As we gather here in Iceland, its breathtaking landscapes remind us of how beauty is shaped by the earth’s slow but powerful forces. Tectonic plates shift almost imperceptibly – much like the progress we’ve long been seeing in cross-border payments.
Yet when these plates collide, the impact can also be dramatic – triggering volcanic eruptions, unleashing magma, and causing orogenic changes that reshape the terrain. In the same way, innovation can act as a sudden, transformative force, that can reshape and improve the existing payments ecosystem.
Innovations in payments have often been associated with technological progress. Major breakthroughs – or ‘eruptions’, to return to my earlier metaphor – have marked turning points reshaping the global payments landscape. Examples include the telegraph enabling wire transfers in the 19th century, electronic fund transfers in the 1970s and internet banking in the 1990s.
Fast payment systems (FPSs) have emerged as a powerful tool for improving the speed, efficiency and accessibility of domestic payments. However, cross-border transactions still largely depend on the traditional correspondent banking model and continue to record an unsatisfactory performance in terms of transparency, access, speed and cost.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today.In my remarks, I would like to address a key question facing economists, policymakers, and people all over the world: How will artificial intelligence, particularly generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, affect workers and the labor market in the years ahead?
Before I turn to that issue, I’d like to touch on a topic that I expect is also of interest: the outlook for the U.S. economy and the implications for monetary policy.
The U.S. economy entered this quarter in a relatively strong position: The unemployment rate has been low and stable, and the disinflationary process has continued on a gradual, albeit uneven, path towards our 2 percent objective. Private domestic final purchases have been solid. Overall, the economy has been resilient.
Against that backdrop, the outlook has been clouded by trade policies that have led to an increase in uncertainty, contributing to declines in measures of consumer and business sentiment. I expect tariffs to lead to higher inflation in the United States and lower growth both in the United States and abroad starting later this year.
In my view, higher tariffs could lead to disruption to global supply chains and create persistent upward pressure on inflation. Faced with substantial tariffs, businesses will likely change how they source intermediate inputs, and it will take time and investment for them to reroute their distribution networks. Conversely, global trade networks may change rapidly, and some suppliers may not be able to adapt quickly enough to survive these changes. This concern is particularly acute for small businesses, which are less diversified, less able to access credit, and hence more vulnerable to adverse shocks. Small businesses play a vital role in production networks, often providing specialized inputs that can’t easily be sourced elsewhere, and business failures could further disrupt supply chains. As we saw during the pandemic, such disruptions can have large and lasting effects on prices, as well as output.
Today, the Prime Minister, Mark Carney, issued the following statement to welcome Their Majesties The King and Queen to Canada:
“Today, we are honoured to welcome Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Canada.
“The Royal Visit is a reminder of the bond between Canada and the Crown – one forged over generations, shaped by shared histories, and grounded in common values. A bond that, over time, has evolved, just as Canada has, to reflect the strength, diversity, and confidence of our people.
“Tomorrow, His Majesty King Charles III will deliver the Speech from the Throne in the Senate Chamber, nearly 70 years after Canada’s Sovereign first opened Parliament. This historic honour matches the weight of our times. It speaks to our enduring tradition and friendship, to the vitality of our constitutional monarchy and our distinct identity, and to the historic ties that crises only fortify.
“Canada’s strength lies in building a strong future while embracing its English, French, and Indigenous roots – the union of peoples that forms our bedrock. Canada in the 21st century is a bold, ambitious, and innovative country that is bilingual, committed to reconciliation, and truly multicultural.
“To that end, the Speech from the Throne will outline the government’s ambitious plan to act with urgency and determination, and to deliver the change Canadians want and deserve: to define a new economic and security relationship with the United States, to build the strongest economy in the G7, to bring down the cost of living, and to keep communities safe.”
Commissioner of Inland Revenue Benjamin Chan signed the CDTA on behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government with representative of the Maldives Government, Commissioner General of Taxation of the Inland Revenue Authority Hassan Zareer.
The CDTA sets out the allocation of taxing rights between Hong Kong and the Maldives, which will help investors better assess their potential tax liabilities from cross-border economic activities.
Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui said the Maldives is a participant in the Belt & Road Initiative, and this CDTA, which is the 52nd that Hong Kong has concluded, signifies the ongoing achievements of the Hong Kong SAR Government in expanding the city’s CDTA network, in particular with tax jurisdictions participating in the Belt-Road initiative.
“I have every confidence that this CDTA will further promote economic and trade connections between Hong Kong and the Maldives.”
In accordance with the Hong Kong-Maldives CDTA, Hong Kong companies can enjoy double taxation relief in that any tax paid in the Maldives, whether directly or by deduction, will be allowed as a credit against the tax payable in Hong Kong in respect of the same income under the tax laws of Hong Kong.
The agreement also provides tax relief arrangements.
It will come into force after completion of ratification procedures by both jurisdictions. In Hong Kong, the Chief Executive-in-Council will make an order under the Inland Revenue Ordinance, which will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting.
With wild weather set to impact parts of the country this weekend, Maritime NZ wants recreational craft users to think carefully prior to getting out on the water.
There are several weather watches and warnings up and down the West Coast of the South Island, as well as along the West Coast of the North Island.
“Recreational craft users should only go out if it is safe, if they understand the conditions, have the correct safety equipment and have a suitable vessel for the waters they are traversing,” Maritime NZ’s Harm Prevention Lead Recreational Craft, Victoria Slade says.
The warnings and watches in place are for heavy rain and winds in a range of places around the country.
“To get an understanding of the conditions, it is important to check out MetService’s marine weather forecast to understand the risks on the water.
“Conditions on the water can be drastically different to those on the land.
“A light wind on the coast, can often increase on the water.
With heavy rain forecast for part of the South Island, Maritime NZ is strongly discouraging anyone from undertaking recreational craft activities in flooded locations, or on swollen waterways.
“These pose a significant risk. Floodwaters can hide hazards, such as branches or logs, and the flow of a waterway can be deceivingly quick.
“As well as understanding the marine weather forecast, anyone who is heading out on the water needs to be wearing a properly fitted lifejacket, take two forms of communication (such as a beacon and a cellphone).
“Being able to call for help should you get into trouble, is a lifesaver,” she says.
Even those parts of the country which have relatively clear forecasts, there are risks when heading out on the water.
“We have seen incidents where people have ended up in the water, a long way from help and unable to call for assistance. A fun day on the water can easily turn to disaster quickly. It is better to be safe than sorry,” she says.
Maritime NZ wants people to have fun on the water, but do so in a way to ensures they get home safely to their family and friends.
For further information head to saferboating.org.nz.
Maritime NZ has filed one charge against KiwiRail this week in relation to the January 2023 loss of propulsion incident involving the Interislander ferry, Kaitaki .
The Kaitaki lost power on its approach into Wellington Harbour on 28 January last year, with more than 800 passengers and 80 crew on-board. It then issued a mayday. After regaining limited power, the ferry made its way to port where its passengers were able to safely leave it and come ashore.
Maritime NZ, the maritime and designated health and safety regulator for such incidents, subsequently investigated the loss of power incident. This week one charge was filed under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 in relation to the incident by Maritime NZ, against the operator, KiwiRail.
“The investigation took 12 months; it involved reviewing the operator’s organisational information relevant to processes and procedures connected to safety and maintenance management, undertaking interviews and examining the Kaitaki after the incident occurred,” Maritime NZ Director, Kirstie Hewlett says.
“Material was then comprehensively reviewed before the decision was made to prosecute,” she says.
As this matter is now before the courts, Maritime NZ cannot make any further comments about the ongoing proceedings.
An enforceable undertaking between Maritime NZ and stevedoring company SSA, is set to benefit a range of groups including port workers, emergency responders and health researchers.
In December 2021 a Maritime NZ investigation commenced after an SSA stevedore, who was working at height and guiding containers into position on a container ship, was pinned between a swinging container and another one behind him.
Maritime NZ’s investigation found that the worker was wearing a harness to work at height without a safety line and relied on clipping himself to lashing bars using a single lanyard/clip.
This meant the stevedore was unable to move away from the swinging container, and into a safer position.
“We know working at height is a critical risk area for causing harm at ports. We agreed to the enforceable undertaking as it proposed a range of benefits for a variety of different groups,” Maritime NZ’s General Manager Investigations, Pete Dwen says.
An enforceable undertaking is an agreement between Maritime NZ and a duty holder (operator) made under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA). It is entered into voluntarily by the duty holder following a breach (including an alleged breach) of HSWA and, once in place, is legally binding. It is generally used as an alternative to prosecution. It must include appropriate amends to victims, and commitments that would promote health and safety at that work place, the wider industry and the community.
The $285,000 undertaking will see SSA develop courses to improve safety of those working at heights, implement changes to reduce risks on mobile plants, and improve training for first responders attending incidents at ports.
“A key part of the undertaking will be to improve sector training through the development of a working-at-heights training programme.”
“Education is a critical part of improving safety, and we are glad to see SSA proactively working to promote safer practices and reduce instances of harm,” Mr Dwen says.
Responders from Fire and Emergency will benefit too, with funding set aside to develop a port response training course.
“Fire and Emergency personnel are often called upon to respond to incidents at ports, and it is important they understand how ports work and the risks at them,” Pete Dwen says.
As well as the industry and port-focused initiatives, SSA will fund a Massey University study targeting soft tissue injuries.
Maritime NZ wants people heading out on the water over Waitangi Weekend to think about what can and often does go wrong.
This summer Maritime NZ has been notified of dozens of incidents which have resulted in injuries, near misses, people ending up in the water, collisions and damage to vessels.
On average 18 people die each year in recreational craft incidents.
“Luck, not good management or good behaviour, has been a big contributor in a number of people being able to get home safely this summer after a planned day of fun on the water,” Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, Matt Wood says.
Maritime NZ data shows a year on year increase in the number of skippers surveyed ensuring people on-board are wearing a properly fitting lifejacket, having a way to call for help stored in a waterproof bag and planning for the trip ahead.
Wearing a properly fitted lifejacket, carrying two forms of communication and understanding the conditions are critical steps to take to improve safety on the water.
“However, of the incidents we have been informed of this summer, we have seen trends around not having the correct safety equipment, not following the rules and failing to understand the risks on the water.
“We have been told about incidents where people have fallen overboard and got separated from their vessels, jet skis crashing, near misses between powered and un-powered vessels as well as capsizings.
“The risks in these situations are just so high.
“We have had incidents reported to us on every type of waterway; from lakes and rivers, through to coastal and off-shore,” Matt Wood says.
Regional harbourmasters play a key role over the summer boating period in talking to recreational craft users through the ‘No Excuses’ Campaign.
“Since the recreational craft season started there have been more than 5000 interactions between regional council harbourmasters and recreational craft users.
“No Excuses’ is both about education and compliance,” Matt Wood says.
What these interactions found is that there is work to do in the education space around ensuring vessels display dive flags if they have divers in the water, and the risk of boats undertaking towing activities not having observers.
“Divers are vulnerable in the water, and in the past we have seen numerous incidents where divers have either been seriously injured or killed after being struck by vessels. Having a diving flag gives them an added layer of protection. Having an observer when towing means the driver can be alerted if there are risks to those behind your vessel. Not having an observer on a busy body of water can have dire consequences.
“We want you to be prepared this weekend, have the right safety equipment, understand the marine weather forecast and know the rules when out on the water.
Taking these steps will help you to come home safe this long weekend,” Matt Wood says.
While picking up buoys following a regatta in early February, Brent Porter, manager at Sailability Wellington, spotted something that looked out of place out in the harbour.
In gusty conditions, with a northerly blowing up to 25 knots, Brent saw two men in a small un-powered inflatable, no more than a few metres in length, between Somes Island and Lowry Bay in Wellington Harbour.
“This was a new, very small inflatable, they had plastic paddles, but there was no way they were going to be able to get themselves to safety needing to paddle against the current,” he says. “If I didn’t pick them up, this could have easily become a tragic incident.”
Once Brent reached the inflatable, it was clear the men were underprepared. “Neither were wearing lifejackets, they hadn’t told anyone where they were going, didn’t have any warm clothes, and hadn’t checked the marine forecast.”
Brent has been sailing out on Wellington Harbour for forty years, and says everything people are recommended to do to stay safe on the water, these two failed to do.
“It was a bit of a shock. The men were very thankful to be picked up and taken safely back to shore. After dropping them off, I had a bit of a chat to them to ensure they knew how close they were to disaster and how to be better prepared on the water.”
Maritime NZ’s Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, Matt Wood, says the two men were very fortunate Brent Porter spotted them.
“On average 17 people die a year while out on recreational craft, with the vast majority being on small recreational craft such as this one and not wearing lifejackets,” Matt says.
“Locations such as Wellington Harbour can be quite deceiving. Often from shore the water can look calm, but just off-shore it can get choppy and the drift can quickly take unpowered vessels off-shore.
“Once you’re caught in the current, it’s incredibly difficult to get the vessel around and come back to shore.
“With no forms of communication, lifejackets, or understanding of the marine forecast, if Brent didn’t come to their rescue, who knows how badly this could have ended up.”
For more information on how to be safe on the water, head to:
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May 26, 2025
Albany, NY
Sixteen Landmarks To Be Lit Statewide at Governor’s Direction To Honor and Mourn Members of the U.S. Military Who Died in Service
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that landmarks across New York State will be illuminated red, white, and blue tonight, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
“Every year on Memorial Day we remember those who have fallen and mourn the ultimate sacrifice they made to protect their fellow citizens,” Governor Hochul said. “Their bravery and commitment to fight for and uphold our nation’s freedoms will never be forgotten — we will always be grateful for their service.”
The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Memorial Day include:
One World Trade Center
Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Kosciuszko Bridge
The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
State Education Building
Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
Empire State Plaza
State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
Niagara Falls
The “Franklin D. Roosevelt” Mid-Hudson Bridge
Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
Albany International Airport Gateway
Lake Placid Olympic Center
MTA LIRR – East End Gateway at Penn Station
Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
Moynihan Train Hall
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The State of New York does not imply approval of the listed destinations, warrant the accuracy of any information set out in those destinations, or endorse any opinions expressed therein. External web sites operate at the direction of their respective owners who should be contacted directly with questions regarding the content of these sites.
Heavy rains have been battering Mumbai and several regions across Maharashtra since Sunday, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue multiple weather alerts and advise residents to remain
The Regional Meteorological Centre in Mumbai has forecast heavy rainfall for Mumbai, Konkan, and western Maharashtra on Monday. A red alert has been issued for Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Raigad, while Thane and Palghar are under an orange alert. A yellow alert has been sounded for Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune, and Nashik.
The IMD issued an advisory saying, “Generally cloudy sky with the possibility of thunderstorms accompanied by lightning, gusty winds (40-50 kmph), and heavy rainfall at isolated places in the city and suburbs. Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph are very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai during the next 3-4 hours. Take precautions while moving out.”
While the monsoon has already arrived in parts of Maharashtra, the IMD said it will reach Mumbai within the next three days. Several regions, including Konkan, Pune, Madhya Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Mumbai suburbs, have already seen heavy downpours.
According to the latest update on May 26, the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into more parts of the central Arabian Sea, Maharashtra including Mumbai, Karnataka including Bengaluru, remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as well as parts of west-central and North Bay of Bengal. It has also progressed into remaining areas of Mizoram, entire Tripura, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and some parts of Assam and Meghalaya. Conditions remain favorable for further advancement into these and other regions over the next three days.
The rains have led to widespread waterlogging in Mumbai, Baramati, Karjat, Thane, and Pune, severely impacting road and rail transport. Local train services have been delayed — 15 minutes on the Central Railway and 10 minutes on the Western Railway. Water has also accumulated outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, disrupting bus services in South Mumbai.
In Karjat, heavy rains for the second consecutive day have flooded key areas such as the main market, bus stand, and college square, disrupting normal life. Agricultural losses have been reported, with damage to banana, pomegranate, and onion crops.
The Konkan region, already grappling with economic challenges, has seen tourism and allied industries — such as Hapus mango trade and fishing — suffer major setbacks.
Heavy rain continues in Pune, Satara, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Sindhudurg, Thane, and Palghar, further affecting transportation.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who represents Baramati, visited flood-affected areas early Monday and assured relief efforts. The State Disaster Management Control Room at Mantralaya remains in constant touch with district authorities, issuing advisories and coordinating response measures.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
XICHANG, May 26 (Xinhua) — China’s Tianwen-2 probe is scheduled to launch on May 29 from a launch site in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, the China National Space Administration (CNSA) said Monday.
During the mission, the probe will collect samples from the near-Earth asteroid 2016HO3 and conduct research on a main-belt comet designated 311P, the CNSA noted. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Xinhua) — Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed the Kuala Lumpur Declaration “ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future,” a key document guiding the development of the group over the next 20 years, at the 46th ASEAN Summit that kicked off in the Malaysian capital on Monday.
In his speech after the signing ceremony, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the document would pave the way for the future development of the association, taking into account emerging challenges and placing sustainable and inclusive development at the forefront. –0–
On Africa Day, we celebrate a continent rich in heritage, vibrant in diversity and remarkable in its contributions to our global community.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and fast becoming a powerhouse in renewable energy and technological innovation.
Yet, Africa bears the scars of historic injustices. The legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism still cast long shadows, and entrenched inequalities affect Africans and people of African descent to this day.
This year’s theme calls for confronting these shameful legacies. I renew my call for reparatory justice that is grounded in accountability, reconciliation and equity.
The Pact for the Future, adopted in September, urges greater African representation – particularly at the Security Council – and reforms to the international financial system to support African countries with financing and debt relief. The Pact, through the Global Digital Compact, also seeks to close the digital divide and promote the responsible use of AI technologies.
At a time when barriers are being erected, Africa leads by example. The African Continental Free Trade Area promises to usher in a new era of economic integration, opening the door to jobs, growth and prosperity.
At the same time, we must support Africa’s efforts to expand its clean-energy sector, and ensure that the minerals that are critical to the renewables revolution benefit Africans first and most.
Throughout, we will continue standing with Africa to silence the guns, tackle terrorism, and safeguard human rights for all.
On this Africa Day, let us recommit to not only addressing past wrongs, but also to building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, and opportunity for all.
*** En cette Journée de l’Afrique, nous célébrons un continent qui se distingue par son riche patrimoine, son éclatante diversité et ses formidables apports à la communauté internationale.
L’Afrique abrite la population la plus jeune du monde et s’impose peu à peu comme un poids lourd des énergies renouvelables et de l’innovation technologique.
Pourtant, l’Afrique porte encore les stigmates des injustices passées. Le spectre de l’esclavage, du colonialisme, de l’apartheid et du racisme systémique hante toujours le continent, et les Africains et les personnes d’ascendance africaine restent en proie à des inégalités profondément ancrées.
Le thème de cette année nous exhorte à regarder en face cet héritage honteux et je demande une nouvelle fois que soit mise en place une justice réparatrice fondée sur la responsabilité, la réconciliation et l’équité.
Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté en septembre, invite instamment à accroître la représentation de l’Afrique, notamment au sein du Conseil de sécurité, et à réformer le système financier international pour qu’il puisse mieux répondre aux besoins des pays africains en matière de financements et d’allègement de la dette. Ce Pacte, par l’intermédiaire du Pacte numérique mondial, vise également à réduire la fracture numérique et à promouvoir l’utilisation responsable des technologies d’intelligence artificielle.
À l’heure où sont érigées de nouvelles barrières, l’Afrique montre l’exemple. Ainsi, la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine promet de faire entrer le continent dans une nouvelle ère d’intégration économique, en ouvrant la voie à l’emploi, à la croissance et à la prospérité.
Parallèlement, nous devons soutenir l’action menée par l’Afrique pour développer le secteur des énergies propres et veiller à ce que les Africains soient les premiers à bénéficier des minéraux qui sont au cœur de la révolution des énergies renouvelables.
Jusqu’au bout, nous resterons mobilisés aux côtés de l’Afrique pour faire taire les armes, lutter contre le terrorisme et protéger les droits humains de toutes et tous.
En cette Journée de l’Afrique, réaffirmons notre engagement non seulement à réparer les torts du passé, mais aussi à construire pour les peuples d’Afrique un avenir durable, fondé sur la paix, la dignité et l’égalité des chances pour tous.
The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement today to mark the start of Citizenship Week, which runs from May 26 to June 1, 2025:
Ottawa, May 26, 2025—The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued the following statement today to mark the start of Citizenship Week, which runs from May 26 to June 1, 2025:
“Each year, Citizenship Week offers our country an occasion to reflect on the meaning of citizenship. Canada is a mosaic that includes Canadians of all backgrounds and cultures, and that holds at its centre the histories of Indigenous Peoples and our commitment to reconciliation. This week, and every week, we embrace the shared rights and responsibilities that come with Canadian citizenship and remember the common values that define us as Canadians. We also take this moment to recognize that our diversity is our strength and to collectively recommit to building a better future for all who live here.
“As Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, a proud Lebanese Canadian, and the daughter of immigrants, taking this week to celebrate our newest citizens is especially meaningful to me.
“It takes incredible courage to face the challenges and uncertainty of a new place, and to seek better opportunities and security for one’s family. As Canadians, it is our responsibility to continue to highlight the value that immigration brings to Canada, and to protect the inherent rights and dignity of those who seek to call it home.
“I encourage people across the country to attend one of the many citizenship ceremonies open to the public this week. Being part of this important milestone in someone’s life is an honour and a privilege.
“Every day across the country, Canadians find ways to show pride in their citizenship and exercise their rights as citizens, whether through volunteering in their communities, speaking up on issues of importance, learning our official languages, voting in elections, or celebrating national milestones. Each individual act is an affirmation of all there is to celebrate about being Canadian.
“To those becoming citizens this week: your stories, your skills, and your decision to make this country home strengthen our nation, and your contributions and resilience will help carry us all forward.
“This Citizenship Week, let us come together in celebration of our shared Canadian identity and all that unites us.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
The Sandy Point section of Byfield National Park and adjacent beach will be temporarily closed from 26 May 2025 to 30 May 2025 for public safety and park preservation.
Feral animal control – including feral foxes, feral cats and feral pigs – upholds the key values of the park and protects nesting seabirds, turtles, and the ground-dwelling, black-breasted buttonquail.
The Sandy Point section of Byfield National Park forms part of the Shoalwater and Corio Bays Area Ramsar site and supports breeding populations of seabirds, including the vulnerable little tern, and is home to at least 21 other species of seabird and shorebirds.
Marine turtles nest along the Farnborough and Sandy Point foredunes, and turtle nests are directly impacted by feral animal predation.
The black-breasted button-quail is a ground-dwelling bird that inhabits the coastal semi-evergreen microphyll vine thicket to vine forest communities, and is vulnerable to predation from cats and foxes, as well as habitat degradation from pigs.
Under the National Recovery Plan for the Black-breasted buttonquail, implementing feral animal control programs is a management action to help the recovery of this important species.
We advise the public to continue to monitor Park Alerts, abide by signage, and to follow the instructions of Rangers.
Eight projects are turning old materials into innovative new products with support from the $5 million Circular Economy Investment Program.
From a robotic pallet dismantler to a food rescue mission, the successful projects pave the way towards a less-wasteful society – where waste is never wasted.
With grants of between $250,000 and $750,000 from the Queensland Government, recipients will revolutionise a range of key industries, rethinking how we handle waste and what it can be repurposed for.
By prioritising keeping materials in circulation, not only will we be reducing landfill and boosting recycling rates; we will be reducing the reliance on brand-new materials.
Acting Deputy Director-General at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation Kahil Lloyd said these projects showcase the potential to unleash economic opportunities by reducing, reusing and recycling valuable materials.
“These projects will not only help to reduce the roughly 10 million tonnes of waste produced in Queensland each year but also innovate a range of industries and support up to 72 local jobs.
“From a robotic pallet dismantler to innovative recycling approaches for mattresses, medical plastics and truck tarpaulins; these projects go beyond a one-size fits all approach to tackling waste.
“Queensland is working towards becoming a zero-waste society with ambitious targets to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible.
“For every three jobs in landfill, there are nine jobs in recycling.
“The Queensland Government is developing a new Queensland Waste Strategy to help boost recycling and unlock economic opportunities.
“These projects are a great example of how we can support Queensland businesses and capitalise on the opportunities that come from reducing, reusing and recycling.
More than half of New Zealand’s recreational craft fatalities during 2022 occurred on vessels under six metres in length.
Dinghies and inflatable watercraft come with inherent risks, so it important to keep safety practices in mind when using these to ensure you come home safe this summer.
Maritime NZ’s Recreational Craft Harm Prevention Lead, Victoria Slade says making sure you have planned your journey and have correct safety equipment is critical, even if you are on an in-shore waterway or just off the coast.
“The likes of dinghies, kayaks, canoes and inflatables have a range of risks users wouldn’t encounter on larger vessels.
“They can lack the stability you will have on a larger vessel, and if tipped out, can be difficult to get back into or re-float should they end upside down.
“Always wear a properly fitted lifejacket when on board dinghies and inflatables – More than half of the people who died in recreational craft activities in 2022 were not wearing a lifejacket.
While there were just over 1900 injuries claims through ACC relating to incidents on small craft in 2022.
“These injury statistics show that a fun day out on the water can easily turn, having lasting and significant consequences.
“Even if you are taking a short journey in a dingy or small vessel, you need to plan for what could potentially go wrong.
“Marine weather can change quickly and is often different to what is forecast on shore. Even on in-land bodies of water.
“It is essential to carry two waterproof ways to call for help. Having cellphones, or beacons, even out on a small paddle could be lifesaving,” she says.
When planning a trip, it is important to consider how many people your vessel can safely carry.
“If you are going from land to another vessel, you are better off making multiple trips, than one and overloading a vessel.
“Overloading a small vessel can reduce a vessels stability and make it more susceptible to capsize,” Victoria Slade says.
Maritime NZ also wants to remind people of the importance of watching out for other water users, and thinking about other vessels on the water.
“Make sure you are visible to all the vessels around you. When on the water in a smaller craft the size of larger vessels may mean it is difficult to spot dinghies, kayaks or inflatables.
“We want everyone to have fun this summer, but most importantly come home safe.
“A key piece of work we are undertaking with the sector is our Safer Boating Forum’s 2023 -25 Recreational Craft Strategy. We want to see the number of fatal incidents drop by a quarter and reduce the preventable injuries by just over 10%,” Victoria Slade says.
Maritime NZ is reaffirming to commercial operators the need to understand and meet their health and safety obligations, including when staff are sent to work overseas.
This comes after Sealord was sentenced for failing in its duty of care, by allowing its workers to be exposed to asbestos while working on-board the vessel, Will Watch. It was owned by an overseas subsidiary of Sealord.
“It is good to see Sealord take accountability and plead guilty prior to a trial needing to take place,” Maritime NZ’s General Manager Investigations, Pete Dwen says.
At the time the exposed asbestos was reported, the vessel was operating out of Mauritius and New Zealand based Sealord employees were being seconded (job placement) to work on it.
While crew were seconded from Sealord, they were subject to the terms and conditions of their New Zealand employment agreement.
Maritime NZ investigated this because Sealord failed to ensure the safety of its workers prior to them leaving to undertake the work.
“Sealord failed in its responsibility to keep its workers safe,” Pete Dwen says.
“There should have been better consultation between Sealord and United Fame Investments (who is the subsidiary vessel owner) about the risks the asbestos posed to the workers. Sealord also should have done more to identify the risks or hazards the exposure to asbestos fibres on-board presented to its workers,” he says.
Senior staff members at Sealord monitored the vessel’s health and safety operations and provided input to its operating procedures. This oversight should have identified the issues with asbestos on Will Watch.
Maritime NZ guidance, states it is up to operators and other business that work on ships to manage asbestos; and operators have a general duty to eliminate or minimise exposure to airborne asbestos in the workplace.
“On top of the New Zealand guidelines and legislation, the International Maritime Organization says ‘asbestos should be managed properly,’ if identified,” Pete Dwen says.
Sealord failed to carry out adequate asbestos risk assessments, effectively consult with its subsidiary on the risks associate with it, and keep its workers safe.
When Maritime NZ raised issues around the asbestos, Sealord stated it did not believe it posed a risk.
“Understanding the risks on-board a vessel is important for operators. Everyone deserves to be safe at work, and be protected against risks such as asbestos.
“Employers need to know the safety of staff is their responsibility, even if the workers are sent elsewhere and are not directly under their supervision,” Pete Dwen says.
Over the summer many people in New Zealand will be heading to new locations and participating in recreational water activities in spots away from their normal go to spots.
With more people out on the water, there are more instances of harm.
Between December 2021 and the end of March 2022, ACC received around 2700 injury claims relating to recreational craft activities. Compared to a monthly average of just under 300 claims for the other eight months of the year.
In 2022 19 died while undertaking activities on recreational craft.
When in unfamiliar waters, it is important to understand the local bylaws and risks.
“Crossing a bar is different to sailing in a lake, which is different from kayaking in a river.
“If you’re not prepared before you head out onto the water, especially in an unfamiliar location, you are putting yourself and others at risk, says Maritime NZ Principal Advisor Recreational Craft, Matt Wood.
The first step is to understand the local bylaws in the area you are holidaying in, and what is expected of you when you are in charge of the vessel you are managing.
These can range from speed and lifejacket rules through to getting vessels in and out of the water.
“There are some rules that apply to all water users, no matter where they are in the country, these are national maritime rules, such as keeping at a safe speed and respecting the give way rules.
“If in doubt, check out the laws by via the relevant council’s website.
“No matter what vessel you are using, it is expected that you and those on-board your vessel are wearing a properly fitted life jacket and that there is two forms of communication on-board,” Matt Wood says.
Weather conditions can change rapidly throughout the country, underscoring the importance of monitoring forecasts before the journey.
“On big bodies of water weather can change from the shore to the middle of a lake, or from an inlet, to off-shore.
“Being prepared can be a lifesaver,” Matt Wood says.
Check MarineMate. It is a free app that allows you to access information on tide times, boat ramp locations and more.
Maritime NZ, and its Safer Boating Forum partners want everyone planning on heading out on the water this summer to keep safety top of mind.
A key goal in the new Safer Boating Forum Recreational Craft Strategy is to reduce the number of preventable fatalities by a quarter over the next two years.
“It is hugely important to plan activities on the water and think of the potential risks. This means understanding the weather conditions, knowing what the rules are in the area you are in and being well-prepared before hitting the water. Going out prepared gives you the best chance possible to come home safely,” Principal Advisor Recreational Craft Matt Wood says.
There are approximately two million people participating in recreational craft activities every year in New Zealand. Tragically, on average 17 people die every year while undertaking recreational craft activities. Summer/spring is a particularly high risk period, seeing an increase in the number of people injured and killed while undertaking recreational craft activities.
During the holiday period, people across the country will be heading away to different locations around New Zealand, and sometimes they leave their safety practices at home.
“Before you go out think about the conditions, know the capability of your vessel, whether you have the knowledge and skills to undertake the trip and if you have the necessary safety equipment.
“If the conditions aren’t suitable, it’s not worth the risk. Check the marine weather and understand what it means for the area you looking to head out to. Likewise, there can be different rules around the country, so it’s important to understand what is expected of you as a skipper before you leave the land,” Matt Wood says.
Checkout Marinemate or Metservice for the relevant weather conditions. While you can get information on local bylaws on the websites of the relevant territorial authority.
Most incidents happen suddenly, resulting in people entering the water with little or no warning.
“Wearing a properly fitted lifejacket is the best step you can make to give yourself the best opportunity should you end up in the water unexpectedly,” Matt Wood says.
Additionally, on average three quarters of water related fatalities occur in spring and summer.
“Never take a complacent approach when heading onto the water, just because you are on holiday, doesn’t mean you safety should as well.
“Safety starts with preparation. You need to have the proper equipment for the activity you’re undertaking, and know how to use it before hitting the water.
“Improving the knowledge of our recreational users will help to bring more people home safely from days on the water,” says Matt Wood.
For information on how to be safe out on the water head to saferboating.org.nz
Maritime NZ is urging reacreational boat users to take greater caution and follow the Boating Safety Code, following several alarming incidents and near misses this summer.
Maritime NZ is urging recreational boat users to take greater caution and follow the Boating Safety Code, following several alarming incidents and near misses this summer.
Maritime NZ Principal Advisor Recreational Craft Matt Wood said while most boaties seem to follow good practice, examples such as the rescue of Will Fransen off the coast of Whangamatā and various collisions around the country showed many were still risking their lives.
“We’re really pleased Mr Fransen made it home alive but we urge all boaties to not rely on luck as he did. In that incident, the fisherman was not adequately prepared – especially considering he was skippering alone offshore. To start with, he was not wearing a lifejacket and he did not have a personal locator beacon (PLB) on him.
“Had he worn a personal locator beacon (PLB), he could have sent an alert immediately that would have been sent to all vessels in the area and he could have been rescued very quickly. The kayaker rescued off Palliser Bay this week, did have a PLB on him and so when his mobile phone stopped working he used that to alert the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ, which sent a helicopter and police boat to get him.”
Mr Wood said that kayaker did several things right as he wore a lifejacket and wetsuit, and had two forms of waterproof communication on him: a mobile phone in waterproof bag and a PLB.
“Most incidents happen suddenly, and people enter the water with little or no warning and there is no time to put a life jacket on or grab your phone. Wearing a properly fitted lifejacket gives you the best opportunity for survival should you end up in the water unexpectedly. Everyone out on the water should always have two waterproof ways to call for help and if you’re alone, one of these should be on your body.”
The Boating Safety Code says:
Wear your lifejacket
Take two waterproof ways to call for help
Check the marine weather forecast
Avoid alcohol
Be a responsible skipper
Maritime NZ and its partners promote the code through engagement and education with recreational craft users and their associations, and ongoing communications and advertising campaigns.
In the past two years, Maritime NZ also provided more than $1.6 million in community grants to 45 projects and initiatives aimed at reducing fatalities and risks.
A key purpose of the fund is to support campaigns and collaboration led by the members of New Zealand’s Safer Boating Forum, a coalition of organisations, chaired by Maritime NZ, dedicated to improving safety in the recreational boating sector.
Mr Wood says it is disappointing that some people still choose not to following the safety protocols.
“I also want to reiterate that it’s an offence to expose other water users to unnecessary risk and regional council harbourmasters are on the water around the country monitoring for risky and illegal behaviour.
“We ask people to know, understand and follow the rules for the area they are boating in to limit the danger they put themselves and others in. And follow the Boating Safety Code every time you go on the water,” he says.
For more information about how to be safe on the water, visit saferboating.org.nz.
Maritime NZ and its partners continue to deliver the national compliance campaign “No Excuses” over the holiday period. This campaign involves 14 regional councils and so far 1500 interactions with boaties have been recorded. Those interactions show 90% of vessels had enough life jackets on board, 77% of boaties were wearing life jackets, and there were 440 instances of non-compliance identified with 101 infringement referrals and 63 infringements issued on the spot.
During the holiday period we were advised of approximate 20 incidents involving recreational craft. The worst was a fatality that occurred in the Marlborough Sounds on 23 December, there were also several serious collisions in other parts of the country and some involved the reporting of unsafe behaviour.
Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, took part in the Signing Ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. This marks a milestone for ASEAN as it embarks on a new chapter in its Community-building process for the next 20 years, towards a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN.
Download the ASEAN Community Vision 2045: https://asean.org/book/asean-2045-our-shared-future-2/
Read more on the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 : https://asean.org/book/frequently-asked-questions-on-asean-2045-our-shared-future/
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN Attends the Signing Ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
Brazzaville, Republic of Congo — May 26, 2025 — Greenpeace is delighted to support and endorse the first World Congress of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities of Forest Basins, scheduled for May 26-30, 2025 in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. This historic gathering brings together indigenous leaders, community representatives, conservationists and international allies determined to defend the planet’s most critical forest ecosystems.
Forests across the Amazon, Congo and Borneo-Mekong–Papua-Southeast Asia are cradles of biodiversity and cultural heritage. These critical ecosystems hold the key to the planet’s climate stability—yet they are under relentless threat from deforestation, illegal logging, land grabbing, and extractive industries. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities have been the true custodians of these lands for generations, harnessing ancient knowledge and sustainable practices that are vital in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
Bonaventure Bondo, Forest Campaigner for the Congo Basin at Greenpeace Africa, declared:
“Indigenous peoples and Local Communities are the guardians of the world’s remaining forest. In the Congo Basin, they implement local solution-based initiatives to protect forests and preserve biodiversity using their traditional knowledge. This Congress is a call to the World: Recognize and co-power Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead the way in sustainably protecting our forests—for their well-being and the future of the entire planet.”
Romulo Batista, Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Brazil, emphasized:
“In the Amazon, Indigenous Peoples protect millions of hectares of forest in their demarcated and undemarcated territories. Global leaders and international financiers should respect their territories and invest in their solutions, not in agribusiness and mining activities that threaten and invade their lands, forests and rivers.”
Amos Sumbung, Forest Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia (Indonesia), insisted:
“In Southeast Asia, our forests are being ripped apart faster than ever. The largest remaining forest in this region is Papua – Indonesia, which should not be destroyed and should be defended at all costs. Indigenous leadership is the only way to stop this destruction. This gathering must be a turning point—where Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities voices are heard, and their rights are prioritized in global climate policies.”
As a staunch supporter of environmental justice and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Greenpeace urges the global community and calls on governments, international organizations, and civil society to:
Recognize and uphold the tenure rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
Ensure direct access to finance for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities to lead and scale up their own forest solutions initiatives.
Incorporate Indigenous knowledge into climate and biodiversity science and policies at all levels.
Commit to concrete actions that protect both forests and the cultures that depend on them.
Together, we can build a future where forests thrive, biodiversity flourishes, and Indigenous Peoples are co-powered as stewards of the planet.The future of the planet depends on the guardianship of its Indigenous peoples and Local Communities. Greenpeace stands with them in demanding urgent actions.
Contacts:
Raphael Mavambu, Media and Communications, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa
Tracy Makheti, Global Digital & Engagement Lead, [email protected], Greenpeace Africa
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 26, 2025/APO Group/ —
At its annual Cyber Security Weekend for the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) Global Research and Analysis Team presented cybersecurity trends, including ransomware, advanced persistent threats (APTs), supply chain attacks, mobile threats, AI and IoT developments.
Kaspersky experts constantly track highly sophisticated attacks. Specifically, they are monitoring 25 APT groups currently active in the META region, including well-known ones such as SideWinder, Origami Elephant, and MuddyWater. The rise of creative exploits for mobile and further development of techniques aimed at evading detection are among the trends Kaspersky is seeing in these targeted attacks.
On a broader level, the first quarter of 2025 showed that Turkiye and Kenya had the highest number of users affected by web incidents (online threats) – 26.1% and 20.1% respectively. They were followed by Qatar (17.8%), Nigeria (17.5%) and South Africa (17.5%).
Ramsomware remains one of the most destructive cyberthreats. According to Kaspersky data, the share of users affected by ransomware attacks increased by 0.02 p.p to 0.44% from 2023 to 2024 globally. In the Middle East the growth is 0.07 p.p. to 0.72%, in Africa: 0.01 p.p. growth to 0.41%, in Turkiye 0,06 p.p. growth to 0.46%. Attackers often don’t distribute this type of malware on a mass scale, but prioritise high-value targets, which reduces the overall number of incidents. While ransomware is not increasing largely, that doesn’t mean that it becomes less dangerous.
In the Middle East ransomware affected a higher share of users due to rapid digital transformation, expanding attack surfaces and varying levels of cybersecurity maturity. Ransomware is less prevalent in Africa due to lower levels of digitisation and economic constraints, which reduce the number of high-value targets. However, as countries like South Africa and Nigeria expand their digital economies, ransomware attacks are on the rise, particularly in the manufacturing, financial and government sectors. Limited cybersecurity awareness and resources leave many organisations vulnerable, though the smaller attack surface means the region remains behind global hotspots.
Ransomware trends
AI tools are increasingly being used in ransomware development, as demonstrated by FunkSec, a ransomware group that emerged in late 2024 and quickly gained notoriety by surpassing established groups like Cl0p and RansomHub with multiple victims claimed in December alone. Operating under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model, FunkSec employs double extortion tactics — combining data encryption with exfiltration — targeting sectors such as government, technology, finance, and education in Europe and Asia. The group’s heavy reliance on AI-assisted tools sets it apart, with its ransomware featuring AI-generated code, complete with flawless comments, likely produced by Large Language Models (LLMs) to enhance development and evade detection. Unlike typical ransomware groups demanding millions, FunkSec adopts a high-volume, low-cost approach with unusually low ransom demands, further highlighting its innovative use of AI to streamline operations.
In 2025, ransomware is expected to evolve by exploiting unconventional vulnerabilities, as demonstrated by the Akira gang’s use of a webcam (http://apo-opa.co/4kgMYLu) to bypass endpoint detection and response systems and infiltrate internal networks. Attackers are likely to increasingly target overlooked entry points like IoT devices, smart appliances or misconfigured hardware in the workplace, capitalising on the expanding attack surface created by interconnected systems. As organisations strengthen traditional defenses, cybercriminals will refine their tactics, focusing on stealthy reconnaissance and lateral movement within networks to deploy ransomware with greater precision, making it harder for defenders to detect and respond in time.
The proliferation of LLMs tailored for cybercrime will further amplify ransomware’s reach and impact. LLMs marketed on the dark web lower the technical barrier to creating malicious code, phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks, allowing even less skilled actors to craft highly convincing lures or automate ransomware deployment. As more innovative concepts such as RPA (Robotic Process Automation) (http://apo-opa.co/3YXevJq) and LowCode (http://apo-opa.co/3YZwrmB), which provide an intuitive, visual, AI-assisted drag-and-drop interface for rapid software development, are quickly adopted by software developers, we can expect ransomware developers to use these tools to automate their attacks as well as new code development, making the threat of ransomware even more prevalent.
“Ransomware is one of the most pressing cybersecurity threats facing organisations today, with attackers targeting businesses of all sizes and across every region, including META. Ransomware groups continue to evolve by adopting techniques, such as developing cross-platform ransomware, embedding self-propagation capabilities and even using zero-day vulnerabilities that were previously affordable only for APT actors. There is also a shift toward exploiting overlooked entry points — including IoT devices, smart appliances, and misconfigured or outdated workplace hardware. These weak spots often go unmonitored, making them prime targets for cybercriminals,” said Sergey Lozhkin, Head of META and APAC regions in Global Research and Analysis Team at Kaspersky. “To stay secure, organisations need a layered defense: up-to-date systems, network segmentation, real-time monitoring, robust backups, and continuous user education”.
Kaspersky encourages organisations to follow these best practices to safeguard their assets:
Always keep software updated on all the devices you use to prevent attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities and infiltrating your network.
Focus your defense strategy on detecting lateral movements and data exfiltration to the Internet. Pay special attention to outgoing traffic to detect cybercriminals’ connections to your network. Set up offline backups that intruders cannot tamper with. Make sure you can access them quickly when needed or in an emergency.
Provide your SOC team with access to the latest threat intelligence and regularly upskill them with professional training. Use the latest Threat Intelligence (http://apo-opa.co/4mxFxRu) information to stay aware of the actual Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors.
Enable ransomware protection for all endpoints. There is a free Kaspersky Anti-Ransomware Tool for Business (http://apo-opa.co/4kbrz6f) that shields computers and servers from ransomware and other types of malware, prevents exploits and is compatible with already installed security solutions.
To protect the company against a wide range of threats, use solutions from the Kaspersky Next (http://apo-opa.co/4mPmnqL) product line that provide real-time protection, threat visibility, investigation and response capabilities of EDR and XDR for organisations of any size and industry. Depending on your current needs and available resources, you can choose the most relevant product tier and easily migrate to another one if your cybersecurity requirements are changing.
When people think of ancient burials in North Africa, they often picture Egypt’s pyramids and monuments. But new discoveries show that north-western Africa also has a deep and fascinating prehistoric past.
Map of the Tangier Peninsula and main sites mentioned. H Benattia.
Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula is particularly interesting. The peninsula sits at Africa’s north-western edge, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. At just 14 kilometres from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar, this area has long been a natural crossroads between continents and cultures.
I’m an archaeologist and PhD student who specialises in north Africa’s later prehistoric periods, between 3800 BC and 500 BC. My research explores how ancient communities responded to environmental changes, and how they moved and connected with other communities across regions.
The assumption to date has been that the Tangier Peninsula was uninhabited and isolated in late prehistoric times. As part of my PhD research I wanted to explore whether this was true, or whether the area had simply been overlooked by previous archaeological work.
Through the Kach Kouch and Tahadart Archaeological Projects, we studied both the Atlantic and Mediterranean zones of the peninsula.
Team members Arnau Pou, Andrea González and Eusebio Medina taking measurements at a cist burial.
Our goal was to revisit the region using modern archaeological methods and technologies, including radiocarbon dating. To understand how this region may have been connected to the wider world in prehistoric times, we used Geographic Information System software to model possible ancient communication routes and surveyed the landscape through satellite and drone imagery. At a later stage, alongside a team of early career Moroccan archaeologists from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage, we carried out field surveys and excavations.
What we discovered exceeded all expectations. Far from being empty and isolated, the Tangier Peninsula is filled with evidence that people lived, died and held ceremonies there over thousands of years.
Our hope is that our findings will reframe north-western Africa as a cultural crossroads that has connected regions for thousands of years. This region could reshape our understanding of later prehistory across the Atlantic and Mediterranean worlds.
A prehistoric ritual and funerary landscape
Our study, published in African Archaeological Review, presents the discovery of dozens of new archaeological sites, including prehistoric burials, rock art sites and standing stones.
Distribution of rock art. H Benattia.Distribution of burials, standing stones and communication routes. H Benattia.
Until now, research on rock art and burials in north Africa focused on areas like the Nile Valley, the Sahara or the Atlas Mountains. Our discoveries reveal that Morocco’s north-western coast was a major cultural hub in the Bronze Age, over 4,000 years ago.
The diversity of burial practices, ritual sites, symbolic rock art and unique megalithic monuments reflect a rich prehistoric heritage that transcends modern geographic, political and cultural boundaries. It also highlights the longstanding exchanges and contacts of this region with the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Sahara.
One of the most remarkable sites we excavated is at Daroua Zaydan, near modern-day Tangier. There we uncovered a cist burial, a small stone chamber made from four upright stone slabs covered by a larger stone slab. A crescent-shaped arrangement of stones likely marked the access to the burial chamber.
Excavation process of the Daroua Zaydan cist burial.
Although the grave had been looted in the past, we recovered several human bones outside the cist. One of them was radiocarbon dated to 2118–1890 BC. This date aligns with similar burial traditions across the Strait of Gibraltar in Iberia, and with Early Bronze Age settlement activity at Kach Kouch, about 65km south-east of Daroua Zaydan.
Cist cemeteries had been documented in the region before, but most were excavated during the early to mid-20th century. At the time, archaeologists didn’t have the methods that can now shed light on important details such as how they were built and when they were used. Daroua Zaydan marks the first radiocarbon-dated cist burial in north-west Africa.
Monuments, ritual deposits and Atlantic connections
Our findings suggest the existence of a complex prehistoric ritual landscape at the Tangier Peninsula. This landscape was likely connected to other areas of the Atlantic and Mediterranean through a shared ritual and symbolic “language”.
Ballintober type sword recovered from the bed of the river Loukkos and currently held at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Claudia Plamp.
One clue is a Bronze Age sword found in the 1920s in the Loukkos river. It was likely made in Britain or Ireland and may have arrived in Africa through Atlantic exchange networks. The sword was likely deliberately thrown to the river — a ritual practice documented along rivers in Atlantic Europe. This suggests that communities in northern Morocco were part of a broader cultural and symbolic world that connected the late prehistoric Atlantic.
The stone circle at Mzoura. H Benattia.
Another example is the stone circle at Mzoura, made up of 176 standing stones. This site, excavated in the 1930s, is unique in north Africa. But it closely resembles other stone circles in Atlantic Europe like Stonehenge. During our fieldwork we also discovered new standing stones and rock art, located along prehistoric communication routes. This suggests they may have been used as territorial markers or ritual sites.
Dotted composition at Ghar el Manzla. Enhanced with DStretch.
Before our research, a single painted rock shelter, that of Magara Sanar, was known in north-western Morocco. We have now documented 17 painted and 5 engraved rock shelters.
The variety of symbols and scenes includes dotted patterns, geometric lines and human-shaped figures. They suggest strong links to Iberian, Atlantic and Saharan prehistoric art.
Human-shaped figures and dotted composition at Ghar Dchar Alouch. Enhanced with DStretch.
Why this matters
Looted cist burial at Oued Ksiar.
Our research does more than just fill a blank spot on the archaeological map. It opens up new avenues for archaeological exploration in the region. The Tangier Peninsula is home to a rich and largely undocumented late prehistoric heritage. It deserves more attention from researchers, policymakers and the wider public.
Further protection measures are necessary as the region is undergoing rapid urban development. Tourism is growing and there’s been extensive looting. We hope our work will lead to more archaeological investigations, including new excavations and radiocarbon dating of key sites.
– Rock art and tomb discoveries in Morocco reveal ancient connections to the wider world – https://theconversation.com/rock-art-and-tomb-discoveries-in-morocco-reveal-ancient-connections-to-the-wider-world-256931
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles MacRobert, Associate Professor, Stellenbosch University
Mining is essential to modern lifestyles. Copper, iron and other mined products are vital to the products many people take for granted, like electronic devices. Being able to buy these goods quite easily may give a person a false sense of how difficult it is to extract the elements they’re made of.
Mining involves the removal of mineral-rich rock from the ground and processing it to extract the high-value minerals. Depending on the mineral, this quantity can be as low as a few grams in a tonne of rock.
For example, removing a tiny quantity of platinum from rock requires finely grinding the rock. The fine material that remains once the platinum is removed is known as tailings.
Every mining operation produces tailings. This can be coarse, like instant coffee granules, or fine, like cocoa powder. Tailings are typically mixed with water to form a liquid slurry that can be pumped and transported easily.
Slurry is kept in specially designed tailings dams. The designs are unique and depend on what is being mined and the local area.
Unfortunately, the history of mining is stained with examples of poorly managed dams that collapse, spilling the slurry, which is sometimes toxic. This can cause serious environmental, social and economic damage.
One such mine disaster happened in February 2025 in Zambia at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia copper mine. Over 50 million litres of toxic waste flowed over the dam’s wall into the Mwambashi River. From there it flowed into one of the largest and longest Zambian rivers, the Kafue.
The pollution travelled further than 100km from the dam, contaminating the river, and killing fish and livestock on nearby farms. The Zambian government had to shut down municipal water to the city of Kitwe to protect residents from consuming the polluted water.
This should not have happened, because steps have been taken to ensure proactive management of dams. In 2020, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management introduced a new set of safety measures and standards.
Many mines are proactively embracing these standards. This enhances community trust in tailings dams. But other mines are not engaging with communities that might be affected by dams. Or communities may feel unsure what to ask the mines.
We are geotechnical engineers who have studied tailings dam collapses. Here, we outline six questions people living near mines should ask mine management to ensure they understand the key hazards and risks in their communities.
1. How far will the slurry flow?
Each tailings dam has a zone of influence. This is determined by analysing what would happen if the slurry breached the dam walls and started to flow out. It is an estimate of the area which would be swamped by tailings if the dam failed.
Generally, tailings disasters have caused significant damage up to a distance of 5km from the dam. If the tailings slurry gets into a river, it can flow hundreds of kilometres downstream.
Zones of influence are often determined for extreme events, like once in a lifetime storms or large earthquakes. But zones of influence could also include places affected by dust or water pollution from the mine.
If you can see a tailings dam from where you live or work you should consider yourself within the zone of influence.
2. Who is responsible for the dam?
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities for day-to-day operation should be in place in every mine. There should be suitably qualified engineers appointed to carry out monitoring and maintenance of the dam. There need to be enough qualified people to cope with the size of the dam.
The management structure should set out how day-to-day issues related to the tailings dam are discussed between workers on the ground in mines and top management, and how solutions are found. Mines should also keep audit and inspection reports on their tailings dams, and records should be kept over the long term (because tailings dams are often operational for several decades).
3. What about the environment?
Mines should have plans to reduce the impact that tailings dams have on the environment. These would have been informed by public participation. The plans must state what monitoring is in place to measure the impacts of dust and water (groundwater and surface water).
The true extent of impacts only becomes apparent once the mine starts operating. So, the public should hold mines accountable for commitments made. Mines should satisfy communities that monitoring is continuing to identify and track the dam’s environmental impacts.
Closure plans should also be continuously communicated to mining-affected communities. This will assure the community that when the miners leave, they won’t be left with a dangerous dam near their homes, with no one to look after it.
4. Will the tailings dam be safe when it rains?
A common way that tailings dams fail is when water or slurry washes over the dam sidewalls. This washes away the support. It is known as overtopping, and can happen in storms or if too much tailing is pumped into the dam.
Overtopping is best managed by keeping the water a certain distance below the dam wall. Mine management must measure this regularly and control how much tailing they pump to the dam. Their task is to make sure that even in a severe storm the level will stay well below the top of the dam wall.
5. Has the dam always behaved as expected?
Small failure incidents such as sloughs, slides and bulges where dam walls move but no slurry is released can occur. Mines should investigate and report these, detailing likely causes and mitigation measures implemented.
Publicly available satellite imagery can easily show where mine tailings dams are becoming unstable. Mines should be transparent and provide explanations for these to avoid any speculation over whether the dam is stable or not.
6. What alterations have been made?
Sometimes dams must be changed to accommodate changes in mining or the extraction process. These changes could include how fast the dam is being built, moving the position of the dam wall, or placing material at the base of the wall to stabilise it.
The unexpected consequences of alterations to a tailings dam could be water seeping out and creating damp spots, leading to dam walls sagging or cracking. If left unchecked this can lead to structural failure.
When substantial changes are made to a dam’s design, mines need to demonstrate that sufficient consideration has gone into making these changes.
– Do you live near a dam holding mine waste? 6 questions to ask – https://theconversation.com/do-you-live-near-a-dam-holding-mine-waste-6-questions-to-ask-256517
n Africa Day, we celebrate a continent rich in heritage, vibrant in diversity and remarkable in its contributions to our global community.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population and fast becoming a powerhouse in renewable energy and technological innovation.
Yet, Africa bears the scars of historic injustices. The legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism still cast long shadows, and entrenched inequalities affect Africans and people of African descent to this day.
This year’s theme calls for confronting these shameful legacies. I renew my call for reparatory justice that is grounded in accountability, reconciliation and equity.
The Pact for the Future, adopted in September, urges greater African representation – particularly at the Security Council – and reforms to the international financial system to support African countries with financing and debt relief. The Pact, through the Global Digital Compact, also seeks to close the digital divide and promote the responsible use of AI technologies.
At a time when barriers are being erected, Africa leads by example. The African Continental Free Trade Area promises to usher in a new era of economic integration, opening the door to jobs, growth and prosperity.
At the same time, we must support Africa’s efforts to expand its clean-energy sector, and ensure that the minerals that are critical to the renewables revolution benefit Africans first and most.
Throughout, we will continue standing with Africa to silence the guns, tackle terrorism, and safeguard human rights for all.
On this Africa Day, let us recommit to not only addressing past wrongs, but also to building a sustainable future for the people of Africa grounded in peace, dignity, and opportunity for all.
*** En cette Journée de l’Afrique, nous célébrons un continent qui se distingue par son riche patrimoine, son éclatante diversité et ses formidables apports à la communauté internationale.
L’Afrique abrite la population la plus jeune du monde et s’impose peu à peu comme un poids lourd des énergies renouvelables et de l’innovation technologique.
Pourtant, l’Afrique porte encore les stigmates des injustices passées. Le spectre de l’esclavage, du colonialisme, de l’apartheid et du racisme systémique hante toujours le continent, et les Africains et les personnes d’ascendance africaine restent en proie à des inégalités profondément ancrées.
Le thème de cette année nous exhorte à regarder en face cet héritage honteux et je demande une nouvelle fois que soit mise en place une justice réparatrice fondée sur la responsabilité, la réconciliation et l’équité.
Le Pacte pour l’avenir, adopté en septembre, invite instamment à accroître la représentation de l’Afrique, notamment au sein du Conseil de sécurité, et à réformer le système financier international pour qu’il puisse mieux répondre aux besoins des pays africains en matière de financements et d’allègement de la dette. Ce Pacte, par l’intermédiaire du Pacte numérique mondial, vise également à réduire la fracture numérique et à promouvoir l’utilisation responsable des technologies d’intelligence artificielle.
À l’heure où sont érigées de nouvelles barrières, l’Afrique montre l’exemple. Ainsi, la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine promet de faire entrer le continent dans une nouvelle ère d’intégration économique, en ouvrant la voie à l’emploi, à la croissance et à la prospérité.
Parallèlement, nous devons soutenir l’action menée par l’Afrique pour développer le secteur des énergies propres et veiller à ce que les Africains soient les premiers à bénéficier des minéraux qui sont au cœur de la révolution des énergies renouvelables.
Jusqu’au bout, nous resterons mobilisés aux côtés de l’Afrique pour faire taire les armes, lutter contre le terrorisme et protéger les droits humains de toutes et tous.
En cette Journée de l’Afrique, réaffirmons notre engagement non seulement à réparer les torts du passé, mais aussi à construire pour les peuples d’Afrique un avenir durable, fondé sur la paix, la dignité et l’égalité des chances pour tous.
When people think of ancient burials in North Africa, they often picture Egypt’s pyramids and monuments. But new discoveries show that north-western Africa also has a deep and fascinating prehistoric past.
Morocco’s Tangier Peninsula is particularly interesting. The peninsula sits at Africa’s north-western edge, where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. At just 14 kilometres from Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar, this area has long been a natural crossroads between continents and cultures.
I’m an archaeologist and PhD student who specialises in north Africa’s later prehistoric periods, between 3800 BC and 500 BC. My research explores how ancient communities responded to environmental changes, and how they moved and connected with other communities across regions.
The assumption to date has been that the Tangier Peninsula was uninhabited and isolated in late prehistoric times. As part of my PhD research I wanted to explore whether this was true, or whether the area had simply been overlooked by previous archaeological work.
Through the Kach Kouch and Tahadart Archaeological Projects, we studied both the Atlantic and Mediterranean zones of the peninsula.
Our goal was to revisit the region using modern archaeological methods and technologies, including radiocarbon dating. To understand how this region may have been connected to the wider world in prehistoric times, we used Geographic Information System software to model possible ancient communication routes and surveyed the landscape through satellite and drone imagery. At a later stage, alongside a team of early career Moroccan archaeologists from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage, we carried out field surveys and excavations.
What we discovered exceeded all expectations. Far from being empty and isolated, the Tangier Peninsula is filled with evidence that people lived, died and held ceremonies there over thousands of years.
Our hope is that our findings will reframe north-western Africa as a cultural crossroads that has connected regions for thousands of years. This region could reshape our understanding of later prehistory across the Atlantic and Mediterranean worlds.
A prehistoric ritual and funerary landscape
Our study, published in African Archaeological Review, presents the discovery of dozens of new archaeological sites, including prehistoric burials, rock art sites and standing stones.
Until now, research on rock art and burials in north Africa focused on areas like the Nile Valley, the Sahara or the Atlas Mountains. Our discoveries reveal that Morocco’s north-western coast was a major cultural hub in the Bronze Age, over 4,000 years ago.
The diversity of burial practices, ritual sites, symbolic rock art and unique megalithic monuments reflect a rich prehistoric heritage that transcends modern geographic, political and cultural boundaries. It also highlights the longstanding exchanges and contacts of this region with the Mediterranean, the Atlantic and the Sahara.
One of the most remarkable sites we excavated is at Daroua Zaydan, near modern-day Tangier. There we uncovered a cist burial, a small stone chamber made from four upright stone slabs covered by a larger stone slab. A crescent-shaped arrangement of stones likely marked the access to the burial chamber.
Although the grave had been looted in the past, we recovered several human bones outside the cist. One of them was radiocarbon dated to 2118–1890 BC. This date aligns with similar burial traditions across the Strait of Gibraltar in Iberia, and with Early Bronze Age settlement activity at Kach Kouch, about 65km south-east of Daroua Zaydan.
Cist cemeteries had been documented in the region before, but most were excavated during the early to mid-20th century. At the time, archaeologists didn’t have the methods that can now shed light on important details such as how they were built and when they were used. Daroua Zaydan marks the first radiocarbon-dated cist burial in north-west Africa.
Monuments, ritual deposits and Atlantic connections
Our findings suggest the existence of a complex prehistoric ritual landscape at the Tangier Peninsula. This landscape was likely connected to other areas of the Atlantic and Mediterranean through a shared ritual and symbolic “language”.
One clue is a Bronze Age sword found in the 1920s in the Loukkos river. It was likely made in Britain or Ireland and may have arrived in Africa through Atlantic exchange networks. The sword was likely deliberately thrown to the river — a ritual practice documented along rivers in Atlantic Europe. This suggests that communities in northern Morocco were part of a broader cultural and symbolic world that connected the late prehistoric Atlantic.
Another example is the stone circle at Mzoura, made up of 176 standing stones. This site, excavated in the 1930s, is unique in north Africa. But it closely resembles other stone circles in Atlantic Europe like Stonehenge. During our fieldwork we also discovered new standing stones and rock art, located along prehistoric communication routes. This suggests they may have been used as territorial markers or ritual sites.
Before our research, a single painted rock shelter, that of Magara Sanar, was known in north-western Morocco. We have now documented 17 painted and 5 engraved rock shelters.
The variety of symbols and scenes includes dotted patterns, geometric lines and human-shaped figures. They suggest strong links to Iberian, Atlantic and Saharan prehistoric art.
Why this matters
Our research does more than just fill a blank spot on the archaeological map. It opens up new avenues for archaeological exploration in the region. The Tangier Peninsula is home to a rich and largely undocumented late prehistoric heritage. It deserves more attention from researchers, policymakers and the wider public.
Further protection measures are necessary as the region is undergoing rapid urban development. Tourism is growing and there’s been extensive looting. We hope our work will lead to more archaeological investigations, including new excavations and radiocarbon dating of key sites.
Hamza Benattia, director of the Tahadart Archaeological Project, received funding from the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage of Morocco (INSAP), the Prehistoric Society Research Fund, the Stevan B. Dana Grant of the American Society of Overseas Research, the Mediterranean Archaeological Trust Grant, the Barakat Trust Early Career Award, the Centre Jacques Berque Research Grant, the Institute of Ceutan Studies Research Fund and the University of Castilla La Mancha.
