Belarus' Lukashenko, Germany's Merkel discuss migrant crisis - report

MOSCOW, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko and German Chancellor Angela Merkel talked by phone, according to a social media post by reporters for Belarus state media on Monday, amid a migrant crisis at the Polish border with the ex-Soviet state.

The posts said the talks lasted around 50 minutes. The leaders discussed the refugee crisis at the border and ways to provide humanitarian aid.

They also spoke about measures to prevent the crisis from escalating. They have agreed to further contacts, the report said.

The talks were the first contact between the Belarusian president and a Western leader since Lukashenko claimed victory in Belarus presidential elections in August 2020, igniting the biggest street protests in the history of the state.

The West is seeking to stop what it says is a policy by Belarus to push migrants towards the European Union to pressure it to end sanctions imposed over Belarus' crackdown on protests last year against Lukashenko's contested re-election.

Source: reuters.com

Ivory Coast to host next Intra-African Trade Fair

Durban – The City of Abidjan, republic of Ivory Coast, is the next host of the Intra African Trade Fair (IAFT), scheduled for the year 2023.

The announcement was made at the opening session of the Second Edition of the IAFT 2021, which is taking place in Durban, South African until the 21st of the current month.

 

The present edition brings together 1,000 exhibitors, 2,500 conference attendees and 55 countries.

 

The event foresees trade, business and investments in the order of 32 billion dollars.

 

This II edition, was first scheduled for 2020, and was supposed to take place in Kigali, Rwanda, but due to the constraints caused by the pandemic in that country, then South Africa was ready to host it.

 

IAFT aims to lead businesspersons to carry out commercial exchanges within the continent as well as business.

 

Angola attends the IAFT2021 with around 30 companies and institutions, highlighting Sonangol, Catoca, CEEIA, AllTrans, FoodCare, Xcento, Aipex, FMEA, BFA, Opaia and BAI.

 

The first edition took place in 2018 in Cairo, Egypt.

Salary increase in 2022 to boost purchasing power

Luanda – Finance minister Vera Daves said on Monday, in Luanda, that the expected salary increase for the civil service, in 2022, aims to restore the purchasing power of Angolan families.

"The concern with the salary increase is not only with public employees, but with all Angolans who need to recover purchasing power for the well-being of families," she said. 

 

The minister said so during an informal meeting with journalists and opinion makers, within the scope of the approval of the 2022 General State Budget (OGE/2022). 

 

Without specifying the percentage of increase, the minister stated that technical work is in progress, in order to make the necessary adjustments.

 

Although it has not yet been validated by the Ministries of Finance (MINFIN) and Public Administration, Labor and Social Security (MAPTSS), she stressed that the eventual increase will be made within the limits of the government's available financial capacity. 

 

Regarding the possible rise in the inflation rate as a result of the increase in the salary of the civil service, Vera Daves explained that it will depend on the flexibility study on future budgets. 

 

She also said that such a study, is being carried out by the finance technical committee, and the outcome will be known shortly.

 

In addition to the salary increase, the minister for Finance pointed out, on the other hand, the strengthening of the business environment in Angola as another challenge for the government, in the sense of creating more jobs for Angolans. 

 

On the occasion, Vera Daves also clarified that the Ministry of Finance does not interfere in the expenses or contracting of services by the different ministerial departments, as it only establishes and provides a financial ceiling, and intervenes when it notices defects in expenses or encounters incorrect actions. 

Chimamanda honored by New York Public Library

 Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been named as one of this year’s “Library Lions” by the New York Public Library, describing the honour as “utterly spirit-lifting” in an Instagram post:

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The annual ceremony in the US city is organised to honour people who have distinguished themselves in arts, culture, letters and scholarship.

Other honourees this year were Tina Brown, Jonathan Lethem, and Darren Walker.

And previous recipients include Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Margaret Atwood, Martin Scorsese, Zadie Smith, Gloria Steinem and Steve Martin.

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