The revenue value chain is about achieving four goals that include predictability through management, completeness of revenue (through billing and collecting every rand), protection of revenue following defined processes and growth. The process has to use revenue data science techniques to analyse complex volumes of municipal data to identify revenue leakages and discover opportunities to increase revenue from existing and, importantly, new sources. In the context of revenue, data science is about utilising data analytics across all the revenue collection and management phases to create dashboards that will indicate how and when revenue is generated. Revenue management and increase require a scientific, entrepreneurial discipline to design, test and grow new revenue lines. In addition, municipalities must implement the “science” of revenue management to achieve completeness of revenue and eliminate revenue leakages in the value chain.

For decades, scientists have assumed the majority of global dust emissions came from windswept deserts in North Africa. Two studies, published in JGR Atmospheres and Science of the Total Environment, say dust emissions actually vary by season and across hemispheres — and the total amount of dust emissions worldwide is much lower than previously thought. “When dust emission models were developed, there were few continuously varying global data sets available and simplifying assumptions were made for their implementation,” they write in the JGR Atmospheres paper. Atmospheric dust affects both the climate and human health, even in areas far from its source. Overall, the researchers write in the JGR Atmospheres study, the old model differs from the satellite observations by up to two orders of magnitude.

Over 50 delegations, mainly from African countries, as well as EU leaders and representatives of international organizations, will arrive in the Italian capital for the occasion. Though critics argue that the plan, dubbed “Mattei Plan”, after Enrico Mattei, an Italian public administrator who, in the 1950s, advocated for Italy to support North African governments to grow their economies and develop their natural resources. Seventy years on, Meloni is showcasing the Mattei plan as the crown jewel of her foreign policy, aiming to once again renew Italy’s approach to the African continent. The widespread lack of awareness further provides an opportunity for Meloni to portray the Mattei plan as non-exploitative toward African nations, despite the absence of concrete evidence. Carbone questioned whether the government has the necessary African development knowledge or experience to make the plan work.

Mali‘s junta announced yesterday the end of a 2015 peace agreement with armed separatist groups. Should fighting intensify, it’s critical that the warring parties abide by international humanitarian law—the laws of war—and protect civilians against dangers arising from military operations. In recent months there has been a surge in attacks by armed Islamist groups across Mali. The parties to Mali’s conflict will need to take all necessary measures to minimize harm to civilians and end unlawful attacks on civilians and civilian property. Peace deal or not, the threat to civilians across Mali remains grave.

Joplin, MO (64801)TodayCloudy skies. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..TonightMostly cloudy skies. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

— ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Egyptian soccer officials have sacrificed a cow in a bid to bring the national team more luck at the Africa Cup of Nations. Egypt, which has yet to win a game, plays Congo in the last 16 in San Pedro on Sunday. The team’s flight from Abidjan to San Pedro was delayed by an hour on Friday. The Pharaohs lost star Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury in their second group game, then goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy with a dislocated shoulder in the third and last group game. Egypt players reportedly sacrificed a calf during training before going on win the 2008 Africa Cup in Ghana.

Aton Resources secures golden opportunity in EgyptPublished by: Natasha Doris at 26/01/2024The Canadian mining company has been granted the first gold exploitation licence to a foreign company in... The Canadian mining company has been granted the first gold exploitation licence to a foreign company in almost 20 years. Aton Resources has struck a golden opportunity in Egypt, after the Canadian mining company was granted a 20-year mining license on its Abu Marawat Concession in the Eastern Desert. The Abu Marawat Exploitation Lease was agreed between Aton Resources and the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA), and has an option to extend for 10 years after the initial term expires. The exploitation lease was signed at the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and was attended by several key figures, including Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla, EMRA chairman Yasser Ramadan, and Aton Resources interim CEO Tõnno Vähk.

Furthermore, North India is predicted to see cold day to severe cold day conditions for the next two days, with an eventual reduction in intensity. The IMD issued a yellow alert for the districts of Sundergarh, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Keonjhar, and Angul. According to the IMD, cold day to severe cold day conditions are expected to prevail in various locations from January 27 to 30, with a focus on Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Isolated areas in West Rajasthan are also expected to encounter these extreme cold weather from January 27 to 28. Furthermore, isolated pockets in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, East Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand are expected to experience chilly day weather on January 27.

The United States, jointly with the United Kingdom, imposed sanctions on four military officials of Ansarullah, commonly known as the Houthis, who have supported the Houthis’ recent attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Houthis’ terrorist attacks on merchant vessels and their civilian crews in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden have disrupted international supply chains and infringed on navigational rights and freedoms, says a statement from the U.S. Department of State. "The United States is committed to safeguarding international commercial trade and taking action alongside our allies and partners to safeguard the safety of these critical waterways." Those sanctioned were Houthi Defence Minister Mohamed Nasser al-Atifi, Commander of Houthi Naval Forces Muhammad Fadl Abd Al-Nabi, coastal defence forces chief Muhammad Ali al-Qadiri and Muhammed Ahmad al-Talibi, who the two governments described as the Houthi forces' director of procurement, Reuters reported. Freight rates continue to rallyDrewry’s World Container Index increased five percent to $3,964 per 40ft container for the week to January 25, 2024.

Offshore staffLISBON, Portugal — Galp Energia’s Mopane 1-X discovery well in Block PEL83 offshore Namibia has proven more oil in a deeper target. AVO-2, which underwent coring and logging, delivered a substantial light oil in good-quality reservoir-bearing sands. The rig will likely now transfer to the Mopane-2X appraisal well location to assess the extent of the discoveries, before returning to Mopane-1X to perform a DST. PEL83 is north of Shell’s earlier Graff-1, La Rona-1 and Jonker-1 oil finds, and north and west of TotalEnergies’ reportedly giant oil discovery at Venus-1.

The Israeli military said on Friday it was engaged in “intensive battles in the heart of Khan Younis”, with forces striking dozens of Hamas fighters and infrastructure from the air and ground. It said forces also fired at Hamas targets in northern Gaza and along the Gaza coastline. Residents said gun battles continued overnight, with Israeli forces blowing up buildings and houses in the western part of the city.

Over three months into the Israel-Gaza war, Israel has neither a clear path to victory nor a feasible exit strategy. Operations in the south of Gaza are likely to follow suit, even if for now Israel has intensified pressure in Khan Younis. Yet none of these essential decisions have been taken, a reflection of the division and disarray in Israel’s war cabinet. Open dissent by the army and criticism of the political echelon is virtually unheard of in Israel. The Israeli military and security establishment, which was humiliated on 7 October, remains intent on redeeming its reputation.

Cleary Gottlieb was shortlisted and selected as a finalist for Africa-Wide Dispute Resolution Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Africa Awards 2024. The awards reflect “a law firm’s pre-eminence in key jurisdictions in the region,” as well as “notable achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service.”To learn more, click here.

Yesterday, 25 January, the Premier of North West, Kaobitsa Bushy Maape paid a courtesy visit to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa in Thailand, H.E. Premier Maape is in Thailand for medical assessment. They agreed on the need to identify trade and investment opportunities in Thailand for the North West Province. On his part, Ambassador Africa acknowledged Premier Maape’s desire to mobilise trade and investment for his Province. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of North West Office of the Premier, Republic of South Africa.

The medium- and long-term objectives are to boost solar energy production and provide universal access to electricity in both countries. This financing is the largest ever granted by the African Development Bank to Mauritania. The second project, RIMDIR, is a $16 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) and concerns rural electrification for 40 localities in south-eastern Mauritania. The African Development Bank has been active in Mauritania for over fifty years in various strategic development sectors, including agriculture, governance, water and sanitation, energy, mining, private sector, transport and social. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).