NewzIntel.com

Category: Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Benin: Launch of the third edition of the information and awareness campaign for women small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan – Lagos corridor

    Source: APO

    On Tuesday 8th of July 2025, the ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Human Development and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, officially launched the Cotonou stage of the third edition of the information and awareness-raising campaign for women small-scale cross-border traders along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.

    The aim of this initiative is to build on the achievements of previous events held on the Tema-Paga and Dakar-Banjul-Bissau corridors. The aim is to increase women traders’ knowledge of the legislation governing cross-border trade, existing Community initiatives and the tools developed for them, particularly in terms of border transparency and the fight against gender-based violence.

    In Cotonou, the activities began with field visits, notably to the modern market and to an SME run by a woman entrepreneur specialising in the manufacture of cosmetic products distributed nationally and sub-regionally. A visit to the Sèmè-Kraké juxtaposed control post is also planned, with a view to reinforcing exchanges between the various players involved.

    The official launch ceremony was held at the Golden Tulip hotel. It was co-chaired by Benin’s Ministries of Social Affairs and Microfinance, and of Industry and Trade. It was also attended by Her Excellency Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, and His Excellency Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin.

    Other participants included the Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance, the Director of the ECOWAS National Office in Benin, representatives of the Cotonou Chamber of Commerce, associations of small-scale cross-border traders, and technical and financial partners.

    This third edition marks a major step forward in the ECOWAS’ commitment to the economic empowerment of women and to improving the fluidity of cross-border trade in the West African region.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    Media files

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Building Trust through Effective Service Delivery in Africa

    Source: APO


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    The World Bank’s annual Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report for Sub-Saharan Africa, released today, reveals that despite a stable average CPIA score for the region, there is an urgent need for governments in Africa to improve the delivery of essential services to promote inclusive, sustainable growth.

    The CPIA Africa report evaluates the quality of policy and institutional reforms in IDA-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the calendar year 2024. According to the report, the average CPIA score for the region remained similar to 2023 at 3.1 points (out of 6). While some areas saw strong reforms, poor performance in governance offset these gains, and improvements were concentrated in already well-performing countries.

    The CPIA report underscores that meeting the needs of African citizens will require mobilizing the government to provide services amidst limited external financing. The report serves as a vital guide for policymakers and international investors, identifying specific reform actions to support effective public service delivery and foster a more resilient and prosperous future for Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Against this backdrop, the report notes a trend in public discontent in 2024 – a year that was marked by youth protests and a notable decline in political support for incumbents across the continent. This is mirrored in survey results in the region that have shown growing dissatisfaction with the quality of public services, which continue to lag other regions, particularly in infrastructure, human capital, security, and administrative capabilities.

    “Confidence in a government’s ability to efficiently transform public resources into essential services is fundamental to fostering a shared purpose with citizens and improving trust,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “Populations across Africa are clearly asking for more from their leaders to enable them to realize their aspirations. Our CPIA Africa report underscores the urgent need for transparent management of public resources and effective delivery of quality services to address growing dissatisfaction and enable citizens to reach their full potential.”

    The report details significant shortfalls across various public service sectors. Infrastructure-related services, including transport, remain underdeveloped, hindering economic activity and quality of life. High poverty levels are exacerbated by a lack of access to public infrastructure, particularly in sanitation. Human capital development is hampered by poor educational quality and inadequate health services, limiting citizens’ well-being and earning prospects as they enter the workforce. Furthermore, the ability of governments to provide basic security has been undermined, with conflict-related casualties nearly tripling between 2014 and 2024. Administrative services, crucial for a thriving business environment, also lag, with Sub-Saharan Africa performing poorly in areas like business location and financial services.

    Despite these challenges, the report notes some positive developments. Many countries have shown improved fiscal discipline, tackling high wage bills and fuel subsidies, and making progress in debt consolidation. Efforts to implement trade facilitation agreements, leverage digital technologies, and strengthen financial sector regulation are also underway. The report also highlights progress in empowering adolescent girls through legal and policy reforms and strengthening of social protection systems.

    “While some countries have made commendable strides in fiscal prudence and digital transformation, issues of weak governance, limited transparency, and insufficient implementation capacity continue to undermine efforts to deliver essential services. Addressing these fundamental challenges is not just about economic growth; it’s about showing people that governments can work for them to help create a better path for the future,” added Nicholas Woolley, the CPIA report’s lead author.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets Premier of the State Council of China

    Source: APO


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    Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang, in the presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, along with several ministers and senior officials from both sides.

    The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said that the Premier of the State Council of China conveyed the greetings of the Chinese president to President El-Sisi. He also emphasized that President El-Sisi is a dear friend of China and is always warmly welcomed in Beijing. He expressed China’s pride in having close relations with Egypt, which are built on a long history of strategic partnership, mutual respect, and common interests. The Premier noted the rapid development in bilateral relations and the close coordination between the two countries on both regional and international levels, appreciating Egypt’s pivotal role as a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East.

    President El-Sisi affirmed Egypt’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with China in various areas of mutual interest and working to activate the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, especially with the upcoming celebration, to be held in 2026, of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Egypt and China.

    President El-Sisi lauded the contributions of Chinese companies to implementing development projects in Egypt and expressed the country’s interest in attracting more Chinese investments, particularly in the sectors of new and renewable energy and electric vehicle manufacturing. This is in addition to enhancing the flow of Chinese tourism and strengthening cooperation in the manufacturing and development fields in general.

    President El-Sisi also expressed Egypt’s interest in continuing coordination with China on the issue of debt swaps and the effective and efficient implementation of related agreements.

    Views were exchanged on regional and international developments. Both sides stressed the importance of underpinning the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, and resuming the diplomatic path to resolve the crisis through peaceful means. Both parties also underscored the necessity of reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, ensuring the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the importance of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Health leaders commit to accelerate action against severe chronic diseases in Africa

    Source: APO


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    Health leaders, policymakers and development partners across Africa have renewed commitment to accelerate the implementation of the PEN-Plus strategy to significantly expand access to care for severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

    Held under the theme “Advancing Implementation of PEN-Plus for Severe NCDs in Africa: Technical Innovations, Operational Insights, and Scalable Solutions,” the second International Conference for PEN-Plus in Africa served as a crucial follow-up to the inaugural 2024 gathering in Dar es Salaam. This year’s meeting focused on reviewing country-level progress, sharing operational experiences, and strengthening the technical foundation for the strategy’s scale-up.

    Hosted by the Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO) in the African region and other partners including The Leone M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, the three-day event provided a platform for NCD stakeholders and policy makers to develop actionable recommendations countries can use to accelerate PEN-Plus implementation and draft country-specific strategies to sustain and expand PEN-Plus, an innovative healthcare delivery model birthed in Africa.

    “In the last couple of years, global attention has shifted to NCDs because of the morbidity and mortality from these diseases. This conference marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts to combat the growing burden of NCDs in Africa,” said Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Nigeria’s Honorable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare. “PEN-Plus addresses a critical gap in healthcare for the world’s poorest billion. By scaling up the model, we can ensure that lifesaving care reaches those who need it most, regardless of their location.”

    In 2022, WHO in Africa set ambitious goals to have 50% of Member States rolling out PEN-Plus services to district hospitals by the year 2025, 65% by 2028, and 70% by 2030. PEN-Plus offers a promising approach to tackle the growing burden of severe chronic diseases. The model equips district and community hospitals with a specialized team of mid-level healthcare providers, such as clinical officers and nurses, specifically trained to manage severe complex NCD conditions.  

    Since its adoption by African Member States, the implementation of the model has shown promising results in Liberia, Malawi and Rwanda, with a significant increase in the number of people accessing treatment for severe noncommunicable diseases and improvements in health.

    Twenty countries have since increased access to services for severe chronic disease such as type 1 diabetes, sickle-cell disease and rheumatic and congenital heart diseases. In addition to training local experts on severe NCD care, the services provided through PEN-Plus are free of charge – helping to reduce the significant financial burden on families caring for children living with severe chronic diseases.  

    “PEN-Plus has not only improved patient outcomes in implementing countries, but it has also strengthened health systems by providing training, mentorship, and referral pathways,” said Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “It is now time to scale up the model and bring lifesaving care to the people who need it most”

    Despite this progress, participants at the ICPPA conference noted that scaling up the model requires more investments by countries.  Previous implementing countries assessments underscored the urgency to improve the availability of critical medications like insulin and diagnostic equipment in district hospitals. Participants also stressed the “grossly inequitable access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care” for severe NCDs conditions, particularly in rural areas where healthcare services are severely limited.

    A key highlight of the meeting was the finalization of the African Agenda for the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on NCDs in September 2025. The agenda outlines Africa’s priorities, commitments and expectations for the global stage, with PEN-Plus positioned as a central pillar in the region’s response to severe NCDs.

    “Scaling up and investing in PEN-Plus will save and improve millions of lives and take the continent a step towards ending diseases and achieving global health goals Scaling up PEN-Plus to address NCDs burden in Africa requires adequate and sustained resources,” said James Reid, Programme Officer at the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “By working together and pledging the necessary resources, countries can drive collective action to improve health and quality of life for millions of people around the world.

    With support from Helmsley Charitable Trust, and collaboration of the NCDI Poverty Network, the WHO Regional Office for Africa has been supporting countries to provide technical expertise and guidance to countries on various aspects of the PEN-Plus programme, developing training materials, supporting assessment, conducting supervisory visits to identify challenges at implementing facilities, coordinating partners and co- organizing platforms such as the ICPPA for countries to share and learn from successful PEN-Plus models.  

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Nigeria.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudanese Prime Minister Meets Qatar’s Ambassador

    Source: APO


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    HE Prime Minister of the sisterly Republic of the Sudan Dr. Kamil Idris met with HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Sudan, Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Sada. 

    During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Saudi Arabia lifesaving date shipment to feed 100,000 conflict affected Mozambicans

    Source: APO


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    The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has delivered 23 metric tonnes of premium Saudi dates to support more than 100,000 vulnerable women, children, and families in northern Mozambique who are suffering from the impacts of conflict and displacement.

    Dates, a staple of Saudi generosity and nutrition for centuries, are rich in fibre, antioxidants, and essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and iron. This donation will directly enhance the diets of families struggling with food insecurity, providing both immediate nourishment and a symbol of solidarity from the people of Saudi Arabia.

    The shipment arrived at the Port of Nacala and was swiftly transported to Cabo Delgado Province, where distribution to conflict-affected households is already underway.

    “These dates will strengthen the diets of 100,000 people—especially women and children—and represent a meaningful gesture of solidarity from the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the people of Mozambique”, said Antonella D’Aprile, WFP Country Director in Mozambique.

    Mr. Mishaal Bin Shail, Acting Charge d’affaires of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Mozambique, added. “The gift of dates is a quiet yet powerful symbol of goodwill reflecting shared values, strengthening the bonds of friendship between our nations, and echoing a border spirit of care and solidarity that defines the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s engagement with vulnerable communities”.

    Mozambique is currently facing one of its most severe food security crises in recent years. An estimated 5 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance, and nearly 40 percent of children under five are suffering from chronic malnutrition. In the north, ongoing conflict and climate shocks continue to displace families and disrupt livelihoods, making life-saving support more critical than ever.

    Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian assistance, coordinated by KSrelief, is a cornerstone of its foreign aid. Since 2015, KSrelief has delivered aid to vulnerable communities worldwide. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia provided 160 metric tonnes of dates to Mozambique, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the country’s recovery and resilience.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Caroline Abel: Monetary and financial sector issues in Seychelles and how ATI training can help build human capital in these areas

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Madam Chair, Hon. Minister of Economy and Finance of Madagascar, Rindra Hasimbelo Rabarinirinarison,

    Director of AFS/ATI Mr Sukhwinder Singh,

    All Colleagues attending the meeting,

    Good afternoon.

    Thank you for the opportunity to briefly share our experience in terms of monetary and financial sector developments, and capacity building received in these areas.

    Major reforms in these two areas began late 2008, when Seychelles embarked on an IMF-supported macroeconomic reform programme. Aside from addressing the prevailing macroeconomic imbalances then, there was also a need to strengthen the regulatory framework and modernise the financial system. In addition, the Bank had to put in place the required market-based instruments to support the introduction of its new monetary policy framework. So, to better understand the extent of the task that laid ahead, we received technical assistance from the IMF in 2007, to assess the Bank’s capacity building needs in the field of foreign exchange, bank supervision and monetary policy, aside from others.

    With regard to monetary policy, reforms were crucial in view of the change in the foreign exchange regime. Whilst we started off with a reserve money targeting framework, over the years, the Central Bank of Seychelles has gradually moved towards providing more guidance to the domestic market. In 2019, the Bank adopted an interest-rate based framework, whereby the focus is on guiding short-term interest rate through the announcement of a Monetary Policy Rate by the Bank. We received extensive technical assistance throughout – from the design of the policy tools to the finer details of communication – and this was complemented by short-term courses that staff attended.

    In terms of capacity building, the IMF, ATI and AFRITAC South have been very supportive. Our staff have benefitted from various training opportunities, both in-person and through online learning platforms. These have been in key areas, such as various aspects of monetary policy analysis and implementation, the Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS), nowcasting, liquidity forecasting and management, to name a few. To note that, at the Bank, the knowledge acquired is applied in daily operations and underpins many outputs, including the collection of statistics on the monetary, real, and external sectors, which align with IMF manuals and guidelines. With regard to the financial sector, support was received to align the Bank’s supervisory framework with best international practices. These focused on areas such as financial sector policies, bank supervision, AML/CFT, financial stability, and lately, climate change issues, amongst others. The Bank has been pursuing steps to strengthen its supervisory framework, so that it is more risk-sensitive and forward-looking, through its Risk-Based Supervision (RBS) framework. The Bank is also actively pursuing the climate change agenda, given the implications such a phenomenon could have on our economy. This is an area where we have reached out to various partners in an effort to build internal capacity, as we are conscious of the limited expertise that exists out there as well.

    As we operate in an increasingly interconnected world, we also need to move in tune with innovations in the industry. The digitalisation of the financial sector brings countless opportunities and rewards, yet as we are all aware, very high risks. Another area that the Central Bank has been increasingly focusing on is cybersecurity, as this could have far-reaching repercussions. Just last week, the AFS completed a 5-day workshop for the Central Bank staff on strengthening cybersecurity practices, with particular emphasis on their application to both onsite and offsite banking supervision, as well as oversight of financial market infrastructures. The sessions provided valuable insights into identifying and assessing cyber risks, integrating cybersecurity into supervisory frameworks, and enhancing institutional resilience. Practical case studies and supervisory tools were also shared to support the effective implementation of cyber risk oversight across regulated entities and systemically important infrastructures.

    Being a small economy, Seychelles faces certain challenges in terms of human resources. In general, the financial sector finds it difficult to meet its human resource needs, as often times, qualified labour in specialised fields is scarce, and everyone is chasing the same few candidates available. In this context, the training provided by institutions like ATI and AFRITAC South goes a long way in helping to bridge the gap for our existing staff.

    As both global and domestic economies evolve, building capacity remains essential. Current discussions revolve around critical topics such as financing climate change adaptation and mitigation, tackling climate-related risks, FinTech innovations, the increasing role of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and cybersecurity. The IMF and its partners offer a wealth of resources – including training, seminars, conferences and technical assistance – to help member countries enhance their staff’s technical capabilities, ensuring they are equipped to navigate these challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

    To conclude, I would like to underscore the role and importance of organisations like ATI and AFRITAC South in supporting the development of national institutions, enabling the implementation of best practices across various jurisdictions. Moreover, shared experiences among participants and drawing on the knowledge of the lecturers help in building capacity at different levels. As such, I urge members to continue supporting the capacity development programmes of ATI and AFRITAC South, as collectively, we are all benefitting greatly from them.

    Thank you. 

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Countries urged to urgently step up to transform their HIV responses amid global funding crisis

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) has today released a report that highlights a significant funding crisis threatening years of progress in the fight against HIV/Aids. 

    The 2025 Global Aids Update report titled, ’Aids, Crisis and the Power to Transform’, emphasises the urgent need for countries to implement radical changes in their HIV programming and funding strategies.

    The report highlights the impact that the sudden, large-scale funding cuts from international donors are having on countries most affected by HIV. Yet, it also showcases some inspiring examples of resilience, with countries and communities stepping up in the face of adversity to protect the gains made and drive the HIV response forward.

    Some 25 of the 60 low and middle-income countries included in the report have indicated increases in domestic budgets for their HIV responses in 2026. 

    The estimated collective rise among the 25 countries amounts to 8% over current levels, translating to approximately US$180 million in additional domestic resources. 

    “This is promising, but not sufficient to replace the scale of international funding in countries that are heavily reliant,” the report says.

    Global emergency

    Although there was significant progress in the HIV response in 2024, UNAIDS reported that a weakening consensus on aid and substantial, sudden funding shortfalls in 2025 caused widespread disruptions in health systems. 

    These challenges led to cuts in frontline health workers, halted HIV prevention programmes, and jeopardised HIV treatment services.

    According to data, in Mozambique alone, over 30 000 health personnel were affected. In Nigeria, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation has plummeted from 40 000 to 6 000 people per month.

    If United States-supported HIV treatment and prevention services collapse entirely, UNAIDS estimates that an additional six million new HIV infections and four million additional Aids-related deaths could occur between 2025 and 2029.

    “This is not just a funding gap – it’s a ticking time bomb. 

    “We have seen services vanish overnight. Health workers have been sent home, and people, especially children and key populations, are being pushed out of care,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima.

    Even before the large-scale service disruptions, the reported data for 2024 shows that 9.2 million people living with HIV were still not accessing life-saving treatment services last year. 

    Among those were 620 000 children aged zero to 14 years living with HIV but not on treatment, which contributed to 75 000 AIDS-related deaths among children in 2024.

    In 2024, 630 000 people died from Aids-related causes, 61% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Over 210 000 adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 24, acquired HIV in 2024 – an average of 570 new infections every day.

    UNAIDS said HIV prevention services are severely disrupted, while community-led services, which are vital to reaching marginalised populations, are being defunded at alarming rates. 

    In early 2025, the organisation said over 60% of women-led HIV organisations surveyed had lost funding or were forced to suspend services. 

    The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reached 2.3 million adolescent girls and young women with comprehensive HIV prevention services in 2024 and enabled 2.5 million people to use HIV PrEP – many of these programmes have now stopped completely.

    “Meanwhile, the rise in punitive laws criminalising same-sex relationships, gender identity, and drug use is amplifying the crisis, making HIV services inaccessible,” UNAIDS said.

    Beacon of hope

    UNAIDS said South Africa currently funds 77% of its AIDS response, and its 2025 budget review includes a 5.9% annual increase in health expenditure over the next three years, including a 3.3% annual increase for HIV and tuberculosis programmes.

    The South African government intends to finance the development of a patient information system, a centralised chronic medicine dispensing and distribution system, and a facility medicine stock surveillance system.

    Meanwhile, as of December 2024, seven countries – Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – had achieved the 95-95-95 targets: 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. 

    The report also highlights the emergence of unprecedented, highly effective new prevention tools like long-acting injectable PrEP, including lenacapavir, which has shown near-complete efficacy in clinical trials, though affordability and access remain key challenges.

    Byanyima believes there is still time to transform this crisis into an opportunity. 

    “Countries are stepping up with domestic funding. Communities are showing what works. We now need global solidarity to match their courage and resilience.”

    A call for solidarity

    The 2025 Global AIDS Update ends with a call for the international community to unite in addressing the financing gap. 

    It urges support for countries to close the remaining gaps in HIV prevention and treatment services, eliminate legal and social barriers, and empower communities to take the lead moving forward.

    UNAIDS emphasised that every dollar invested in the HIV response not only saves lives but also strengthens health systems and promotes broader development goals. 

    Since the start of the epidemic, 26.9 million deaths have been averted through treatment, and 4.4 million children have been protected from HIV infection through vertical transmission prevention.

    “In a time of crisis, the world must choose transformation over retreat. Together, we can still end Aids as a public health threat by 2030 – if we act with urgency, unity, and unwavering commitment,” Byanyima said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: President Ramaphosa to address the nation on security matters 

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to brief the nation on national security matters on Sunday, the Presidency has announced.

    “President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Sunday, 13 July 2025, address the nation on developments arising from a public statement by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that details allegations against senior political and South African Police Service leadership,” the Presidency said on Thursday.

    President Ramaphosa was attending a BRICS summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing.

    “The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security.

    “President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence at 19h00 on Sunday, 13 July 2025,” it said. 

    The President’s message will be broadcast and streamed on various platforms. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Diane Winston, Professor and Knight Center Chair in Media & Religion, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

    Rev. Jimmy Swaggart preaches at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena on March 29, 1987. AP Photo/Mark Avery, file

    Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most popular and enduring of the 1980s televangelists, died on July 1, 2025, but his legacy lives.

    Along with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, he drew an audience in the millions, amassed a personal fortune and introduced a new generation of Americans to a potent mix of religion and politics.

    Swaggart was an old-time evangelist whose focus was “saving souls.” But he also preached on conservative social issues, warning followers about the evils of abortion, homosexuality and godless communism.

    [Swaggart also denounced] what he called “false cults,” including Catholicism, Judaism and Mormonism. In fact, his denunciations of other religions, as well as his attacks on rival preachers, made him a more polarizing figure than his politicized brethren.

    As a reporter, I covered Swaggart in the 1980s. Now, as a scholar of American religion, I argue that while Swaggart did not build institutions like Falwell’s Moral Majority or Robertson’s 700 Club, he helped to spread right-wing positions on social issues, such as sexual orientation and abortion, and to shape the image of televangelists in popular culture..

    Swaggart’s cousins

    Born into a hardscrabble life in a small Louisiana town, Swaggart grew up alongside his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, the future rockabilly pioneer, and future country singer Mickey Gilley.

    All three loved music and singing. They polished their playing on an uncle’s piano and sneaked into African American nightclubs to hear the jazz and blues forbidden by their parents.

    Jimmy Swaggart delivering a sermon at the Flora Blanca Stadium in El Salvador.
    Cindy Karp/Getty Images

    While Gilley and Lewis turned their musical talent into recording and performing careers, Swaggart felt called to the ministry. He dropped out of high school, married at 17, began preaching at 20 and was ordained at 26.

    He was licensed by the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination that believes the Holy Spirit endows believers with spiritual gifts that include speaking in tongues and faith healing.

    The glory years

    Pentecostals were nicknamed Holy Rollers because of their tendency to shake, quake and roll on the floor when feeling the Holy Spirit. Their preachers excelled at rousing audiences’ ardor, and Swaggart commanded the stage better than most. He paced, pounced and poured forth sweat while begging listeners to turn from sin and accept Jesus.

    Starting small, he drew crowds while preaching on a flatbed trailer throughout the South. His following grew, and in 1969 he opened the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge.

    Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart leaves his office complex in Baton Rouge, La., on Jan. 7, 1977.
    AP Photo

    At capacity, the church held 10,000 worshippers, who represented a broad swath of America: young girls and grannies, white and Black, bankers and farmers. His sermons began calmly but built to a fever pitch. CBS newsman Dan Rather once called him the “country’s greatest speaker.”

    During services, Swaggart also sang and played piano. In 1982, Newsweek magazine noted his musical chops, naming him the “King of Honky Tonk Heaven.” His music crossed gospel, country and honky-tonk – songs with a strong rhythmic beat – and he sold 17 million albums over his lifetime.

    By 1975, Swaggart’s on-stage charisma powered the launch of a television ministry that would reach millions within a decade. Viewers were captivated by his soulful tunes and fire-and-brimstone sermons. At its height, Swaggart’s show was televised in 140 countries, including Peru, the Philippines and South Africa.

    His ministry also became the largest mail-order business in Louisiana, selling books, tapes, T-shirts and biblical memorabilia. Thanks to the US$150 million raised annually from donations and sales, Swaggart lived in an opulent mansion, possessed a private jet previously owned by the Rockefellers, sported a yellow gold vintage Rolex and drove a Jaguar.

    The downfall

    Swaggart disliked competition and had a history of humiliating rival preachers. Wary of the Rev. Marvin Gorman, a Pentecostal minister whose church also was in Louisiana, Swaggart accused the man of adultery. Gorman admitted his infidelity and was defrocked.

    Gorman had heard rumors about Swaggart’s own indiscretions, and he and his son decided to tail the famed evangelist. In 1988, they caught Swaggart at a motel with a prostitute, and Gorman reported the incident to Swaggart’s denomination. He also gave news outlets photos of Swaggart and the prostitute. In a tearful, televised apology, Swaggart pleaded for a second chance.

    While his fans were willing, the Assemblies of God had conditions: Swaggart received the standard two-year suspension for sexual immorality. Defying the ruling, Swaggart went back to work after three months, and the denomination defrocked him.

    A parishioner overcome with grief lies on steps to the altar after Jimmy Swaggart’s confession of sexual indiscretions.
    Thomas S. England/Getty Images

    Swaggart might have succeeded as an independent minister, but in 1991 the police stopped his car for driving on the wrong side of the road. Inside they found the preacher with a prostitute. This time, Swaggart did not ask for forgiveness. Instead, he informed his congregation, “The Lord told me it’s flat none of your business.”

    Afterward, Swaggart never regained his former standing. His mail-order business dried up, donations fell, and attendance at services cratered. But up until his death, he kept on, in his own words, as an “old-fashioned, Holy Ghost-filled, shouting, weeping, soul-winning, Gospel-preaching preacher.”

    Swaggart’s legacy

    Swaggart, like other 1980s televangelists, brought right-wing politics into American homes. But unlike Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, Swaggart was less interested in winning elections than saving souls. In fact, when Robertson considered a presidential run in 1988, Swaggart initially tried to dissuade him – then changed his mind and supported him.

    Swaggart’s calls for a return to conservative Christian norms live on – not just in Sunday sermons but also in today’s world of tradwives, abortion restrictions and calls to repeal gay marriage. His music lives on, too. The day before he died, the Southern Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame inducted him as a member.

    But his legacy also survives in popular culture. In recent years, both reality television and scripted series have starred preachers shaped in the image of Swaggart and his peers. Most exaggerate his worst characteristics for shock and comedic effect.

    “Preachers of L.A.,” a 2013 reality show that profiled six Los Angeles pastors, featured blinged-out ministers whose sermons mixed hip-hop with the Bible. The fictional “Greenleaf” followed the scandals of an extended family’s Memphis megachurch, while “The Righteous Gemstones,” a dark spoof of Southern preachers, turned a family ministry into a site for sex, murder and moneymaking.

    But these imitations can’t match the reality. Swaggart was a larger-than-life minister whose story – from small-town wannabe to disgraced pastor, to preaching to those who would listen – had it all: sex, politics, music and religion.

    For those who want a taste of the real thing, The King of Honky Tonk Heaven lives on. You can see his old services and Bible studies streaming daily on his network.

    Diane Winston does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Jimmy Swaggart’s rise and fall shaped the landscape of American televangelism – https://theconversation.com/jimmy-swaggarts-rise-and-fall-shaped-the-landscape-of-american-televangelism-260377

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Protection Fund in June 2025 Hits $716 Million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released its monthly report on Protection Fund which has reached a high of $716 million in June 2025, more than doubling its original benchmark of $300 million. The fund, designed to serve as a safeguard for users in extreme market conditions, maintained a consistent 6,500 BTC balance throughout the month. Its value fluctuated with market prices, with the average monthly valuation settling at around $687 million.

    The highest daily valuation was recorded on June 9, driven by BTC prices topping $110,000. At its lowest on June 22, the fund stood at approximately $655 million, still well above the pledged minimum. This level of reserve reflects a stable security buffer that operates independently of insurance or third-party guarantees.

    Since its launch, the fund has been monitored in real-time through publicly visible wallet addresses, offering full transparency into its assets. It is held entirely in BTC and USDT, allowing it to remain liquid and responsive to market shifts. Bitget has kept the fund for emergencies, positioning it strictly as a protective reserve in case of major incidents such as hacks, exploit attempts, or abnormal losses on the platform.

    Originally launched with a $300 million reserve, the fund has grown by over 140%, aligned with the appreciation of BTC holdings and Bitget’s strategic focus on market insurance. The fund’s value fluctuates in accordance with the price of Bitcoin, with May’s performance boosted by BTC trading above $110,000 on multiple occasions.

    June’s figures arrive at a time when crypto markets continue to move unpredictably, and user trust is tied more closely than ever to platform security. The Protection Fund has quietly grown into one of the largest exchange reserves of its kind, offering users reassurance without the need for claims or long settlement processes.

    In an industry where security promises are often tested after the fact, the Bitget Protection Fund remains one of the few safety nets that is not only pre-funded and on-chain but also well above its original target. The June 2025 update shows that user protection is not just an afterthought it’s a standing reserve, ready as needed.

    With monthly Merkle Tree audits verifying full asset backing and ISO 27001:2022 certification asserting best-in-class protocols, the platform integrates SSL encryption and an advanced risk control system that actively monitors suspicious activity. This combination of rigorous standards and real-time protection has kept Bitget breach-free since 2018 and contributed to its AAA security rating and helped reinforce user confidence to set a benchmark for transparency across the industry.

    For more information and monthly updates on the Protection Fund, visit here.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4912037-6e64-41b5-b8f6-27d998f661e4

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bb7ca57-9e45-4f79-8879-352cc552965f

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: WhatsApp Video 2025-07-10 at 14.00.54.mp4

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

    #G20SouthAfrica’s Presidency, enhancing cross-border payments is a top priority.

    Africa faces some of the highest costs for cross-border transactions globally.

    The G20 Presidency is committed to making payments:
    faster;
    cheaper; and
    more inclusive and transparent

    #GovZAUpdates

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxg9NKRhdk0

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Republic of Mauritius to Visit Japan

    Source: APO


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    Hon. Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Republic of Mauritius will pay a visit to Japan from July 13 to 16.

    During his stay in Japan, the Minister will meet with Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and will participate in the National Day Event of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as official guest of the Government of Japan.

    The visit of the Minister is expected to further develop the bilateral relations between Japan and Mauritius.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan: Children reveal harrowing violence in latest North Darfur mass displacement

    Source: APO


    .

    Save the Children and its partners spoke to over 450 of these displaced children in Tawila for the assessment “Children Caught in Conflict”, with children describing traumatic journeys and expressing fear, grief, and a profound sense of uncertainty about their futures. 

    Hundreds of children have recounted harrowing stories of terror and loss after their homes in Sudan’s North Darfur region were attacked, with many telling Save the Children how they lost contact with friends and loved ones [1].  

    Violence is happening daily in North Darfur, the epicentre of Sudan’s two-year conflict,  with fighting intensifying over the past 12 months and spiking in April this year when the Zamzam camp housing people forced from their homes was viciously attacked.  

    Nearly 500,000 people – including 260,000 children – were displaced from Zamzam camp between April and May, which amounts to 99% of the camp’s population. About  75% of the displaced people ended up in the Tawila camp [2], which is located around 60km southeast of Zamzam.  

    Save the Children and its partners spoke to over 450 of these displaced children in Tawila for the assessment “Children Caught in Conflict”, with children describing traumatic journeys and expressing fear, grief, and a profound sense of uncertainty about their futures. 

    Many children witnessed killings and dead bodies in the streets, with some reporting witnessing young people being arrested or killed, and more than half of the girls interviewed (53%) reported incidents of sexual violence during their journey out of Zamzam to Tawila.  

    Three children reported that their mothers died during the journey to Tawila, while four others said they lost a brother, and five reported the death of their fathers. 

    Some children recounted supporting elderly relatives travelling long distances on donkeys, with others saying they were forced to leave behind exhausted family members under threat of violence.  

    Salma*, 12, originally from El Fasher, was displaced twice — first to Zamzam, then to Tawila. She described witnessing rape, killings, and looting along the road. Her grandfather died during the journey due to exhaustion and lack of care. Upon arrival in Tawila, her family had no food or shelter and slept in the open.  

    Talha*, 12, was fetching water for his family when the Zamzam camp came under attack. He witnessed shootings, and widespread panic. He ran home to find his family but discovered the house empty. He searched the schools where people were hiding but couldn’t find them. Believing his family had fled to Tawila, Talha followed the crowds on foot. After arriving, he stayed with a host family for seven days before they too left, leaving him alone. Talha told the survey team his only wish is to return to El Fasher and reunite with his family — though he doesn’t know if they are still alive. 

    While some children said they feel relatively safe in Tawila, many — especially girls — expressed deep grief over the loss of family members and fear of ongoing violence. 

    Children cited poor living conditions, including sleeping on the ground, extreme heat, food shortages, and the presence of armed individuals, as sources of distress.  

    Girls reported high levels of fear and vulnerability, particularly when using toilets or traveling long distances for water. Many shared that friends were raped during displacement or in the camps. Both boys and girls acknowledged a rise in sexual violence, with girls aged 12–18 being the most affected. Boys were also aware of the abuse experienced by their sisters and peers.  

    Francesco Lanino, Deputy Country Director of Programmes and Operations for Save the Children in Sudan, said: 

    “Children in North Darfur have been to hell and back. They are grieving deeply, while contemplating uncertain futures. Many lost family members before and during their displacement, and don’t have adequate tools to process their experiences. Some children have described to our staff harrowing experiences of parting with older family members on the route, many of whom they haven’t seen since.  

    “Since the conflict began, children’s lives have been upended. They now wake to the sound of gunfire and shelling. Families dig trenches for protection, schools are closed, and access to healthcare is limited. Many children reported that their peers have joined armed groups or been forced into early marriage due to economic hardship.  

    “Children’s rights have been completely ignored in Sudan. They are being separated from their families, seeing loved ones killed or maimed, and have already missed years of critical education, with terrible consequences for their long-term well-being. We are incredibly concerned for these children’s futures – and the future of Sudan – if this conflict doesn’t end now.” 

    Save the Children is urging the international community to redouble efforts to demand a ceasefire in Sudan, to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access and a drastic scale-up of humanitarian assistance.  

    Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is currently supporting children and their families across Sudan providing health, nutrition, education, child protection and food security and livelihoods support. Save the Children is also supporting refugees from Sudan in Egypt and South Sudan. 

    Since April 2025, Save the Children has been leading a major humanitarian response in North Darfur, addressing the urgent needs of displaced populations following mass displacement from Zamzam camp and El Fasher. With hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons across the region, Save the Children has scaled up operations in El Fasher, Tawila and Central Darfur, delivering life-saving services in health, nutrition, water and sanitation, protection, and shelter. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Save the Children.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its fiftieth anniversary in Cotonou: a march for regional unity and solidarity

    Source: APO


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    As part of the celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the ECOWAS Representation in Benin, with the support of the Beninese Government, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone E, organised a commemorative march in Cotonou on Saturday 28th of June 2025.

    Titled the “Jubilee Walk”, the event brought together over 300 participants from state and diplomatic institutions, ECOWAS specialised agencies, project partners, West African communities, youth organisations, NGOs, students and teachers.

    The march set off from the Place de l’Amazone at 7.00am and took a looping route through the Place Bio Guéra, returning to its starting point at around 10.00am. It was led by a high-level delegation including Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, the representative of the Minister for Sport, the Director of CMMC Zone E and the representative of the WAPP Secretary General. The presence of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, the Resident Representatives of UEMOA and UNFPA, as well as Ambassador Francis OKE, former Permanent Representative of the ECOWAS to the African Union, enhanced the solemnity of the event.

    In keeping with the theme of the golden jubilee, “Stronger together for a brighter future”. the march was punctuated by messages in favour of unity and solidarity, the essential foundations of successful regional integration.

    In his speech, the ECOWAS Resident Representative said: “This march symbolises our shared commitment to an ECOWAS of peoples, united and in solidarity. In the face of current challenges, it is imperative that we unite our voices on the international stage to defend the interests of our region and accelerate the implementation of our integration policies, in order to create opportunities for our peoples”.

    The ceremony ended with words of thanks and encouragement from Ambassador Francis OKE, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, the representative of the Minister for Sport and the Resident Representative of the ECOWAS. They all stressed that the support, solidarity and unity of the peoples are the foundation of West African political and economic integration. The morning ended in a convivial atmosphere, with refreshments and a family photo.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) holds sensitization session on procurement standard documents to strengthen compliance and operational coherence across institutions

    Source: APO


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    The Directorate of Administration and General Services is currently holding a three-day sensitization meeting on ECOWAS Procurement Standard Documents (the Procurement Code / Manual; Grant Code / Manual, and various Annexes thereof), which are strategic documents intended to ensure consistent interpretation of the documents and their proper application in alignment with international and donor-compliant procurement practices.

    The Sensitization exercise is to engender clear, uniform understanding and application of the procurement standard documents during procurement processes whilst promoting clarity of Roles, Responsibilities, and Standard Timelines throughout the procurement standard document cycle.

    For enhanced synergy in the ECOWAS procurement chain across all ECOWAS Institutions, and Offices, participants in this important session include officers/stakeholders from the ECOWAS Commission (Directorates of Finance – B&T / FR&G – ITS, Legal Affairs, Human Resources, Infrastructure); Office of the Auditor-General, Parliament, Court of Justice, WAHO, GIABA); Agencies (ARAA, RCDC, PPDU, ECREEE, Gender Center, Water Resources).

    The meeting was declared open by the Commissioner for Internal Services (CIS) and moderated by the Director of Administration and General Services (DAGS).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The task force on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) has held a meeting to take stock of eight years of action in the field

    Source: APO


    .

    The Task Force on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) met from the 1st to 3rd of July 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to take stock of the eight years of field missions across the ECOWAS Member States.

    The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Ms Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, members of the first and second teams of the TLS Task Force, executives from the Customs Union and Taxation Directorate, and representatives of associations lobbying for the free movement of people and goods in West Africa, including AOCTAH/WACTAF, the Borderless Alliance, ENDA-CACID, NANTS, and ROPPA.

    In his welcoming remarks, the Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, recalled the main objective of the meeting, which is not only to take stock of the actions of the TLS Task Force since the installation of the first team in 2016 up to the present day, to analyse without complacency the strengths and weaknesses of the said actions, but also to make relevant proposals likely to reinforce the gains made and correct the weaknesses, with a view to eliminating obstacles to intra-regional trade.

    Opening the meeting on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E Dr Omar Alieu TOURAY, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Massandjé LITSE-TOURE, welcomed the key role played by the TLS Task Force in deepening intra-community trade through the free movement of people and goods. She praised the leadership of Dr CHAMBAS, who has brought a number of trade facilitation reforms to the attention of the region’s highest authorities, with tangible results.

    The plenary session, which lasted three days, enabling participants to make proposals to allow the TLS Task Force to be more effective in its future actions. The participants also recommended that the TLS Task Force should advocate for the strengthening of Member States’ commitment to regional integration through the appointment of a Special Adviser to the Cabinet of each President of the Republic or Prime Minister. This Special Adviser to the President or Prime Minister should, as a matter of priority, monitor the application by national administrations of Community texts on the free movement of persons and goods. It was also recommended that the TLS Task Force should step up its lobbying of governments on the issue of speeding up the digitisation of customs and trade procedures in order to facilitate the flow of goods along the various ECOWAS trade corridors.

    Beyond the question of the mandate of the Task Force on TLS, the participants seized the opportunity of this review meeting, in connection with the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS, to make proposals to be fed back into the reflection on the ECOWAS of the future. These include the creation of an ECOWAS solidarity fund to promote balanced development within the community. ECOWAS should launch federative infrastructure projects (roads, railways, energy, interconnectivity, etc.) based on endogenous resources. Finally, a panel of eminent personalities will be set up to review the ECOWAS Treaty, with a view to strengthening the roles of the Parliament and the Community Court of Justice.

    The Chairman of the TLS Task Force, Dr Mohamed Ibn CHAMBAS, will shortly be travelling to Abuja to report to the Chairman of the Commission on the results of the Abidjan meeting.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Golar LNG Reaches Commercial Operations Date (COD) at Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Project, Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 as Gold Partner

    Source: APO


    .

    Golar LNG has officially announced that its FLNG Gimi vessel has reached its Commercial Operations Date (COD) under the 20‑year lease-and-operate agreement for the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) gas project offshore Mauritania and Senegal. Achieving COD triggers the commencement of this long-term contract – unlocking approximately $3 billion in adjusted EBITDA backlog for Golar – and marks a major milestone in positioning both countries as emerging LNG exporters.

    The Gimi FLNG unit will initially produce 2.4 million tons of LNG per annum, with plans to ramp up to its full capacity of 2.7 million tons. Backed by an estimated 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the GTA project is expected to bolster regional and global energy security while stimulating economic growth in both host nations.

    In line with its growing presence in Africa’s energy landscape, Golar LNG has joined the 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies as a Gold Partner. Taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, AEW 2025 brings together African governments, energy companies and global investors to explore and advance opportunities across the energy value chain. The event serves as a strategic platform for companies like Golar LNG to showcase innovative FLNG solutions and their long-term commitment to Africa’s energy development.

    Golar LNG’s participation at AEW aligns with the event’s broader vision to develop Africa’s estimated 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas as a catalyst for energy security and poverty alleviation. In June 2024, the company signed a Project Development Agreement with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for a new FLNG facility in the Niger Delta. The project is designed to liquefy 400–500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, contributing to Nigeria’s Decade of Gas Initiative and its goal to harness 209 trillion cubic feet of reserves to expand access to cleaner, more reliable energy.

    Golar LNG has also played a pioneering role in Cameroon’s gas sector since 2018, operating the 2.4-million-ton-per-annum Hilli Episeyo FLNG facility. As the company continues to grow its balance sheet and expand its footprint across the continent, AEW: Invest in African Energies offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage African stakeholders and pursue new prospects across the natural gas value chain.

    “The commercial launch of the Gimi FLNG facility is a major step forward for the MSGBC Basin and Africa’s LNG market,” says Ore Onagbesan, Program Director, AEW. “As countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania work to monetize their offshore gas resources, innovative and reliable partners such as Golar LNG will play a vital role in driving sustainable growth and long-term value.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    About AEW:
    Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lu Ban’s Workshop Becomes a Bridge for Humanitarian Exchanges between SCO Countries

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    TIANJIN, July 10 (Xinhua) — Igor Khodachek, director of the Eurasian Studies Center of the European University at St. Petersburg, entered his name on a computer while visiting the Tianjin Vocational Institute of Light Industry and a laser marking machine engraved his name on the surface of a metal plate.

    “This is a wonderful souvenir of this trip,” said I. Khodachek, who participated in the “Dialogue of World Mayors – SCO Summit Cities,” which was held from July 6 to 9 in Tianjin, northern China. During the event, guests at the aforementioned institute visited an exhibition hall dedicated to Lu Ban’s Workshop and a base integrating production and training in the field of high-precision instrument manufacturing and intelligent manufacturing.

    Lu Ban Workshop, named after the famous ancient Chinese craftsman Lu Ban, is a brand of international vocational education initiated and promoted by Tianjin City Government.

    To date, China has built 34 Lu Ban Workshops in 30 countries and regions around the world. 10 of them were established in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Pakistan, Cambodia, Egypt and other SCO countries.

    With the construction of a practical training center and the provision of modern teaching equipment in Lu Ban Workshop, Chinese teachers and technical personnel are also sent to learn technical skills from local teachers who may be invited to China for experience exchange.

    Since 2022, Wu Zhengpeng, a teacher from Tianjin Vocational and Technical Institute of Urban Administration and Construction, has been teaching at Lu Ban Workshop in Tajikistan using China’s advanced equipment and 3D teaching resources.

    “We had a comprehensive discussion with the teachers of the Tajik side and jointly formulated the curriculum, discussed the methodology and agreed to invite them to Tianjin for exchanges,” Wu Zhengpeng shared. In July last year, representatives of the teachers and students of the Tajik Technical University named after Academician M.S. Osimi visited Tianjin as planned.

    Lu Ban’s workshop provides an opportunity for more and more young people from SCO countries to study abroad.

    Ibrahim Maher, a 21-year-old student from Egypt, is currently studying at Tianjin Light Industry Vocational and Technical Institute under the Lu Ban Workshop project, majoring in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) technology.

    “Lu Ban Workshop has many advanced teaching equipment and data centers from China, which enables students to transform theoretical knowledge into practical skills and adapt to the working environment more quickly. We are also provided with many opportunities to visit companies, participate in internships, and experience a large number of projects in practice,” he said.

    At the end of the tour, Director of the Institute of World Politics of Kyrgyzstan Sheradil Baktygulov said that Lu Ban’s Workshop provides assistance to Kyrgyzstan in developing such areas as robotics, autonomous driving and computer technology.

    At present, Lu Ban’s Workshop is an important platform for international exchanges and cooperation in the field of professional education, and also serves as a bridge to promote humanities exchanges and the rapprochement of peoples. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Libya: UN urges restraint as military buildup threatens renewed violence in Tripoli

    Source: United Nations 2

    In a statement late on Wednesday (local time), the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) expressed deep concern over continued reports of armed group mobilisation in densely populated areas, urging all parties to refrain from the use of force and inflammatory rhetoric.

    “The Mission strongly urges all parties to avoid any actions or political rhetoric that could trigger escalation or lead to renewed clashes,” it said.

    UNSMIL stressed that protection of civilian lives and property under international law remains a binding obligation for all political and security actors.

    “Those responsible for attacks against civilians will be held accountable,” the Mission said.

    Pursue dialogue, not violence

    The Mission reiterated its support for the implementation of security arrangements developed by the Truce and Security and Military Arrangements Committees, emphasising that “forces recently deployed in Tripoli must withdraw without delay.”

    It also underscored that dialogue – not violence – remains the only viable path to achieving sustainable peace and stability in Tripoli and across Libya.

    The appeal comes amid reports of military movements in the capital and renewed clashes between armed groups, reflecting the persistent volatility that has plagued Libya since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

    Political stalemate

    The country remains divided between rival administrations in the east and west, with unity efforts repeatedly stalled.

    A UN-brokered ceasefire signed in 2020 raised hopes for national elections, but progress has been hampered by political deadlock and sporadic outbreaks of violence – particularly in Tripoli.

    In May, clashes erupted in several districts of the capital, reportedly triggered by the killing of a prominent militia leader. The fighting, which involved heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, forced hundreds of families to flee and further strained the city’s already fragile infrastructure.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OCEANIA/PAPAU NEW GUINEA – Blessed To Rot: An example of faith for catechists and laity

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 10 July 2025

    Port Moresby (Agenzia Fides) – “We celebrated Blessed Peter To Rot on his feast day on July 7 in Port Moresby, with a Mass that brought before the faithful the figure of our first saint, who will be canonized next October 19. And we will continue the celebrations in the various dioceses throughout July. To Rot is for us an example of a catechist and husband: a Christian who was convinced that the personal journey of holiness is a response to the call of every baptized person. Each of us, we recall, receives this call,” Paul Sundu, Bishop of Kundiawa, who participated in the celebration in Port Moresby, which was also attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea, Msgr. Maurizio Bravi, told Fides.Bishop Sundu said that the Blessed “is an example of the faith in our country today: There are many catechists like him who continue the work of witnessing and transmitting the faith in remote places, without whom the Church’s mission would not continue.” To Rot, the bishop stated, “in a way anticipated the Second Vatican Council by living the mission of evangelization as a lay person. He became a catechist because, given the shortage of missionaries, he recognized that ‘the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.’ Today, he is an example of the laity’s participation in the Church.” Regarding the situation of the Catholic community in Papua New Guinea, the bishop said: “We are 16 million Catholics, divided into four macro-regions, in a nation that can still be called ‘Christian’: Faith is of great importance to the people.” Papua New Guinea is largely covered by tropical jungle and is inhabited by very diverse indigenous peoples. Over the past two centuries, the country has been the subject of colonial conflicts between the British, Dutch, and Germans. Foreign powers welcomed Christian missionaries, both Protestant and Catholic, who proclaimed the Gospel to the native population.”Our country is home to very diverse societies and cultures, with hundreds of ethnic groups, traditions, and religions.The challenge for the Church lies in its relationship with the many local cultures whose heritage includes practices that are contrary to Christian values, such as divorce, shamanism, and ancestor worship,” Bishop Sundu continued. “The Church’s witness and mission, on the one hand, thrive on its relationship with traditional and ancestral religions; on the other, it is confronted with secularization and modernization, which are making themselves felt in the general mentality and are particularly noticeable in the cities and among young people.” The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea, he adds, “remains a credible and valued institution today, supporting the population in its development and sometimes doing more than the government, especially in areas such as education and health, thus continuing to make a significant and valuable contribution to the country’s public life.” Referring specifically to the situation in his diocese of Kundiawa, a mountain town in the heart of Simbu Province in the Central Highlands, the bishop reports how “the communities of believers are experiencing the Holy Year: especially the young people in various communities and parishes have organized the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross, bringing a message of hope: the hope of living according to God’s heart, living the Gospel each in their own context and territory, in their own life situation, in their own community.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA – “Neocolonialism in fishing”: The fishing industry in West African countries is in crisis

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    photo nigrizia.it

    by Cosimo GrazianiBanjul (Agenzia Fides) – In West African countries, the local fishing industry is in crisis. European countries are also to blame for this. Gambian activist Mustapha Manneh also spoke out at the United Nations World Oceans Conference, which took place this year in Nice from June 9 to 13.The core of the problem is the fishing of local species to produce fish feed for aquaculture farms in Greece and Turkey. The phenomenon affects the entire region and has the same characteristics: local species such as sardines and bonga are caught in large quantities and processed locally into fish feed for aquaculture; the produced material is shipped to Turkey, Greece, and China (these are the currently known destinations), where it is used in fish farms. The fish produced, in the case of Turkish farms, are mainly sea bream and bass. These farmed fish reach the stores of the destination countries and the tables of consumers, unaware that the consumed fillets are causing social and economic problems for entire populations on the African continent, where in the meantime, hundreds of families have lost their only source of income. As Manneh points out, the fishermen can no longer bring home enough fish to feed their families and face ever-increasing fuel costs: Whereas they used to be able to catch large quantities of fish in a shorter time, using only 20 liters of diesel, they now have to stay away longer to ensure a sufficient catch, and the amount of fuel required has at least tripled.The fishermen are not the only ones hit hard: an entire social fabric has been affected by this problem. In Senegal and Gambia, the fish was caught by men and sold by women, a system that, in its own way, also ensured relative social and economic equality. Now that catches are scarce, markets have disappeared in many cases, along with the stalls run by women, who must now find other sources of income. Another problem that fishermen in West Africa have faced in recent years is the presence of fishing boats from other countries—for example, from China—which significantly reduces the availability of fish to catch. In Guinea-Bissau, fishing boats from other countries often use trawling, which is prohibited due to the damage it can cause to ecosystems. The presence of foreign fishing boats in African waters is often regulated by agreements such as those concluded by the European Union with these countries. According to Manneh, their presence in Gambia is viewed with growing hostility by the local population, especially young people. The EU signed the last of a long line of fishing protocols with Gambia in 2019, which expire on July 30. This protocol stipulated that vessels from Spain, Greece, and France could fish in Gambian territorial waters for an annual fee of €550,000, a fee that was intended, among other things, to finance measures to protect the marine ecosystem. Similar agreements have been concluded with other countries in the region: In the case of Guinea-Bissau, the agreement was approved by the European Parliament last April and provides for compensation of up to €100 million per year. Alongside this agreement, the Parliament adopted a recommendation calling on the European Commission and Guinea-Bissau to improve fishing controls in the African country’s territorial waters. The fishing crisis in West African countries is also fueling illegal emigration to Europe. From the coasts of Senegal, it is possible to reach the Canary Islands, which belong to Spain. While reaching the Canary Islands represents an alternative to poverty for many, others become smugglers for the same reason, earning a living by transporting migrants. In Gambia, earnings for a single trip on a boat full of migrants can reach up to €200,000, an unimaginable sum for a Gambian fisherman. (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Goma: Relics of Blessed Floribert transferred to the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 10 July 2025

    Goma (Agenzia Fides) – Less than a month after the beatification ceremony at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, the mortal remains of Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi were transferred from the city cemetery to a chapel dedicated to him within the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Goma.It was an intense moment of faith for the local Catholic community: more than 6,000 people attended a Mass in the square in front of the shrine, presided over by Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu of Lubumbashi, President of the Episcopal Conference of the Democratic Republic of Congo (CENCO). Eleven bishops and about 200 priests concelebrated with him.Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of Floribert Bwana Chui Bin Kositi on November 28, 2024. And in Goma, a war-torn city where years of conflict have exacerbated social hardship, the news of the beatification and the ceremony of transferring the remains to the Shrine acted like a healing balm.Some worshipers wore colorful traditional shirts and dresses bearing the blessed’s portrait. In his homily, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu described the recognition of the martyrdom and the beatification ceremony as a “powerful wake-up call” for the entire Congolese society, which “must commit itself to the fight against corruption.”Floribert was employed in the Goma office of the Congolese Control Office (OCC) in Goma, the public body responsible for controlling the quality, quantity and conformity of goods. Quality control consisted of verifying the conformity of products with national and international regulations, through physicochemical and microbiological analysis of the samples taken.In the course of his duties, he opposed the passage of a shipment of spoiled rice from Rwanda, destined for the Congolese market, with serious consequences for the health of consumers. Despite offers of bribes from crooked traders, Floribert stubbornly refused to let the cargo pass. The offers of money then turned into threats, but the young civil servant did not give in.On July 7, 2007, unknown assailants forced him into a car. On July 9, his lifeless body was found in a vacant lot not far from the scene of the kidnapping. It was established that Floribert was tortured and beaten before being killed. Known for his devotion to God and the Catholic Church, Floribert Bwana Chui was linked to the Community of Sant’Egidio. He distinguished himself by his religious fervor and his desire to live daily according to the teachings of the Gospel. His sacrifice is compared to that of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, another Congolese martyr beatified in 1994 by Pope John Paul II.For Congolese society, the Archbishop said, Floribert’s story is “also a message of hope.” He therefore appealed to the commitment of all believers to peace: “No matter how great the challenges we face today, we must build peace, and we must build it together.”Aline Minani, a friend of the Blessed, was also present at the ceremony. Speaking to the local press on the sidelines of the celebrations, she said: “All of this has profound meaning for the local community. What we are celebrating here can be a glimmer of hope for our region and our country.”The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is the scene of a war in which more than 100 armed groups are now involved. Clashes escalated at the beginning of this year, when the M23 movement captured the cities of Goma (see Fides, 27/1/2025) and Bukavu (see Fides, 17/2/2025). (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Erection of the diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya and appointment of the first bishop

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 10 July 2025

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has created the new diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya, with territory taken from the diocese of Eldoret, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kisumu, Kenya.The Holy Father has appointed Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei, until now auxiliary bishop of Eldoret, as first bishop of the diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya, at the same time liberating him from the titular see of Mons in Numidia.Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei was born on 15 August 1958 in Soy, in the diocese of Eldoret. He studied philosophy at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga, and theology at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.He was ordained a priest on 26 October 1985 for the diocese of Eldoret.He was awarded a doctorate in theology, specializing in liturgy, from the Universität Wien.He has held the following offices: parish vicar in Suwerwa and Chepterit (1985-1987), parish priest in Yamumbi, Suwerwa, Chepterit and Tachasis, and vicar forane of the deaneries of Kitale and Nandi (1987-1996), parish collaborator at St. Brigitta and Zum Gottlichen Erloser, in the archdiocese of Vienna (1996-2002), parish priest of St. Patrick in Kapcherop (2002-2003) and St. Boniface in Tindinyo (2003-2007), lecturer in the following institutes: AMECEA Pastoral Institute in Gaba (2003-2004); Institute of Development Studies in Kobujoi (2004-2009) and at the St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary-Tindinyo (2003-2008), parish priest of St. Peter’s in Kapsabet (2007-2008), lecturer and formator of St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo (2008-2017), rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi (2017-2023) and vicar general of Eldoret.On 27 March 2024 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Eldoret, receiving the titular see of Mons in Numidia; he was ordained a bishop the following 25 May. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/KENYA – Erection of the diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya and appointment of the first bishop

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Thursday, 10 July 2025

    Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has created the new diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya, with territory taken from the diocese of Eldoret, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan archdiocese of Kisumu, Kenya.The Holy Father has appointed Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei, until now auxiliary bishop of Eldoret, as first bishop of the diocese of Kapsabet, Kenya, at the same time liberating him from the titular see of Mons in Numidia.Bishop John Kiplimo Lelei was born on 15 August 1958 in Soy, in the diocese of Eldoret. He studied philosophy at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga, and theology at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi.He was ordained a priest on 26 October 1985 for the diocese of Eldoret.He was awarded a doctorate in theology, specializing in liturgy, from the Universität Wien.He has held the following offices: parish vicar in Suwerwa and Chepterit (1985-1987), parish priest in Yamumbi, Suwerwa, Chepterit and Tachasis, and vicar forane of the deaneries of Kitale and Nandi (1987-1996), parish collaborator at St. Brigitta and Zum Gottlichen Erloser, in the archdiocese of Vienna (1996-2002), parish priest of St. Patrick in Kapcherop (2002-2003) and St. Boniface in Tindinyo (2003-2007), lecturer in the following institutes: AMECEA Pastoral Institute in Gaba (2003-2004); Institute of Development Studies in Kobujoi (2004-2009) and at the St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary-Tindinyo (2003-2008), parish priest of St. Peter’s in Kapsabet (2007-2008), lecturer and formator of St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo (2008-2017), rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi (2017-2023) and vicar general of Eldoret.On 27 March 2024 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Eldoret, receiving the titular see of Mons in Numidia; he was ordained a bishop the following 25 May. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 10/7/2025)

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady welcomed Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, as part of the United States’ continued focus on strengthening defense relationships across the Pacific Islands region.

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  • MIL-OSI Security: Readout of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady’s Meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape

    Source: US Defense Joint Chiefs of Staff

    Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Christopher Grady welcomed Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 9, 2025, as part of the United States’ continued focus on strengthening defense relationships across the Pacific Islands region.

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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Conviction of examiner, driving school instructor welcomed

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) has welcomed the conviction of a KwaZulu-Natal examiner and a driving school instructor in a case that exposed serious breaches of integrity within the driving licence issuing sector.

    Sandile Ndlovu, a Mooi River-based examiner, was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit corruption on 8 July 2025 in the Durban Specialised Crime Court after it was discovered that he had fraudulently issued a learner licence to someone who had not written the required examination.

    Ndlovu was arrested in 2016 following complaints received by the National Traffic Anti-Corruption Unit (NTACU), a division of the RTMC. 

    The unit worked with the KwaZulu-Natal South African Police Crime Intelligence Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) anti-corruption unit to investigate the complaints.

    “It was found that Mr Ndlovu conspired with Ms Zandile Dlamini, a driving school instructor, to have a learner licence issued on the payment of R 3000 inducement. Dlamini was also convicted for her role in facilitating the misconduct by accepting an unlawful benefit for the crime,” said the RTMC in a statement.

    The corporation said these actions not only violated the trust placed in public servants but also compromised the integrity of a system meant to ensure competence and accountability within road traffic law enforcement.

    The matter has been postponed to 29 August 2025 to allow for the preparation of pre-sentence reports. 

    During the sentencing phase, the State is expected to call additional witnesses to highlight the impact of these actions on road safety and the broader public service.

    “The RTMC considers this case a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to clean up traffic enforcement services and promote a culture of ethical conduct. 

    “We fully support the work of the courts and prosecuting authorities in holding those who abuse public systems accountable. The fight against fraud and corruption remains one of our top priorities, and we will continue working closely with all stakeholders to protect the integrity of road traffic management in South Africa,” said the RTMC.

    Members of the public can report suspected acts of fraud, corruption, and malfeasance to ntacu@rtmc.co.za or by WhatsApp to 083 293 7989. – SAnews.gov.za

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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Operation Vulindlela: Sustained progress in the economic reform agenda

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Presidency and National Treasury have released a quarterly progress report for Q1 2025/26 on the implementation of economic reform through Operation Vulindlela. 

    This report is the first to be released since the launch of Phase II of Operation Vulindlela this year. 

    Operation Vulindlela is a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury which aims to achieve more rapid and inclusive economic growth through a programme of far-reaching economic reform. 

    Phase I of Operation Vulindlela focused on unlocking progress in five priority areas: electricity, freight logistics, water, telecommunications, and the visa system. These reforms were selected for their high potential to catalyse investment, enhance economic competitiveness, and create jobs. 

    Phase II represents a second wave of structural reform aimed at unlocking more rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth. 

    While continuing to drive implementation of reforms initiated during Phase I, the second phase introduces new focus areas that respond to evolving challenges in the economy. 

    “The report released today demonstrates sustained progress in the economic reform agenda, which serves as a counter to strong economic headwinds. 

    “Key milestones during the past quarter include the publication of a Ministerial Determination and associated regulations to enable the first round of Independent Transmission Projects, as well as a Request for Information for major private sector participation (PSP) projects in the freight logistics sector. 

    “Progress has also been made in the new areas of reform included in Phase II, with a comprehensive review of the White Paper on Local Government to reform the local government system and the introduction of a performance-based financing mechanism to support the reform of municipal water and electricity services. 

    “The Digital Transformation Roadmap has been approved by Cabinet and is in implementation, with the development of a digital identity system and other core elements of the roadmap already advanced,” said a statement.

    Further details on progress in each of the reform areas is available in the full report, at Operation Vulindlela Progress Report Q1 2025-26.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

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  • MIL-OSI: BitMart Launches Beacon (BitMartGPT): A Revolutionary AI Trading Assistant for the Crypto Age

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mahe, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMart, a global leader in digital asset trading, is proud to announce the launch of Beacon (BitMartGPT), a cutting-edge AI-powered trading assistant designed to transform the way users navigate and succeed in the complex world of crypto trading.

    Beacon: Your AI Crypto Assistant

    Like a lighthouse guiding ships through stormy seas, Beacon illuminates a clear path through volatile market conditions, offering institutional-grade insights and real-time support to crypto traders of all experience levels.

    Beacon is built on advanced AI infrastructure, enabling it to deliver fast, precise, and actionable insights.

    Expanded Features and Capabilities

    At launch, Beacon offers a powerful suite of tools aimed at providing clarity, speed, and strategic foresight to BitMart users:

    • Real-Time Market Intelligence via X Insights:
      Beacon integrates BitMart’s proprietary X Insights platform to analyze social sentiment and influencer commentary in real time. This enables users to anticipate market moves and understand shifting narratives within the crypto ecosystem.
    • Smart Problem Solving and Support:
      Whether it’s an account-related issue or a complex trading question, Beacon offers immediate, intelligent responses. A robust interactive knowledge base complements the live assistant, ensuring efficient self-service and education.
    • Interactive Knowledge Base:
      Ask complex questions about crypto concepts, trading strategies, or market dynamics and receive clear, tailored explanations powered by Beacon’s intelligent understanding of user intent.
    • Dual Operation Modes:
      Users can choose between two operational tiers.
      • Standard Mode supports up to 50 queries every four hours.
      • High-Performance Mode delivers advanced analytical capabilities, accessible up to three times in a four-hour window.
      • VIP users benefit from unrestricted access across both modes.

    Coming soon (Q3 2025), Beacon will further expand its capabilities with advanced trading intelligence tools, including a Personal Trading Analyst for deep, personalized performance insights, an Opportunity Scanner that identifies optimal trades based on your preferences and market trends, and an Advanced Risk Guardian for proactive portfolio protection.

    How It Works: Simple, Fast, Intuitive

    Users interact with Beacon through a conversational interface:

    1. Ask questions in natural language—no need for technical phrasing.
    2. Receive intelligent, data-driven insights based on your preferences and usage patterns.
    3. Make confident decisions supported by comprehensive, AI-enhanced insight.

    Why Beacon Matters

    In the rapidly evolving world of crypto and Web3, timely information, strategic guidance, and intuitive tools are critical. Beacon addresses these demands by combining professional-grade technology with an accessible user interface, making institutional-level support available to every user on the BitMart platform.

    Beacon is exclusively accessible to BitMart users and offered as a permanent, no-cost feature. It is purpose-built to elevate the trading experience by delivering advanced intelligence through an interface that remains intuitive and efficient.

    Discover what Beacon can do for you. Start exploring today.

    About BitMart

    BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with more than 10 million users worldwide. Consistently ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, BitMart offers over 1,700 trading pairs with competitive fees. Committed to continuous innovation and financial inclusivity, BitMart empowers users globally to trade seamlessly. Learn more about BitMart at Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.

    Disclaimer:

    The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial assets. All information is provided in good faith. However, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of such information.

    All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.

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