Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) (www.AIDSHealth.org) proudly announces a transformative milestone: delivering life-saving HIV prevention, care, and treatment to 2.5 million people across 49 countries, with 1.3 million in 15 African nations (https://apo-opa.co/45zIVFg). This achievement transcends numbers, embodying restored hope, preserved families, and a bold vision for a healthier, equitable world. 

AHF’s contribution to the HIV response that has enabled countries like Malawi to see a remarkable increase in life expectancy from 46 to 67 years over a 25-year period is profound. Children who may have been orphaned due to HIV can now grow up with their parents present, and communities are thriving through access to quality care. This story can be told in several countries, and it reflects AHF’s unwavering commitment to transforming lives and achieving global HIV control. 

Founded in 1987 in Los Angeles as the AIDS Hospice Foundation, AHF has grown into the world’s largest HIV/AIDS service organization. With over 8,000 dedicated staff, AHF delivers expert, compassionate, and non-judgmental care to all, regardless of ability to pay. Supported by robust advocacy initiatives to achieve policy reform, AHF ensures equitable access to HIV and public health services globally. 

AHF President Michael Weinstein shared, “When we began, I never imagined we’d touch 2.5 million lives. This milestone, born of our staff’s courage and our patients’ trust, demands recognition. As George Bernard Shaw said, ‘You see things; and say, Why? But I dream of things that never were and I say, Why not?’ Our dream—delivering exceptional care to all—has become reality. We’ve stayed true to our principles, proving hope can shine in a challenging world. Yet, our journey continues. AHF is tackling STIs, hunger, homelessness, and the global HIV epidemic with relentless resolve. I’m deeply honored to serve alongside our extraordinary team.” 

“When we launched our first global programs in South Africa and Uganda in 2002, serving 100 clients in each country, we could never have fathomed expanding to 13 more African countries and caring for 1.3 million lives across the continent,” said Dr. Penninah Iutung, AHF’s Executive Vice President . “Building on years of advocacy and innovation, AHF Africa now delivers programs that go beyond clinical care to include community-led prevention, equitable access strategies, and pandemic preparedness. These successes reflect the deep collaboration with government and civil society partners that has enabled us to reach the most marginalized, advance equity, and ensure no one is left behind.”  

Dr. Nombuso Madonsela, who leads AHF’s largest country program as AHF South Africa Country Program Director, adds, “Being part of this historic milestone is a privilege. AHF South Africa remains steadfast in championing combination prevention, reducing new infections, and ensuring quality service delivery and support for all in our care. Through our Community Power Voices (CPV), we amplify the stories and triumphs of those living with HIV. Ending HIV is not just a dream, it’s a promise we are determined to keep.” 

Looking forward, AHF is resolute in expanding access, dismantling barriers, and ensuring no one is left behind in the global fight against HIV. This milestone fuels AHF’s mission to push boundaries, innovate solutions, and build a future where HIV is no longer a threat. 

– on behalf of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

AFRICA MEDIA CONTACT: 
Ngaatendwe Murombedzi 
Regional Advocacy & Policy Manager,  
Southern Africa, 
AHF 
ngaatendwe.murombedzi@ahf.org  

Diana Tibesigwa 
Regional Advocacy & Policy Manager, 
East & West Africa, AHF 
+256.704.723.804 
diana.tibesigwa@ahf.org  

U.S. MEDIA CONTACT: 
Ged Kenslea
Senior Director, Communications, AHF 
+1 323 308 1833 work   
+1.323.791.5526 mobile 
gedk@aidshealth.org   

Denys Nazarov, 
Director of Global Policy & Communications, AHF 
+1.323.308.1829 
denys.nazarov@ahf.org  

Follow us on:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/41ZXwYf
Twitter: @aidshealthcare
Instagram: @aidshealthcare

About AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF): 
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 2.5 million clients in 49 countries worldwide in Africa, the Americas, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.AIDSHealth.org. 

Source: APO – Report:

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The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with partners, is providing training to 1,106 pre-school teachers, 95% of whom are women, from the regions of Anseba, Gash Barka, Northern Red Sea, and Central. The training is being conducted at Hamelmalo College of Agriculture.

Mr. Dawit Kifleyesus, member of the Human Resources Development Department at the Ministry of Education and coordinator of the program, said that the objective of the training is to expand pre-schools and improve the teaching-learning process in the schools.

The trainees include women whose educational backgrounds range from grade eight to college education, as well as 300 female members of the 37th round of the national service.

Indicating that teaching, especially pre-school teaching, requires special talent, Mr. Dawit called on the trainees to properly apply the knowledge and skills they acquire in their future work.

Ambassador Abdella Musa, Governor of Anseba Region, underlined the significance of the Government’s investment in human resources development and called on the trainees to live up to expectations. He also expressed the readiness of the regional administration to play its due part in the development of the sector.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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Mr. Mihreteab Bahlibi, representative of the Forestry and Wildlife Authority, reported that commendable water and soil conservation activities, carried out in collaboration with the public, students, and members of the Defense Forces, are underway in Berik sub-zone in the Central Region.

Mr. Mihreteab stated that since the popular campaign began in March, 225 hectares of terraces have been constructed and 272,592 tree seedlings have been planted in 21 villages of the sub-zone. He also noted that studies conducted beforehand in cooperation with local administrators significantly contributed to the successful implementation of the program.

According to Mr. Mihreteab, of the 272,592 tree seedlings planted, 166,914 were planted by the community, 40,678 through the students’ summer work program, 37,000 by individuals, and 28,000 by members of the Defense Forces.

Mr. Kiflezgi Kiflemariam, head of Economic Development, on his part said that about 5,000 tree seedlings have been planted alongside the roads linking Kushet with Tsaeda Christian, and Tsaeda Christian with Adi-Bidel and Adi-Gebru.

– on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.

Source: APO – Report:

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A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr. Edward Gemayel, visited Senegal from August 19-26, 2025, to discuss corrective measures following the Court of Auditors’ report published on February 12, 2025. The mission engaged with the authorities on actions needed to address the misreporting case before consideration by the IMF Executive Board, reviewed the current debt situation, and exchanged views on the contours of a potential new IMF-supported program.

At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Gemayel issued the following statement:

“The IMF staff team commended the Senegalese authorities on their commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability, following their disclosure of the large misreporting that occurred over the past few years. We have had productive discussions with the authorities on corrective measures aimed at strengthening transparency in public financial management, ensuring reliable budget execution reports, and preserving fiscal sustainability. These measures will help address the systemic issues identified in the Court of Auditors’ report, which confirmed significant data misreporting for the 2019-2023 period.

“Following the comprehensive reconciliation exercise conducted by Forvis Mazars, an international audit firm, the authorities have revised the stock of central government debt from [74.4] percent to 111.0 percent of GDP at end-2023. This revision primarily reflects previously undisclosed liabilities. At end-2024, the revised debt statistics show central government debt reached 118.8 percent of GDP.

“Despite these fiscal challenges, Senegal’s economy has shown resilience, with growth accelerating to 12.1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025. This performance has been driven by strong hydrocarbon sector expansion following the start of production at the Sangomar and GTA fields. However, non-hydrocarbon growth remains subdued at 3.1 percent year-on-year, reflecting persistent challenges in the construction sector due to payment arrears and structural difficulties in chemical industries. Inflation has remained contained at 0.7 percent year-on-year through July 2025.

“The mission discussed with the authorities a comprehensive set of remedial measures to address the root cause of the misreporting. These include centralizing debt management functions, strengthening the role of the National Public Debt Committee, and completing the ongoing comprehensive audit of payment arrears launched by the Inspectorate General of Finance on July 21, 2025. Discussions also covered the establishment of a centralized debt database, measures to strengthen budgetary commitment controls, and the progressive consolidation of bank accounts under the Treasury Single Account. Discussions on several corrective measures will continue over the next few weeks before the misreporting case can be presented to the IMF Executive Board.

“The authorities have expressed their intention to request a new IMF-supported program. The IMF stands ready to assist Senegal in designing an ambitious reform agenda aligned with the national development strategy, Vision 2050, and the recently released Economic and Social Recovery Plan, while also incorporating lessons from the Court of Auditor’s findings. In this context, the mission took note of four strategic pillars that the authorities intend to prioritize: (i) strengthening public financial management and budget transparency; (ii) supporting the recovery of strategic sectors to foster inclusive growth; (iii) enhancing human capital and improving social equity; and (iv) strengthening resilience to climate shocks and natural disasters. These priorities aim to consolidate macroeconomic stability, strengthen fiscal balances, achieve better control of debt, and promote sustainable and resilient growth.

“The IMF staff team thanks the Senegalese authorities for their warm hospitality, the candor of discussions, and excellent cooperation throughout the mission.”

During the visit, the team met with Mr. Cheikh Diba, Minister of Finance and Budget; Mr. Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, State Minister, Minister to the President of the Republic; Mr. Boubacar Camara, Minister, Secretary General of the Government; and other senior government officials. The team also held productive discussions with other stakeholders.

– on behalf of International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Source: APO – Report:

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From 1-6 September 2025, Climate Week in Addis Ababa will bring together negotiators with implementers in government and the real economy, along with key financiers including development banks, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples to help speed up climate implementation.

Organized by UN Climate Change and hosted by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the second Climate Week (CW2) of 2025 will focus on turning pledges into solutions that deliver tangible benefits for people – stronger economic growth, more affordable energy, better health, and rising living standards.

It will highlight how communities and partners are already pioneering scalable solutions — from community recycling projects in Kenya, to green bonds in Morocco, to digital platforms tracking ambition – with sessions structured around implementation challenges identified by countries and regional actors, while also sharing proven solutions so they can be replicated and scaled up.

“Climate Weeks are about connecting the international climate process to people’s real lives and to real economies. They will showcase proven real-world solutions so they can be replicated and scaled up, and will help lay a foundation for real progress on finance, adaptation, mitigation and a Just Transition, in Belém and beyond,” said UN Climate Change Deputy Executive Secretary Noura Hamladji.

CW2 builds on the renewed Climate Week model launched earlier this year, designed also to drive efficiencies by clustering mandated events in the formal UNFCCC process on key issues to be progressed in advance of COP30.

The Implementation Forum: A Crucial Platform

The Implementation Forum is at the core of CW2 – a new space to share and develop practical solutions across climate finance, technology, and other key sectors. With a strong focus on investment and collaboration, it will bring together diverse actors through Implementation Labs, dialogues, and roundtables to address real-world challenges.

Key thematic sessions include:

• Adaptation Finance
• Public–Private Finance Dialogue
• Accelerating Agriculture Climate Action
• Scaling Forest Climate Action
• Strengthening Public–Private Sector Collaboration
• Multilevel and Community-Driven Action

The Climate Week has also been structured to reflect and help advance the incoming COP30 Presidency’s six focus areas in its Action Agenda.

A Steppingstone for the Africa Climate Summit and COP30

The Climate Week is global in focus, but its solutions are deeply relevant to Agenda 2063 – Africa’s vision for inclusive growth, sustainability, and resilience. CW2 has been deliberately timed to take place just ahead of the Africa Climate Summit 2 (ACS2), hosted in Addis Ababa from 8-10 September 2025.

The outcomes of CW2, particularly from the Implementation Forum, will help inform the Summit, where African leadership will advance work on finance, adaptation, and resilience – shaping Africa’s voice on the road to COP30 and marking a crucial moment for the continent’s climate leadership.

Learn more about the second Climate Week (CW2) and consult the full Agenda.

– on behalf of United Nations Climate Change.

Source: APO – Report:

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After 500 days under siege, the city of Al Fasher in Sudan’s North Darfur has become an epicentre of child suffering, with malnutrition, disease, and violence claiming young lives daily, UNICEF warned today.

At least 600,000 people – half of them children – have been displaced from Al Fasher and surrounding camps in recent months. Inside the city, an estimated 260,000 civilians, including 130,000 children, remain trapped in desperate conditions, cut off from aid for more than 16 months.

“We are witnessing a devastating tragedy – children in Al Fasher are starving while UNICEF’s lifesaving nutrition services are being blocked,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Blocking humanitarian access is a grave violation of children’s rights, and the lives of children are hanging in the balance. UNICEF continues to call for immediate and full access, including through expanded pauses in the fighting to allow us to reach all children in need.  Children must be protected at all times, and they must have access to life-saving aid.”

The toll on children is catastrophic. Since the start of the siege in April 2024, more than 1,100 grave violations have been verified in Al Fasher alone, including the killing and maiming of over 1,000 children. Many were struck down in their homes, inside displacement camps, or in marketplaces. At least 23 children have been subjected to rape, gang rape, or sexual abuse, while others have been abducted, recruited, or used by armed groups. Due to limited access and verification challenges, the number of affected children is almost certainly significantly higher.

This week saw reports of another mass casualty event, as seven children were reportedly killed in an attack on Abu Shouk Internal Displacement camp, located on the outskirts of Al Fasher.

In Al Fasher, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) siege has completely cut off supply lines. Health facilities and mobile nutrition teams have been forced to suspend services as supplies have been depleted without new supplies able to enter, leaving an estimated 6,000 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) without treatment. Without therapeutic food and medical care, these children face an exponentially higher risk of death.

Health and education facilities have come under continued attack, with 35 hospitals and 6 schools struck, including Al Fasher Saudi Maternal Teaching Hospital, which was hit more than ten times, killing and injuring many, including children. In January, shelling destroyed the therapeutic health centre at Abu Shouk camp, depriving thousands of malnourished children of treatment.

Meanwhile, acute malnutrition is spreading fast. More than 10,000 children in Al Fasher have been treated for SAM since January – nearly double last year’s figure. But depletion of supplies has now forced the suspension of services. Recent reports indicate at least 63 people – mostly women and children – died of malnutrition in a single week.

The situation in the wider region is also concerning; In July, Mellit locality – hosting many displaced from Al Fasher – recorded an Acute Malnutrition rate of 34.2 per cent, a record high since the onset of the war in April 2023 in Sudan.

The siege is colliding with Sudan’s worst cholera outbreak in decades. Since July 2024, more than 96,000 suspected cases and 2,400 deaths have been reported nationally, with nearly 5,000 cases and 98 deaths in Darfur alone. In overcrowded camps around Tawila, Zamzam, and Al Fasher, children weakened by hunger are now highly vulnerable to deadly waterborne disease.

UNICEF continues to call on the Government of Sudan, and all other concerned parties, to help ensure sustained, unimpeded, and safe access to reach children wherever they are in Sudan, including:

• An immediate and sustained humanitarian pause in Al Fasher and across other conflict-affected areas.
• Unimpeded humanitarian access for the delivery of therapeutic food, medicines, clean water, and other essentials.
• The re-establishment and continuity of UN and partner operations in the areas most critically affected
• Protection of civilians, including children, and civilian infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law.

– on behalf of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Source: APO – Report:

On Monday, 25th August, 2025, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, received the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja. The meeting reviewed bilateral cooperation and priority challenges affecting development in West Africa.

Discussions focused on terrorism, the proliferation of weapons, insecurity, and efforts to uphold peace, security and stability within the ECOWAS region.

The two leaders also discussed the presidential elections to be held before the end of the year in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea-Bissau, relations between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), ECOWAS missions in Guinea-Bissau and The Gambia, the transition process in Guinea, the situation at the Guinea-Sierra Leone border, as well as reforms under consideration within ECOWAS and the African Union to improve institutional performance.

H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray briefed the Deputy Secretary-General on flagship ECOWAS initiatives, including the ECO common currency envisaged for 2027, implementation of the electronic component of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) to facilitate trade and strengthen intra-regional commerce, and regional infrastructure projects such as the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway and the maritime links Dakar-Praia, Praia-Dakar-Abidjan, and Praia–Banjul.

Impressed by these initiatives, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed reaffirmed the United Nations’ commitment to continue supporting ECOWAS in addressing the Community’s challenges and promoting peace, security, and stability in West Africa.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General was accompanied by Ms. Hadiza Elayo, Special Assistant, Mr. Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and Mr. Mohamed Fall, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria. On the ECOWAS side, H. E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray was joined by Mr. Abdou Kolley, Chief of Staff to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Cyriaque Agnekethom, Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Mr Serigne Mamadou Ka, Acting Head of the Electoral Assistance Division, and Mr. Liberor Doscof Aho, the Commission’s Communication Officer.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

Operation ANOUANZÉ 3 was launched in Freetown, Sierra Leone, by the ECOWAS Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) Zone F on Monday, 25 August 2025, under the leadership of the ECOWAS Regional Security Division, who provided the necessary coordination for this operation.

The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of ECOWAS and the Chief of Naval Staff of Sierra Leone, Commodore Lawrence K. Jabati and the Commandant of the Western Naval Command (Sierra Leone), Captain (Navy) A.K. Dumbuya.

This operation, which consists of joint maritime patrols in Zone F (Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia Coast Guard, Sierra Leone) in coordination with the West Africa Regional Maritime Security Centre (CRESMAO) CRESMAO, runs from 25 to 28 August 2025 with the technical support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through the Safe Seas for Africa project (funded by the EU).

Operation ANOUANZÉ 3 is part of the implementation of ECOWAS’ integrated maritime security strategy, which aims to promote regional cooperation and strengthen the capacity of member states to combat maritime threats.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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On August 26, Ms. Wang Li, Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia, paid a courtesy call on Mr. Nason Banda, Director General of Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia, and exchanged views on cooperation in combating cross-border crime.

Ms. Wang said that the Chinese government has consistently cracked down on crimes such as drug trafficking, telecommunications fraud and money laundering. The Chinese side is ready to keep close collaboration with the Zambian side to jointly combat transnational crime and safeguard the lives and property of the two peoples.

Mr. Banda spoke highly of China’s achievements in drug control and fight against cybercrime. He said that Zambia cherishes the Zambia-China all-weather friendship and is ready to carry out law enforcement cooperation and personnel exchanges with China to effectively protect the legitimate rights and interests and safety of Chinese enterprises and nationals in Zambia.

– on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Zambia.

Source: APO – Report:

On 25 August, Ambassador Han Jing attended the 8th Council Inaugural Ceremony of the Association of Chinese Corporation in Zambia (ACCZ) and delivered a speech. Hon. Frank Tayali, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Mr. Liao Jianfeng, newly elected Chairperson of ACCZ, Mr. Jinjun, Counsellor of Chinese Embassy, officials from the Zambian government and heads of Chinese businesses were present.

Ambassador Han expressed his congratulations to the new Council of ACCZ and said that 2025 marks the beginning of a new 60-year chapter in China-Zambia relations and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ACCZ. It is hoped that ACCZ will seize opportunities, leverage its strengths and guide Chinese businesses in Zambia to innovate cooperation models, uphold lawful and compliant operations and actively fulfill social responsibilities, continuously advancing the high-quality development of China-Zambia cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Minister Tayali and Minister Mulenga stated that Zambia was the first country in Southern Africa to establish diplomatic ties with China. The Zambia-China relations have remained enduring and ever-growing and more fruits of mutually beneficial cooperation have been yielded. China is Zambia’s largest source of foreign investment and the Zambian government warmly welcomes more Chinese businesses to expand investments, which will help Zambia accelerate industrialization process, enhance employee skills, increase local value addition and improve transportation and logistics infrastructure, injecting strong momentum into the sustainable economic and social development of Zambia.

Ambassador Han and the Ministers jointly presented certificates to the newly elected council members. ACCZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambia Chinese Association (ZCA) and Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Zambia (CCCZ), respectively.

– on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Zambia.