Casselman, ON, June 26, 2025 — Casselman is developing Bird’s Eye View Park into a welcoming green space with a focus on bird life, after a combined investment of $1,000,000 from the federal government and the municipality. Giovanna Mingarelli, Member of Parliament for Prescott—Russell—Cumberland and Mayor Geneviève Lajoie, were onsite today to make the announcement.
The park will showcase a bird observatory, a bird sanctuary, a park, and a walking trail on the banks of the Nation River. Bird watchers and photographers will enjoy front-row access to a diverse range of bird life, including rare species, while an accessible walking trail with bilingual signage highlights the park’s wildlife and flora, complemented by cultural and tourist activities that enhance the visitor experience.
The Bird’s Eye View Park will maintain the biodiversity and natural habitat of the area through activities such as planting native species and removing invasive species and monitoring bird activity, all with the goal of enhancing the local ecosystem to make it more resilient to climate change.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)
Congressman David Scott Statement On the House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military and Veteran Affairs Spending Bill
Washington, June 26, 2025
Washington D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott released the following statement regarding House Passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Military and Veteran Affairs Spending Bill
“Instead of writing spending bills that lower the cost of living, my Republican colleagues have passed a FY2026 MilCon-VA bill that fails to meet Georgia Veterans’ needs while omitting funding for Fort Gordon’s Cyber Instructional Facility—directly harming one of the military’s key cyber training hubs. I cannot support a bill that redirects billions of VA dollars to private hospitals and clinics, rather than strengthening VA’s in-house capacity to care for Veterans.
This means our vets will see higher costs, longer wait times and lower care quality. I am also deeply disappointed Republicans rejected a number of Democratic amendments to improve the bill, including those to protect servicemembers from the economic impact of the President’s tariffs, reverse the Administration’s illegal closure of VA housing programs, and to prohibit mass firings at the VA. Georgia Veterans answered the call to serve, we owe it to them to ensure they receive the care, benefits, and respect they deserve—not just empty rhetoric or partisan cuts.”
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Mamiarisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana, until now vicar general of the metropolitan archdiocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese, assigning him the titular see of Iucundiana.Msgr. Mamiarisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana was born on 18 June 1967 in Fiakarana. He studied philosophy in the major seminary of Antsirabe, and theology in the major seminary of Ambatoroka, Antananarivo.He was ordained a priest on 6 September 1997.He has held the following offices: chaplain of the Youth Eucharistic Movement and head of liturgy (1997-2003), rector of the preparatory seminary of Antananarivo (1998-2003), priest fidei donum in La Réunion (2003-2017), parish priest of the missionary district of Ambatolampy (2017-2020), educator in the major seminary of Antsirabe (2020-2023), and vicar general (since 2023). (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 26/6/2025)
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Mamiarisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana, until now vicar general of the metropolitan archdiocese of Antananarivo, Madagascar, as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese, assigning him the titular see of Iucundiana.Msgr. Mamiarisoa Modeste Randrianifahanana was born on 18 June 1967 in Fiakarana. He studied philosophy in the major seminary of Antsirabe, and theology in the major seminary of Ambatoroka, Antananarivo.He was ordained a priest on 6 September 1997.He has held the following offices: chaplain of the Youth Eucharistic Movement and head of liturgy (1997-2003), rector of the preparatory seminary of Antananarivo (1998-2003), priest fidei donum in La Réunion (2003-2017), parish priest of the missionary district of Ambatolampy (2017-2020), educator in the major seminary of Antsirabe (2020-2023), and vicar general (since 2023). (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 26/6/2025)
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Ho Chi Minh City (Agenzia Fides) – Vietnam has abolished the death penalty for eight crimes, including bribery, embezzlement, and activities to overthrow the government. As reported by the official Vietnam News Agency, the National Assembly has unanimously approved an amendment to the Penal Code that no longer provides for the death penalty for certain crimes. These include the destruction of state property, the production of counterfeit medicines, incitement to war, espionage, and drug smuggling. As of July, the maximum penalty for these crimes will be life imprisonment. Those sentenced to death for these crimes before July 1 will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Catholics in Vietnam are praying and hoping, in accordance with Church teaching, that the death penalty will be definitively abolished in the country. A Catholic priest in Ho Chi Minh City tells Fides the “inhumanity of the death penalty.” In an interview with Fides, Father Dominic Ngo Quang Tuyen, priest in Ho Chi Minh City and secretary of the Commission for Evangelization of the Vietnamese Bishops’ Conference, says: “It is a step that gives hope: a society of solidarity offers prisoners the opportunity to return and live a dignified life. The Church teaches us that human life must be protected and respected because it is a gift from God, from birth to the end.” He continues: “Every human being is created in the image of God. And people who have done wrong or committed a crime also deserve time to be rehabilitated and redeemed.”Andrew, a Vietnamese Catholic layman, told Fides: “The abolition of the death penalty can help create a more just society, where people are given the opportunity to make amends and reintegrate into society. Especially regarding the abolition of the crime of acting against the state, this is a great step forward by the socialist state government in Vietnam, which generally seeks to limit forms of protest against the Party and government policies. This is a good sign, demonstrating the growing progress of Vietnamese civil society.”The Vietnamese Church has an active prison ministry, focusing primarily on the spiritual accompaniment of prisoners, with the involvement of priests who, in addition to providing material and psychological assistance and spiritual support, also listen and encourage dialogue based on the Word of God. Some church organizations also address the needs of prisoners’ families. Ten types of crimes (such as murder, treason, terrorism, and child sexual abuse) continue to be punishable by capital punishment in Vietnam. The number of prisoners on Vietnamese death row is unknown, as data on executions is considered a state secret. Since 2011, the death penalty in the Asian country has been carried out exclusively by lethal injection, whereas previously it was carried out by firing squad. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 26/6/2025)
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Vatican City – (Agenzia Fides) – Today, violent conflict seems to be raging in the Christian East “with a diabolical intensity previously unknown”. And precisely in those lands, now covered “by a cloud of hatred that renders the air unbreathable and toxic,” the faith, hope, and charity of so many Eastern Christians can shine more brightly – “the People of God who persevere by looking up to heaven,” who preserve a “sense of the sacred, and their spirituality, redolent of the divine mysteries,” and who can even help and enlighten the path of Christian communities in the West, where “the faith is in danger of becoming lifeless.”These were the words of Pope Leo XIV, addressed to participants in the plenary assembly of ROACO, the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches, whom he received today in audience in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. His message was an act of fatherly gratitude for the testimony of faith shown by Eastern Christians, who see “the seeds of the Gospel taking root in the desert” even amid atrocious violence, such as “the recent terrible attack on the Church of Saint Elias in Damascus” (see Fides, 23/6/2025).The Pope’s ‘thank you’ to ROACOROACO periodically brings together in Rome Agencies and Organizations active in various countries and engaged in financial support for Eastern rite Catholic communities (building places of worship, granting scholarships, funding educational and healthcare institutions). Pope Leo described those involved in ROACO as sowers of hope “in the lands of the Christian East, which today, as never before, are devastated by wars,” and provide “a breath of oxygen to the Eastern Churches, so worn down by the conflicts in course.” He asked them, “with all my heart, to continue to do everything possible to help these Churches, so precious and so greatly afflicted.”‘Fake news’ and the extermination of peoplesThese tribulations, the Bishop of Rome recalled, are not limited to the present. The history of the Eastern Catholic Churches “has often been marked by suffering and violence.” And “unfortunately, there have also been instances of oppression and misunderstanding within the Catholic community itself, which at times failed to acknowledge and appreciate the value of traditions other than those of the West.” Today, they, together with their brothers of other Eastern Churches, find themselves at the heart of a vortex of delirium and cruelty that is raging their ancestral lands “with a diabolical intensity previously unknown.”The Pope described with suggestive and eloquent language a historical era marked by “the principle of “might makes right” prevailing in so many situations today, all for the sake of legitimizing the pursuit of self-interest.” A time in which “the force of international law and humanitarian law seems no longer to be binding, replaced by the alleged right to coerce others.” A time in which “the desire of the world’s peoples for peace” is betrayed “with propaganda about weapons buildup, as if military supremacy will resolve problems instead of fueling even greater hatred and desire for revenge.” And all of this happens while “people are beginning to realize the amount of money that ends up in the pockets of merchants of death; money that could be used to build new hospitals and schools is instead being used to destroy those that already exist.”The Successor of Peter called on us to “examine the causes of these conflicts, to identify those that are real and to attempt to resolve them. But also to reject those that are false, the result of emotional manipulation and rhetoric, and to make every effort to bring them to light. People must not die because of fake news.”Imitating Jesus amid today’s Herods and PilatesIn the face of such scenarios, the Pope continued, Christians are not only called to express indignation and raise their voices. They can act as “peacemakers and promoters of dialogue,” and above all, they are called to ‘pray’, to “make every tragic news story, every newsreel that we see, a cry of intercession before God.” They are also called to bear witness by following Jesus, to “imitate Christ, who conquered evil by the love he showed on the cross, and to show a way of reigning quite different from that of Herod and Pilate.”“One, for fear of being deposed,” the Pope noted recalled, his words subtly alluding to present-day events—“murdered children, who even today continue to be torn apart by bombs; the other washed his hands, as we risk doing every day until we arrive at the point of no return.”Ex Oriente LuxPope Leo took the opportunity to once again express gratitude to the Eastern Churches, “especially when you remain in your lands as disciples and witnesses of Christ.” He embraced them as guardians “of liturgies that allow God to dwell in time and space, of centuries-old chants imbued with praise, glory, and mystery, which raise an incessant plea for forgiveness for humanity.” He recalled how many of them, “often nameless, join the great ranks of martyrs and saints of the Christian East. In the dark night of conflict, you are witnesses to the light of the East.”The Pope then expressed a wish full of practical developments: “I would like this light of wisdom and salvation,” he said in the concluding part of his address, “to be better known in the Catholic Church, where it is still largely unknown and where, in some places, the faith is in danger of becoming lifeless, also because the hope expressed repeatedly by Saint John Paul II has not yet been realized: ‘The Church must learn once again to breathe with both lungs, the Eastern and the Western’.”Now is the time, the Pope added, to “implement the clear bidding of the Magisterium” to become familiar with the treasures of Eastern Christianity, for example by “organizing basic courses on the Eastern Churches in Seminaries, Theological Faculties, and Catholic Universities .”After all, “Eastern Catholics today are no longer our distant cousins who celebrate unfamiliar rites, but our brothers and sisters who, due to forced migration, are our next-door neighbors.” And “their sense of the sacred, their deep faith, confirmed by suffering, and their spirituality, redolent of the divine mysteries, can benefit the thirst for God, latent yet at the same present, in the West.” (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 26/6/2025)
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Four people have been sentenced to prison for kidnapping an 83-year-old Arlington man and taking $7,000 from him.
According to court documents, on Dec. 30, 2023, Phillip Anderson, 37, Anthony Brockington, 22, Damien Griffin, 23, and K’la Hargrove, 27, traveled to the victim’s home intending to rob him. Hargrove’s boyfriend, who was incarcerated, owed $4,000 to Anderson for drugs, and had performed yardwork and handiwork for the victim. Hargrove, who had previously met the victim through her boyfriend, contacted the victim and arrived at the residence first. After the victim allowed Hargrove into his home, some of her co-conspirators, all of whom were armed, forced their way inside the home, assaulted the victim, and held him at gunpoint while demanding he give them money.
When the victim explained he didn’t have enough cash in his home, the co-conspirators kidnapped the victim and took him to a “trap house” in Washington, where they physically restrained the victim and continued to assault him. The victim was forced to transfer $7,000 to the bank account of an associate of Griffin. While the victim was being held, Griffin used the victim’s credit card to make purchases from McDonalds, DoorDash, and a gas station, and attempted to purchase gift cards at a CVS Pharmacy. During the night of Dec. 31, 2023, Griffin and Brockington, at Anderson’s direction, returned to the victim’s home, broke into a locker, and stole firearms. They transferred the firearms to Anderson, who later sold them.
On Jan. 1, 2024, the victim escaped from the trap house and returned to his home. A neighbor called 911 to report the kidnapping, and the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. The kidnappers caused the victim to sustain fractures to his sternum and hands, broken ribs, and bruises and lacerations to his head and face.
On Oct. 30, 2024, Griffin pled guilty to conspiracy to kidnap. On Jan. 30, he was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.
Anderson pled guilty on Jan. 16, to conspiracy to kidnap and kidnapping. On May 1, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
On Jan. 30, Brockington pled guilty to kidnapping and aiding and abetting kidnapping. On May 1, he was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison.
Hargrove pled guilty on March 13 to aiding and abetting kidnapping. She was sentenced today to six years in prison.
Erik S. Siebert, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Emily Odom, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff.
The Arlington County Police Department provided valuable assistance in the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sehar F. Sabir and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Cristina Stam prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:24-cr-196.
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Noor Mohamed, age 25, of Burlington, Vermont has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Mohamed is currently in State of Vermont custody and his initial appearance in federal court is not yet scheduled.
According to court records, shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Mohamed caused a disturbance with a firearm on Church Street in Burlington. When officers from the Burlington Police Department (BPD) attempted to detain him, he ignored their orders and physically resisted. Instead of complying with the officers, Mohamed reached into his waistband to grab the loaded firearm that he possessed, resulting in an intense and perilous physical struggle between Mohamed and law enforcement over the gun. As law enforcement struggled with Mohamed to detain him and gain control of the firearm, a large, confrontational, agitated crowd formed around officers, creating an increasingly unsafe and precarious scene. Eventually, officers were able to handcuff the defendant and gain possession of the gun, which was a Glock-style handgun with scratch marks where a serial number should have been located, loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition, including a round in the chamber.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Mohamed is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Mohamed faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
“The responding Burlington Police officers demonstrated bravery and skill by safely disarming Mr. Mohamed, despite his vigorous resistance and the presence of the agitated crowd,” said Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help protect our communities.” Drescher also commended the investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Interim Chief of the Burlington Police Department, Shawn Burke, stated: “This incident highlights the dangers our officers face and their selfless commitment to keeping Burlington safe. We deeply appreciate our federal partners for seeking to hold Mohamed accountable and to reduce his ability to further victimize our community.”
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Attorney information for Mohamed is not yet available.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Burlington, Vermont – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont stated that Noor Mohamed, age 25, of Burlington, Vermont has been charged by criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of ammunition. Mohamed is currently in State of Vermont custody and his initial appearance in federal court is not yet scheduled.
According to court records, shortly after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, Mohamed caused a disturbance with a firearm on Church Street in Burlington. When officers from the Burlington Police Department (BPD) attempted to detain him, he ignored their orders and physically resisted. Instead of complying with the officers, Mohamed reached into his waistband to grab the loaded firearm that he possessed, resulting in an intense and perilous physical struggle between Mohamed and law enforcement over the gun. As law enforcement struggled with Mohamed to detain him and gain control of the firearm, a large, confrontational, agitated crowd formed around officers, creating an increasingly unsafe and precarious scene. Eventually, officers were able to handcuff the defendant and gain possession of the gun, which was a Glock-style handgun with scratch marks where a serial number should have been located, loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition, including a round in the chamber.
The United States Attorney’s Office emphasizes that the complaint contains allegations only and that Mohamed is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. Mohamed faces up to 15 years of imprisonment if convicted. The actual sentence, however, would be determined by the District Court with guidance from the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the statutory sentencing factors.
“The responding Burlington Police officers demonstrated bravery and skill by safely disarming Mr. Mohamed, despite his vigorous resistance and the presence of the agitated crowd,” said Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help protect our communities.” Drescher also commended the investigative work of the Burlington Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Interim Chief of the Burlington Police Department, Shawn Burke, stated: “This incident highlights the dangers our officers face and their selfless commitment to keeping Burlington safe. We deeply appreciate our federal partners for seeking to hold Mohamed accountable and to reduce his ability to further victimize our community.”
The prosecutor is Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Cate. Attorney information for Mohamed is not yet available.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
Spokane, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard R. Barker announced that William Luquin Xhurape, 34, of Omak, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice imposed a sentence of 57 months in prison to be followed 3 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on April 1, 2024, Xhurape, who is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess firearms, pulled out a .22 caliber handgun and fired six shots into the ground outside the front door of a trailer on the Colville Reservation. Xhurape then pointed the firearm at the head of a person inside the trailer and fired two shots. The person quickly moved to avoid the shots.
“I am grateful for the excellent partnership between the FBI, Tribal Police, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office on this case,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney, Rich Barker. When we share information and work together, we can achieve so much in our efforts toward public safety within Eastern Washington’s incredible Native American nations and communities.
“As a convicted felon, Mr. Xhurape was well aware of the consequences of possessing a firearm,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “His reckless use of a weapon nearly ended in tragedy, and I am thankful no one was injured. The FBI and our partners continue to strive together towards making our state’s tribal lands a safer place.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Colville Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael J. Ellis.
Yakima, Washington – Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker announced that Jose Bautista Andrade, age 46, of Mexico, was sentenced after pleading guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges. Chief United States District Judge Stanley A. Bastian imposed a sentence of 132 months in prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) developed information that Andrade was working for drug dealer based in Mexico. Andrade would make regular trips to pick up dugs in California, store the drugs at his home and storage units in the Yakima area, then deliver the drugs to customers in Western Washington and accept payment from customers.
In October and November 2023, the FBI conducted two controlled purchases for total of four pounds of methamphetamine from Andrade. Both purchases took place at the Tacoma mall.
On February 6, 2024, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at Andrade’s home and a storage unit. In total, agents located nearly 5 pounds of fentanyl pills, approximately 84 pounds of methamphetamine, and four firearms.
At the sentencing hearing Chief Judge Bastian noted the large amount of drugs in this case and that Andrade was a major player in the drug trafficking operation.
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Seal did an outstanding job bringing this case to a successful resolution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard R. Barker. “His meticulous preparation and tenacious advocacy ensured that a major fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficker was held accountable. Prosecuting cases like this—where the scale of drug trafficking threatens the health and safety of entire communities—is essential to our mission, and AUSA Seal’s work exemplifies the dedication and excellence we strive for in the Eastern District of Washington.”
“Even in small quantities, fentanyl and other dangerous drugs can kill, destroying lives and devastating communities. However, Mr. Bautista Andrade was found to possess not small quantities but several dozen pounds of methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “By removing this drug trafficker and his supplies from the streets, our investigators have undoubtedly made Yakima a safer place. I am grateful to them for their diligent work on this case and continued dedication to removing this toxin from our neighborhoods.”
This case was investigated by the FBI, the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office, and the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin D. Seal.
Tons of goods illegally imported through port of Piraeus, €700 million in losses
(Luxembourg, 26 June 2025) – A coordinated raid by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece), Madrid (Spain), Paris (France) and Sofia (Bulgaria) has dealt a significant blow to criminal networks flooding the EU market with goods fraudulently imported from China, while evading custom duties and VAT. The criminal scheme, which involved the massive importation of textile, shoes, e-scoters, e-bikes and other goods, is believed to have caused an estimated damage of approximately €700 million.
The investigation carried out by the EPPO, code-named ‘Calypso’, spans 14 countries: Bulgaria, China, Czechia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. A total of 101 searches were conducted yesterday at the offices of customs brokers, companies controlled by the organised criminal groups under investigation, the premises of the suspects, and at the offices of tax advisers and representatives, lawyers, accountants and transport companies, in Bulgaria, Greece, France and Spain. Ten suspects were arrested, including two customs officers. In addition, firearms and cold weapons were found and seized in the houses of three of the suspects.
Law enforcement agents seized €5.8 million (of which €4.75 million in Greece and the remaining in France and Spain), in different currencies, including Hong Kong dollars, euros in digital wallets and cryptocurrencies. In addition, 7 133 e-bikes and 3 696 e-scooters were secured, as well as 480 containers for further checks and verification in the Port of Piraeus. Eleven properties located in Spain were also seized, as well as 27 vehicles and luxury items (bags, watches and jewellery). Freezing orders were also issued in Greece to seize real estate, boats and bank accounts.
At issue are several criminal networks, mainly controlled by Chinese nationals, that handle the full circuit of the goods imported from China into the EU market, including distribution to different Member States and sales to end customers, as well as money laundering and sending the profits back to China, while defrauding the payment of customs duties and committing large-scale VAT fraud.
How it works
The fraudulent scheme starts with the introduction of the goods from China into the EU, mainly through the port of Piraeus (Greece), with a substantial undervaluation or misclassification of the goods, in order to evade custom duties – using false documents to conceal the true value and nature of the merchandise. A network of professional enablers operating at the customs entry point, such as customs brokers, service providers and accounting firms, facilitate the initial clearance, and the apparent purchase and transport of the merchandise by companies mainly registered in Bulgaria, but operating in Greece with a Greek VAT registration number.
The goods are subsequently sold to companies established in other Member States, thus allowing the first apparent purchaser to benefit from a VAT import exemption based on Customs Procedure 42 (CP42). This procedure, created to simplify cross-border trade, exempts importers from paying VAT in the country of importation, if the imported goods are subsequently transported to another EU Member State.
Through a chain of buffer and shell companies, the goods are apparently sold to companies in specific Member States, where they are supposed to be sold on the market. These fraudulently declared destinations include Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain. However, these fake ultimate acquirers of the goods never receive the merchandise, and operate as a missing trader, thus not paying VAT. In some cases, the criminal organisations used identity documents from legitimate companies, fraudulently hijacking their VAT numbers to conceal the true destination of the goods.
In reality, after the goods enter the EU, they are stored in warehouses and places controlled by the criminal organisations, and from there they are transported, using false documents, to France, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Spain (the real countries of destination). These Chinese logistics centres, where all goods are stored, operate as highly controlled warehouse districts, functioning almost like exclusive communities, accessible only to members of the criminal groups managing them.
The transport documents are destroyed as soon as the goods are delivered, and the merchandise is sold to end customers mostly on the black market, in cash, as part of a highly concealed parallel economy.
One-stop criminal enterprise
The criminal organisations under investigation are in charge of producing the false invoices and transport documents to conceal the real destination of the goods, and to recruit a large network of sham companies used for the fake sales and deliveries, in order to hide the whole fraudulent chain. This allows the companies controlled by the criminal organisations to sell the products at a very competitive price, since VAT remains unpaid and customs duties and anti-dumping fees are largely evaded.
Finally, the proceeds of the crime are transferred to China using different money laundering techniques, including providing money laundering services to other criminal organisations via trade-based underground banking systems. In this way, the organised criminal groups control and conceal the whole criminal chain, from the initial fraudulent import to the VAT fraud, and from the sale of the goods to the laundering of the profits.
The total damage of the criminal activities under investigation is currently estimated at approximately €700 million: over €250 million come from evaded customs duties (which revert entirely to the EU budget), and close to €450 million from unpaid VAT (which damages both the EU budget and the national budgets of Member States). The damage caused by the fraudulent scheme under investigation is likely much higher. Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is also actively supporting the EPPO to further evaluate the extent of the damage in evaded customs duties.
This EPPO-led investigation was supported by Europol through analytical assistance, coordination via a Virtual Command Post, and the deployment of an expert to the command centre in Luxembourg, with additional backing from national law enforcement agencies – highlighting the value of cross-border cooperation against organised crime. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) contributed to the detection.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
List of most important partners and national authorities involved:
Europol
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Hellenic Internal Affairs Agency of Law Enforcement Bodies (Υπηρεσία Εσωτερικών Υποθέσεων Σωμάτων Ασφαλείας)
Hellenic Police’s Digital Forensics Investigations and Analysis Subdivision (Υποδιεύθυνση Ψηφιακής Εγκληματολογικής Έρευνας και Ανάλυσης της ΔΕΕ)
France’s National Anti-Fraud Office (Office National Antifraude – ONAF)
Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (ДАНС); National Investigation Service (Национална следствена служба); General Directorate National Police) Главна дирекция “Национална полиция”) and General Directoratе Gendarmerie and Specialised Counter-Terrorism Department (Главна дирекция “Жандармерия и специализан отряд за борба с тероризма”)
Spain’s National Police and Tax Agency (Policía Nacional and Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria)
Plaid Cymru have called for a national investigation in Wales on the state of maternity services.
This comes after Wes Streeting, the Labour UK Health Secretary called for a similar investigation to be held in England.
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru spokesperson on health, wrote to the Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, stating that well-publicised issues over recent years raise similar concerns in Wales, as in England, who have consequently commissioned a national investigation.
A recent Llais Cymru report into maternity services in Singleton Hospital Maternity Unit showed a lack of institutional accountability, with families affected having ‘little confidence’ in the internal review mechanisms.
Mr ap Gwynfor also raised concerns regarding workforce capacity, which contributed to the failings highlighted by the Llais report into Singleton Hospital Maternity Unit. These concerns are illustrated by a 35% decrease in applications for midwifery courses in Wales since 2021, which is larger than the UK average.
Writing to the Cabinet Secretary, Plaid Cymru health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, said:
“Wales has had the highest stillbirth rates in the UK since 2014, and while both England and Scotland experienced a decline in neonatal mortality rates between 2010 to 2022, they increased in Wales over this period.
“In light of significant and well-publicised issues over recent years at several Welsh health boards, we have similar concerns as to the quality of maternity care here in Wales. Indeed, across several metrics, there is reason to believe that maternity services in Wales are currently in a worse state than those in England.
“As was shown by the latest Llais report into the Singleton Hospital Maternity Unit, a lack of institutional accountability is compounding clinical failures. Undertaking an investigation of this nature would go a long way towards rebuilding the trust of the public after years of deteriorating standards.”
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
In accordance with Article 332 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and in connection with the availability of vacant positions of professorial and teaching staff in the 2025/2026 academic year since 01.09.2025, the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering announces a competitive selection to fill the following positions:
assistant; senior lecturer; associate professor; professor in the departments of: architectural and building structures; history and theory of architecture; drawing; mathematics; intercultural communication; management in construction; technosphere safety; transport systems and road and bridge construction.
The term of election is three years for each position.
The competition procedure is determined by the order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated December 4, 2023 No. 1138 “On approval of the Regulation on the procedure for filling the positions of teaching staff related to the faculty” and “Regulations on the organization and procedure for election by competition to positions of teaching staff at SPbGASU” (approved by the decision of the Academic Council of SPbGASU dated 06/27/2024, protocol No. 6 (as amended on 04/24/2025)).
The qualification requirements are defined:
“Unified Qualification Handbook of Positions of Managers, Specialists and Employees” (approved by order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation dated 11.01.2011 No. 1n);
Requirements for passing the competitive selection of the teaching staff of SPbGASU (approved by the decision of the Academic Council of SPbGASU dated 06/27/2024, protocol No. 6).
To participate in the competitive selection, it is necessary to submit electronically through the personal account portal (HTTPS: // Portal.SPBGASU.ru/ – for employees of SPbGASU, HTTPS: //Conquispps.SPBGASU.ru/ – for applicants who are not employees of SPbGASU) the following documents:
an application addressed to the rector of the university; a copy of the higher education document; a copy of the candidate/doctor of science diploma (if any); a copy of the associate professor/professor certificate (if any); documents confirming the length of service in scientific and pedagogical work (a certificate of teaching experience or a copy of the work record book, certified at the place of work) – for applicants who are not full-time employees of SPbGASU; a list of scientific and educational-methodical works for the last three years; consent to the processing of personal data; documents confirming the absence of restrictions on employment in the field of education (certificate of no criminal record).
The procedure and deadlines for making changes to the terms of the competition, as well as its cancellation:
Amendments to the terms of the competition are formalized by order of the rector before the actual date of the competition.
The originals of the competition documents and educational documents shall be provided by the competition participant in the event of a positive decision of the commission upon conclusion of an employment contract to the Human Resources Department from 29.08.2025 to 30.09.2025 at the address: 190005, St. Petersburg, 2-ya Krasnoarmeyskaya St., Bldg. 4, Human Resources Department, office 125, 126; tel. 316-42-13.
Place, date and time of the competition: 08/27/2025 at 10:00, room 216.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced today that an arrest was made for multiple firearm and forgery-related offences following an investigation led by the Ontario Firearms Smuggling Enforcement Team (OFSET). The OFSET is comprised of CBSA Investigators, Intelligence Analysts, and Intelligence Officers dedicated to investigating firearms smuggling throughout the province.
In the Spring of 2025, Border Services Officers at the CBSA’s International Mail Processing Centres in Montreal, Quebec and Mississauga, Ontario intercepted and seized a number of parcels imported from the United States, destined to an address in Markham, Ontario. The parcels contained a variety of firearms parts as well as personal identification documents and licenses, at least one of which appeared to be fraudulent.
On June 17, 2025, CBSA Investigators arrested Wei Xu (42) of Markham, Ontario and charged him with Customs Act offences, which included smuggling and evading compliance, and the Criminal Code offence of using a forged document.
A subsequent search of Xu’s vehicle revealed other firearms and prohibited devices, including a SKS rifle, an over capacity cartridge magazine loaded with ammunition, other cartridge magazines, and a box of ammunition. CBSA Investigators later executed a search warrant at Xu’s residence in Markham where an airsoft gun, additional prohibited firearms, and ammunition were discovered and seized—including a handgun and two fire control units.
In total, Xu was charged with 10 offences contrary to the Customs Act and the Criminal Code:
1 count of evading compliance with the Customs Act, s. 153(c) Customs Act
1 count of smuggling, s. 159(1) Customs Act
2 counts of using a forged document, s. 368(1)(a) & 368(1)(b) Criminal Code
3 counts of possession of non-restricted, prohibited and restricted firearms knowing not a holder of a licence, s. 92(1) of the Criminal Code
1 count of possession of a prohibited device knowing not a holder of a licence, s. 92(2) of the Criminal Code
1 count of occupying a motor vehicle knowing a firearm was in vehicle, s. 94 Criminal Code
1 count of manufacturing a prohibited firearm, s. 99 Criminal Code
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Two Atlanta men have been sentenced to federal prison for the armed robbery of a Greenville jewelry store. Tony Nico Clark, 35, was sentenced to nine years and Dedrek Jaquon Hale, 30, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years.
Evidence obtained in the investigation showed that on the afternoon of May 17, 2023, three men robbed a jewelry store located in Greenville. The robbery began when Clark, who was not wearing a mask, approached the door to the store that was locked between guests and was allowed in. Clark then held the door for two masked men, who rushed into the store brandishing handguns and ordering the employees and customers to the floor.
One of the masked men, who remains unidentified, broke display cases using a hammer, while Hale used his handgun to smash the glass on the cases. Surveillance footage showed the men pointing their guns at employees and customers as they snatched jewelry from the broken cases. Clark stood nearby calmly calling out the time remaining before the men needed to exit the store. The robbers fled in a waiting car and returned to the Atlanta area.
Through careful investigation, law enforcement was able to tie Clark and Hale to the robbery using DNA and other physical evidence. Clark and Hale were arrested in October of 2024 and, in March of this year, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce and to using firearms in furtherance of a violent crime.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Clark to 110 months imprisonment, and sentenced Hale to 115 months imprisonment, with both sentences to be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered each defendant to make restitution of over $140,000.
The investigation was led by the FBI Columbia field office, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Two Atlanta men have been sentenced to federal prison for the armed robbery of a Greenville jewelry store. Tony Nico Clark, 35, was sentenced to nine years and Dedrek Jaquon Hale, 30, was sentenced to nine-and-a-half years.
Evidence obtained in the investigation showed that on the afternoon of May 17, 2023, three men robbed a jewelry store located in Greenville. The robbery began when Clark, who was not wearing a mask, approached the door to the store that was locked between guests and was allowed in. Clark then held the door for two masked men, who rushed into the store brandishing handguns and ordering the employees and customers to the floor.
One of the masked men, who remains unidentified, broke display cases using a hammer, while Hale used his handgun to smash the glass on the cases. Surveillance footage showed the men pointing their guns at employees and customers as they snatched jewelry from the broken cases. Clark stood nearby calmly calling out the time remaining before the men needed to exit the store. The robbers fled in a waiting car and returned to the Atlanta area.
Through careful investigation, law enforcement was able to tie Clark and Hale to the robbery using DNA and other physical evidence. Clark and Hale were arrested in October of 2024 and, in March of this year, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery affecting interstate commerce and to using firearms in furtherance of a violent crime.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Clark to 110 months imprisonment, and sentenced Hale to 115 months imprisonment, with both sentences to be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered each defendant to make restitution of over $140,000.
The investigation was led by the FBI Columbia field office, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
McALLEN, Texas – Two Cuban nationals have been taken into custody on charges related to the exportation of stolen motor vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sadiel Noa-Aguila, 42, and Miguel Baez-Echevarria, 36, resided in Pharr and Las Vegas, Nevada, respectively.
Noa-Aguila is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker in McAllen at 9 a.m., while Baez is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Wexler in Las Vegas.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed upon their arrests, authorities launched an investigation in 2024 that uncovered a large ring linked to numerous vehicle thefts nationwide. The charges allege the vehicles were primarily stolen from major metropolitan airports and surrounding areas, including Las Vegas; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Texas cities including Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
As part of the scheme, co-conspirators allegedly used electronic devices to steal the vehicles and reprogram key fobs. They then equipped the vehicles with fraudulent license plates or altered vehicle identification numbers before reselling them, according to the charges. Several vehicles were also allegedly exported to Mexico through ports of entry in Hidalgo County and El Paso.
Noa-Aguila allegedly attempted to export one of the vehicles, a 2022 GMC Sierra AT4 through a port of entry in Hidalgo County Oct. 1, 2024. It had been reported stolen in Denver the previous month, according to the allegations.
The charges allege Baez is linked to the theft of at least 15 additional vehicles and estimates the organization stole vehicles worth millions of dollars in total.
Both are charged with aiding and abetting the exportation of stolen motor vehicles which carries a maximum 10-year-prison term, upon conviction. Baez also faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering for which he could receive up to 20 years in federal prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety, Tarrant County District Attorneys’ Office and Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force as well as sheriff’s offices in El Paso and Hidalgo Counties; Otero County, New Mexico; Broward County, Florida; and police departments in El Paso, Houston and Pharr; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; and Denver.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
McALLEN, Texas – Two Cuban nationals have been taken into custody on charges related to the exportation of stolen motor vehicles, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Sadiel Noa-Aguila, 42, and Miguel Baez-Echevarria, 36, resided in Pharr and Las Vegas, Nevada, respectively.
Noa-Aguila is set to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Scott Hacker in McAllen at 9 a.m., while Baez is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Brenda Wexler in Las Vegas.
According to the criminal complaint unsealed upon their arrests, authorities launched an investigation in 2024 that uncovered a large ring linked to numerous vehicle thefts nationwide. The charges allege the vehicles were primarily stolen from major metropolitan airports and surrounding areas, including Las Vegas; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Denver, Colorado; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Texas cities including Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.
As part of the scheme, co-conspirators allegedly used electronic devices to steal the vehicles and reprogram key fobs. They then equipped the vehicles with fraudulent license plates or altered vehicle identification numbers before reselling them, according to the charges. Several vehicles were also allegedly exported to Mexico through ports of entry in Hidalgo County and El Paso.
Noa-Aguila allegedly attempted to export one of the vehicles, a 2022 GMC Sierra AT4 through a port of entry in Hidalgo County Oct. 1, 2024. It had been reported stolen in Denver the previous month, according to the allegations.
The charges allege Baez is linked to the theft of at least 15 additional vehicles and estimates the organization stole vehicles worth millions of dollars in total.
Both are charged with aiding and abetting the exportation of stolen motor vehicles which carries a maximum 10-year-prison term, upon conviction. Baez also faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering for which he could receive up to 20 years in federal prison.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – Homeland Security Investigations and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation with the assistance of the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection, ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations, Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Fort Worth Airport Department of Public Safety, Tarrant County District Attorneys’ Office and Tarrant County Regional Auto Crimes Task Force as well as sheriff’s offices in El Paso and Hidalgo Counties; Otero County, New Mexico; Broward County, Florida; and police departments in El Paso, Houston and Pharr; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; and Denver.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roberto Lopez Jr. is prosecuting the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood.
A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
Three Southern California residents on June 23 were sentenced to prison for their roles in a 2024 armed robbery and carjacking at a Bloomington, California, auto repair shop and ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution.
All four defendants were found guilty by a jury of participating in an armed robbery and carjacking of a car repair business in Bloomington, California, in which one victim was pistol-whipped into near unconsciousness. At the conclusion of a 13-day trial, a federal jury on late June 18 returned a guilty verdict on all counts against the following defendants:
Marcos Guerrero, 49, of Glendora, California, was sentenced to 219 months in federal prison.
Elijah Gafare, 36, of West Covina, California, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Cinthia Leal, 39, of Glendora, California, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison.
A fourth defendant, Vincent Solarez, 59, of Upland, California, was sentenced to four years in prison on June 2. Solarez was also ordered to pay $11,980 in restitution.
All four defendants were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, and one count of carjacking.
Guerrero, Gafare, and Leal also were found guilty of witness tampering and using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of and in relation to a crime of violence. Guerrero, further, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
According to evidence presented at trial, Guerrero, Gafare, Leal, and Solarez participated in an armed robbery of a car repair shop in Bloomington, California, in the early morning hours of March 12, 2024. During the robbery, two of the defendants brandished firearms, and one of the defendants pistol-whipped one of the victims into near-unconsciousness.
The defendants kept the victims hostage and threatened to kill them if the victims didn’t hand over cash, their car, and if they ever called law enforcement. In total, defendants stole several thousand dollars in cash and the business surveillance system, in addition to the victim’s car and other property.
Law enforcement tracked the defendants down and arrested them in May and June of 2024.
On May 30, 2024, Guerrero illegally possessed a .45-caliber firearm and dozens of rounds of ammunition. He isn’t permitted to possess firearms and ammunition because his criminal history includes convictions in San Bernardino County Superior Court for home invasion robbery, first-degree residential burglary, false imprisonment by violence, possession of a firearm by a felon, and evading a police officer.
The FBI Inland Violent Crimes Suppression Task Force and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua J. Lee and Neil P. Thakor of the General Crimes Section, and Tritia L. Yuen of the Riverside Branch Office, are prosecuting this case.
Media registration is now open for the upcoming APEC high-level and ministerial meetings taking place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 31 July to 12 August 2025.
Convened under the 2025 APEC theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper,” these meetings will bring together ministers, senior officials and stakeholders from the 21 APEC member economies to advance regional collaboration on shared challenges.
The following meetings are open to accredited media for in-person coverage:
APEC High-Level Dialogue on Anti-Corruption Cooperation (AHDAC) 31 July – 1 August 2025
This dialogue will serve as a platform for APEC economies to reaffirm their commitment to integrity, transparency and clean governance. Hosted by the Republic of Korea’s Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, the meeting aims to foster enhanced collaboration among diverse stakeholders to address complex corruption challenges. Delegates are expected to share institutional reforms, enforcement mechanisms and best practices that strengthen the rule of law, build public trust and ensure a level playing field for economic activity across the region.
APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting (DMM) 4 – 6 August 2025
This meeting will bring together ministers overseeing telecommunications, ICT and digital innovation to chart a collaborative path forward on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). Key areas of discussion include advancing inclusive digital infrastructure, strengthening digital skills across populations and supporting interoperability of technology standards across borders. Ministers will also explore innovative ways to leverage digital technologies for sustainable growth, address socio-economic challenges and accelerate regional economic cooperation to facilitate cross-border trade and investment.
This ministerial will bring together APEC economies to strengthen regional cooperation on food security. Discussions will focus on accelerating innovation in agri-food systems, reducing food loss and waste and improving support for small-scale producers. Ministers are expected to review the progress of the APEC Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030, explore ways to deepen public-private partnerships and formalize the role of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to enhance productivity, sustainability and resilience of food security systems in the region.
APEC Women and the Economy Forum (WEF) 12 August 2025
The WEF will bring together ministers and stakeholders to advance women’s economic empowerment and inclusive growth. Discussions will address barriers to women’s full participation in the economy, with a focus on leadership, digital inclusion, care infrastructure and gender-responsive policy design. The forum supports the implementation of the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth.
Media Accreditation Process
Journalists wishing to cover the above meetings must request a dedicated media registration link by emailing the APEC 2025 Korea media team at [email protected] no later than 14 July 2025.
Upon receiving the registration link, media representatives should follow the instructions to complete their accreditation. Due to space limitations, each economy may submit up to three (3) media accreditation requests.
Accredited media will be granted access to scheduled press conferences and to the media lounge operating at Songdo Convensia from 3 to 15 August 2025. The lounge will be open from 2:00 PM to 6:00PM on 3 August, and from 9:00AM to 6:00PM daily from 4 to 15 August (KST).
Scheduled press conferences:
4 August 2025 – Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting (DMM)
10 August 2025 – Food Security Ministerial Meeting (FSMM)
12 August 2025 – Women and the Economy Forum (WEF)
15 August 2025 – Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3)
Details regarding press conference times and logistics will be shared with accredited media. For further information or assistance, please contact [email protected] for media-related inquiries.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed, Assistant Professor of Communication, Cornell University
Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.
Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.
Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.
Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.
In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.
What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.
In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.
Dancing to the tune of the west
Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.
Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.
African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.
This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.
Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.
Azali and Lionheart
Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.
The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.
In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.
Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.
Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.
Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.
Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.
In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.
Moving forward
It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.
There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.
Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.
These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.
– Netflix gives African film a platform – but the cultural price is high – https://theconversation.com/netflix-gives-african-film-a-platform-but-the-cultural-price-is-high-259252
The unintended consequences of measures introduced to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus from 2020 to 2022 have been studied extensively. Research in South Africa shows that some of these measures added to social ills, such as unemployment and poverty.
Another impact of “lockdown” was on gender-based violence. The government’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre reported over 120,000 cases within the first three weeks of lockdown.
In the year 2019-20, 53,293 sexual offences were reported, an average of 146 per day. This was up from 52,420 in 2018-19. Most of these were cases of rape. The police recorded 42,289 rapes in 2019-20, up from 41,583 in 2018-19, an average of 116 rapes each day. Further, a total of 2,695 women were murdered in South Africa in 2019-20. This means a woman is murdered every three hours.
The lockdown measures required people to remain indoors. Schools and non-essential establishments like restaurants were closed. Travelling internationally and between provinces was prohibited.
Research showed that the lockdown measures trapped many women and children in abusive environments. The gender-based violence incidents highlighted gaps in support services and underscored the critical role of social workers in crisis situations.
In a recent paper, we described our study of the impact the lockdown measures had on gender-based violence in Matatiele, a small town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, one of the poorest regions in the country.
The study highlighted the need to integrate gender-based violence support services into emergency plans to ensure continuity of care in times of crisis. In addition, the challenges faced by social workers during the pandemic showed systemic weaknesses in the support infrastructure.
We recommend prioritising gender-based violence services, expanding the social work workforce, and ensuring accessible, effective support mechanisms to safeguard survivors. By engaging local and provincial partners through cross-sector collaboration, South Africa can build a more equitable society and empower survivors during future emergencies.
Interviewing survivors of violence
Our findings were based on interviews with 30 survivors of gender-based violence and five social workers at the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Matatiele, which provides support for rape survivors. Twenty-four of the survivors (80%) were women and six (20%) were males. The participants were aged 18-35.
We found that 63.3% of survivors experienced gender-based violence differently during the pandemic, primarily because access to support services was reduced. Key findings were that:
survivors found it difficult to reach police stations, hospitals and support centres
a lack of transport and staffing made access to services even more difficult than usual
survivors were often imprisoned with their abusers, making it nearly impossible to escape the abusive environment
the closure of schools and community centres destroyed additional refuges and support networks
social workers reported that remote counselling methods, such as telephone calls, were less effective
poor internet connection and the inability to meet in person limited the quality of psychosocial support provided
many perpetrators faced job losses and economic hardships; this led to increased stress and violence.
Our findings highlight how public health crises can worsen existing social vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly illustrated the vulnerability of survivors during crises and the role of social workers in providing support.
As shown in the table, some participants said their experiences of abuse were the same before and during COVID-19. This might be because a participant was abused during the pandemic and had not been a victim before.
Supplied by author.
Most of the research participants said their experience of gender-based violence was different from how it had been before COVID-19. Asked to explain, most of them responded in similar ways.
One of the women said:
I have difficulty escaping my abuser.
Another said:
I struggled to sleep, and I was anxious for a long time. I accepted the situation and told myself that I will be fine. I was abused by a stranger, which made it difficult for me to get justice but I told myself that abuse is something that you cannot run away from.
Lack of sleep is a common challenge for many survivors of gender-based violence.
One of the male survivors in the study, a married man, spoke of the difficulty of dealing with societal norms which are rooted in patriarchy. There’s a local saying which captures the typical attitude: indoda yokwenyani ayikhali (“a real man does not cry”).
There appeared to be a general sense that gender-based violence would not change, so women and men just accepted and normalised it.
An effective response to gender-based violence requires sufficient staffing of response facilities. There is also a need for robust communication tools and training to handle remote support scenarios as happened during COVID.
Gender-based violence is a serious problem that needs a multi-faceted response. Governments, and non-profit, non-governmental and civil society organisations must work together. This will help in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. Gender equality is a fundamental human right. It is a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. While some progress has been made in recent decades, the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.
To lessen the impact of future crises on survivors of gender-based violence, several steps are essential:
the government must recognise support services as critical in emergencies; social workers must be classified as essential personnel so that they can continue their work without restrictions
essential services such as safe shelters, mental health support and legal aid must be in place, and healthcare services must be fully available, well-equipped and well-staffed
the government must expand and train the social worker workforce, and provide specialised training for any crisis situation in the future
there is need to develop support channels, including online platforms, helplines and mobile outreach programmes
investing in reliable communication technologies and transportation can help people reach support services
long-term strategies should focus on reducing gender inequalities and challenging patriarchal norms.
Bongeka Zawani, a master’s student at the University of Fort Hare, carried out the study this article is based on.
– Women trapped with abusers: South Africa’s COVID lockdowns exposed serious protection gaps – https://theconversation.com/women-trapped-with-abusers-south-africas-covid-lockdowns-exposed-serious-protection-gaps-243198
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Nnamdi O. Madichie, Professor of Marketing & Entrepreneurship, University of Kigali
Every December in Nigeria and Ghana a giant party takes place, unfolding in a whirlwind of concerts, festivals, weddings, art shows, dress-ups, meet-ups and travel. Locals and diaspora west Africans returning from overseas come together to create Detty December, a festive event stretching from mid-December to the new year.
Detty is a playful term for “dirty” in the regional Pidgin language and “Detty December” is a term commonly believed to have been coined by Afropop star Mr Eazi in 2016. It means letting loose and indulging in some fun and revelry.
Major events headlined by local and international music stars punctuate Detty December. In Nigeria events range from Flytime Fest in Lagos to Carnival Calabar, which showcases cultural heritage. In Ghana, festivals like AfroFuture and Afro Nation attract global celebrities and influencers as well as returning citizens.
But this isn’t just a holiday fling. Propelled by youthful energy and cultural innovation, it’s an economic phenomenon. And it represents a shift in Africa’s urban landscape and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Detty December now stands as a pillar of Africa’s creative economy, which has built on the global popularity of music from the continent, from Afrobeats to amapiano.
As marketing and entrepreneurship lecturers with an eye on the creative industries, we’ve researched Detty December and believe it’s a cultural tourism phenomenon with the potential to spread across the continent. In fact, it’s already begun to do so.
Nigeria: the economic power of Detty December
Despite infrastructure challenges, places like Lagos are new cultural epicentres. During Detty December the city becomes a carnival of reunions and celebrations. “I Just Got Backs” (IJGBs) return, music spills from every bar and events pop up daily.
Once simply a cultural moment, Detty December has rapidly become a powerful economic engine. It makes a big impact on hospitality, entertainment, tourism and local businesses.
In Lagos alone, the 2024 festivities generated an estimated US$71.6 million in state revenue. Hotels contributed US$44 million and short-term rentals added US$30 million.
Nationally, the impact is even more staggering. Detty December injected over US$220 million into Nigeria’s economy in 2023.
A major driver of this growth is tourism. An estimated 1.2 million visitors flocked to Lagos in December 2024. Nearly 90% of these were diaspora Nigerians.
Afrobeats star Wizkid’s Made in Lagos concert alone pulled in nearly US$650,000 in ticket sales. New song releases on Fridays have become features of the season.
Beyond direct spending, Detty December creates temporary and permanent jobs and bolsters small businesses.
Ghana: December in GH
The government of neighbouring Ghana has recognised this potential, strategically branding its festive season December in GH. This initiative leverages cultural tourism for substantial economic gain. The country even takes measures like visa-on-arrival in December to encourage visitors.
This builds on cultural tourism successes like the 2019 Year of Return campaign. In 2023, December in GH reportedly attracted about 115,000 participants.
Even in a challenging economic climate, Detty December continues to thrive. This indicates a desire for cultural connection and a much-needed escape, especially among the continent’s youth and its global diaspora communities.
South Africa: Ke Dezemba
From Flytime in Lagos and AfroNation in Accra to Alte Sounds in Kigali and the vibrant December nightlife in Mombasa or Johannesburg’s rooftop party events, African cities have become seasonal epicentres for cultural consumption.
“Ke Dezemba” is a term used in South Africa to describe the festive season. It’s a vibrant and celebratory term that’s often associated with summer holidays, braaiing (barbecuing) and social gatherings. It could become the branding of the country’s own Detty December.
South Africa’s global profile has been raised during its 2025 presidency of the G20. Adopting its own version of Detty December could continue to amplify Brand South Africa. It could show off the country’s vibrancy, creativity, hospitality and potential for investment.
Aligning cultural celebration with global visibility could reframe a season of revelry into a strategic cultural and economic asset. For South Africa, this could inject capital into the tourism sector, boosting hospitality, transport and ancillary services.
Beyond direct tourism, the spotlight on South African art and culture during this period could make a lasting impact on the creative economy, fostering growth and job creation.
Physical celebration could be digitally amplified to make a lasting impression.
A notable example is Spotify’s unveiling of its Detty December hub. The music streaming service intends celebrating the festive season across west Africa and South Africa with playlists of party tracks.
Spotify’s Phiona Okumu explains:
Detty December is a special time for our users in west Africa, and Ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa’s spirit of celebration.
How to make it work
The lessons from west African cities suggest that cultural economies thrive with:
flexible governance
inclusive participation
engaged diasporas
innovative business models.
For Nigeria’s Detty December model to be sustainable it would require strategic policy support, urban planning integration and investment in creative infrastructure.
A group of diasporans in Ghana at the AfroFuture festival.Fquasie/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Funding models such as memberships and sponsorships are crucial for the longevity of music festivals. Policy support and infrastructure investment are necessary to unlock the full potential of the creative sector.
Cultural tourism, powerfully embodied by Detty December, is emerging as a viable economic strategy for African cities. This signals a broader recognition of culture’s economic power. It offers a compelling canvas for economic development and nation branding.
– Detty December started as a Nigerian cultural moment. Now it’s spreading across the continent – and minting money – https://theconversation.com/detty-december-started-as-a-nigerian-cultural-moment-now-its-spreading-across-the-continent-and-minting-money-258949
Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.
Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.
Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.
Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.
In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.
What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.
In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.
Dancing to the tune of the west
Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.
Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.
African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.
This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.
Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.
Azali and Lionheart
Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.
The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.
In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.
Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.
Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.
Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.
Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.
In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.
Moving forward
It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.
There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.
Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.
These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.
Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Netflix began its Africa operations in South Africa in 2016. When the US streaming giant announced it was setting up shop in Nigeria in 2020, many west African film-makers, writers, artists and media audiences were jubilant.
Finally, west Africa’s creativity and brilliance would be formally recognised on the world stage. Netflix Naija’s purpose was to produce local content for Netflix just like Netflix South Africa and later Netflix Kenya.
Some film-makers have been wary of US cultural imperialism happening through the market dominance of Netflix and other US streamers. Others have rushed to the streamer to sign deals that will gain their films and TV shows a global audience.
Netflix’s interest in African stories comes with a colonial power dynamic that research and scholarship has not fully explored. As a scholar of media and communication, I recently examined the effect US streamers are having on the stories being told in films in Nigeria and Ghana.
In my study, I argue that despite the growing global interest in African pop culture, African creative workers need to be careful about interest from global conglomerates. We can’t talk about African cinemas going global without paying attention to how Hollywood’s colonial relationship with Africa has shaped and influenced what African filmmakers believe will sell globally.
What price is being paid to appeal to global audiences? Film-makers might focus so much on the western gaze that they lose focus on telling African stories authentically and respectfully.
In my study, I analyse various films including the Ghanaian film Azali and the Nigerian movie Lionheart to argue that that’s exactly what’s happening.
Dancing to the tune of the west
Despite the existence of thriving African film and TV industries before the advent of streaming technologies, we are seeing a replication of what I call the everydayness of colonialism in the area of media representations of the continent.
Here, African filmmakers and producers find themselves jumping through hoops to tell stories that are “fit” to be streamed to Netflix’s millions of American, European and global subscribers. Global cosmopolitan audiences are prioritised over African audiences.
African audiences at home and in the diaspora are the reason we have vibrant film industries such as Nollywood to begin with.
This displacement of African audiences happens both in representation and in access.
Most African movie audiences do not have access to Netflix and other streaming platforms due to the digital divide and the cost of subscribing. So the target audience shifts to the elite, both African and global, who can afford to stream.
Azali and Lionheart
Ghana and Nigeria’s film industries were developed by artists who wanted to reflect their societies to their communities. I found that with Netflix’s arrival, there is a danger of disrupting and undoing this important work.
The intervention of US streamers has led to the development of glossier versions of Africa. They are universal enough to be consumed by anyone, anywhere in the world, even if it means sacrificing the integrity of stories to achieve this global appeal.
In Azali, for example, I found that the film sacrificed authentic language and geographical accuracy to tell a story for a western audience.
Azali explores the themes of child marriage, child-trafficking and rural-urban migration in Ghana. Here, a film about the Dagbamba was set in the town of Zebilla, where Dagbanli is not the dominant language. The film cast non-Dagbanli speakers in major roles to speak a language they neither understood nor had any proficiency in. If Dagbamba had been centred as the primary audience of the movie, this cultural indignity might not have happened.
Lionheart, though star-studded, departed from traditional Nollywood narrative conventions. The film tells the story of a wealthy Nigerian family and the quest of a young woman to take control of the family business. The movie had high production values and told a story that would be considered universally relatable. However, it was disqualified in its bid for an Oscar nomination in the Best International Feature Film category because of its majority English dialogue. Despite appealing to Netflix in the area of production quality and storyline, African film-makers were still punished by the Academy.
Nigeria and Ghana’s film industries have traditionally told a wide variety of African stories. Netflix’s arrival is reducing African stories to stories about the elite and for the global cosmopolitan elite.
Stories about the majority of Africans are being erased. Africa becomes a backdrop to tell stories about the elite class.
In my study, I argue that narrative construction is an important part of identity and that when external factors begin to determine how African stories are told, it distorts the image of Africa for Africans and raises questions of cultural sovereignty.
Moving forward
It is refreshing to see African cultures appreciated on a global scale. But this shouldn’t erase narratives about the African masses and working communities.
There are film-makers that are resisting the Netflix canon. Nigerian actress and producer Funke Akindele shows that this is possible in A Tribe Called Judah. Her film set a new box office record in Nigeria by avoiding direct to Netflix/streamer distribution and staying true to African audiences. The film tells the story of how a single mother and her five sons navigate poverty in Lagos. It was later licensed to stream on Amazon Prime Video after it made history at the box office in Nigeria.
Other film-makers like Omoni Oboli, whose approach centres the Nigerian masses, has turned to YouTube. She tells Nigerian stories while resisting the exploitation that can often come with signing a Netflix deal.
These projects offer an alternative. As Netflix expands, African creative workers and cultural policymakers must protect the narrative integrity of African stories and resist the economic exploitation of African film-makers. Productions can capture the nuances of African stories while representing African languages and cultures with respect and dignity – without selling out to western values.
Wunpini Fatimata Mohammed does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Festivals like Carnival Calabar in Nigeria abound throughout the year-end parties across west Africa and beyond.Akintomiwaao/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Every December in Nigeria and Ghana a giant party takes place, unfolding in a whirlwind of concerts, festivals, weddings, art shows, dress-ups, meet-ups and travel. Locals and diaspora west Africans returning from overseas come together to create Detty December, a festive event stretching from mid-December to the new year.
Detty is a playful term for “dirty” in the regional Pidgin language and “Detty December” is a term commonly believed to have been coined by Afropop star Mr Eazi in 2016. It means letting loose and indulging in some fun and revelry.
Major events headlined by local and international music stars punctuate Detty December. In Nigeria events range from Flytime Fest in Lagos to Carnival Calabar, which showcases cultural heritage. In Ghana, festivals like AfroFuture and Afro Nation attract global celebrities and influencers as well as returning citizens.
But this isn’t just a holiday fling. Propelled by youthful energy and cultural innovation, it’s an economic phenomenon. And it represents a shift in Africa’s urban landscape and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Detty December now stands as a pillar of Africa’s creative economy, which has built on the global popularity of music from the continent, from Afrobeats to amapiano.
As marketing and entrepreneurship lecturers with an eye on the creative industries, we’ve researched Detty December and believe it’s a cultural tourism phenomenon with the potential to spread across the continent. In fact, it’s already begun to do so.
Nigeria: the economic power of Detty December
Despite infrastructure challenges, places like Lagos are new cultural epicentres. During Detty December the city becomes a carnival of reunions and celebrations. “I Just Got Backs” (IJGBs) return, music spills from every bar and events pop up daily.
Once simply a cultural moment, Detty December has rapidly become a powerful economic engine. It makes a big impact on hospitality, entertainment, tourism and local businesses.
In Lagos alone, the 2024 festivities generated an estimated US$71.6 million in state revenue. Hotels contributed US$44 million and short-term rentals added US$30 million.
Nationally, the impact is even more staggering. Detty December injected over US$220 million into Nigeria’s economy in 2023.
A major driver of this growth is tourism. An estimated 1.2 million visitors flocked to Lagos in December 2024. Nearly 90% of these were diaspora Nigerians.
Afrobeats star Wizkid’s Made in Lagos concert alone pulled in nearly US$650,000 in ticket sales. New song releases on Fridays have become features of the season.
Beyond direct spending, Detty December creates temporary and permanent jobs and bolsters small businesses.
Ghana: December in GH
The government of neighbouring Ghana has recognised this potential, strategically branding its festive season December in GH. This initiative leverages cultural tourism for substantial economic gain. The country even takes measures like visa-on-arrival in December to encourage visitors.
This builds on cultural tourism successes like the 2019 Year of Return campaign. In 2023, December in GH reportedly attracted about 115,000 participants.
Even in a challenging economic climate, Detty December continues to thrive. This indicates a desire for cultural connection and a much-needed escape, especially among the continent’s youth and its global diaspora communities.
South Africa: Ke Dezemba
From Flytime in Lagos and AfroNation in Accra to Alte Sounds in Kigali and the vibrant December nightlife in Mombasa or Johannesburg’s rooftop party events, African cities have become seasonal epicentres for cultural consumption.
“Ke Dezemba” is a term used in South Africa to describe the festive season. It’s a vibrant and celebratory term that’s often associated with summer holidays, braaiing (barbecuing) and social gatherings. It could become the branding of the country’s own Detty December.
South Africa’s global profile has been raised during its 2025 presidency of the G20. Adopting its own version of Detty December could continue to amplify Brand South Africa. It could show off the country’s vibrancy, creativity, hospitality and potential for investment.
Aligning cultural celebration with global visibility could reframe a season of revelry into a strategic cultural and economic asset. For South Africa, this could inject capital into the tourism sector, boosting hospitality, transport and ancillary services.
Beyond direct tourism, the spotlight on South African art and culture during this period could make a lasting impact on the creative economy, fostering growth and job creation.
Physical celebration could be digitally amplified to make a lasting impression.
A notable example is Spotify’s unveiling of its Detty December hub. The music streaming service intends celebrating the festive season across west Africa and South Africa with playlists of party tracks.
Spotify’s Phiona Okumu explains:
Detty December is a special time for our users in west Africa, and Ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa’s spirit of celebration.
How to make it work
The lessons from west African cities suggest that cultural economies thrive with:
flexible governance
inclusive participation
engaged diasporas
innovative business models.
For Nigeria’s Detty December model to be sustainable it would require strategic policy support, urban planning integration and investment in creative infrastructure.
A group of diasporans in Ghana at the AfroFuture festival. Fquasie/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Funding models such as memberships and sponsorships are crucial for the longevity of music festivals. Policy support and infrastructure investment are necessary to unlock the full potential of the creative sector.
Cultural tourism, powerfully embodied by Detty December, is emerging as a viable economic strategy for African cities. This signals a broader recognition of culture’s economic power. It offers a compelling canvas for economic development and nation branding.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Festivals like Carnival Calabar in Nigeria abound throughout the year-end parties across west Africa and beyond.Akintomiwaao/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Every December in Nigeria and Ghana a giant party takes place, unfolding in a whirlwind of concerts, festivals, weddings, art shows, dress-ups, meet-ups and travel. Locals and diaspora west Africans returning from overseas come together to create Detty December, a festive event stretching from mid-December to the new year.
Detty is a playful term for “dirty” in the regional Pidgin language and “Detty December” is a term commonly believed to have been coined by Afropop star Mr Eazi in 2016. It means letting loose and indulging in some fun and revelry.
Major events headlined by local and international music stars punctuate Detty December. In Nigeria events range from Flytime Fest in Lagos to Carnival Calabar, which showcases cultural heritage. In Ghana, festivals like AfroFuture and Afro Nation attract global celebrities and influencers as well as returning citizens.
But this isn’t just a holiday fling. Propelled by youthful energy and cultural innovation, it’s an economic phenomenon. And it represents a shift in Africa’s urban landscape and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Detty December now stands as a pillar of Africa’s creative economy, which has built on the global popularity of music from the continent, from Afrobeats to amapiano.
As marketing and entrepreneurship lecturers with an eye on the creative industries, we’ve researched Detty December and believe it’s a cultural tourism phenomenon with the potential to spread across the continent. In fact, it’s already begun to do so.
Nigeria: the economic power of Detty December
Despite infrastructure challenges, places like Lagos are new cultural epicentres. During Detty December the city becomes a carnival of reunions and celebrations. “I Just Got Backs” (IJGBs) return, music spills from every bar and events pop up daily.
Once simply a cultural moment, Detty December has rapidly become a powerful economic engine. It makes a big impact on hospitality, entertainment, tourism and local businesses.
In Lagos alone, the 2024 festivities generated an estimated US$71.6 million in state revenue. Hotels contributed US$44 million and short-term rentals added US$30 million.
Nationally, the impact is even more staggering. Detty December injected over US$220 million into Nigeria’s economy in 2023.
A major driver of this growth is tourism. An estimated 1.2 million visitors flocked to Lagos in December 2024. Nearly 90% of these were diaspora Nigerians.
Afrobeats star Wizkid’s Made in Lagos concert alone pulled in nearly US$650,000 in ticket sales. New song releases on Fridays have become features of the season.
Beyond direct spending, Detty December creates temporary and permanent jobs and bolsters small businesses.
Ghana: December in GH
The government of neighbouring Ghana has recognised this potential, strategically branding its festive season December in GH. This initiative leverages cultural tourism for substantial economic gain. The country even takes measures like visa-on-arrival in December to encourage visitors.
This builds on cultural tourism successes like the 2019 Year of Return campaign. In 2023, December in GH reportedly attracted about 115,000 participants.
Even in a challenging economic climate, Detty December continues to thrive. This indicates a desire for cultural connection and a much-needed escape, especially among the continent’s youth and its global diaspora communities.
South Africa: Ke Dezemba
From Flytime in Lagos and AfroNation in Accra to Alte Sounds in Kigali and the vibrant December nightlife in Mombasa or Johannesburg’s rooftop party events, African cities have become seasonal epicentres for cultural consumption.
“Ke Dezemba” is a term used in South Africa to describe the festive season. It’s a vibrant and celebratory term that’s often associated with summer holidays, braaiing (barbecuing) and social gatherings. It could become the branding of the country’s own Detty December.
South Africa’s global profile has been raised during its 2025 presidency of the G20. Adopting its own version of Detty December could continue to amplify Brand South Africa. It could show off the country’s vibrancy, creativity, hospitality and potential for investment.
Aligning cultural celebration with global visibility could reframe a season of revelry into a strategic cultural and economic asset. For South Africa, this could inject capital into the tourism sector, boosting hospitality, transport and ancillary services.
Beyond direct tourism, the spotlight on South African art and culture during this period could make a lasting impact on the creative economy, fostering growth and job creation.
Physical celebration could be digitally amplified to make a lasting impression.
A notable example is Spotify’s unveiling of its Detty December hub. The music streaming service intends celebrating the festive season across west Africa and South Africa with playlists of party tracks.
Spotify’s Phiona Okumu explains:
Detty December is a special time for our users in west Africa, and Ke Dezemba symbolises South Africa’s spirit of celebration.
How to make it work
The lessons from west African cities suggest that cultural economies thrive with:
flexible governance
inclusive participation
engaged diasporas
innovative business models.
For Nigeria’s Detty December model to be sustainable it would require strategic policy support, urban planning integration and investment in creative infrastructure.
A group of diasporans in Ghana at the AfroFuture festival. Fquasie/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Funding models such as memberships and sponsorships are crucial for the longevity of music festivals. Policy support and infrastructure investment are necessary to unlock the full potential of the creative sector.
Cultural tourism, powerfully embodied by Detty December, is emerging as a viable economic strategy for African cities. This signals a broader recognition of culture’s economic power. It offers a compelling canvas for economic development and nation branding.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The unintended consequences of measures introduced to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus from 2020 to 2022 have been studied extensively. Research in South Africa shows that some of these measures added to social ills, such as unemployment and poverty.
Another impact of “lockdown” was on gender-based violence. The government’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre reported over 120,000 cases within the first three weeks of lockdown.
In the year 2019-20, 53,293 sexual offences were reported, an average of 146 per day. This was up from 52,420 in 2018-19. Most of these were cases of rape. The police recorded 42,289 rapes in 2019-20, up from 41,583 in 2018-19, an average of 116 rapes each day. Further, a total of 2,695 women were murdered in South Africa in 2019-20. This means a woman is murdered every three hours.
The lockdown measures required people to remain indoors. Schools and non-essential establishments like restaurants were closed. Travelling internationally and between provinces was prohibited.
Research showed that the lockdown measures trapped many women and children in abusive environments. The gender-based violence incidents highlighted gaps in support services and underscored the critical role of social workers in crisis situations.
In a recent paper, we described our study of the impact the lockdown measures had on gender-based violence in Matatiele, a small town in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, one of the poorest regions in the country.
The study highlighted the need to integrate gender-based violence support services into emergency plans to ensure continuity of care in times of crisis. In addition, the challenges faced by social workers during the pandemic showed systemic weaknesses in the support infrastructure.
We recommend prioritising gender-based violence services, expanding the social work workforce, and ensuring accessible, effective support mechanisms to safeguard survivors. By engaging local and provincial partners through cross-sector collaboration, South Africa can build a more equitable society and empower survivors during future emergencies.
Interviewing survivors of violence
Our findings were based on interviews with 30 survivors of gender-based violence and five social workers at the Thuthuzela Care Centre in Matatiele, which provides support for rape survivors. Twenty-four of the survivors (80%) were women and six (20%) were males. The participants were aged 18-35.
We found that 63.3% of survivors experienced gender-based violence differently during the pandemic, primarily because access to support services was reduced. Key findings were that:
survivors found it difficult to reach police stations, hospitals and support centres
a lack of transport and staffing made access to services even more difficult than usual
survivors were often imprisoned with their abusers, making it nearly impossible to escape the abusive environment
the closure of schools and community centres destroyed additional refuges and support networks
social workers reported that remote counselling methods, such as telephone calls, were less effective
poor internet connection and the inability to meet in person limited the quality of psychosocial support provided
many perpetrators faced job losses and economic hardships; this led to increased stress and violence.
Our findings highlight how public health crises can worsen existing social vulnerabilities. The COVID-19 pandemic starkly illustrated the vulnerability of survivors during crises and the role of social workers in providing support.
As shown in the table, some participants said their experiences of abuse were the same before and during COVID-19. This might be because a participant was abused during the pandemic and had not been a victim before.
Most of the research participants said their experience of gender-based violence was different from how it had been before COVID-19. Asked to explain, most of them responded in similar ways.
One of the women said:
I have difficulty escaping my abuser.
Another said:
I struggled to sleep, and I was anxious for a long time. I accepted the situation and told myself that I will be fine. I was abused by a stranger, which made it difficult for me to get justice but I told myself that abuse is something that you cannot run away from.
Lack of sleep is a common challenge for many survivors of gender-based violence.
One of the male survivors in the study, a married man, spoke of the difficulty of dealing with societal norms which are rooted in patriarchy. There’s a local saying which captures the typical attitude: indoda yokwenyani ayikhali (“a real man does not cry”).
There appeared to be a general sense that gender-based violence would not change, so women and men just accepted and normalised it.
An effective response to gender-based violence requires sufficient staffing of response facilities. There is also a need for robust communication tools and training to handle remote support scenarios as happened during COVID.
Gender-based violence is a serious problem that needs a multi-faceted response. Governments, and non-profit, non-governmental and
civil society organisations must work together. This will help in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. Gender equality is a fundamental human right. It is a foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. While some progress has been made in recent decades, the world is not on track to achieve gender equality by 2030.
To lessen the impact of future crises on survivors of gender-based violence, several steps are essential:
the government must recognise support services as critical in emergencies; social workers must be classified as essential personnel so that they can continue their work without restrictions
essential services such as safe shelters, mental health support and legal aid must be in place, and healthcare services must be fully available, well-equipped and well-staffed
the government must expand and train the social worker workforce, and provide specialised training for any crisis situation in the future
there is need to develop support channels, including online platforms, helplines and mobile outreach programmes
investing in reliable communication technologies and transportation can help people reach support services
long-term strategies should focus on reducing gender inequalities and challenging patriarchal norms.
Bongeka Zawani, a master’s student at the University of Fort Hare, carried out the study this article is based on.
Marinei Herselman and Bongeka Zwani received funding from the University of Fort Hare GMRDC for this study.
Around 48 million Europeans are unable to keep their homes warm, according to a new report. Rural areas in the EU experience higher levels of energy poverty, especially in Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. However, rural areas are ahead of cities in carrying out energy efficiency improvements.
