MIL-OSI – Page 365 – MIL Africa Engine

October 15, 2025

Gen Z tech talent rewires South Africa’s fight against hunger

Source: APO

Ahead of World Food Day, South Africa’s hunger crisis just met its next wave of disruption. Sixty of the country’s smartest Gen Z innovators spent a week hacking one of the nation’s toughest problems, child hunger, and emerged with breakthrough, tech-powered ideas that could change how food insecurity is tackled.

Artificial intelligence, blockchain, data visualisation and community-driven platforms were among the technologies harnessed during The Biggest Hunger Hack, a challenge hosted by KFC Africa. The event invited young digital natives to re-engineer the brand’s Add Hope open-source blueprint (https://AddHope.KFC.co.za/).

Add Hope, powered by millions of R2 donations from KFC customers, already fuels 3,300+ feeding centres across the country, reaching over 154,000 children last year. But Gen Z just showed how the recipe can get a digital boost. Potential seed funding of up to R1 million could be allocated to the development of the winning solution.

Stand-out solutions

The overall winning team. Ctrl-Alt-Del-Hunger, turned South Africa’s food waste crisis into a social impact opportunity. Their Misfits Mzansi app rescues ‘ugly’ fruit and veg that would normally be trashed on farms and delivers it to food-insecure families.

The platform also hosts short-form cooking challenges, edutainment content, and ad-driven donations so users literally feed families by engaging with content. “You become a philanthropist just by watching a video,” said the team.

Streetwise scripters built a social-media-first donation ecosystem. Their concept includes a real-time donor dashboard, donation hotspot map, and a KFC loyalty rewards integration where good deeds unlock free meals. Plus, they proposed @ KFCAddHopeSA, a TikTok-to-Till campaign for digital storytelling that keeps donors looped in.

Bit Coders’ chatbot ecosystem makes donations inclusive and transparent — even for non-KFC customers. It features AI-driven donor insights, rewards, and tax certification downloads for big donations, using the MTN MoMo API for seamless payments.

Hack 4 Hope’s solution showcased a WhatsApp chatbot that allows customers to scan a QR code from their KFC till slip to instantly donate. Built on blockchain, the system provides proof of every R2’s journey, from donor to meal served, creating full transparency and reinforcing trust. The platform’s “HopeCoins’ reward repeat donors and gamify giving.

The ultimate ingredient: collaboration

“The Biggest Hunger Hack showed what happens when young digital natives use tech for good,” said Andra Nel, KFC Africa’s Head of Brand Purpose and ESG. “They understand hunger because many have lived it and they understand technology because they were born into it. That’s the sweet spot for innovation with purpose.”

Stakeholders from business, government, and civil society joined the event in Johannesburg to see the hackers pitch live and explore ways to scale their ideas nationally.

Nel says the next step is to co-develop pilot programmes with Add Hope partners, aiming to showcase results by the time the National Convention on Child Hunger convenes early next year.

“Collaboration is our key ingredient, from customers dropping R2 at the till, to partners like McCormick, Tiger Brands, Foodserv, CBH, Nature’s Garden, Digistics, and Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa, all rallying behind the Add Hope recipe,” she said.

“Opening up Add Hope as an open-source blueprint has unleashed an outpouring of ubuntu that’s turning this fight into a movement, one that South Africa, and the world, can learn from.”

“These Gen Z hackers showed how tech can supercharge reach and transparency. Now the goal is to turn their best concepts into live pilots with our 128 feeding partners.” Nel said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of KFC Africa.

#KFCAddHope #AddHopeHackathon

About KFC Africa:
KFC has been part of Africa’s story since 1971, when the first restaurant opened in Johannesburg. Today, with more than 1,400 restaurants across 22 sub-Saharan countries, it stands as the continent’s leading quick service restaurant brand and home of the Original Recipe® fried chicken that millions love.

At KFC Africa, we feed more than hunger, we feed potential. Every meal served is part of a bigger purpose: creating a seat at the table for everyone and ensuring that potential isn’t just seen, it’s nurtured. That commitment comes to life through initiatives that make a measurable difference. Our Streetwise Academy, backed by Services SETA accreditation, equips team members with skills to thrive across frontline leadership, HR and operations, achieving a 75% promotion and retention rate that proves the power of investing in people. Our Add Hope programme delivers over 30 million meals to vulnerable children each year, while Mini Cricket, South Africa’s largest grassroots sports programme, reaches more than 120,000 young players guided by 13,000 coaches. Beyond food, initiatives such as the Ikusasa Lethu scholarships and youth empowerment programmes across Africa open pathways to education, livelihoods, and brighter futures.

With over 40,000 team members powering our business, KFC Africa is proud to be an employer of choice, cultivating careers, fairness, and integrity while serving millions daily. Because when individuals rise, families strengthen. Communities grow. Nations transform. That’s the undeniable impact we are proud to serve.

About KFC Add Hope:
Add Hope isn’t just spare change, it’s real change. Every time you add just R2 to your KFC meal, you’re helping a child in South Africa get the nutritious food they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Here’s the kicker: KFC has donated over R400M in the last 16 years. Since 2009, together we’ve raised over R1.2 billion, serving up more than 30 million meals every year through thousands of feeding centres and non-profits. That’s millions of kids with the energy to show up at school, focus, play, and dream bigger.

But Add Hope doesn’t stop at full stomachs. It opens doors. It gives kids the chance to play through Mini Cricket, offers high school scholarships through Ikusasa Lethu, and levels up futures with the Streetwise Academy. Add Hope is one of South Africa’s most impactful social purpose brands. Because this isn’t just about food. It’s about feeding potential. More at www.AddHope.co.za.

Media files

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October 15, 2025

Carbon Markets Africa Summit to unlock billions in climate finance for the continent

Source: APO

Africa’s vast natural resources hold enormous potential to drive climate action and sustainable growth, but turning that potential into investment requires collaboration, integrity and readiness. From 21 to 23 October, the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS) in Johannesburg will bring together over 280 policymakers, investors and project developers from 40 countries to accelerate the continent’s participation in high-integrity carbon markets.

Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with AUDA-NEPAD as strategic institutional partner and One Carbon World as official climate impact partner, CMAS marks the first continental event dedicated to unlocking Africa’s carbon value through integrity, investment and impact.

“Carbon markets can unlock billions in finance for the continent,” says Maxwell Gomera, Resident Representative of UNDP South Africa and Director of the Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. “With the right partnerships and governance, Africa can convert its natural wealth into climate-resilient growth and jobs.”

For Madeleine Garlick, Africa Director at One Carbon World, partnerships are key: “African innovators are leading the market now, but with collaboration, we can achieve the scale needed to ensure it delivers for everybody.”

Turning ambition into action
The summit’s theme of collaboration is reflected in its sponsors: TASC, an award-winning developer of high-impact carbon projects, is the diamond sponsor, joined by FSD Africa, SGS, and Trees for the Future as gold sponsors, and GIZ and Carbon Coin as silver sponsors.

“Our projects are having a monumental impact at a grassroots level—all this enabled through carbon finance,” says Shelley Estcourt, CEO Africa at TASC. Francesca Cerchia, Global Head of Climate Solutions at SGS, adds: “We need to make sure Africa is at the centre of voluntary carbon market development.”

Meanwhile, Tim McLennan, CEO of Trees for the Future, notes: “Farmers are the most vulnerable to climate change; our mission is to assist them to restore land and unlock prosperity.”

Scaling Africa’s solutions
With participation from nine African governments—including Comoros, DRC, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda—and 14 innovative carbon projects, five of which are raising capital, CMAS will showcase how the continent’s solutions are both local and transformative.

“The carbon economy is global, but its solutions are local,” says Chidalu Onyenso, Founder and CEO of Earthbond (Nigeria). Another expert speaker at the summit, Nicole Dewing, Co-Founder of Africa Carbon & Commodities (Senegal), explains that: “High-integrity plastic credits can underwrite a circular economy where communities earn, oceans recover and investment delivers verifiable impact.”

Driving a just transition
CMAS features a full programme of ministerial and investor roundtables, technical workshops, and sector dialogues featuring pan-African projects and pioneers in energy and cookstoves, blue carbon, nature-based solutions and urban circularity.

According to Gabriel Labbate, Global Team Leader of the UN-REDD Programme (UNEP), “Initiatives like the REDD+ Investments in Africa Roundtable at CMAS are crucial to bridging the gap between supply and demand and turning ambition into implementation.”

As Daniel Okoth, Head of Carbon at SunCulture (Kenya), puts it: “We’re not just creating carbon credits—we’re creating climate-smart livelihoods.”

Marc Baker, Director of Carbon Tanzania, adds: “We are at an inflection point in the carbon markets, with growth, increasing integrity and the emergence of Article 6.2 providing opportunities for scale.”

For more inspiring interviews with CMAS partners and speakers, click here (https://apo-opa.co/4n6bkrV).
To download the full CMAS programme, click here (https://apo-opa.co/477DHQB).

VUKA Group
Carbon Markets Africa Summit is part of the green economy portfolio of VUKA Group (https://WeAreVUKA.com/), which has more than 20 years’ experience in serving the business community across Africa.

Event dates and location:
21 October: Pre-summit day
22–23 October: Summit
Venue: Protea Hotel by Marriott–Balalaika Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Website: Carbon Markets Africa (www.CarbonMarketsAfrica.com)

Download our Programme Brochure here: https://apo-opa.co/4nThSLO

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

October 15, 2025

Thug culture in Nigerian politics: the links between state governors, funding and violent armed groups

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Maureen Fubara, PhD candidate, University of Amsterdam

Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, elections have consistently been marred by violence. The elections between 1999 and 2019 and in 2023 saw party clashes, physical attacks, assassinations and intimidation.

As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 elections, the threat of violence lurks again. Already, reports have emerged of clashes between supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the opposition African Democratic Congress in northern states like Jigawa, Kogi and Kebbi.

The violence is largely carried out by hired thugs, party supporters and members, gangs and militias. But the issue is not only that politicians are willing to use violence, it is that they can afford to fund it.

My research across Lagos, Rivers, Plateau and Nasarawa States shows that the perpetrators are different across states. This difference is linked to how much funding governors control, in the form of resource rents or state fiscal allocations.

In a recently published paper based on my PhD research on the political economy of electoral violence in Nigeria, I argue that the distinction in electoral violence perpetrators is driven by governors’ financial capacity to “rent” violence. While those with access to more resource rents or state fiscal allocations hire armed groups, others rely on ordinary citizens.

In both cases, the implication is that democracy is undermined, but the organised violence of high-rent states is especially harmful because it embeds one-party dominance and long-term insecurity.

‘Rents’ and the political marketplace

At the heart of Nigeria’s political and economic system are natural “resource rents” – public funds allocated to states by the federal government under the Federation Account. They are mostly from oil revenues and value added tax. The allocations are based on a formula that includes factors like population size, landmass, and natural resource wealth. This sharing results in uneven distribution across states. Although intended to fund development, “rents” have become a tool for politicians to finance their aspiration to stay in power.

Where governors have high rents, they engage expensive organised groups like transport unions, who in some instances are illegally armed, and cult groups to manipulate elections in their favour.

Where rents are limited, they rely on ordinary citizens, offering cash, food, or alcohol in exchange for violence.

This creates two outcomes:

in high-rent states (Lagos and Rivers), incumbents can sustain long-term alliances with armed groups
in low-rent states (Nasarawa and Plateau), violence is carried out by ordinary citizens in the form of party and ethnic supporters.

Why this matters for democracy

Not all violence perpetrators are the same. Armed groups are organised, feared, and able to systematically intimidate and harm voters. Their alliances with ruling parties go beyond elections. They spill into extortion in the transport sector, oil bunkering, piracy and crime.

In Lagos, much of the election violence is linked to the National Union of Road Transport Workers. This is a powerful trade union with close ties to the ruling All Progressives Congress. During elections, street touts known as agberos, who are affiliated with the union, perpetrate violence on behalf of the ruling party. In return, they receive payments from commercial bus drivers and maintain control over parts of Lagos’s lucrative public transport system.

For instance, during Nigeria’s 2023 elections, some voters in Lagos, especially those from minority ethnic groups, reported being attacked or threatened by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. These incidents were allegedly aimed at pressuring them to vote for the All Progressives Congress. The group’s strong influence in the transport sector gives it unrivalled access to neighbourhoods, making violence both effective and difficult to resist.

Similarly, in Rivers, cult groups such as the Icelanders and Deewell have become political instruments.

Financed with millions of naira, sometimes even equipped with sophisticated weapons, armed groups are deployed to silence rivals and scare voters. Their reputations for violence mean that just the rumour of their presence can keep voters at home.

In “low-rent” states, perpetrators of violence look different. To recruit citizens for election violence in Nasarawa State, politicians often offer as little as ₦5,000 (about US$4), well below Nigeria’s minimum monthly wage of ₦70,000 ($47). They also compensate them with alcohol or hard drugs. Similarly, in Plateau State, north central Nigeria, unemployed young people are promised small cash rewards, sometimes alongside drugs, to disrupt rival rallies or attack opposition neighbourhoods.

‘Rents’ and one-party dominance

The risk of “renting” violence is that it becomes self-sustaining. Governors splurge resources on armed groups while granting them access to lucrative criminal markets such as oil bunkering (crude oil theft).

These alliances secure ruling parties’ dominance across elections. In Lagos and Rivers, violence has become a permanent feature of politics, not a temporary campaign strategy.

In Nasarawa and Plateau, violence is cheaper and ad hoc. Citizens involved in violence return to farming, hustling or unemployment once elections end. Competition remains more open, but insecurity at the polls still undermines elections.

Why 2027 may not be different

There are warning signs that the 2027 elections are likely to be violent. There have been incidents of attacks and intimidation in several states. Governors with high “rents” are likely to strengthen ties with armed groups, given the prevalent impunity in Nigeria’s political space.

In previous elections, Human Rights Watch flagged the lack of accountability for political violence. Politicians have no reason to stop when the risks are low and the rewards, such as political, economic and social power, are so high.

Since many Nigerians have low trust in the government and democratic institutions, another violent election risks pushing citizens further away from the polling units and closer to apathy. When voters expect violence, many will stay at home, leaving elections to be decided not by choice but by violence.

Next steps

Nigeria is not unique; other resource-rich countries like Tanzania also struggle with electoral violence.

Breaking the cycle requires more than election monitoring. It demands fiscal reforms that limit governors’ control over rents, and institutions strong enough to prosecute sponsors and perpetrators of violence.

Nigerians deserve elections where voters’ choices, not violence, decide winners.

– Thug culture in Nigerian politics: the links between state governors, funding and violent armed groups
– https://theconversation.com/thug-culture-in-nigerian-politics-the-links-between-state-governors-funding-and-violent-armed-groups-265695

October 15, 2025

Labour inspections yield positive results

Source: Government of South Africa

Labour inspections yield positive results

Over 20 undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested following the Department of Employment and Labour’s blitz inspections in KwaZulu-Natal.

In a statement on Wednesday, the department said that the multi-departmental inspections, spearheaded by Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, were done in collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Njabulo Nzuza; Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister, Sihle Zikalala; the South African Police Service, the Ilembe District Municipality, and the Indwedwe Local Municipality, led by Mayor Mfeka.

The 25 individuals as well as two employers were arrested on Tuesday.

The blitz inspections focused on the agriculture and wholesale and retail sectors in Indwedwe Local Municipality.

“The 25 people arrested for illegally working in South Africa were employed in two of the farms that were raided by inspectors from the department, as well as officials from Home Affairs and the South African Police Service. The two farm employers were arrested for employing the 25 illegal immigrants in South Africa.

“A number of those employees arrested are Malawians and Mozambicans, and they were subsequently taken in at the local police station for processing and possible deportation back to their respective countries,” the department said.

The blitz inspections were meant to check on the level of compliance with labour legislation, such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), the National Minimum Wage (NMW) Act, Unemployment Insurance Contributions Act, and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.

“We found that some of the employees were not registered with the UIF [Unemployment Insurance Fund] and the Compensation Fund, and the employer was not compliant with the National Minimum Wage,” Deputy Minister Sibiya said.

Sibiya said some of the wholesale and retail establishments were selling food items that had expired.

“Some food products being sold here are not labelled, some have expired, or are unauthorised, and for public safety reasons, have to be confiscated by the municipal officials,” he said.

The structural conditions of their buildings also posed safety risks, as some did not have proper electrical installations, which pose fire risks.

“We are going to close some of these shops because they don’t meet the legal standards of the Occupational Health and Safety that we have put in place as a country,” Sibiya said.

As a result of noncompliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act Regulations, two shops were closed.

The department added that several prohibition notices were served to all the inspected wholesalers and shops in the Bhamshela area for failure to comply with labour laws such as the OHSA and the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act. – SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Wed, 10/15/2025 – 14:45

62 views

October 15, 2025

Strict conditions for providers offering NSC qualification

Source: Government of South Africa

Strict conditions for providers offering NSC qualification

As part of efforts to safeguard the credibility and integrity of South Africa’s national examination system, Umalusi has outlined a set of non-negotiable requirements for online and distance learning providers offering the National Senior Certificate (NSC).

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday, Umalusi Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Mafu Rakometsi said that while the number of online learning institutions continues to grow, there is still no regulatory framework in place to formally accredit these schools.

“There is currently no regulatory framework for online education. We have also communicated that the Department of Basic Education has been working on interim measures for the purpose of regulating online schools. Regrettably, not much progress has been made in this regard,” Rakometsi said.

Umalusi is South Africa’s national education quality assurance body.

In the absence of a policy framework, Umalusi working with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), has developed clear conditions to guide the registration and management of online schools and distance education providers offering the NSC examination.

These conditions, aim to ensure compliance with Umalusi’s quality assurance standards and the integrity of assessments.

Among the key requirements, Rakometsi emphasised that all NSC examinations must be written in person at registered examination centres in South Africa and not online.

Assessment bodies must also register only reputable providers, verify that these institutions offer the National Curriculum Statement (NCS) in Grades 10 to 12, and ensure that learners registered for Grade 12 examinations have successfully completed Grades 10 and 11.

In addition, assessment bodies will be required to attest to the credibility of school-based assessment (SBA) marks, ensure multiple levels of moderation, and take full responsibility for examination centres where learners write their final papers.

Rakometsi said Umalusi will continue to work with relevant partners to strengthen oversight of online education while awaiting the department’s policy direction.

“We urge the DBE to speedily finalise the guidelines so that, as a system, we are able to establish the national requirements for the registration of online schools by Provincial Education Departments, and to indicate the requirements to be met for online schools to be accredited by Umalusi,” he said.

He stressed that while technology continues to transform the education landscape, quality and fairness must remain uncompromised, particularly for a high-stakes qualification such as the National Senior Certificate.

READ | Umalusi expresses confidence ahead of the 2025 final exams

– SAnews.gov.za

DikelediM
Wed, 10/15/2025 – 14:36

111 views

October 15, 2025

Fruit juices in South Africa are getting a free ride: why they should have the same health warning labels as fizzy drinks

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Siphiwe Dlamini, Lecturer, Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand

South Africa is facing a sharp rise in obesity-related diseases like type 2 diabetes. Between 2010 and 2019, the prevalence of diabetes nearly tripled from 4.5% to 12.7%. This increase is linked to lifestyle risk factors including drinking sugary beverages, eating unhealthy foods, and not getting enough physical activity.

To help tackle the problem, the government has introduced several public health measures targeting key risk factors, including unhealthy eating.

One of the most prominent measures was the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2018. The tax targets added sugars, encouraging manufacturers to reformulate products like soft drinks and energy drinks to reduce their sugar content. But beverages containing naturally occurring sugars, such as 100% fruit juices, are exempt.

Often, 100% fruit juices are seen as healthier alternatives to sugar-sweetened or artificially sweetened drinks. But growing research shows this may not be true. A 2023 meta-analysis of 72 published studies involving over 3 million people found that drinking fruit juice does not lower the risk of type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure. It was instead linked to a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases.

The recommendation from that meta-analysis and other studies is that fruit juices should not be considered a healthier alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages. This could be because, although fruit juices contain more vitamins and minerals than soft drinks, they are also high in natural sugars and lack the fibre found in whole fruits, which helps control blood sugar and keeps you feeling full.

In a further move to curb sugar intake in beverages the government has proposed new food labelling regulations. These would require front-of-package warning labels for products high in added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, or artificial sweeteners. The regulations are still under review. But they align with international best practices adopted by countries like Chile, Mexico and Brazil.

If implemented effectively, they could help South African consumers make more informed dietary choices.

But, once again, fruit juices are getting a free ride. This is even though they have the highest energy (calories) and sugar content (8.4%) across a range of soft and energy drinks, according to our recent study.

As researchers in public health nutrition, we are concerned that the regulations had some important gaps. The proposed regulations introduce a simple package warning label system for prepacked foods that contain added sugar, saturated fat, or sodium and exceed specific nutrient thresholds. It also requires warning labels for products containing artificial sweeteners, reflecting growing concerns about their long-term health effects.

But the regulations exclude certain sugar-containing beverages from front-of-pack warning label requirements, particularly those with naturally occurring sugars. Many juices, such as 100% fruit juices, are exempt despite their high sugar content and significant contribution to overall sugar and energy intake. This raises concerns about the consistency of the policy and whether it adequately addresses the health risks associated with excessive sugar consumption across all types of beverages.

To test the scale of the problem, we analysed over 600 non-alcoholic beverages sold in major South African supermarkets. The study found that 21.4% of beverages would require a warning for high sugar, 49.8% for artificial sweeteners, and 58.7% for at least one of these criteria.

The study found that 21.4% of beverages would require a warning for high sugar, 49.8% for artificial sweeteners, and 58.7% for at least one of these criteria. Author supplied

Juices were least likely to qualify for warning labels. Only 30% of juices met the criteria , versus 94.1% of soft drinks and 96.9% of energy drinks. Excluding 100% fruit juices from South Africa’s proposed warning label regulations could have serious public health consequences.

We recommend that the health department revise the criteria for warning labels to include beverages that are high in naturally occurring sugars.

Fruit juices

Fruit juices are often seen as a healthier choice because of their natural origin. In South Africa, regular consumption of 100% fruit juice is common, with many consumers perceiving it as beneficial despite its high sugar content.

This is a problem for a number of reasons.

Because of their high sugar content, fruit juices can cause sharp spikes in blood glucose. For more than 2.3 million South Africans living with diabetes regular consumption may interfere with blood glucose control. But this is not only a concern for people with diabetes. Research shows that even among non-diabetics, frequent intake of fruit juice increases weight gain, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes over time.

Labelling policies that ignore naturally occurring sugars risks misleading consumers. In particular, it misleads those trying to make healthier choices into over-consuming these products. International examples, such as Chile’s approach to food labelling, show that including total sugar content in warning criteria can reduce purchases of high-sugar items and improve public awareness.

Exempting juices also creates an uneven playing field. While soft drink and energy drink manufacturers are pushed to reformulate products to avoid taxes and warning labels, juice producers face no such pressure, despite offering products with comparable health risks.

We also demonstrated that nearly half of the beverages analysed contained artificial sweeteners, which are increasingly used to lower sugar content and bypass the sugar tax. Emerging research suggests these additives may negatively affect gut health and contribute to nutrition-related diseases. Taken together, these factors highlight the need for comprehensive regulation that reflects the full spectrum of health risks posed by sugary beverages.

South Africa’s efforts to regulate sugary beverages are commendable and reflect a growing commitment to tackling lifestyle-related diseases. But excluding fruit juices from key policies risks undermining these efforts.

By aligning regulations with scientific evidence and international best practices, the country can take a more comprehensive approach to sugar reduction. This approach will protect all consumers, especially the most vulnerable.

To ensure that South Africa’s food labelling regulations achieve their intended public health outcomes, we recommend the following steps.

Include naturally occurring sugars: Revise the criteria for warning labels to account for total sugar content, not just added sugars. This would ensure that high-sugar juices are appropriately labelled, and consumers are fully informed.
Extend the sugar tax: Consider applying the sugar tax to fruit juices with high sugar content. This would encourage manufacturers to explore lower-sugar formulations.
Public education campaigns: Launch targeted education initiatives to raise awareness about the health risks associated with all types of sugar, including those found in fruit juices.
Ongoing monitoring: Establish systems to monitor the impact of both labelling and taxation policies on consumer behaviour and health outcomes, allowing for evidence-based adjustments over time.

– Fruit juices in South Africa are getting a free ride: why they should have the same health warning labels as fizzy drinks
– https://theconversation.com/fruit-juices-in-south-africa-are-getting-a-free-ride-why-they-should-have-the-same-health-warning-labels-as-fizzy-drinks-266307

October 15, 2025

GITEX Expands to Latin America, Propelling US$950 Billion Digital Future

Source: APO

The world’s largest and best-rated tech show presents GITEX LATAM – its inaugural Latin American edition – in São Paulo, Brazil from 16-17 March 2027
GITEX LATAM promises to redefine the region as the definitive epicentre of Latin America’s digital future
Event will spark global public-private collaboration and digital infrastructure across AI, agritech, connectivity, cloud, cybersecurity & data centres

As Latin America’s digital market accelerates, poised to reach almost US$950 billion by 2026 (PCMI), a defining next phase of socio-economic transformation beckons with GITEX (www.GITEX.com), the world’s largest and best-rated tech and digital investment show brand, entering the region. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in strategic partnership with the São Paulo Development Agency (ADESAMPA), GITEX LATAM debuts as the region’s first-ever global tech event at Distrito Anhembi, São Paulo, Brazil from 16-17 March 2027.

Leveraging Brazil’s economic and innovation leadership, visionary digital policies, thriving startup ecosystem, and globally relevant technology frameworks, GITEX LATAM aims to redefine the continent as a definitive epicentre where Latin America’s digital future meets the world’s boldest frontiers of innovation.

Ricardo Nunes, mayor of São Paulo, hailed GITEX LATAM as a regional-first gateway to connect local businesses with international opportunities, stating: “São Paulo is excited to host GITEX LATAM, a landmark catalyst enabling our finest innovators to meet global opportunities. This platform will connect pioneering startups, unicorns, and influential enterprises with international markets, unlocking capital, forging partnerships, and expanding visibility on the world stage. At City Hall of São Paulo we are committed to empowering businesses that embodies our creative and entrepreneurial strength, reaffirming our city as Latin America’s foremost hub of innovation, investment, and transformative growth.”

GITEX LATAM to Showcase Brazil as ‘Vibrant Cornerstone’ of Regional Tech

GITEX continues to offer unparalleled access to new markets and business opportunities – reinforced by its rapid international expansion. In just three years, GITEX has forged the world’s largest network of global tech events, organising editions across 14 cities and countries.

In 2027, Brazil joins this exclusive global network. Brazil is one of the world’s leading adopters of digital public infrastructure, offering centralised access to hundreds of services and digital IDs for over 150 million citizens. The country aims for a US$259 billion ICT market (IMARC Group) and US$99.8 billion AI market (Grand View Horizon) by 2033, positioning GITEX as a catalyst in the nation’s rise as a global innovation and digital infrastructure hub.

Celebrating the partnership, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, CEO of KAOUN International, global organiser of GITEX, added: “Brazil is the vibrant cornerstone of Latin America’s economy and a distinguished benchmark for dynamic, inclusive, and consequential technology development. Together with São Paulo – a prolific hub where startup ingenuity, entrepreneurial spirit, and ambitious investments thrive – GITEX LATAM shall integrate Latin America with the limitless digital universe, unlocking unprecedented access to capital, knowledge, tech, and talent, as the region scales towards global dominance on the world stage.”

Connecting Global Innovators to a Rising US$6.8 Trillion Economy

With the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealing that Latin America’s emerging markets and developing economies collectively generate a GDP of US$6.8 trillion in 2025, GITEX LATAM will serve as a global bridge accelerating the region’s digital transformation. Channelling the capital, technology, and cross-border collaboration globally synonymous with GITEX, the event will shape Latin America’s digital decade and cement its place in the global innovation economy — connecting East and West to inspire a new era of technological growth.

Anchored by a future-oriented programme spanning AI, agritech, cloud, connectivity, cybersecurity, data centres, healthtech, renewable energy, GITEX LATAM will open new gateways into Latin America’s most dynamic emerging markets for global stakeholders. By catalysing public-private collaboration, elevating competitiveness, and igniting new waves of investment, talent, and infrastructure, its impact will inspire transformative outcomes across the region’s rapidly digitising economies and industries.

Convening Global Tech in Latin America’s Leading Startup and Innovation Nexus

Alongside global tech enterprises, thought leaders, policymakers, SMEs, startups, and venture capitalists, GITEX LATAM will examine global digital agendas and pressing innovation shifts, presenting a unified platform for collaboration and investment in São Paulo – Brazil’s economic epicentre and Latin America’s innovation capital.

According to StartupBlink’s Global Startup Ecosystem Index Report 2025, São Paulo ranks first both nationally and regionally – attracting over US$33.5 billion in VC funding within the last decade. São Paulo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem has also reached US$113 billion in value and spawned 11 unicorns that have surpassed the US$1 billion barrier (Real Instituto Elcano).

Rodrigo Goulart, Municipal Secretary of Economic Development and Labour of São Paulo, said: “São Paulo awaits GITEX LATAM with tremendous anticipation, not least because of the immense potential to elevate tech cooperation to historic new heights across Brazil and Latin America. By leveraging the world’s largest network of digital economy relationships – a network universally synonymous with GITEX – we are inspired to cultivate investor confidence and empower entrepreneurs as well as new talents.”

The GITEX LATAM announcement, made on Tuesday during GITEX GLOBAL – the world’s largest tech and AI show running from 13–17 October at DWTC – carries added significance due to major Brazilian and wider Latin American participation. Brazil is the official Country Partner at this year’s 45th edition in the UAE with ApexBrasil, the nation’s trade and investment promotion agency, exhibiting across two pavilions featuring more than 50 startups and innovation hubs. City Hall of São Paulo is also showcasing over 10 startups, while Chile and Ecuador are making their debut at GITEX GLOBAL, joining representatives from more than 180 countries.

Additionally, news of GITEX LATAM follows the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro in November 2024, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Brazil. Both nations reaffirmed their strategic partnership and pledged to explore new collaborative opportunities in AI, agriculture, climate change, innovation, renewable energy, and emerging technologies. For more information on GITEX LATAM: www.GITEXLATAM.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Global.

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About GITEX LATAM:
GITEX LATAM is the first-ever GITEX event in Latin America. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in partnership with the City Hall of São Paulo, the inaugural edition takes place at Distrito Anhembi, São Paulo, Brazil, from 16-17 March 2027. Channelling the capital, technology, and cross-border collaboration globally synonymous with GITEX, its programme stands to shape Latin America’s digital decade and cement its place in the global innovation economy — connecting East and West to inspire a new era of technological growth. GITEX LATAM welcomes big tech enterprises, SMEs, thought leaders, startups, and investors from around the world – providing a global bridge to accelerate the region’s digital transformation, increase global access, elevate regional competitiveness, and inspire new partnerships, capital, talent development pathways, and AI and digital infrastructure enhancements. More information is available: at www.GITEXLATAM.com.

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October 15, 2025

Nigeria intensifies fight against vaccine-preventable diseases with nationwide measles–rubella and polio campaign

Source: APO

The Government of Nigeria has launched a nationwide integrated vaccination campaign targeting more than 106 million people across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The campaign delivers measles–rubella, polio vaccines, and HPV vaccination, to close immunity gaps and protect children and adolescents from life-threatening diseases.

Led by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and other partners, the campaign was officially flagged off in Abuja by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“This effort builds on our united front against polio, tuberculosis, HPV, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. With these vaccines, our children will be protected and enjoy a lifetime of safety,” the First Lady said.

Targeted population

The 2025 Integrated Measles–Rubella and Polio Campaign targets children aged 9 months to 14 years for measles–rubella vaccination and children under 5 years (0–59 months) for the novel oral polio vaccine (nOPV2). The campaign also delivers malaria chemoprevention (Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, SMC) for children aged 3–59 months, NTD treatments for persons aged 5 years and above, and HPV vaccines for girls aged 9 years.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described the campaign as a landmark moment for Nigeria’s health system.

“This campaign is proof of what strong leadership, community engagement, and partnership can achieve,” said Professor Pate. “We will continue working with our partners to ensure that every child in Nigeria is reached and protected.”

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by Mr Peters, noted that the campaign represents not only a health intervention but also an investment in education.

“By protecting our children from vaccine-preventable diseases, we are ensuring that they stay in school, thrive academically, and grow into productive citizens,” he said.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ipalibo Harry-Balingo, commended the initiative for integrating vaccine delivery with other health interventions.

“By combining vaccines with malaria and NTD interventions, this campaign reinforces routine immunization, strengthens the health system, and contributes to national health security,” she said.

United effort

The flag-off ceremony brought together key actors in Nigeria’s immunization efforts—Gavi, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, parliamentarians, development partners, civil society organizations, State Primary Health Care Boards, donor agencies, and frontline health workers—who reaffirmed their commitment to reaching every child and building a resilient health system.

Traditional and religious leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), also pledged continued support to mobilize communities for vaccination.

Representing WHO, Dr Alex Chimbaru, Deputy Country Representative, described the campaign as a defining step toward health security for Nigeria and Africa at large.

“It reflects national leadership and collective commitment to ensure that every child, wherever they live, is protected against preventable diseases,” said Dr Chimbaru.

WHO technical support

To implement the campaign, WHO provided comprehensive support across all stages of pre-campaign preparation—developing training manuals, data collection tools, and detailed activity plans; and facilitating national and state-level training-of-trainers sessions down to the ward level, in close collaboration with NPHCDA and State Primary Health Care Boards.

WHO also deployed one technical assistant to each state to support implementation. In addition, experts from the WHO Country Office, Regional Office (Africa), and Headquarters have been actively present in various states to monitor campaign progress in real time. Their presence ensures rigorous oversight and enables timely, data-driven problem solving to address challenges as they arise helping to optimize performance and drive progress toward achieving campaign targets.

Implementation and integration

The campaign will be rolled out in two phases and four streams over a 10-day vaccination period, followed by a two-day mop-up.

Phase 1—covering northern states and Oyo—will integrate measles–rubella and polio vaccines in October. Additionally, Kano, Yobe, and Oyo states will incorporate NTD and malaria interventions alongside measles, rubella, and polio. Southern states will conduct stand-alone MR campaigns in early 2026.

Likewise, other routine immunisation antigens will be available for eligible residents in zero-dose local government Areas (LGAs). This large-scale effort supports Nigeria’s commitment to the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

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

October 15, 2025

Republic of Congo reinforces measures to curb potential Ebola outbreak

Source: APO

The Republic of Congo has stepped up measures to rapidly detect and respond to potential Ebola outbreak as neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a new outbreak of the virus in Kasai Province in the central region of the country.

A rapid scale up of outbreak control measures in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has helped slow down the spread of the virus, with no new cases reported for 18 days as of 13 October 2025.

“We are the immediate neighbour of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is regularly affected by outbreaks. We share over a thousand kilometres of border and common populations. Many people transit through ports and other entry points. We have already experienced Ebola; we are highly exposed. It is essential to raise awareness among personnel at entry points,” says Dr Jean Claude Emeka, the Ministry of Health’s Director of Hygiene and Health Promotion.

More than a thousand participants, including port health authorities, took part recently in an outbreak preparedness training session to bolster measures such as screening, early detection and handling of suspected cases.

“Prevention is better than cure. We must not wait for the outbreak to reach us when it is already affecting our neighbour,” says Christian Voumina, Operations Manager at the main airport in the capital Brazzaville. “As the main entry point for international travellers, it is crucial that staff are informed about the disease and the measures to take. Ebola is one of the most dangerous diseases, so we must act early.”

With support from World Health Organization (WHO), the health authorities have carried out an assessment of the national preparedness plan and are updating the National Ebola Preparedness and Response Plan. Public awareness materials to ensure health measures are observed by the population have also been developed and distributed.

“We are on high alert,” says Emma Gisèle Monka, a health officer at Brazzaville’s Maya Maya International Airport. “I’m ready. I distribute information leaflets and what I’ve learned (in the training) enables me to respond to questions about symptoms, mode of transmission and preventive measures.”

Disease surveillance and clinical care measures are also being strengthened. Isolation wards have been set aside at two main public hospitals in Brazzaville, while an ambulance has been stationed at the city’s main airport.

The ongoing preparedness efforts mark a shift from a reactive to a proactive approach. By strengthening surveillance capacities, structuring coordination mechanisms and investing in staff training, health authorities, with support from partners, are working to build a resilient health system capable of responding not only to Ebola but any public health threat.

“WHO stands with the government to strengthen capacities, ensure surveillance at entry points, and guarantee a rapid response in case of detection,” says Dr Vincent Sodjinou, WHO Representative in the Republic of Congo. “This commitment goes beyond Ebola. It is part of a comprehensive epidemic preparedness approach. This involves strengthening health systems, continuous staff training, establishing multisectoral coordination mechanisms and developing robust contingency plans.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Republic of the Congo.

October 15, 2025

President Boakai Declares Wednesday, October 15, ‘World Sight and White Cane Safety Day’

Source: APO

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., has by Proclamation declared Wednesday, October 15, 2025, as “World Sight and White Cane Safety Day,” to be observed throughout the Republic as a Working Holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, this year’s World Sight and White Cane Safety Day’s celebration will take place on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, in Montserrado County, under the theme: “Taking Action and Breaking Barriers–Advancing Economic and Social Inclusion in Line with the Government of Liberia’s AAREST Agenda for Inclusive Development”.

The Proclamation calls on all relevant ministries, local and international organizations NGO’s, civil society organizations, partners-in-progress, to join the National Union of Organizations for the Disabled, in collaboration with the National Commission on Disabilities and the Liberia Christian Association of the Blind in organizing appropriate programs befitting the observance of the Day.

The Proclamation is in consonance with Resolution 56.26, adopted by Health Ministries of the World Health Organization mandating Member States to observe World Sight and White Cane Safety Day focusing awareness on the recognition that eye health and visual impairment are of public health concern.

It further indicates that since the invention of the White Cane, it has become a significant symbol of courage and hope in blindness, which serves as traffic sign and courtesy request from police, motorists and pedestrians to give the right of way to the blind, including, access to all public transports.

The Proclamation also adds that it is the sole responsibility of the Government of Liberia to recognize and protect the fundamental human rights of its citizens, particularly, those who are physically challenged including the blind.

Approximately, 285 million people worldwide live with impaired vision and blindness and of these, 39 million people are blind; 246 million have moderate or severe visual impairment while 19 million children are visually impaired or blind, as 82 percent of the people live with blindness at age 50 and above in low-income countries across the world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.