Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
PRETORIA, South Africa, June 8, 2025/APO Group/ —
The second day of the BAL (BAL.NBA.com) Playoffs in Pretoria tipped off with defending champions Petro de Luanda (Angola) taking on APR (Rwanda), with APR coming out on top in a 75-57 win. APR’s Aliou Diarra led all scorers with 19 points, along with 14 rebounds. Nuni Omot also poured in 15 points, along with six boards. Petro de Luanda’s Patrick Gardner scored a team-high 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
In the second seeding game of the night, 2022 BAL champions US Monastir (Tunisia) faced off against last year’s semifinalists, Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria). US Monastir emerged victorious, led by an explosive performance from former NBA Academy Africa student athlete Babacar Sane, who scored 22 points. Patrick Hardy Jr. contributed 17 points and 9 assists. Despite the loss, Rivers Hoopers’ Raphael Putney delivered a game-high 28 points.
Quarterfinals Set
Today’s games set up two remaining quarterfinals on Monday – APR vs. Rivers Hoopers, and US Monastir vs. Petro de Luanda.
Tomorrow’s games feature two win-or-go-home quarterfinal matchups as Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) takes on Kriol Star (Cape Verde) at 4 p.m. before Al Ittihad (Egypt) faces FUS Rabat (Morocco) at 7 p.m. CAT.
The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships, including on Canal+, ESPN, FIBA’s digital platform Courtside 1891 and livestreaming on the NBA App (http://apo-opa.co/45aw4JT), NBA.com, BAL.NBA.com and the BAL’s YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/43NpYwC) channel.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anette Hoffmann, Senior Researcher at the Institute for African Studies and Egyptology, University of Cologne
During the first world war (1914-1918) thousands of African men enlisted to fight for France and Britain were captured and held as prisoners in Germany. Their stories and songs were recorded and archived by German linguists, who often didn’t understand a thing they were saying.
Now a recent book called Knowing by Ear listens to these recordings alongside written sources, photographs and artworks to reveal the lives and political views of these colonised Africans from present-day Senegal, Somalia, Togo and Congo.
Anette Hoffmann is a historian whose research and curatorial work engages with historical sound archives. We asked her about her book.
How did these men come to be recorded?
Duke University Press
About 450 recordings with African speakers were made with linguists of the so-called Royal Prussian Phonographic Commission. Their project was opportunistic. They made use of the presence of prisoners of war to further their research.
In many cases these researchers didn’t understand what was being said. The recordings were archived as language samples, yet most were never used, translated, or even listened to for decades.
The many wonderful translators I have worked with over the years are often the first listeners who actually understood what was being said by these men a century before.
What did they talk about?
The European prisoners the linguists recorded were often asked to tell the same Bible story (the parable of the prodigal son). But because of language barriers, African prisoners were often simply asked to speak, tell a story or sing a song.
We can hear some men repeating monotonous word lists or counting, but mostly they spoke of the war, of imprisonment and of the families they hadn’t seen for years.
Abdoulaye Niang from Senegal sings in Wolof. Courtesy Lautarchiv, Berlin275 KB(download)
In the process we hear speakers offer commentary. Senegalese prisoner Abdoulaye Niang, for example, calls Europe’s battlefields an abattoir for the soldiers from Africa. Others sang of the war of the whites, or speak of other forms of colonial exploitation.
When I began working on colonial-era sound archives about 20 years ago, I was stunned by what I heard from African speakers, especially the critique and the alternative versions of colonial history. Often aired during times of duress, such accounts seldom surface in written sources.
Joseph Ntwanumbi from South Africa speaks in isiXhosa. Courtesy Lautarchiv, Berlin673 KB(download)
Clearly, many speakers felt safe to say things because they knew that researchers couldn’t understand them. The words and songs have travelled decades through time yet still sound fresh and provocative.
Can you highlight some of their stories?
The book is arranged around the speakers. Many of them fought in the French army in Europe after being conscripted or recruited in former French colonies, like Abdoulaye Niang. Other African men got caught up in the war and were interned as civilian prisoners, like Mohamed Nur from Somalia, who had lived in Germany from 1911. Joseph Ntwanumbi from South Africa was a stoker on a ship that had docked in Hamburg soon after the war started.
Wilhelm Doegen/Anette Hoffmann Abdoulaye Niang.
In chapter one Niang sings a song about the French army’s recruitment campaign in Dakar and also informs the linguists that the inmates of the camp in Wünsdorf, near Berlin, do not wish to be deported to another camp.
An archive search reveals he was later deported and also that Austrian anthropologists measured his body for racial studies.
His recorded voice speaking in Wolof travelled back home in 2024, as a sound installation I created for the Théodore Monod African Art Museum in Dakar.
Chapter two listens to Mohamed Nur from Somalia. In 1910 he went to Germany to work as a teacher to the children of performers in a so-called Völkerschau (an ethnic show; sometimes called a human zoo, where “primitive” cultures were displayed).
Rudolf Zeller. Mohamed Nur.
After refusing to perform on stage, he found himself stranded in Germany without a passport or money. He worked as a model for a German artist and later as a teacher of Somali at the University of Hamburg. Nur left a rich audio-visual trace in Germany, which speaks of the exploitation of men of colour in German academia as well as by artists. One of his songs comments on the poor treatment of travellers and gives a plea for more hospitality to strangers.
Stephan Bischoff, who grew up in a German mission station in Togo and was working in a shoe shop in Berlin when the war began, appears in the third chapter. His recordings criticise the practices of the Christian colonial evangelising mission. He recalls the destruction of an indigenous shrine in Ghana by German military in 1913.
Photographer unknown/ Albert Kudjabo drumming in a German camp.
Also in chapter three is Albert Kudjabo, who fought in the Belgian army before he was imprisoned in Germany. He mainly recorded drum language, a drummed code based on a tonal language from the Democratic Republic of Congo that German linguists were keen to study. He speaks of the massive socio-cultural changes that mining brought to his home region, which may have caused him to migrate.
Together these songs, stories and accounts speak of a practice of extracting knowledge in prisoner of war camps. But they offer insights and commentary far beyond the “example sentences” that the recordings were meant to be.
Why do these sound archives matter?
As sources of colonial history, the majority of the collections in European sound archives are still untapped, despite the growing scholarly and artistic interest in them in the last decade. This interest is led by decolonial approaches to archives and knowledge production.
The author’s sound installation in Dakar of Niang’s recordings.Anette Hoffmann
Sound collections diversify what’s available as historical texts, they increase the variety of languages and genres that speak of the histories of colonisation. They present alternative accounts and interpretations of history to offer a more balanced view of the past.
– African prisoners made sound recordings in German camps in WW1: this is what they had to say – https://theconversation.com/african-prisoners-made-sound-recordings-in-german-camps-in-ww1-this-is-what-they-had-to-say-254127
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ekta Patel, Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute
Pastoralist communities, their livestock and diverse wildlife species coexist within a biodiversity-rich landscape stretching along the Kenya–Tanzania border.
However, at this wildlife-livestock interface, local communities face mounting challenges. Shifts in land use, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall patterns and increasing land degradation are placing growing pressure on the landscape. In addition, conflict between people and wildlife is on the rise, and many households rely on wild animals for food.
Communities in the region eat a wide range of wild animals, from rodents, elephant shrews and birds to small antelopes and larger ungulates like bushbuck. This meat (“bush meat” as it is also popularly known in Africa) provides a valuable source of animal protein and minerals, especially where alternative domestic protein sources are scarce.
Although hunting and consuming wild animals is illegal in Kenya, this is not the case in Tanzania, where certain forms of hunting for wild animals are permitted. Yet in both countries, many people eat wild meat regularly, often without awareness of the risks. These risks include zoonotic disease transmission and potential impacts on wildlife populations.
Wild meat is a known source of zoonotic infections and disease spillover to humans. In fact, as many as three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife. Illnesses such as anthrax, mpox, Ebola, and HIV have all been linked to close interactions between humans and wild animals.
Despite these risks, wild meat consumption remains widespread, with some households eating it daily or weekly. Preventing future disease outbreaks requires a clear understanding of these health risks, as well as the underlying social, cultural and economic reasons that drive people to rely on wild meat.
We set out to understand why people were eating wild meat along the Kenya-Tanzania border and whether they understood the risks of zoonotic diseases. Cases of anthrax have already been reported in this area.
Our study involved interviews in border communities during the COVID pandemic – the most famous case of zoonotic disease transmission in recent times. We wanted to know whether communities understood the pandemic’s link to wild meat and if this affected their consumption of it.
What stood out was that people at the border settlements kept eating wild meat or even ate more of it. This shows that economic necessity, cultural preferences and limited alternatives remain key drivers even when the world is in crisis.
Though this research was done during COVID-19, it gives us insights into how people react when things get tough, especially when it comes to food and health.
What’s driving wild meat consumption
We found that several factors drove wild meat consumption, despite growing awareness of the health risks.
Poverty
Economic factors, particularly household income and limited financial means, strongly influenced wild meat consumption, particularly in communities with limited alternative protein sources. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on local economies. Tourism, a key source of income for border communities, experienced sharp declines. As household revenues fell, reliance on wild meat as an affordable protein source increased.
Economic stability plays a crucial role in shaping consumption behaviours: 81% of those surveyed at the border settlements indicated they would stop eating wild meat if cheaper alternatives were available.
The type of animal
Perceptions of disease risks varied depending on the species consumed.
Approximately 79% of respondents believed that certain animals posed a higher risks of zoonotic disease transmission. Hyenas were perceived as the most dangerous, followed by primates and snakes. These findings suggest that while economic necessity influences wild meat consumption, risk perception also shapes dietary choices.
Gender plays a role
Men expressed more concern over conservation and health risks than women. Men were also more likely to advocate against selling wild meat. Women exhibited lower concern regarding zoonotic disease risks, including COVID-19. These insights highlight the need for gender-sensitive interventions to address wild meat consumption.
Education levels
Education levels also influenced risk perception. Respondents with formal education displayed a stronger awareness of zoonotic transmission pathways. They were also more receptive to conservation and public health messaging. This highlights the importance of education in promoting safer and more sustainable practices within communities.
National policies
Despite sharing ecosystems and wildlife populations, Kenya and Tanzania have adopted fundamentally different governance approaches to wild meat. This in turn shapes outcomes for conservation, biodiversity and public health.
Kenya follows a centralised and protectionist model. Hunting and consumption of wild animals are prohibited under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. This zero-tolerance policy is rooted in strong conservation principles aimed at protecting biodiversity.
However, in practice, it has driven the activity underground, creating a thriving black market. This undermines conservation and enforcement efforts. It also increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission due to unregulated handling and consumption of wild animals.
Tanzania, by contrast, uses a decentralised, regulated slaughterhouse model. Licensed wild meat hunting and consumption is legal under regulation, particularly through game-controlled areas and permits introduced in 2020. This approach is meant to enable communities to benefit economically from wildlife and reduce incentives for illegal hunting.
The existence of two divergent systems across a porous border creates challenges. These include illegal cross-border trade, conflicting conservation objectives, and uneven protection of biodiversity. There are also difficulties in implementing coordinated surveillance or public health interventions.
The contrasting regulations in Kenya and Tanzania significantly influence wild meat consumption choices.
In Kenya, where wild meat is strictly prohibited, consumption appears to be through informal and unregulated channels. This increases health risks and limits consumer awareness. In contrast, Tanzania’s regulated licensing system provides a legal pathway for access. This makes wild meat consumption more visible and, in some cases, perceived as safer. These differing policies shape how communities access, justify and engage with wild meat, often driving cross-border trade and complicating enforcement and risk communication efforts.
What’s next?
Addressing the risks associated with wild meat trade requires a multifaceted strategy that balances health, equity and sustainability.
We suggest an intervention that prioritises economic stability and ensuring affordable alternative protein sources are accessible, especially in food-insecure settings.
Public health education is also essential. An increasing awareness of zoonotic disease risks can help shift consumption behaviour.
Because men and women perceived the dangers of wild meat consumption differently, gender-sensitive approaches should be integrated. It should also be noted that, although women are rarely the primary hunters, they are often prosecuted for possession or sale of wild meat. Gender disparities on how laws are applied must be addressed.
Legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened to address cross-border wildlife trade, particularly in regions with differing policies like Kenya and Tanzania. They should also reduce the risks faced by individuals who may unknowingly engage in illegal practices due to a lack of clarity.
We continue to work with national and regional stakeholders. This includes government bodies and technical partners who are actively engaging with us to co-develop One Health solutions. These solutions integrate public health, environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Finally, community engagement and participation should be at the core of any intervention. This will ensure that policies are locally relevant, culturally sensitive and supported by those directly affected to reduce the risks of zoonotic disease spillover.
– Eating wild meat carries serious health risks – why it still happens along the Kenya-Tanzania border – https://theconversation.com/eating-wild-meat-carries-serious-health-risks-why-it-still-happens-along-the-kenya-tanzania-border-252947
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anette Hoffmann, Senior Researcher at the Institute for African Studies and Egyptology, University of Cologne
During the first world war (1914-1918) thousands of African men enlisted to fight for France and Britain were captured and held as prisoners in Germany. Their stories and songs were recorded and archived by German linguists, who often didn’t understand a thing they were saying.
Now a recent book called Knowing by Ear listens to these recordings alongside written sources, photographs and artworks to reveal the lives and political views of these colonised Africans from present-day Senegal, Somalia, Togo and Congo.
Anette Hoffmann is a historian whose research and curatorial work engages with historical sound archives. We asked her about her book.
How did these men come to be recorded?
About 450 recordings with African speakers were made with linguists of the so-called Royal Prussian Phonographic Commission. Their project was opportunistic. They made use of the presence of prisoners of war to further their research.
In many cases these researchers didn’t understand what was being said. The recordings were archived as language samples, yet most were never used, translated, or even listened to for decades.
The many wonderful translators I have worked with over the years are often the first listeners who actually understood what was being said by these men a century before.
What did they talk about?
The European prisoners the linguists recorded were often asked to tell the same Bible story (the parable of the prodigal son). But because of language barriers, African prisoners were often simply asked to speak, tell a story or sing a song.
We can hear some men repeating monotonous word lists or counting, but mostly they spoke of the war, of imprisonment and of the families they hadn’t seen for years.
Abdoulaye Niang from Senegal sings in Wolof. Courtesy Lautarchiv, Berlin275 KB(download)
In the process we hear speakers offer commentary. Senegalese prisoner Abdoulaye Niang, for example, calls Europe’s battlefields an abattoir for the soldiers from Africa. Others sang of the war of the whites, or speak of other forms of colonial exploitation.
When I began working on colonial-era sound archives about 20 years ago, I was stunned by what I heard from African speakers, especially the critique and the alternative versions of colonial history. Often aired during times of duress, such accounts seldom surface in written sources.
Joseph Ntwanumbi from South Africa speaks in isiXhosa. Courtesy Lautarchiv, Berlin673 KB(download)
Clearly, many speakers felt safe to say things because they knew that researchers couldn’t understand them. The words and songs have travelled decades through time yet still sound fresh and provocative.
Can you highlight some of their stories?
The book is arranged around the speakers. Many of them fought in the French army in Europe after being conscripted or recruited in former French colonies, like Abdoulaye Niang. Other African men got caught up in the war and were interned as civilian prisoners, like Mohamed Nur from Somalia, who had lived in Germany from 1911. Joseph Ntwanumbi from South Africa was a stoker on a ship that had docked in Hamburg soon after the war started.
In chapter one Niang sings a song about the French army’s recruitment campaign in Dakar and also informs the linguists that the inmates of the camp in Wünsdorf, near Berlin, do not wish to be deported to another camp.
An archive search reveals he was later deported and also that Austrian anthropologists measured his body for racial studies.
His recorded voice speaking in Wolof travelled back home in 2024, as a sound installation I created for the Théodore Monod African Art Museum in Dakar.
Chapter two listens to Mohamed Nur from Somalia. In 1910 he went to Germany to work as a teacher to the children of performers in a so-called Völkerschau (an ethnic show; sometimes called a human zoo, where “primitive” cultures were displayed).
After refusing to perform on stage, he found himself stranded in Germany without a passport or money. He worked as a model for a German artist and later as a teacher of Somali at the University of Hamburg. Nur left a rich audio-visual trace in Germany, which speaks of the exploitation of men of colour in German academia as well as by artists. One of his songs comments on the poor treatment of travellers and gives a plea for more hospitality to strangers.
Stephan Bischoff, who grew up in a German mission station in Togo and was working in a shoe shop in Berlin when the war began, appears in the third chapter. His recordings criticise the practices of the Christian colonial evangelising mission. He recalls the destruction of an indigenous shrine in Ghana by German military in 1913.
Also in chapter three is Albert Kudjabo, who fought in the Belgian army before he was imprisoned in Germany. He mainly recorded drum language, a drummed code based on a tonal language from the Democratic Republic of Congo that German linguists were keen to study. He speaks of the massive socio-cultural changes that mining brought to his home region, which may have caused him to migrate.
Together these songs, stories and accounts speak of a practice of extracting knowledge in prisoner of war camps. But they offer insights and commentary far beyond the “example sentences” that the recordings were meant to be.
Why do these sound archives matter?
As sources of colonial history, the majority of the collections in European sound archives are still untapped, despite the growing scholarly and artistic interest in them in the last decade. This interest is led by decolonial approaches to archives and knowledge production.
Sound collections diversify what’s available as historical texts, they increase the variety of languages and genres that speak of the histories of colonisation. They present alternative accounts and interpretations of history to offer a more balanced view of the past.
Anette Hoffmann does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Pastoralist communities, their livestock and diverse wildlife species coexist within a biodiversity-rich landscape stretching along the Kenya–Tanzania border.
However, at this wildlife-livestock interface, local communities face mounting challenges. Shifts in land use, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall patterns and increasing land degradation are placing growing pressure on the landscape. In addition, conflict between people and wildlife is on the rise, and many households rely on wild animals for food.
Communities in the region eat a wide range of wild animals, from rodents, elephant shrews and birds to small antelopes and larger ungulates like bushbuck. This meat (“bush meat” as it is also popularly known in Africa) provides a valuable source of animal protein and minerals, especially where alternative domestic protein sources are scarce.
Although hunting and consuming wild animals is illegal in Kenya, this is not the case in Tanzania, where certain forms of hunting for wild animals are permitted. Yet in both countries, many people eat wild meat regularly, often without awareness of the risks. These risks include zoonotic disease transmission and potential impacts on wildlife populations.
Wild meat is a known source of zoonotic infections and disease spillover to humans. In fact, as many as three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases originate from wildlife. Illnesses such as anthrax, mpox, Ebola, and HIV have all been linked to close interactions between humans and wild animals.
Despite these risks, wild meat consumption remains widespread, with some households eating it daily or weekly. Preventing future disease outbreaks requires a clear understanding of these health risks, as well as the underlying social, cultural and economic reasons that drive people to rely on wild meat.
We set out to understand why people were eating wild meat along the Kenya-Tanzania border and whether they understood the risks of zoonotic diseases. Cases of anthrax have already been reported in this area.
Our study involved interviews in border communities during the COVID pandemic – the most famous case of zoonotic disease transmission in recent times. We wanted to know whether communities understood the pandemic’s link to wild meat and if this affected their consumption of it.
What stood out was that people at the border settlements kept eating wild meat or even ate more of it. This shows that economic necessity, cultural preferences and limited alternatives remain key drivers even when the world is in crisis.
Though this research was done during COVID-19, it gives us insights into how people react when things get tough, especially when it comes to food and health.
What’s driving wild meat consumption
We found that several factors drove wild meat consumption, despite growing awareness of the health risks.
Poverty
Economic factors, particularly household income and limited financial means, strongly influenced wild meat consumption, particularly in communities with limited alternative protein sources. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on local economies. Tourism, a key source of income for border communities, experienced sharp declines. As household revenues fell, reliance on wild meat as an affordable protein source increased.
Economic stability plays a crucial role in shaping consumption behaviours: 81% of those surveyed at the border settlements indicated they would stop eating wild meat if cheaper alternatives were available.
The type of animal
Perceptions of disease risks varied depending on the species consumed.
Approximately 79% of respondents believed that certain animals posed a higher risks of zoonotic disease transmission. Hyenas were perceived as the most dangerous, followed by primates and snakes. These findings suggest that while economic necessity influences wild meat consumption, risk perception also shapes dietary choices.
Gender plays a role
Men expressed more concern over conservation and health risks than women. Men were also more likely to advocate against selling wild meat. Women exhibited lower concern regarding zoonotic disease risks, including COVID-19. These insights highlight the need for gender-sensitive interventions to address wild meat consumption.
Education levels
Education levels also influenced risk perception. Respondents with formal education displayed a stronger awareness of zoonotic transmission pathways. They were also more receptive to conservation and public health messaging. This highlights the importance of education in promoting safer and more sustainable practices within communities.
National policies
Despite sharing ecosystems and wildlife populations, Kenya and Tanzania have adopted fundamentally different governance approaches to wild meat. This in turn shapes outcomes for conservation, biodiversity and public health.
Kenya follows a centralised and protectionist model. Hunting and consumption of wild animals are prohibited under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act. This zero-tolerance policy is rooted in strong conservation principles aimed at protecting biodiversity.
However, in practice, it has driven the activity underground, creating a thriving black market. This undermines conservation and enforcement efforts. It also increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission due to unregulated handling and consumption of wild animals.
Tanzania, by contrast, uses a decentralised, regulated slaughterhouse model. Licensed wild meat hunting and consumption is legal under regulation, particularly through game-controlled areas and permits introduced in 2020. This approach is meant to enable communities to benefit economically from wildlife and reduce incentives for illegal hunting.
The existence of two divergent systems across a porous border creates challenges. These include illegal cross-border trade, conflicting conservation objectives, and uneven protection of biodiversity. There are also difficulties in implementing coordinated surveillance or public health interventions.
The contrasting regulations in Kenya and Tanzania significantly influence wild meat consumption choices.
In Kenya, where wild meat is strictly prohibited, consumption appears to be through informal and unregulated channels. This increases health risks and limits consumer awareness. In contrast, Tanzania’s regulated licensing system provides a legal pathway for access. This makes wild meat consumption more visible and, in some cases, perceived as safer. These differing policies shape how communities access, justify and engage with wild meat, often driving cross-border trade and complicating enforcement and risk communication efforts.
What’s next?
Addressing the risks associated with wild meat trade requires a multifaceted strategy that balances health, equity and sustainability.
We suggest an intervention that prioritises economic stability and ensuring affordable alternative protein sources are accessible, especially in food-insecure settings.
Public health education is also essential. An increasing awareness of zoonotic disease risks can help shift consumption behaviour.
Because men and women perceived the dangers of wild meat consumption differently, gender-sensitive approaches should be integrated. It should also be noted that, although women are rarely the primary hunters, they are often prosecuted for possession or sale of wild meat. Gender disparities on how laws are applied must be addressed.
Legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms must be strengthened to address cross-border wildlife trade, particularly in regions with differing policies like Kenya and Tanzania. They should also reduce the risks faced by individuals who may unknowingly engage in illegal practices due to a lack of clarity.
We continue to work with national and regional stakeholders. This includes government bodies and technical partners who are actively engaging with us to co-develop One Health solutions. These solutions integrate public health, environmental sustainability and community well-being.
Finally, community engagement and participation should be at the core of any intervention. This will ensure that policies are locally relevant, culturally sensitive and supported by those directly affected to reduce the risks of zoonotic disease spillover.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A pioneering international initiative for hadal zone exploration, led by Chinese scientists, has received official approval from the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030).
The Global Hadal Exploration Programme (GHEP), spearheaded by Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering (IDSSE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), aims to transform fragmented hadal research into a coordinated global mission to explore, understand and protect the planet’s most inaccessible marine ecosystems.
The hadal zone comprises primarily of ocean trenches, particularly from a depth of 6,000 meters to the bottom of the ocean up to about 11,000 meters. The hadal environment is characterized by extreme depths and pressures, darkness, low temperatures, frequent earthquakes, and peculiar living forms.
For a long time, the hadal trenches have been among the most under-explored and mysterious areas on Earth due to technological limitations.
China has been a key driver of deep-sea exploration over the past decade through sustained sci-tech advancements. In 2014, the CAS launched the Hadal Science and Technology Program, followed by a historic dive to the Mariana Trench’s 10,000-meter depths in 2016. By 2022, the CAS initiated the Global Trench Dive and Exploration Programme, leveraging its cutting-edge manned submersible Fendouzhe (Striver) and the Tansuo research vessels.
“Venturing deeper is about understanding our ocean so we can coexist with it,” said Du Mengran, a lead researcher at IDSSE.
“Global cooperation in these ‘untouched zones’ will redefine the boundaries of marine science and provide critical knowledge for deep-sea conservation and sustainable use,” she said.
To date, Chinese scientists have collaborated with 145 researchers from 10 countries, exploring nine hadal trenches worldwide, including the Mariana, the Kermadec and Puysegur trenches.
Starting from this year, GHEP will unify international research on extreme environments, life evolution, and geological processes in the hadal zone. The program will establish international research hubs, organize joint deep-diving expeditions, and host regular symposia while offering training and open access to samples, data, and facilities — particularly for young scientists, Du added.
GHEP brings together research institutions from New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Chile, France, Indonesia, Brazil, Russia, India, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Portugal and other countries.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The China Film Administration gathered domestic and international filmmakers at a Beijing launch event on June 6 to promote upcoming summer releases, aiming to boost audience interest and inject new vitality into China’s film market.
Film authorities and industry executives announce the summer film lineup and new initiatives at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]
The summer season, the year’s longest film release window, draws major attention from industry professionals and audiences nationwide. More than 60 domestic and international films are slated for release during the season.
Domestic films this summer span a range of genres, including historical dramas, suspense thrillers, action films, comedies and animated features, offering a variety of choices for audiences.
Among the most anticipated projects is “Dong Ji Island,” which tells the story of fishermen from the Dongji Islands who resisted Japanese invaders during World War II while undertaking a perilous international maritime rescue mission inspired by the Lisbon Maru incident. Another highly awaited title is “The Lychee Road,” which follows a minor Tang dynasty official’s arduous journey to deliver lychees to the imperial court as a royal fruit envoy.
Chinese filmmakers introduce their summer releases at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]
The lineup also includes “She’s Got No Name,” which is based on a high-profile Shanghai murder case. Meanwhile, the romantic drama “Love List” follows the relationships and personal development of three couples. Suspense titles such as “Malice” and “Unspoken” offer psychological thrills with intricate, mind-bending narratives.
Several animated films are set to debut this summer. Titles include Shanghai Animation Film Studio’s “Nobody,” adapted from a popular web series, and Light Chaser Animation’s “Curious Tales of a Temple,” inspired by Pu Songling’s “Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio.” Franchise sequels such as “The Legend of Hei 2” and “Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf: Bright New Dawn” are also scheduled for release, targeting younger audiences.
Executives from the Chinese branches of major Hollywood studios also unveiled their summer film lineup. High-profile imported titles include upcoming tentpoles such as “Superman,” “F1: The Movie,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Jurassic World: Rebirth,” “Elio,” “The Smurfs” and “Better Man.” Current theatrical releases include “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” and “The Karate Kid: Legends.”
Hollywood studio representatives present their summer releases at a launch event in Beijing, June 6, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China Movie Channel]
The event also introduced initiatives to promote summer moviegoing and film-themed cultural tourism. The China Movie Channel launched a nationwide “Film Week” campaign under the guidance of the China Film Administration, appointing directors Zhang Yimou and Feng Xiaogang, along with actors Wu Jing and Zhang Yi, as ambassadors. Thirty-four filmmakers representing all 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, as well as Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, shared stories about their cinemas to kick off the tour.
Marking the 120th anniversary of Chinese cinema, the campaign seeks to promote film culture and strengthen local economies through tailored strategies in each province. Under the “one province, one week, one plan” approach, filmmakers and communities will connect through film screenings, special events and creative collaborations.
Additional initiatives include field trips for filmmakers across China to conduct creative research. The event also introduced new activities as part of the ongoing “China Film Consumption Year” campaign, rolling out summer-specific public-benefit measures such as discounted tickets and expanded audience benefits.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
PRETORIA, South Africa, June 7, 2025/APO Group/ —
The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (https://BAL.NBA.com/) Playoffs are officially underway at SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, tipping off in thrilling fashion as Kriol Star (Cape Verde) edged FUS Rabat Basketball (Morocco) in a 91–88 nail-biter. Joel Ntambwe led Kriol Star with a team-high 22 points, while Ivan Almeida posted a triple-double with 18 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds. Jalan McCloud also added 21 points. For FUS Rabat, Yacine Baeri delivered a team-high 22 points, shooting an impressive 7-of-8 from three-point range.
The second game of the night featured a clash of titans between two undefeated teams, Al Ahli Tripoli (Libya) and Al Ittihad (Egypt), with Al Ittihad emerging victorious in an 85-74 win. Majok Deng led the charge with 19 points, while Lual Acuil posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. For Al Ahli Tripoli, Fabian White Jr. delivered a game-high 24 points along with 10 rebounds. Jean Jacques Boissy and Naseim Badrush also contributed with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Tonight’s seeding games set up the win-or-go-home quarterfinal matchups on Sunday – Al Ahli Tripoli will take on Kriol Star at 4 p.m. and Al Ittihad will face FUS Rabat at 7 p.m. CAT.
Tomorrow’s seeding games will feature the defending champion Petro de Luanda (Angola) taking on APR (Rwanda) at 4 p.m. and 2022 BAL champion US Monastir (Tunisia) facing last year’s semifinalist Rivers Hoopers (Nigeria) at 7 p.m. CAT.
The 2025 Basketball Africa League season is reaching fans in 214 countries and territories in 17 languages through free-to-air and paid TV broadcast partnerships, including on Canal+, ESPN, FIBA’s digital platform Courtside 1891 and livestreaming on the NBA App (https://apo-opa.co/45w59bJ), NBA.com (https://apo-opa.co/43RoK3C), BAL.NBA.com (https://apo-opa.co/3SHlN0f) and the BAL’s YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/43OCRX5) channel.
he ocean covers most of our planet – and sustains all of it.
Our ocean has not only shaped cultures, stirred imaginations, and inspired wonder across the ages. It supplies the air we breathe, the food we eat, the jobs we need, and the climate we count on.
But today, the ocean needs our help. The distress signals are clear – from plastic-choked waters to collapsing fish populations and loss of marine ecosystems, from rising temperatures to rising seas.
We must sustain what sustains us.
The illusion that the ocean can absorb limitless emissions and waste must end.
We must invest massively in science, conservation, and the sustainable blue economy – and extend far greater support to coastal communities, Indigenous Peoples and Small Island Developing States already bearing the brunt of climate change.
And we must protect marine biodiversity, reject practices that inflict irreversible damage, and deliver on the promise of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement.
The United Nations Ocean Conference that begins tomorrow will be a crucial moment to advance these priorities and renew the world’s collective promise to the ocean.
I urge all governments and partners to deliver – with ambition, resources, and resolve.
***
L’océan recouvre la plus grande partie de notre planète et en assure la subsistance.
L’océan n’a pas seulement façonné les cultures, stimulé l’imagination et nourri l’émerveillement à travers les âges : il fournit l’air que nous respirons, les aliments que nous mangeons, les emplois qui nous sont nécessaires et le climat dont nous dépendons.
Aujourd’hui, toutefois, c’est l’océan qui a besoin de notre aide. Les signaux de détresse sont partout : eaux encombrées de plastique, effondrement des populations de poissons, disparition des écosystèmes marins, hausse des températures, montée des eaux…
Nous devons faire vivre ce qui nous fait vivre.
Il faut se défaire de l’illusion qui voudrait que l’océan puisse absorber une quantité illimitée d’émissions et de déchets.
Il nous faut investir massivement dans les sciences, la préservation du milieu marin et l’économie bleue durable et apporter un soutien beaucoup plus grand aux populations côtières, aux peuples autochtones et aux petits États insulaires en développement qui sont déjà les plus touchés par les effets des changements climatiques.
Il nous faut protéger la biodiversité marine, abandonner les pratiques qui causent des dommages irréversibles et tenir les promesses que recèle l’Accord portant sur la conservation et l’utilisation durable de la diversité biologique marine des zones ne relevant pas de la juridiction nationale.
La Conférence des Nations Unies sur l’océan qui s’ouvre demain offre une belle occasion de faire avancer ces priorités et de permettre au monde de renouveler les engagements qu’il a pris en faveur de l’océan.
Je demande à tous les États et à tous nos partenaires de tenir leurs promesses, de faire preuve d’ambition et de détermination et d’allouer les ressources voulues.
Mazambi Mukamba Christian, known professionally as Chrisman, is a music producer, rapper, songwriter and DJ from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He moved to Uganda in 2019 where he was introduced to the Nyege Nyege Collective, a Uganda-based group that releases underground music and organizes music festivals.
Uganda is the largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, with over 1.8 million refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and South Sudan. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and partners continue to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to refugees in partnership with the Ugandan Government.
For podcast: https://news.un.org/en/audio/2022/08/1125092
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Maher, Lecturer in Politics, Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
A no-holds-barred and very public blow-up between the world’s richest man and the president of the United States has had social media agog in recent days, with each making serious accusations against the other.
And while tech billionaire Elon Musk appears to have cooled the spat somewhat – deleting some of his more incendiary social media posts about Donald Trump – the president still appears to be in no mood to make up, warning Musk of “very serious consequences” if he backs Democrats at the mid-term elections in 2026.
Tensions erupted over Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB). The OBBB proposes extensive tax cuts which could add roughly US$3 trillion (A$4.62 trillion) to the US national debt.
After stepping down from his role as advisor to Trump, Musk criticised the OBBB as “disgusting abomination” that would “burden America [sic] citizens with crushing unsustainable debt”. Trump returned fire, suggesting “Elon was ‘wearing thin’, I asked him to leave […] and he just went CRAZY!”.
In a dramatic escalation, Musk responded by calling for Trump’s impeachment. Musk also tweeted allegations that Trump was implicated in the Epstein files related to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He has since deleted those tweets.
Why has the much-hyped “bromance” between Musk and Trump suddenly ended? And what was the basis of their alliance in the first place?
Musk in politics
Like many billionaires, Musk had previously been hesitant to get involved in frontline politics. He says he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020, but claimed in 2021 “I would prefer to stay out of politics”.
In early 2024, Musk was still claiming to be politically non-aligned, suggesting he would not donate to either presidential campaign.
This apparent neutrality ended following the attempted assassination of Trump at a July 2024 campaign rally, with Musk immediately endorsing Trump.
In reality, Musk’s conversion to the MAGA movement long predated the assassination attempt. Musk’s hyperactive Twitter/X account shows a steady radicalisation.
Across 2020-2024, Musk engaged with accounts sharing MAGA and far-right conspiracy theories. These include the antisemitic Great Replacement Theory, and the related South African white genocide conspiracy. Musk’s posts also show the obsession with opposing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies characteristic of the MAGA movement.
After endorsing Trump, Musk spent US$288 million (A$444 million) supporting Trump’s election and appeared at campaign events around the country.
Musk’s support for Trump was both ideological and pragmatic.
From tax cuts to immigration restrictions to opposing DEI, there were clearly many ideological commonalities between Musk and Trump.
There were also clear practical benefits for both men. Trump gained the financial backing of the world’s wealthiest man. Musk gained not only unparalleled access to the US president, but also a role leading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
DOGE: success and failure
Early reporting on the second Trump presidency noted the omnipresence of Musk, who at one point moved into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to be close to the president.
However, observers were sceptical about the potential effectiveness of DOGE, and Musk’s claim it would save the government US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion).
In the early months of the Trump administration, Musk cut government programs and employees at a remarkable rate. The USAID program was particularly hard hit, as were the Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
As the spending cuts picked up pace, Musk began to attract more controversy. Critics questioned the apparent power wielded by the unelected billionaire. Musk’s ties to the far right were also in the spotlight after he appeared to perform two “Roman salutes”, which many observers believed to be a Nazi salute.
Trump clips Musk’s wings
Musk’s apparent rampage through government did not last long. As Trump’s executive appointees assumed control of their departments, Musk and DOGE experienced increasing resistance. After a series of fractious cabinet meetings, Trump reportedly reduced the power of DOGE in March.
Political attention was also clearly affecting Musk’s businesses. The negative publicity has significantly damaged the Tesla brand, leading to declining sales around the world and repeated falls in Telsa’s share price.
On May 1, Musk announced he would be leaving DOGE, claiming the department had saved the government US$180 billion (A$277 billion) in spending. This number is likely an exaggeration, but still falls well short of his original target.
Musk has learned a harsh lesson in politics – that the complexities of government resist simple reform and cannot be easily rolled back in the way a CEO might slim down a company.
For Trump, his manoeuvring of Musk appears to be another smart political move. As the public face of DOGE, Musk bore the negative wrap for early government cuts and chaos. Having used his money and reputation, Trump dispensed with Musk as he has with so many advisers and appointees before.
The falling out
Musk departed his role in a muted White House ceremony, where Trump thanked him for his service and presented him with a ceremonial “golden key” to the White House.
However, behind the public show of civility, tension was brewing over Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.
Trump and Musk had originally claimed that the US$2 trillion (A$3.02 trillion) in DOGE savings could be used to fund a substantial tax cut. With the efficiency savings not eventuating, Musk worried the OBBB would significantly increase US public debt.
Unable to convince Trump or other Republican legislators, Musk took to X, launching a “Kill the Bill” campaign that ultimately led to his incendiary showdown with Trump.
For his part, Trump has belittled Musk, suggesting Musk only opposed the OBBB because it cut subsidies for electric vehicles.
Though the subsidy cuts will affect Tesla, Musk has previously supported eliminating subsidies. Musk’s anger at the OBBB is more likely driven by the realisation he has been played by Trump.
What now?
Trump has used and discarded many other powerful figures in his chaotic political career. Musk has more power than most, and might be able to strike back at Trump.
Yet, with his public reputation and brands already tarnished, Musk would be ill-advised to pick further fights with Trump and his adoring MAGA movement.
Accordingly, Musk has indicated over the weekend he is open to a détente. Tesla investors will no doubt be relieved if Musk makes good on his pledge to step back from politics and return to his businesses.
More concerning are the prospects for democracy. With wealth and power continuing to concentrate in a handful of billionaires, voters appear reduced to the role of viewers forced to watch the reality TV drama unfold.
Though Trump appears to have won this round of billionaire battle royale, whatever happens next, democracy is the real loser.
Henry Maher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Geneva, Switzerland, 6 June 2025 – The Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 placed inclusion at the center of building resilient communities, with an intentional focus on ensuring that disaster risk reduction strategies address the needs of women, persons with disabilities, and other most at-risk groups. Throughout the five-day gathering, delegates, practitioners, and community leaders demonstrated that resilience can only be achieved when no one is left behind.
The platform’s second key theme, “Prioritizing gender equality, accessibility and inclusion to leave no one behind,” resonated across preparatory days, formal sessions, learning labs, and side events, reinforcing that while disasters affect everyone, they disproportionately impact certain groups including women, persons with disabilities, and older persons, and when these groups are empowered to lead risk reduction efforts we all benefit.
Breaking Barriers and Building Commitment
The RISK Award Ceremony 2025 highlighted how inclusion drives innovation in disaster risk reduction. ChildFund International won the €100,000 award for empowering indigenous children and youths in Bolivia’s Chiquitano Nation to lead emergency preparedness by combining ancestral knowledge with modern technology.
“The Risk Award is an honour to ChildFund in Bolivia, its partners but, most importantly, to the Chuiquitano People, who will bridge their ancestral indigenous wisdom with new technologies to empower children to get on the frontline of Disaster Risk Reduction,” said Ms. Ximena Loza, Country Director for Bolivia.
The Global Platform’s Gender Pledge Wall became a powerful symbol of commitment, with 165 pledges from participants, including 34 from Governments, including the making concrete pledges to advance gender equality in their disaster risk reduction work. The pledges ranged from policy commitments to grassroots initiatives, creating a commitment of action spanning all levels of society.
“I strongly believe our solutions must be gender-responsive. If we listen, engage, and invest in what works for women, we can build solutions that work for everyone,” emphasized Kamal Kishore, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Inclusion Hub served as a central gathering space fostering dialogue between persons with disabilities, women leaders, and policymakers. With 147 persons with disabilities registered for the Global Platformand nearly 500 participants expressing interest in disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction, the event demonstrated significant engagement from the disability community and allies affiliated with the disability stakeholder group.
Inclusion Hub sessions covered critical areas including inclusive disaster risk governance for effective risk management, gender-responsive and socially inclusive understanding of disaster risk, risk-informed development approaches, and financing gender-responsive and socially inclusive resilience building. These discussions demonstrated the platform’s commitment to not just talking about inclusion but creating it in practice.
Integrating Inclusion Throughout the Platform
Inclusion was integrated throughout the Global Platform, from technical sessions on early warning systems to informal discussions on community preparedness. This represented a fundamental shift in how the disaster risk reduction community approaches resilience building, moving beyond treating inclusion as a separate topic to integrating it into every conversation.
Whether discussing early warning systems, risk communication, or preparedness planning, speakers consistently emphasized that effective solutions must be designed with and for the most marginalized. The platform revealed how inclusion manifests differently across various disaster risk reduction challenges. In early warning systems, it means ensuring alerts reach everyone through accessible formats and trusted community channels. In risk assessment, it requires disaggregated data that captures how different groups experience hazards. In preparedness planning, it demands meaningful participation from women, persons with disabilities, older persons, and indigenous communities as leaders and decision-makers, not merely as beneficiaries.
A key message is that communities who have been excluded from DRR governance possess critical knowledge and capabilities that benefit us all. Indigenous forecasting methods, women’s community networks, and disability advocates’ understanding of accessibility barriers emerged as essential resources for building resilient societies. Sessions highlighted successful examples where traditional wisdom enhanced modern early warning systems and where community-led initiatives achieved stronger outcomes.
The conversations also confronted persistent gaps honestly. Despite years of commitments, persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in accessing disaster services, women remain underrepresented in disaster risk reduction leadership, and intersectional vulnerabilities-such as those faced by adolescent girls with disabilities-often remain invisible to planners and responders.
A Special Session on Progress Implementing The Gender Action Plan to Support Implementation of the Sendai Framework (Sendai GAP) highlighted progress that has been made over the past year since the Sendai GAP was launched. Success stories highlighted the impact that gender-responsive disaster risk reduction has had across diverse stakeholders, from disaggregated data informing budget allocations in Burundi, to how the Sendai GAP implementation tools have supported Kiribati; how women leadership has expanded across Mali, to how the transgender community in Pakistan has worked with provincial government to ensure inclusive disaster risk reduction is inclusive of all.
Looking Ahead
As the Global Platform concluded, the message was clear: inclusion is not an add-on to disaster risk reduction-it is fundamental to its success. The path forward requires strengthening data collection to better understand how disasters affect different groups while scaling successful models like community-based early warning systems that integrate traditional knowledge and ensure accessibility for all.
Equally important is investing in leadership development for women, persons with disabilities, and most at-risk communities to take central roles in disaster risk reduction planning and implementation. This shift demands embedding inclusion requirements into national and local disaster risk reduction strategies with dedicated resources and accountability mechanisms, while leveraging innovation to develop accessible early warning systems and preparedness resources that serve everyone effectively.
The Global Platform 2025 demonstrated that when inclusion guides disaster risk reduction efforts, communities become stronger and more resilient. As climate change continues to intensify disaster risks, the imperative to leave no one behind has never been more urgent-or more achievable.
The outcomes from Global Platform 2025 will inform the midterm review of the Sendai Framework implementation, ensuring that inclusion remains central to global disaster risk reduction efforts through 2030 and beyond.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Iran on Saturday strongly condemned a new U.S. travel ban targeting citizens from several countries, including Iran, calling the move a “clear sign of deep-seated hostility toward Iranians.”
Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a statement reported by state news agency IRNA, denounced the U.S. government’s decision, asserting that the restrictions target individuals solely based on their nationality and religion.
The ministry added that such policies reflect a discriminatory mindset and violate fundamental principles of international law, including the principles of non-discrimination and respect for human rights.
The statement called on the United Nations and international human rights bodies to publicly oppose Washington’s “unilateral and discriminatory measures.” It also affirmed that Iran would use all available means to protect the rights of its citizens and respond to the consequences of such actions by the U.S. administration.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Wednesday evening to ban travel from certain countries, citing national security risks. The White House said the proclamation, set to take effect on June 9, would fully ban the entry of nationals from 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 8, 2025.
Bougainville wants independence. China’s support for a controversial mine could pave the way ANALYSIS: By Anna-Karina Hermkens, Macquarie University Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world’s newest country. To support this process, it’s offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the Australian company Rio Tinto, the Panguna mine caused displacement and severe
Ponsonby community up in arms over impending post office closure Asia Pacific Report The community is up in arms over another local post office in Aotearoa New Zealand about to be closed down, this time in the iconic and historic Auckland inner city suburb of Ponsonby. A local author and founder of Greenstone Pictures, John Harris, has led a pushback against plans to close the
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On June 5, 2025, the Moscow Academic Economic Forum (MAEF-2025) ended, part of the working program of which was held at the State University of Management.
This year, the Moscow Academic Economic Forum was dedicated to the 260th anniversary of the founding of the Free Economic Society of Russia and was devoted to the topic “Russia – 2025: the trajectory of dynamic balanced socio-economic development”. MAEF brought together more than 17.5 thousand specialists from 32 countries, including China, India, Canada, Cuba, Germany, Greece, South Africa, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
At the ceremonial final plenary session of the MAEF, Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management, spoke: “We are grateful to the Free Economic Society of Russia for the trust to hold part of the forum’s working program at our university. The conference was devoted to discussing issues related to the socio-economic development of Russia. All events of the Free Economic Society are of great interest to the teaching, scientific and student community at our university, so we are glad to be part of this forum today. I hope that we will continue our cooperation and do a lot of useful things for the benefit of Russia and its economy.”
According to the President of the Free Economic Society of Russia Sergey Bodrunov, the strong regional component has become the hallmark of the MAEF. This year, in anticipation of the central events of the forum, work was carried out at 115 regional sites, which were formed on the basis of the leading universities and research centers of the country, divisions and institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and regional organizations of the VEO of Russia.
The plenary session of the MAEF was held on June 4 at the Russian Academy of Sciences, and plenary conferences on June 5 were hosted by 13 sites of leading universities and research centers. The plenary conference on the topic of “Institutes for Balanced Socioeconomic Development of Russia” was held at the State University of Management.
The conference participants discussed a wide range of issues aimed at achieving balanced socio-economic development: the formation of new development institutions, strategic planning, human capital, interdepartmental cooperation, digital technologies and scientific and educational clusters.
The following key recommendations were developed as a result of the conference:
Coordination of development institutions. It was proposed to work out the issue of creating a single coordination mechanism for coordinating the actions of development institutions, aimed at implementing technological and industrial sovereignty in the context of structural transformation of the economy. Solving the problem of personnel shortage. The conference participants noted the paramount importance of the problem of systemic personnel shortage as the main limitation for achieving the goals of economic policy. It was proposed to strengthen interdepartmental and interlevel formats of labor force planning over a 5-15 year horizon, including advanced training of specialists for priority projects. Moreover, the State University of Management is one of the ambassadors of project-based learning. Transition to systemic measures of economic policy. Recognize the need to transition from targeted to systemic measures of economic policy aimed at long-term sustainability and increasing domestic demand for scientific, engineering and production competencies. Formation of a national model of integrated strategic planning. Conference participants expressed support for the idea of creating a national model of integrated strategic planning, which will include monitoring of resource, institutional and demographic constraints, as well as mechanisms for compensating for them through appropriate institutional and financial instruments.
Also, within the framework of MAEF, a youth conference was held, following which GUU student Ekaterina Glyzina (IOM, 2nd year) received a 1st degree diploma in the section “New solutions for the digital age: from theory to practice”.
We congratulate Ekaterina on her diploma, and our entire university on the successful holding of this important event.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “Insecurity in Nigeria is becoming increasingly serious and widespread, but the Church continues its activities despite the difficulties,” Fr. Solomon Patrick Zaku, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Nigeria, told Fides. In an interview with Fides, Fr. Zaku reflects on the difficult situation facing not only the Church but the entire Nigerian population due to the insecurity caused by the actions of numerous armed groups in various areas of the Federation: jihadists of the various factions born from the split of Boko Haram, gangs of Fulani herders, gangs of robbers and gangs dedicated to kidnapping.Can you describe the insecurity situation in Nigeria?The situation is tense, and insecurity affects almost all areas of Nigeria. The government is doing its utmost to ensure everyone’s safety, but this is not enough, as too many people are still affected by various forms of violence: murders, massacres, violent robberies, forced land occupations, and kidnappings. The Church, especially in areas like the Middle Belt, suffers numerous attacks on its structures (parishes, health centers, schools). Added to this are the kidnappings of priests, men and women religious for ransom. Kidnapping is a phenomenon that affects all Nigerians; religious personnel are therefore not the primary target. Regarding violent attacks on church institutions, one of the most affected regions is Benue State in southeastern Nigeria, where the three dioceses of Makurdi, Gboko, and Katsina-Ala are repeatedly victims of attacks by armed Fulani herders. The attacks are so serious that the president of the Association of Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests in the Diocese of Makurdi, Father Joseph Beba, issued a statement last week warning of the ongoing violence against the local population.At least 50 people, including women and children, have lost their lives, and several homes have been destroyed. The security situation is so precarious that 15 parishes in the Diocese of Makurdi have been forced to close.How is the Church experiencing these difficulties?Apart from the most serious cases, such as in Benue State, the Church continues its activities. The people of Nigeria are deeply religious. Despite attacks and violence, the faithful continue to go to church. Looking at the areas affected by the attacks on social media, one might think that the faithful have stopped attending services, but they continue to go to Mass despite the precarious security situation. The Church is doing its best to assist and strengthen people living in uncertain situations.Are the Pontifical Mission Societies able to work effectively?The task of the Pontifical Mission Societies is to awaken missionary awareness among the faithful. In Nigeria, we have about fifty dioceses, and in each of them, there is a diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. And despite the difficulties already mentioned, the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies continues; I am thinking in particular of the Society for Holy Childhood. The words of St. Paul come to mind: “Nothing can separate us from the love of God.” And with this awareness, we continue to work. Of course, we are taking precautions to reduce risks; for example, we conduct our activities during the day and avoid traveling on dangerous roads or to high-risk areas. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/6/2025)
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The 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum concluded in Brasília with a call for stronger cooperation among member nations on key global challenges, including terrorism, artificial intelligence (AI), and economic inclusion.
Addressing the forum, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla thanked the Brazilian Parliament, government, and people for hosting the summit. He said the forum witnessed “meaningful dialogue” and an “exchange of views” aimed at enhancing parliamentary ties among BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
In its final declaration, the forum strongly condemned the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. Member states agreed on the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and underlined the importance of joint global efforts. The Speaker reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for all countries to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.
The discussions also covered the future of AI, with consensus emerging on the importance of its responsible use. Birla noted that while AI is essential, its deployment must be guided by transparency and accountability.
Economic cooperation was another key focus area. The forum explored ways to deepen intra-BRICS trade and promote inclusive growth. “India has always supported the rule of law, global cooperation, and dialogue on the world stage,” Birla said.
India will host the next edition of the BRICS Parliamentary Forum. Birla said the agenda would cover a wide range of issues including AI, trade, and social development, and added that India would ensure the summit is “successful and productive.”
The LS Speaker expressed confidence that strengthened parliamentary exchanges and the sharing of best practices among BRICS members would bring about meaningful progress. He also extended his warm wishes to the Speakers and parliamentary leaders of all BRICS nations.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TRIPOLI, June 7 (Xinhua) — Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibah on Friday ordered an investigation into the clashes that broke out in the northwestern coastal city of Sabratha on Thursday.
The prime minister’s press service said in a statement that the Libyan government leader had instructed the commander of the Western Military District to “launch an immediate and thorough investigation” into the clashes.
“The instructions are part of yesterday’s order given to the commander of the Western Military District to urgently intervene in the situation and stop the fighting,” the statement added.
According to local media, clashes between rival armed groups broke out on Thursday in Sabratha, about 70 km west of the capital Tripoli, and continued into Friday morning. There were no reports of casualties.
Libya has suffered from insecurity and political instability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011. –0–
June 6, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Joint donor statement condemning attacks against civilians and humanitarian workers in Sudan by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the attack on a humanitarian convoy of 15 trucks from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Al Koma, North Darfur, on the night of 2 June, which resulted in the death of five members of the convoy and injuring several others. Four of the 15 trucks in the convoy were destroyed in the attack and five more sustained partial damage. These trucks were carrying about 100 metric tons of essential nutrition, health, education, and WASH supplies, intended to support children and families in El Fasher town.
“The deliberate targeting of humanitarian personnel is a violation of international law. Civilians and humanitarian workers must not be targeted by parties to the armed conflict. We urge all parties to allow civilians to safely exit areas with ongoing hostilities, and to guarantee immediate, unconditional, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver assistance to those in urgent need throughout Sudan.
“We repeat our call to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Rapid Support Forces and their militias to immediately cease hostilities and uphold their obligations towards international humanitarian law, which includes the obligation to protect civilians and civilian objects – as also reiterated in the UN Security Council resolution 2730 (2024). Once again, we stress the civilian character of humanitarian agencies, the neutral and impartial nature of their life-saving operations, and the “need for them to operate across all of Sudan, regardless of area of control.
“This attack represents yet another deadly and unacceptable attack on civilians and humanitarian workers since the beginning of this armed conflict two years ago, in blatant disregard of international humanitarian law. We remind the parties to the conflict to uphold their obligations to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and their assets.
“Last April, the international community strongly condemned the attacks on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps which resulted in the killing of hundreds of civilians and at least 12 aid workers. Just last week, a hospital was targeted in El Obeid, North Kordofan. On several occasions, UN and NGOs offices throughout the country have been directly hit, including WFP’s office in El Fasher only last week. These are just some of the many attacks over the past two years targeting civilians, aid workers and facilities, hospitals, and critical civilian infrastructure, which constitute direct violations of international humanitarian law.
“We deplore all loss of civilian life resulting from acts of war throughout this conflict. The continuous attacks on humanitarian aid workers cannot be normalised. These serious and continued violations of international humanitarian law committed by the warring parties are unacceptable and must cease immediately.
“We support the UN Secretary General’s call for an immediate and independent investigation into this attack and accountability of the perpetrators.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and colleagues of those killed and those who have been injured while working to deliver humanitarian assistance under extremely dangerous conditions.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to travel to Canada, Kenanaskis from 14-17 June to attend and participate in the G7 Leaders’ Summit.
The theme and purpose of the G7 Leaders discussion is “to explore leadership and collaboration in driving a comprehensive approach to energy security with a focus on technology and innovation, diversification and strengthening critical mineral supply chains and infrastructure and investment”.
“The President will use his participation at the summit to engage fellow world leaders towards finding solutions for energy security and related issues linked to South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
“This will provide the President with an opportunity to strengthen G7-G20 cooperation,” Presidential Spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said during a media briefing on Thursday.
Response To Oral Questions in the National Council Of Provinces
President Cyril Ramaphosa will then, on Thursday, 19 June 2025, respond to questions for Oral Reply by members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, in Cape Town.
The Presidential Spokesperson said President Ramaphosa’s engagement with the NCOP is a mechanism for Parliament to hold the executive branch of government accountable and to ensure transparency and strengthen constitutional democracy.
30 Years Anniversary of Constitutional Court
On Friday, 20 June 2025, the Judiciary will host a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa.
Magwenya said President Ramaphosa is deeply honoured to attend and participate in this occasion and will deliver the keynote address.
“This celebration will reflect on the Court’s pivotal role in shaping our constitutional democracy, safeguarding human rights and upholding the rule of law.
“The Constitutional Court of South Africa remains the apex court on constitutional matters, ensuring the proper interpretation, protection, and enforcement of our Constitution,” he said.
World Council of Churches Summit in Johannesburg
President Ramaphosa will on Friday, 20 June 2025, present South Africa’s reflections on the role of religion and church in addressing domestic and global issues at the World Council of Churches (WCC) Summit in Johannesburg.
The World Council of Churches consists of 352 member churches with over 600 million Christians from 120 countries in the world.
The council works with non-governmental organisations, interreligious leaders and others to seek justice, peace, reconciliation and unity in the world.
“The WCC played a very significant role in campaigning against apartheid in the international community. Its program on combating racism provided an international platform to work against the evils of racism and apartheid in South Africa.
“The WCC efforts to put the issues of South Africa at that time on the international stage were very successful and led to the withdrawal of the Dutch Reformed Church from the WCC, they are now full members of the WCC again,” Magwenya said.
SACU Summit
At the invitation of Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her capacity as the Chairperson for SACU, President Ramaphosa will attend the 9th Summit of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Heads of State and Government scheduled for 27 June 2025, in Windhoek, Namibia.
The Summit will receive an update from SACU Council of Ministers on the implementation of the SACU Strategic Plan 2022-2027 and the progress made on the process of the re-imagined SACU as adopted by the SACU Heads of State and Government.
The summit will also provide an opportunity for the leaders to engage on geopolitical developments affecting the region.
South Africa will also assume the SACU Chairship from July 2025.
4th International Conference on the Financing for Development
President Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s participating delegation to the 4th International Conference on the Financing for Development Summit that is taking place in Seville on 30 June 2025.
This is at the invitation of the President of Spain Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and United Nations Secretary – General António Guterres.
This conference aims to address new and emerging issues in financing for development, including the need to fully implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reform the international financial architecture.
“South Africa’s participation at the Summit aligns with its G20 Presidency objectives of solidarity, equality and sustainability in complementing and supporting the summits’ goals of reshaping the global financial system in support of the Sustainable Development Goals,” the Presidential Spokesperson said.
On the margins of the 4th Financing for Development Summit, South Africa will convene a side event under the theme: “Forging a common agenda to achieve debt sustainability in developing economies”.
“South Africa seeks to advance through cooperation, collaboration and partnership sustainable solutions to tackle high structural deficits and liquidity challenges and extend debt relief to developing economies which disproportionately affect countries in Africa.
“This event will bring together leading voices from various debt-related initiatives to identify synergies and areas of convergence. It will seek consensus and highlight solutions that enjoy broad support,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences following the passing of former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.
“On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa offers his condolences to President Lungu’s family and to the nation and government of the Republic of Zambia led by His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema,” said the Presidency in a statement on Friday.
President Lungu passed away on Thursday, 5 June 2025, in a Pretoria hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a number of weeks.
“As regional compatriots, South Africans are standing by the people of Zambia in this difficult moment. We have had the duty and privilege in recent weeks to care for a leader from our region whom we embraced as a brother and friend.
“We therefore share the grief and loss experienced at this time by the Lungu family, as well as the Zambian nation. May his soul rest in peace,” said President Ramaphosa.
President Lungu passed away at the age of 68. – SAnews.gov.za
South Africa is championing a critical shift in global financial inclusion: moving beyond mere access to financial institutions but ensuring meaningful usage of these services.
This according to National Treasury’s Director of Financial Inclusion, Nontobeko Lubisi, who was speaking during a G20 outreach programme with institutions of higher learning.
The outreach programme shed light on South Africa’s presidency of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) which it took the mantle of when the country became G20 President last December.
“For our presidential priority for 2025, for the GPFI…we wanted to explore how we can move people from access to usage of financial products and services.
“We chose this particular presidential priority because we felt that it aligned very closely with the G20 theme of solidarity, equality and sustainability. It also then basically demonstrates the Minister of Finance’s commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind in the financial services ecosystem globally,” Lubisi said.
She highlighted that although progress has been made to improve access to financial services, “we still have about 1.5 billion people globally that still lack bank accounts”.
“So, this then highlights the need for ongoing efforts to expand both excess and enhance the usage of financial services particularly in [the] global South countries where substantial gaps exist.
“We felt that this deliverable is crucial and it advances financial inclusion and aligns with the GPFI mandate of addressing the needs of both G20 and non-G20 countries. This particular presidential priority builds on the work that was started by Brazil in 2024, which actually focussed on…access through digital public infrastructure,” she said.
Lubisi explained what the focus and role of the GPFI is and how this impact countries.
“The GPFI efforts include helping countries to put into practise the G20 principles of innovative financial inclusion, strengthening data for measuring financial inclusion, as well as developing methodologies for countries that actually wish to set targets for financial inclusion.
“So…the work of the GPFI is executed via the Financial Inclusion Action Plan, which was then developed and currently we are on the second year of implementing that action plan as the presidency and it will then end next year with the US.
“However, what you see [in] how we’re working in the GPFI is that when a country is the president of the GPFI, you are then given an opportunity to come up with a financial inclusion related priority that you would basically prefer to elevate to during your presidential term,” Lubisi said.
For Africa, by Africans Also speaking during the outreach programme, National Treasury Chief Director and G20 Lead, Marlon Geswint, emphasised government’s position that the impact of the South African Presidency of the G20 goes well beyond the country’s borders.
“South Africa is the only African country who is a member of the G20. The African Union [AU] was admitted to the G20 during the Indian presidency in 2023…but South Africa is the only African country.
“So therefore, we found it very important to ensure that our Presidency is not only a South African Presidency, but it’s an African Presidency. So that we can showcase the issues that are pertinent to Africa, and then we help find solutions to issues that Africa is grappling with.
“It is a very important feature of our Presidency, and it runs through the finance track and the Sherpa track. We are not just taking an inward-looking approach to say, this is all about South Africa, but…we have a responsibility to the continent because we are not operating in a vacuum and it’s important that we also advance the African cause,” Geswint said. – SAnews.gov.za
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has unveiled a national Clean Cities and Towns Campaign, marking a comprehensive approach to urban cleanliness and community engagement.
Speaking at the launch on Friday in Soweto, Johannesburg, the Deputy President said the campaign goes beyond mere cleaning but addresses broader service delivery issues and creates opportunities for community employment.
“However, the idea is not really to employ people, it’s a voluntary programme. People must clean where they live. There may be instances where the city may employ people here and there, but we want to create a culture of cleaning where people don’t have to be paid to clean where they live.”
By encouraging citizens to take pride in their local environments, Deputy President Mashatile said the initiative seeks to create a cultural shift towards urban maintenance.
The Deputy President explained that the initiative aims to transform urban environments by involving citizens directly in maintaining their communities.
The initiative, launched at the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication in Kliptown, follows the commitments made by the Deputy President at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Lekgotla earlier this year to tackle both environmental and socio-economic challenges.
“The approach we are taking is that government must not alone clean for people, but government must clean with the people. We must work with them in the various communities,” he explained.
The initiative forms part of a larger service delivery effort by the government aligned with the District Development Model (DDM), of which the Deputy President is a champion.
The country’s second-in-command announced that the campaign will be rolled out to other cities across South Africa.
“Once we have launched, the Mayor will drive the programme in other cities as we move to other provinces.”
He emphasised voluntary community participation, integration of cleanliness education in schools, collaboration between national, provincial, and local governments, and regular monitoring of progress in different cities.
“We must also teach people right from school. We must teach the young people about cleanliness so that they can look forward to cleaning the environment, to having clean cities as well,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy President acknowledged the service delivery problems in Kliptown, including challenges of electricity and title deeds.
However, he mentioned that the Ministers and Deputy Ministers have committed to addressing these issues. In addition, he said the campaign aims to ensure that historical sites are properly guarded and used for community benefit.
The Deputy President also emphasised the importance of fixing infrastructure to create a conducive environment for conferences and community activities.
He also confirmed that the City of Johannesburg was ready to host the Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit, scheduled for November 2025 at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, with various programmes in place to address any shortcomings.
The Deputy President concluded the launch at the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP), a community-based educational organisation that provides holistic support and opportunities to the people of Kliptown and surrounding communities.
“About close to 2 000 young people are benefiting here in various skills, including computer skills. They also feed them. On Fridays, they open their feeding scheme to the community. It’s a very beautiful centre, and they’ve got our support.”
The Deputy President believes the launch represents a significant step towards improving urban living conditions and fostering community responsibility.
“We are very happy to have been here today to launch this programme. It’s going to continue, and there’s going to be a monitoring process.” – SAnews.gov.za
The Special Tribunal has granted the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) an order to freeze assets – including luxury vehicles and property – worth some R20.3 million as part of an investigation into three alleged irregular Transnet property valuation contracts.
The contracts have a value of some R89 million.
“The order interdicts MM Real Estate (Pty) Ltd, Humphrey Tshepo Moyo, Neo Shown Matlala and any other party from selling, disposing, leasing, transferring, encumbering (including by granting rights of retention), transferring, donating, or dealing in any manner whatsoever to the frozen properties, pending the finalisation of civil proceedings,” the SIU said in a statement.
The corruption busting unit explained that its investigation has “uncovered significant irregularities in the awarding of three contracts for property valuation services to Transnet”.
“Transnet had referred various suspicious contracts involving Transnet Property to the SIU for further investigation. The contracts, awarded in 2019, 2021, and 2022, have a combined value of R89 million.
“Working closely with Transnet, the SIU’s investigation revealed serious flaws in the procurement processes, raising concerns about compliance with supply chain management regulations and the possibility of undue influence in the awarding of these contracts.
“Additionally, the SIU and Transnet reasonably believe that Transnet may not have received full and fair value for the payments made under the disputed contracts,” the unit said.
Any evidence of criminal activity will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further processing.
“The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by corruption, fraud, or maladministration,” the SIU concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
An initiative aimed at empowering a new generation of peacebuilders has been launched by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
The Minister launched the South African segment of the South Africa–Finland Youth Peace Mediators Mentoring Programme on Friday.
This innovative initiative, jointly implemented by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, aims to empower a new generation of peacebuilders in their efforts to promote global conflict resolution and achieve sustainable peace.
The one-year capacity-building initiative will establish a dynamic network of young peace mediators, providing them with practical tools to contribute effectively to peace negotiations, mediation, conflict resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction.
The programme directly supports the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250, the African Union Agenda 2063, particularly its youth-focused governance, peace, and security pillars, and the inclusion of youth in formal peace processes worldwide.
Lamola stressed the importance of launching the programme during South Africa’s Youth Month, which honours the legacy of young activists in the fight against apartheid, particularly the heroes of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
“We know too well that ethnic hatred poisons communities, that religious intolerance fractures societies, and that ideological fanaticism suffocates debate.
“When violence rises, freedoms crumble and the very light of democracy flickers under the storm of conflict. This is not some distant tragedy; it is the lived reality of women and children in Eastern DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo], Sudan, Gaza, and other places across our wounded world,” the Minister said.
By building bridges across continents, Lamola believes the world reaffirms that young people are not merely beneficiaries of peace, “but are essential agents of its creation.”
The department announced that 15 “exceptional” young peacebuilders were selected through a joint initiative by DIRCO’s Diplomatic Academy and Finland’s Centre for Peace Mediation.
These individuals will participate in various programmes, which include in-person workshops held in South Africa and Finland, study visits to the United Nations (UN) and African Union (AU) headquarters, and online sessions led by experts on specific themes related to peace mediation.
The participants come from conflict-affected and post-conflict societies, as well as nations that are leaders in global peacebuilding efforts.
This diverse group includes representatives from South Africa, Finland, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Qatar, South Sudan, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Strengthening international partnerships
Aligned with the South Africa-Finland Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the programme will advance a strategic peace mediation partnership between the two countries.
The department said it will also foster networking and knowledge-sharing among young peace mediators and provide mentorship by seasoned international peace practitioners.
The Minister underscored South Africa’s role in shaping inclusive, youth-driven solutions to global challenges, ensuring that the voices of the next generation define the future of peace. – SAnews.gov.za
The Ministry of Transport will convene a physical meeting with the full Board of the Road Accident Fund next week to discuss the precautionary suspension of Road Accident Fund (RAF) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Collins Letsoalo.
According to media reports, the board suspended Letsaolo for not attending a Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) last month.
However, this decision was later rescinded by the board, and he was instead suspended for insubordination.
“The meeting will evaluate the prospects of the current board to restore good governance and effective administration at the entity so that it fulfils its primary purpose of compensating road accident victims timeously,” the Department of Transport said on Friday.
The department will consider appropriate interventions post this meeting to ensure the stability of the entity, good governance and the fulfilment of its mandate.
“To ensure the speedy and equitable access to the Road Accident Benefit Scheme by thousands of road accident victims, the department intends to finalise the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill. The Bill will introduce a no-fault system to make it easier for road accident victims to access the benefits without costly legal bills.
“The Bill will also introduce standardised benefits and compensation to facilitate more equitable sharing of the benefits amongst claimants,” the department said.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, 10 June 2025. –SAnews.gov.za
The public service is often perceived as cumbersome and complex. In response, government has introduced targeted programmes to better prepare young people for careers in the public sector and the broader world of work.
As the country marks National Youth Month, two key initiatives—the Breaking Barriers to Entry into the Public Service (BB2E) programme and the Cadet Programme—are empowering graduates with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to thrive in public service roles.
Offered by the National School of Government, the five-day BB2E course and the 18-month Cadet Programme are designed for graduates with post-school qualifications, as well as interns in public sector departments and statutory bodies.
Addressing graduate unemployment
Graduate unemployment, particularly among those with post-school qualifications, continues to rise at an alarming rate. As one of the country’s largest employers, the public service has responded by creating opportunities for unemployed graduates through the Public Service Graduate Internship Programme, along with the BB2E and Cadet initiatives.
These programmes aim to equip graduates with practical skills and an understanding of how the public sector operates. They cover essential areas such as administration, communication, and job-readiness, providing a critical steppingstone toward meaningful employment.
This is a vital investment in youth development and capacity-building for the future of public service.
About the BB2E Course
The BB2E course introduces young participants to the structure and functioning of government. Key focus areas include: delivering quality public services; administration and management of public funds; performing basic administrative and communication functions; understanding policies guiding recruitment into public service; crafting effective CVs and interview preparation.
The orientation programme is underpinned by values and principles found in Chapter 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, (1996). It is aimed at orientating participants to the public service, how the public service is organised and the way the public service functions.
About the Cadet Programme
The 18-month Cadet Programme, a complementary initiative to BB2E, goes deeper by exploring the broader public sector landscape and touching on social entrepreneurship. It consists of four key modules: 1) The Constitution and the Administration of the Public Sector 2) Ethics in the Public Service 3) Writing for Government and 4) Personal Mastery.
The Personal Mastery module is particularly well-received by young people as it equips them with essential employability skills relevant in both public and private sectors, including: self-management; emotional intelligence; job search techniques; critical problem-solving; entrepreneurship and job creation.
Shaping the public servant of the future
These programmes aim to shape a new generation of public servants—cadres with a unique and progressive mindset. The ideal public servant is: • Innovative: Able to turn policy into effective action. • Inspirational: Motivated and capable of motivating others. • Exemplary: Committed to high standards at every level of work. • Resourceful: Sees opportunity in challenges, not excuses. • Impact-driven: Focused on tangible outcomes that meet public expectations. • Collaborative: Values partnerships, teamwork, and stakeholder engagement. • Accountable: Takes ownership of service delivery outcomes.
Recent successes
In the 2024/25 financial year a total of 1465 young people undergone training on the BB2E programme. While 4145 were trained on Personal Mastery and 1668 of these young people were part of the Youth empowerment and development programme within the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE).
In the current financial year, a total of 570 young participants from the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC), an empowerment programme under the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, completed the Personal Mastery course.
Feedback from both participants and departmental officials has been overwhelmingly positive and have requested that more young people undergo training on this programme.
As the NSG, we strongly encourage departments and government entities at all levels to enroll their interns and young professionals in the Cadet Programme. Together, we can build a more capable, ethical, and responsive public service through empowering one young person at a time.
Enrolment
For enquiries and enrolment relevant officials in departments should contact The National School of Government call centre on 0861008326, via email on contactcentre@thensg.gov.za or visit the website on www.thensg.gov.za.
*Dr Izimangaliso Malatjie is the Chief Director for Cadet and Foundation Management at the National School of Government.
Murder, rape and mysterious disappearances are among the horrifying crimes committed against South Africa’s children.
Over the years the nation has heard in horror, and watched in disbelief as news, always too inhumane to comprehend, unfolds about those we ought to be protecting the most.
Citizens have heard in horror of the now lifeless bodies of victims that have been found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches and seen in blow-by-blow detail, the violence that was perpetuated on often-lifeless bodies, more times than not found lying in pieces of veld, among bushes and in ditches.
Communities and the police rush around frantically forming search parties for the missing, while agile keyboard warriors also do their bit by spreading the word on missing children and adults alike, on the various social media platforms.
When children go missing, as was the case with six-year-old Joshlin Smith in 2024, law enforcement and communities go looking them. When children are mistreated and abused, the answer is to work together to rescue the child.
Some will blame government for the onslaught of violence against children, but, government cannot solve the issue on its own. The onslaught of violence against children requires at its foremost a community approach, and a change in thinking around children.
Children are no lesser human beings than adults. In fact, our Constitution states that every child (any person under the age of 18) has the right to basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services and social services as well as to be protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse or degradation.
The Children’s Act gives effect to certain rights of children as contained in the Constitution while also setting out principles relating to the care and protection of children while the Child Justice Act also exists to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book.
The Basic Education Laws Amendment Act seeks to improve safety at schools. The legislation is in place to protect the lives of the nation’s children. And yes, while some will say that the existence of the legislation does not necessarily mean that they are effectively being implemented; when implemented properly laws do work.
The judgement and sentencing of the trio involved in little Joshlin’s case is a victory in fighting back against the mistreatment of children, albeit the nation still being in the dark about what befell the Western Cape child.
The recent news that a staff member at Laerskool Dalmondeor in Johannesburg was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a Grade 2 learner and the case whereby a Durban mother who beat and strangled her three-year-old daughter Fadillah Chantel Kok to death, must lead us to re-evaluate the type of people we are and the society we live in.
The wellbeing of the nation’s children is important to government with Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe highlighting the worrying statistics of 26 852 cases of child abuse and neglect having been reported in the 2024/25 financial year.
Sexual abuse was reported to be at 9859 cases across the provinces with deliberate neglect being the second most prevalent at 9485 cases among others.
These incidents and others in the past have many of us questioning in rage, our moral compass no matter one’s colour or religion. Children ought to be running around barefoot and getting up to mischief across parks and recreational facilities in communities. However, this is not the case for parents and guardians who fear for their safety while playing.
According to the 2024 Mid-year population estimates released by Statistics South Africa, 27.5% of the population is aged younger than 15 years (16.8 million).
The rate of abuse and shocking cases of violence should jolt us into action to do more to protect the nation’s children at all times of the year and not only on days when the country marks Child Protection Week or Child Protection Month in May.
We should revisit the notion that your child is my child more than ever and not turn a blind eye when we see or hear of something untoward.
When we fail to protect children, we fail our country in the long term. If we are to raise generations of forward-thinking, responsible citizens that will take the country forward, it is in our best interest to do the best we can to shape the citizenry of tomorrow. And because the protection and care of children is a full-time job, government continues to provide the child support, disability and foster care grants as well as the school nutrition programme which provides meals to millions of children.
Government is also paying attention to the boy child through the facilitation of dialogues and engagement to foster an environment of positive masculinity where boys are encouraged to express their feelings. Children living with disabilities have also not been left out as they are among the most vulnerable people.
The enactment of legislation and the provision of funds through grants and government programmes are not the sole solution to protecting South Africa’s children.
The protection of children involves taking proactive steps which include taking the time to truly listen to what children have to say and ensuring that we believe them when they say they have been violated by a family member, teacher, preacher or whoever they may cross paths with.
Additionally, the inherent principle of ubuntu, also stresses that we help those around us. The wealth of a nation is not only measured in rands and cents, but also the priceless assets that are its children. Surely, we can ALL do better to protect them. –SAnews.gov.za
The thousands of runners participating in the Comrades 2025 ultramarathon this weekend can expect predominantly mild to warm and windy conditions, with partly cloudy to cloudy skies.
On Sunday, 8 June, the 98th edition of the Comrades Marathon will take place between Pietermaritzburg and Durban with as many as 22 677 runners.
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has cautioned runners about a cool change in the weather later in the day.
“… A coastal low and cold front are expected to move northwards up the KwaZulu-Natal coast, introducing colder, more moist conditions to the coast and adjacent interior.
“Moreover, there will be a risk of showers or thunderstorms developing over the Drakensberg, spreading to the coast in the evening,” SAWS said on Friday.
A particularly intense cut-off low system, associated with severe and extreme winter weather, is expected to affect South Africa in the coming days.
The weather service indicated that this system will begin affecting the Western and Northern Cape early on Saturday morning, 7 June 2025.
“By Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025, this extensive and severe winter weather system will have shifted further east over South Africa, affecting the central and eastern provinces.
“A significant and dramatic drop in daytime temperatures can be expected over all provinces, with the possible exception of Limpopo. Consequently, farmers of small stock are strongly advised to implement appropriate measures to prevent stock losses due to exposure to bitter cold and wind,” the SAWS said on Thursday.
The weather service has warned of snowfall over almost every province, with the exception of Limpopo.
Some of these snowfalls will be disruptive, affecting traffic flow over mountain passes, for example, the N3 highway at Van Reenen’s pass on Monday, 9 June 2025 and Tuesday, 10 June 2025.
“Given the intensity of the COL system, there is a low probability that Gauteng and the highveld region of Mpumalanga may experience light snowfalls Monday night, 9 June 2025, extending into Tuesday, 10 June 2025. However, at this stage there is significant uncertainty amongst the various numeric weather prediction models in this regard.
“Heavy rainfall leading to localised flooding and infrastructure damage will be experienced over parts of the Eastern Cape coast and adjacent interior on Sunday, shifting to southern KwaZulu-Natal on Monday,” SAWS said.
As of Sunday, many provinces will experience bitterly cold daytime conditions, with maximum temperatures unlikely to exceed +10 C. These conditions will be exacerbated by strong, gusty winds.
Strong, damaging surface winds can be expected over large parts of the interior provinces from Sunday, leading to an elevated risk of wildfires, especially over the central and eastern interior, ahead of the cold change.
These extreme conditions are expected to persist over some of the eastern provinces until Wednesday.
“Strong to near-gale force coastal winds and very rough seas from Friday along the south-west coast, spreading to the south and east coasts during Saturday, and lasting until at least Tuesday along the east coast,” SAWS said. – SAnews.gov.za
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, Chief United States District Court Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Malik Thompson, 23, of Baltimore, Maryland, to eight years and one month in federal prison for his role in the attempted armed robbery of a family-owned restaurant, which resulted in the death of his co-conspirator. Thompson previously pleaded guilty to one count of attempted interference with commerce by violence – the Hobbs Act robbery.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Acting Special Agent in Charge Amanda M. Koldjeski, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office, and Commissioner Richard Worley, Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
Thompson and two co-conspirators targeted employees of a family-owned restaurant after discovering that they regularly transported the business’s cash to their North Baltimore residence. Instead of robbing the restaurant directly, the conspirators planned to ambush the family at their home when they arrived with the day’s profits.
On the evening of August 10, 2020, Thompson and his accomplices executed their plan, waiting near the family’s residence. When the family returned home, one of Thompson’s co-conspirators brandished a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, confronted the victims, and demanded their money. After the family members resisted, the armed accomplice fired his weapon, striking one victim in the leg.
The wounded victim, acting in self-defense, drew his personal firearm and returned fire, fatally wounding the armed robber. Thompson and the second accomplice immediately fled the scene by vehicle, abandoning their wounded co-conspirator who died from his injuries hours later.
Following the incident, Thompson fled to an Owings Mills residence. Federal and local investigators conducted a thorough investigation of the crime scene, recovering crucial physical evidence, including a shoe that fell off as the perpetrators fled.
DNA analysis of the recovered shoe matched Thompson’s DNA profile, directly linking him to the crime scene. Additional evidence gathered during the investigation included cell-site location data and text-message records that further corroborated Thompson’s participation in the conspiracy and attempted armed robbery.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and BPD for their investigative efforts. Ms. Hayes also thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Gordin who prosecuted the case.
