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Advisor to Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Qatar Urges Global Pressure on Israel to Respond to Gaza Ceasefire Proposal

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, August 26

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari affirmed that the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt have been engaged since the first day of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip in serious mediation to end the aggression, based on the presumed seriousness of the parties to reach an agreement.

Dr. Al Ansari said, during the weekly media briefing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tuesday, that the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) had previously announced its approval of the new ceasefire proposal, which largely aligns with previous Israeli demands. He added that Israel has not yet provided any official response to the mediators proposal, noting that the State of Qatar urges international parties to exert pressure on Israel to respond to the mediation proposal, as the ball is now in the Israeli court, which does not want to reach an agreement. He also said that the State of Qatar was still waiting for an official response, and that Israel must clarify its reservations about the proposed text before it.

He pointed out that Qatar and Egypt did not pay attention to the location of the negotiations as much as they focused on the main goal, which is the ceasefire, indicating that the circulated statements regarding changing the location of the negotiations are part of political maneuvering, while the most important issue remains the Israeli response to the proposal.

Dr. Al Ansari noted that about ten days have passed since Hamas responded with approval to the proposal without an official response from the Israeli side, confirming that the mediators are in continuous contact with the United States and other concerned parties to push the negotiation process forward.

The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that the withdrawal statements from the negotiations are unofficial and are issued for internal political considerations in Israel, noting that the State of Qatar welcomes the participation of various international parties in the mediation efforts, but focuses on the main goal, which is the ceasefire.

He expressed the State of Qatar strong condemnation of the targeting of journalists in Gaza, pointing out that the targeting of more than one hundred journalists cannot be a mistake, but rather an attempt to obscure the facts.

Dr. Al Ansari called on the international community to exert more pressure on Israel to stop targeting journalists, ambulance crews, and civilians, stressing that those who kill journalists either hide facts or commit crimes they seek to cover up.

In another matter, the Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the continued Qatari mediation efforts in regional and international files, including supporting the peace process in the Republic of the Congo, expressing the State of Qatar gratitude to all parties involved in this path, and confirming its commitment to continue its efforts to reach an agreement.

At the beginning of the briefing, Dr. Al Ansari reviewed the most prominent activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the week, including the meeting of HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, at the first meeting of the Coordination Council for Strategic Partnership between the two countries, held in Doha.

He also referred to His Excellency meeting with HE the member of the US Congress Senator Joni Ernst, and with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Constantinos Kombos, noting that HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs will leave Doha on Thursday heading to Cairo to lead the Qatari delegation at the sixth session of the Joint Higher Committee between the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt.

In the same context, Dr. Al Ansari mentioned that HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi chaired the Qatari delegation at the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held in Jeddah to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

His Excellency also met on the sidelines of the meeting with HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein, while HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, met with officials from the Republic of South Africa.

Additionally, the State of Qatar announced the success of its mediation in reuniting a new group of children with their families in Russia and Ukraine, bringing the total number of children reunited with their families since the beginning of the mediation efforts to 107 children. 

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South Africa: Public Safety and Justice Survey Points to Inherent Challenge of Trust in the Police

Source: APO – Report:

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr Ian Cameron, has noted Statistics South Africa’s release of the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey 2024/25, which highlights the worrying and inherent trust deficit between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the broader community.

“It is worrying that it is estimated that only about 43% (43,4%) of households that experienced housebreaking in the 2024/25 financial year reported some or all incidents to the police, and that about 51% (51,3%) of households that experienced home robbery reported some or all incidents to the police. This is a worrying low number of reported incidents to the police and points to an inherent trust deficit,” Mr Cameron emphasised.

While these challenges are evident in the high police-to-population ratio and the perennial lack of tools of trade, such as vehicles, the Chairperson highlighted that the SAPS should use the statistics to enhance their efforts and adopt a data-driven approach to policing.

The Chairperson also highlighted that the most common crime consistently experienced by South Africans is housebreaking/burglary/robbery. “The South African Police Service must do more to enhance visible policing, especially in hotspot areas, to ensure a feeling of safety, especially in their homes,” Mr Cameron said.

The increase in sexual offences is also a point of concern for the Chairperson. It is worrying that Stats SA reported that about 132 000 individuals experienced sexual offences over the past five years, an increase of 13.8%. In its recent visit to KwaZulu-Natal at the South African Police Service (SAPS) Forensic Science Laboratory division, the committee highlighted concerns around processing DNA samples to ensure effective prosecution of GBV cases. “The increase in cases highlights for the SAPS the need to urgently resolve the matter to ensure that perpetrators are brought to book. The only deterrence against GBV is effective prosecution,” Mr Cameron highlighted.

It is also worrying that the proportion of adults aged 16 and older who felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods during the day declined from 85% in 2020/21 to 80,4% in 2023/24, before edging up slightly to 81% in 2024/25, pointing to declining perceptions of safety. The Chairperson has highlighted the importance of visible policing, especially at night, where only 36,1% adults feel safe in the 2024/25 financial year.

While the Chairperson acknowledged SAPS’s shortcomings in resolving the current crime challenge, he has also called for a broader societal reflection on how, as a society, we can contribute to efforts to fight crime. “It is important that we adopt a whole-of-society approach to fight crime, either by sharing information with police or establishing functional community policing forums to enhance collaboration in the fight against crime. The police cannot do it alone,” Mr Cameron emphasised.

The committee intends to interact with Statistics South Africa and SAPS on the general crime statistics, especially the misalignment between the SAPS’s crime statistics and the perception on the ground, as revealed in the Stats SA survey.

– on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

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Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9): African Development Bank signs agreement with Shimizu Corporation, Kao Corporation and Nippon Road Co Ltd to advance climate-resilient road maintenance solutions for Africa

Source: APO – Report:

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI)with the Shimizu Corporation, Kao Corporation and The Nippon Road Co Ltd to advance cooperation in the deployment of innovative, climate-resilient road maintenance solutions in Africa.

The agreement was signed by Solomon Quaynor, African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, and executives from Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road on Thursday 21 August, on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, Japan.

The LoI will formalize a framework for mutual cooperation, information and knowledge sharing, as well as the exploration of co-financing opportunities for sustainable infrastructure solutions across Africa.

The consortium’s PET Asphalt Concrete technology, a reinforced asphalt mixture with recycled PET plastic bottles, was selected in June 2025 through a competitive call for proposals under the Bank’s Sustainable Road Maintenance Program for Africa (SRMPA). The solution demonstrates strong potential to enhance sustainability in Africa’s road maintenance sector, while supporting circular economy principles.

Under the agreement, the African Development Bank will facilitate coordination with governments, lead awareness-raising campaigns, support capacity building for local partners, and explore financing options for deployment of the technology.

Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road for their part, will conduct demand and feasibility studies, test the application of PET Asphalt Concrete in various African contexts, and assess investment opportunities for scaling up upon successful results.

“The Sustainable Road Maintenance Program for Africa (SRMPA) is an innovative initiative by the Bank aiming at offering climate resilient solutions to protect infrastructure investments from the impacts of climate change,” Quaynor stated. “Partnering with Shimizu, Kao, and Nippon Road will enable Africa to benefit from cutting-edge circular economy technology while addressing the growing backlog of road maintenance needs.”

Mr. Kazuya Osako, Managing Officer and Director, International Civil Engineering Division, Shimizu Corporation, said: “We believe that the key to successfully spreading this technology in Africa is a collaboration with local companies and partners.”

Shimuzu has already begun  testing the PET Asphalt Concrete in Kenya since May this year, Osaka added.

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg
Communication and External Relations Department
email: media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

About Shimizu Corporation:
Shimizu engages in civil engineering and construction, committed to deploying innovative solutions for sustainable infrastructure. Website: https://www.Shimz.co.jp/en/

About Kao Corporation:
Kao engages in consumer and chemical products, committed to providing innovative solutions for the infrastructure sector through its chemical business. Website: https://www.Kao.com/global/en/

About Nippon Road Co., Ltd.:
Nippon Road, a group company of Shimizu Corporation, primarily engages in road construction and paving work, alongside general civil engineering, sports facilities and related businesses. Website: https://www.NipponRoad.co.jp/english/

Media files

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Buffer Zone Approaches Highlighted at Southern African Development Community (SADC) Meeting

Source: APO – Report:

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The second day of the Regional Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Establishment of a Buffer Zone against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in the SADC Region is focusing on the technical and institutional prerequisites necessary to advance the global objective of eradicating PPR by 2030.

The necessity of synchronising vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and reporting systems throughout the region was emphasised by experts, who also noted persistent breaches in cross-border coordination and inadequate laboratory capacity. The technical presentations elucidated the methods by which buffer zones, which are geographically defined areas that separate infected from disease-free regions, can prevent the spread of PPR. These methods include public awareness campaigns, stringent surveillance, movement control, and blanket vaccination.

In addition, the session examined the regulatory frameworks of compartmentalisation and zoning under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Southern Africa’s most practicable and cost-effective approach was emphasised as zoning, while compartmentalisation could provide support for high-value and export-oriented enterprises.

Speakers underscored that buffer zones are not only valuable instruments for disease control, but also facilitate trade, livelihoods, and food security, particularly for small ruminant farmers. In an effort to guarantee success, the discussions emphasised the significance of sustainable financing, community compliance, and law enforcement engagement.

The session established the groundwork for the afternoon working groups, which are examining the following topics: (i) Surveillance and Diagnostics; (2) Vaccination and Cold Chain Logistics; (3) Animal Movement and Quarantine; (4) Stakeholder Engagement and Communications; and (5) Regional Coordination and Governance. To safeguard Southern Africa from the menace of PPR and to contribute to global eradication efforts, all of these are necessary for resourcing, coordination, and operational planning. Stay tuned.

– on behalf of The African Union – Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).

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Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Receives Phone Call from Spanish Foreign Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, August 26

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani received a phone call on Tuesday from HE Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, Jose Manuel Albares.

During the call, they discussed advancing bilateral cooperation, the developments in the Gaza Strip and the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as a range of topics of shared interest.

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the State of Qatar’s profound gratitude for the Kingdom of Spain’s supportive positions in achieving peace in the region and the world, underscoring the importance of ratcheting up regional and global efforts to bring the savage war on the Gaza Strip to a close, ensure the unhindered and sustainable flow of humanitarian aid into the Strip, and secure the release of hostages and prisoners.

In addition, His Excellency reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s full support for all good-faith endeavors aiming to settle the Palestinian cause through peaceful means and enforce the two-state solution. 

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Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Meets Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister

Source: Government of Qatar

Jeddah, August 25 

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Monday with HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq Fuad Hussein. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to a number of topics of common interest.

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Qatar Takes Part in Extraordinary Session of Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC Member States to Consider Continuing Israeli Aggression Against Palestinian People

Source: Government of Qatar

Jeddah, August 25 

The State of Qatar took part Monday in the Extraordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to consider the continuing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people, convened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, led the State of Qatar’s delegation to the session.

In the State of Qatar’s statements before the session, His Excellency said the Palestinian cause remains central for the Islamic nation, which grapples today with dire challenges and threats, triggering this emergency convention amid the unprecedented escalation of the Israeli aggression against the brotherly Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Over a million humans face systematic starvation crimes and a tight blockade, amid the announcement of an Israeli plan to militarily take over the entire Gaza Strip to impose a new forced reality that reconsolidates the occupation in unconscionable breach of international law and resolutions of international legitimacy, Al Muraikhi added.

He stressed that the State of Qatar confirms its flat-out rejection and condemnation of all the Israeli unlawful practices, in terms of any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their territories whether in Gaza, the West Bank, or the occupied Jerusalem, along with the policies Israel pursues to expand settlement, and cautions against the menacing consequences of these kinds of policies and plans on regional and global security.

Al Muraikhi reiterated the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the latest crime to displace the Palestinian journalists operating in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in killing six of them, among them five who were working for Al Jazeera network.

It is no doubt that targeting media practitioners represents an egregious violation of international humanitarian law and a deliberate attempt to muzzle the voice of truth, which, at the end of the day, exposes the Israeli occupation’s crimes, His Excellency underlined.

Al Muraikhi further expressed the State of Qatar’s strong condemnation of the assaults on medical personnel and paramedics who operate in profoundly tough humanitarian conditions to save lives, since this move constitutes a double crime against humanity that requires holding the perpetrators to account and ensuring full protection for those medical practitioners.

The unabating Israeli military transgressions and disregard for humanitarian and legal principles are emboldened by inaction on the part of the international community to uphold its responsibilities and encourage impunity, His Excellency underlined.

Accordingly, His Excellency said, there is a desperate need for immediate and effective international action to bring the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the entire occupied Palestinian territories to an end, lift the unjust blockade imposed on Gaza immediately, allow the unhindered and unconditional flow of humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and fuel, ensure protection for civilians and infrastructure, and enable relief organizations to undertake their duties based on international humanitarian law.

In addition, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s undertaking to diligently continue its efforts alongside the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States to reach a lasting ceasefire, ensure the release of hostages and prisoners as a springboard for a serious political path toward the two-state solution, culminating in the establishment of the independent Palestinian State on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Al Muraikhi underscored the importance of executing the outcomes of the High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, convened in New York and co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic.

Finally, His Excellency added that the State of Qatar reiterates its commendation and welcome of the decisions taken by the nations that declared their recognition of the Palestinian statehood, as positive steps that align with international legitimacy and support the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to have their independent state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

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Mode et L’Art avec un But : CEO de la Fondation Merck exploite la créativité pour impulser un changement significatif et sensibiliser aux enjeux sociaux et sanitaires critiques en Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

La Fondation Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, célèbre la « Journée Mondiale de l’Art 2025 » à travers sa communauté panafricaine « Art et Mode avec un But », créée par la Sénatrice Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck. Grâce à cette communauté dynamique, le Dr Kelej continue de sensibiliser le public aux problèmes sanitaires et sociaux cruciaux, tout en permettant aux artistes d’Afrique et d’ailleurs d’utiliser leur créativité comme un puissant outil de plaidoyer, d’éducation et de promotion d’un changement culturel au sein de leurs communautés.

Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck et l’Une des 100 Africaines les Plus Influentes en 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 et 2024, a souligné : « Je suis ravie de célébrer la Journée Mondiale de l’Art 2025, car je crois fermement que l’art, la mode et les médias ont un pouvoir immense pour sensibiliser et résoudre les problèmes sociaux et sanitaires critiques, créant ainsi un changement de culture au sein des communautés. L’art et la mode, pour moi, vont bien au-delà de l’esthétique ou du divertissement, ils servent d’outils significatifs pour l’éducation et le plaidoyer. Forts de cette vision, nous avons lancé de nombreuses initiatives, notamment notre toute première émission télévisée panafricaine, Notre Afrique par la Fondation Merck, qui met en lumière de manière unique les problèmes urgents à travers le continent à travers les voix de notre communauté « Mode et Art avec un But ». Grâce à ce spectacle unique en son genre et à nos autres initiatives uniques, nous continuons à sensibiliser aux problèmes sociaux cruciaux tels que la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, le soutien à l’éducation des filles, mettre fin aux mariages des enfants et mutilations génitales féminines, lutte contre les violences sexistes, autonomisation des femmes, ainsi que sur des questions de santé telles que le diabète, l’hypertension et bien plus encore. »

« Notre Afrique par la Fondation Merck » est une émission télévisée panafricaine conceptualisée, produite, réalisée et co-animée par la Sénatrice, Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO de la Fondation Merck. Elle met en vedette des créateurs de mode, des chanteurs et d’éminents experts africains de divers domaines, dans le but de sensibiliser et de créer un changement de culture en Afrique. L’émission a captivé l’attention et le cœur de millions de téléspectateurs à travers l’Afrique.

Le programme télévisé a été diffusé sur les principales chaînes de télévision de nombreux pays comme KTN HOME (Kenya), GH One & TV3 (Ghana), NTV (Ouganda), BTV (Botswana), Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (Gambie), KTN (Kenya), LNTV (Libéria), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Maurice), AYV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Ouganda), ZNBC (Zambie), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namibie) et plus encore.

L’émission télévisée « Notre Afrique » est actuellement diffusée sur les réseaux sociaux de la Sénatrice, Dr. Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47fDfBA), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4pbtyuz), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/41Wn5tb) et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41UlyUs)] et de la Fondation Merck [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl) et YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI)].

Regardez la promotion de l’émission ici : https://apo-opa.co/4oRg070

Au-delà de l’émission télévisée « Notre Afrique », la Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec les Premières Dames d’Afrique, annonce chaque année 8 prix importants, sous deux thèmes : les médias, les créateurs de mode, les cinéastes et les musiciens/chanteurs, ainsi que les jeunes talents africains potentiels dans ces domaines. Les thèmes des deux catégories de prix sont : 1) Briser la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, soutenir l’éducation des filles, mettre fin au mariage des enfants, mettre fin aux MGF, mettre fin à la violence sexiste et/ou à l’autonomisation des femmes à tous les niveaux et 2) promouvoir un mode de vie sain et sensibiliser à la prévention et au dépistage précoce du diabète et de l’hypertension. Les éditions 2025 ont été annoncées lors de la 11ème édition du Fondation Merck Africa Asia Luminary, qui s’est tenue en Tanzanie en octobre 2024.

Dr. Kelej a souligné : « Il est bien connu que la créativité de l’Afrique reflète son riche patrimoine, exprimé sous forme d’art, de tissus, de musique et de récits, et se transmet de génération en génération. C’est pourquoi nous lançons ces prix chaque année, avec mes chères sœurs, les Premières Dames Africaines, qui sont également les Ambassadrices de la Fondation Merck « Plus Qu’une Mère ». Grâce à nos Prix, nous souhaitons inspirer la jeunesse du continent à utiliser ses talents innés pour répondre à nos enjeux sociaux et sanitaires importants et critiques, en sensibilisant le public à travers leur travail créatif à tous les niveaux. »

Les candidatures pour les Prix peuvent être envoyées à : submit@merck-foundation.com

De plus, dans le cadre de ses Programmes de Sensibilisation Communautaire, la Fondation Merck a créé plus de 30 chansons avec de nombreux artistes africains, en anglais, français, portugais et dans les langues africaines locales, pour aborder des questions cruciales telles que la lutte contre la stigmatisation liée à l’infertilité, l’autonomisation des femmes, le soutien à l’éducation des filles, mettre fin aux mariages des enfants, la sensibilisation au diabète, la promotion d’un mode de vie sain, et plus encore.

La Fondation Merck, en partenariat avec les Premières Dames d’Afrique, a également lancé 8 livres d’histoires pour enfants en trois langues : anglais, français et portugais. De plus, la Fondation Merck a adapté ces livres d’histoires pour créer des films d’animation captivants afin de sensibiliser les communautés aux enjeux importants et d’instaurer un changement au niveau local.

Pour écouter les chansons de la Fondation Merck, lire les livres d’histoires de la Fondation Merck et regarder les films d’animation de la Fondation Merck, cliquez sur les liens ci-dessous :  

https://apo-opa.co/47JD4P2

https://apo-opa.co/4mzhpgY

Distribué par APO Group pour Merck Foundation.

Contact :
Mehak Handa
Responsable du programme de sensibilisation communautaire
Téléphone : +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
E-mail : mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Rejoignez la conversation sur nos plateformes de réseaux sociaux ci-dessous et faites entendre votre voix :
Facebook : https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q
X : https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl
YouTube : https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI
Instagram : https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC
Threads : https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc
Flickr : https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX
Site Web : www.Merck-Foundation.com
Télécharger l’Application de la Fondation Merck : https://apo-opa.co/4p8rW4G

À propos de la Fondation Merck : 
La Fondation Merck, créée en 2017, est la branche philanthropique de Merck KGaA Allemagne, vise à améliorer la santé et le bien-être des populations et à faire progresser leur vie grâce à la science et à la technologie. Nos efforts sont principalement axés sur l’amélioration de l’accès à des solutions de soins de santé de qualité et équitables dans les communautés mal desservies, à renforcer les capacités de recherche sur les soins de santé et la recherche scientifique, l’autonomisation des filles à travers l’éducation et l’autonomisation des personnes en STEM (Science, Technologie, Ingénierie et Mathématiques) avec un accent particulier sur les femmes et les jeunes. Tous les communiqués de presse de la Fondation Merck sont distribués par e-mail en même temps qu’ils deviennent disponibles sur le site Web de la Fondation Merck. Veuillez visiter www.Merck-Foundation.com pour en savoir plus. Pour en savoir plus, contactez nos réseaux sociaux de la Fondation Merck : Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), X (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc) et Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX).

La Fondation Merck se consacre à l’amélioration des résultats sociaux et sanitaires pour les communautés dans le besoin. Bien qu’elle collabore avec divers partenaires, y compris des gouvernements, pour atteindre ses objectifs humanitaires, la fondation reste strictement neutre sur le plan politique. Elle ne s’engage pas et ne soutient pas d’activités, d’élections ou de régimes politiques, se focalise uniquement sur sa mission d’élever l’humanité et d’améliorer le bien-être tout en maintenant une position strictement apolitique dans toutes ses activités.

Media files

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Moda e Arte com Propósito: CEO da Fundação Merck utiliza a criatividade para impulsionar mudanças significativas e conscientizar sobre questões sociais e de saúde críticas em toda a África

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

A Fundação Merck (www.Merck-Foundation.com), braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, celebra o “Dia Mundial da Arte 2025” por meio da sua Comunidade Pan-Africana “Arte e Moda com Propósito”, criada pela Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck. Por meio dessa comunidade dinâmica, a Drª Kelej continua a conscientizar sobre questões críticas de saúde e sociais, ao mesmo tempo em que empodera artistas em toda a África e em outros lugares a usar a sua criatividade como uma ferramenta poderosa para advocacia, educação e promoção de uma mudança cultural nas suas comunidades.

A Senadora, Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck e uma das 100 africanas mais influentes em 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 e 2024, enfatizou: “Estou muito feliz em celebrar o ‘Dia Mundial da Arte 2025’, pois acredito firmemente que a arte, a moda e a mídia têm um imenso poder na conscientização e no enfrentamento de questões sociais e de saúde críticas, criando, em última análise, uma mudança cultural nas comunidades. A Arte e a moda, para mim, vão muito além da estética ou do entretenimento; elas servem como ferramentas significativas para a educação e a defesa de direitos. Com essa visão, lançamos muitas iniciativas, incluindo o nosso primeiro programa televisivo pan-africano, Nossa África da Fundação Merck, que destaca de forma única questões urgentes em todo o continente por meio das vozes da nossa comunidade ‘Moda e Arte com Propósito’. Por meio deste programa único e de nossas outras iniciativas exclusivas, continuamos a conscientizar sobre questões sociais críticas, como Quebrar o Estigma da Infertilidade, o Apoiar a Educação de Meninas, Acabar com o Casamento Infantil e a Mutilação Genital Feminina, Acabar com a Violência do Género, Empoderamento Feminino e também sobre questões de saúde como diabetes, hipertensão e muito mais.

“A Nossa África da Fundação Merck” é um programa televisivo pan-africano idealizado, produzido, realizado e coapresentado pela Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej, CEO da Fundação Merck, que apresenta estilos de moda africanos, cantores e especialistas renomados de diversas áreas, com o objectivo de conscientizar e promover uma mudança cultural em toda a África. O programa atraiu a atenção e o coração de milhões de telespectadores em todo o continente.

O programa televisivo foi transmitido nas principais estações televisivas de muitos países, como KTN HOME (Quénia), GH One & TV3 (Gana), NTV (Uganda), BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), QTV (Gâmbia), KTN (Quénia), LNTV (Libéria), Mibawa TV (Malawi), Deffi Media (Maurícias), AYV (Serra Leoa), NTV (Uganda), ZNBC (Zâmbia), ZTN (Zimbabwe), NTV (Namíbia) e muito mais.

O Programa Televisivo “Nossa África ” está actualmente nas redes sociais da Senadora Drª Rasha Kelej [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/47fDfBA), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4pbtyuz), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/41Wn5tb) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/41UlyUs)] e Fundação Merck [Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl) e YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mKr58o].

Assista à promoção do programa aqui: https://apo-opa.co/4oRg070

No programa televisivo Além da Nossa África, a Fundação Merck, em parceria com as Primeiras-Damas Africanas, anuncia anualmente 8 importantes prémios, divididos em dois temas: Mídia, Moda, Cinema e Canção, além de jovens talentos africanos em potencial nessas áreas. Os temas das duas categorias de prémios são: 1) Quebrar o Estigma da Infertilidade, Apoiar a Educação de Meninas, Acabar com o Casamento Infantil, Acabar com a MGF, Acabar com a VBG e/ou o Empoderamento Feminino em todos os níveis; e 2) Promover um estilo de vida saudável e conscientizar sobre a prevenção e o diagnóstico precoce de Diabetes e Hipertensão. As edições de 2025 foram anunciadas durante a 11ª edição da Luminária África Ásia da Fundação Merck, realizado na Tanzânia em outubro de 2024.

A Drª Kelej enfatizou: “É amplamente sabido que a criatividade da África reflete a sua rica herança, expressa na forma de arte, tecidos, música e narrativas, e é transmitida de geração em geração. Por isso, lançamos esses prêmios anualmente, com minhas queridas irmãs, as Primeiras-Damas Africanas, que também são Embaixadoras da Fundação Merck “Mais Que uma Mãe”. Através dos nossos prémios, buscamos inspirar os jovens do continente a usar os seus talentos inatos para abordar as nossas importantes e críticas questões sociais e de saúde, conscientizando-os através do seu trabalho criativo em todos os níveis.

”As candidaturas para os prémios podem ser enviadas para: submit@merck-foundation.com

Além disso, como parte dos Programas de Conscientização Comunitária, a Fundação Merck criou mais de 30 músicas com diversos artistas africanos, em inglês, francês, português e também em línguas africanas locais, para abordar questões críticas como quebrar o estigma da infertilidade, empoderamento das mulheres, apoiar a educação de meninas, acabar com casamento infantil, conscientização sobre a diabetes, promover um estilo de vida saudável e muito mais.

A Fundação Merck, em parceria com as Primeiras Damas Africanas, também lançou 8 livros de histórias infantis em três línguas: inglês, francês e português. Além disso, a Fundação Merck adaptou esses livros de histórias para criar filmes de animação interessantes com o objectivo de alcançar as comunidades e conscientizar sobre questões importantes, com o objectivo de promover mudanças a nível local.

Para ouvir as músicas da Fundação Merck, ler os livros de histórias da Fundação Merck e assistir aos filmes de animação da Fundação Merck, clique nos links abaixo:

https://apo-opa.co/47JD4P2

https://apo-opa.co/4mzhpgY 

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Merck Foundation.

Contato:
Mehak Handa
Gerente do Programa de Conscientização Comunitária
Telefone: +91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Junte-se à conversa nas plataformas das nossas mídias sociais e deixe a sua voz ser ouvida:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q
X: https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Baixar a Aplicação da Fundação Merck: https://apo-opa.co/4p8rW4G

Sobre a Fundação Merck:
A Fundação Merck, criada em 2017, é o braço filantrópico da Merck KGaA Alemanha, tem como objectivo melhorar a saúde e o bem-estar das pessoas e aprimorar as suas vidas atravez da ciência e da tecnologia. Os nossos esforços estão focados principalmente na melhoria do acesso a soluções de saúde de qualidade e equitativas em comunidades carenciadas, no desenvolvimento da capacidade de saúde e na investigação científica, no empoderamento das raparigas na educação e no empoderamento de pessoas em STEM (Ciência, Tecnologia, Engenharia e Matemática) com foco especial em mulheres e jovens. Todos os comunicados de imprensa da Fundação Merck são distribuídos por e-mail ao mesmo tempo em que são disponibilizados no site da Fundação Merck. Visite www.Merck-Foundation.com para ler mais. Siga a mídia social da Fundação Merck: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lPay1Q), X (https://apo-opa.co/3HucKhl), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/47g24gC), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4mF6KBI), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4oUwlbc) e Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/41Lf8qX).

A Fundação Merck está dedicada a melhorar os resultados sociais e de saúde para comunidades necessitadas. Embora colabore com vários parceiros, incluindo governos, para atingir os seus objectivos humanitários, a Fundação permanece estritamente neutra em questões políticas. Ela não se envolve ou apoia nenhuma actividade política, eleições ou regimes, concentrando-se exclusivamente na sua missão de elevar a humanidade e melhorar o bem-estar, mantendo uma postura estritamente apolítica em todos os seus esforços.

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What makes Lake Iro in Chad so special? It’s not just a viral sunglint photo

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Pierre Rochette, Emeritus professor in geophysics, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU)

Lake Iro in Chad was in the news in early August 2025 after a picture taken by a NASA astronaut was published showing it looking like a large, circular silver mirror as sunlight reflected off its surface and into space. The phenomenon is known as a sunglint and can happen to any water surface under the right conditions. The startling picture led The Conversation Africa to find out more about the lake. Pierre Rochette is an emeritus professor in geophysics from Aix-Marseille University in France. He has studied the lake, and navigated it too for a geophysical study. He answers questions about its properties as an impact crater from an ancient meteor.

What’s there to know about Lake Iro?

The lake is in south-eastern Chad, about 120 km from the border with the Central African Republic.

Lake Iro lies in the middle of an “inland delta”, which was formed by river waters diverging from the Bahr Salamat, a river which flows in the wet season, with very limited flow in the dry season.

It has a semi-circular shape and is about 12 km in diameter. A number of rivers meander around it.

Iro Lake is a vital resource for people living in the area. It provides permanent water and fodder for the large herds of cattle migrating from the Sahelian zone when it’s too dry to keep the animals up north.

People there also produce dried smoked fish, which is exported.

What’s unique about the lake?

Iro may be the largest extraterrestrial impact crater lake in Africa. Volcanic or karstic (where rock has dissolved) crater lakes are much more abundant on Earth.

When an asteroid or comet strikes the Earth’s surface at a speed of about 10km per second, it excavates a crater about ten times larger than itself. So the extraterrestrial body must have been 1km wide in the case of Iro Lake.

My research shows several examples of such impact craters in Chad. Their age is unknown, but likely older than ten million years.

The crater that is home to Lake Iro is a bit larger than the better known Bosumtwi Lake in Ghana. Bosumtwi crater was also excavated by an asteroid strike, but more recently, about one million years ago.

Africa has only 20 proven impact craters (among which seven have a diameter larger than 10km). That corresponds to one tenth of the total proven craters on Earth.

Since 2014, no new crater has been discovered in Africa. A large number (around 49, according to some studies) and a few other potential impact structures have been proposed in Africa, mostly based on satellite imagery and topography.

But solid proof for impact in these proposed structures, including Iro lake, is lacking due to limited or non-existent field studies.

As a group of scientists we have been heavily involved in tracking down impact craters on the continent. Our most recent work involves an ongoing study of the 40km diameter Velingara structure in Senegal.

Studying large impact craters is important to better evaluate the future threat of asteroid impacts. They also provide potential resources (like water, petrol and metals) and a record of ancient climates in the sediments accumulated in the crater lake.

Crossing the river to reach the Iro lake. Author supplied

How do you know it started off as a meteor crater?

Proving the impact nature of a circular structure requires traces of either extraterrestrial matter or of very high pressures endured by the target material.

Due to the likely old age and thus strong erosion of Iro’s circular depression, hardly any rock can be found on the surface. Only drilling for several hundred metres can reach the impacted rocks and thus provide definitive proof. This is a very hard task in such a remote area.

Nevertheless, the known geological features of the area provide no other explanation for the presence of this circular depression, apart from an impact.

That’s why we consider Iro Lake as a potential impact structure. It’s still unproven, but likely.

Can you spot the hippo in the Iro lake? Author supplied

What are its distinctive geological features?

The area around Iro is extremely flat, as demonstrated by the slope of the Bahr Salamat river, south of the lake, of the order of 0.2 metres per kilometre. This explains the meandering nature of the river, highlighted by the published sunglint image.

Topographic map of Iro area, indicating drainage and flow direction. Author supplied

Bahr Salamat’s altitude south of Iro is 396 metres, higher by only 40 metres from its altitude 160km to the west-south-west. In fact the Bahr (“river” in the local language) seems to go around the Iro lake depression (the average altitude of the lake is 387 metres).

This is odd as the river should have been attracted towards the depression, but can be explained by the fact that the impact generated a regional uplift that resulted in the Bahr changing its course to the south, to avoid the uplifted region.

What is a sunglint?

Depending on the angle of view, any body of water can behave as a mirror for a light source, such as the sun.

Completely still water just reproduces the object emitting the light, like a perfectly still mountain lake reproduces the rocky landscape above it.

But if the water surface is disturbed by wavelets, the perfect reflection vanishes, and is replaced by blurred light – in this case from the sun. This is the sunglint.

Anybody can experience it in clear weather from an aeroplane or from the top of a mountain, looking at a landscape containing water surfaces riddled by a breeze, in the direction of the sun.

Spectacular examples of sunglints, especially when the sun is not at its highest point (at noon), are reported from satellite imagery, as can be seen here.

The visual phenomenon is not limited to satellite imagery. The term sunglint has been in use since the 1960s. Earlier mentions of the phenomenon used the term “sun glitter”.

– What makes Lake Iro in Chad so special? It’s not just a viral sunglint photo
– https://theconversation.com/what-makes-lake-iro-in-chad-so-special-its-not-just-a-viral-sunglint-photo-263228