Construction of Museum

Eygpt

Egypt has begun the third and last phase of the construction of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is expected to be open to visitors in 2015. This phase consists of the construction of the museum's main building and its outbuildings. With an area of about 490,000 square meters, the museum is next to the famous pyramids of the Giza Plateau. Some 100,000 pieces of artwork will be displayed in the new building.

 All-Inclusive Services

China

The Chinese Government has pledged to provide equal access to public services for people living in urban areas without proper residential permits. Future policies and measures on essential public services, including employment assistance, compulsory education and occupational training, will not be based on whether a resident has a permanent residential permit or not, according to a national guideline issued recently on reforming the country's household registration system.

 Green Network

Africa

Mobile phone operator Airtel Africa said recently it would build a green network and reduce its carbon footprint on the continent. The firm said that it has over the past year reduced the number of telecom sites running solely on diesel fuel by more than 50 percent by overcoming the challenge of lack of grid connection through the use of innovative models such as hybrid battery banks. The mobile firm plans to completely eradicate constant use of diesel across all its sites by 2013.

 Electric Bus

Uganda

A team of engineering students and their professors from Makerere University in Uganda are hard at work on Africa's first 30-seat electric bus, expected to be operational in June 2013. The students have already built an electric car, the Kiira EV, using mostly parts made in Uganda. Team leader Paul Musasizi said the bus will be called Kayoola-EV and will incorporate both solar panels and battery power to increase the vehicle's range.

 Climate Change Policy

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean Government has embarked on the drafting of a national climate change policy as guidelines in dealing with the global warming which has affected rainfall patterns and increased the risk of droughts. The government also set up a committee to come up with well-researched and practical recommendations that will make up a draft national climate change policy.

 Research-for-Development Initiative

Africa

The African Development Bank has approved a $63.24 million fund package for the implementation of a five-year continental research-for-development initiative. The overall goal of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Center project dubbed "Support to Agricultural Research for Development of Strategic Crops in Africa" is to enhance food and nutrition security and contribute to poverty reduction in the bank's low-income member countries.