Category: English

Source: APO

Seychelles has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the marine and coastal environment and strengthening regional cooperation during the Twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP12) to the Nairobi Convention, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Held under the theme “Towards Sustainable Blue Economy in the Western Indian Ocean for People and Nature: A Journey of Forty Years”, the conference marked the 40th anniversary of the Nairobi Convention. It brought together governments, regional institutions, scientists, civil society, youth, local communities and development partners, to review progress and identify practical measures to advance ocean governance, protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable ocean-based livelihoods.

Seychelles was represented by the Minister for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Ms. Marie May Jeremie, as Head of Delegation, alongside senior government officials.

Seychelles participation in COP12 provided an opportunity to promote the priorities of an island state whose environment, economy and communities are closely linked to a healthy ocean. Key objectives included strengthening regional partnerships, sharing national experience, supporting nature-based and science-informed approaches to coastal and marine management, and encouraging sustainable financing for conservation and the blue economy.

On the margins of the Nairobi Convention COP 12, Minister Jeremie participated in high level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation with regional partners on shared environmental and ocean-related priorities. These included a meeting with the Junior Minister for Environment of Mauritius, during which discussions focused on potential exchanges between Seychelles and Mauritius in key areas of mutual interest, including the implementation of the Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement). The meeting provided an opportunity to explore avenues for knowledge-sharing, the exchange of experiences and best practices, and enhanced collaboration between the two island nations in advancing sustainable ocean governance and the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Minister Jeremie also met with Ms. Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The exchange focused on ocean governance in Seychelles and provided an opportunity to discuss issues of shared interest with UNEP.

As Head of Delegation, Minister Jeremie also participated in the COP12 high-level opening as well as ministerial roundtables on regional cooperation in managing shared resources and capacity mobility, and on translating blue economy ambitions into sustainable investments.

These discussions placed emphasis on the need for countries to work together on shared marine and coastal challenges, strengthen institutional and technical capacity, and ensure that investment in the blue economy supports environmental sustainability alongside resilient livelihoods and long-term economic opportunities. Seychelles’ participation also provided a platform to exchange experiences and strengthen links with governments, regional organisations and technical and financing partners.

COP 12 concluded with the adoption of 15 decisions aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating action for the protection, management and sustainable development of the Western Indian Ocean region.

These decisions addressed key priorities for the region’s marine and coastal environment, reinforcing collective efforts to promote sustainable ocean governance, enhance ecosystem protection and resilience, and advance the implementation of the Nairobi Convention’s objectives. Key priorities included advancing implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and supporting the conservation and restoration of critical coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses and coral reefs. These ecosystems play a vital role in protecting coastlines, supporting biodiversity, storing blue carbon and strengthening resilience to climate change.

Parties adopted the Regional Plastic and Associated Chemicals Strategy, marking an important step towards strengthening regional efforts to address plastic pollution and the impacts of associated chemicals on the marine and coastal environment. In addition, the regional contingency plan for preparedness and response to major marine pollution incidents was also adopted and called for stronger action to address land-based sources of marine degradation, reaffirming their commitment to protecting and sustainably managing the Western Indian Ocean region.

COP12 emphasised the importance of ocean accounting, sustainable blue finance and inclusive blue economy investments that create opportunities for local communities, women and young people. Strengthening scientific cooperation, ecosystem monitoring and regional information-sharing was also recognised as essential to improving decision-making and translating commitments into measurable results.

These outcomes provide an important framework for strengthening cooperation among countries sharing the Western Indian Ocean and advancing practical action to safeguard marine and coastal resources.

COP12 also provided opportunities to highlight the role of youth, women, researchers, local communities and civil society in advancing sustainable ocean management.

Discussions on women and youth in the blue economy emphasised the importance of inclusive participation, skills development, innovation and access to opportunities within ocean-based industries. These priorities are particularly relevant to island states such as Seychelles, where sustainable livelihoods depend on maintaining healthy marine ecosystems while creating economic opportunities for present and future generations.

The conference further reinforced the need to connect regional policy commitments with local action, ensuring that communities benefit from conservation initiatives and have a meaningful role in the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources.

Through its participation in COP12, Seychelles reaffirms its commitment to support collective regional action to safeguard the Western Indian Ocean and strengthen the links between ocean protection, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The conference marked an important milestone in four decades of regional cooperation under the Nairobi Convention and reaffirmed the need to move from commitments to implementation through stronger partnerships, science, sustainable financing and inclusive decision-making.

The Ministry for Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources will continue to work with national stakeholders, regional organisations and international partners to advance Seychelles’ marine and coastal priorities and contribute to a healthy, resilient and sustainably managed Western Indian Ocean for present and future generations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources, Seychelles.

Source: APO

The House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia today approved the Digital Transactions Bill, with 137 Members of Parliament voting in favour during a plenary session.

The Bill was developed by the Federal Ministry of Communications and Technology in collaboration with relevant institutions. It seeks to establish a legal framework governing digital transactions, ensuring that Somalia’s regulatory environment keeps pace with technological advancements and the growing demand for digital services.

The Bill’s approval follows its progression through the various stages of parliamentary consideration, including readings, deliberations and presentation before the House of the People, culminating in today’s plenary vote.

Speaking before the House following the approval, the Minister of Communications and Technology, H.E. Mohamed Adam Moalim, widely known as Mohamed Soomaali, thanked Members of Parliament for their overwhelming support for the Bill and commended their contribution to its passage.

The Minister also expressed his appreciation to the Parliamentary Committee on Communications and Technology and its technical staff for their role in reviewing, refining and advancing the Bill throughout the legislative process.

Minister Mohamed Soomaali underscored the importance of establishing a legal framework that keeps pace with technological advancements and the evolving global financial services landscape. He also commended the cooperation between Parliament and the relevant institutions, which enabled the Bill to reach this stage of the legislative process.

The approval comes at a time when countries around the world are rapidly embracing modern technologies, particularly electronic payment systems, digital currencies and financial transactions conducted through digital platforms.

As mobile money services are widely used across Somalia, establishing a clear legal framework for digital transactions is an important step towards supporting economic development, strengthening public confidence and creating a regulatory environment that responds to technological change.

Technological advancements have transformed the way societies manage money, conduct business and access financial services. To harness the opportunities presented by this transformation, countries need modern legislation, effective regulatory institutions and robust systems that safeguard citizens’ rights.

The approval of the Digital Transactions Bill therefore marks an important step towards strengthening Somalia’s legal and regulatory framework for the digital economy and supporting the continued development of digital financial services in the country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Communications and Technology, Somalia.

Source: APO

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On October 19, 2026, in Lusaka, Republic of Zambia, on the sidelines of the 20th Ordinary Meeting of the Interministerial Committee of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), His Excellence Ambassador Édouard Bizimana, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, met with representatives of the Burundian diaspora residing in Zambia.

During the discussions, talks focused on various issues relating to the living conditions of the Burundian community established in Zambia, as well as the diaspora’s contribution to the socio-economic development of Burundi. Participants in this meeting particularly highlighted the essential role played by the diaspora in achieving the country’s development objectives and attaining the Vision of Burundi.

The diaspora representatives also raised the challenges faced by some of their compatriots, notably those related to the lack of legal residency documents. They emphasized the difficulties encountered by undocumented individuals, who are sometimes subject to arrest, detention, and other forms of mistreatment.

To this end, the representatives of the Burundian community requested the support of the Government of Burundi to identify sustainable solutions to this issue. They also pleaded for enhanced accompaniment of the diaspora through mechanisms of guidance, encouragement, and support for the development initiatives and projects they implement in Burundi.

Taking due note of the concerns expressed, His Excellence the Minister reassured his interlocutors of his commitment to faithfully transmit their grievances to the competent authorities. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s constant readiness to maintain a constructive dialogue with the diaspora and to promote close collaboration in favor of national development.

In conclusion, the Minister urged members of the Burundian diaspora to scrupulously respect the laws and regulations of the host country, ensuring in particular compliance with legal requirements regarding residency and documentation. He also encouraged them to remain exemplary ambassadors of Burundi abroad and to continue their contribution to the country’s influence and development.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministère des Affaires Etrangères du Burundi.

Source: APO

Parliament has called for the disbandment of the current leadership of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) following findings of alleged misconduct, mismanagement and a breakdown in relations that has paralysed the institution.

The recommendation was contained in reports of the Committees on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and that of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE).
The two reports were presented by chairpersons, Hon. John Teira and Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi respectively.

The Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs cited failed reconciliation efforts between the Chairperson, Mariam Wangadya and three commissioners, failure to hold regular meetings and tribunals, improper dismissal of complaints and alleged financial mismanagement.

The report presented on Tuesday, 21 October 2026 revealed that Wangadya solely terminated more than 215 complaints between January 2023 and March 2026 without the Commission sitting. Some cases had reportedly been pending for more than 10 years.

The committee said the practice undermined natural justice and the commission’s quasi-judicial mandate. 

It also noted that the last tribunal session was held in November 2025 leaving complainants without a forum to have their cases determined.

It recommended establishing substantive human rights tribunals, reinstating complaints dismissed without due process and ensuring that decisions on complaints are made through the tribunals.

The report further called on the Inspectorate of Government to investigate allegations of financial misconduct, abuse of office and maladministration raised by three commissioners in a March 2026 petition. It also recommended an audit of the commission’s finances by the Auditor General.

Commissioners Jacklet Atuhaire Rwabukurukuru and Simeo Nsubuga were cited over their participation in elective and partisan politics while in office.

During the debate, Muwada Nkunyingi moved an amendment recommending the disbandment of the current leadership and appointment of a new team, which was adopted by the House.
“We must conclude every inquiry with an observation and recommendation,” he said.

His amendment followed a proposal by Gomba West MP, Hon. Robina Rwakoojo to leave the decision on disbandment to the appointing authority by inserting the word “may”. Her proposal was not adopted.

Kassanda County North MP, Hon. Patrick Oshabe criticised the commissioners for focusing on material benefits rather than service delivery.
“It is unfortunate that the fight at the commission is about trips, cars and allowances, among others,” he said.

Terego District Woman Representative, Hon. Rose Obigah backed strong measures against the commissioners while Ayivu Division East MP, Hon. William Tiyo said a new team could bring renewed energy.

Ntoroko County MP, Hon. Edson Rugumayo cautioned against dismissing commissioners in the public interest, proposing instead that the appointed commissioners be replaced.

Nyendo-Mukungwe Division MP, Hon. Ssebina Lubowa called for the retention of staff not implicated in the dispute.

The Minister of State for Public Service, Hon. Lydia Wanyoto said that reconciliation efforts had failed.
“Efforts have been made by the Ministry of Public Service but we did not make good progress,” she said.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa cautioned against recommending the dismissal of technical staff who were not involved in the crisis. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

The Ministry of Water and Environment needs over 1,500 environmental rangers to protect the country’s wetlands, riverbanks, lakeshores and central forest reserves.

This revelation was made by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Alfred Okidi while appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. 
The meeting was chaired by Hon. Patrick Oshabe.

Okidi said the ministry currently relies on 238 police officers for patrols across the leaving a significant gap in enforcement.

Okidi said staffing shortages extended beyond environmental enforcement, with the climate change department operating at less than 30 per cent while forestry stood at 35 to   40 per cent.

He identified inadequate funding, difficulties in acquiring land and climate change as other major challenges saying the ministry received not more than 40 per cent of the resources required under its strategic plan, the Fourth National Development Plan and the government manifesto.
“If you look at our strategic plan, the requirements of NDP IV and manifesto requirements, we do not get the money to meet these mandates. We probably get not more than 40 per cent of what we really want to meet,” Okidi said.​

On environmental conservation, he reported that forest coverage stood at 13.2 per cent while wetland coverage is 19.3 per cent.

Okidi also told MPs that rural water coverage stood at 72 per cent and urban coverage at 73 per cent withe 82 per cent of villages having at least one reliable water source.

The committee raised concerns about the ministry’s ability to extend water infrastructure to emerging towns whose populations have outgrown existing supply systems.

Oshabe asked how frequently the ministry updates its mapping of new urban centres and planned extensions to existing water supply systems citing Kasanda as an example of growing demand.
“There are so many new towns that are growing up that need a response. How often do you have a new map for urban planning? Secondly, how often do you do extensions?” Oshabe asked.

Okidi acknowledged the challenge saying the ministry planned to extend the Kasanda water supply scheme in this financial year.

He also called for increased tree cover to help communities cope with changing environmental conditions.
“With climate change and what we are seeing, if we had enough tree cover, some of the local environment situations would look a little bit better,” he said.

Mbale Industrial Division MP, Hon. Karim Masaba asked about the ministry’s preparedness for an El Niño event, particularly in highland areas where communities face climate-related risks.
“Because our people are at risk of dying especially in the highland areas of Bugisu, what preparations do you have in place?” Masaba said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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LSEG, in collaboration with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-ps.org), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, today announced the results of the 2026 edition of the Islamic Finance Development Report at the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF) in Malaysia.

Key findings of the report include:

• The global Islamic finance industry maintained a strong growth trajectory in 2025, with total assets reaching US$6.5 trillion, up 9% year-on-year. Growth was supported by the continued expansion in Islamic banking, record sukuk issuance, strong Islamic fund performance, and new regulatory frameworks.
• Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Pakistan retained their positions as the world’s most developed Islamic finance markets. These countries continued to benefit from comprehensive regulation, strong institutional development, active financial markets, and well-established knowledge ecosystems.
• Several markets recorded notable gains in performance, including Türkiye, Tanzania, Kenya, Benin, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, highlighting the growing momentum across both established and emerging Islamic finance markets.

The report also identified several structural trends that are shaping the industry’s development. Regulatory reforms and stronger market infrastructure are supporting growth beyond core markets, particularly across Africa and Central Asia. Sustainability guidelines are increasingly prioritised, although activity remains concentrated in developed markets. Digitalisation is also advancing, with FinTech, open banking, and tokenised sukuk influencing financing, issuance, and settlement while widening access to financial products. However, talent development is lagging industry expansion, emphasising the need for stronger specialist education.

Khalid Khalafalla, Acting Chief Executive Officer of ICD, said: “For ICD, these developments reinforce the importance of ensuring that Islamic finance serves as a practical instrument for inclusive and sustainable economic transformation. ICD remains committed to advancing private-sector development across its member countries through targeted financing and the promotion of Islamic financial solutions.”

Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, LSEG, added: “Looking ahead, global Islamic finance assets are projected to exceed US$10.5 trillion by 2030, supported by continued Islamic banking expansion, growing sukuk issuance momentum, emerging-market adoption and demand for sustainable and digital financial solutions.”

The report draws on the Islamic Finance Development Indicator (IFDI), a global benchmark that assesses the development of the Islamic finance industry across 140 countries through five key areas, Financial Performance, Governance, Sustainability, Awareness, and Knowledge. It provides a holistic view of the global Islamic finance landscape, measuring progress in alignment with Islamic principles and supporting stakeholders in identifying opportunities for growth and reform.

Read full report: Link (https://apo-opa.co/3TTw9yq)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

Note to Editors:

LSEG Press Office
Tarek Fleihan / Connor Tree
External Communications
+44 (0)20 7797 1222
newsroom@lseg.com

Media Contact: icd.communication@isdb.org

About LSEG:
LSEG creates opportunity across the global economy. We unlock the power of markets for customers all over the world.

Through our open ecosystem of markets infrastructure and data solutions, we partner with our customers at every stage of trading – to make accessing and deploying capital simpler, faster and more effective.

Our insights bring clarity to complexity, and our critical services ensure resilience and stability. We enable our customers to act with confidence and conviction, with trust and integrity at the heart of everything we do.

Backed by more than three centuries of experience, we are at the forefront of change and market innovation. Our exceptional people collaborate across borders and disciplines, delivering excellence and putting our customers first. We reimagine the way our industry works and operates – and with our deep expertise, global scale and trusted partnerships, we turn ideas into reality.

From scaling new technologies to shaping new markets, LSEG is driving the transformation of global finance. We move the financial system forward every day – to make more possible for our customers.

LSEG. Make more possible.

About ICD:
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral development finance institution and member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. Established in November 1999 and headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, ICD supports economic development in its 56 member countries by providing financial assistance to private sector projects in accordance with Shariah principles. With an authorized capital of USD 4.0 billion and more than 25 years of operational excellence, ICD complements IsDB’s activities by promoting capital market development, best management practices, and enhancing the role of market economies. ICD holds strong credit ratings of A2 by Moody’s, A+ by Fitch, and A by S&P. For more information, visit www.ICD-ps.org and follow ICD on X (@icd_ps), LinkedIn (@icdps), Facebook (@icdps), and YouTube (@icdps).

Source: APO

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The President, Dr Patrick Herminie has been admitted to the Seychelles Hospital for observation.

His condition is stable as more medical tests are being undertaken.

Healthcare professionals are currently ensuring the President is receiving appropriate care.

The President thanks the people of Seychelles for their thoughts and prayers.

The public is kindly asked to rely on official State House communications for accurate information.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com), a global technology leader, has announced the expansion of its AI Factory capabilities with NVIDIA Nemotron open models, helping enterprises and service providers to grow and innovate with AI more effectively and affordably.

Cassava is deploying NVIDIA Nemotron (https://apo-opa.co/4dRrqnx) models as a locally hosted, managed inference service through the Cassava AI Multi-Model Exchange (CAIMEx) (https://apo-opa.co/4i0dw5a). By making open models available as APIs on Cassava’s AI Factory, CAIMEx gives enterprises greater flexibility to choose the right mix of models for their applications without having to build and operate their own model-serving infrastructure.

“Expanding our AI Factory across our markets is about creating the capacity and economics needed for businesses to build and deploy AI solutions at scale. By bringing NVIDIA Nemotron into CAIMEx, improving the efficiency of every GPU cycle and introducing flexible token offerings, we are giving enterprises and service providers more choice in how they access and deliver these capabilities to their customers,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, Group Chief Technology & AI Officer, Cassava Technologies.    

NVIDIA Nemotron brings efficient reasoning and tool-use capabilities to CAIMEx, helping customers build AI agents that can work through complex tasks and interact with business tools. Its open model weights, training data and recipes also give developers a customizable foundation that they can fine-tune to build specialised agents tailored to their applications.

As businesses mature and the AI agents take on longer-running tasks and access business systems, security and guardrails become critical requirements. These need to be built into the infrastructure, and Cassava is using NVIDIA OpenShell to bring model compute, governed agent execution and independent security enforcement together for customers’ agentic workloads to its AI Factory.

The CAIMEx Token Optimiser is designed to improve the economics of generative and agentic AI by identifying information that has already been processed and, where appropriate, reusing it rather than processing the same content again. This reduces computing requirements and helps customers use their AI tokens more efficiently. The approach applies to both Cassava-hosted and third-party AI models, helping enterprises reduce unnecessary processing as their AI usage scales.

The expansion is the latest step in Cassava’s development of an integrated AI ecosystem, giving businesses access to locally hosted infrastructure, models, and services, fostering trust and confidence in data security and control while supporting their growth. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cassava Technologies.

NVIDIA Press Announcement: https://apo-opa.co/4zBBERe

About Cassava Technologies:
Cassava Technologies is a technology leader providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation. Through its business units, namely, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, Distributed Power Africa, Sasai Fintech, Cassava has operations across key growth markets like Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the United States of America. Cassava provides its customers in 94 countries with offerings that will help them grow, transform, and expand their operations. https://www.CassavaTechnologies.com