Russian diplomats use hand-pulled trolley to cross N Korea border

It took a group of eight, including a three-year-old, 32 hours by train and two hours by bus to reach the border on a ‘long and difficult’

A group of Russian diplomats and family members used a hand-pushed rail trolley to leave North Korea this week, amid Pyongyang’s strict anti-coronavirus measures, which include blocking most forms of passenger transport across the border.

North Korea has not reported any confirmed cases of the coronavirus but has imposed crippling border closures, banned most international travel, and severely restricted movement inside the country.

“Since the borders have been closed for more than a year and passenger traffic has been stopped, it took a long and difficult journey to get home,” Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a post on social media.

The group of eight, including a three-year-old, travelled 32 hours by train and two hours by bus from Pyongyang just to reach the Russian border on Thursday, the post said.

Translation: On February 25, eight Russian employees of the Russian Embassy in the DPRK and their family members returned to their homeland.  

Since the borders have been closed for more than a year and passenger traffic has been stopped, it took a long and difficult journey to get home…

The group then had to cross the border on foot, loading luggage and passengers onto a trolley on the train tracks.

Photos and video released by the ministry show the trolley, laden with brightly coloured bags and suitcases, being pushed across a wintry landscape.

Embassy third secretary Vladislav Sorokin was the trolley’s “engine”, the ministry said, by pushing it for more than one kilometre (0.6 miles), including across a rail bridge over the Tumen River, which divides the two countries.

Ministry officials greeted the group at a border station on the Russian side, where they then travelled by bus to Vladivostok airport, the post said.

During the past year, the number of foreign diplomats in Pyongyang has dwindled, with many Western embassies closing, citing the bans on rotating staff.

Those who left often had to negotiate for weeks to arrange for special measures to allow them to depart.

The North has not confirmed even a single case of COVID-19 – although experts have long said it is unlikely to have escaped the pandemic – and in September the commander of US forces in the South said Pyongyang had issued shoot-to-kill orders in its border areas.

It imposed a strict border closure last January to try to protect itself from the virus that first emerged in China, its main ally.

While denying any single COVID-19 case, Pyongyang has attempted to steal information on coronavirus vaccines and treatments by hacking Pfizer, the US pharmaceutical firm whose highly effective COVID-19 vaccine is being given to millions of people around the world, South Korea’s intelligence agency said.

SOURCE : AL JAZEERA, REUTERS

Ivory Coast becomes second country to receive vaccines via COVAX

Vaccination drive to begin on Monday after 504,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jabs arrive through the global vaccine-sharing. 

Ivory Coast has become the second country to receive a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines via COVAX, the global vaccine-sharing programme.

The vaccines, 504,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India, arrived on Friday in the commercial capital, Abidjan, paving the way for the West African nation to launch a vaccination campaign next week.

Ghana received the first COVAX shipment on Wednesday, marking the start of what the WHO and UNICEF call the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history.

By the end of 2021, COVAX plans to deliver nearly two billion doses to more than 90 low and middle-income countries, hoping to level a playing field that has seen wealthier nations vaccinate millions while comparatively few have received shots in poorer parts of the world.

The initiative – led by the WHO, a vaccine group Gavi, and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations – has been hampered by the severely limited global supply of doses as well as logistical problems that have set vaccinations behind globally.

Ivory Coast will begin its vaccination campaign on Monday.

Health Minister Eugene Aka Aouele said the first phase will target health personnel, defence and security forces and teaching staff in Abidjan, where 95 percent of the country’s cases have been recorded.

The minister said this first batch will target more than 250,000 people.

Ivory Coast has a population of more than 25 million.

“This is an important step in our shared fight against the common enemy that is COVID-19,” the minister said. “The pandemic has taken a heavy toll around the world and our country is no exception.”

It has recorded 32,295 cases and 188 deaths since its first case was recorded on March 11 last year, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention figures.

“Today is an important first step towards achieving our shared vision of vaccine equity, but it is only the beginning,” said the WHO representative in Ivory Coast, Dr Jean-Marie Vianney Yameogo.

“Global and equitable access to a vaccine, which will protect health workers and those at greatest risk of contracting the disease in particular, is the only way to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on public health and the economy.”

SOURCE : NEWS AGENCIES

COVID-19: ANGOLA REPORTS 55 NEW INFECTIONS, 17 RECOVERIES

 Angola registered, in the last 24 hours, 55 new cases, 17 recovered patients and one death.

According to the clinical bulletin, of the new cases 38 were diagnosed in Luanda, 5 in Huíla, 5 in Zarie, 5 in Cabinda, 1 in Bié and 1 in Cuando Cubango.

Among the new patients, whose ages range from 10 months to 73 years, 32 are men and 23 women. 

The death, according to the report, was registered in Luanda province, involving an 83-year-old Angolan citizen.

Of those recovered, 10 reside in Luanda, four in Uige, two in Bié and one in Huíla.

The country has 20,695 positive cases, with 502 deaths, 19,238 recovered and 955 active.

Of the active cases, one is critical, 10 severe, 25 moderate, 24 mild and 895 asymptomatic.

The laboratories processed 1,013 samples.

In the country's treatment centres, 60 patients are hospitalised, while in institutional quarantine centres there are 44 people.

The authorities have 1,598 contacts of positive cases under surveillance.

Opportunity: Apple Entrepreneur Camp 2021 for Female Founders and Developers.

 Application Deadline: March 26, 2021.

Applications for the next Apple Entrepreneur Camp for Female* Founders and Developers are now open.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from developers worldwide. To be eligible to apply:

Your organization must have:

A female founder, cofounder, or CEO;

A female developer proficient in Swift or Objective-C; and

A developed app or functional build that you can demo live.

You must be 18 years of age or older and proficient in English.

The female founder, cofounder, or CEO, the female developer, and additional developer or designer of any gender (if applicable) must be 18 years of age or older, proficient in English, and able to attend together for the entire duration of the program.

Benefits

Apple Entrepreneur Camp consists of an immersive technology lab, as well as mentorship, education, and support. Selected organizations receive the following free of charge:

One-on-one code-level guidance from Apple engineers

Ongoing support from an Apple Developer representative for at least one year

One year of membership in the Apple Developer Program

Access to the Apple Entrepreneur Camp alumni network, a world-class group of inspiring and ambitious leaders

Click here to apply:  http://bit.ly/3kjowLg

WISE Edtech Accelerator Programme 2021 for Education Technology Projects.

 Each year, the WISE Edtech Accelerator selects innovative ventures with high potential for scalability and positive impact. 

Application Deadline: April 23, 2021 

The WISE Accelerator supports innovative initiatives developing solutions in education technology with high potential for scalability and positive impact. Each year, the selected initiatives join the one-year program, during which they benefit from tailor-made support to address challenges that hinder their growth and scaling up process.

For over six years, we have supported founders from around the world build and scale innovative edtech solutions. With the support of our community of edtech founders, investors and education stakeholders, we have delivered a bespoke program aimed at providing access to quality mentorship, coaching and a global network focused on changing the way we learn, teach and work

Benefits

Global Network

Access a community of over 50 edtech founders from 18 countries 

Interaction with industry leaders from the private sector, non-profit  organisations and government  

Networking opportunities with potential donors, investors and partners

Coaching & Mentorship

A hand-picked team of experts providing founders with support on:

Marketing, sales & fundraising  

Product strategy, development and roadmapping 

Market insights and positioning

International Visibility

Selected ventures will have the opportunity to attend our international  events and promotion on our global platforms including: 

WISE@ forums, previous editions were held in Paris, New York and Beijing

WISE social media platforms 

WISE Summit in Doha, convening over 4000 attendees from 100 countries

Click here to apply: http://bit.ly/3qSSb0g

Adidas X Red & Yellow Creative Business School Bursary 2021 for young South Africans.

 Application Deadline: 5th March 2021

adidas SA x Red & Yellow Creative Business School partner to offer two lucky students an opportunity to study 1-year courses in an Advanced Diploma in Marketing & Advertising Communications and a Higher Certificate in Digital Content.

 adidas SA x Red are calling all students looking to further their studies an opportunity to enter and stand a chance of winning a one-year course in the following programs:

1-year Advanced Diploma: Marketing & Advertising Communications– (NQF 7) for students looking to further their studies after completing a bachelor’s degree.

1-year Higher Certificate: Digital Content– (NQF 5) for students looking to further their studies after completing Matric.

The bursary includes the following benefits in assisting students to a comfortable transition:

adidas Mentorship

Supply of adidas product

Monthly stipend towards transport, books, and other costs

Laptop provided by Red & Yellow Creative Business School

Click here to apply:  http://bit.ly/3aUWu5L

Swedish Institute Management Programme (SIMP) Africa 2021 for emerging young African Leaders.

 Application Deadline: 21 March 2021 

Are you a changemaker who wants to become part of a network of progressive business leaders? Join the Swedish Institute Management Programme Africa to lead change for responsible leadership and sustainable business practices.

The Swedish Institute Management Programme (SIMP) brings together business leaders who want to succeed in driving change for economically, environmentally and socially sustainable businesses.

SIMP Africa 2021 runs online and at conference venues* in the respective capital cities between June 2021 –  February 2022. The programme contains coaching, interactive workshops, group tasks and lectures, as well as virtual visits to companies and organisations in Sweden. SIMP is a challenging and interactive programme that demands your active participation and contribution. It is not a series of one-way communicated lectures. 

Benefits

An exclusive suite of workshops, lectures and visits with highly-acclaimed speakers selected specifically for their competence, clarity, and high level of audience engagement. 

A thorough understanding of the principles of sustainable business with a focus on human rights, climate and the environment, decent working conditions and anti-corruption.  

A strong set of skills to drive change in your own organisation through responsible leadership. 

Knowledge to let you work with Design Thinking as a method to develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems.  

A network of leaders who are committed to sustainable business and responsible leadership with whom you will grow and learn from to build lasting business relationships.

Click here to apply: http://bit.ly/37PXWVb