Day: December 2, 2021

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S.Africa sees rise in COVID reinfections from Omicron, mild symptoms – scientist

Published by
Reuters

By Katharine Houreld and Ayenat Mersie NAIROBI (Reuters) – South Africa is seeing an increase in COVID-19 reinfections due to the Omicron variant but symptoms for reinfected patients and those infected after vaccination appear to be mild, a scientist studying the outbreak of the new strain said. The new variant, which has caused global fears of a surge in infections, was first detected in southern Africa and is fast overtaking Delta to become the dominant variant nL1N2SM1UN in South Africa, where case numbers are rising dramatically. “Previous infection used to protect against Delta but now wi… Continue reading “S.Africa sees rise in COVID reinfections from Omicron, mild symptoms – scientist”

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Minnesota man contracts COVID variant omicron, attended NYC anime convention at Javits Center

Published by
New York Daily News

NEW YORK — A Minnesota man who recently visited New York City for a convention at the Javits Center was diagnosed on Thursday as the second case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 identified in the U.S. The unidentified Minneapolis man felt mild flu-like symptoms after he returned home from the Anime NYC 2021 convention at the Javits Center that ended Nov. 21. He had not recently traveled to southern Africa, suggesting that the fast-spreading new omicron strain is now spreading in the community, either in Minnesota or New York or both. Mayor Bill de Blasio said there is little doubt that omicr… Continue reading “Minnesota man contracts COVID variant omicron, attended NYC anime convention at Javits Center”

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Omicron: The spoiler alert

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Philippine Star

COMMONSENSE – Marichu A. Villanueva – The Philippine Star December 3, 2021 | 12:00am Had it not been due to the unexpected emergence of a newest mutation of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, we would have been on the third day already in re-opening our country’s international gateways to foreign tourists. The Omicron outbreak stalled the originally set Dec. 1 to 15 test-run to reopen the Philippines as COVID-safe destination to foreign tourists. Thanks, but no thanks to South African medical experts. They discovered Omicron, the latest Greek-named variant of COVID-19 i… Continue reading “Omicron: The spoiler alert”

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Untapped Global and Asaak Partner to Finance 2,000+ Motorbikes in Uganda

Partnership expands financing options for African entrepreneurs through Smart Asset Financing™

KAMPALA, Uganda, Dec. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Untapped Global, an innovative investment company focused on emerging markets, announced today a scale up of its partnership with Asaak, a financial services provider to unbanked Ugandan entrepreneurs, to provide financing for over 2,000 motorcycles over the next 12 months.

Asaak Boda Boda Driver

The partnership will revolutionise motorcycle leasing in Uganda, by leveraging the rapid digitization happening across the continent. In the past, access to money-making assets such as motorbikes was limited to those who could afford to purchase them in full, and markets were dominated by informal lenders. Now, companies like Asaak are digitizing the lending process, making it safer and easier for entrepreneurs to lease and finance their own assets – a key to economic development on the continent.

Asaak offers financial services via a digital platform to entrepreneurs who otherwise would not have access. Asaak’s boda boda (motorbike) financing program approves drivers for loans based on financial and behavioral data, such as the number of trips completed on mobility apps, including Bolt (Taxify), Safeboda, Uber and Jumia. Most boda drivers rent motorcycles because they cannot afford to buy one in cash, nor do they have the formal credit or income history to qualify for a bank loan. This is where Smart Asset Financing™ comes in.

Untapped Global’s Smart Asset Financing investment model finances revenue-generating assets for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the world’s fastest-growing emerging markets, such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, and Mexico. Untapped and Asaak had a successful initial pilot in November 2020 to finance 40 motorbikes, and this month, Untapped signed on to provide scale-up financing for over 2000 vehicles in the next 12 months.

The pilot and scale up prove Untapped Global’s innovative Smart Asset Financing model offers great potential for follow-on funding for growing partners. The company uses real-time IoT data for the assets it finances to track key metrics such as usage and revenue, allowing for faster due diligence. While Asaak’s fast growth and expansion have enabled an equally fast scale-up of investment from its financing partner.

“Mobility is an important driver of economic development in Africa, and digitizing financing for boda bodas is key to making transport more accessible and affordable,” says Jim Chu, Founder and CEO at Untapped. “We look forward to providing the financing to help Asaak scale their business as much as they, and their entrepreneurs, need.”

“Our goal at Asaak is to make it easier for gig economy workers across Africa to access sustainable financial services,” Dylan Terrill, Chief Business Officer of Asaak said. “The team at Untapped is aligned with that goal and our growing partnership underscores the dedication to ensure that business owners have the opportunity to reach their full economic potential.”

Untapped Global is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder to enable any investor large or small to participate in the movement to empower entrepreneurship around the world.

About Untapped Global
Based in San Francisco with teams in East Africa, West Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe, Untapped Global is reshaping profitable investing in frontier markets. On a mission to empower the next billion entrepreneurs to scale to their full potential, Untapped creates opportunity by connecting frontier market innovators to global investors through its Smart Asset Financing™ platform that provides CAPEX financing for revenue-generating assets. Press or other inquiries please reach out to [email protected].

About Asaak
Asaak  is an African fintech company that provides asset financing to entrepreneurs across Africa. In 2019, they launched a motorcycle financing product for taxi (“boda”) drivers in partnership with the country’s largest ride hailing apps: Jumia, Uber, SafeBoda, and Bolt. Asaak is backed by leading American and African VCs (Resolute Ventures, Social Capital, 500 Startups, HOF Capital, Catalyst Fund). For more information, visit www.asaak.com or contact [email protected]

Untapped Global Logo

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1700940/Asaak_Boda_Boda_Driver.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1640513/Untapped_Global_Logo.jpg

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Japan Requests Airlines To Halt Bookings For Incoming Flights Over Omicron Fears

TOKYO, Dec 2 (NNN-NHK) – Japan’s transportation ministry, yesterday, requested airlines to stop bookings for incoming flights to Japan for one month, as fears are growing among the people, over the Omicron variant of COVID-19. However, people with existing bookings will still be able to fly into Japan.

The decision came, after a second case of the Omicron variant was reported in the country. The strain was detected in a man, in his 20s, who arrived from Peru at Narita Airport on Saturday.

Earlier yesterday, Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, announced, the government would ban all foreign travellers from South Africa and nine other African nations, effective today, including foreign residents, returning to the country.

Japanese citizens are allowed to return from those 10 countries, but they will be required to isolate at a government-designated facility for 10 days.

“We will work quickly to gain more knowledge of the situation in each country, and to respond accordingly,” Matsuno said.

Japan lifted some of its travel restrictions at the beginning of Nov, permitting foreign students, foreign technical interns and business travellers to enter the country. But the newly detected Omicron variant triggered a series of border measures by countries all over the world.

Although research into the transmissibility and nature of the Omicron is still in the early stages, the unprecedented number of mutations in the new variant suggests the possibility that, it could spread further and faster, even than the highly contagious Delta variant.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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PRASA board terminates contract of GCEO

The Board of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has unanimously resolved to terminate with immediate effect the employment contract of its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews.

In a statement on Thursday, PRASA Board Chairperson Leonard Ramatlakane said the termination of the contract is in line with a provision in clause 11 of his employment contract.

“This followed an investigation by seasoned senior counsel that established whether Matthews deliberately and intentionally failed to disclose material information to PRASA in respect of his dual citizenship.

“Matthews‘s letter of appointment clearly stipulates (as one of the key requirements) that his contract of employment will only be confirmed upon him obtaining favourable security clearance,” Ramatlakane said.

The State Security Agency (SSA) has since declined to issue Matthews top-secret security clearance or any other security clearance.

“During the investigation by the senior counsel Matthews was afforded an opportunity to present his version both orally and in writing through his lawyer. His lawyer was also present when he was interviewed during the investigation by the senior counsel.

“The findings as contained in investigation report by the senior counsel were adverse against Matthews. The Board viewed the report in a very serious light and agreed with its recommendation. Matthews and his lawyers are privy to the contents of the report,” Ramatlakane said.

He said the Board will forthwith commence with the recruitment process of the Group CEO.

Source: South African Government News Agency