Daily News on Issues affecting Africa for November 12, 2014

Continue reading for a summary of recent news stories relating to some of the most pressing issues on the continent. We draw on a wide range of respected news sources, both from Africa itself and around the world. The themes of today's In the News post are: technology in Kenya, EU rescue policy, rising number of Ebola cases, elections in Zambia and Liberia and the Tshabalala court ruling.

Technology: Kenya's Konza will create jobs for East Africa

Still in the planning, Konza Technology City holds the promise of a silicon Valley for East Africa. The Africa Report talked to Dr Catherine Adeya, the woman at the tiller as it sets sail.

The Kenyan government plans to create a 'Silicon Savannah' – an environment where technology companies, researchers and outsourcing firms can innovate and find solutions for African and global problems – and Konza Technology City is the centrepiece of that vision.

Dr Catherine Adeya is the acting chief executive of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KTDA) and a driving force behind the government's attempts to get infrastructure built and to attract investors.

To read more from The Africa report, click here.

Mediterranean migrants: EU rescue policy criticized

UN officials have criticised Operation Triton, the EU's new policy towards migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean from Africa to Europe.

Vincent Cochetel of the UN refugee agency said it put the onus on merchant ships to rescue those in trouble, but that ships might avoid responding.

A UN special envoy told the BBC it was outrageous that some states, including the UK, had opted out of Triton.

Triton is much smaller than the Italian mission it is replacing.

To read more from BBC News, click here.

Mali quarantines clinic after second Ebola death

Mali is racing to control a fresh Ebola outbreak after confirming its second death from the disease.

Officials said a nurse in the capital, Bamako, died on Tuesday after treating a man who arrived at a clinic from Guinea. The clinic is now in quarantine and under police guard.

The dead man was not related to Mali's first death, a two-year-old girl travelling home from Guinea last month. There had not been any confirmed cases since then and 108 people linked to the girl completed their 21-day quarantine period on Tuesday.

To read more from the Guardian, click here.

Liberia: December 16 or 30 - Senate, House Divided Over Election Date

Monrovia — The House of Representatives and Senate have passed separate resolutions with two preferences for the upcoming senatorial elections. The House of Representatives had already endorsed the requested December 16, 2014 date by the National Elections Commission (NEC) while the senate has set December 30, 2014 as the official date for the conduct of the special senatorial elections throughout the country.

The Senate in its communication states: Acknowledging that the National Elections Commission (NEC) in its letter dated 3rd November 2014 further requests legislative approval of its alternative plan of action and additional funding for the delayed conduct of elections, which was not originally anticipated; having therefore carefully reviewed the new request or funding as well as revised electoral scheduled as submitted by the NEC, it is resolved by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 53rd National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia in extraordinary session assembled.

To read more from All Africa, click here.

Zambia urged to hold stable vote as it buries ex-leader Sata

The African Union called on Tuesday for a stable electoral transition in Zambia as the country buried late president Michael Sata.

Sata, who died in a London hospital from an undisclosed illness two weeks ago at the age of 77, was interred at Embassy Park, Zambia's presidential burial site, as an artillery unit fired a 21-gun salute and Zambian air force jets flew overhead.

To read more from Reuters, click here.

Ebola death toll tops 5,000; steep rise in Sierra Leone cases: WHO

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa's three hardest-hit countries, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, has risen to 5,147 out of 14,068 cases at the end of Nov. 9, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

A further 13 deaths and 30 cases have been recorded in five other countries - Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Spain and the United States, the U.N. agency said.

To read more from Reuters, click here.

MP's feel vindicated after Tshabalala court ruling

"We are vindicated. What it means for us is that we can proceed with our work," said communications portfolio committee chairwoman Joyce Moloi-Moropa who attended court to hear the ruling.

"We are actually glad it reached this point where it's out of court and it's back to us."

Judge Elizabeth Baartman did not immediately provide full reasons for her judgment, merely stating: "Order for relief [is] refused and [there is] no order on costs."

To read more from Times Live, click here.