middle eastern country had banned all inbound and transit passenger flights from Kenya because travellers were testing positive for Covid-19 after arrival despite carrying negative test results.

Kenya’s highest court began weighing a legal bid to revive government plans to shake up the country’s political system, just months ahead of crucial elections.
The Supreme Court ruling on the proposed constitutional changes, expected after three days of hearings this week, may have major consequences for the August 9 presidential and parliamentary polls.
The government is seeking to overturn court rulings that had dealt a blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his allies by rejecting the reforms and the way they were introduced as unconstitutional.

The trial of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu stalled on Tuesday after he objected to the fresh charges brought against him by the Federal Government.
The Federal Government had filed fresh terrorism charges against the detained leader of the proscribed IPOB leader before the Federal High Court.
Kanu objected to the fresh charges bordering on treasonable felony and terrorism, against him, increased to 15.
The court is now expected to reconvene on Wednesday, January 19, for him to take his plea.

The House of Representatives is set to amend the provision of Direct Primaries in Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says the version of the bill circulating is not the same as the version sent to President Muhammadu He says the argument that political parties do not have a proper register of all their members is an indictment of political parties, as he wonders how they are able to conduct elections through direct or indirect methods without a comprehensive register.

The Lagos State Government and transportation stakeholders in the state on Tuesday signed an agreement and officially unveiled the ‘Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy’ to harmonise dues collected by the government from commercial motorists at parks and garages across the state.
The agreement between the state, local government, and various unions in the sector, as well as some government agencies in Lagos, was signed on Tuesday during a ceremony held in Ikeja.
The Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, stated that the levy pegged at a flat rate of N800 covers money for not just the local government, but also that of clearing waste from motor parks paid to the Ministry of Transportation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency.

Nigeria has mapped out strategies to launch a second satellite into orbit to enhance the communications status of the nation.
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami stressed that President Mohammadu Buhari has given approval for the purchase of the Satellite.
The Minister noted that he had gone further to lobby the Minister of Finance to ensure that this is included in the 2022 Budget, however, did not disclose the amount approved and how many satellites are to be purchased.
The minister says he had approved the establishment of some subsidiaries under NIGCOMSAT, as part of the ongoing effort to revive the institution back to the part of progress and productivity.

The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan says that President Muhammadu Buhari has not directed anyone in his administration to implement the removal of petroleum subsidies.
The Senate President says that lawmakers are worried about the agitations and protests across the country on the matter, which prompted the discussion with the President.
Lawan further questioned the claim that Nigerians consume a hundred million litres of the Premium Motor Spirit daily.
The Senate President explained that while it is impossible to consume that much within the boundaries of the country alone, there is a need to critically investigate to discover the truth.

House Speaker Puan Maharani says Indonesia’s parliament has approved a bill to relocate the nation’s capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan on Borneo.
The new state capital law, which provides a legal framework for President Joko Widodo’s ambitious proposal, stipulates how the development of the capital will be funded and governed.

Greece has imposed a vaccination mandate for people over age 60, as coverage remains below the European Union average while a recent spike in infections pressures hospitals.
Older people failing to get vaccinated will face penalties, starting at a 50-euro fine in January and followed by a monthly fine of 100 euros after that.
Health Minister Thanos Plevris says fines would be collected through the tax office with the money to be used to help fund state hospitals.
Plevris says the age factor is important because of its impact on the public health service.