Africa Report

Starting from May 15, China issues a new biometric Chinese ordinary passport, which contains an electronic chip on the last page, and anti-forgery labels on the other pages. Biometric passports, or e-passports, will better protect citizens' personal data and national security, according to Ministry of Public Security. Only police and customs authorities will be able to access the information on the chip, which includes name, photograph and fingerprint details.

 Single Passport Needed

East African Community

East African Community civil aviation authorities have called for the region to hasten the implementation of a common passport to reduce barriers currently existing at the entry points. They said the move would greatly boost regional integration and the tourism sector. Director General of Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, Dr. Richard Masozera, said there was need for better facilitation, especially for tourists, saying tourism is currently a major factor among partner states.

 More Laptops for Schools

Rwanda

The Ministry of Education of Rwanda aims to distribute 200,000 computers to primary school children across the country by the end of the year. The exercise is under the One Laptop per Child Project. According to Nkubito Bakuramutsa, the project's coordinator, as many as 105,000 laptops have already been distributed to various primary schools. He said the project is a major drive towards a knowledge-based economy.

Investment Option

Africa

Africa is a favorable place to invest in because the profitability and returns are still the best in the world, said Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission Erastus Mwencha at the 22nd World Economic Forum on Africa in May. He said the continent had seen an increment in investments because of the change it was experiencing as regards investments, peace and security.

 Mineral Development Policy

Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwean Government is drafting a new mining development policy to facilitate the recovery of the mining industry through the mobilization of more than $5 billion. According to reports by Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation News recently, the arrangement is being done on the realization of the importance of the mining sector's contribution to revenue inflows and employment creation within the economy. Stakeholders within the mining sector are in discussions with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development regarding the crafting of the proposed policy.

 Record Length Painting

Eritrea

Pollution-Free World, a painting, which measured 7.166 km across Asha Golgol - Himbirti road has set the new Guinness Record title for the "longest painting." The record-breaking achievement, which was made possible through participation of 827 Eritrean children, has surpassed the earlier record held by Mexico for a 6 km-long painting.

 Traditional Medicine

China

The World Health Organization (WHO) designated the Chinese Medicine Division (CMD) of the Health Department in Hong Kong as the Collaborating Center for Traditional Medicine in May. It is the first center of its kind in the world and will focus on assisting the WHO to formulate policies and strategies as well as setting regulatory standards for traditional medicine. The CMD of the Health Department, founded in 1997, is a designated division tasked with regulating, promoting and improving the safety, quality and efficacy of Chinese medicine.

 Shortage of Doctors

South Africa

South Africa's health system would not succeed if the shortage of doctors was not addressed, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said recently. He said South African medical schools were currently only producing 1,000 doctors per annum, far from enough to fill the growing skills shortage. The government has put aside almost $57.6 million for the current financial year to upgrade 30 nursing colleges and about $54.5 million for the initial work on rebuilding five major tertiary hospitals.

 Water Usage Measures

China

China will continue to carry out strict management measures to cope with water shortages, said Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei in May. He said that the measures include strengthening water resources protection and promoting the restoration of aquatic ecosystems. China sees a 50-billion-cubic-meter water shortage annually, with two thirds of its cities having trouble accessing water. The country's annual water consumption now exceeds 600 billion cubic meters, accounting for about 74 percent of the country's exploitable water resources.

 Arsenal Premier Visit

Nigeria

English Premier League soccer giant Arsenal will travel to Nigeria for a pre-season match in Abuja this August. According to the organizers, DanJan Sports, Arsenal's opposition are likely to be a leading African national team. It will be the first time the Gunners have played in Nigeria. The organizers said they are working on the opposition and once that is finalized they will announce it to the public in conjunction with the London club.

 Foreign Trade Outlook

China

The outlook for China's foreign trade remained grim but the full-year target of a 10-percent rise is still achievable, said the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) in May. The country might register a trade surplus in 2012, which will narrow from last year's trade surplus of $155.14 billion, according to MOFCOM spokesman Shen Danyang. As for April's weak trade data, shrinking external demand, rising labor and raw material costs and increasing trade frictions weighed on export growth, said Shen.

Numbers:

80,000

People facing famine in central Mozambique

4,000

Chinese islands under 3D visual management

180 million

Talented people China plans to engage by 2020

210

Rhinos poached for their horns in South Africa since the beginning of 2012