GEM Sites Bi-Weekly Updates

                                                               July 3rd -July 12th 2024

Lebanon

Israel war on Gaza updates: 16 killed in Israeli attack on UNRWA-run school Our correspondent reports “decapitated” bodies arrive at Al-Aqsa Hospital after Israel bombs a UN school in Nuseirat. The strike killed “more than 16” people, according to the Government Media Office. The majority of those injured are children. Gaza’s Ministry of Health has said that 29 people were killed in Gaza in the past 24 hours as reports emerge that five Palestinian journalists were among those killed.The “continuous cycle” of mass displacement of civilians in Gaza and people being in “survival mode” and “despair” must stop, the director of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, has said.

Israel’s war on Gaza live: 300,000 Palestinians flee Gaza City invasion
Civilians fleeing Gaza City say people were shot dead during forced evacuations after the entire population of Gaza City – 300,000 people was ordered to leave by Israel’s military.

A trail of destruction is left as Israeli forces partially pull out of Gaza City’s Shujayea district after a bloody two-week incursion, with bodies “filling the streets” of their next target, the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood, residents say. Ceasefire talks continue in Qatar as efforts to end the nine-month war are hampered by intensified Israeli attacks.

Rwanda

Rwanda secures over $100m to set up TVET centres of excellence
Rwanda plans to set up three new technical vocational education and training (TVET) centres of excellence, and expand five existing ones thanks to a more than $110.8 million (approx. Rwf145 billion) loan from Korea Export and Import Bank (Korea EXIM Bank), The New Times understands.

Last week, Parliament passed the law approving the ratification of the loan agreement between the Government of Rwanda and Korea EXIM Bank relating to the loan for the establishment of the centers of excellence for TVET in the country. The financing agreement was signed in Seoul, South Korea, on June 5. TVET centres of excellence are equipped with modern facilities and adept staff to produce a skilled future workforce.

Rwanda says it is aware of the UK's intention to terminate contentious deportation scheme Rwanda's government says it is aware of the United Kingdom's intention to terminate its plan to deport asylum-seekers to the East African country. In a statement late Monday, the office of the Rwandan government spokesman said the deal had been initiated by the UK “to address the crisis of irregular migration affecting the UK — a problem of the UK, not Rwanda.” This is the first time Rwandan authorities are officially commenting on plans by the UK's new Labour Party government to cancel the scheme, which drew criticism from human rights watchdogs and others as cruel and inhumane.

Kenya

Kenyan president dismisses all Cabinet members after violent protests Kenya’s President William Ruto on Thursday, July 11, announced that he will dismiss all members of his Cabinet and the Attorney General. In a televised National Address, Ruto said the dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries took immediate effect. The Prime Cabinet Secretary, who is also in charge foreign affairs, Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua would not be affected by the decision. The decision followed weeks of anti-government protests led by Kenyan youth known as Gen-Z against the now-withdrawn finance bill, which would have seen taxes increased. At least 39 were killed in the protests, according to Kenyan media. Ruto said the decision was made “upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of the cabinet and its achievements and challenges."

City schools remain shut amid demo fears Many schools in Nairobi City remain closed as parents kept their children at home on Tuesday amid fears that the anti-government demostrations could turn violent. While some schools sent messages to parents on Monday that they would remain closed, some opted not to take the children to school. Many roads had less traffic than usual. Learning resumed on Monday, July 12024 after the mid-term break last week. "Due to the planned demostrations tomorrow Tuesday, July2, 2024, there will be no school as a precautionary measure. We shall resume classes on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. The children have been sent home with extra work they can do under supervision, reads on such message sent to parents.

South Africa

South African rand extends gains after U.S. inflation data
The South African rand extended its gains on Thursday after U.S. inflation unexpectedly fell last month, fuelling bets that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates in September.

At 1521 GMT, the rand traded at 18.0050 against the dollar , 0.6% stronger than its previous close.

The dollar index was last down 0.6% against a basket of currencies. The U.S. consumer price index dipped 0.1% in June after being unchanged in May, while the annual increase was the smallest in a year, data showed, reinforcing views that the disinflation trend was back on track. U.S. inflation has been improving in recent months and earlier this week Fed Chair Jerome Powell said that "more good data would strengthen" the case for central bank interest rate cuts. Like most emerging market currencies, the rand often takes cues from U.S. economic data in addition to local factors. "The domestic currency is mainly influenced by global financial markets, strengthening as indications of a US rate cut rise," said Investec Chief Economist Annabel Bishop.

Over 15,000 people impacted by adverse weather in the Western Cape As the Western Cape continues to experience torrential rains, the Western Cape’s Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) continues to coordinate its response to a series of cold fronts.

In its daily Joint Operations Centre (JOC) briefing, the South African Weather Service (Saws) provided an update on the weather system: An Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rain, strong winds, and mudslides was issued ahead of the latest cold front that made landfall. This warning remains on track for the Cape Town Metropole, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch areas; A Yellow Level 4 warning for damaging winds is in place for Friday, July 12, between Lambert’s Bay and Mossel Bay, as well as over the southern parts of Namakwa (in the Northern Cape), the Cape Town Metro, Cape Winelands, Central Karoo, Overberg and western areas of the Garden Route.

Malawi

MERP remains a priority to transform education The Ministry of Education belives that improving education sector infrastructure is essential for improving students' performance in schools.Principal Secretary Responsible for Basic Education, Rachel Chimbwete Phiri made a statement while touring Manondo Primary School in Dowa district, a project by the Malawi Education Reform Program (MERP) as it is constructing three blocks, which contain six classrooms. Speaking to journalists, Chimbwete praised the initiative's positive impact and hailed it as a significant achievement in their implentation endeavors. She made an emphasis on the community's active participation, which she highlighted the commendable progress that has been made. 

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