With global inflation projected to continue its downward spiral, monetary policy has started to ease across many advanced and emerging economies.
However, with concerns persisting around supply chains and volatile commodity prices, what are the prospects for interest rates in 2025?
Speakers: Joumanna Bercetche, François Villeroy de Galhau, Nicolai Tangen, Isabella M. Weber, Ronald P. O’Hanley
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
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Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TO: ALL MEDIA/NEWS EDITORS
DATE: SUNDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2025
MINISTER KGOSIENTSHO RAMOKGOPA TO PROVIDE A STATUS UPDATE ON
ELECTRICITY GENERATION PERFORMANCE
Members of the media are hereby invited to a media briefing where the Minister of Electricity
and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa and Eskom will provide an update on the status of
South Africa’s electricity generation performance.
DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
DATE: Sunday , 23 February 2025
TIME: 11:00 (Setting up from 10:00)
VENUE: GCIS, Tshedimosetso House, corner Francis Baard and Festival streets, Hatfield
For media enquiries:
Tsakane Khambane, Spokesperson in the Ministry of Electricity and Energy on 082 084 5566 /
Tsakane.Khambane@dmre.gov.zaDaphe Mokwena, Eskom Spokesperson on 082 441 6501 / daphne.mokwena@eskom.co.za
ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF ELECTRICITY AND ENERGY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
@Marines rappel during a survival skills course at the Jungle Warfare Training Center, Okinawa, Japan, to increase their proficiency at fighting in a jungle environment.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war continues along with the crisis. Humanitarians are making a difference but the needs remain immense. Three women at the forefront look back on this milestone and ahead to an uncertain future.
Briefing reporters at UN headquarters, MONUSCO chief Bintou Keita reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to protecting civilians under international humanitarian law. “Following the fall of Goma on 28 January, more than 1,400 high-risk individuals—have sought protection, including civilians, women, and children,” she said.
However, Keita cautioned that the mission is facing significant challenges in sustaining this protection “due to the sheer number of individuals under our protection, managing with difficult living conditions and limited supplies for longer than anticipated,” she said.
Keita said, “MONUSCO urgently calls—and I insist, MONUSCO urgently calls—for a safe, dignified, and internationally supported solution for the transfer of these individuals to an alternative secure location, in full respect of their rights and choices.”
Keita also pointed to ongoing security threats posed by the M23 armed group, which has taken control of parts of North Kivu with backing from the Rwandan Defense Forces. “Freedom of movement restrictions, including roadblocks and 48-hour advance notification requirements, prevent the mission from protecting civilians and carrying out life-saving operations,” she said.
The UN official warned that the group’s ambitions extend beyond North Kivu. “Very public declarations and statements by AFC/M23—clearly repeated over time, including last week—show that the intent is to go up Kinshasa,” she said. Keita added that M23 forces are continuing their push southward, toward South Kivu and Tanganyika.
She further expressed concern over reports that AFC/M23 is attempting to consolidate political control in occupied areas. “What we see is the communication from AFC/M23… at the establishment of, the appointment of a governor for Goma or a mayor for Goma. And we understand that the same is happening for Bukavu,” she said.
Regarding MONUSCO’s ongoing operations, Keita clarified that the mission remains engaged in North Kivu despite significant restrictions. “With the conditions and requirements, we are still moving around,” she said, adding that SAMI DRC, a regional force, is also stationed in Goma while MONUSCO continues to fulfill its civilian protection mandate across other bases.
Keita also commented on an upcoming UN Security Council resolution on the crisis, that is scheduled today (Feb 21) saying her “expectation is that it’s going to be voted unanimously.”
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
This resource is specifically designed for the Deaf community, offering clear steps on how to request assistance from FEMA if you have experienced losses due to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County.
Press Conference by Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Arab States, on the socioeconomic impact of 14 years of the conflict in Syria. Mr. Al Dardari is joined virtually by UNDP Resident Representative in Syria, Sudipto Mukerjee.
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“This is one of the deadliest conflicts in recent history,” said UN official Abdallah Al Dardari, briefing journalists on the socioeconomic impact of 14 years of the conflict in Syria.
Speaking virtually at a press briefing today (Feb 20), Al Dardari outlined the devastating human and economic toll of the war. “The lives lost in the Syria conflict so far, what has been reported is 618,000,” he said, adding that 113,000 people remain forcibly disappeared with their fate unknown. More than half of the country’s population has been forcibly displaced, including 7.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and six million refugees.
The economic impact, he noted, has been equally severe. “The GDP loss is more than half. The people living in poverty today are 90 per cent of the population. That is three times the level of poverty of 2010,” he said. Extreme poverty now affects 66 percent of Syrians, six times the pre-war figure of 11 percent. The conflict has also resulted in widespread unemployment, with job losses affecting 5.4 million people and the unemployment rate rising from eight percent to 24 percent.
With economic collapse deepening, dependence on humanitarian assistance continues to grow. “16.5 million Syrians depend on assistance,” Al Dardari said, highlighting food insecurity as a critical concern. “Acute food insecurity is four per cent, severe food insecurity is 52 per cent,” he said.
The war has also devastated Syria’s infrastructure, particularly its energy sector. “80 per cent of the country’s energy capacity has been lost. Syria used to generate around 9000 megawatts in 2010; today, it is generating less than 1500 megawatts,” he said. Damage to power plants and the national grid has left the country struggling to meet basic energy needs, with 70 percent of power plants and 75 percent of grid load capacity lost.
Housing destruction has been extensive, with Al Dardari reporting that “out of 5.5 million homes in 2010, 328,000 homes [were] fully destroyed, and one out of three houses [was] destroyed or damaged.”
Despite these grim figures, Al Dardari emphasized that there remains a pathway to recovery. “Because we believe that there is a chance for recovery, and that the UN is working on a transition and recovery framework, and UNDP, as the agency working on economic and social and human development, is preparing some scenarios for recovery,” he said. However, he warned that if Syria continues its current trajectory of 1.3 percent GDP growth per year, “it will go back to the 2010 GDP in 55 years.”
On financial support, he acknowledged ongoing challenges in securing official development assistance (ODA) and stressed the need for investment. “Syria still needs a large amount of grant funding, but actually the country depends, and will depend on investments,” he said.
Al Dardari underscored the UN’s commitment to Syria’s recovery through its Transition Plan, with UNDP focusing on socioeconomic rebuilding within a broader UN-led framework.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
No stone will be left unturned in our effort to end chronic disease. The health of our children is a higher calling for all of us. Watch my message to America and join me in this effort to Make America Healthy Again.
—
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins outlined key accomplishments at VA during the first 30 days of the Trump administration, emphasizing the department’s commitment to prioritizing Veterans.
“The Veteran is back first at the VA,” Collins stated. “We’re putting the Veteran first in everything we do, ensuring they receive the benefits and health care they have earned.”
A key change includes eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, reallocating $14 million toward Veterans’ health care and caregiver programs. Additionally, the department has identified and redirected nearly $98 million to further support health care benefits.
VA has also revised its flag policy, now exclusively flying the American flag and the POW/MIA flag at its facilities. “For all of us who served in uniform, that American flag is what unites us,” Collins said.
Efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse are also underway. The department has assigned employees to scrutinize contracts, ensuring funds are spent efficiently. As a result, $178,000 previously allocated for Politico newsletters has been redirected to Veteran services.
“30 days in, Donald Trump hasn’t let up, and neither have we at the VA,” Collins concluded.
For more updates on VA policies and initiatives, visit news.va.gov.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
You’ve heard about asteroid 2024 YR4 and we’ve heard your questions — so let’s talk about it. What are the chances it’ll hit Earth? Why do those odds keep changing? And should you be worried? (Spoiler alert: No). Get the facts from a NASA expert and learn how we track asteroids, update predictions, and keep an eye on the skies.
Asteroid 2024 YR4 FAQ: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/asteroids/2024-yr4/
Stay tuned for the latest updates: https://blogs.nasa.gov/planetarydefense/
Coming April 2025, NASA’s Planetary Defenders documentary will showcase the international collaboration and dedicated team of astronomers and scientists working tirelessly to track and monitor near-Earth asteroids, aiming to protect our planet from potential impacts: https://go.nasa.gov/NASAPlanetaryDefenders
About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts
Nearly 100 National Guard members received training from the U.S. Border Patrol Feb. 18-20, 2025, in McAllen, Texas, in support of Operation Southern Resolve. The Guard members were granted Title 8 authority in order to prevent, deter, and interdict illegal activity at the southern border. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Master Sgt. Amber Monio, photos by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Derek Gutierrez)
Source: US National Institute of Justice (video statements)
Dr. Campbell brings together research on the neurobiology of trauma and the criminal justice response to sexual assault. She explains the underlying neurobiology of traumatic events, its emotional and physical manifestation, and how these processes can impact the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults. Real-world, practical implications are examined for first responders, such as law enforcement, nurses, prosecutors, and advocates.
(Opinions or points of view expressed represent the speaker and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Any product or manufacturer discussed is presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute product approval or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Justice.)
0:15 Leaders’ priorities for 2025 – The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting drew leaders from business, academia and civil society. We asked them all the same question: ‘What should leaders prioritize in 2025?’
4:21 This mobile ‘smart clinic’ saves lives – It’s a 12-metre-long converted coach which is driven to remote rural communities to provide specialist care on the spot, from gynaecologists, psychologists and paediatricians. The Smart Clinic was created by Siemens Healthineers and is equipped and operated in collaboration with the Colombian Red Cross.
8:55 3 super-pollutants in our air – Super-pollutants are a category of greenhouse gases and air pollutants which trap even more heat in the atmosphere than CO2, per tonne. Including them in climate change frameworks would lead to more funding to tackle them, says Jane Burston, Founder and CEO of the Clean Air Fund
13:40 The possible end of AIDS – A revolutionary treatment could spell the end of this terrible disease. 40 million people around the world are living with HIV. Every year 1.3 million more become infected with HIV and every day 1,700 people die from an AIDS-related illness.
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The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Cadence
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski at the Department of State, on February 21, 2025.
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Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
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Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
D.R. Congo Refugees
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Secretary-General
Deputy Secretary-General
South Sudan
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Israel/Palestine
U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon
Libya
Ukraine
Mother Language Day
Financial Contributions
Guest
D.R. CONGO REFUGEES
UNHCR today launched an appeal seeking $40.4 million to deliver protection and assistance to 275,000 internally displaced people in South Kivu, North Kivu, Maniema and Tanganyika provinces of the DRC, as well as to support a potential influx of 258,000 refugees, asylum-seekers, and returnees in neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
UNHCR said there is an urgent need for shelter, food and latrines as well as relocation of the new arrivals to other sites to address overcrowding. UNHCR and its partners are stepping up assistance, distributing warm meals and water to new arrivals. They need all sorts of relief supplies.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
And just to say that in South Kivu, humanitarian partners have also raised concerns that ongoing clashes in Uvira are hindering access – including the movement of ambulances – while hospitals report daily casualties among civilians.
An in the Kalehe territory, fighting has forced more than 50,000 people to flee over the past week, many to Burundi. Since February, more than 40,000 Congolese nationals – the majority of whom are women and children – have arrived in Burundi seeking protection there.
SECRETARY-GENERAL
A couple of travel notes, as I mentioned to you yesterday, the Secretary-General will be in Geneva on Monday to address the Human Rights Council as well as the committee on disarmament.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
Our Deputy Secretary-General is in South Africa, where today she took part in the second and final day of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting.
In her remarks, Amina Mohammed reaffirmed our support for the G20 platform. With just five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, she warned that we are off track and that decades of development gains are at risk, particularly for the most vulnerable. She underscored that in today’s deeply interconnected world, no nation can stand alone and that global challenges demand global action.
In the afternoon, she had a number bilateral discussions with several foreign ministers, emphasizing the urgency of reinforced multilateralism and strong partnerships to accelerate the implementation of the Pact for the Future and the SDGs.
She also sought their support for securing an ambitious outcome at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development which will take place in Seville, Spain, in July.
Tomorrow, she travels to Nairobi, Kenya, for a series of engagements on food systems ahead of the second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake, which will take place in Addis Ababa, also in July.
And, yesterday, I said that Ms. Mohammed met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. I stand corrected – that meeting did not take place.
SOUTH SUDAN
Our Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, is continuing his own travels in eastern Africa. In South Sudan, he met today with the country’s First Vice President, Riek Machar. They discussed the progressing peace implementation, among other topics.
He also met with key members of technical bodies tasked with constitution-making and electoral preparations, to get a sense of the challenges they face in making significant advances in their respective areas.
Additionally, he held discussions with the diplomatic community, including the African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development, known as IGAD. As mentioned, Mr. Lacroix will travel to Abyei tomorrow to visit the peacekeeping mission there.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Watch the launch of a NASA space telescope that will create a 3D all-sky map in 102 colors, with a constellation of solar-observing satellites along for the ride. Our SPHEREx observatory and PUNCH mission will lift off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
SPHEREx will survey the sky in optical and infrared light, gathering data on more than 450 million galaxies, and 100 million stars in our own galaxy. PUNCH will use four suitcase-sized satellites in low Earth orbit to observe the Sun, and tell us more about the space weather that can impact communications on Earth.
More info on SPHEREx and PUNCH: https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-sets-launch-coverage-for-missions-studying-cosmic-origins-sun/
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions are set to launch together, with one mission aiming to answer big-picture questions about our universe and the other seeking a better understanding of our Sun.
SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer) is an infrared space telescope designed to map the entire sky like none before it. SPHEREx will study the origins of the universe, galaxies, and the ingredients for life in our galaxy.
PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) is a constellation of four small satellites dedicated to studying the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the solar corona, and how it extends into space to form the solar wind. Understanding these processes is critical to predicting space weather and its impact on Earth’s magnetic field.
Together, SPHEREx and PUNCH demonstrate NASA’s commitment to uncovering the fundamental forces that shape our universe and our own star.
For more information on the missions, visit:
https://nasa.gov/SPHEREx
https://nasa.gov/punch
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
This Week: Secretary Burgum applauds an EPA ruling to allow West Virginia to regulate its own carbon injection procedures; the Secretary welcomes Bret Baier of Fox News’ “Special Report” for a live broadcast from Interior; the Bureau of Indian Affairs launches an initiative to help solve missing and unidentified person cases involving American Indians and Alaska Natives; governors and delegates of American island territories convene at Interior for the annual Interagency Group on Insular Areas; and a colorful scene salutes a master of black-and-white photography in our social media Picture of the Week! Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X!
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
VA Secretary Doug Collins Addresses Veterans Benefits Rumors in Latest Video.
VA Secretary Doug Collins released a video from his office today addressing misinformation circulating about Veterans’ benefits and VA healthcare.
In a direct and candid message, Collins refuted several rumors he described as “whoppers” originating from Washington, DC.
Collins began by reaffirming VA’s commitment to prioritizing Veterans.
“We’re putting Veterans number one back at the VA,” he stated. He acknowledged that changes can generate friction, but emphasized that these reforms are aimed at strengthening VA services for Veterans.
Among the rumors he dispelled was the claim that VA healthcare would suffer. Collins categorically denied this, stating the department has reinforced healthcare and benefits by safeguarding 300,000 mission-critical positions to ensure uninterrupted services.
Another rumor he addressed was that Veterans’ benefits were being cut.
“They’re not,” he said, explaining that VA had redirected nearly $98 million toward Veterans’ care, reinforcing services rather than reducing them.
Finally, Collins addressed the rumor that VA was laying off Veterans Crisis Line responders.
“We did not lay off any Veteran Crisis Line responders,” he stated firmly, assuring that those answering crisis calls remain in place to support Veterans in need.
Collins concluded by urging Veterans to seek information directly from VA rather than relying on misinformation circulating in political discourse. “When you want the truth, come to me, not the Whopper line up on Capitol Hill.”
Veterans are encouraged to visit news.va.gov or contact their local VA offices.
Crimea is Ukraine, and the EU stands with Ukraine in restoring its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. The security of Ukraine is the security of the European Union, and we support Ukraine throughout this journey.
Ukraine is a democracy, and President Volodymyr Zelensky was elected through a democratic process. No solution should be imposed on Ukraine without Ukraine or without the European Union.
Thumbnail title: Ukraine is a democracy Crimea is Ukraine
An estimated 50 million people are victims of modern slavery today, hidden in supply chains and industries worldwide. Data fragmentation and limited measurement continue to hinder efforts to address this crisis effectively.
How can innovative data-sharing partnerships drive accountability to eradicate forced labour and modern slavery?
This session marks the launch of the Global Data Partnership Against Forced Labour.
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
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Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF