English – Page 733 – MIL Africa Engine

October 23, 2025

Ryanair Launches Record Winter Program: 300,000 Seats to Amman

Source: APO

Ryanair (https://Ryanair.com/), Europe’s No.1 airline, today announced a record Winter schedule for Amman, offering over 300,000 seats across 18 destinations and connecting Jordan to 12 EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

The rapid restoration of Ryanair’s full operations at Amman Airport reflects the pro-business approach of the Jordanian Government and the airport’s pragmatic support, reinforcing Jordan’s position as one of the Middle East’s most attractive and accessible tourism destinations. Ryanair reaffirmed its commitment to driving inbound tourism and economic growth by offering Europe’s lowest fares, allowing visitors to spend more in Jordan’s local hotels, restaurants, and services, directly supporting job creation and local businesses.

Ryanair also unveiled an ambitious investment proposal for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which envisions increasing annual traffic by 360% to reach 3 million seats, operating 50 direct connections from European cities to Jordan, launching new flights to Marka (Amman) Airport, and maintaining year-round services to Aqaba.

Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said, “Ryanair is thrilled to announce the return to full operations to Jordan from Oct, underlined by a record Winter schedule for Amman. With 84 weekly flights across 18 routes to 12 European countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, and Spain, Ryanair’s investment will ensure that Jordan remains a key tourist destination this Winter – delivering enhanced connectivity, increased tourism, and economic growth with Europe’s lowest fares.

Ryanair’s rapid return to Jordan is built on a long-standing partnership between Ryanair and the Kingdom, whose pro-growth strategy will ensure Jordan remains the premier tourist destination in the Middle East. We are also excited to unveil our investment proposal which will increase Ryanair traffic to Jordan to 3m seats p.a., deliver 50 direct connections across Amman, Marka and Aqaba airports, driving job creation, tourism and economic growth.

We look forward to working with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to deliver this exciting plan and introducing millions of passengers from across Europe to Jordan’s rich culture and unique history.”

Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Dr. Emad Hijazeen, said: “Today’s announcement of 18 Ryanair routes to Amman for the Winter 25/26 Season marks a truly exceptional milestone for Jordan’s aviation and tourism sectors.

This expansion not only reinforces Jordan’s position as a key tourism and investment hub in the region, but also plays a vital role in supporting our national economy and creating new opportunities across the tourism value chain.

Our partnership with Ryanair, which began in 2018, has evolved into a model of a successful partnership built on trust, resilience, and shared vision.”

Jordan Tourism Board Managing Director, Dr. Abdul Razzaq Arabiyat, said: “Since the start of our partnership in 2018, Ryanair has been an essential strategic tool in promoting Jordan as a competitive and accessible destination for European travellers.

Together, we have achieved exceptional results, welcoming more than a million visitors since the start of this strategic partnership from across Europe, diversifying source markets, and helping Jordan achieve record-breaking tourism numbers in multiple seasons.

Beyond routes and capacity, our joint marketing initiatives and campaigns since 2018 have played a truly transformative role in positioning Jordan globally — showcasing it as a must-visit destination for travellers of all profiles, from cultural explorers to adventure seekers and families alike. These initiatives are carefully localized, translated, and tailored for each market in its own language, ensuring maximum impact, relevance, and efficiency in reaching diverse audiences across Europe.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Jordan Tourism Board.

Contact:
Jordan Tourism Board
Mr. Anas Al Edwan
press@visitjordan.com

Media files

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October 23, 2025

Ancient antelope teeth offer surprise insights into how early humans lived

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Megan Malherbe, Research Assistant Scientific Collection Institute of Evolutionary Medicine Faculty of Science, University of Zurich

Understanding what the environment looked like millions of years ago is essential for piecing together how our earliest ancestors lived and survived. Habitat shapes everything, from what food was available, to where water could be found, to how predators and prey interacted.

For decades, scientists studying South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind have tried to reconstruct the landscape in which species like Australopithecus sediba, Paranthropus robustus and Homo naledi once lived. These were hominins that inhabited the region between roughly 2.5 million and 0.25 million years ago. The Cradle of Humankind is a Unesco world heritage site that has remained the single richest source of early human fossils for over 90 years.

A long-standing idea has been that the Cradle experienced a dramatic environmental change around 1.7 million years ago: a shift from woodlands to open grasslands. This shift likely happened as global climates became cooler and drier, with stronger seasonal patterns. These broader changes, linked to the expansion of polar ice sheets and shifts in atmospheric circulation, reduced the availability of year-round rainfall in southern Africa.

Trees and shrubs, which depend on consistent moisture, gave way to hardy grasses better suited to long dry seasons and intense sunlight. In the woodlands, dense trees and shrubs had once provided leafy vegetation for browsing animals. As the landscape opened up, short grasses became dominant, supporting grazing animals.

This supposed sudden transformation was thought to have reshaped the setting in which early humans evolved, possibly influencing their diets, mobility and survival strategies.

But was there really such a sudden switch?

I’m a palaeoecologist who’s part of a team that specialises in reconstructing ancient environments by studying fossil animals. We set out to test the “sudden switch” idea, using a large dataset of fossil antelope teeth. Antelopes (bovids) are particularly useful for reconstructing past environments in Africa: they are abundant in the fossil record, they occupy a wide range of habitats today as well as in the past, and their teeth preserve clear signals of what they ate.

We examined more than 600 fossil teeth from seven well-dated sites in the Cradle, covering a broad time span from 3.2 million to 1.3 million years ago.

The results of our study were striking. Across all seven sites, spanning nearly two million years, the antelopes show consistently strong grazing signals. Grass-eating was dominant throughout the period, challenging the old model of a sudden woodland-to-grassland shift 1.7 million years ago. Instead, the evidence points to a more stable but varied landscape: a mosaic environment. Some fossil species even showed different feeding strategies from their modern relatives, highlighting that ancient antelopes adapted to past conditions in distinct ways.

This tells us more about the world early humans evolved in – but it also reminds us to be cautious. Fossil animals didn’t always behave like their modern relatives, so drawing direct parallels risks oversimplifying the past.

Dating the sites

To interpret the fossils in context, we needed to be sure of when each site formed. Previous work often relied on broad age estimates based on the types of animals found in each sediment layer – a method called biochronology – which could only give a rough idea of when different species lived. This made it difficult to line up fossils from the many cave sites in the Cradle on a reliable timeline. Thanks to recent improvements in radiometric dating, a method that finds the precise age of rocks by measuring how radioactive elements change into other elements over time, the chronology of the Cradle has been refined.

The layers of calcite deposited in caves (known as flowstones) were recently shown by geochronologists to have formed at the same time across multiple sites, providing a regional framework for the whole area. This means researchers can now compare fossils from different caves knowing they represent the same windows of time. It’s a huge step forward in testing whether environmental shifts were truly regional events.

Reading diets from teeth

The method used in this study is called dental mesowear analysis. It records the long-term impact of diet on the tooth surfaces of herbivores throughout their life. In simple terms, different diets wear teeth in different ways:

browsers (like kudu or giraffes), which eat leaves and twigs, usually have sharper cusps, because their food causes less wear on the teeth
grazers (like wildebeest or zebra), which feed mostly on grasses rich in silica and often covered in grit, develop blunter cusps from heavy tooth grinding
mixed feeders show intermediate wear, reflecting generalist behaviour and a diet that shifts with seasons or local vegetation.

By scoring cusp shape and relief on each fossil tooth, we assessed whether past populations leaned more towards browsing or grazing.

Illustration of cusp shape and occlusal relief numerical scores. 0 = sharper cusps. and high occlusal relief (the dip between the two cusps), common in browsing herbivores; 4 = blunt cusps and low occlusal relief, common in grazing herbivores. Author supplied

The results showed there was a mix of different habitats in this environment at that time: open grassy areas mixed with patches of trees and shrubs. This would have created a patchwork of ecological niches, offering early humans a diverse range of resources.

Some sites – including the famous Sterkfontein Caves, home to one of the most complete early hominin skulls ever found, “Mrs Ples” – showed a bimodal pattern in tooth wear, meaning that even within the same community, some antelopes were grazing while others were browsing. This suggests that vegetation structure shifted locally or seasonally, and that animals adapted their diets accordingly. They switched between food sources as conditions changed.

Lessons from antelope diets

One of the most important findings is that some fossil antelopes fed very differently than their modern relatives. For example, certain groups that today are almost exclusively browsers were much more grass-focused in the Cradle fossil record. Others showed unexpected flexibility, with individuals of the same tribe in the same site adopting different strategies.

This has two key implications.

We cannot always rely on modern analogies. Assuming extinct animals behaved like their living relatives can be misleading, since the fossil record shows surprising shifts in diet. This means reconstructions based only on which species were present may give the wrong impression or oversimplify the reality.

Flexibility was crucial. The fact that antelopes could switch between grazing and browsing indicates that the Cradle’s environment was dynamic, and that survival often depended on adaptability. This echoes what we know about early humans, who also seem to have thrived by exploiting a wide range of resources.

– Ancient antelope teeth offer surprise insights into how early humans lived
– https://theconversation.com/ancient-antelope-teeth-offer-surprise-insights-into-how-early-humans-lived-267169

October 23, 2025

Prime Minister and Minster of Foreign Affairs Meets Ministers Participating in GECF

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, October 23, 2025

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met on Thursday with Their Excellencies Ministers of Oil, Gas, and Energy participating in the Ministerial Meeting of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Doha.
His Excellency welcomed the guests, wishing them success in their meeting.
HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar’s call to enhance dialogue and cooperation among the GECF’s member states to ensure the security of natural gas supplies and the stability of global gas market.

October 23, 2025

Rift Valley fever: what it is, how it spreads and how to stop it

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Marc Souris, chercheur, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD)

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that mainly affects livestock. It can also infect humans. While most human cases remain mild, it can cause death. The disease causes heavy economic and health losses for livestock farmers.

As a researcher, I have contributed to several studies on this mosquito-borne virus.

So, what exactly is Rift Valley fever, how it is treated, and how it can be controlled?

What is Rift Valley fever?

Rift Valley fever is a zoonosis (a disease affecting animals that can be transmitted to humans). It is caused by the RVF virus, a phlebovirus from the Phenuiviridae family (order Bunyavirales). The disease primarily affects domestic animals, mainly cattle, sheep and goats, but also camelids and other small ruminants. It can occasionally infect humans.

In animals, the disease causes high morbidity: reduced milk production, high newborn mortality, mass abortions in pregnant females, and death in 10% to 20% of cases. This leads to serious economic losses for farmers.

Most people who get Rift Valley fever have no symptoms or just flu-like syndrome. But in a few people, it can become very serious, causing complications such as eye disorders, meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or hemorrhagic fever. The fatality rate among infected people is around 1%.

How it’s transmitted

In animals, the disease is mainly spread through bites from infected mosquitoes. At least 50 mosquito species can transmit the Rift Valley fever virus, including Aedes, Culex, Anopheles and Mansonia species. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on animals carrying the virus in their blood, then transmit it to other animals through their bites. In Aedes mosquitoes, vertical transmission – from infected females to their eggs – is also possible, allowing the virus to survive in the environment.

For humans, the most common way to get infected is through direct contact with the blood or organs of an infected animal. This often happens during veterinary work, slaughtering, or butchering.

While it is also possible for human to get the virus from a mosquito bite, this is not common. No human-to-human transmission has been observed to date.

The origins and spread

A serious outbreak of Rift Valley fever began to be reported in Senegal in late September 2025. The west African country has been battling to control it.

The disease was first discovered in 1931 in the Rift Valley in Kenya in east Africa, during a human epidemic of 200 cases. The virus itself was isolated and identified in 1944 in neighbouring Uganda.

The RVF virus under an electron microscope. Author provided (no reuse)

Since then, numerous outbreaks of the disease have been reported in Africa: in Egypt (1977), Madagascar (1990, 2021), Kenya (1997, 1998), in Somalia (1998), in Tanzania (1998), the Comoros (2007-2008) and Mayotte (2018-2019).

In west Africa, the main epidemics affected Mauritania (1987, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2010, 2012), Senegal (1987, 2013-2014) and Niger (2016).

Its spread into the Sahel and west African regions has been largely driven by the movement of livestock, and by environmental factors.

To date, around 30 countries have reported animal and/or human cases in the form of outbreaks or epidemics.

Why and how outbreaks occur

Rift Valley fever reemerges in cyclical patterns, with major outbreaks occurring in Africa every five to 15 years. The trigger for these outbreaks is closely linked to specific environmental conditions, like periods of heavy rainfall that create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes.

In east Africa, epidemics typically follow periods of exceptionally heavy rainfall or flooding in normally dry regions. For instance, the severe outbreaks of 1998-1999 were directly linked to intense rains caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon.

In the Sahel region, the relationship with rainfall is less predictable. Outbreaks can appear in unexpected, poorly monitored areas, and genetic analysis of viruses in Mauritania suggests that new strains can be introduced directly from other regions.

A key mystery is how the virus persists in the environment between these major outbreaks. It is believed to survive in the environment within a “wild reservoir” of animals – such as certain antelopes, deer, and possibly even reptiles – though this reservoir has not yet been fully identified.

Once an initial outbreak occurs, the virus can spread to new areas. This happens through the movement of infected livestock, the accidental transport of infected mosquitoes (for example, in vehicles or cargo), and when environmental conditions are conducive.

Clinical symptoms and treatments

Adult cattle and sheep may show nasal discharge, excessive salivation, loss of appetite, weakness, diarrhoea.

In humans, after an incubation period of two to six days, most infections are asymptomatic or mild, with flu-like symptoms lasting four to seven days. People who recover from the infection typically gain natural immunity.

However, in a small percentage of individuals, the disease can take a severe turn:

Eye lesions affect up to 10% of symptomatic cases. They appear one to three weeks after initial symptoms and can heal on their own or lead to permanent blindness.
Meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the brain and meninges) occurs in 2%-4% of symptomatic cases, one to four weeks after symptom onset. Mortality is low, but neurological after-effects are common.
Hemorrhagic fever (diseases that cause fever and bleeding due to damage to the blood vessels) occurs in less than 1% of symptomatic cases, usually two to four days after symptoms begin. About half of these patients die within three to six days.

There is no specific treatment for severe cases of Rift Valley fever in humans.

Surveillance, prevention and control

Veterinary surveillance with immediate reporting and monitoring of infection in animals is essential to control the disease. During outbreaks, controlled culling of infected animals and strict restrictions on the movement of livestock are the most effective ways to slow virus spread.

As with all mosquito-borne viral diseases, controlling vector populations is an effective preventive measure, though it is challenging, especially in rural areas.

To prevent new outbreaks, animals in endemic regions can be vaccinated in advance. A modified live virus vaccine provides long-term immunity after a single dose, but it is not recommended for pregnant females because it can cause abortions. An inactivated virus vaccine is also available, it avoids these side effects, but it requires several doses to provide adequate protection.

Threat, vulnerabilities and health risks

People at highest risk of infection include livestock farmers, abattoir workers and veterinarians. An inactivated vaccine for human has been developed. But it is not licensed yet and has only been used experimentally.

Raising awareness of risk factors is the only effective way to reduce human infections during outbreaks. Key risk factors include:

handling sick animals or their tissues during farming and slaughter
consuming fresh blood, raw milk, or meat
mosquito bites.

It is important to follow basic health precautions when Rift Valley fever appears. Wash your hands regularly. Wear protective gear when handling animals or during slaughter. Always cook animal products such as blood, meat and milk thoroughly. Use mosquito nets or repellents consistently.

– Rift Valley fever: what it is, how it spreads and how to stop it
– https://theconversation.com/rift-valley-fever-what-it-is-how-it-spreads-and-how-to-stop-it-267309

October 23, 2025

From Resolution 1325 to real change: Women in Uganda building peace from the ground up

Source: APO

Can a four-page document, negotiated in conference rooms and signed by people in suits, really influence the everyday lives of women and girls?

On 31 October 2000, world leaders at the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that recognized how women and girls are impacted by conflict. Moreover, it codified women’s right to participate, equally, in peace processes. Resolution 1325, which launched the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, was designed to empower women everywhere to build, maintain and lead peace.

But how can the ambition of this global agenda reach those in remote villages, refugee camps or on the frontlines?

UN Women spoke with women across Uganda who show exactly how: Peace is seeded in communities. It is nurtured by individuals and coalitions who understand local issues intimately, who meet stakeholders where they are, and who work to empower them.

Women with lived experience are key to peacebuilding

You wouldn’t build an entry ramp for a building without consulting someone who uses a wheelchair, explains Juliet Mbambu, Executive Director of the Bwera United Women with Disabilities Association. If you do not understand their lived experience, you could make things harder for the people you’re trying to help – building “a mountain,” instead of a ramp. “‘Nothing for us without us,’ is our saying.”

Diagnosed with polio at the age of 10, Mbambu defied the odds in her community with the advocacy of her sisters and friends who, at times, carried her on their backs so she could attend school. Now, the social worker and mother of three leads support groups for children with disabilities, as well as their parents.

“I grew up in a very difficult situation. This is why I formed a group of women with disabilities – to amplify the voice, to create awareness, to advocate for rights – so that at least people should learn [directly] from us.”

Mbambu applies these experiences to her work in the Kasese District which, along with neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo, has faced ongoing threats of violent extremism.

Bolstered by conflict mediation trainings she received through Coalition for Action on 1325 (CoACT) with support from UN Women, Mbambu leads community dialogues to prevent violent extremism and conducts outreach among the young people that extremist groups try to recruit. “And these youth, by the end of the dialogue, they come out with their own action points to prevent extremism and commit to [raising awareness among] their peers.”

Youth empowerment fuels peace

Angel Musiime speaks with pride about the ways in which she has been able to change the trajectory of people’s lives, like convincing young boys to return to school and navigating difficult conversations to support a woman in an abusive relationship.

“I want to be a great woman of peace,” says the 26-year-old.

Musiime, who serves as a local parish chief and peace mediator in Kyegegwa Town Council, has had to overcome her own obstacles as a young woman, including losing her mother and experiencing pregnancy while still at university.

“In our settings, they say this is the end of you: ‘Get married, give birth to babies, and that’s life. Live like an African woman. Don’t work, be home.’ But I thank God I had this voice that kept on telling me, ‘Make your mother proud.’”

In 2023, Angel jumped at the opportunity to attend a peace mediators training with CoACT. “I remember that morning! I woke up, organized myself, breastfed my baby,” she says with a smile. “Of course, I saw it as an opportunity to do what I always wanted to do: to stand and defend people; to help women and girls have their equal rights.”

Through the training, Musiime not only learned conflict resolution and leadership, but how to “extend leadership to others,” she says. “From the skills we attained, I’ve touched people’s lives.”

Peacebuilding requires meeting people where they are

“When there’s no space in the car, you just jump on the back of someone’s pickup,” says Sharon Kabugho, a Communications Officer with the Kasese District Local Government, describing how she reaches remote community meetings. “You have to get there.”

Uganda’s Third National Action Plan to implement the Women, Peace and Security agenda includes working at the grassroots level to stop conflict where it starts, including disputes over land, and gender-based violence. These Local Action Plans adapt WPS’s far-reaching priorities to unique on-the-ground contexts and boost accountability.

To get the information she needs as a peacebuilder driving the District’s Local Action Plan, Kabugho always meets stakeholders where they are. It’s a critical step, she says, “in enlightening [local] religious, cultural and district leaders to appreciate what real peace means.”

To Kabugho, peace means “seeing the humanity” in one another – and seeing women as true equals. She credits peacebuilding trainings for her understanding of how gender inequality hurts women and girls. “Through the training, I understood that disaster affects women differently from men… I came to appreciate that things I had accepted as normal, [actually] violate women’s peace.”

In her work, Kabugho meets many women facing physical, emotional and financial abuse. To get them the resources they need, she uses every tool at her disposal – not just pickup trucks – but radio shows, hotlines and social media.

For peace; for “the fact that our women are still undergoing different forms of abuse,” says Kabugho, “let us keep the candles up. Let us keep fighting until we are there. Let each stakeholder come out to see that Women, Peace and Security is fought for.”

Women are driving sustainable peace and stability in Uganda

“A society that guarantees women’s safety, guarantees its own stability,” says UN Women Deputy Country Representative for Uganda Adekemi Ndieli.

Across the country, UN Women has directly supported the development of 16 Local Action Plans, with critical funding and support from the Government of Norway. More women are now participating in peace building and conflict prevention, with representation on local peace committees in UN Women’s targeted Districts at 46 per cent – up from 17 per cent in 2022.

“In 2024 alone, approximately 500 community-level conflicts were successfully mediated or resolved through the women that we work with,” says Ndieli. “Women, men and youth are actively participating in – and benefiting from – conflict resolution, prevention, protection, and livelihood opportunities.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

Media files

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October 23, 2025

The Walt Disney Company Names Rochelle Knock as Country Head, Sub-Saharan Africa

Source: APO

The Walt Disney Company (https://TheWaltDisneyCompany.eu/) has announced that Rochelle Knock has been named Vice President, Disney+ & Networks and Country Head, Sub-Saharan Africa and will start at the company in December. Knock joins from Yoco Technologies, most recently as Head of Customer Value Management.

As Country Head, Sub-Saharan Africa, Rochelle will represent The Walt Disney Company in Sub-Saharan Africa, driving the overall business growth strategy in this territory and fostering collaboration across the team to deliver on growth opportunities. In addition, she will lead the direct-to-consumer business, as well as the family and factual linear networks activity, support and partner with the platform distribution team, and support the development of the business in other areas managed at a regional EMEA level, whilst ensuring that the local organisation consistently aligns with the company’s brand, franchise, and overall business priorities.

Commenting on the appointment, Simon Amselem, Senior Vice President Direct-to-Consumer & Networks and Country Manager Iberia and Sub-Saharan Africa, said: “Rochelle’s appointment to lead the Disney business and team in Sub-Saharan Africa is an important milestone in our 60+ years on the continent. Her deep understanding of the industry landscape coupled with her expertise in customer value and product management complements our ambitious plans to drive growth and reach new audiences with our storytelling.”

Rochelle added: “I am honoured to be leading the Disney team in Africa and to collaborate with colleagues across EMEA in delivering long-term growth and impact. It’s an exciting time to be in the media industry and I look forward to building on the strong, dynamic established business to help further deliver Disney’s beloved brands and stories across the continent.”

The Walt Disney Company, through its subsidiary and affiliated companies, has been active in Africa, primarily in South Africa, for more than 60 years. With 60 employees and two offices based in Johannesburg and Cape Town, The Walt Disney Company Africa entertains, informs and inspires millions of consumers in 40 Sub-Saharan countries through the power of unparalleled storytelling. Disney+, the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, is currently available in South Africa.

Rochelle has extensive leadership experience across media, telecommunications and digital payment businesses spearheading growth and innovation across some of Africa’s most recognisable and trusted brands.

At Yoco Technologies as Head of Customer Value Management, she managed lifecycle engagement, delivering strategies to enhance customer retention and product growth in the pivotal field of digital payments. Previously, Rochelle held senior executive positions at MultiChoice Group, including Executive Head of Product and Base Management and Executive Head of Customer Value Management, where she led cross-functional teams across product, consumer marketing, data and analytics, and operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Walt Disney Company Africa.

Media contacts:
The Walt Disney Company Africa
Jared Stokes
Senior Manager: Communications, PR and CSR
Jared.Stokes@disney.com

About The Walt Disney Company EMEA:
The Walt Disney Company has been in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for over 90 years and employs thousands across the region. Between Disneyland Paris and its other iconic brands, including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, 20th Century Studios and ESPN, The Walt Disney Company EMEA entertains, informs and inspires millions of consumers in more than 130 countries through the power of unparalleled storytelling. Disney+, the company’s direct-to-consumer streaming service, is currently available in 85 markets across EMEA.

About Rochelle Knock:
Rochelle Knock brings over 15 years of leadership experience across media, telecommunications, and digital payments businesses, with a proven track record of driving growth and innovation across some of Africa’s most recognized brands.

Rochelle served as Head of Customer Value Management at Yoco Technologies, where she spearheaded lifecycle engagement driving strategies that enhanced customer retention and product growth in the field of digital payments.

Previously, Rochelle held senior executive positions at MultiChoice, including Executive Head of Product and Base Management and Executive Head of Customer Value Management, where she led cross-functional teams across product, consumer marketing, data and analytics, and operations. During her tenure, she launched and scaled key content partnerships with global streaming services such as Disney+ while driving retention and growth of DStv flagship products like DStv Streaming and Showmax and developed and launched the award-winning DStv Rewards program.

Earlier in her career, she spent several years at Vodacom, where she directed customer value and retention strategies as Executive Head of Customer Value Management. She was instrumental in driving data-driven lifecycle marketing and predictive analytics capabilities that improved customer loyalty and commercial performance.

October 23, 2025

Team Europe and its African Partners Launch Joint Programme to Strengthen Health Systems in East and Southern Africa

Source: APO

Team Europe and its African partners launch today a new regional initiative to strengthen health systems and expand access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across East and Southern Africa.

The programme Regional Access and Accountability for Increased SRHR Equity in East and Southern Africa (RAISE SRHR) aims to improve access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and commodities, while enhancing regional collaboration and accountability.

With a total investment of approximately EUR 19 million, the European Union, Germany, and Sweden fund the initiative. It is implemented in close partnership with the East African Community (EAC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), UN partners — including UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO — as well as other key stakeholders.

RAISE SRHR builds on long-standing investments by the European Union and its Member States under the broader Africa–EU Health Partnership. The programme focuses on:

Strengthening data and accountability systems for SRHR;
Supporting equitable access and an increase of availability to quality-assured sexual and reproductive health commodities through regional pooled procurement and local manufacturing

Together, these efforts are strengthening resilience and regional cooperation to improve health and wellbeing for people across East and Southern Africa.

Petra Pereyra, Ambassador of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, said: “The programme we launch today reflects what Team Europe stands for: partnership, solidarity, and shared ambitions. Together with EU Member States, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community, we are investing in health systems that deliver by strengthening data and accountability for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and ensuring access to essential health commodities. This is Team Europe in action, collaborating with our African partners — united for equality and human rights for all.”

Eric Nzeyimana, Principal Health Officer, East African Community, stated: The RAISE SRHR Initiative represents a significant milestone in our collective journey to strengthen and sustain resilient health systems across the East African region and beyond. It builds on our ongoing efforts to enhance the use of health data, improve access to quality SRHR commodities, and address persistent inequalities within our health systems. I’m truly pleased to see this regional flagship initiative – co-created through strong collaboration among our partners – come to fruition and begin delivering tangible impact.”

Lamboly Kumboneki, Senior Programme Officer, Southern Africa Development Community said: This initiative takes place at a crucial moment for our region, the sustainability of health systems in our Member States is at a crossroads, shaken by the new architecture of Official Development Assistance. This programme will support our ambition as a region to build resilient and sustainable health system by building local and regional capacity and facilitate access to quality and affordable medicines.

Simone Goertz, Head of Economic and Development Cooperation at the German Embassy Gaborone, said: “The pharmaceutical sector is not just an industry; it is a cornerstone of health security and economic resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of regional production, regional collaboration, increased availability and equitable access to essential medicines. The programme fits well with Germany’s long-standing global support of gender equality and EAC’s and SADC’s regional value chain development, regulatory harmonisation, and access to finance for pharmaceutical companies. The programme launched today is a testament to the power of partnership among Europeans and with Africa.”

Elisabeth Hårleman, Head of Development Cooperation, Sweden’s Regional SRHR Team stated: “This programme embodies Sweden’s integrated foreign policy and development cooperation where we team up, within the EU, to ensure a coordinated and efficient engagement with our partners on the African continent. Health and SRHR is a prioritised area for the Swedish Government’s global assistance – as it sets conditions and circumstances for social, gender and economic inclusion.”

The official launch takes place during the International Conference on Public Health in Africa in Durban on 23 October 2025, 14:00–15:30, Hall 2D.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Delegation of the European Union to Botswana and SADC.

October 23, 2025

Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets the King of Belgium in Brussels

Source: APO

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with His Majesty the King of Belgium, King Philippe, at the Royal Palace of Brussels. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdel-Atty.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El- Shennawy, said the official reception ceremony included the Royal Guard of Honor in the palace courtyard. King Philippe was at the forefront to receive the President and accompanied him to his private office, where a commemorative photo was taken.

King Philippe welcomed the President and expressed his appreciation for his visit, which reflects the deep historical relations between Egypt and Belgium, both at the official and popular levels. The King noted the significant development in coordination and political consultation in recent years and commended Egypt’s intensive efforts, and the President personally, in coordination with the other mediators, to reach a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, stressing that these efforts represent a fundamental pillar in supporting regional stability and enhancing the chances of peace.

President El-Sisi expressed his deep appreciation for His Majesty the King for the warm welcome, noting Belgium’s noble stance and King Philippe’s personal support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. This was embodied in Belgium’s recognition of the Palestinian State.

The meeting addressed regional developments. Both sides emphasized the need to resolve crises by peaceful means to ensure safeguarding states’ sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, as well as the resources of their peoples.

President El-Sisi looked forward to the participation of His Majesty King Philippe in the opening ceremony of the Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled for November 1st, stressing that His Majesty’s presence carries special significance in light of the deep interest the Royal Family and the Belgian people have in the ancient Egyptian civilization. The President added that Egypt also looked forward to boosting incoming tourism from Belgium.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of increasing Belgian investments in Egypt, given Egypt’s promising potential and investment opportunities, in addition to ways to strengthen bilateral relations across all sectors.

King Philippe expressed his appreciation for President El-Sisi’s interest in strengthening cooperation between the two countries, stressing that the Belgian people value Egypt’s pivotal role in consolidating stability in the Middle East and the Southern Mediterranean. The King also highlighted the importance of joint action between governments to address challenges and achieve the aspirations of the Egyptian and Belgian peoples.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

October 23, 2025

President El-Sisi’s Speech at Dinner Banquet with European Leaders

Source: APO

“In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”

Mr. António Costa,
President of the European Council;

Your Excellencies and Honorable Leaders,
Leaders and Heads of Government of the Friendly European Countries;

Ms. Ursula von der Leyen,

President of the European Commission,

I extend my sincere gratitude and profound appreciation to Mr. Costa for his kind initiative in organizing this dinner. I am deeply pleased by the scale and level of participation from the friendly European Leaders and Heads of State and Government, and from the President of the European Commission. This gathering represents a unique opportunity for consultations and exchange of views regarding the course of bilateral relations, ways to further advance them, and regional and international issues of common interest.

This comes at a delicate international moment that necessitates that we all strengthen the bonds of understanding and cooperation to ensure a more stable and prosperous future for our peoples, our regions, and our shared neighborhood.

I would like to seize this opportunity today to emphasize to all distinguished attendees the significant attention that Egypt places on collaborating with the European Union to strengthen the existing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two sides. This partnership is not viewed merely as being between Egypt and the institutions of the European Union, but also encompasses the full scope of bilateral relations between Egypt and all EU Member States, thereby serving the interests of the Egyptian and the European peoples alike.

I was deeply honored to participate today in the proceedings of the first-ever EU-Egypt summit. During the gathering, we emphasized our aspiration for this summit to represent a true starting point in the path of coordination, cooperation, and advancement of the Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union in its broadest sense, establishing a model to be emulated in cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

Allow me to, once again, express my sincere gratitude to my friend President Costa and to all attendees for the generous hospitality. I wish us all a productive evening and constructive dialogue.

Thank you very much

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

October 23, 2025

National poliovirus sequencing capacity enhances Cameroon’s outbreak response

Source: APO

For the first time ever, a circulating variant poliovirus type 3 (cVDPV3) was fully sequenced in Cameroon, marking a major milestone in Africa’s efforts to detect and respond faster to polio outbreaks.

Poliovirus has three types: 1, 2, and 3. Although wild polio type 3 was declared eradicated in 2019, variant type 3 can still appear where immunity is low, making quick detection and response essential to contain outbreaks.

Cameroon’s expanded sequencing capacity now allows its national polio lab to detect and provide provisional results before confirmatory testing by the regional reference lab in Ghana. Local provisional results help speed up outbreak response by reducing delays.

On this occasion, although a sample was still provided to Ghana for quality assurance, detection and intervention commenced promptly at the national level. This approach enabled a more rapid response, enhanced national ownership, and demonstrated the significant impact of Africa’s expanding network of sequencing laboratories on efforts to eradicate polio.

Cameroon’s milestone is one aspect of ongoing change in Africa, supported by WHO AFRO’s polio laboratory programme led by Dr. Kfutwah. “Expanding polio sequencing labs in the African region is a key goal that will significantly aid efforts against polioviruses and other vaccine-preventable diseases, representing progress in public health for the área.”- Dr Kfutwah

Two key flagship initiatives are spearheading this transformation. First, countries are expanding in-country sequencing laboratories to bring virus detection closer to where outbreaks occur. By bringing sequencing closer to where outbreaks occur, countries are cutting delays and boosting rapid response capacity. A clear example comes from Nigeria: the recent addition of the Ibadan sequencing laboratory has led to a 41% reduction in variant polio type 1 sequencing turnaround time for isolates from across the country.

Prior to the establishment of the Ibadan sequencing facility, samples were required to be transported over long distances, frequently crossing international borders. With the development of local capacity within Nigeria, results are now delivered more promptly and consistently, enabling teams to respond more efficiently and minimizing opportunities for viral transmisión and spread.

At the same time, the region is embracing next-generation technologies to make virus detection even faster and more flexible. One of these is the MinION nanopore platform, a small, easy-to-carry device that can read the genetic code of viruses quickly, even outside of big laboratories.

By bringing this kind of technology closer to where outbreaks may occur, health teams can detect and respond to the virus much faster, helping to protect more children and stop the spread of polio.

A recent analysis of two variant type 3 isolates utilized both MinION and Sanger sequencing methods. MinION, when used near outbreaks, typically delivers results more quickly than Sanger sequencing, which can be important for timely outbreak response.

Response time can determine whether an event remains contained locally or becomes a large-scale outbreak.

The recent detection in Cameroon marks increased national leadership and resilience in Africa’s polio response, as countries now generate their own data and act quickly instead of relying solely on foreign labs.

The expansion of laboratories and the use of advanced tools are improving the speed and effectiveness with which countries can detect and respond to poliovirus. In Africa, a large and interconnected region, these changes will demonstrate technical progress in disease detection and outbreak prevention.

With each day saved in detection, more children are protected and Africa moves closer to its goal: a continent free of polio.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Cameroon.