Category: English

Source: APO

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Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Mr. Pierre Laporte, is participating in the 2026 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 12 to 18 October 2026.

The Annual Meetings bring together global leaders, finance ministers, policymakers and development partners to discuss key issues affecting the global economy, with a focus on jobs, investment, economic growth and practical solutions for development.

Minister Laporte’s participation provides an opportunity to engage in important discussions on investment, financing and sustainable economic development, while exchanging perspectives on how countries can strengthen their economies and create opportunities for their people.

For Seychelles, these discussions are important in supporting economic resilience, attracting investment and advancing sustainable, long-term development.

In his first engagement Minister Laporte was a panelist in an Annual Meeting flagship event under the theme “Small AI. Real Jobs: Transforming Technological Possibilities into Development Reality”. The event saw the participation of other high-profile personalities including the President of Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, President of World Bank, Managing Director of the IMF, and recognized global private sector leaders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Seychelles.

Source: APO

Sixteen decentralized territorial entities in the Beni Territory received mobility support from MONUSCO on Monday, October 12. The support consisted of 16 motorcycles provided under a security governance project implemented by the Civil Affairs Section. The project aims to improve the mobility of local authorities in order to promote grassroots governance and ensure that the concerns of local communities are better addressed.

The beneficiaries include the municipalities of Bulongo, Lume and Kasindi-Lubirigha, the Ruwenzori sector, as well as several neighborhood chiefs in the city of Beni.

For local authorities, this donation addresses a long-standing need in areas where travel remains difficult, particularly because of the lack of road infrastructure or its deteriorated condition.

“Today, local administrative leaders are receiving means of transportation. This donation will significantly ease their work. From now on, lack of accessibility can no longer be cited as an obstacle. We welcome this donation from MONUSCO and assure you that this improvement will also help enhance the quality of our work on the ground. With these resources, they will be better able to carry out their duties,” said Arnold Isse Muhambo, the mayor of Lume.

Authorities in Kasindi-Lubirigha expressed similar satisfaction.

“Today, thanks to this donation, local administrative officials will be able to respond more quickly to the concerns of the community. Imagine the distances our officials sometimes had to travel on motorcycle taxis to respond to alerts from the population. It was a real hardship,” said Mayor Gilbert Bwambale Mughanirya.

Support for security governance

According to MONUSCO, this initiative falls within the scope of its mandate to support local authorities in strengthening security and protecting civilians.

“This handover of equipment is part of the support provided to local authorities to improve their mobility and promote better security governance within their respective areas (…). The main objective is to continue supporting local authorities in order to ensure better protection for civilians,” said Adam Salami Obatoki, Coordinator of MONUSCO’s Civil Affairs Section.

This donation follows the handover of 32 motorcycles last June to neighborhood chiefs in the four municipalities of the city of Beni, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen grassroots governance and improve community security.​

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l’Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).

Source: APO

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Port Victoria has received further international recognition, having been named the Indian Ocean’s Best Cruise Terminal 2026 at the World Cruise Awards. The award was announced on 12 October 2026 during the World Cruise Awards Gala Ceremony, held at Princess Grand Jamaica as part of World Travel Week.

The Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation acknowledges this achievement and recognises the ongoing efforts of the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA), which manages Port Victoria, to maintain service standards and strengthen Seychelles’ position in the regional and international cruise industry.

Port Victoria competed alongside other regional port facilities, including Port Réunion, Maldives Commercial Port Harbour and Port Louis Harbour. The award recognises efforts to enhance port services and improve the cruise passenger experience, further supporting Seychelles’ standing as a destination in the Indian Ocean cruise market.

This latest accolade follows Port Victoria’s recognition as the Indian Ocean’s Leading Cruise Port at the 2026 World Travel Awards, announced during a ceremony held at CROSSROADS Maldives on 27 September 2026. Together, these awards highlight the continued efforts of SPA and its teams to maintain service standards and respond to the evolving expectations of the cruise industry.

With the 2026–2027 cruise ship season scheduled to commence on 17 November 2026, the Ministry continues to work closely with SPA, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, and other stakeholders to prepare for the arrival of cruise ships and their passengers. These preparations focus on ensuring that the necessary arrangements are in place to support port operations, passenger services and the overall visitor experience.

The Minister for Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Ms. Veronique Laporte congratulates SPA and its team on receiving another prestigious international award, acknowledging their continued contribution to the development of Seychelles’ maritime sector and their efforts to enhance Port Victoria’s services and reputation as a leading cruise destination in the Indian Ocean.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Transport, Ports and Civil Aviation, Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched its 2026 Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) across Liberia, targeting onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, commonly known as “big foot,” and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (intestinal worms).

The campaign targets onchocerciasis in all 15 counties, lymphatic filariasis in Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru, Maryland, and Sinoe counties, and intestinal worms in nine counties: Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru, Lofa, Maryland, Nimba, and Sinoe.

Delivering the keynote address at the launch ceremony in Sinje, Grand Cape Mount County Health Officer Dr. Daniel M. Koffa emphasized the importance of community participation and awareness in preventing and controlling neglected tropical diseases.

The campaign was officially launched by Assistant Minister for Preventive Health Services, Dr. Cuallau Jabbeh-Howe, who urged residents in targeted communities to cooperate with health workers, participate in the drug administration exercise, and help raise awareness about the diseases and the importance of treatment.

Representing the World Health Organization (WHO) Liberia Office, Dr. Yatta D. Sackie Wapoe, National Professional Officer for Disease Prevention and Control, reaffirmed WHO’s continued support for Liberia’s efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. She stated that WHO would continue to provide medicines free of charge for the treatment of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Liberia.

The campaign targets eligible individuals aged five years and above for the designated treatments. Through the mass drug administration exercise, the Ministry of Health and its partners aim to reduce the burden of these diseases, prevent associated complications, and protect the health and well-being of affected communities.

The Ministry of Health calls on all eligible residents in the targeted counties to welcome health workers, take the prescribed medicines as directed, and support community-level efforts to control and eliminate neglected tropical diseases.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Liberia.

Source: APO

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China Geo-Engineering Corporation Lesotho had been announced as the contractor for the rehabilitation of the Maseru Border Post to Maqhaka section of the A1 road, in a project expected to cost over M700 million.

Speaking at the announcement, the Deputy Prime Minister Justice Nthomeng Majara said the project was part of the mandate given to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport by Prime Minister Mr. Ntsokoane Matekane to ensure that communities across the country have access to roads.

She mentioned that the rehabilitation of the road is going to facilitate the movement of goods particularly between the districts of Maseru and Leribe where several firms produce goods that need to be transported to South Africa.

Justice Majara indicated that the government’s broader objective is to ensure that the A1 road is fully rehabilitated up to Mokhotlong District.

She stated that improving the road network is going to contribute to more efficient transportation and support economic activities that depend on reliable road infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr. Matjato Moteane said the government has reached the implementation stage of its plans to improve the country’s infrastructure and service delivery.

He stressed that the need for cooperation among government ministries to ensure that projects intended to improve the livelihoods of Basotho are implemented effectively.

Mr. Moteane noted that coordinated efforts among the relevant ministries are important in ensuring that development initiatives achieve their intended objectives.

On the other hand, Member of Parliament for Khubetsoana Constituency, Mr. Lekhotsa Mafethe called for transparency in recruitment processes associated with the project.

The rehabilitation project of the 22 kilometers road is expected to cost over M700 million and is aimed at improving the road infrastructure along the A1 route which serves as an important link for the movement of people and goods.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

Liquid C2, a business of Cassava Technologies (https://www.CassavaTechnologies.com/), a global technology leader, today announced a new reseller partnership agreement with KnowBe4, a global leader in digital workforce security, securing both humans and AI agents. Through this partnership, Liquid C2 will bring KnowBe4’s training and risk management solutions to enterprise customers across Africa.

“At Liquid C2, we understand that employees are the first and best line of defence from cybersecurity attacks for any organisation. They are the foundation of a digitally resilient organisation. Employees need the skills and awareness to spot threats early, and by working with KnowBe4, we are strengthening the human side of our cybersecurity services. Cybersecurity is no longer just a compliance exercise, it is a business continuity imperative. Our partnership will ensure our customers have access to global cybersecurity training and an experience customised for staff at all levels of client organisations” said Vinay Hiralall, Chief Commercial Officer at Liquid C2.

KnowBe4 is an addition to Liquid C2’s Secure360 portfolio with ongoing security awareness, phishing simulations, and risk management capabilities. Secure360’s unified framework covers governance, protection, detection and response, while the partnership adds capabilities that help organisations address employee-related security risks.

Additionally, the KnowBe4 platform includes attack simulation and training, email and collaboration security, and agent security powered by its Artificial Intelligence Defence Agents (AIDA). KnowBe4 maintains a robust partner programme that helps organisations worldwide strengthen their      workforce security capabilities.

“We look forward to working with Liquid C2 to deliver KnowBe4’s platform to even more organisations across Africa,” said Kurt Mills, SVP of global channel at KnowBe4. “By integrating KnowBe4’s high-quality, world-class platform with our existing security services, we can now deliver comprehensive protection that combines technological safeguards with digital workforce security. This partnership represents our commitment to providing customers with the most effective methods to build a security-conscious culture and significantly reduce their human and agentic AI-related security risks.”    

This offering will be available to small, mid-sized, and large enterprises across Africa, with tailored benefits for regulated sectors like finance, telecoms, and government, where strong cyber security measures are critical to protecting people, systems, and data. Customers will have access to local billing, regional support, onboarding, and compliance assistance specific to their industry needs.

KnowBe4 will be bundled with other Liquid C2 services, including managed cybersecurity which is also available as part of Liquid C2’s Governance, Risk and Compliance offering. This gives organisations greater flexibility to integrate the solution into their existing cybersecurity environments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cassava Technologies.

Follow KnowBe4 on: 
LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/3UlHVBK
X: https://apo-opa.co/4zuYIkK

About Liquid C2: 
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, delivers cutting-edge cloud and cybersecurity services and solutions. Committed to facilitating digital transformation, Liquid C2 is positioned to provide comprehensive solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of the digital era by empowering businesses to navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape securely. The company’s offerings span cloud solutions that enhance accessibility and scalability, and robust cybersecurity services to safeguard sensitive data and elevate security and compliance posture to ensure businesses remain seamlessly connected and protected. https://LiquidC2.com/

About KnowBe4:
KnowBe4 empowers the whole workforce to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by more than 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 is the pioneer of digital workforce security, securing both humans and AI agents. The KnowBe4 Platform provides attack simulation and training, collaboration security, and agent security powered by AIDA (Artificial Intelligence Defense Agents) and a proprietary Risk Score. The platform leverages 16-years of behavioral data to combat advanced threats including social engineering, prompt injection, and shadow AI. By securing humans and agents, KnowBe4 leads the industry in workforce trust and defense. More info at KnowBe4.com

Source: APO

Buffalo farming in Italy offered lessons for Lesotho as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security explored ways to revive the Lesotho National Dairy Board (LNDB) and boost local milk production.

This emerged during a tour by Agriculture and Food Security Minister Selibe Mochoboroane to Azienda Agricola Giancarlo D’Angelo, a buffalo farm and mozzarella cheese factory on the outskirts of Rome.

Minister Mochoboroane said the visit had provided valuable lessons as the Ministry develops a turnaround strategy for the LNDB following the dissolution of its governing board.

He said Italy’s experience of rebuilding dairy production after a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak demonstrated the need for alternative farming models.

“Many countries today are battling foot-and-mouth disease, and many farmers are suffering huge losses, particularly in Africa, hence the need to adopt smarter approaches,” he said.

Mr. Mochoboroane said the Ministry would develop a new model for the LNDB to enable farmers to benefit from milk production and strengthen the country’s dairy industry.

He said mozzarella cheese production presented an opportunity for Basotho farmers to reduce milk imports, create jobs and increase their earnings.

Farm Manager Filippo D’Angelo said the farm had been in his family for about 100 years and initially operated as a cattle farm.

D’Angelo said when his father took over about 30 years ago, the farm had approximately 200 cattle, which were culled and burnt following an FMD outbreak.“With the seed fund, we opted for buffaloes and started with 30,” D’Angelo said.

He said the family turned to buffalo farming after recognising the animals’ resilience to disease and their milk-producing potential.

D’Angelo said managing the farm required long working hours, from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m., involving feeding, milking twice daily and managing the herds according to the farm’s needs.

The milk is processed into mozzarella cheese, which is widely consumed in Italy.

Buffalo farming is part of Italy’s agricultural heritage, with the animals valued for their adaptability and resilience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of Lesotho.

Source: APO

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Deputy Secretary to Cabinet – Finance and Economic Development, Siazongo Siakalenge, says the national ambition to increase production in agriculture, energy, mining, tourism, livestock and manufacturing; requires thousands of capable local suppliers, processors, service providers, innovators and distributors.

In a speech read on his behalf by Permanent Secretary for Special Duties at Cabinet Office, Kennedy Kalunga, during the official opening of the Inaugural Enterprises and Investment Indaba 2026 held in Lusaka, Mr Siakalenge said the Grow Zambia Agenda is, therefore, inseparable from the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).He reiterated that the vision of Mr Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, as pronounced during his inauguration on 1st September 2026, is that Zambia must move decisively from stabilisation to growth under the Grow Zambia Agenda.

He added that MSMEs must not remain at the margins of this transformation, but must become active participants in domestic production networks, public and private procurement, mineral and agricultural value chains, regional trade and export markets.

Mr Siakalenge disclosed that government will continue to foster an enabling environment in which enterprises can start, formalise, survive, grow and graduate into competitive businesses.

“This entails coherent policy and regulation, stronger institutional coordination, accessible business development services, appropriate infrastructure, entrepreneurship and technical skills, improved access to finance, digitalisation, market linkages and deliberate support for women, young people, persons with disabilities and enterprises in rural and underserved areas”, he added.

Mr Siakalenge said the inaugural enterprises and investment indaba should, therefore, serve as a platform that brings together government, private sector players and enterprises from across all sectors of the economy, where practical solutions can be identified and implemented.

He noted that the indaba presents a unique platform for constructive engagement where practical ideas and proposals can be developed to support the growth and development of the MSMEs sector.He urged delegates to use the occasion to unlock investment, accelerate innovation, strengthen local value chains and ultimately, contribute to the Grow Zambia Agenda.

And Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises, Pamela Chitulangoma, said the role of the Ministry is to listen to the private sector and support ways of ensuring the Grow Zambia Agenda is actualised.Ms Chitulangoma said the Indaba is the highest national platform that will convene policy makers, government institutions, the private sector, financial institutions, development partners, investors, entrepreneurs, academia and MSMEs to deliberate on practical strategies for strengthened enterprise development.

Meanwhile, Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) Trustee, Paul Chisunka emphasised that the Indaba is designed to be a catalyst of the Grow Zambia Agenda, adding that MSMEs should participate in actualising this agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cabinet Office, Zambia.