Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese medical team provides free health checkups to rural community in South Sudan
JUBA, Jan. 27 — The 12th batch of the Chinese medical team recently visited Juba Nabari, a local village north of Juba, the capital of South Sudan, to provide free medical checkups and treatment to hundreds of ailing patients.
Fauzia Lotombiko, a 50-year-old mother of eight, was one of several patients who braved the sweltering heat to seek treatment under a mango shed. The Chinese doctors provided Lotombiko with medication to regulate her blood pressure and relieve some back pain.
Since 2014, Lotombiko has endured immense back pain after a fall, and her condition worsened when she was later diagnosed with high blood pressure. This condition has robbed her of the ability to do normal chores and forced her to stay at home.
“The arrival of the Chinese doctors in my home village gave me hope of recovery. In addition to giving me essential medicines, they also gave me advice,” Lotombiko said Saturday.
James Jada, 41, brought his daughter to the Chinese medical team. He said he had given up trying to find proper treatment for her severe flu and cough, which had been going on since last November.
Jada said he was hopeful that his daughter’s condition would improve with the medication he was given to treat her. The doctors did a complete physical exam on Jada’s daughter before recommending the medication.
“I thank the Chinese doctors for taking care of my daughter. I hope that my daughter’s condition will improve, and I believe that healing is not instantaneous, but a process,” said Jada.
Pierina Abraham Norah, a 50-year-old woman who suffered from severe back and joint pain, was visited at home by Chinese doctors to assess her condition. She thanked the Chinese doctors for their compassion for the needy in her community.
Natalie Kon Justine, Abraham’s son, who organized the arrival of the Chinese medical team to conduct outreaches in his village, commended them for reducing the burden of disease in his community.
“This village has a good number of health clinics, but they are very expensive, and many citizens cannot easily afford the cost of treatment at these private health facilities around here,” Justine said. “This medical outreach has eased the burden of treatment for many families because the medicines provided by the Chinese doctors are effective.”
Du Changyong, leader of the 12th batch of the Chinese medical team, said the visit to Juba Nabari was aimed at implementing the outcomes of the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the program of “100 Medical Teams in 1,000 Villages” to provide medical services to people at the grassroots level.
According to Du, the 12th batch of the Chinese medical team arrived in South Sudan in September 2024, and they have already served 6,300 outpatients, carried out 64 surgical operations, and treated 441 patients in critical condition. The team has also provided traditional Chinese medicine treatment to 1,200 patients, carried out laboratory tests on 850 patients, provided image testing to 800 patients, and introduced the new medical technology used at the Juba Teaching Hospital.
In early December 2024, the 12th batch of the Chinese medical team provided medical outreach services to hundreds of patients in Lobonok town on the outskirts of Juba.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – United States Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that FEI WANG “WANG,” age 38, pled guilty on January 24, 2025 to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS) and for obstructing proceedings, and was sentenced during the same proceeding to 3 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release and payment of a $200 mandatory special assessment fee.
WANG, a Chinese national, was the Chief Engineer of the M/V ASL Singapore, a Chinese-owned bulk carrier registered in Liberia and engaged in trade in the United States. The ASL Singapore arrived in New Orleans on February 26, 2024. The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an inspection, which included review of the vessel’s Oil Record Books. In his plea, WANG acknowledged presenting these books to the Coast Guard knowing they contained fraudulent entries and omitted information about discharging oily bilge water directly overboard before arriving in the United States. The falsified logs were intended to conceal the fact that since at least October 2023, when WANG boarded the vessel, the crew had dumped oily bilge water overboard directly from the bilge holding tank and was not complying with international treaties regulating oil pollution from ships.
According to court documents and statements, the crew used a portable pump and flexible hose—a so-called “magic pipe”—to dispose of oily bilge water in violation of MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and without the use of the appropriate pollution prevention equipment and monitoring. This was done prior to WANG boarding the vessel and continued while he was Chief Engineer, in charge of all engine room operations. The vessel’s Oily Water Separator was never properly used during WANG’s time as Chief Engineer.
“Today’s sentencing highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) to hold individuals accountable for violations of MARPOL, particularly in cases involving the discharge of oily waste,” stated Damon J. Youmans, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Gulf Field Office. “CGIS will continue to collaborate with our partners from the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard, Sector New Orleans to enforce environmental laws and investigate these offenses.”
The Coast Guard Investigative Service and the EPA Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case with assistance from U.S. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine M. Calogero of the General Crimes Unit, and G. Dall Kammer, Chief of the General Crimes Unit, are prosecuting the case.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Monday called on the UN Security Council to act decisively to address the worsening atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.
Briefing ambassadors, Karim Khan highlighted the urgent need for justice and accountability as violence and humanitarian suffering escalate.
“Criminality is accelerating in Darfur. Civilians are being targeted, women and girls are subjected to sexual violence, and entire communities are left in destruction,” he said.
“This is not just an assessment; it is a hard-edged analysis based on verified evidence.”
Violence in Darfur has displaced thousands of families and devastated the region, with vital civilian infrastructure attacked, civilians killed and communities suffering from famine and disease.
Deepening crisis
The gravity of the situation in the wider region was underscored by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who condemned a 24 January attack on the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher, North Darfur.
At least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, and dozens more injured.
“This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of warhave left much of Sudan’s health care system in tatters,” Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said in a statement.
The Secretary-General reiterated that international humanitarian law mandates the protection of medical facilities and personnel and that the deliberate targeting of such facilities may constitute a war crime.
He also renewed his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a sustainable, inclusive political dialogue to end the conflict.
“We hear those echoes that gave rise to the original referral,” he said, warning that a new generation is suffering the same atrocities endured by their parents.
The ICC Prosecutor announced that his office is preparing applications for new arrest warrants tied to alleged crimes committed in West Darfur.
He emphasised that these applications would only proceed with robust evidence to ensure a realistic prospect of conviction, reinforcing the ICC’s commitment to justice for victims.
Mr. Khan also stressed the need for greater cooperation in transferring ICC fugitives, including former President Omar al-Bashir and other high-ranking officials accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Deja vu
The ICC Prosecutor also painted a grim picture of Darfur’s humanitarian and security landscape.
“The same communities targeted 20 years ago are suffering today, with crimes being used as weapons of war,” Mr. Khan stated, stressing that such acts violate international humanitarian law and demanded an immediate halt to the violence.
The trial of Ali Kushayb
Mr. Khan also highlighted the significance of the ICC trial of Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known as Ali Kushayb, addressing crimes committed in 2003 and 2004.
This trial has shown the people of Darfur that they are not forgotten and “not airbrushed out of public consciousness” he said, highlighting the efforts made by Darfuris themselves to ensure justice and accountability.
Mr. Khan concluded by emphasising the moral and legal responsibility of the international community to deliver justice.
“The people of Darfur are in danger, and they have a right to justice. It is time to deliver on the promise of resolution 1593,” he said.
“It is time for us collectively to join hands and deliver on that promise to prevent this constant cycle of despair that generations of Darfuris have suffered.”
Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has officially given the green light to the PNG media policy, which will soon be presented to Parliament for formal enactment.
Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Timothy Masiu believes this policy will address ongoing concerns about sensationalism, ethical standards, and the portrayal of violence in the media.
In an interview with NBC News in Port Moresby, Masiu outlined the urgent need for a shift in the nation’s media practices.
PNG’s Information and Communication Technology Minister Timothy Masiu . . . “It’s time for Papua New Guinea’s media to evolve and reflect the values that truly define us.” Image: NBC News
“We must be more responsible in how we report and portray the issues that matter most to our country. It’s time for Papua New Guinea’s media to evolve and reflect the values that truly define us,” he said.
“Sensational headlines, graphic images of violence, and depictions of suffering do nothing to build our national identity. They only hurt our reputation globally.”
Minister Masiu said the policy aimed to regulate sensitive contents and shift towards “more constructive and informative” coverage.
According to Masiu, the policy’s long-term goal was to protect the public from harmful content while empowering journalists to play a positive role in nation-building.
“This policy isn’t about stifling press freedom. It’s about ensuring that media in Papua New Guinea serves the public good by upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,” Masiu said.
Meanwhile, the policy also acknowledged the media’s significant influence on public opinion and its role in national development.
Masiu added that once the policy was passed into law, it would become a guiding framework for media institutions across the nation, laying the foundation for a new era of journalism in Papua New Guinea.
Republished from NBC News.
Persistent criticism Pacific Media Watch reports that the draft media policy law and consultation process have been controversial and faced persistent criticisms from journalists, the PNG Media Council (MCPNG) and Transparency international PNG.
Version 5 of the policy is here, but it is not clear whether that is the version Masiu says is ready.
Civicus references an incident last August when a PNG journalist was barred from a press briefing by the visiting Indonesian president-elect Prabowo Subianto and said this came “amid growing concern about the government’s plan to regulate the press under its so-called media development policy”.
As fighting intensifies between the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group and Congolese forces, UN chief of Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix underscored the critical state of the battle for eastern DRC’s regional capital Goma, describing the crisis as “volatile and dangerous”.
In a briefing on Monday, Mr. Lacroix told journalists in New York that some staff from the UN’s Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) was forced to seek shelter for a few hours due to the ongoing conflict.
He explained that this had “limited their ability to have the full level of information that they would have gotten if they had not been sheltering”, making it difficult to assess the fast-evolving situation.
Mr. Lacroix said that peacekeepers remain in their positions but noted that safety was “paramount” for non-essential personnel and their dependents, who have been relocated away from Goma.
He confirmed that MONUSCO personnel would continue to deliver on their mandate to the best of their ability, including protecting civilians and disarming combatants in accordance with international humanitarian law.
“The fate of the millions of civilians living in Goma or having been displaced is really the priority, along with the safety and security of UN personnel,” Mr. Lacroix said.
“What is unfolding in Goma is coming on top of already one of the most protracted, complex, serious humanitarian crises on Earth, with close to 6.5 million displaced people in the country, including close to three million displaced people in North Kivu,” he said.
He described scenes of mass displacement and violence: “Civilians are taking the brunt of the escalating hostilities”, with heavy artillery fire “directed at the city centre” including a maternity hospital.
“For example, several shells struck the Charity Maternity Hospital in central Goma, killing and injuring civilians, including newborn and pregnant women,” he emphasised.
“[Hospitals] are struggling to manage the influx of wounded people,” he said, noting that basic services, including water, electricity and internet, are severely disrupted.
Mr. Lemarquis called for temporary humanitarian pauses to facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians and ensure aid delivery. “We must act now to prevent further loss of life and alleviate the suffering of the people of Goma,” he urged.
Rwanda’s role
Responding to questions about Rwanda’s involvement, Mr. Lacroix confirmed the presence of Rwandan troops supporting M23 in Goma, citing significant troop numbers.
He condemned the killing of peacekeepers, noting that three had died, including two from South Africa and one from Uruguay, with 12 others injured.
The Under-Secretary-General reiterated the UN’s call for all parties, including Rwanda, to respect the safety and security of UN personnel.
Regarding Rwanda’s role as a leading troop-contributing country to UN missions, Mr. Lacroix stated, “At this moment, we have to focus on the emergency, with saving as many lives as possible, and trying to bring about the cessation of hostilities.”
Diplomatic efforts
Mr Lacroix reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting regional peace initiatives, welcoming the East African Community’s plan for a summit on 28 January and an African Union Peace and Security Council session on Tuesday.
Both officials stressed the urgency of international engagement, with Mr. Lemarquis highlighting a recent $70 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support humanitarian efforts.
The press conference concluded with a stark message from Mr. Lacroix: “I urge the international community to intensify its engagement to prevent the bloodshed and to support the humanitarian response. We must act now.”
Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
A police sergeant who sold stolen service weapons has been indicted on federal gun charges, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Chad Meacham.
Thomas Michael Fry, 52, was indicted Wednesday with three counts of possession and sale of a stolen firearm.
“Police officers have a sacred duty to uphold the rule of law. Instead, this sergeant betrayed his department – and his community – by allegedly pawning stolen firearms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not hesitate to pursue charges against law enforcement officers who fail to live up to their oaths.”
According to the indictment, at least three 9mm Sig Sauer pistols were stolen from a Dallas Police Department substation.
Sgt. Fry, a Dallas Police Officer, then allegedly pawned the firearms through a pawn shop in Oklahoma.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Sgt. Fry is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted of the federal charges, he faces up to 30 years in federal prison.
Sgt. Fry has also been charged by the state with three counts of theft of a firearm.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives’ Dallas Field Division and the Dallas Police Department conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua D. Detzky and Marty Basu are prosecuting the case.
January 27, 2025: Supporting access to electricity for hundreds of millions of people, the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is joining Mission 300 with an up to US$2 billion pledge. The institution will initially commit US$1 billion to support the initiative and potentially contribute an additional US$1 billion following a progress and demand evaluation in 2027. Launched by the World Bank Group (WBG) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in collaboration with partners, the initiative aims to connect 300 million people to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
The OPEC Fund made its pledge at the African Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Monday. President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “Mission 300 has the potential to be a real game-changer for millions of people in Africa. Access to electricity will support livelihoods, empower people to set up businesses, unlock opportunities and generate economic growth. The OPEC Fund has always pursued Sustainable Development Goal 7 – Access to Affordable and Clean Energy as one of our core goals and today’s pledge further strengthens this commitment.”
Addressing energy poverty in an environment-friendly way is a key concern of the OPEC Fund. Guided by its Climate Action Plan, the institution has significantly scaled up its engagements in recent years, especially in Africa where about 600 million people still lack access to electricity. New projects across the continent include the Niger Solar Plant Development and Electricity Access Improvement Project and the Suez Wind Power Plant in Egypt. The OPEC Fund is also a pioneer in clean cooking solutions and signed a corresponding US$35 million loan with the Republic of Madagascar in September 2024.
Africa is the largest region of operations for the OPEC Fund. Since inception in 1976, the institution has provided some US$15 billion in public and private sector financing to countries across the continent. The OPEC Fund’s engagement is focused on empowering Africa’s huge potential based on natural resources and a skilled, young workforce.
Mission 300 focuses on expanding the electricity grid, increasing connections in underserved areas and deploying mini-grids and standalone solar solutions to bring power to remote, off-grid communities. At the same time, Mission 300 is modernizing Africa’s energy sector by catalyzing infrastructure investment, driving comprehensive policy reforms and mobilizing private investment.
The African Heads of States Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam (January 27-28) will highlight the urgent need for reliable, affordable and sustainable energy across the continent. Mahmoud Khene, OPEC Fund Regional Director for West & Central Africa, represented President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa at the event.
About the OPEC Fund
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively. The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world.
The OPEC Fund was established in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people. Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education.
To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$29 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of more than US$200 billion. The OPEC Fund is rated AA+/Outlook Stable by Fitch and AA+, Outlook Stable by S&P. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the ICC’s work in Sudan.
First, the Prosecutor was clear that the conflict in Sudan has gone on for far too long.
My Foreign Secretary saw the scale of the suffering for himself when he visited the Adre crossing on the Chad-Sudan border on Saturday.
As the Foreign Secretary said, this is the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world.
For this reason, the UK has announced a further £20m in funding to assist with increased food production and life-saving sexual and reproductive health services for refugees fleeing Sudan.
This builds on our announcement in November of the doubling of our aid to over £226m.
These funds are delivering emergency food assistance to almost 800,000 displaced people.
They are providing improved access to shelter, drinking water, emergency healthcare and education.
Further efforts to galvanise international support are also required.
This is why my Foreign Secretary announced his intention to convene a meeting of foreign ministers to ensure aid gets to where it is needed most and to re-energise efforts to end this conflict.
Second, the International Criminal Court has a key role to play in ensuring perpetrators are held accountable for crimes committed in Darfur.
In that context, the United Kingdom welcomes the creation of a structured dialogue between the Office of the Prosecutor and Civil Society Organisations.
This can help ensure that the voices of victims are heard.
We further welcome the conclusion of the Ali Kushayb trial in December 2024.
As the first trial to be concluded in a Situation referred to the Court by the UN Security Council, this represents a historic milestone.
We look forward to hearing updates on any further applications for arrest warrants.
Third, the UK reiterates our call for full cooperation with the Court.
We welcome the constructive engagement by the Sudanese authorities with the ICC during this reporting period.
We further urge them to cooperate with the ICC to ensure the arrest and surrender of those subject to outstanding arrest warrants: Omar Al Bashir, Abdel Raheem Muhammad Hussein and Ahmad Harun.
Mr President, let me conclude by reiterating the UK’s continued support for the Court, and our respect for its independence.
It is important that the ICC is able to carry out its important work in Darfur and elsewhere without interference.
Sanctioning the ICC in response to one of its decisions would impede its ability to carry out this important work, in Darfur, Venezuela, Ukraine and in all situations where the Court is active.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
January 27, 2025
This is the second known instance of Mr. Patel breaking hostage recovery protocol to inappropriately insert himself in a sensitive or high-profile recovery mission
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Defense (DOD), the State Department, and the Department of Treasury requesting they produce all relevant materials related to alleged misconduct by Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of the FBI, related to the rescue of two Americans held captive by Iranian-backed militants in Yemen. Allegedly, Mr. Patel publicly commented without authorization and prior to the confirmed safe retrieval of the two hostages. If true, Mr. Patel appears to have inappropriately involved himself in a sensitive operation with no regard to the safety of the hostages or the success of the mission.
Durbin wrote, “I have recently received highly credible information revealing that while serving in the first Trump Administration’s National Security Council, Kash Patel broke protocol regarding hostage rescues by publicly commenting without authorization on the then in-progress retrieval of two Americans held captive by Iranian-backed militants in Yemen in October 2020.”
On October 14, 2020, the Wall Street Journal first published comments from Mr. Patel regarding the hostage swap at 10:55 a.m., several hours before the hostages were confirmed to be in the custody of the United States. In the wake of multiple failed hostage recovery missions, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell was created in 2015 as a multi-agency group housed in the FBI tasked with coordinating the recovery of Americans held hostage abroad and improving communications with impacted families and the public. The Fusion Cell’s specific protocols are in place to help protect the privacy of impacted families and ensure the timing for public acknowledgement of a hostage rescue effort does not endanger these sensitive life-or-death missions.
The letter continued, “The information my office received alleges that Mr. Patel inserted himself inappropriately in a hostage recovery mission and violated these protocols. Mr. Patel, prior to his interview with the Wall Street Journal and contrary to his public assertions, allegedly had no role in the planning, negotiations, or execution of this hostage recovery. The source also alleges the interagency communications were clear that there would be no public comment until after the recovery was complete, and the families were notified.”
“Mr. Patel’s nomination to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Among the many qualities and qualifications the Senate must consider when reviewing presidential appointments is whether the nominee has the requisite character and fitness to be entrusted with the authority of their position. This is the second known instance of Mr. Patel breaking hostage recovery protocol to inappropriately insert himself in a sensitive or high-profile recovery mission. An official who puts missions and the lives of Americans in jeopardy for public notoriety and personal gain is unfit to lead the country’s primary federal law enforcement and investigation agency. This Committee has a constitutional obligation to perform oversight over the FBI and to provide advice and consent on the nominations of officers to lead the Bureau,” the letter wrote.
In the letter, Durbin requests the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell protocols for public acknowledgement of successful hostage rescue missions, communications between the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell and Mr. Patel, and all of the cables regarding the rescue mission during the relevant four days in order to validate this new allegation. Durbin requests all relevant information no later than January 30, the date of Mr. Patel’s confirmation hearing.
In October 2020, Mr. Patel was accused of breaking protocol and incorrectly providing foreign airspace approval during the rescue of Philip Walton in northern Nigeria.
Full text of the letter is available here and below.
January 27, 2025
Dear Acting Director Driscoll, Secretary Hegseth, Secretary Rubio, and Acting Secretary Lebryk:
I have recently received highly credible information revealing that while serving in the first Trump Administration’s National Security Council, Kash Patel broke protocol regarding hostage rescues by publicly commenting without authorization on the then in-progress retrieval of two Americans held captive by Iranian-backed militants in Yemen in October 2020.
On October 14, 2020, the Wall Street Journal first published comments from Mr. Patel regarding the hostage swap at 10:55 a.m., several hours before the hostages were in confirmed custody of the United States. In the wake of multiple failed hostage recovery missions, the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell was created in 2015 as a multi-agency group housed in the FBI tasked with coordinating the recovery of Americans held hostage abroad and improving communications with impacted families and the public. The specific protocols are in place to help protect the privacy of the impacted families and ensure the timing for public acknowledgement of a hostage rescue effort does not endanger these sensitive life-or-death missions. The information my office received alleges that Mr. Patel inserted himself inappropriately in a hostage recovery mission and violated these protocols. Mr. Patel, prior to his interview with the Wall Street Journal and contrary to his public assertions, allegedly had no role in the planning, negotiations, or execution of this hostage recovery. The source also alleges the interagency communications were clear that there would be no public comment until after the recovery was complete, and the families were notified.
Mr. Patel’s nomination to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Among the many qualities and qualifications the Senate must consider when reviewing presidential appointments is whether the nominee has the requisite character and fitness to be entrusted with the authority of their position. This is the second known instance of Mr. Patel breaking hostage recovery protocol to inappropriately insert himself in a sensitive or high-profile recovery mission. An official who puts missions and the lives of Americans in jeopardy for public notoriety and personal gain is unfit to lead the country’s primary federal law enforcement and investigation agency. This Committee has a constitutional obligation to perform oversight over the FBI and to provide advice and consent on the nominations of officers to lead the Bureau. To those ends, please provide the following information:
The Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell protocols for the public acknowledgement of hostage rescue missions, including any ad hoc protocols established specifically for the rescue of Ms. Sandra Loli and Mr. Mikael Gidada;
All records between February 1, 2020 through October 15, 2020 reflecting or relating to communications between and among Mr. Patel and the Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell concerning the rescue of Ms. Sandra Loli and Mr. Mikael Gidada;
All interagency cables and memos from October 11, 2020 through October 15, 2020 concerning the rescue of Ms. Sandra Loli and Mr. Mikael Gidada; and
All records reflecting or relating to authorization permitting Mr. Patel to disclose any details concerning the rescue of Ms. Sandra Loli and Mr. Mikael Gidada prior to receiving confirmation of their retrieval and/or notification to the families.
Please provide these materials as soon as possible, and no later than January 30, 2025. I appreciate your prompt attention to this important request.
Sincerely,
-30-
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and reiterates his strongest condemnation of the M23 [23 March Movement] armed group’s ongoing offensive and advances towards Goma in North Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces.
In the last 48 hours, two United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) peacekeepers from South Africa and one peacekeeper from Uruguay were killed while implementing the mandate entrusted upon them by the Security Council. Eleven peacekeepers sustained injuries and are being treated in the UN hospital in Goma.
The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers as well as to their Governments and the people of South Africa and Uruguay, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. He pays tribute to the bravery of all the United Nations peacekeepers while implementing their mandate to protect civilians and defend them against armed group violence, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. He recalls that attacks against United Nations personnel may constitute a war crime. He calls on the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call to respect the ceasefire agreement. He calls on M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. He further calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to M23 and withdraw from Democratic Republic of the Congo territory. He reaffirms the United Nations support to the Luanda Process and calls for an immediate resumption of negotiations in this framework.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the attack that hit the Saudi Teaching Hospital in El Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur state on 24 January, in which at least 70 patients and their relatives were reportedly killed, with dozens more wounded.
This appalling attack which affected the only functioning hospital in Darfur’s largest city comes after more than 21 months of war have left much of Sudan’s healthcare system in tatters.
The Secretary-General reiterates that, under international humanitarian law, the wounded and sick, as well as medical personnel and medical facilities, must be respected and protected at all times. He further recalls that perpetrators of serious violations of international humanitarian law must be held accountable, and that the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities may constitute a war crime.
The Secretary-General renews his appeal for the parties to immediately cease the fighting and take steps towards the lasting peace that the people of Sudan demand.
Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution to express support for the Paris Climate Accords, an international agreement on climate change. The resolution also highlights significant climate and clean energy actions taken by local and state governments, critical investments made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, and widespread support for the Paris Agreement. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the agreement – meaning that the U.S. joins Iran, Yemen, and Libya as the only countries in the world not party to the Paris Accords.
“From sea level rise in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore to hurricanes in Southwest Virginia, climate change is affecting us all and threatening the safety of our communities,” said Kaine. “I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by President Trump’s short-sighted withdrawal from the Paris Accords, and that’s why I’m joining my colleagues in introducing this resolution to express support for the goals of the climate agreement. I remain committed to building on our progress in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resiliency, accelerate clean energy production, and keep Americans safe.”
On November 4, 2020, the first Trump Administration withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. The Biden Administration re-entered the U.S. into the agreement in January 2021. In December 2024, the Biden Administration released an updated Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, establishing an emission-reduction target of 61 to 66 percent below 2005 levels by 2035.
The resolution is led by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
The resolution is endorsed by Union of Concerned Scientists and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Full text of the resolution is available here.
Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) jointly organised an international technology policy summit titled “Technology Dialogue 2025: Exploring New Frontiers in Technology Diplomacy” on 24 and 25 January 2025 in IISc, Bengaluru as a continuation to Dialogue 2023 held in November 2023.
Recognising the importance of technology in driving India’s global partnerships, the summit focused on India’s international technology engagement framework, and the need for leveraging strategic partnerships on critical and emerging technologies such as quantum, AI, semiconductors, space tech, and bioeconomy.
The summit was inaugurated with a keynote address on International Technology Engagement Framework (ITEF) by the Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who highlighted various national initiatives and missions aimed at advancing India’s technological aspirations while emphasizing the importance of global partnerships and collaborations. Hon’ble Minister Dr Singh also emphasised the need for a structured framework and approach in elevating India’s International Technology Engagements. The inauguration ceremony was joined by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood (Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India), H.E. Pavan Kapoor (Deputy National Security Adviser, Government of India), Shri S. Raghuram (Joint Secretary of Policy Planning & Research, Ministry of External Affairs), Prof. G. Rangarajan (Director of IISc), and Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Chairperson and Managing Director of Biocon), and was chaired by Prof. G.K. Ananthasuresh (Dean of the Division of Mechanical Sciences, IISc). PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood delivered a special address on conceptualisation and building blocks of ITEF. Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw delivered a special address on industrial perspective that should shape India’s ITEF.
The summit featured a keynote address on leveraging strategic partnerships on critical and emerging technologies for India by H.E. Pavan Kapoor (Deputy National Security Adviser, Government of India). This was followed by a featured panel on expanding the contours of international engagements for technology partnerships featuring H.E. Chandru Iyer (His Majesty’s Deputy Trade Commissioner for Investment for Souh Asia, Deputy High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Karnataka and Kerala), H.E. Carly Partridge (Minister Counsellor, Australian High Commission), H.E. Alfonso Tagliaferri (Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru), Dr Soren Tranberg Hansen (Consulate General of Denmark) and Dr Rama Swami Bansal (Chief Scientist & Head, International S&T Affairs Directorate, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
The second day began with a keynote address on Technology and Development Partnerships of India by Shri Periasamy Kumaran, Special Secretary (ER & DPA), Ministry of External Affairs where he highlighted the ongoing bilateral efforts of Government of India with multiple countries in emerging and critical technologies.
Thematic panel on ‘Fostering Collaboration for Quantum Revolution’ was organised on to deliberate on advancements in quantum technologies and policy imperatives globally. The panel began with a lead presentation by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood highlighting features of India’s National Quantum Mission (NQM). The panel also featured Prof Andrew White (ARC Australian Laureate Fellow), Dr Amith Singhee (Director, IBM Research India) and Prof Urbasi Sinha (Professor at Raman Research Institute), moderated by Mr Luke Preskey (Chief Revenue Officer, Resonance).
The summit also featured a dialogue between Dr S Somanath (Former Secretary, Department of Space and former Chairman of ISRO), and Dr Koichi Wakata (Astronaut and CTO, Asia-Pacific at Axiom Space) on the theme, ‘Unlocking Potentials of Space Tech’ discussing space exploration boom, the entry of private entities, industry partners and foreign investment, as well the encouraging growth of space startups.
The panel on ‘Accelerating Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation’ featured Shri S Krishnan (Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), H.E. Arthur Barichard (Deputy Ambassador for Digital Affairs, Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Republic of France), Ms Laxmi Shenoy (Managing Director, Accenture), Shri Biswajit Das (Head – Data Analytics and AI, Amazon Web Services), and Dr Leah Junck (Global Center on AI Governance, South Africa), moderated by Prof Chiranjib Bhattacharyya (Chair, Department of Computer Science and Automation, IISc). The panel deliberated on building a trustworthy AI ecosystem, focusing on AI governance, the future of work, and AI for public interest.
The panel on ‘Advancing India’s Bio-Economy’ featured Dr Alka Sharma (Adviser, Department of Biotechnology), Shri Krishna Mohan Puvvada (Senior Vice President, MEIA Novonesis), Mr Peter Bains (Group CEO of Biocon Group), Prof Usha Vijayraghavan (Dean, Biological Science Division, IISc) and Dr Bhuvnesh Shrivastava (Director- Healthcare, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), moderated by Prof Gayatri Saberwal (Dean, Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology). The panel discussed the importance of international collaboration for India to achieve its bio-economy ambitions.
The valedictory session featured a keynote address on driving sectoral transformation through independent and synergistic technology advancements by Dr Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. The session also featured a fireside chat on positioning India in the global semiconductor value chain between Shri Utpal Shah (Senior Vice President – Strategy and Business Development, Tata Electronics) and Prof Andrew White, chaired by Prof Navakanta Bhat (Dean, Division of Interdisciplinary Sciences, IISc).
The Technology Dialogue 2025 also featured the India-France AI Policy Roundtable: Roadmap for the AI Action Summit 2025. The roundtable was co-chaired by Shri Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and Chief Executive Officer of the IndiaAI Mission, representing India, and H.E. Mr. Marc Lamy, Consul General of France in Bengaluru, representing France. The discussion focused on key policy positions related to global AI development and governance, while also exploring opportunities for collaboration and synergy between India and France. The roundtable focused on the following key objectives:
● Unified Global AI Governance
● Understanding AI Technologies and Implications
● Addressing Digital Divide and Market Concentration
● Common and Open AI Infrastructure
● Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in AI
● Sustaining AI Innovation and Addressing Resource Needs
The India-France AI Policy Roundtable, during Technology Dialogue 2025, served as a platform for discussions leading up to the 2025 AI Action Summit to be co-chaired by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The two day summit exploring technology policy and diplomacy efforts with key partner countries witnessed the participation from various foreign missions in India, global thought leaders on critical and emerging technologies, industry and academia thought leadership in various technologies, industries bodies, start-ups and scholars of public policy.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and reiterates his strongest condemnation of the M23 armed group’s ongoing offensive and advances towards Goma in North Kivu with the support of the Rwanda Defence Forces.
In the last 48 hours, two MONUSCO peacekeepers from South Africa and one peacekeeper from Uruguay were killed while implementing the mandate entrusted upon them by the Security Council. Eleven peacekeepers sustained injuries and are being treated in the UN hospital in Goma.
The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers as well as to their Governments and the people of South Africa and Uruguay, and wishes a swift recovery to the injured. He pays tribute to the bravery of all the United Nations peacekeepers while implementing their mandate to protect civilians and defend them against armed group violence, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) and the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
The Secretary-General reminds all parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law. He recalls that attacks against United Nations personnel may constitute a war crime. He calls on the appropriate authorities to investigate this incident and swiftly bring those responsible to justice.
The Secretary-General reiterates his call to respect the ceasefire agreement. He calls on the M23 to immediately cease all hostile actions and withdraw from occupied areas. He further calls on the Rwanda Defence Forces to cease support to the M23 and withdraw from DRC territory. He reaffirms the United Nations’ support to the Luanda process and calls for an immediate resumption of negotiations in this framework.
Source: United States Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana)
WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) penned this op-ed in The Telegraph arguing that the United Kingdom was right to consult the Trump administration before ceding sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the key U.S.-U.K. military base on Deigo Garcia, to Mauritius.
Key excerpts of the op-ed are below:
“Sir Keir Starmer appears to have had a change of heart when it comes to working with the Trump administration—and that’s a good thing.
“Just a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister was poised to sign away the fate of a joint U.K.-U.S. military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.
“According to reports, Starmer and members of the outgoing Biden administration wanted to finali[z]e the agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands—including Diego Garcia—to Mauritius before President Trump could take his oath.
“Fortunately, cooler—and perhaps wiser—heads prevailed. Prime Minister Starmer agreed to welcome President Trump to the negotiating table. This is great news. Friends don’t strike deals behind each other’s backs, especially when our shared security is on the line.”
. . .
“The idea that the U.K. must hand over the islands to atone for whatever perceived wrongs Britain’s forefathers may have committed is nonsense. The [United Nations] does not care about what is best for the Chagossian, British or American people. They only care about furthering a misguided anti-Western agenda.
“The U.K. is our ally, and Mauritius is our friend, but this is a matter of national security for the U.S. Anyone who expects the Trump administration to elevate the sensitivities of U.N. militants above the best interests of America and our allies is writing a [check] that can’t be cashed.
“The Chagossian, American and British people would all be safer if this deal with Mauritius found its way into the shredder for good.”
Background
On Jan. 15, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that he wanted President Trump and his administration to weigh in on any deal struck between the U.K. and Mauritius regarding the transfer of the Chagos Islands, including the transfer of the U.S.-U.K. shared military base on the island of Diego Garcia.
The U.K. had previously announced on Oct. 3, 2024, that it had reached a deal with Mauritius to cede the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. The decision to consider ceding sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius followed a years-long pressure campaign from the United Nations.
On Oct. 23, 2024, Kennedy wrote to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken seeking answers about the Biden administration’s involvement in the deal between the U.K. and Mauritius.
Kennedy also penned this op-ed in Oct. arguing that the Biden administration owes the American people an explanation for its decision to allow this deal between the U.K. and Mauritius to move forward.
Former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.), President Trump’s nominee for National Security Advisor, has criticized the deal, saying, “Should the U.K. cede control of the Chagos to Mauritius, I have no doubt that China will take advantage of the resulting vacuum.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has similarly condemned the deal and said it “poses a serious threat to our national security interests in the Indian Ocean and threatens critical U.S. military posture in the region.”
Read Kennedy’s full op-ed here.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Amigoni, Professor of Victorian Literature, Editorial Board Chair, Keele University
In Ian McEwan’s Atonement (2001), aspiring writer 13-year-old Briony Tallis glimpses a world of opaque “adult emotion”. Holding a pen and blank paper before her, she feels a powerful impulse to write in order to impose order and meaning on adulthood’s slippery uncertainties.
Earlier on that hot summer’s day in 1935, she had witnessed a perplexing scene of seeming “ugly threat”. Her older sister, Cecilia, undressed in front of their cleaning lady’s son (and fellow Cambridge graduate) Robbie Turner. She then plunged, in her underwear, into an ornamental fountain.
Briony’s urge to write is triggered when she reads the private note she had been tasked with delivering from Robbie to Cecilia. Within, she is shocked to discover Robbie’s desire for Cecilia, expressed through use of the unutterable “c” word. Later, looking through the door of their darkened library, Briony mistakenly believes she sees Robbie committing a violent assault on her sister.
This article is part of Rethinking the Classics. The stories in this series offer insightful new ways to think about and interpret classic books, films and artworks. This is the canon – with a twist.
McEwan’s novel presents a privileged English country house setting that descends into a chaos of mistakes, class resentment, educational ambition and sex, expressed both as desire and power. The latter is evident in the rape of Briony’s cousin Lola.
Convinced that she has seen, and now read, the truth about “evil” Robbie’s “disgusting” obsession with her sister, Briony believes he is the culprit. She is confident that her writing will expose a “maniac’s” guilt. However, her urge to write upon the blank page is stronger than her sense of what precisely to say.
In fact, what she writes at this crucial moment – “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly” – feels entirely strange. But just as the old lady of the nursery rhyme fatally bites off ever more that she can chew in swallowing a fly, a spider, a bird, a cat, so Briony’s tragically mistaken ideas about Robbie ends in his incrimination and incarceration.
Robbie is free only when released to fight for the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1940. He strives to return to Cecilia via the horrors and heroism of that most resonant of British stories, Dunkirk.
Life stages, ageing and creativity are important themes in Atonement. It is as an older lady writer herself that Briony atones for the incriminating stories that her juvenile writer self swallowed and multiplied.
Putting age and later life front and centre urges the reader to reassess McEwan’s renowned “twist”. That is, the moment readers discover that key scenes in the novel – meetings between Briony, Cecilia and Robbie following the latter’s evacuation from Dunkirk – never happened.
As we are told on the penultimate page, the truth is that Robbie died of septicaemia in the dunes of Dunkirk and Cecilia was killed in the direct hit of a bomb on the Balham tube station in 1940.
At this moment, we realise that what we have been reading is the final draft of the atoning conclusion to a work by now 77-year-old Briony. Like so many late stylists (a writer who, in later life, returns to earlier preoccupations and themes), Briony, an established author with a reputation for “amorality”, revisits her early work on her 77th birthday party. It’s an event that brings her back to the estate of her childhood, now converted into a hotel.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
Briony’s later life shapes the closure of the story, but McEwan’s imaginative engagement with ageing affects every aspect of the novel. He presents readers with story-shaped anticipations of mid- and later life, even when the character will not live to see that age.
Robbie, working-class protégé of Mr Tallis’s educational philanthropy, with a first in English literature from Cambridge, consciously awakens into his unacknowledged love for Cecilia while thinking about his age and future.
The feelings coincide with his developing aspiration to train in medicine, and his imaginary anticipations of his life course.
He thought of himself in 1962, at 50, when he would be old, but not quite old enough to be useless, and of the weathered, knowing doctor he would be by then, with the secret stories, the tragedies and successes stacked behind him”
These will be embodied in books – more writings – “possessed in the thousands”. Briony and Cecilia’s migraine-suffering mother Emily, meanwhile, sees her ageing self grow “stiffer in the limbs and more irrelevant by the day”.
Through the character of Briony, McEwan contests the ageism and invisibility that can be the fate of older women. McEwan may take her to the brink of a terminal neurological decline in 1999 – she is diagnosed with vascular dementia – but Briony resists the othering that ageism imposes on older people: “we may look truly reptilian, but we’re not a separate tribe”.
The end of the novel presents readers with a view of active, meaningful later life as a creative time of collaborative, curatorial story telling.
The older Briony was played by Vanessa Redgrave in the 2007 adaptation of Atonement.
Readers become aware of the “sources” of the dramatic story of Robbie’s trek across northern France in the company of Corporals Mace and Nettle. Seventy-seven-year-old Briony donates the “dozen long letters from old Mr Nettle” to the archives of the Imperial War Museum, where she has been researching.
This act of memory preservation returns readers to the meaning of the horrors, carnage and heroism of the Dunkirk evacuation which McEwan presents through that powerful central episode in the novel. The evacuation of more than 300,000 troops from Dunkirk, including a small proportion of volunteer boats, makes Dunkirk a nationally resonant story.
Briony’s collaborative, later-life storytelling captures the heroism and sacrifice inherent in the perspectives of the wounded evacuee combatants. But so, too, their more sceptical, critical accents.
They “were bitter about the newspaper celebrations of the miracle evacuation and the heroism of the little boats. ‘A fucking shambles,’ she heard one of them mutter.” Or more precisely, the older lady recalled hearing, and then wrote.
Beyond the canon
As part of the Rethinking the Classics series, we’re asking our experts to recommend a book or artwork that tackles similar themes to the canonical work in question, but isn’t (yet) considered a classic itself. Here is David Amigoni’s suggestion:
Paul Bailey, who died in October 2024, was an excellent but under-acknowledged writer who deserves to be more widely read.
His writing went against the grain is subtle ways. He was experimenting with ways of writing about later life at the beginning of his career in 1967, with the publication of At the Jerusalem, set in a home for older women. He was then in his early 30s.
The Prince’s Boy (2014) was written when he was 77 – the same age as McEwan’s fictional Briony Tallis when she completes Atonement. It revisits key themes in Bailey’s earlier work: sexuality (he was a gay man), love, Proust, Romania and Europe.
David Amigoni received funding from RCUK (now UKRI) for his work on ageing and late-life creativity. He is affiliated with The Conversation UK as Chair of its Editorial Board.
Donald Trump’s recent statement describing Gaza as a “demolition site” – and his suggestion to “evacuate” Palestinians in Gaza to Egypt and Jordan to “clean out that whole thing” – has sent shockwaves across the region.
Trump reportedly told journalists travelling with him on Air Force One at the weekend that he had spoken with King Abdullah of Jordan and planned to talk with Egypt’s president, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing,” he said.
He added that relocating Palestinian civilians to “some of the Arab nations, and build[ing] housing in a different location, where they can maybe live in peace for a change” could be “done temporarily or could be long term”.
But it has been widely criticised across the region as a potential “second Nakba” – referring to the violence and displacement of Palestinians after Israel’s unilateral declaration of statehood in 1948. The proposal has also been outright rejected by Egypt and Jordan. It has also been strongly condemned by the Palestinians.
It remains unclear to what extent this aligns with US policy and diplomacy, but such rhetoric risks undermining the pivotal regional diplomatic efforts. These efforts, led by Qatar and Egypt in close coordination with Washington, are focused on continuing the negotiations on the ceasefire, monitoring progress, and verifying compliance.
So it’s far from certain if this is an official US policy position or another example of the US president simply airing his thoughts. But what is clear is that his latest pronouncement will further complicate the ceasefire deal agreed on January 17.
The deal already faces significant challenges and uncertainties, not least the mutual distrust between the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships. History tells us that this lack of trust has developed, in part, because of the numerous times ceasefires have been used for purposes other than pursuing long-term settlement, such as opportunities to regroup, rearm or reposition strategically.
So the staged nature of the current deal carries considerable risks, as it creates opportunities for “spoilers” on both sides to derail the process. The recent violence of Jewish settlers on the West Bank and Hamas’s active encouragement of confrontation there are other examples of things that could derail the ceasefire.
The negotiation process is further complicated by dynamics tied to the political survival of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. One party (Jewish Power) has already left his coalition government in protest against the ceasefire. Meanwhile the leader of the Religious Zionist party, Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to do the same if the military operation against Hamas is not resumed.
Hamas, in turn, has attempted to reassert its control in Gaza. We’ve seen examples of that during the hostage exchange process when Hamas fighters conspicuously present at the handovers. Hamas may have been severely weakened, but it still controls significant parts of Gaza’s bureaucracy and policing and wants the world to know it.
Challenges ahead
If any part of the agreement falters there is a substantial risk that each side will blame the other of breaching the terms of the ceasefire. Two of the most contentious issues in the second phase are determining who will govern Gaza and how to implement a full Israeli withdrawal.
While Israel continues its security cooperation with the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, it vehemently opposes any PA role in Gaza. There is also considerable doubt as to whether Israel will agree to any long-term solution which involves complete withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from Gaza.
The recent resignation of the IDF’s chief of staff Herzl Halevi, as he took responsibility for the IDF’s failures on October 7, has further destabilised the political and military dynamics in Israel. A lot will depend on his successor.
Recent geopolitical shifts have reshaped regional dynamics. This presents challenges and opportunities for any diplomatic initiatives surrounding Israel and Palestine. The weakening of Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance”, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in neighbouring Lebanon – and the now-collapsed Assad regime in Syria – may provide an opportunity for the normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
This in turn will offer an opportunity to reshape the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape. This potential breakthrough builds on the Abraham accords, which was one of Trump’s foreign policy initiatives. It’s a transactional approach to diplomacy, which prioritises pragmatic and results-oriented negotiations.
The new US Middle East envoy, former real estate developer Steve Witkoff, has emphasised “courageous diplomacy”, as well as strong leadership and what he called “reciprocal actions” from the parties to the peace deal. Whether the new US administration will revive the 2020 Trump plan for a Palestinian state remains uncertain.
That plan proposed granting 70% of the West Bank and Gaza to Palestinians while allowing Israel to retain sovereignty over Jerusalem. It also included US approval for Israeli annexation of territories with Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
For Israel, normalisation with Saudi Arabia would be a major diplomatic victory. Washington is playing a crucial role here, offering incentives such as sale of advanced American weapons systems to Riyadh. But Saudi Arabia has reportedly demanded concrete steps toward establishing a Palestinian state as part of the deal. Trump’s latest gambit, if it becomes official US policy, would make that a non-starter.
Karin Aggestam has received research funding from Riksbankens Jubileumsfond, Australian Reseach Council, Wallenberg Foundation and others.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
PARIS, France, January 27, 2025/APO Group/ —
Jérôme Bertheau, Executive Vice President – Global Projects at BW Energy, will speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Forum, set to take place May 13-14 in Paris. Bertheau’s participation underscores the company’s commitment to advancing Africa’s energy sector through innovative developments and strategic investments.
BW Energy is making significant strides in Africa’s energy landscape, particularly in Gabon, where the company is enhancing production at the Dussafu field through advanced recovery techniques. Last October, the company signed PSCs for the Niosi Marin and Guduma Marin offshore exploration blocks in partnership with Panoro Energy and VAALCO Energy. These agreements include drilling one well in the Niosi Marin block during the exploration phase, alongside plans for a 3D seismic acquisition campaign. BW Energy aims to complete the first phase of Hibiscus and Ruche development and bring production to a nameplate capacity of 40,000 barrels per day.
IAE 2025 (www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com)is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visitwww.Invest-Africa-Energy.com.To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contactsales@energycapitalpower.com.
In addition to its activities in Gabon, BW Energy is making progress in Namibia with plans to drill a well on the Kharas prospect offshore, northwest of the Kudu Formation. The company has secured long-lead items and is in discussions with other operators for rig capacity, with drilling expected to begin in the second half of 2025. Furthermore, BW Energy has completed the processing of a PSDM 3D dataset over the offshore Kudu gas field and is advancing its development planning for the proposed Kudu gas-to-power project. The company is also progressing its Maromba oilfield development in Brazil, with a final investment decision expected in early 2025.
Bertheau’s participation at IAE 2025 highlights BW Energy’s commitment to innovation and its focus on maximizing the value of its African assets while promoting local content and sustainable development. The company’s involvement underscores its position as a leading energy player, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and strategic partnerships to drive growth across its portfolio.
he Secretary-General notes with concern the announcement of a pause in US foreign assistance.
The Secretary-General calls for additional exemptions to be considered to ensure the continued delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities for the most vulnerable communities around the world, whose lives and livelihoods depend on this support.
The Secretary-General looks forward to engaging with the new United States administration on the provision of much needed development support to people grappling with the most difficult challenges confronting the developing world. The United States is one of the largest aid providers and it is vital that we work constructively to jointly shape a strategic path forward.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony today.
Earlier this month, my wife and I were in Block 27 of Auschwitz searching for members of her family in the Book of Names. It was harrowing.
We turned page after page after page just to find the first letter of a name. It gave me an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of this industrialised murder.
And every one of those names, like the names we were looking for – was an individual person. Someone’s mother, father, brother, sister brutally murdered, simply because they were Jewish.
Last week I met Renee Salt and Arek Hersh who somehow survived but whose loved ones were among those victims. I was humbled by their courage to speak of being in that place. I felt waves of revulsion at the depravity they described, at the cynicism.
People told to bring their belongings like the piles of pots and pans I saw myself. The commandant living next door bringing up his family, the normalisation of murder, like it was just another day’s work.
In Auschwitz, I saw photographs of Nazi guards standing with Jewish prisoners staring at the camera – completely indifferent – and in one case, even smiling. It showed more powerfully than ever how the Holocaust was a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary individuals utterly consumed by the hatred of difference.
And that is the hatred we stand against today, and it is a collective endeavour for all of us to defeat it.
We start by remembering the six million Jewish victims and by defending the truth against anyone who would deny it. So we will have a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to speak this truth for eternity.
But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say never again, but where was never again in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, or the acts of genocide against Yazidi.
Today, we have to make those words mean more. So we will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.
We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony. Because by learning from survivors like Renee and Arek we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference.
As I left Block 27, I saw the words of Primo Levi. It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to all of us.
And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make “never again” finally mean what it says: Never again.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the General Assembly on the Observance of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, in New York today:
It is an honour to be here with you. I am humbled to have Holocaust survivors and their families with us today.
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7 October 2023 terror attacks by Hamas. We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage-release deal. The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief. We will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages. Since the beginning, we have asked for the unconditional immediate release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Every year on this day, we come together to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. We mourn the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.
We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured and killed. We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.
And we renew our resolve never to forget: Never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind. And never to forget their putrid foundations: millennia of antisemitic hate — manifest in marginalization, discrimination, expulsions and murder.
This year, our commemoration marks a milestone. Eighty years ago, the Holocaust ended. And our efforts began to keep the terrible truth alive; building on the work of those who chronicled Nazi atrocities as they were perpetrated around them — and against them.
The courage of survivors in telling their stories has played an enormous role. We are deeply grateful to them all. But, the responsibility belongs to every one of us. Remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action.
To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future. The extraordinary Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi — who bore witness to all he had seen and endured — urged us to carve the knowledge into our hearts. And we must.
To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink. It is to understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others. And it is to comprehend our solemn duty to speak up against hate, to stand up for the human rights of all and to make those rights a reality.
Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together: They created the United Nations and our Charter 80 years ago — affirming the worth of every human person; they adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide — for which we owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin; and they established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — the foundation of all international human rights law.
As one of the drafters, Lebanese diplomat and intellectual, Charles Malik, said, the Declaration was: “…inspired by opposition to the barbarous doctrines of Nazism and fascism.”
The dignity of every member of our human family is enshrined in that document, which draws from traditions around the world. It is a pure expression of our shared humanity. And in dark times it remains a shining light.
Today, our world is fractured and dangerous. Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us — fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.
And it is rising. Discrimination is rife. Hatred is being stirred up across the globe. One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial. Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished and dismissed.
Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators. We must stand up to these outrages. We must promote education, combat lies and speak the truth.
And we must condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears — as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry which we see proliferating today. Because we know these evils wither our morality, corrode our compassion and seek to blind us to suffering — opening the door to atrocities.
The United Nations has long worked to combat antisemitism, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach programmes. And we recently launched our Action Plan on Antisemitism, recommending the ways the United Nations system can further enhance those efforts.
In these days of division, it is all the more important — that we hold fast to our common humanity and renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.
Every one of us has a duty. The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act. And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prescribes that: “Every individual and every organ of society […] shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms.”
Each of us must answer that call: denounce lies, resist hate and ensure our common humanity overcomes division. These causes are at the very core of the United Nations. We will never forget. And we will never waver in that fight.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a speech at the Holocaust Memorial Day UK National Ceremony today.
Earlier this month, my wife and I were in Block 27 of Auschwitz searching for members of her family in the Book of Names. It was harrowing.
We turned page after page after page just to find the first letter of a name. It gave me an overwhelming sense of the sheer scale of this industrialised murder.
And every one of those names, like the names we were looking for – was an individual person. Someone’s mother, father, brother, sister brutally murdered, simply because they were Jewish.
Last week I met Renee Salt and Arek Hersh who somehow survived but whose loved ones were among those victims. I was humbled by their courage to speak of being in that place. I felt waves of revulsion at the depravity they described, at the cynicism.
People told to bring their belongings like the piles of pots and pans I saw myself. The commandant living next door bringing up his family, the normalisation of murder, like it was just another day’s work.
In Auschwitz, I saw photographs of Nazi guards standing with Jewish prisoners staring at the camera – completely indifferent – and in one case, even smiling. It showed more powerfully than ever how the Holocaust was a collective endeavour by thousands of ordinary individuals utterly consumed by the hatred of difference.
And that is the hatred we stand against today, and it is a collective endeavour for all of us to defeat it.
We start by remembering the six million Jewish victims and by defending the truth against anyone who would deny it. So we will have a National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre to speak this truth for eternity.
But as we remember, we must also act. Because we say never again, but where was never again in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, or the acts of genocide against Yazidi.
Today, we have to make those words mean more. So we will make Holocaust education a truly national endeavour.
We will ensure all schools teach it and seek to give every young person the opportunity to hear a recorded survivor testimony. Because by learning from survivors like Renee and Arek we can develop that empathy for others and that appreciation of our common humanity, which is the ultimate way to defeat the hatred of difference.
As I left Block 27, I saw the words of Primo Levi. It happened, it can happen again: that is the warning of the Holocaust to all of us.
And it’s why it is a duty for all of us to make “never again” finally mean what it says: Never again.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal (luh-wall), 24, of Osun State, Nigeria, has been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution in a partially unsealed indictment for the sextortion of a South Carolina minor, which led to the victim’s death.
This investigation was launched after Gavin Guffey, a 17-year-old from Rock Hill, died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimized by Lawal’s scheme. Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teen into sending compromising photos. He then extorted and sent harassing messages to the teen threatening to leak the photos and ruin his reputation unless the teen sent him money. Lawal later did the same to members of his family.
The five-count federal indictment charges Lawal with child exploitation resulting in death, the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, interstate threats with intent to extort, and aiding/abetting. In addition to victimizing the teen in every count, the indictment alleges Lawal targeted the minor victim’s family in the stalking and extortion charges.
Lawal faces up to life in prison, and mandatory minimum prison sentences on multiple counts. The child exploitation resulting in death count carries a mandatory 30-year sentence. He also faces mandatory restitution, where the court may order Lawal to pay for losses incurred by the family as a result of his scheme.
The indictment was returned by a federal Grand Jury in South Carolina in October 2023. On Jan. 24, following extradition proceedings in Nigeria, agents with the FBI Columbia Field Office took custody of Lawal in Lagos, Nigeria and executed the removal with assistance from Nigerian law enforcement.
“We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean. Today we honor Gavin’s life and continue our fight against sextortion by holding this defendant accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of Columbia. “This investigation and extradition are the result of tremendous law enforcement coordination both in the United State and Nigeria. We’re grateful to the many agencies who helped make this day possible.”
“This indictment represents the culmination of countless hours of dedicated work done by our investigators both here and abroad,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The defendant’s alleged actions are reprehensible resulting in the tragic loss of a young man’s life. We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding criminals accountable, especially those who target our children and endanger their lives, no matter where they are.”
U.S. Attorney Boroughs and SAC Jensen thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and U.S State Department for their help in facilitating the arrest and extradition of Lawal.
Nigerian law enforcement provided critical assistance in the identification, investigation, arrest, and extradition of Lawal. U.S. Attorney Boroughs and SAC Jensen extend their appreciation and thanks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office – Ministry of Justice, and all other involved Nigerian authorities for their important partnership in this case.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor’s offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Section and International Operations Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the York County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels, Lothrop Morris, and Michael Shedd are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
I am humbled to have Holocaust survivors and their families with us today.
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas.
We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief.
We will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages. Since the beginning, we have asked for the unconditional immediate release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Dear Friends,
Every year on this day, we come together to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
We mourn the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.
We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured, and killed.
We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.
And we renew our resolve never to forget:
Never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind.
And never to forget their putrid foundations: millennia of antisemitic hate – manifest in marginalisation, discrimination, expulsions, and murder.
Dear Friends,
This year, our commemoration marks a milestone.
80 years ago, the Holocaust ended.
And our efforts began to keep the terrible truth alive; building on the work of those who chronicled Nazi atrocities as they were perpetrated around them – and against them.
The courage of survivors in telling their stories has played an enormous role.
We are deeply grateful to them all.
But the responsibility belongs to every one of us.
Remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action.
To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.
The extraordinary Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi – who bore witness to all he had seen and endured – urged us to carve the knowledge into our hearts.
And we must.
To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink.
It is to understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others.
And it is to comprehend our solemn duty to speak-up against hate, to stand-up for the human rights of all, and to make those rights a reality.
Dear Friends,
Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together:
They created the United Nations and our Charter 80 years ago – affirming the worth of every human person…
They adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – for which we owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin…
And they established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the foundation of all international human rights law.
As one of the drafters, Lebanese diplomat and intellectual, Charles Malik, said, the Declaration was:
“…Inspired by opposition to the barbarous doctrines of Nazism and fascism.”
The dignity of every member of our human family is enshrined in that document, which draws from traditions around the world.
It is a pure expression of our shared humanity.
And in dark times it remains a shining light.
Dear Friends,
Today, our world is fractured and dangerous.
Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us – fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.
And it is rising.
Discrimination is rife.
Hatred is being stirred-up across the globe.
One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial.
Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished, and dismissed.
Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators.
We must stand up to these outrages.
We must promote education, combat lies, and speak the truth.
And we must condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears – as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry which we see proliferating today.
Because we know these evils wither our morality, corrode our compassion, and seek to blind us to suffering – opening the door to atrocities.
The United Nations has long worked to combat antisemitism, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach programs.
And we recently launched our Action Plan on antisemitism, recommending the ways the United Nations System can further enhance those efforts.
In these days of division it is all the more important – that we hold fast to our common humanity…
And renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.
Every one of us has a duty.
The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act.
And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prescribes that:
“…every individual and every organ of society… shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms…”
Each of us must answer that call: denounce lies; resist hate; and ensure our common humanity overcomes division.
These causes are at the very core of the United Nations.
We will never forget. And we will never waver in that fight.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General is following with great concern the recent escalation of fighting in Sudan, in particular around the al-Jili oil refinery north of Khartoum, as well as in El Fasher in Darfur.
The Secretary-General urges the parties to refrain from all actions that could have dangerous consequences for Sudan and the region, including serious economic and environmental implications. He further reminds the parties of their obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure and the facilitation of humanitarian access. Sudanese women, children and men are paying the price for the continued military offensives by the belligerents.
The Secretary-General renews his call for urgent and genuine dialogue between the parties to the conflict, aimed at achieving an immediate cessation of hostilities to spare Sudanese civilians from further harm and reiterates that a sustainable resolution to the conflict can only be achieved through an inclusive political process.
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, continues to engage the parties and all relevant stakeholders to de-escalate the conflict and promote a Sudanese-led inclusive dialogue that will bring a sustained end to the war.
Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility finalizes the GAC Leasing equity project to support the growth of GAC Group’s electric vehicle sales in China
CA Personal Finance & Mobility finalizes the planned acquisition of 50% of the equity interests of GAC Finance Leasing Co. Ltd. (GAC Leasing), which becomes Guangzhou GAC-Sofinco Finance Leasing Co Ltd (GAC-Sofinco Leasing), the leasing company of one of the largest Chinese manufacturers Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group), via a reserved capital increase.
With this new joint venture, CA Personal Finance & Mobility will offer financial and operational leasing solutions on the Chinese market in 2025 and will thus promote the deployment of electric vehicles in China.
This transaction consolidates a partnership existing since 2009 between CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC Group with the creation of GAC-Sofinco AFC, a 50-50 joint venture. The latter operates throughout China and offers automotive financing and services to the GAC-Honda, GAC-Toyota, AION, HYPTEC and GAC Motor networks, serving more than 3,000 dealers.
CA Personal Finance & Mobility becomes a 50% shareholder in GAC-Sofinco Leasing
Following a reserved capital increase, CA Personal Finance & Mobility owns 50% of GAC-Sofinco Leasing. The company has been operating on the Chinese market since 2004 and offers financial and operational leasing solutions to GAC customers and its dealer network.
Through this transaction, CA Personal Finance & Mobility and GAC group are strengthening the leasing offer proposed to Chinese customers, thereby stimulating the sale of electric vehicles, which already represent 60% of the leasing contracts of the new GAC-Sofinco Leasing on a portfolio of more than 200,000 vehicles.
All necessary authorizations from competition authorities and competent regulators have been obtained. The impact on the CET1 ratio of Crédit Agricole S.A. and that of the Crédit Agricole group will be very limited.
« This transaction reaffirms the importance of our long-standing partnership with GAC group. It will enable us to support together and over the long term the development of the particularly dynamic electric automobile market in China. »
Stéphane PRIAMI – CEO of Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility
Key figures:
In 2023, GAC group was the 4th largest automotive group in China
More than 2.5 million vehicles sold in 2023 worldwide
Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility is a leader in personal financing and a provider of access to all mobility solutions in Europe. It distributes directly, at the point of sale or on its partners’ e-commerce platforms, a wide range of financing solutions – amortizable credit, revolving credit, leasing and credit buyback – with associated services including insurance, split payment solutions and services dedicated to mobility, with the aim of meeting the challenges of energy transition in mobility, housing and consumption. Its financing solutions and services are offered in France via Sofinco, in Italy via Agos, in Germany via Creditplus, in Portugal via Credibom, in Spain via Sofinco Espana, in Morocco via Wafasalaf, and in China via GAC-Sofinco (automotive financing only). Crédit Agricole Personal Finance & Mobility aims to be the leader in electric mobility in Europe and offers a mobility continuum in the 22 countries where it is present (leasing, medium and short-term rental, subscription, car sharing, installation of charging stations, etc.). The company relies on Leasys, a joint venture equally owned by Stellantis, CA Auto Bank and Drivalia, the pan-European leader in automotive financing, rental and mobility, Crédit Agricole Mobility Services, a comprehensive service offering dedicated to mobility and the development of automotive financing in its universal subsidiaries in Europe and in Crédit Agricole Regional Banks and at LCL via Agilauto. CA Personal Finance & Mobility acts every day in the interest of its 17.2 million customers and society. As of December 31, 2023, CA Personal Finance & Mobility managed €113 billion in outstanding credit. More information: www.ca-personalfinancemobility.com
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Amélie Cloutier, Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Mycotourism combines mushroom foraging in natural habitats with culinary traditions and rural culture, offering a unique experience distinct from traditional tourism.(Shutterstock)
Mycotourism, or mushroom tourism, is becoming increasingly popular as travellers seek out more nature-focused experiences. This unique tourism niche combines guided mushroom foraging with culinary traditions and rural culture to offer travellers an experience distinct from more traditional forms of tourism.
The growing popularity of mycotourism reflects a larger shift toward forest-related and gastronomy tourism. Forest-related tourism includes activities like foraging and product harvesting as travellers seek closer connections to nature, while gastronomy tourism involves travellers seeking out culinary experiences.
Rural tourism, too, has seen growing interest in recent years. United Nations Tourism designated 2020 as the “Year of Tourism and Rural Development” and mycotourism aligns with this focus, as it is tied closely to rural economies, often involving small, seasonal businesses that face seasonal and visibility challenges.
In response to this trend, the Québec government has revealed a 2024-2029 strategy to establish the province as a premier culinary destination with a promising future. As mycotourism grows, it aligns with Québec’s broader culinary and tourism goals.
Mycotourism: A brief overview
While mushroom foraging has long been practised informally in many parts of the world, it’s now evolving into a formalized tourism industry, led by local experts to ensure safety. Countries such as Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Scotland and South Africa are current pioneers in this market.
Spain, where mycotourism originated, leads the way with its well-established “micoturismo” industry, especially in the Castilla y León region.
While mushroom foraging has long been practised informally in many parts of the world, it’s now evolving into a formalized tourism industry. (Shutterstock)
In Canada, Québec has become a hotspot for mycotourism thanks to its rich natural landscapes, including vast forests and diverse ecosystems. The province has seen increased demand from both local and international visitors.
The Québec regions of Kamouraska and Mauricie, in particular, have emerged as leaders in North American mycotourism. This surge, which was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has positioned these regions as key destinations for mushroom enthusiasts.
However, despite its growth, mycotourism remains relatively unfamiliar to many Canadians. It signals an untapped opportunity for the tourism industry in the country.
Overcoming industry challenges
The mycotourism sector faces several challenges, including fragmented initiatives, which presents challenges in areas like promotion, infrastructure and knowledge sharing.
Establishing a unified platform or network for mycotourism stakeholders stakeholders could facilitate the exchange of best practices, improve promotion and support its sustainable growth.
By closely monitoring new initiatives, researchers, entrepreneurs and tourism professionals can better understand the challenges and opportunities in this field.
This collaborative approach would identify potential partners for future collaborations, highlight resources and tools and ensure the development of this industry respects all the stakeholders, including Indigenous communities.
Canada is well-positioned to become a global leader in mycotourism. (Shutterstock)
Our mushroom tourism research
Our recent research study sheds light on the growth of the mycotourism industry in Québec. Through an in-depth environmental scan, we identified 57 providers across the province, with the majority concentrated in Mauricie and Bas-Saint-Laurent, including the region of Kamouraska.
We found that most mycotourism businesses in Québec are micro or very small enterprises, which means collaboration and networking are both essential for supporting their growth and sustainability.
The activities offered by these providers fell into five main categories:
Events and learning: Includes festivals, conferences, training sessions and courses.
Culinary experiences: Features culinary workshops and tasting sessions.
Guided tours and hosting: Encompasses guided tours and group hosting events.
Nature exploration and foraging: Includes guided, self-picking foraging expeditions.
Accommodations with mushroom picking: Lodging experiences that allow guests to participate in mushroom picking during their stay.
In addition, our study identified four types of enterprises in the sector. These ranged from solo ventures specializing in niche activities, to versatile solo ventures with a diverse range and experiences and services, to slightly larger businesses focusing on targeted services.
It’s clear that Québec’s mycotourism sector is dynamic, with businesses continually developing new and innovative offerings. The wide range of experiences offered are designed to attract new segments of tourists interested in agritourism, gastronomy or other unique accommodations.
Unlocking mycotourism potential
As mycotourism continues to grow, it is crucial for small-scale initiatives in this sector to gain stronger support and recognition from tourism authorities, regional organizations and government agencies.
Without this support, these businesses may struggle to overcome challenges like limited visibility, fragmented efforts and insufficient resources. If these challenges are not addressed, it could hinder the growth of the sector and its ability to contribute to local economies and rural development.
With its vast forests, rich biodiversity and developing agritourism and gastronomy sectors, Canada is well-positioned to establish itself as a top destination for mushroom enthusiasts. But to fully realize its full potential, Canada must create an environment that promotes innovation, collaboration and investment in mycotourism.
Amélie Cloutier receives funding from FRQSC.
Marc-Antoine Vachon receives funding from Développement Économique Canada pour les régions du Québec et de la Fondation de l’UQAM grâce à un don de Transat A.T..
Patrick Coulombe 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.
I am humbled to have Holocaust survivors and their families with us today.
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that more than a year has passed since the appalling 7th October terror attacks by Hamas.
We welcome, at long last, the ceasefire and hostage release deal.
The deal offers hope, as well as much needed relief.
We will do our utmost to ensure it leads to the release of all hostages. Since the beginning, we have asked for the unconditional immediate release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Dear Friends,
Every year on this day, we come together to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
We mourn the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, as they sought to destroy an entire people.
We grieve the Roma and Sinti also targeted for genocide, the people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ people, and all those enslaved, persecuted, tortured, and killed.
We stand alongside victims, survivors and their families.
And we renew our resolve never to forget:
Never to forget the atrocities that so “outraged the conscience” of humankind.
And never to forget their putrid foundations: millennia of antisemitic hate – manifest in marginalisation, discrimination, expulsions, and murder.
Dear Friends,
This year, our commemoration marks a milestone.
80 years ago, the Holocaust ended.
And our efforts began to keep the terrible truth alive; building on the work of those who chronicled Nazi atrocities as they were perpetrated around them – and against them.
The courage of survivors in telling their stories has played an enormous role.
We are deeply grateful to them all.
But the responsibility belongs to every one of us.
Remembrance is not only a moral act. Remembrance is a call to action.
To allow the Holocaust to fade from memory would dishonour the past and betray the future.
The extraordinary Auschwitz survivor, Primo Levi – who bore witness to all he had seen and endured – urged us to carve the knowledge into our hearts.
And we must.
To know the history of the Holocaust is to know the depths to which humanity can sink.
It is to understand how the Nazis were able to commit their heinous crimes, with the complicity of others.
And it is to comprehend our solemn duty to speak-up against hate, to stand-up for the human rights of all, and to make those rights a reality.
Dear Friends,
Following the hell of the Holocaust, countries came together:
They created the United Nations and our Charter 80 years ago – affirming the worth of every human person…
They adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide – for which we owe a debt of gratitude to the Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin…
And they established the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – the foundation of all international human rights law.
As one of the drafters, Lebanese diplomat and intellectual, Charles Malik, said, the Declaration was:
“…Inspired by opposition to the barbarous doctrines of Nazism and fascism.”
The dignity of every member of our human family is enshrined in that document, which draws from traditions around the world.
It is a pure expression of our shared humanity.
And in dark times it remains a shining light.
Dear Friends,
Today, our world is fractured and dangerous.
Eighty years since the Holocaust’s end, antisemitism is still with us – fuelled by the same lies and loathing that made the Nazi genocide possible.
And it is rising.
Discrimination is rife.
Hatred is being stirred-up across the globe.
One of the clearest and most troubling examples is the spreading cancer of Holocaust denial.
Indisputable historical facts are being distorted, diminished, and dismissed.
Efforts are being made to recast and rehabilitate Nazis and their collaborators.
We must stand up to these outrages.
We must promote education, combat lies, and speak the truth.
And we must condemn antisemitism wherever and whenever it appears – as we must condemn all forms of racism, prejudice and religious bigotry which we see proliferating today.
Because we know these evils wither our morality, corrode our compassion, and seek to blind us to suffering – opening the door to atrocities.
The United Nations has long worked to combat antisemitism, through a wide range of activities, including our Holocaust Outreach programs.
And we recently launched our Action Plan on antisemitism, recommending the ways the United Nations System can further enhance those efforts.
In these days of division it is all the more important – that we hold fast to our common humanity…
And renew our resolve to defend the dignity and human rights of all.
Every one of us has a duty.
The history of the Holocaust shows us what can happen when people choose not to see and not to act.
And the Universal Declaration of Human Rights prescribes that:
“…every individual and every organ of society… shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms…”
Each of us must answer that call: denounce lies; resist hate; and ensure our common humanity overcomes division.
These causes are at the very core of the United Nations.
We will never forget. And we will never waver in that fight.
Nelson Monument, one of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks, is set to temporarily close for the final phase of essential refurbishment works and the reinstallation of its historic Timeball and mast.
The refurbishment will include inspection and restoration to the monument’s external walls and windows, the installation of some new internal lighting, as well as the reinstallation of the Timeball mechanism to full working order.
Museum items have been safely secured in preparation for the closure. Visitors will be unable to access the monument from Monday 27 January 2025, with the scheduled reopening expected in July 2025.
Councillor Val Walker, Culture and Communities Convener, said:
We are excited to embark on this next stage of the important refurbishment of the Nelson Monument, ensuring that both the iconic structure and its fascinating history continue to be celebrated for generations to come. The restoration and reinstallation of the Timeball and the enhancements to the monument will provide visitors with an even richer experience, connecting them to the legacy of Charles Piazzi Smyth and the monumental role this site has played in both Edinburgh’s heritage and the history of navigation.
The Nelson Monument, designed by architect Robert Burn in the shape of an upturned telescope, has stood proudly on Calton Hill for over 200 years. The monument’s Timeball, added in 1853 by Charles Piazzi Smyth, Astronomer Royal for Scotland, was once crucial for ships navigating the Firth of Forth and Port of Leith, helping them to adjust their clocks for accurate navigation.
The Timeball was raised daily before 1pm and lowered at precisely 1pm, with the One O’Clock Gun at Edinburgh Castle providing an audible signal.
As well as the Timeball, the Nelson Monument offers one of the finest panoramic views of Edinburgh, with views stretching across the city to the Pentland Hills, the Firth of Forth, and Fife. Visitors can also explore the current exhibition inside the monument, which highlights the life and achievements of Charles Piazzi Smyth, a pioneering figure in astronomy, photography, and Egyptology. His innovative work at Calton Hill contributed significantly to global astronomical practices.
It also forms part of the wonderful visitor experience available at Calton Hill which is home to several neoclassical structures, including the National Monument, the City Observatory and the Dugald Stewart Monument.
The Monument will re-open in July 2025. This year marks 220 years since Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar in 1805.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ACCRA, Ghana, January 27, 2025/APO Group/ —
The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) (www.SECAM.org), the coordinating organ of the Catholic Church in Africa, is seeking skilled volunteers to contribute to the life of the Catholic Church across Africa. Volunteers will work directly with the SECAM Secretariat, in a variety of areas including communications, marketing, digital marketing, project management, executive assistance, and translation and interpretation (English-French-Portuguese).
These volunteer opportunities will allow individuals to play an integral role in advancing the mission of the Church in Africa, fostering collaboration across dioceses, and contributing to social and community development initiatives. The roles offer valuable experience at an executive level, working within a dynamic and impactful environment.
Positions are remote/online (unpaid) with a minimum commitment of 2 days per week for at least 3 months. Volunteers can be based anywhere in the world.
SECAM is seeking skilled volunteers in the following areas:
Communications: Develop and execute strategies to enhance SECAM’s visibility.
Marketing: Drive campaigns to promote SECAM’s mission.
Digital Marketing: Enhance online engagement and presence.
Project Management: Oversee and implement key initiatives.
Executive Assistance: Provide high-level administrative support.
Translation and Interpretation (English-French-Portuguese): Ensure effective communication across language barriers.
Application deadline: February 30, 2025.
Interested candidates can apply here: https://apo-opa.co/4hd5qDe
This is an excellent opportunity to make a tangible impact in the Church’s noble mission while gaining professional experience that will enrich your CV and broaden your network.
According to the 2022 State of the World’s Volunteerism Report compiled by the United Nations, the global number of volunteers stands at 862.4 million. Embracing volunteerism provides individuals with unparalleled firsthand professional experience, allowing them to enrich their CVs with valuable expertise gained through meaningful contributions.