President Cyril Ramaphosa has sent his condolences to the family of former Deputy President David Dabede Mabuza who passed away on Thursday.
Mabuza, who served as Deputy President between 2018 and 2023, passed away in a hospital at the age of 65.
“On behalf of government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President’s wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children.
“I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios.
“My thoughts are also with Deputy President Mabuza’s comrades in his political home, the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organisation’s Deputy President in December 2017,” President Ramaphosa said.
He praised the former Deputy President’s contribution to government.
“During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development.
“Deputy President Mabuza also represented South Africa on global platforms and consolidated relations between South Africa and its closest partners.
“As Deputy President, he chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development [GSCID] as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security [JCPS],” the President said.
The Mpumalanga-born politician – affectionately referred to as DD or The Cat – was a teacher by training, however, he was drawn into political activism.
“We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President.
“The former Deputy President deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation’s development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state.
“Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President,” President Ramaphosa said. – SAnews.gov.za
“Sharing Food, Sharing Languages” – an event organised by the Highland Council’s Adult Learning team in partnership with migrant and refugee learning communities – successfully took place at Eden Court, Inverness on 22 June on the concluding day of Refugee Week Scotland (13-22 June).
Refugee Week Scotland is the largest arts and culture festival, celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
The event brought together over 200 people from New Scots and host Communities to celebrate “milestones”, the theme for this year’s event. The key purpose was to promote diversity and cross-cultural understanding and connect people through shared interests and passions. It also provided a platform to ensure marginalised communities could express themselves through art.
Learners were able to showcase their diverse skills, expertise, history and culture. Voices were heard and represented through stories, song and poetry.
Participants were invited to take part in creative workshops including Ukrainian embroidery and the art of writing different scripts. There were unique language tasters led by native speakers of Pashto, Dari, Arabic, Ukrainian and Turkish and a multicultural Storytime for families.
Wonderful performances from Cheryl Heggie’s Highland dancers and Mriya Ukrainian Childrens’ Choir, from Aberdeen, created a rich immersive cultural experience.
To top it all off, there were delicious traditional dishes to try from Ukraine, Eritrea, South Sudan and Afghanistan.
Lucy McGlennon, Head of Engagement at Eden Court said: “Sharing Food, Sharing Languages” was a fantastic event and we are delighted to have been in a position to support it. Eden Court is for everyone, and it is important to us that people of all cultures feel that they are welcome here. It was a moment of great pride to see so many cultures represented through delicious foods, national dress and through song, dance and poetry.”
Highland Council Learning for Life, part of the Community Learning and Development, supports adult learning activities which help with everyday skills such as reading, writing, using numbers, English as second language and digital literacy. All activities are learner-centred and learner-led.
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Demand Accountability for President Trump’s Discriminatory Travel Ban
Lawmakers: “We write to express our strong opposition to President Trump’s recent decision to issue a sweeping travel ban that will deny entry to thousands of individuals from 19 different countries.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Alex Padilla, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined 68 Democratic lawmakers in urging President Trump to rescind his discriminatory travel ban that will keep families apart and devastate the U.S. economy. The members demanded transparency into President Trump’s decision-making process and answers about how the travel ban will impact communities across the United States.
In a letter addressed to President Trump, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, the lawmakers outlined the disastrous consequences that President Trump’s travel ban will have on families and the American economy. U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.-28) led the letter.
“The effects of President Trump’s discriminatory travel ban will be devastating. In the last year alone over 126,000 visas have been issued to nationals from just the twelve countries on the fully restricted list. These are individuals who are looking to come to the United States to reunite with family, support our economy, or otherwise enrich our country in innumerable ways,” wrote the lawmakers.
During his first term, President Trump enacted extreme travel bans that disrupted thousands of lives and weakened our nation’s economy and global standing. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden rescinded these bans, but President Trump enacted another sweeping, discriminatory travel ban last month.
President Trump is imposing full restrictions on entry into the United States from nationals of Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, as well as partial restrictions on entry from nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela — meaning individuals from these countries cannot come to the United States permanently or apply for certain visas. President Trump is also reportedly considering imposing travel restrictions on an additional 36 countries.
“President Trump’s actions once again disgrace the founding principles of our nation and enshrine cruelty into our immigration system,” continued the lawmakers. “Additionally, this travel ban will harm our economy by depriving the United States of workers in key fields experiencing labor shortages like medicine and agriculture and further devastating our domestic tourism industry which is already expected to decline by $12.5 billion in 2025.”
The members demanded accountability and answers from the Trump Administration, pushing the President to immediately rescind his cruel travel ban.
Senator Padilla helped introduce a pair of bills earlier this year aimed at combating the chaos caused by Trump’s Muslim Ban in his first term. To prevent some of the most egregious violations from Trump’s first travel ban, Padilla is leading the Access to Counsel Act, which would ensure that U.S. citizens, green card holders, and other individuals with legal status can consult with an attorney, relative, or other interested parties to seek assistance if they are detained by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for more than an hour at ports of entry, including airports. Padilla is also cosponsoring Coons and Chu’s NO BAN Act, legislation to prevent any president from implementing a discriminatory travel ban by strengthening the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit discrimination based on religion. The bill would also require that any suspension of entry into the United States be narrowly tailored, backed by credible evidence, and subject to appropriate consultation with Congress.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear President Trump, Secretary Noem, Secretary Rubio, and Attorney General Bondi:
We write to express our strong opposition to President Trump’s recent decision to issue a sweeping travel ban that will deny entry to thousands of individuals from 19 different countries. This discriminatory ban will not improve our country’s national security, but it will needlessly rip families apart. We urge President Trump to rescind it immediately.
During President Trump’s first term, his administration implemented a range of travel restrictions on nationals from several countries, many of which were majority-Muslim countries. These travel bans faced continual legal challenges because of their blatantly discriminatory designs. President Biden terminated the latest version of President Trump’s travel ban when he took office in 2021, but the damage had already been done. The first Muslim Ban wreaked havoc on families, forcing over forty thousand people who had cleared one of the most exhaustive immigration vetting systems in the world to miss weddings, funerals, graduations, and births. What’s more, there is no evidence that this ban or any further iteration did anything to improve national security or prevent terrorism.
Despite the failure of the original Muslim and travel bans, President Trump has now issued an even broader travel ban. This new extreme travel ban will prevent nationals from twelve countries (Afghanistan, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen) from entering the United States, with seven other countries (Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela) facing partial restrictions, meaning individuals from these countries cannot come to the U.S. permanently or apply for certain visas. The administration is reportedly considering imposing restrictions on an additional 36 countries.
The effects of this discriminatory travel ban will be devastating. In the last year alone over 126,000 visas have been issued to nationals from just the twelve countries on the fully restricted list. These are individuals who are looking to come to the United States to reunite with family, support our economy, or otherwise enrich our country in innumerable ways. President Trump’s actions once again disgrace the founding principles of our nation and enshrine cruelty into our immigration system.
Additionally, this travel ban will harm our economy by depriving the United States of workers in key fields experiencing labor shortages like medicine and agriculture and further devastating our domestic tourism industry which is already expected to decline by $12.5 billion in 2025.
Given these severe impacts, we condemn this proclamation and urge President Trump to rescind it immediately. We also seek transparency into President Trump’s decision-making process and, accordingly, request answers to the following questions by July 3rd, 2025:
1. President Trump’s proclamation banned travel from countries based on a report that “identified countries for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a full suspension of admissions and countries that warrant a partial suspension of admission,” as well as considered “various factors, including each country’s screening and vetting capabilities, information sharing policies, and country-specific risk factors — including whether each country has a significant terrorist presence within its territory, its visa-overstay rate, and its cooperation with accepting back its removable nationals.”
a. Will your administration release this report in full to Congress and the public?
b. How are screening and vetting processes determined to be “deficient?”
c. What are the specific criteria by which your administration will continuously evaluate a country’s “conditions and vetting standards?” What are the parameters for a country to have a system that is considered sufficient?
2. What is the status of your administration’s deliberations to add more countries to the travel ban?
3. What is the estimate of the economic impacts on tourism, jobs, and foreign direct investment as a result of this travel ban?
4. What metrics will your administration use to evaluate the effectiveness of the travel ban in protecting national security?
5. Section 4(c) and (d) of the proclamation contemplates exceptions when in the national interest.
a. What procedures and guidelines will your administration use to determine who receives an exemption from your travel ban?
b. Will your administration make these procedures and guidelines public, and will your administration allow individuals to apply for exceptions?
6. President Trump’s proclamation identifies insufficient vetting as a reason to bar immigrant visas from certain suspended countries. However, his proclamation exempts immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who can show “clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g. DNA).”
a. Given that your administration accept DNA tests as a valid form of identification and evidence of familial relationship, why has your administration categorically suspended the entry of all other family-based immigrant visa applicants, including those who could also prove their identity in that manner?
7. For several countries (Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Togo, and Turkmenistan), President Trump’s proclamation lists no reason for a suspension of visas other than the visa overstay rates of individuals on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, which are nonimmigrant visas. However, President Trump’s proclamation fully suspends all immigrant visas for those countries, including all family and employment-based visas.
a. How does your administration justify suspending all immigrant visas on the basis of an unrelated nonimmigrant visa overstay rate?
b. Did your administration conduct individualized analyses for all nonimmigrant visa types, or rely solely on the B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visa overstay rates?
We thank you for your attention to this important manner.
Sincerely,
Ancient wooden tools found at a site in Gantangqing in southwestern China are approximately 300,000 years old, new dating has shown. Discovered during excavations carried out in 2014–15 and 2018–19, the tools have now been dated by a team of archaeologists, geologists, chronologists (including me) and paleontologists.
The rare wooden tools were found alongside an assortment of animal and plant fossils and stone artifacts.
Taken together, the finds suggest the early humans at Gantangqing were surprisingly sophisticated woodworkers who lived in a rich tropical or subtropical environment where they subsisted by harvesting plants from a nearby lake.
The location of the Gantangqing site and excavation trenches. Liu et al. / Science
Why ancient wooden tools are so rare
Wood usually decomposes relatively rapidly due to microbial activity, oxidation, and weathering. Unlike stone or bone, it rarely survives more than a few centuries.
Wood can only survive for thousands of years or longer if it ends up buried in unusual conditions. Wood can last a long time in oxygen-free environments or extremely dry areas. Charred or fire-hardened wood is also more durable.
At Gantangqing, the wooden objects were excavated from low-oxygen clay-heavy layers of sediment formed on the ancient shoreline of Fuxian Lake.
Wooden implements are extremely rare from the Early Palaeolithic period (the first part of the “stone age” from around 3.3 million years ago until 300,000 years ago or so, in which our hominin ancestors first began to use tools). Indeed, wooden tools more than even 50,000 years old are virtually absent outside Africa and western Eurasia.
As a result, we may have a skewed understanding of Palaeolithic cultures. We may overemphasise the role of stone tools, for example, because they are what has survived.
What wooden tools were found at Gantangqing?
The new excavations at Gantangqing found 35 wooden specimens identified as artificially modified tools. These tools were primarily manufactured from pine wood, with a minority crafted from hardwoods.
Some of the tools had rounded ends, while others had chisel-like thin blades or ridged blades. Of the 35 tools, 32 show marks of intentional modification at their tips, working edges, or bases.
Two large digging implements were identified as heavy-duty digging sticks designed for two-handed use. These are unique forms of digging implements not documented elsewhere, suggesting localised functional adaptations. There were also four distinct hook-shaped tools — likely used for cutting roots — and a series of smaller tools for one-handed use.
Nineteen of the tools showed microscopic traces of scraping from shaping or use, while 17 exhibit deliberately polished surfaces. We also identified further evidence of intensive use, including soil residues stuck to tool tips, parallel grooves or streaks along working edges, and characteristic fracture wear patterns.
The tools from Gantangqing are more complete and show a wider range of functions than those found at contemporary sites such as Clacton in the UK and Florisbad in South Africa.
The team used several techniques to figure out the age of the wooden tools. There is no way to determine their age directly, but we can date the sediment in which they were found.
Using a technique called infrared stimulated luminescence, we analysed more than 10,000 individual grains of minerals from different layers. This showed the sediment was deposited roughly between 350,000 and 200,000 years ago.
Dating the different layers of sediment excavated at the site produced a detailed timeline. Liu et al. / Science
We also used different techniques to date a mammal tooth found in one of the layers to roughly 288,000 years old. This was consistent with the mineral results.
Next we used mathematical modelling to bring all the dating results together. Our model indicated that the layers containing stone tools and wooden implements date from 360–300,000 years ago to 290–250,000 years ago.
What was the environment like?
Our research indicates the ancient humans at Gantangqing inhabited a warm, humid, tropical or subtropical environment. Pollen extracted from the sediments reveals 40 plant families that confirm this climate.
Plant fossils further verify the presence of subtropical-to-tropical flora dominated by trees, lianas, shrubs and herbs. Wet-environment plants show the local surroundings were a lakeside or wetlands.
Animal fossils also fit this picture, including rhinoceros and other mammals, turtles and various birds. The ecosystem was likely a mosaic of grassland, thickets and forests. Evidence of diving ducks confirms the lake must have been at least 2–3 metres deep during human occupation.
The site contained evidence of plants such as storable pine nuts and hazelnuts, fruit trees such as kiwi, raspberry-like berries, grapes, edible herbs and fern fronds.
There were also aquatic plants that would have provided edible leaves, seeds, tubers and rhizomes. These were likely dug up from shallow mud near the shore, using wooden tools.
These findings suggest the Gantangqing hominins may have made expeditions to the lake shore, carrying purpose-made wooden digging sticks to harvest underground food sources. To do this, they would have had to anticipate seasonal plant distributions, know exactly what parts of different plants were edible, and produce specialised tools for different tasks.
Why the Gantangqing site is important
The wooden implements from Gantangqing represent the earliest known evidence for the use of digging sticks and for the exploitation of underground plant storage organs such as tubers within the Oriental biogeographic realm. Our discovery shows the use of sophisticated wood technology in a very different environmental context from what has been seen at sites of similar age in Europe and Africa.
The find significantly expands our understanding of early hominin woodworking capabilities.
The hominins who lived at Gantangqing appear to have lived a heavily plant-based subsistence lifestyle. This is in contrast to colder, more northern settings where tools of similar age have been found (such as Schöningen in Germany), where hunting large mammals was the key to survival.
The site also shows how important wood – and perhaps other organic materials – were to “stone age” hominins. These wooden artifacts show far more sophisticated manufacturing skill than the relative rudimentary stone tools found at sites of similar age across East and Southeast Asia.
The excavation, curation, and research of the Gantangqing site were supported by
National Cultural Heritage Administration (China), Yunnan Provincial Institute of
Cultural Relics and Archaeology, Yuxi Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism,
Chengjiang Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism, Australian Research Council
(ARC) Discovery Projects, Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), National Natural
Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
Fighting between warring parties is creating a desperate situation for civilians in El Fasher, Sudan, and its surrounding areas.
MSF’s new report exposes systematic patterns of violence in the area, that includes looting, mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, and starvation.
MSF urges the warring parties to spare civilians and grant access for humanitarian organisations to provide critical aid to people in need.
Mass atrocities are underway in Sudan’s North Darfur region, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned in a report today, urging the warring parties of the conflict in Sudan to halt indiscriminate and ethnically targeted violence and facilitate an immediate large-scale humanitarian response. While daily fighting in El Fasher is already putting lives at risk, MSF is extremely concerned about the threats of a full-blown assault on the hundreds of thousands of people in the city.
As fighting has intensified in the area since May 2024, civilians have continued to be the main victims. The report, Besieged, Attacked, Starved, outlines a desperate situation for civilians in and around El Fasher that requires immediate attention and response.
“People are not only caught in indiscriminate heavy fighting between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their respective allies – but also actively targeted by the RSF and its allies, notably on the basis of their ethnicity,” says Michel Olivier Lacharité, MSF head of emergencies.
Based on MSF data, direct observations and over 80 interviews conducted between May 2024 and May 2025 with patients and people who were displaced from El Fasher and nearby Zamzam camp, the report exposes systematic patterns of violence that includes looting, mass killings, sexual violence, abductions, starvation and attacks against markets, health facilities, and other civilian infrastructure.
“As patients and communities tell their stories to our teams and asked us to speak out, while their suffering is hardly on the international agenda, we felt compelled to document these patterns of relentless violence that have been crushing countless lives in general indifference and inaction over the past year,” says Mathilde Simon, MSF’s humanitarian affairs advisor.
Besieged, Attacked, Starved also details how the RSF and their allies conducted a large-scale ground offensive in April on Zamzam camp for displaced people, located outside of El Fasher, which caused an estimated 400,000 people to flee in less than three weeks in appalling conditions. A large portion of the camp’s population fled to El Fasher, where they remained trapped, out of reach of humanitarian aid and exposed to attacks and further mass violence. Tens of thousands more escaped to Tawila, about 60 kilometres away, and to camps across the Chadian border, where hundreds of survivors of violence received care from MSF teams.
“In light of the ethnically motivated mass atrocities committed on the Masalit in West Darfur back in June 2023, and of the massacres perpetrated in Zamzam camp in North Darfur, we fear such a scenario will be repeated in El Fasher. This onslaught of violence must stop,” says Simon.
Several witnesses report that RSF soldiers spoke of plans to ‘clean El Fasher’ of its non-Arab community. Since May 2024, the RSF and their allies have besieged El Fasher, Zamzam camp, and other surrounding localities, cutting communities off from food, water, and medical care. This has contributed to the spread of famine and debilitated the humanitarian response.
Repeated attacks on healthcare facilities forced MSF to end our medical activities in El Fasher in August 2024 and in Zamzam camp in February 2025. In May 2024 alone, health facilities supported by MSF in El Fasher endured at least seven incidents of shelling, bombing or shooting by all warring parties. Indiscriminate airstrikes conducted by the SAF had devastating consequences.
“The SAF bombed our neighbourhood by mistake, then came to apologise. SAF planes sometimes bombed civilian areas without any RSF [presence], I saw it in different places,” says one woman.
The harrowing level of violence on the roads out of El Fasher and Zamzam means that many people are trapped or take life-threatening risks when fleeing. Men and boys are at high risk of killing and abduction, while women and girls are subjected to widespread sexual violence. Most witnesses also report increased risks for Zaghawa communities.
“Nobody could get out [of El Fasher] if they said they were Zaghawa,” says a displaced woman.
Another man tells us that RSF and its allies were “asking people if they belonged to the Zaghawa, and if they did, they would kill them”.
“They would only let mothers with small children under the age of five through,” says a woman about her journey fleeing to eastern Chad. “Other children and adult men didn’t go through. Men over fifteen can hardly cross the border [into Chad]. They take them, they push them aside and then we only hear a noise, gunshots, indicating that they are dead, that they have been killed […] Fifty families came along with me. Not even one boy of 15 years old or above was among us.”
The catastrophic nutrition situation continued deteriorating as the siege tightened on Zamzam camp.
“[Three months ago] in Zamzam, we sometimes had three days a week without eating,” one man tells our teams.
“Children died from malnutrition. We were eating ambaz [residue of peanuts ground for oil], like everyone, although usually it’s used for animals,” says a displaced woman.
“Zamzam was completely blocked,” another displaced person tells us. “Water wells depend on fuel and there was no access to fuel, so all of them stopped working. Water was very limited and very expensive.”
MSF urges the warring parties to spare civilians and respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. The RSF and their allies must immediately stop ethnic violence perpetrated against non-Arab communities, lift the siege of El Fasher, and guarantee safe routes for civilians fleeing violence. Safe unrestricted access to El Fasher and its surroundings must be granted for humanitarian agencies to provide critically needed assistance.
International actors, including UN institutions and members states, and states who provide support to the warring parties must urgently mobilise and exert pressure to prevent further mass violence and allow emergency aid delivery. The recent unilateral announcements of a possible local ceasefire have not yet been translated into concrete change on the ground, and time is running out.
Nigeria is working towards fast-tracking implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock opportunities for businesses in the country across the continent.
Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Hon. Jumoke Oduwole noted that intra-African trade has been improving.
“Intra African trade exports grew by over 13% from last year supported by new trade corridors and the initial success of AfCFTA’s guideline initiatives. Nigerian businesses are already key participants, exporting, ceramics, garments, pharmaceuticals and agro products across the continent,” Hon. Jumoke said in a keynote address to government officials, the Nigerian trade community, business leaders and investors attending the Nigeria IATF2025 Business Roadshow.
“As we talk about expanding and unlocking new trade markets, we must recognize the creative economy as a serious trade frontier. Platforms such as Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) led by Afreximbank are proving that African culture is bankable not just beautiful.” She added.
The event that was attended by over 700 people focused on promoting intra-African trade under the theme: ‘Harnessing Regional and Continental Value Chains: Accelerating Africa’s Industrialisation and Global Competitiveness through AfCFTA.’
The Nigeria IATF2025 roadshow is one of the five in a series of five high-level events in key cities including Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, and Algiers ahead of the fourth edition of the biennial Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) that will be held in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025 under the theme ‘Gateway to New Opportunities’. IATF is Africa’s premier trade and investment event that serves as a crucial platform for fostering economic growth, collaboration, and innovation across the continent.
Addressing the forum, Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Nonye Ayeni noted that IATF offers an unparalleled platform for the exchange of trade and investment information and is Africa’s marketplace of ideas, opportunities, and partnerships.
“With frameworks like AFCFTA and platforms like IATF we now have the tools to bridge the trade gap, boost Intra African trade and tremendously grow our economies in a sustainable and inclusive way. We need to build structured, sustainable and competitive value chains that can power inclusive growth both here in Nigeria and across the continent in Africa. We know that AfCFTA promises to be the largest single market in the world, connecting 1.3 billion people across 54 countries in Africa,” Ms Ayeni said.
Building on this, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, Mrs. Kanayo Awani highlighted the tangible results borne out of the trade fair across the continent and in Nigeria specifically.
“In just three editions, IATF has achieved what once felt aspirational: over $100 billion in trade and investment deals, more than 70,000 participants, and 4,500+ exhibitors from across 130 countries. This is not just a conference, it is Africa’s trade engine, designed to connect our producers, unlock demand, and operationalise the promise of the AfCFTA. And in every edition—whether in Cairo, Durban, or beyond, Nigeria has not just participated. Nigeria has led. At IATF2023 alone, Nigerian enterprises generated over $11 billion in signed deals, the highest of any country,” Mrs Awani added.
IATF is a platform for boosting trade and investment in Africa. The last edition held in Cairo attracted nearly 2,000 exhibitors from 65 countries and generated US$43.7 billion in trade and investment deals.
Some of the activities lined up for the week-long IATF2025 include a trade exhibition by countries and businesses; the CANEX programme with a dedicated exhibition and summit on fashion, music, film, arts and craft, sports, literature, gastronomy and culinary arts; a four-day Trade and Investment Forum featuring leading African and international speakers; and the Africa Automotive Show for auto manufacturers, assemblers, original equipment manufacturers and component suppliers.
Special Days will also be held at IATF2025, dedicated for countries as well as public and private entities to showcase trade and investment opportunities, and tourism and cultural attractions, as well as Global Africa Day to highlight commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora, featuring a Diaspora Summit, market and exhibition, cultural and gastronomic showcase.
Also planned is a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) platform for matchmaking and business exchanges; the AU Youth Start-Up programme showcasing innovative ideas and prototypes; the Africa Research and Innovation Hub @ IATF targeting university students, academia and national researchers to exhibit their innovations and research projects; the Trade Exhibition offering large corporations and SME’s the opportunities to showcase their goods and services, the Trade and Investment Forum, a four day conference featuring sessions and training discussing trade opportunities and barriers.
Others include the Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), a showcase of African and Diaspora creative talent, the Special Days segment offering countries, private and public sectors the opportunity to sponsor their special event on specific days, the Africa Automotive show, a platform for auto manufacturers to exhibit their products and interact with potential buyers, IATF Virtual, an interactive online platform that will continue after the live event is over, Diaspora Day highlighting the commercial and cultural ties between Africa and its diaspora and the African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) to promote trade, investment, educational and cultural exchanges at the local level. The IATF Virtual platform is already live, connecting exhibitors and visitors throughout the year.
To participate in IATF2025 please visit www.IntrAfricanTradeFair.com.
– on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media contact: media@intrafricatradefair.com press@afreximbank.com
About the Intra-African Trade Fair:
Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) is intended to provide a unique platform for facilitating trade and investment information exchange in support of increased intra-African trade and investment, especially in the context of implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). IATF brings together continental and global players to showcase and exhibit their goods and services and to explore business and investment opportunities in the continent. It also provides a platform to share trade, investment and market information with stakeholders and allows participants to discuss and identify solutions to the challenges confronting intra-African trade and investment. In addition to African participants, the Trade Fair is also open to businesses and investors from non-African countries interested in doing business in Africa and in supporting the continent’s transformation through industrialisation and export development.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
NEW YORK, 3 July (United Nations, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), Office of Legal Affairs) ― The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf will hold its sixty-fourth session from 7 July to 8 August at United Nations Headquarters in New York. During the session, plenary meetings will be held from 14 to 18 July and from 28 July to 1 August. The remainder of the session will be devoted to the technical examination of submissions by subcommissions on the Division premises, including geographic information systems laboratories and other facilities.
Mr. Stig-Morten Knutsen, nominated by Norway, will attend for the first time the upcoming session of the Commission, following his election as a member of the Commission at the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 26 June, for the remainder of the term of office, until 15 June 2028.
During the session, eleven subcommissions will consider submissions made by: Mauritius in respect of the region of Rodrigues Island; Palau in respect of the North Area; Portugal; Spain in respect of the area of Galicia; Namibia; Mozambique; Madagascar; and Mexico in respect of the eastern polygon in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as revised submissions made by Brazil in respect of the Brazilian Oriental and Meridional Margin; Cook Islands concerning the Manihiki Plateau; and the Russian Federation in the area of the Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean.
Coastal States that had not yet presented their submissions to the Commission were invited to present them at the plenary part of the session. To date, the following submitting States accepted the invitation: Denmark in respect of the Southern Continental Shelf of Greenland; and India (amended submission).
Given that pursuant to rule 13 (Term of office) of the rules of procedure of the Commission, the two-and-half-year term of office of the officers (Chair and Vice-Chairs) of the Commission will expire later in 2025, the plenary of the Commission will elect its officers for the second half of the current term of office. The Chairperson will also inform the Commission about the deliberations that took place at the thirty-fifth Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Background
Established pursuant to article 2 of annex II to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Commission makes recommendations to coastal States on matters related to the establishment of the outer limits of their continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, based on information submitted by those coastal States. The recommendations are based on the scientific data and other material provided by coastal States in relation to the implementation of article 76 of the Convention and do not prejudice matters relating to the delimitation of boundaries between States with opposite or adjacent coasts or prejudice the position of States that are parties to a land or maritime dispute, or application of other parts of the Convention or any other treaties. The limits of the continental shelf established by a coastal State on the basis of the recommendations are final and binding. In the case of disagreement by a coastal State with the recommendations of the Commission, the coastal State shall, within a reasonable time, make a revised or new submission to the Commission.
Under rule 23 of its rules of procedure (Public and private meetings), the meetings of the Commission, its subcommissions and subsidiary bodies are held in private, unless the Commission decides otherwise.
As required under the rules of procedure of the Commission, the executive summaries of all the submissions, including all charts and coordinates, have been made public by the Secretary-General through continental shelf notifications circulated to Member States of the United Nations, as well as States Parties to the Convention. The executive summaries are available on the Division’s website at: www.un.org/depts/los/clcs_new/clcs_home.htm. The summaries of recommendations adopted by the Commission are also available on the above-referenced website.
The Commission is a body of 21 experts in the field of geology, geophysics or hydrography serving in their personal capacities. Members of the Commission are elected for a term of five years by the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention having due regard to the need to ensure equitable geographical representation. Not fewer than three members shall be elected from each geographical region. Currently, one seat on the Commission is vacant resulting from a lack of nominations from the Group of Eastern European States.
The Convention provides that the State Party which submitted the nomination of a member of the Commission shall defray the expenses of that member while in performance of Commission duties. A voluntary trust fund for the purpose of defraying the cost of participation of the members of the Commission from developing countries has been established. It has facilitated the participation of several members of the Commission from developing countries in the sessions of the Commission.
The convening by the Secretary-General of the sessions of the Commission, with full conference services, including documentation, for the plenary parts of these sessions, is subject to approval by the General Assembly of the United Nations. The Assembly does so in its annual resolutions on oceans and the law of the sea, which also address other matters relevant to the work of the Commission and the conditions of service of its members.
Zimbabwe is making significant progress in shifting from reactive to proactive disaster risk management, with support from the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), FAO, IFRC and WFP. This week, over 50 stakeholders from government, UN agencies, NGOs, and communities gathered in Bulawayo to reflect on the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from the two-year ECHO-funded anticipatory action project.
Implemented between 2023 and 2025, the project aimed to enhance institutional systems and community capacities to prepare for and respond to climate-induced hazards, particularly in the wake of the 2023–2024 El Niño-induced drought, the worst in over four decades.
The project established harmonized multi-stakeholder frameworks, developed and tested impact-based forecasting triggers, and scaled up disaster risk financing analysis. These efforts contributed to more coordinated and timely early warning and anticipatory responses, helping protect lives, livelihoods, and food and nutrition security.
Judith Ncube, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Bulawayo, said the drought tested every system but also revealed the strength of partnerships.
“The 2023–2024 El Niño drought brought untold hardship to our communities. Yet in the face of empty rivers, cracked fields and hunger, we saw something extraordinary; communities, government and aid agencies standing together. This workshop is not just about what went wrong, but how ordinary people’s resilience helped shape extraordinary responses.”
The project’s key achievements include the establishment of the Anticipatory Action Community of Practice (CoP), a collaborative platform that has brought together government departments, humanitarian organizations and technical agencies to strengthen multi-sectoral coordination. Through this platform, Zimbabwe has institutionalized anticipatory action subcommittees at national, provincial and district levels, linking local decision-making to national systems.
Edward Kallon, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Zimbabwe, underscored the shift in how Zimbabwe prepares for shocks.
“Anticipatory action is not just a technical process; it is a lifeline. It is about the mother in Chiredzi who received early warnings and planted drought-tolerant crops just in time. It is about a child in Tsholotsho who did not go hungry because food assistance came before the crisis hit. This is the future of disaster response.”
At the peak of the drought crisis, the Government of Zimbabwe launched a US$3.3 billion appeal—US$2 billion for emergency response and US$1.3 billion for resilience-building. Supported by early warnings issued in mid-2023, the government swiftly rolled out a national Blitz Food Distribution Programme targeting the most vulnerable populations, including the elderly, people with disabilities, child-headed households and the chronically ill.
Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe emphasized the importance of UN support, stating that 33 percent of the funds raised came from UN agencies. This helped the government to institute a people-first approach in responding to the crisis.
“Behind the numbers are real people. The elderly, children in child-headed households, persons with disabilities—these were not forgotten. Through the Blitz Food Distribution Programme, Zimbabwe ensured food reached the most vulnerable. This is what human-centred disaster response looks like: swift, inclusive and built on compassion.”
Key outputs of the ECHO-funded project – such as the national Anticipatory Action Roadmap, flood simulation exercises (SIMEX), and impact forecasting models – are now serving as templates for broader disaster risk management in the region. Testimonies from farmers, community videos and field visits to Matobo and Beitbridge showcased the results at the local level.
The project also reinforced the importance of pre-arranged financing to enable faster response. “Pre-arranged financing is a game changer. It means help is not delayed by paperwork when disaster looms,” said Edward Kallon. “Zimbabwe’s anticipatory action frameworks, built around pre-agreed triggers and activities are delivering faster, smarter support.”
Patrice Talla, FAO Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa, affirmed that Anticipatory Action is not merely a humanitarian tool, but a transformative model of governance. He highlighted how the recent ECHO-supported initiative in Zimbabwe laid critical foundations, such as hazard mapping, institutional roadmaps, and community-ready structures that enabled timely and life-saving interventions during the 2023–2024 El Niño drought.
Patrice Talla further emphasized that Zimbabwe’s approach is no longer a pilot, but a prototype for national systems, and called for its institutionalization through policy integration, pre-positioned finance, local capacity building, and cross-border coordination. “Forecasts, should no longer be warnings; they should be the first lines of defense,” he asserted.
As the learning event concluded, partners called for sustained investment in anticipatory action and a continued shift toward resilience-building. Participants emphasized that as climate risks intensify, early action must be integrated into national systems and financing structures to safeguard development gains.
“Let us act not only in response but in anticipation,” said Minister Daniel Garwe. “Because the future belongs to those who prepare for it.”
The ECHO-funded initiative has demonstrated that with the right partnerships, financing and community engagement, Zimbabwe can move from crisis response to long-term resilience.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.
The European Union (EU), UNICEF and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, launched a €2.7 million multi-donor initiative in northern Ghana to significantly strengthen the resilience and improve the lives of forcibly displaced persons and their host communities.
The two-year, “Supporting the Resilience of Forcibly Displaced People and Host Communities in Northern Ghana” project, known as the UNITE Project, is implemented by UNICEF Ghana and UNHCR, and co-funded by the EU.
Implemented in the Tarikom and Zini communities of Ghana’s Upper East and Upper West regions respectively, the project will enhance the inclusion and access to basic services for forcibly displaced populations and host communities (particularly women and children) while also strengthening national systems for inclusive development.
This collaborative effort, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, National Identification Authority, and local government and traditional authorities, seeks to improve access to essential services, foster social cohesion for forcibly displaced persons and other vulnerable groups, and promote long-term sustainable development with the objective of aligning with national strategies and complementing existing efforts like the Gulf of Guinea Social Cohesion (SOCO) programme, as well as other EU and UN projects.
“Prolonged conflict in the Gulf of Guinea has forced thousands to flee their homes with over 17,000 asylum seekers estimated to be living in the Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana. Through the UNITE project and other initiatives, the EU is supporting forcibly displaced people and the communities generously hosting them. The EU will continue to play its role on the global stage and in Ghana to uphold refugees’ rights, in line with EU and international law.” said Irchad Razaaly, EU Ambassador to Ghana.
“This initiative, profoundly supported by the European Union, is about restoring dignity, strengthening community resilience and building a future where every child and family has equitable access to the services and opportunities they deserve in a dynamic and changing environment” stated Osama Makkawi Khoghali, UNICEF Ghana Representative.
“UNHCR is committed to ensuring that forcibly displaced persons and their host communities in Northern Ghana have the protection and support to not only survive but thrive. This comprehensive program, with the generous backing of the European Union, allows us to work collaboratively to build sustainable solutions that empower these communities and foster peaceful coexistence,” added Needa Jehu-Mazou, Head of UNHCR Office in Ghana.
The project is also being replicated in Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin, highlighting a concerted regional approach with a total financing amount of €12million (€10million from the EU and €2 million from four UN agencies: World Food Programme (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNICEF and UNHCR)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Ghana.
H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, convened a landmark working lunch with Permanent Representatives of the AU Regional Economic Community (RECs) & Regional Mechanisms. He reaffirmed their central role in delivering on continental priorities for integration, peace, security, & resilience, in line with AU protocols.
He underscored the importance of institutionalised coordination, & joint planning to help achieve AU Agenda 2063.
The Representatives commended the Chairperson for this historic engagement – the first of its kind by an AUC Chair, & welcomed his consultative, inclusive leadership & commitment to reinforce subsidiarity & complementarity across the African governance architecture.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).
As part of its continued support to Sierra Leone’s health sector, the World Health Organization (WHO) has donated essential medical supplies, mpox test kits, and laboratory equipment, including five medical-grade refrigerators valued at over USD 126,000 to the Ministry of Health.
The handover ceremony took place at the Hastings Treatment Centre, with WHO Country Representative Dr George Ameh officially handing over the supplies to Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Mustapha Kabba.
The donation comes at a critical time as the country continues to respond to the ongoing mpox outbreak, with over 4,000 confirmed cases to date. The supplies will strengthen diagnostic and case management capacity at key treatment and testing sites: Lakka Hospital, Benguema Reference Laboratory, and Hastings Treatment Centre.
“Our support today reflects WHO’s commitment to ensuring that frontline health workers have the tools they need to manage cases effectively and reduce transmission,” said Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “These supplies will help improve the quality of care and expand diagnostic capabilities at a time when rapid response remains crucial.”
Receiving the supplies, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Mustapha Kabba expressed deep appreciation for WHO’s ongoing support and used the occasion to commend frontline healthcare workers at Hastings.
“We are sincerely grateful to WHO for their continued and timely support throughout this mpox response,” said Dr Kabba. “I want to encourage the hardworking team at Hastings Treatment Centre to continue the work. Your dedication is making a real difference, and we thank you for your tireless efforts in protecting the health of our communities.”
The Hastings Treatment Centre, one of the designated facilities for mpox case management, is expected to receive a share of the supplies and equipment, which will be used to bolster patient care and improve cold chain storage for samples and medicines.
“With these additional resources, we can ensure better storage of lab reagents, enhance patient care, and maintain the quality of our services,” said Dr Darlinda Jiba, the facility In-charge at Hastings Treatment Centre. “WHO’s continued support is a true morale booster for our clinical teams.”
The support is part of WHO’s continued commitment to strengthening Sierra Leone’s health system and response capacity.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Sierra Leone.
Halai Technical School today graduated 25 students who completed two years of theoretical and practical training in computer technology and network installation.
Mr. Raguel Tekle, Director of the school, stated that the institution—equipped with modern facilities and infrastructure—is contributing to the development of competent youth. He added that the school has also begun offering training in metal and woodwork, and will soon launch programs in cooling and heating systems.
Mr. Tesfay Seium, Director General of Technical and Vocational Education at the Ministry of Education, highlighted the Government of Eritrea’s substantial investment in the education sector. He urged the youth to fully utilize these opportunities to improve their livelihoods and support national development.
A representative of the graduates expressed their commitment to contributing meaningfully in their future workplaces, applying the knowledge and skills acquired during their training.
Since its establishment, Halai Technical School has graduated 652 students.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Positioning natural gas at the center of its growth strategy, independent oil and gas company Perenco is driving one of Central Africa’s most ambitious energy developments through the Cap Lopez LNG terminal in Gabon – a flagship project set to come online in 2026. Situated at the existing Cap Lopez oil terminal, the $2 billion initiative will introduce a floating LNG (FLNG) vessel designed to monetize the country’s offshore gas reserves and reduce gas flaring. Following completion, the project is expected to serve as a catalyst for energy diversification and broader economic growth in the country.
Marking Gabon’s first large-scale gas development following a final investment decision in 2024, the project signals a major step forward for regional energy security and industrialization. Currently under construction in Dubai, the FLNG unit will boast a production capacity of 700,000 tons of LNG and 25,000 tons of LPG annually, supported by storage infrastructure capable of holding 137,000 cubic meters. In support of this venture, engineering and construction company Technomak recently signed an agreement with Dixstone – a Perenco affiliate – for the integration of the offshore FLNG barge. Perenco is a Gold Partner at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies in Cape Town.
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. Visitwww.AECWeek.comfor more information about this exciting event.
The project forms part of a broader energy strategy being implemented by Perenco in Africa. In the Republic of Congo, the company continues to expand its upstream footprint with the commissioning of the Kombi 2 platform on the Kombi-Likalala-Libondo II permit. Currently under construction by Dixstone at the Nieuwdorp shipyard in the Netherlands, the platform is scheduled to depart in October and enter into operation offshore Pointe-Noire by early next year. With an estimated investment exceeding $200 million – and forming part of broader developments nearing $900 million – the project includes new drilling phases, infrastructure upgrades and the optimization of existing wells. The Kombi 2 platform will feature an integrated wellbay module to accommodate new wells, aiming to unlock an additional 10 million barrels of oil equivalent, with targeted output gains of 4 million cubic feet per day. Power generation for the platform will be supported by dual gas turbined linked to a 33-kV electrical hub, reinforcing Perenco’s commitment to operational efficiency and sustainable resource development in Congo.
On the exploration front, Perenco continues to cement its role as a premier independent in Africa’s energy landscape through a robust portfolio of upstream and gas infrastructure developments across the continent. In early 2024 an appraisal well in Gabon spudded near the Hylia South West discovery revealed substantial oil-bearing columns in the Ntchengue Ocean reservoir and reinforcing the potential of the lower Madiela carbonate formation. In Cameroon, the company launched its inaugural gas-to-industry project in July 2024, supplying 3.5-6.5 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from the Sanaga South field to the Keda tile factory via a 6-km pipeline – a milestone following its 9.9% equity acquisition in offshore operatory Golar LNG a month earlier.
These initiatives underscore Perenco’s integrated energy strategy, with the company’s participation as a Gold Partner at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 set to showcase their strategic role in shaping Africa’s energy future through large-scale gas monetization, infrastructure expansion and frontier exploration. Taking place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3, 2025, the event promises to shine a light on these transformative projects and drive high-level dialogue on investment, innovation and sustainable development in Africa’s oil and gas sector.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) must speed up the preparation and implementation of a regional cobotting scheme for the implementation of the Praia-Dakar maritime link project and other links in West Africa. This is one of the recommendations of the workshop on the evaluation and validation of the various financial options for the implementation of the Praia-Dakar maritime link, which ended on Wednesday 2nd of July 2025 in Dakar, Senegal.
The ECOWAS Commission is requested to put in place the operational, infrastructural and technical preconditions to create the necessary environment for the launch and sustainability of the Praia-Dakar maritime services and other regional maritime links. It is also asked to ensure that the study on the Praia-Dakar maritime link is completed on schedule, and to follow up with the consultants, with a view to following up the resolutions resulting from this meeting.
The Commission is also required to initiate discussions and processes for the creation of a regional register of ships flying the West African flag, with harmonised operational guidelines and procedures for the smooth functioning of maritime operators. Ensuring the participation of regional investors and citizens in the provision of maritime services, through an appropriate procurement mechanism with provisions for regional preference, is another resolution addressed to the Commission.
The participants also urged ECOWAS to draw up management procedures for the Praia-Dakar maritime link, considering the creation of the Corridor Management Authority provided for in the project Treaty. As far as ECOWAS member states are concerned, Liberia and Guinea-Bissau are urged to complete as quickly as possible the ratification of the Corridor Treaty, which constitutes the main legal basis for the creation, financing and operation of maritime services.
The Member States of the regional organisation will have to support the creation of a working group of maritime experts and collaborate actively with the ECOWAS Commission in order to ensure that the group functions properly. They will also be asked to provide information on examples of maritime transport services in the region, to assist the consultants in their review of the final report to be submitted.
The participants have instructed the consultants to consider the comments and observations of the Member States, ECOWAS and development partners and to submit their final reports on time. They should also ensure that cost estimates are optimised to present a favourable economic and financial rate of return. This will include a review of vessel costs, residual value, existing potential and available financial inputs in the region.
The consultants will also have to revise the economic analysis to take account of specific local market conditions to improve the viability of the projects, and provide clear details of port infrastructure requirements for Member States. In order to save time, participants urged consultants to propose an innovative tendering process that differs from the usual traditional one.
The implementation of these various recommendations should facilitate and guide the rapid finalisation of the study and the launch of the implementation of the Praia-Dakar maritime link project. At the end of the proceedings, the Corridor Member States and participants validated the Phase 3 reports on the financial and implementation strategy for the creation of the Praia-Dakar maritime transport link.
Speaking at the close of the meeting, Mamoudou Alassane Camara, Chairman of the Committee of Experts from the Member States of the Praia-Dakar maritime link, welcomed the quality of the recommendations made by the participants. The Director General of the Senegalese Maritime Affairs Agency, Becaye Diop, called for the rapid completion of the Praia-Dakar maritime link.
This maritime link is a component of the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor project. Considered strategic, it should be the subject of a specific management model proposal. The implementation of this maritime link will mark an important stage in regional integration in the ECOWAS region.
As far as the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan multimodal transport corridor project is concerned, it represents an essential element in the wider strategy of ECOWAS to facilitate the free movement of people and goods within the Community area, strengthen trade cooperation, promote economic development and stimulate regional trade.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Ministry of Finance wishes to officially inform the public that the Government of Ghana has, through the Bank of Ghana, successfully effected a payment of US$349,523,674.56 in respect of Eurobond debt service obligations today, Thursday, 3rd July 2025.
Since the conclusion of Ghana’s Eurobond debt restructuring in October 2024, the Government of Ghana has cumulatively serviced US$1,174.64 million in Eurobond debt payments as follows:
In October 2024, the government made an initial payment of US$475.60 million, covering obligations due under the restructuring agreement, including the first post-restructuring debt service.
In January 2025, the government paid US$349.52 million.
And now, in July 2025, a further US$349.52 million has been paid
This brings Ghana fully up to date on all scheduled Eurobond debt service obligations for 2025.
Looking ahead to 2026, a total debt service of US$1,409.06 million is scheduled.
This timely payment reaffirms Ghana’s commitment to macroeconomic stability, prudent debt management, and constructive engagement with external creditors.
It is expected to:
Positively influence Ghana’s credit ratings trajectory in the months ahead, as it demonstrates continued discipline in debt servicing post-restructuring.
Boost investor confidence in Ghana’s sovereign credit profile and economic recovery programme.
Support foreign exchange market stability, as it has been incorporated into the Bank of Ghana’s reserves and liquidity management strategy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance – Republic of Ghana.
UNFPA Announces Winners of the Equalizer Challenge to Scale Breakthrough Women’s Health Innovations. Winners include an AI health tracker for pregnant women, a digital menopause platform and a speculum that detects cervical cancer.
New York, 3 July 2025 – UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, today announced the six winners of the Equalizer Challenge: Scaling Women’s Health Innovations. The initiative supports women-led health enterprises in moving beyond the pilot stage and achieving transformative impact at scale.
Launched in collaboration with MIT Solve, IE University, and Women of Wearables, and enabled by generous support from the Governments of Luxembourg and Germany, the challenge seeks to close the gender health gap by investing in innovations that reach the most underserved.
The six winners were selected from 350 submissions across 72 countries, with entries spanning six global regions. Each will receive up to US$ 20,000 in catalytic equity-free funding, along with a six-month capacity development programme that includes biweekly mentorship, expert coaching, and strategic connections to global health and investment networks.
The selected innovations address a wide range of women’s health challenges, including cervical cancer, menopause, maternal mental health, and digital access to sexual and reproductive health care.
The six winning solutions are:
GICMED (Cameroon) – A smart gynecological speculum device that enables early detection and remote diagnosis of cervical cancer and female genital schistosomiasis through telemedicine in low-resource settings.
Take Care Mom (Kazakhstan) – An AI-powered platform providing pregnant women with continuous health tracking, early risk detection, and 24/7 expert support to improve maternal and neonatal health and well-being.
Maisha Mothers (Kenya) – A mobile-based maternal health innovation by Thalia Psychotherapy that integrates mental health, family planning, and financial wellness into routine antenatal and postnatal care.
OMGYNO (Lebanon) – A femtech platform offering anonymous at-home testing, telemedicine services, and sexual and reproductive health education for women in underserved communities across the Middle East and North Africa.
SinReglas (Mexico) – A digital menopause platform, offering personalized care and workplace services responsive to the health needs of millions of women during all stages of their life cycle, including menopause.
Smart Scope® CX (India) – An AI-powered portable device from Periwinkle Technologies that enables community health care workers to detect early-stage cervical cancer and certain benign conditions within 60 seconds without the need for electricity or internet, and facilitates remote triaging.
These women-led solutions were selected for their scale potential and demonstrated impact. The Equalizer Challenge shows UNFPA’s commitment to supporting women-centric health solutions by closing funding gaps, and helping them develop, gain visibility, and reach the market.Through targeted innovation challenges, UNFPA transforms community-led innovations into high-impact, investable solutions spearheaded by women and young people.
Disclaimer:UNFPA is providing support for the Equalizer Challenge with a view to furthering the development and availability of women’s health innovations. UNFPA has not or may not have evaluated, assessed, or tested the innovative solutions or products included or presented in this Challenge. In particular, the inclusion or presentation of any solution or product in this Challenge does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by UNFPA.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s remarks at the sixty-eighth session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, in Vienna today:
Let me begin with a simple truth: every phone call you made to get here, every global positioning system (GPS) route that guided your journey, every weather forecast that helped you pack — all of it depended on space.
Space is not the final frontier. It is the foundation of our present. Without satellites orbiting overhead right now, global food systems would collapse within weeks. Emergency responders would lose their lifelines. Climate scientists would be flying blind. And our hopes of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) would be out of reach.
This is why your work matters. This is why the work of this Committee — COPUOS — is not just important, but urgent. For over six decades, through shifting geopolitics and changing priorities, this Committee has consistently delivered.
Five space treaties. Space sustainability guidelines. The Space 2030 Agenda. You don’t just talk about space governance — you create it. But today, we need to shift our focus to scale.
The United Nations has identified six critical areas for SDG acceleration: food systems, energy transitions, digital connectivity, education and skills, environmental action, and jobs and social protection.
Every single one depends on space technologies. This is a paradox when you consider that less than half of UN Member States have a satellite in orbit, yet all 8 billion people on Earth benefit from space services daily.
Through your work, and through the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), we can close this divide — not by putting a satellite in every nation’s hands, but by ensuring that the benefits of space technologies reach every community on our planet.
I’m just coming from the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, where the message was crystal clear: in an era of constrained investment, we must align capital with high-impact solutions.
Space is one of them. But impact happens at every level — and I would like to share what I’ve seen.
At the local level, UNOOSA’s programs are building the next generation of inclusive space leaders. They’re ensuring equal access for youth and women in developing countries, where small investments create enormous change. Through these programs, we’re enabling the next Carmen Chaidez, the next Kitaw Ejigu.
At the national level, UNOOSA helps countries build their space capabilities from the ground up. Through space law workshops and direct support for emerging programs, nations develop the expertise they need to harness space for their own development priorities.
The United Nations Platform for Space‑based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) shows what this looks like in practice. In Tonga, Tobago, and Ghana, satellite data is being used to create detailed digital models of entire cities. When disaster strikes, these virtual twins allow Governments to see exactly where help is needed most, deploy resources much faster, and ultimately save more lives.
Through innovative partnerships, UNOOSA has helped Kenya, Guatemala, [Republic of] Moldova, and Mauritius launch their first satellites. Each event was a catalyst — for new space agencies, developing robust legislation, and promoting gender equality in the space sector.
Finally, at the international level, as reinforced by the Pact for the Future, we must work together to ensure COPUOS delivers the governance our rapidly evolving space environment demands of us.
Here’s what’s happening right now: low-Earth orbit satellites are multiplying exponentially. Humanity is preparing to return to the Moon. We’re exploring beyond like never before. And your work has never been more vital and urgent.
We stand at the threshold of potentially historic decision: the fourth United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE IV) in 2027. This isn’t just another conference. This could be the milestone that shapes the next sixty years of global space governance. And so I encourage us all to aim high. And aim even higher.
The pressing space issues before us — traffic, debris, resources — each present both risk and opportunity for achieving the SDGs. Each requires the kind of multilateral cooperation that this Committee has proven it can deliver. We need a strong UNOOSA and a strong COPUOS to lead us into UNISPACE IV and beyond.
But strength isn’t about institutions — it’s about the people within them and the systems that we run. As a practical next step, I encourage you to champion the implementation of the UNOOSA Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit for the Space Sector launched last year. Because when we leave talent on the sidelines, we will all lose.
Let me leave you with one final message. The view from space shows no countries, no borders — only one shared planet, our common home. Let that aspect guide you as you build the governance frameworks for space exploration and use. Let us ensure that outer space remains safe and sustainable for everyone. Let us make space a catalyst for achieving our 2030 Goals with 5 years to go. And let us build governance frameworks that serve not just us, but generations to come.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed Accra on Thursday for Port of Spain, where he will seek to strengthen India’s historic ties with Trinidad and Tobago during the second leg of his five-nation tour.
“Leaving for Trinidad & Tobago. Later this evening, I look forward to attending a community programme in Port of Spain. Tomorrow, I will be addressing the Parliament of Trinidad & Tobago. Looking forward to deepening ties with a valued partner in the Caribbean, with whom we share very old cultural linkages,” PM Modi said in a post on X after concluding his two-day visit to Ghana.
Trinidad and Tobago is PM Modi’s second stop and will be followed by visits to Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. This is his first visit to Trinidad and Tobago as Prime Minister and the first bilateral Prime Ministerial visit to the country since 1999.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to hold talks with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who recently began a second term in office, and will address a joint session of Parliament on Friday. Kangaloo was Chief Guest at this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, while Persad-Bissessar has visited India previously and received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award.
Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that the visit would provide fresh momentum to the longstanding cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries. “The visit comes at an opportune time, as this year, 2025, the country (Trinidad and Tobago) is commemorating 180 years of the arrival of Indian immigrants in T&T,” MEA Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra said at a briefing on Monday.
Trinidad and Tobago is home to an Indian diaspora that makes up about 40–45% of its 1.36 million people, descendants of immigrants who first arrived in 1845. The diaspora continues to maintain strong cultural and emotional ties with India.
The trip marks PM Modi’s second visit to the Caribbean in eight months. In November 2024, he travelled to Guyana for the India–CARICOM Summit, where he pledged support for Caribbean nations and met then Prime Minister Keith Rowley. PM Modi congratulated Rowley on Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of India’s UPI digital payment platform and promised further cooperation in digital transformation.
India and Trinidad and Tobago are seeking to expand cooperation in pharmaceuticals, healthcare, renewable energy, digital public infrastructure, agriculture, disaster resilience and technology, as well as sports, academics and cultural exchanges.
Last year, the Prime Minister told Caribbean leaders that India stood firmly for giving voice to the concerns of the Global South, saying smaller nations were among the worst hit by global conflicts and crises.
PM Modi’s address to the joint session of Parliament is also symbolic of democratic ties between the two nations. “The Speaker’s chair in the Parliament has been a gift by India, which is again a symbolic reminder of the strong democratic and parliamentary traditions between our two countries,” Malhotra said.
This visit, she added, is also special for both the President and the Prime Minister of T&T, since they are of Indian origin and take pride in calling themselves “daughters of India.”
“The entire Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is very enthusiastic about PM Modi’s upcoming visit and a large diaspora interaction event is being planned during the visit. During the visit, the PM will hold high-level discussions with both the President and Prime Minister, and the leaders are expected to cover the entire gamut of our bilateral relations, as well as regional and multilateral aspects,” Malhotra said.
After Trinidad and Tobago, the Prime Minister will travel to Argentina
WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced today that her office filed a complaint against 40,353 USDT.ETH cryptocurrency stolen in the commission of a Business Email Compromise Scheme.
According to the complaint, one or more perpetrators impersonated the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, fraudulently stole $250,300 worth of crypocurrency from an intended donor, and then laundered the funds through other wallets. The FBI was able to trace and recover $40,300 from this transaction. The complaint seeks recovery of these funds to compensate the victim.
“All donors should double and triple check that they are sending cryptocurrency to their intended recipient. It can be extremely difficult for law enforcmeent to recoup lost funds due to the extremely complex nature of the blockchain,” said U.S. Attoney Pirro. “Nevertheless, my office and our law enforcement partners stand ready to go toe-to-toe with criminals and make victims whole.”
“Impersonation scams take many forms and cost Americans billions in losses each year,” said Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, of the FBI Washington Field Office, which is investigating the case. “To avoid becoming a victim, carefully review email addresses, website URLs, and spelling in any messages you receive. Scammers often use subtle differences to deceive you and gain your trust. Never send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to people you do not know personally or have only interacted with online or over the phone. Report suspected scams to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”
According to the complaint, on Dec. 24, 2024, the victims received an email from someone purporting to be Steve Witkoff, Co-Chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Legitimate emails from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee are @t47inaugural.com; the email received by victim was from @t47lnaugural.com with the lowercase “I” was replaced by a lowercase “L.” Depending on the font, the lowercase “L” can look like the uppercase “I.”
The imposter Steve Witkoff, a scammer located in Nigeria, instructed the victims to deposit funds into a cryptocurrency wallet ending in 58c52. On Dec. 26, 2024, the victim sent 250,300 USDT.ETH to the crypto wallet believing the funds were going to the Inaugural Committee. Within two hours after receiving the funds from the victim, the funds moved from the 58c52 cryptowallet to other cryptocurrency addresses. Through blockchain analysis, the FBI identified and recovered 40,300 USDT.ETH, which is the property subject to forfeiture in this civil action.
The Department of Justice would like to acknowledge Tether for its assistance in effectuating the transfer of these assets.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen of the Washington Field Office joined in the announcement. This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office- Criminal and Cyber Division. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Blaylock, Jr.
With a planned $60 billion investment pipeline for the oil and gas industry, Angola is experiencing a surge in upstream activity, from frontier exploration to seismic acquisition to drilling and incremental production. Angola’s major upstream operators have joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference – taking place September 3-4 in Luanda – to discuss Angola’s project pipeline. This year’s conference celebrates 50 years of independence in Angola, with speakers set to share insight into how the past five decades of oil and gas development have laid the foundation for future growth.
With over three decades of operational history in Angola, energy major ExxonMobil is driving an ambitious exploration and production agenda, focusing on maximizing output at active assets while pursuing frontier opportunities. Recently, the company signed an agreement alongside TotalEnergies for the study and evaluation of the Free Areas of Blocks 17/06 and 32/21. The company is also eyeing a $15 billion investment in the Namibe basin, pending the results of ongoing exploration activities. These efforts are expected to unlock new resources in Angola. Katrina Fisher, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Angola, will share further insights into ExxonMobil’s investment plans at AOG 2025.
With a long history in Angola, energy majors bp and Eni have played an instrumental part in unlocking resources and generating economic opportunities for the country. The merger of the companies’ Angolan operations in 2022 saw the rise of Azule Energy – Angola’s largest independent equity producer of oil and gas – and the subsequent integration of bp and Eni’s project portfolio and expertise. On the back of this, Azule Energy has spearheaded various large-scale operations in Angola, with new targets to increase production to 250,000 bpd. Major upcoming developments include the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development (2025) and Angola’s first non-associated gas project (2026). During AOG 2025, Guido Brusco, COO: Global Natural Resources at Eni, and Gordon Birrell, Executive Vice President of Production & Operations at bp, will provide insight into Angola’s exploration and production landscape, from oil exploration to natural gas to global partnerships and future investment prospects.
Nigerian independent exploration and production company First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) has a strong portfolio of producing assets in Nigeria and is currently pursuing regional growth opportunities. With operations spanning both shallow waters and onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, FIRST E&P has established experience in exploration and production activities. While not directly active in Angola as of yet, FIRST E&P stands to play a notable role in unlocking greater value from Angola’s oil and gas resources. During AOG 2025, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, CEO & Managing Director of FIRST E&P, is expected to share insight into how the company’s experience in Nigeria can support future oil and gas projects in Angola.
Angolan oil and gas company Alfort Petroleum is pursuing onshore exploration in Angola, following its qualification as an operator under the country’s 2020 bid round. During the round, Alfort Petroleum won operatorship of Block KON 8, attaining a 50% stake in the asset. To date, the company has completed the seismic acquisition phase for the block and is currently in the final stages of interpreting the data. Alfort Petroleum aims to start drilling activities in Q4, 2025 or Q1, 2026. At AOG 2025, Gianni Gaspar-Martins, General Manager of Alfort Petroleum, is expected to provide an update on Block KON 8.
Meanwhile, Angolan private energy company Etu Energias seeks to increase oil and gas production to 80,000 bpd by 2030 through the optimization of producing assets and the accelerated development of newly-acquired blocks. The company expanded its portfolio of operated and non-operated blocks from 6 to 15 in 2024, while its reserves grew 2.6 times to reach 106 million barrels. In 2025, the company continues to drive a 3D seismic campaign at Block FS/FTST, will spud the Chimacuanga exploration well and will complete feasibility studies at the newly-acquired Blocks CON 1 and CON 4. Etu Energias CEO Edson dos Santos is speaking at AOG 2025, where he is expected to share insight into the company’s exploration and production strategy.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
In response to the conclusion of the Fourth Financing for Development Conference in Seville, Spain, FFD Global Policy Lead Hernan Saenz said:
“Seville was a key moment in an ongoing journey to fight inequality, achieve gender justice and reform the international debt architecture under the UN.The conference showed that considerable challenges remain to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. But it also paved the way for governments tobuild more coalitions to tax the super-rich and finance care, and put equality, democracy and sustainability at the core of their efforts. In a context of geopolitical uncertainty, multilateralism is the way ahead.”
“Despite the lacklustre ambition of theCompromiso de Sevillawhererich countries shirked their responsibility to act on the debt crisis and continued to embrace the private finance first approach to development, this conference also showed what international cooperation can achieve when there is political will for it.Our new research found that the new wealth of the top 1% surged by over 33.9$ trillion since 2015. This is enough to end annual poverty 22 times over, yet over three billion people still live in countries that spend more on debt repayments than on education or health. Therefore, we welcome the new alliance to tax the super-rich launched by Spain and Brazil, with the support of South Africa and Chile.
“We also welcome the new care financing initiative by Brazil, Mexico and Colombia. These coalitions provide much needed political ambition and have the potential to deliver vital funding towards the Sustainable Development Goals and fight extreme inequality, which disproportionately impacts women and girls.
“We are very concerned by the limitations placed on civil society over the course of the conference to do what we came here to do: tell truth to power. Civil society organizations are the backbone of democracy. The UN was built to defend human rights – if it cedes to the global trend of shrinking civic space, it will undermine its legitimacy.”
Source: World Trade Organization – WTO (video statements)
On 2 July, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala received Ghana’s instrument of acceptance of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies from Ghana’s Ambassador Emmanuel Kwame Asiedu Antwi. Just eight more acceptances are needed for the Agreement to enter into force.
Download this video from the WTO website:
https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/webcas_e/webcas_e.htm
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to Ghana on Thursday by gifting handcrafted artefacts to the country’s top leaders, underlining India’s rich craft traditions and centuries-old artisanal legacy.
The Prime Minister gifted Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama a pair of Bidriware vases from Bidar, Karnataka. Crafted by skilled artisans using a centuries-old technique, the vases feature a zinc-copper alloy base with a distinctive black finish and fine silver inlay. Engraved with floral motifs, they symbolise beauty, prosperity and harmony.
To Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, PM Modi presented an elegant silver filigree purse from Cuttack, Odisha. Known for its Tarakasi work, the region’s delicate silver filigree craft has been practised for over five centuries. The handcrafted purse combines intricate floral and vine designs with modern style, blending tradition with contemporary elegance.
Ghana’s Vice-President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, received a Kashmiri Pashmina shawl — woven from the fine undercoat of the Changthangi goat. Celebrated for its softness and warmth, genuine Pashmina is hand-spun, woven and embroidered by artisans in Kashmir, with each piece taking weeks or months to complete.
PM Modi also gifted a miniature Ambawari elephant to Ghana’s Speaker, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin. Handcrafted in West Bengal from polished synthetic ivory — an ethical alternative to natural ivory — the piece draws inspiration from royal processions where elephants carried nobility in ornate howdahs.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday invited Ghanaian lawmakers to visit India’s new Parliament building, calling it a symbol of India’s commitment to inclusivity and democratic reforms.
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament during his visit to Accra, PM Modi highlighted the Women’s Reservation Act, 2023 — the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act — which earmarks one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha, state assemblies and the Delhi Assembly for women, including those reserved for SCs and STs.
“I invite you to visit the new Parliament of India. You will see the bold step we have taken to reserve one-third of the seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women,” he said.
The Prime Minister underscored that India is set to become the world’s third-largest economy and highlighted the political stability that has enabled this growth. “Last year, the people of India re-elected the same government for a third consecutive term — something that has happened after more than six decades,” he said.
Drawing a symbolic link between Africa and India’s strides in space, PM Modi recalled that India’s Chandrayaan mission touched down on the Moon’s South Pole while he was in Africa. “Today, as an Indian astronaut conducts experiments on board a space station for the welfare of humanity, I am once again in Africa,” he said.
Calling for urgent reform in global governance, the Prime Minister said institutions set up in the last century were struggling to tackle challenges such as climate change, pandemics, terrorism and cybersecurity. “Progress cannot come without giving voice to the Global South. We are proud that the African Union became a permanent member of the G20 during India’s presidency,” he said.
Describing India as the “Mother of Democracy”, the PM said democracy was deeply rooted in the country’s civilisational ethos. Quoting the Rigveda, he said, “Let good thoughts come to us from all directions — this openness to ideas is the core of democracy.”
Citing India’s diversity as a testament to its democratic vibrancy, PM Modi said, “India has over 2,500 political parties, twenty different parties governing various states, 22 official languages and thousands of dialects.”
He added that this spirit of openness helps Indians integrate wherever they go. “Even in Ghana, they have blended into society, just like sugar in tea,” the Prime Minister said.
On a lighter note, PM Modi said that the bond between India and Ghana is “sweeter than your famous Sugarloaf Pineapple”, earning warm applause from the lawmakers.
