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Italy: End Border Control Pact with Libya

Source: APO


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 Italy should revoke its damaging migrant cooperation agreement with Libya, Human Rights Watch said today. The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on migration cooperation will renew automatically for three years on November 2, 2025, if neither party revokes it or makes any revisions by that date.

The agreement, signed in 2017, includes significant material and technical support from Italy to the Libyan Coast Guard, which answers to one of the two rival authorities competing for legitimacy and control in Libya, the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU). This assistance has enabled Libyan Coast Guard forces over the last eight years to intercept tens of thousands of people at sea and return them to Libya, where they face inhumane conditions of detention, a high risk of torture, and other ill treatment. Libyan Coast Guard forces also threaten and endanger nongovernmental rescue vessels trying to bring people to safety.

“The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding has proven to be a framework for violence and suffering, and should be revoked, not renewed,” said Judith Sunderland, associate Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Italy needs to stop its complicity with the Libyan Coast Guard, who are implicated in the torture, exploitation, and degrading treatment of the people they interdict and bring back to Libya.”

Civil society organizations, including Refugees in Libya, a group of survivors of migrant-related violence in Libya, are mobilizing action against the Italy-Libya agreement and calling on the EU to suspend all migration cooperation with Libya.

Libyan migration officials from both the GNU and the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, the rival entity that controls eastern and southern Libya, were scheduled to visit Frontex headquarters in Warsaw and the European Commission in Brussels on October 14-16. EU officials should use any contact with Libyan officials to emphasize respect for human rights and call for accountability for abuses, Human Rights Watch said.

Despite overwhelming evidence of horrific detention conditions and abuse of migrants in Libya, the EU supports the Libyan forces’ efforts to detect boats and pull people back, including through aerial surveillance by the EU border agency Frontex over the central Mediterranean. The EU, like Italy, has supplied the Libyan Coast Guard with vessels and has spent hundreds of millions of euros on migration control in Libya since 2015.

On August 24, a Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat, donated by Italy, opened fire on the SOS MEDITERRANEE rescue ship Ocean Viking causing significant damage, while another patrol boat, also built in Italy, shot at a Sea-Watch rescue ship on September 26. The European Commission has insisted it will continue to support Libyan authorities, saying “to improve the situation, we need to remain engaged.”

People forced back to Libya experience serious abuses in migrant detention centers and prisons controlled by unaccountable armed groups and militias nominally linked with the authorities. The abuses include arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and unlawful deaths, including as result of torture. Detainees also experience inhuman and degrading treatment and conditions including sexual violence, beatings, overcrowding, deprivation of food and water, forced labor, and denial of access or a right to legal counsel.

The United Nations has said there is evidence of collusion between state forces, including the Libyan Coast Guard forces, and trafficking and smuggling networks, and concluded that state security forces and armed militias have most likely committed the crimes against humanity of sexual slavery and rape against migrants in Libya.

“Continued support for abusive, unaccountable forces in Libya is indefensible,” Sunderland said. “The EU and all of its member states, including Italy, should stop financing and legitimizing violence against migrants and fundamentally reorient its Mediterranean policies to prioritize rescue at sea and safe and legal pathways for migration.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

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President Ramaphosa mourns high death toll in Limpopo bus crash

Source: President of South Africa –

On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the nations of Zimbabwe and Malawi who have lost compatriots in a bus crash which took place near Makhado, Limpopo, on Sunday, 12 October 2025.

A reported 42 travellers died in the incident on the N1 on Sunday afternoon while they were en route to their home countries from Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased while he wishes the dozens of injured persons a full and speedy recovery.

President Ramaphosa said: “This incident is a tragedy for South Africa and our sister states of Zimbabwe and Malawi alike.

“This sadness is compounded by the fact that this incident has taken place during our annual Transport Month, where we place a special focus on the importance of safety on our roads.

“Our roads are also economic networks that bring the people of our region together across our national borders.

“We must do everything we can as road users, as transport operators, drivers and passengers to ensure that we stay safe and that we share our roads responsibly and with care for one another.”

 
Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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SA to sign MoU on infrastructure collaboration

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, October 13, 2025

The Governments of the Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will today sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on infrastructure collaboration.

“This landmark MoU establishes a strategic framework to accelerate infrastructure delivery and optimise the use of public assets in South Africa, fostering sustainable economic growth and development,” the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said in a statement on Sunday.

Monday’s MoU signing will take place in London. The agreement will be signed by Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and Sir Chris Bryant (MP), Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade in the UK.

The department explained that the key objectives of the collaboration include the acceleration of the delivery of high-impact infrastructure programmes and projects in South Africa, optimising the use of South African State-owned assets for public benefit, and enhancing local delivery capabilities through the sharing of world-class international expertise. It also includes technical assistance, as well as strengthening infrastructure planning and implementation at the municipal level in selected focus areas. – SAnews.gov.za

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SARS seizes R65 million narcotics at Durban Harbour

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, October 13, 2025

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has made a narcotics bust worth an estimated R65 million during a collaborative intelligence operation led at the Durban Harbour on Sunday morning.

Thirty bricks of suspected narcotics were seized during the operation that were stashed in the reefer refrigeration unit of a vessel.

“On [Sunday morning] Durban Customs Enforcement Team Launched the Customs Marine Unit Patrol Vessel – Striker to go and intercept the Motor Vessel near the Fairway Bouy at Outer Anchorage about 4 Nautical Miles of the East Coast of the Durban.

“The enforcement team intercepted the vessel as it was entering the port and escorted the vessel to its berth. The enforcement team boarded the vessel, interviewed the Master of the Vessel, and examined documentation to identify the location of a profiled container.

“The vessel was rummaged by the enforcement team, and the container was located on the vessel where the refrigeration unit was examined. This resulted in one positive detection of bricks of suspected narcotics,” SARS said in a statement.

SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, commended the teams for the successful bust.

“Customs demonstrated its gallantry by working so hard and focussed at the death of the night to intercept this vessel. 

“This speaks to an unwavering commitment by SARS to protect our borders and keep at bay all criminals that are bent on shipping harmful substance that cause unmitigated suffering for our inhabitants,” Kieswetter said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Transnet gets greenlight to continue with plans to upgrade DCT Pier 2

Source: Government of South Africa

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court dismissal of the application to set aside the selection of an equity partner for the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2, paves the way for Transnet proceed with plans to modernise and expand the terminal.

“This ruling confirms the integrity and transparency of Transnet’s procurement processes and governance structures. It removes a major hurdle to the implementation of the transaction. We can now focus all our energy on executing our plan to modernise and expand DCT Pier 2,” Transnet Group Chief Executive Michelle Phillips said on Friday.

In July 2023, Transnet selected International Container Terminal Services, Inc (ICTSI) as the preferred bidder for a 25-year joint venture with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) to develop and upgrade the terminal, with due diligence confirming the entity’s financial viability.

Pier 2 is the largest single container terminal at Transnet and handles 72% of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46% of South Africa’s container volumes, making it a critical gateway of trade.

Transnet has always maintained that a rigorous procurement process was followed to select the preferred bidder. 

Furthermore, a due diligence process was concluded to determine ICTSI’s financial soundness. The financial soundness report confirmed that ICTSI has the financial resources to conclude the transaction. 

According to Transnet, the procurement of a private sector partner is set to improve DCT Pier 2 terminal productivity and increase terminal throughput. 

The partnership will have a positive impact on Transnet, container supply chains and on the competitiveness of South Africa’s economy. 

The Port of Durban is South Africa’s main cargo and container port due to its strategic location along international shipping routes.

“[The ruling] paves the way for us to move expeditiously to finalise the implementation of this transaction without undue delay. We remain committed to transforming our ports into world-class hubs that unlock new trade opportunities through the deployment of state-of-the-art equipment.

“It is unfortunate that our endeavours to stimulate investments at DCT have been delayed. We hope that this unwanted delay is an isolated incident that will not set a precedent for future obstacles, particularly as we move forward with vital private sector participation (PSP) transactions,” Phillips said.

Transnet said the transaction is a major step in Transnet’s programme to crowd-in the private sector to bring in global expertise and capital and to improve efficiencies across the organisation’s terminals.

“Transnet wishes to reiterate that the tender process run by Transnet was both fair and transparent and the evaluation process concluded in an appropriate and objective manner consistent with the public procurement rules in South Africa.” – SAnews.gov.za

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Operation Shanela nabs over 700 suspects 

Source: Government of South Africa

Monday, October 13, 2025

Operation Shanela 2 efforts have led to the arrest of 777 suspects across various parts of Gauteng, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said.

Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection (also acting as Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Policing), Major General Mbuso Khumalo, led law enforcement agencies as they embarked on the weekend’s operations.

“These suspects were arrested for serious and violent crimes that include murder, attempted murder, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, robbery, rape and sexual assault,” Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said.

Operation Shanela 2 was conducted across all five districts in the province from 10 – 12 October 2025, where 255 wanted suspects were arrested in the Tshwane District and 196 suspects were arrested in the Johannesburg District.

Ekurhuleni saw 137 wanted suspects being arrested, while 186 suspects were arrested in Sedibeng and West Rand Districts. A further 265 suspects were arrested as police embarked on roadblocks, stop-and-searches, as well as compliance checks on liquor outlets.

“The arrested suspects will appear before different magistrate courts in Gauteng in due course,” said the police. – SAnews.gov.za

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SA launches first harbour-based net recycling facility

Source: Government of South Africa

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has officially launched South Africa’s first harbour-based net recycling facility at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. 

The containerised “micro-recycling pod”, located at Collier Jetty, processes end-of-life fishing nets into high-value raw materials for reuse in plastic manufacturing.

“The solution we see here today, the recycling and repurposing of end-of-life fishing gear, provides a glimpse of what a sustainable future can look like. This is how we build resilience in our blue economy, ensuring that economic activity supports environmental protection,” the Minister said on Friday.

The recycling pod, housed in a converted shipping container, can shred, wash, dry and densify up to 100 kilograms of used nets per hour. 

By transforming discarded fishing gear into clean plastic flakes, the facility prevents waste from reaching landfills or the ocean, reduces the risk of ghost fishing gear, and creates new economic opportunities.

The launch of this pilot project was led by OCEAN Action Network (OCEAN) and Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), while the South African Deep-Sea Trawling Industry Association (SADSTIA) supported the project by securing funding from the Marine Stewardship Council’s Ocean Stewardship Fund. 

The V&A Waterfront also supported the project by donating space to host and operate the facility. 

The Minister commended the initiative, noting that it supports South Africa’s national commitments under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, and advances global goals such as Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. 

He also emphasised that the project complements the ambitions of the emerging Global Plastic Treaty and reflects South Africa’s leadership on this issue within the Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency. 

“This is more than just a recycling project. It’s about protecting marine ecosystems, supporting South Africa’s fishing communities, and building a model that can be replicated in other harbours around the country and across the continent,” OCEAN Managing Director Estelle van der Merwe said.

SADSTIA Executive Secretary Johann Augustyn highlighted the project’s alignment with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Fisheries Standard.

“Mitigating the impacts of ghost gear is essential for healthy oceans. We hope this South African pilot inspires wider adoption of innovative, technology-based recycling solutions,” Augustyn said.

With the recycling pod now fully operational, the next step is to scale the model. 

OPT’s self-contained plant is designed for easy replication, and additional containers can be deployed to other harbours.

The net recycling project aims to create a scalable, circular economy solution for marine plastic waste right at the harbour’s edge.

It will also create awareness of the importance of recycling among residents and visitors to the V&A Waterfront.

“Our oceans are the lifeblood of South Africa’s environmental and economic future. Initiatives like this show the power of partnership and innovation in driving real change. When we work together across government, business and civil society, we turn waste into opportunity and stewardship into action,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Lancement des compétitions départementales interclasses culturelles : Plus de 4000 jeunes élèves en compétition dans les 12 départements

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Après deux années scolaires d’expérimentation, l’heure est à la reddition de compte dans les 12 départements abritant des établissements à classes culturelles. Les compétitions interclasses culturelles, moyen d’évaluation du Projet, ont été officiellement lancées le samedi 11 octobre 2025 au CEG Gbégamey à Cotonou. C’était sous la présidence du Ministre du Tourisme, de la Culture et des Arts, Monsieur Jean-Michel ABIMBOLA, et de sa collègue des Enseignements secondaires, techniques et de la Formation professionnelle, Madame Véronique TOGNIFODÉ. Cet évènement marque une nouvelle étape dans la mise en œuvre du Projet de promotion des talents et de renforcement des capacités dans le secteur de la culture, dont les classes culturelles constituent l’un des piliers majeurs. 

Placées sous le leadership du Ministre ABIMBOLA, ces compétitions visent à donner vie à la vision du Chef de l’État Patrice TALON, de révéler et de valoriser les talents des jeunes dès le milieu scolaire. En initiant cette dynamique, le Gouvernement fait le pari d’un Bénin où l’éducation et la culture avancent main dans la main, pour façonner une jeunesse créative et ouverte sur le monde. 

Selon le Ministre ABIMBOLA, « les classes culturelles sont une promesse faite à nos enfants : celle de transformer les rêves en disciplines, les passions en vocations et les vocations en métiers ». Il a souligné que ces compétitions constituent « un moment où les apprentissages se transforment en créations, où les efforts deviennent spectacles, chansons, toiles et gestes de scène ». 

Mais avant, Madame Véronique TOGNIFODÉ a, dans son intervention, salué la synergie entre les deux ministères et a exhorté les apprenants à profiter pleinement de cet important projet du Programme d’Action du Gouvernement (PAG). Pour elle, « l’art est un levier essentiel de formation et d’épanouissement ; il permet à chaque élève de mieux se connaître, de s’exprimer et de rêver plus grand ». 

De son côté, Monsieur Blaise TCHÉTCHAO, Coordonnateur du Projet de promotion des talents et de renforcement des capacités dans le secteur de la culture, a rappelé la portée nationale de cette initiative. « Les compétitions se déroulent dans les douze départements du Bénin, sur trois samedis successifs, et mobilisent plus de 4.000 apprenants issus de 89 établissements abritant les classes culturelles. C’est une véritable fête de la jeunesse, de l’effort et du génie créateur ». Il a également rendu hommage à la clairvoyance du gouvernement pour avoir rendu possible ce projet novateur, saluant l’engagement de tous les acteurs, notamment des encadreurs, superviseurs et élèves, pour la réussite de cette première édition. 

Entre danse, théâtre, musique et arts plastiques, ces compétitions témoignent de la vitalité du génie béninois et confirment la place de la culture comme moteur de développement. Plus qu’un concours, les compétitions interclasses culturelles ainsi lancées, symbolisent une école de liberté et d’excellence, au service d’un Bénin créatif, fier et inspiré.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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Lutte contre les ravageurs dans les vergers : Agence Territoriale de Développement Agricole (ATDA) 5 forme et dote 11.172 planteurs de pièges contre les mouches de fruits

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le Gouvernement du Bénin, à travers l’Agence Territoriale de Développement Agricole du pôle 5, (ATDA Zou-Couffo) du Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Élevage et de la Pêche, vole au secours des planteurs de mangues dont les plantations sont attaquées par les ravageurs. L’agence a formé ces exploitants agricoles aux techniques de pose des engins et les a dotés des pièges à mouches de fruits. 

Ce sont 23.450 pièges de lutte contre les mouches de fruits qui ont été gratuitement mis à la disposition de 11.172 arboriculteurs exerçant dans les Pôles de Développement Agricole 2, 3, 4 et 5, regroupant les bassins de production de mangues de 14 communes des départements du Zou, du Couffo, de la Donga, de l’Atacora et du Borgou. Mais le pôle 5 a d’abord jugé bon de coupler la remise de ces kits aux producteurs par leur formation, assurée par un spécialiste, un agronome espagnol, Edouard PI. Les planteurs ont, au cours de ces sessions, appris à poser les engins et piéger les mouches de fruits. La formation et la distribution des kits ont eu lieu à Abomey, Dassa, Natitingou, N’Dali et Bembèrèkè. 

Monsieur CHABI SERO Nourou-Dine, Assistant du Coordonnateur National du Programme de Développement des Filières de l’Arboriculture Fruitière, a souligné que ces sessions de formation visent à améliorer la maîtrise des techniques de lutte contre ce ravageur majeur des manguiers et autres fruitiers, en vue de réduire les pertes post-récolte et d’améliorer la compétitivité de la filière. En effet, les arboriculteurs déplorent des pertes de plus de 80% de leurs productions annuelles, dues à ces ravageurs. Mais heureusement, se sont-ils réjouis, ces pièges viendront sauver leurs productions, leurs investissements et la filière mangue. El Hadj Djanati NATA OSSENI, Arboriculteur à Boukoumbé, déjà utilisateur de ces pièges, a témoigné de son efficacité. 

Pour Madame Richicatou SALE,  Directrice Générale du Pôle 5, aucun planteur ne doit manquer de ces pièges dans sa plantation, pour une lutte efficace et l’atteinte des objectifs fixés à la filière à travers son Programme National de Développement. Il s’agit, entre autres, de produire des mangues de variétés “Amélie” et “Kent” de bonnes qualités, d’en transformer sur place et d’en exporter également.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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World Health Organization (WHO) warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide

Source: APO – Report:

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One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections causing common infections in people worldwide in 2023 were resistant to antibiotic treatments, according to a new World Health Organization (WHO) report launched today. Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance rose in over 40% of the pathogen-antibiotic combinations monitored, with an average annual increase of 5–15%. 

Data reported to the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) from over 100 countries cautions that increasing resistance to essential antibiotics poses a growing threat to global health. 

The new Global antibiotic resistance surveillance report 2025 presents, for the first time, resistance prevalence estimates across 22 antibiotics used to treat infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, the bloodstream and those used to treat gonorrhoea. The report covers 8 common bacterial pathogens – Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, non-typhoidal Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae – each linked to one or more of these infections.

The risk of antibiotic resistance varies across the world 

WHO estimates that antibiotic resistance is highest in the WHO South-East Asian and Eastern Mediterranean Regions, where 1 in 3 reported infections were resistant. In the African Region, 1 in 5 infections was resistant. Resistance is also more common and worsening in places where health systems lack capacity to diagnose or treat bacterial pathogens. 

“Antimicrobial resistance is outpacing advances in modern medicine, threatening the health of families worldwide,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “As countries strengthen their AMR surveillance systems, we must use antibiotics responsibly, and make sure everyone has access to the right medicines, quality-assured diagnostics, and vaccines. Our future also depends on strengthening systems to prevent, diagnose and treat infections and on innovating with next-generation antibiotics and rapid point-of-care molecular tests.”

Gram-negative bacterial pathogens are posing the greatest threat

The new report notes that drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are becoming more dangerous worldwide, with the greatest burden falling on countries least equipped to respond. Among these, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are the leading drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria found in bloodstream infections. These are among the most severe bacterial infections that often result in sepsis, organ failure, and death. Yet more than 40% of E. coli and over 55% of K. pneumoniae globally are now resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, the first-choice treatment for these infections. In the African Region, resistance even exceeds 70%. 

Other essential life-saving antibiotics, including carbapenems and fluoroquinolones, are losing effectiveness against E. coli, K. pneumoniae, Salmonella, and Acinetobacter. Carbapenem resistance, once rare, is becoming more frequent, narrowing treatment options and forcing reliance on last-resort antibiotics. And such antibiotics are costly, difficult to access, and often unavailable in low- and middle-income countries.

Welcome progress in AMR surveillance – but more action needed

Country participation in GLASS has increased over four-fold, from 25 countries in 2016 to 104 countries in 2023. However, 48% of countries did not report data to GLASS in 2023 and about half of the reporting countries still lacked the systems to generate reliable data. In fact, countries facing the largest challenges lacked the surveillance capacity to assess their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation. 

The political declaration on AMR adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 set targets to address AMR through strengthening health systems and working with a ‘One Health’ approach coordinating across human health, animal health, and environmental sectors. To combat the growing challenge of AMR, countries must commit to strengthening laboratory systems and generating reliable surveillance data, especially from underserved areas, to inform treatments and policies.

WHO calls on all countries to report high-quality data on AMR and antimicrobial use to GLASS by 2030. Achieving this target will require concerted action to strengthen the quality, geographic coverage, and sharing of AMR surveillance data to track progress. Countries should scale up coordinated interventions designed to address antimicrobial resistance across all levels of healthcare and ensure that treatment guidelines and essential medicines lists align with local resistance patterns.

The report is accompanied by expanded digital content available in the WHO’s GLASS dashboard, which provides global and regional summaries, country profiles based on unadjusted surveillance coverage and AMR data, and detailed information on antimicrobial use.

– on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO).