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Kaspersky maps Artificial intelligence (AI) and the evolving threat landscape at AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya

Source: APO

At AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya, taking place from 19-21 May, global cybersecurity company, Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za), talks about the current threat landscape in Kenya and the wider East Africa region, warning that the rapid development and adoption of artificial intelligence is creating new opportunities for innovation while simultaneously introducing cyberthreats for businesses and individual users. With risks varying from AI-powered social engineering campaigns and deepfake fraud to “Shadow AI” risks inside organisations, Kaspersky advises organisations to adopt clear policies, cybersecurity controls and employee education to ensure AI technologies are deployed safely and responsibly.

“As organisations in Kenya and the wider region accelerate digital transformation, cybersecurity is becoming a board-level priority. We are seeing growing awareness that innovation and security must develop hand in hand. Industry events such as GITEX play an important role in this process by helping businesses better understand both the impressive opportunities AI and digital technologies create, and the precautions needed to manage the evolving cyber risks that come with them,” says Chris Norton, General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa at Kaspersky.

Cyberthreat landscape developments

AI risks come amid other cybersecurity challenges of the evolving threat landscape in the region. Kaspersky data demonstrates that in 2025, password stealer attacks increased by 83% year-over-year in Kenya and 56% across Sub-Saharan Africa. Spyware attacks grew by the same figure of 83% in Kenya and 53% regionally, while backdoor attacks rose by 25% in Kenya and 8% across Sub-Saharan Africa. Although exploit attacks showed a slight decline, they remain a major concern due to their mass spread and unauthorised access they open to a users’ systems. Meanwhile, ransomware continues to pose a serious risk to organisations, with 7.62% of organisations in Africa experiencing ransomware detections in 2025.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) remain among the most serious risks for enterprises. According to the Kaspersky Security Services Global Report, APT groups were detected and blocked in 21% of customers in 2025 and accounted for 23% of all high-severity incidents. These highly organised groups increasingly combine AI-enhanced techniques with social engineering and targeted intrusion methods to maximise operational effectiveness.

Cybersecurity traps of AI

According to Kaspersky experts, cybercriminals can use AI across multiple stages of cyberattacks: from preparation and communication to assembling malicious components, probing for vulnerabilities and deploying tools, while simultaneously concealing evidence of AI involvement to complicate investigations and attribution. Malicious actors are also actively distributing malware disguised as AI tools to steal sensitive information from victims.

One of the growing cybersecurity issues is the spread of deepfakes and AI-generated fraudulent content. As AI tools become more and more sophisticated, distinguishing authentic material from manipulated ones is becoming more difficult. Kaspersky researchers warn that AI models can also be vulnerable to “unintended memorisation”, where models retain fragments of sensitive information that attackers may later extract. Additional risks include malicious tampering with training datasets, injection of harmful logic into AI software code and exploitation of vulnerabilities within AI-powered systems.

The emergence of AI agents, which are systems capable of autonomously taking actions on behalf of users, creates another significant attack surface. According to Kaspersky, these systems can be manipulated through adversarial content or misconfigured autonomy settings, potentially leading to harmful real-world actions.

Kaspersky also highlights the growing challenge of “Shadow AI”, where employees use public AI services without oversight from IT departments. This creates uncontrolled data flows and increases the risk of confidential information exposure. A recent Kaspersky study* titled “Cybersecurity in the workplace: Employee knowledge and behaviour” showed that 87.8% of professionals surveyed in Kenya use AI tools for work-related tasks, including text editing, e-mail writing, data analytics and content creation. However, only 35% reported receiving cybersecurity training related to AI use.

Essential Actions in the AI-driven IT world

Kaspersky recommends organisations to regularly assess AI-related risks and establish comprehensive AI governance policies defining which AI tools are approved and what types of data can be processed. Regular employee training on secure AI usage, recognition of fake AI services, malicious links and prompt injection risks is equally essential.

To effectively manage the growing range of cyber risks, organisations should adopt a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that combines advanced security technologies, reliable threat intelligence, strong internal processes and continuous employee education. Robust cybersecurity solutions, such as the AI-powered Kaspersky SIEM and Kaspersky Next product line, provide real-time protection, threat visibility, investigation and response capabilities.

For private users, Kaspersky recommends exercising caution when using AI-powered tools, carefully reviewing privacy settings, verifying the authenticity of AI applications and double-checking information generated by agentic AI systems before making decisions based on automated outputs. The company also advises families to maintain open discussions with children regarding their use of AI technologies and online safety practices.

Visit the Kaspersky stand at B10 in Hall 2 at GITEX Kenya to find out more.

*The survey was conducted by Toluna research agency at the request of Kaspersky in 2025. The study sample included 2800 online interviews with employees and business owners using computers for work in seven countries: Türkiye, South Africa, Kenya, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.

For further information please contact:
Nicole Allman
nicole@inkandco.co.za

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About Kaspersky: 
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and nearly 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za. 

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President Ramaphosa to undertake State Visit to Republic of Botswana

Source: President of South Africa –

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, undertake a State Visit to the Republic of Botswana which will culminate in the Sixth Session of the Botswana and South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Gaborone.

On the two-day State Visit occasion from 20 to 21 May, President Ramaphosa and President Gideon Duma Boko will co-chair the Summit of the Sixth Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC).

The Summit will be preceded by a Ministerial Meeting on 20 May 2026, and the Senior Officials Meeting.

The primary objective of the State Visit and BNC is to deepen and strengthen the existing bilateral partnership between the two countries.  

The Sixth Session of the BNC represents a critical opportunity to reinforce the strategic partnership between South Africa and Botswana. 

While the relationship remains strong, it is evolving in response to new economic realities and shifting global dynamics.

A Business Forum that will be held on the margins of the BNC will strengthen private sector collaboration and facilitate business-to-business exchanges. 

South Africa and Botswana share a historically grounded and mutually reinforcing relationship, rooted in solidarity during the liberation struggle, when Botswana provided support to South African freedom fighters. 

This legacy, combined with geographic proximity and shared cultural and linguistic ties, has shaped a durable partnership that continues to expand across multiple sectors.

The BNC serves as a central institutional mechanism through which this relationship is structured and advanced, enabling coordinated cooperation and sustained dialogue at political, technical, and economic levels.

Bilateral trade and investment remain the cornerstone of the economic cooperation between the two countries. South Africa is Botswana’s largest trading partner, accounting for over 50% of Botswana’s imports.

In 2025, total bilateral trade amounted to approximately R 82 billion, with South Africa exporting goods to the tune of R73.5 billion to Botswana and with imports from the country amounting to R7.7 billion. 

South Africa is also Botswana’s largest supplier of agricultural products.

In 2025, of the country’s R15 billion agricultural imports, R14 billion were from South Africa. 

South Africa has a significant corporate presence in Botswana with more than 100 South African companies operating across key sectors, including in financial and banking services, retail and wholesale, mining and mineral beneficiation, infrastructure, construction and logistics, freight, manufacturing and automotive value chains as well as the hospitality and tourism industries. 

South Africa’s Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have also developed a pipeline of projects for financing in Botswana.

The DBSA’s aggregate portfolio of investments under consideration in Botswana represents a total project value of approximately R6.5 billion, demonstrating meaningful scale and impact.

The two countries will explore renewable energy opportunities in support of Botswana’s effort towards increasing renewable energy to 50 per cent by 2030, creating opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy, grid integration, and capacity building. 

The State Visit takes place against the backdrop of a political transition in Botswana, following the transition to a new administration in October 2024.

The State Visit signals the new government’s intention to consolidate relations with South Africa while maintaining continuity in bilateral engagement. It also offers South Africa an opportunity to strengthen its strategic relations with Botswana. 

It is envisaged that the two countries will, during the upcoming engagements focus on High Impact Priority Projects. A number of new agreements will also be signed during the visit. 

The State Visit and BNC schedule will take place as follows:

Date: Wednesday 20 May 2026
Time: 14h00
Venue: Royal Area Conference Centre, Tlokweng.
Media programme and social media streaming: (Subject to change)

Wednesday 20 May 2026 media programme: Day One

Airport arrival and State Visit ceremony: 15H00 (photo streaming)

Tour of the Botswana Vaccine Institute: 16h00 (photos/video streaming)

State Banquet: 19h00 

Thursday 21 May 2026 media programme: Day Two

Official Opening of the 6th Session of the Bi-National Commission: 10:00

(Media to be present for the opening session and thereafter exit)

Closing Ceremony of the Bi-National Commission: 13h00

Remarks by President Ramaphosa and by President Boko

Media engagement:
Photo opportunity for signing of Agreements
Media Q&A Session
Official photo opportunity
Departure (photos to be shared on social networks)

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

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Meets State Minister for Political and Economic Diplomacy at Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, May 19, 2026
HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani met in in Doha on Tuesday with HE State Minister for Political and Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Hadera Abera Admassu.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them, in addition to a number of issues of common interest. 

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Qatar Affirms Continued Commitment to Being Reliable, Responsible Partner in Promoting Global Energy Security

Source: Government of Qatar

New York, May 19, 2026
The State of Qatar affirmed its continued commitment to its role as a reliable and responsible partner in promoting global energy security, as one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG), noting that it has consistently provided stable and reliable supplies of LNG to many countries across Asia, Europe and around the globe, contributing to the stability of international markets.
This came in the State of Qatar’s statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, before the special meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on “Safeguarding energy and supply flows: Supporting global development through international cooperation,” held at the UN headquarters in New York.
Her Excellency said that, since the outbreak of war in the region, the State of Qatar faced missile attacks launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran on several areas, including Ras Laffan Industrial City (RLIC), which resulted in serious damage to the world’s largest LNG facility, prompting a declaration of a “force majeure” status with regard to production.
HE Sheikha Alya Al-Thani pointed out that the State of Qatar warned from the beginning that closing the Strait of Hormuz would turn the crisis from a regional to a global one, due to sharp fluctuations in prices, the impact of shipping and international trade, and the rise in transportation and production costs, given that the strait represents a vital artery for oil, LNG, and international trade.
In this regard, the State of Qatar emphasizes the importance of ensuring that international maritime routes remain open and safe in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolutions 552 (1984) and Resolution 2817 (2026), including taking immediate steps to remove any naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz and cease their deployment, as well as halting the collection of fees from commercial vessels, as a collective responsibility to protect the global economy and global energy security.
HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the UN reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment to working with the international community, the UN, and all partners to ensure the security and sustainability of energy flows and supplies, and to support global development efforts. 

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La famille Bouka repart à la conquête de l’Everest

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Un an après avoir atteint un point situé à seulement 250 mètres du sommet de l’Everest mais avoir dû rebrousser chemin en raison de la congestion, du risque de gelures et du manque d’oxygène, la famille Bouka revient déterminée à hisser le drapeau malgache au sommet du monde. Dirigée par l’entrepreneur visionnaire Zouzar Bouka et ses fils Raïs et Raj-Alexandre, l’expédition incarne la résilience malgache et la conviction que chaque défi possède son propre « Everest ».

« Il s’agit de terminer ce que nous avons commencé », a déclaré Zouzar Bouka. « L’Everest exige humilité et persévérance. L’année dernière nous a enseigné des leçons difficiles. Cette année, nous revenons unis en famille, portant notre amour pour Madagascar à chaque pas. »

Pour la famille Bouka, l’Everest est bien plus qu’une expédition d’alpinisme : il s’agit de porter leur héritage et leur identité jusqu’au sommet. La valeur clé que Zouzar souhaite transmettre à ses fils et à la jeunesse est la méritocratie.

Dans des environnements où la réussite peut parfois être influencée par d’autres facteurs que le mérite, l’Everest représente l’exact l’opposé. Sur la montagne, il n’y a ni raccourcis ni tromperies. Le soutien et l’esprit d’équipe comptent, mais la montagne impose aussi l’honnêteté. En fin de compte, ce sont vos propres pas qui vous mènent vers le sommet.

Pour tous les trois, cette aventure est une histoire d’amour, de résilience, d’ambition et de possibilités. Leur parcours porte un message d’espoir : chacun possède son propre défi déterminant à surmonter, et la réussite réside autant dans le courage d’entreprendre le voyage que dans l’atteinte du sommet. La famille souhaite inspirer les jeunes de Madagascar et d’Afrique à poursuivre leurs objectifs avec courage.

« Cette seconde tentative dépasse largement l’idée d’atteindre un sommet », a déclaré Raïs Bouka.
« C’est une question de persévérance. De ne pas avoir peur de l’échec. On nous demande souvent : “Pourquoi parler avant même d’avoir réussi ?” Mais je pense que cela reflète un problème plus large aujourd’hui, surtout dans le monde des réseaux sociaux. Nous montrons uniquement les victoires, les moments parfaits, les histoires de succès. Nous montrons rarement l’effort, les revers ou ce qui se passe quand les choses ne se déroulent pas comme prévu.

« C’est aussi une histoire de temps partagé avec mon père et mon frère. En grandissant, la vie nous entraîne dans des directions différentes, et l’on réalise que ces moments précieux ensemble deviennent plus rares. »

Raj-Alexandre Bouka a ajouté : « L’alpinisme m’a appris l’importance de la confiance. Sur l’Everest, nous confions constamment nos vies à une seule corde, parfois fixée par des personnes que nous n’avons jamais rencontrées. Cette foi inconsciente que l’on place dans son guide, ses coéquipiers, et même des inconnus qui ont fixé les lignes avant nous, est profondément humaine. »

« L’Everest enseigne aussi une humilité radicale. Peu importe votre force, votre préparation ou votre expérience, c’est la montagne qui décide. Un système météo changeant, un instant de complaisance, et tout bascule. J’ai appris que la véritable force réside dans la capacité à savoir renoncer, même lorsque le sommet est à portée de vue. »

« Plus que tout, ces expéditions m’ont montré la valeur irremplaçable de la présence. Dans un monde qui nous disperse dans mille directions, mon père a sacrifié d’innombrables heures, une immense énergie et des ressources considérables pour que nous puissions nous tenir ensemble sur le toit du monde, respirant un air rare et poursuivant un rêve commun. Je me sens comme la personne la plus chanceuse au monde. »

La famille possède une solide expérience en alpinisme. Elle a gravi des sommets sur les sept continents, en commençant par le Pic Boby, le plus haut sommet accessible de Madagascar, en 2021. Depuis, chaque aventure a renforcé leur capacité à atteindre leur objectif ultime.

L’Everest demeure l’un des lieux les plus dangereux de la planète, avec plus de 340 décès depuis les années 1920. En 2014, l’effondrement d’un sérac dans la cascade de glace du Khumbu a tué 16 Sherpas, et en 2015, un séisme de magnitude 7,8 a déclenché une avalanche qui a tué 22 personnes au camp de base, l’événement le plus meurtrier de l’histoire de l’Everest.

Ces dernières saisons, les décès continuent : 18 en 2023, 9 en 2024, et 28 entre 2024 et 2025 dans l’Himalaya.

Les Bouka ont vu plusieurs corps l’an dernier, tous décédés 1 à 2 jours auparavant.

Cette année, alors que la saison de l’Everest n’en est qu’à ses débuts, la montagne a déjà causé 4 morts. Séracs instables, crevasses qui s’élargissent et parois de glace qui s’effondrent sans cesse ralentissent la progression et augmentent les dangers.

La famille Bouka revient avec humilité et détermination, consciente de ces risques.

Le public peut suivre l’expédition grâce aux mises à jour et aux images partagées sur les réseaux sociaux de la famille :

Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4nEtnYe

Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4nAQlQ1

YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4eRNik5

Distribué par APO Group pour Vision Madagascar NGO.

À propos de l’Expédition Everest de la famille Bouka 2026 :
L’Expédition Everest 2026 de la famille Bouka réunit Zouzar Bouka et ses fils Raïs et Raj-Alexandre dans leur seconde tentative de gravir le mont Everest. Zouzar Bouka est le fondateur de Vision Madagascar (ViMa), un conglomérat diversifié avec des filiales dans l’immobilier, l’énergie, la distribution alimentaire, l’approvisionnement, l’hôtellerie et le bien-être. Il est également propriétaire licencié du WTC Antananarivo et du WTCRAK. Au-delà des affaires, il est un alpiniste expérimenté ayant gravi des sommets en Afrique, en Amérique, en Europe et dans l’Himalaya – du Kilimandjaro et du Chimborazo à l’Everest, où il a atteint 6 800 m en 2025.

Raïs Bouka est un jeune alpiniste accompli qui a conquis des sommets à Madagascar, en Afrique, en Amérique et dans l’Himalaya, dont le Kilimandjaro et le Lobuche. Il a atteint 8 600 m sur l’Everest. Diplômé de l’Université de Californie du Sud, il a étudié le commerce avec une mineure en arts cinématographiques et a obtenu son diplôme Magna Cum Laude.

Raj-Alexandre Bouka a gravi des sommets sur 6 continents, complétant 4 des Seven Summits. En 2025, il a atteint 8 600 m sur l’Everest et continue de renforcer son expérience sur les grands sommets du monde. Il est actuellement dans sa deuxième année sabbatique et a annulé son admission à NYU pour poursuivre ce projet, avant de reprendre ses études en août.

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Bouka Family Sets Out Again to Conquer Everest

Source: APO

One year after reaching within 250 metres of Everest’s summit but turning back due to congestion, frostbite risk, and limited oxygen, the Bouka family returns determined to raise the Malagasy flag on the world’s highest peak. Led by visionary entrepreneur Zouzar Bouka and his sons Raïs and Raj-Alexandre, the expedition embodies Malagasy resilience and the belief that every challenge has its own ‘Everest’.

“This is about finishing what we began,” said Zouzar Bouka. “Everest demands humility and perseverance. Last year taught us hard lessons. This year, we return united as a family carrying our love for Madagascar with us every step of the way.”

For the Bouka family, Everest is more than a climbing expedition; it is about carrying their heritage and identity to the summit. Zouzar’s key value he seeks to instill in his sons and young people is meritocracy.

In environments where success can sometimes be influenced by factors other than merit, Everest represents the opposite. On the mountain, there are no shortcuts or deceit. Support and teamwork matter, but the mountain also enforces honesty. Ultimately, it’s your own feet that must take each step.

For all three individuals, this journey is about love, resilience, ambition, and possibility. Their story carries a message of hope: everyone has their defining challenge to conquer, and success lies in daring to take the journey as much as in reaching the summit. The family aims to inspire young people in Madagascar and across Africa to pursue their own goals with courage.

“This second attempt is about much more than reaching a summit,” said Raïs Bouka.

“It’s about perseverance. About not being afraid to face failure. This question – “Why speak before you’ve even succeeded?”- is often raised. But I think it reflects a bigger problem today, especially in the social media world. We only show victories, polished moments, and the success stories. We rarely show the effort, the setbacks, or what happens when things don’t go according to plan.

“It’s also about time spent with my father and my brother. As you grow older, life pulls people in different directions, and you realise those special moments together become rarer.”

Raj-Alexandre Bouka added, “Mountaineering has taught me the importance of trust. On Everest, we are constantly entrusting our lives to a single rope, sometimes anchored by others we have never met. That unconscious faith you place in your guide, teammates, and even strangers who fixed the lines ahead of you is deeply human.”

“Everest also teaches you radical humility. No matter how strong, prepared, or experienced you think you are, the mountain decides. One shifting weather system, one moment of complacency, and everything changes. I learned that true strength lies in knowing when to turn back, even when the summit is within sight.”

“Above all, these expeditions have shown me the irreplaceable value of presence. In a world that pulls us in a thousand directions, my father sacrificed countless hours, immense energy, and significant resources so we could stand together on the roof of the world, breathing thin air and chasing a shared dream. I feel like the luckiest person alive.”

The family has significant mountaineering experience. They have climbed across all seven continents, first beginning with Madagascar’s highest accessible peak, Pic Boby, in 2021. Since then, each adventure has improved their ability to reach their ultimate goal.

Mount Everest remains one of the most dangerous places on Earth, with over 340 deaths since the 1920s. In 2014, a serac collapse in the Khumbu Icefall killed 16 Sherpas, and in 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake triggered an avalanche that killed 22 people at Base Camp, the deadliest single event in Everest’s history.

In recent seasons, fatalities continue: 18 deaths in 2023, 9 in 2024, and 28 across 2024–2025 in the Himalayas.

The Boukas saw several dead people last year, all that had died 1-2 days prior.

This year, with the Everest season still relatively at its beginning stage, the mountain has caused 4 deaths. Shifting seracs, widening crevasses, and constantly collapsing ice walls have slowed progress and caused increased danger.

The Bouka family returns with humility and determination, aware of these risks.

Audiences can follow the expedition through updates and images shared on the family’s social media channels:

Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4nEtnYe

Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4nAQlQ1

YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4eRNik5

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vision Madagascar NGO.

About the Bouka Family Everest Expedition 2026 :
The Bouka Family Everest Expedition 2026 brings together Zouzar Bouka and his sons Raïs and Raj-Alexandre in their second attempt to climb Mount

Everest. Zouzar Bouka is the founder of Vision Madagascar (ViMa), a diversified conglomerate with subsidiaries in real estate, energy, F&B distribution, procurement, hospitality, and wellness. He is also the licensed owner of WTC Antananarivo and WTCRAK. Beyond business, he is an experienced mountaineer who has climbed peaks across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Himalayas – from Kilimanjaro and Chimborazo to Everest, where he reached 6,800m in 2025.

Raïs Bouka is an accomplished young mountaineer who has captured peaks across Madagascar, Africa, the Americas, and the Himalayas, including Kilimanjaro and Lobuche. He reached 8,600m on Everest. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, having studied Business with a minor in Cinematic Arts, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Raj-Alexandre Bouka has climbed peaks across 6 continents, completing 4 of the Seven Summits. In 2025, he reached 8,600m on Everest and has continued to build experience on major summits worldwide. He is currently in his second gap year and cancelled his acceptance to NYU to pursue this journey, and will resume college in August.

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Poor pay is holding back Africa’s biodiversity research and reducing its contribution to global science

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Harith Omar Morgadinho Farooq, Lecturer, Lúrio University

Africa is one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. But much of its biodiversity remains poorly studied. Research from the continent contributes to less than 1% to global scientific output.

This pattern is often explained by limited investment in research. Governments in sub-Saharan Africa allocate, on average, only about 0.4% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to research and development. By comparison, European countries invest on average more than 2% of GDP, while the global average is around 2.6%. India invests close to 0.7% of GDP, and the US nearly 3.5%. Additional constraints include the lack of infrastructure, and political instability.

But there is a more direct and often overlooked constraint: the salaries of the scientists.

Salary disparities are measurable, policy relevant and a direct economic constraint on researchers’ ability to conduct fieldwork. They play a role in shaping who is able to conduct scientific research, a disparity that becomes especially visible during fieldwork.

We are researchers who have been working on biodiversity conservation in Africa for more than a decade. Through collaboration with and experience in European research institutions, we have observed firsthand how financial limitations affect fieldwork, research continuity and scientific careers. We investigated whether differences in researchers’ incomes are associated with biodiversity research output across African countries.

Our study showed a clear pattern: countries where researchers earn less produce less scientific output and rely more heavily on studies led by foreign institutions. This has implications beyond output alone, because scientific leadership influences which questions are asked, which ecosystems are studied, and how conservation priorities are defined.

Strengthening local research capacity will require greater investment in science and higher education.

Salary disparaties

In our study, we compared salary differences between locally based and foreign-affiliated researchers using publicly available salary data. We linked these to biodiversity research output across 54 African countries using data from the Scopus database.

We found that researchers based at African institutions often earn only a fraction of what their collaborators from higher-income countries receive. This disparity was particularly prominent in Malawi, the Republic of the Congo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Here, foreign-affiliated salaries were approximately 34, 32, and 25 times higher than local salaries, respectively.

Because of these low salaries, it can take years to save for basic research tools such as field clothing, cameras or computers. For researchers from higher-income countries, these costs can often be covered by a single monthly salary.

This financial constraint may help explain why much of the continent’s biodiversity research is conducted in collaboration with institutions based outside Africa, rather than being led by local organisations, which are few and often underfunded.

Although local researchers often possess critical knowledge of biodiversity, languages, logistics and environmental challenges, they may have limited opportunities to lead projects or secure senior authorship positions in international collaborations.

The hidden cost of doing fieldwork

Biodiversity research is inherently expensive. It requires travel, equipment, permits, and the support of local guides or assistants. Even short expeditions can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. In many parts of the world, these costs are covered by research grants or institutional funding.

But in Africa, especially for exploratory research, funding is generally limited or unavailable. Consequently, scientists often have to rely on their own income to conduct fieldwork, a pattern also reported by researchers in other lower-income countries.

We found that across countries, foreign-affiliated researchers typically earned between four and 30 times more than locally based scientists conducting research in the same country. Researchers based outside the continent also retain substantially higher disposable income, even after accounting for travel costs, allowing them to contribute to or fully fund fieldwork. By contrast, in half of the African countries analysed, locally based researchers could not cover even a conservative fieldwork budget of US$1,000 using their entire monthly salary.

These differences create an uneven playing field. Success depends not only on the merit of ideas or quality of training, but also on who can afford to be in the field.

As a result, scientists with greater financial security may be better positioned to sustain fieldwork, revisit sites and maintain long-term research programmes.

For students, these realities become clear early on. Even those with a strong interest in biodiversity may decide not to pursue careers in biology, or reduce their involvement over time, once they understand the financial constraints. Consequently, fewer local specialists are trained.

The shortage of local specialists is part of a broader research capacity gap. Africa has approximately 236 researchers per million people. This is far below the global average of around 1,516, and substantially lower than Europe’s 4,240 researchers per million people or the more than 4,800 per million in the US.

Many African countries have few locally based scientists available to conduct biodiversity surveys, supervise students, lead long-term monitoring programmes, or build specialised expertise, particularly in poorly studied taxonomic groups.

When research becomes difficult to prioritise

Low salaries have broader consequences.

Scientists may rely on consultancies or teaching across multiple institutions. This leaves limited time for research. Over time it reduces both their development as researchers and the relevance of the knowledge they bring into the classroom.

Research capacity in African institutions remains limited. Most biodiversity studies are led by researchers from foreign institutions. Though international collaborations are essential, they can lead to local scientists being limited in their ability to lead projects or even participate.

In such cases, local knowledge and priorities can be overlooked. Large parts of these countries, and many taxonomic groups, may remain poorly studied.

In Mozambique, for example, some of the country’s most important areas for threatened and endemic plants and animals lie outside the current protected area network.

Conservation funding and research have historically concentrated in large protected areas known for charismatic megafauna such as elephants and lions.

Solutions are hard to come by

Increasing researchers’ salaries is not straightforward. In many countries, salaries at public universities are tied to national government salary scales and broader public sector budgets. This means there is no single institution that can solve the problem alone. Still, universities and funding agencies can create mechanisms to better support research activity.

These may include productivity-based incentives, research stipends, fieldwork allowances, reduced teaching loads for active researchers, and grant schemes that directly fund local scientists. Governments can also invest in research as part of long-term national development strategies.

– Poor pay is holding back Africa’s biodiversity research and reducing its contribution to global science
– https://theconversation.com/poor-pay-is-holding-back-africas-biodiversity-research-and-reducing-its-contribution-to-global-science-282447

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Higher interest rates: can I make them work for me?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bomikazi Zeka, Associate Professor in Finance, University of Canberra

When interest rates rise, most people feel the financial pinch as repayments for home loans, car purchases or personal loans increase. This leads to less money for everyday spending and tightens the household budget.

Middle- and upper-income households tend to hold secured debt such as property, which builds wealth. Lower-income households are pushed into debt as they try to maintain their consumption levels. The result is that the impact of rising interest rates is even more significant for lower-income households. They may have to reduce spending on necessities to service interest payments. Even renters wanting to become home owners are indirectly influenced by rising interest rates, as home loans become less affordable.

Banks make money by charging consumers who borrow money while paying out little interest to those holding savings accounts. And most household debt is owed to the banking sector.

According to the World Bank, most African countries fall into the low- to middle-income bracket. In many of these economies, consumers tend to leave their cash sitting in transaction accounts because they are convenient, familiar and easy to access. While moving money out of transaction accounts and into savings products can offer a better return, most people tend to stick to what they know. And banks actually count on this “inertia”.

Whether it’s staying with the same bank out of habit or ignoring new investment products, that lack of movement is a huge win for the bank’s bottom line.

But there is an opportunity to gain from rising rates by moving excess funds into interest-earning financial products. Examples include:

  • term deposits (a type of savings account that allows you to deposit a lump sum of money for a fixed period, with a guaranteed fixed interest rate)

  • tax-free savings accounts

  • bonds (a loan you make to the government or a company, giving you regular interest payments for a set period and your original investment in full at the end of the loan period).

Collectively these kinds of investments are known as fixed interest securities. They earn interest income in proportion to the amount you deposit. And the capital you deposit in them remains protected from fluctuations in the market.

If you access the funds, the amount of interest you earn will reduce proportionately.

As with any financial decision, it’s important to speak to a professional financial adviser to see which product best aligns with your needs and financial situation.

These kinds of financial instruments can earn you interest income. They won’t, however, outperform the returns you can get from more risky securities like shares. What they will do is allow your money to work for you in ways that money in a transaction account won’t.

And a guaranteed interest income from a fixed-interest investment is more attractive than zero return earned on a transactional account.

Making the most of rates rises in three steps

Firstly, get rid of the surplus in your transactional account.

There’s a common expression in the world of finance:

Idle cash doesn’t generate returns.

This implies that money that is dormant doesn’t grow. If you have excess money in your transactional account, consider how much you can comfortably afford to transfer into a term deposit, tax-free savings account or bonds.

By moving these funds into an interest-earning account, you turn your stagnant balance into a defensive asset that grows with time, shielding your portfolio from negative shifts in the economy.

Secondly, accept that you’re playing the long game.

To make the most out of interest-bearing investments, you need to commit your funds for a year or longer. Longer investment terms typically offer higher interest rates, rewarding you for keeping your money invested. The power of compounding is also on your side as the money you earn from an investment is added back into your balance, and then that new, larger amount earns even more interest. Therefore, with a longer investment period, you aren’t just earning interest on the initial capital. You will begin to earn interest on the interest too. Longer durations can protect you from future interest rate drops by locking in today’s peak interest returns.

Thirdly, look beyond the big banks.

While it’s easy to keep track of your finances when all your funds are with the same bank, consider the investment products offered by alternative or smaller banks. Alternative banks can offer better interest rates to attract more customers. As more consumers explore different investment options, this challenges the “Big Banks” to be more competitive with their rates and product offerings.

By taking action and moving your money, you aren’t just helping your wallet, you are also forcing the banking sector to be more competitive.

When central banks raise interest rates, debt holders feel the impact instantly. But higher rates also create an opportunity that’s easily overlooked. If you can put your money to work in interest-earning investments, those same rate rises can start working for you instead of against you. What feels like bad news on one side can quietly become a source of passive income on the other. It just depends on where your money is sitting.

– Higher interest rates: can I make them work for me?
– https://theconversation.com/higher-interest-rates-can-i-make-them-work-for-me-282632

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Port Community Systems (PCS) as the crisis backbone: how trade disruption makes digital port infrastructure non-negotiable (By Alioune Ciss)

Source: APO – Report:

By Alioune Ciss, Chief Executive Officer, Webb Fontaine (https://WebbFontaine.com).

When global trade flows normally, Port Community Systems (PCS) are often viewed as efficiency tools. They digitize paperwork, connect stakeholders, reduce delays, and improve visibility across port ecosystems. However, the true impact and strategic importance of PCS become most apparent when a crisis hits.

Whether caused by geopolitical conflict, canal restrictions, rerouted shipping lanes, cyber risk, labor disruption, or sudden regulatory shifts, modern supply chain shocks remind us that ports without strong digital coordination struggle to adapt, whereas ports with robust PCS infrastructure are better positioned to keep cargo moving. In today’s environment, PCS has become a critical infrastructure.

Disruption is not an exception anymore

Global maritime trade has entered a more volatile era where disruption is structural. Let’s review the recent events to understand the scale of impact:

  • Around 2,000 ships were reportedly stranded during the recent Strait of Hormuz (https://apo-opa.co/4dii0lb) crisis.
  • The Red Sea crisis (https://apo-opa.co/4dz5gFA) led to more than 190 attacks on vessels by late 2024, forcing widespread rerouting and increasing transit times by up to two weeks. 
  • The Suez-linked corridor (https://apo-opa.co/4dz5gFA), which carries roughly 10–12% of global maritime trade, experienced sharp volume declines during the disruption.
  • Supply chains across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe faced cascading effects, including congestion, cost increases, and schedule instability. 

At the same time, the global port industry itself is undergoing rapid transformation. According to the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), ports are accelerating digitalization and strengthening resilience capabilities in response to geopolitical and operational uncertainty. This is the new reality: routes shift, volumes spike, and conditions change faster than traditional systems can handle.

Why PCS matters most during a crisis

When vessel schedules collapse, or cargo volumes suddenly spike, physical infrastructure alone is not enough. Cranes, berths, gates and yards also need coordination. That is where PCS becomes the backbone of resilience.

A PCS is not just a digital tool; rather, it’s a shared operational layer. It connects shipping lines, terminals, customs, freight forwarders, transport operators, and authorities through a single data environment, enabling synchronized decision-making across the ecosystem.

Instead of exchanges through emails, phone calls, Excel files, or siloed systems that generate delays and errors, the PCS enables seamless and real-time coordination.

1. Real-time visibility across the ecosystem

When vessels are delayed or rerouted, fragmented communication becomes a liability.

PCS enables real-time visibility across:

  • vessel arrivals and berth planning
  • cargo status and documentation
  • customs readiness and inspections
  • gate operations and inland logistics

Instead of fragmented updates, stakeholders operate from a shared, trusted data environment.

In a crisis, the speed of information becomes the speed of recovery.

2. Faster decision-making under pressure

Sudden disruptions create immediate operational stress:

  • surges in transshipment volumes
  • yard congestion risks
  • inspection bottlenecks
  • inland transport delays

Without digital coordination, responses are reactive and slow.

With PCS, ports can dynamically allocate resources, adjust workflows, and reprioritize cargo flows using real-time data and coordinated processes.

3. Customs and border continuity

Cargo cannot move if border agencies cannot move.

According to joint guidance from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), interoperability between Customs systems and PCS is essential for coordinated border management, risk control, and secure data exchange (https://apo-opa.co/3PLcs9P).

In crisis conditions, this becomes critical. Governments must introduce new controls, risk filters, or emergency procedures quickly, without disrupting trade flows. PCS enables this  balance.

4. Trust and transparency for the market

Importers, exporters, and carriers can tolerate disruption more than uncertainty. What they need is visibility.

PCS provides transparency across the supply chain, allowing stakeholders to track cargo status, anticipate delays, and plan accordingly. This transparency builds trust and reduces the systemic risk of panic-driven inefficiencies.

Operational resilience is the key

As we all know, the classic PCS discussions focus on key KPIs such as:

  • reduced turnaround time
  • fewer documents
  • lower administrative cost
  • faster truck processing

But today, the most important KPI is “readiness”: If a major trade corridor shifts tomorrow, can your port ecosystem adapt in real time?

To answer “Yes” to this question, a future-ready PCS should include:

  • real-time event management
  • integrated stakeholder communication
  • predictive congestion alerts
  • interoperability with customs and regulatory systems
  • scalable architecture for demand spikes

“For years, ‘efficiency’ was key when it comes to PCS. However, today, the key is ‘resilience’… When shipping lanes shift overnight, policies change, and when uncertainty increases, the strongest ports are the ones that are the most ‘connected’… Therefore, we should treat PCS as a crisis backbone of trade, not an IT efficiency initiative.
[Alioune Ciss, CEO, Webb Fontaine]

The Next Evolution: Intelligent PCS

PCS is now entering a new phase. Next-generation systems are evolving into data-driven platforms that support predictive analytics, AI-enabled decision-making, and proactive risk management (https://apo-opa.co/4eQ93Rg).

In other words, today, ports need systems that help orchestrate responses. Solutions such as Webb Ports (https://apo-opa.co/42F3gqq) from Webb Fontaine reflect this shift. By connecting all port stakeholders through a unified platform, anticipating congestion before it happens, simulating operational scenarios, and optimizing resource allocation dynamically, we enable faster coordination, better visibility and more agile responses when disruptions occur.

– on behalf of Webb Fontaine.

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Rand Refinery Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as Silver Sponsor Amid Regional Market Expansion Strategy

Source: APO – Report:

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Amid a strategy to expand from a South Africa-focused refiner into a pan-African downstream leader, Rand Refinery has joined African Mining Week (AMW), an Influential African Mining Conference, scheduled for October 14-16, 2026 in Cape Town, as a silver sponsor.

Rand Refinery’s participation reflects a broader strategic alignment between the company’s expansion agenda and AMW’s focus on supporting and enabling local beneficiation and promoting artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) responsible sourcing frameworks.

In terms of volumes, the latest market information indicates that Africa produces 1000tpa of mined gold (more than any other continent), with large-scale mining (LSM) and ASM being almost evenly balanced (500tpa production each). On its current trajectory, African ASM volumes are expected to eclipse those of LSM.

The focus on ASM as a transformational imperative is valid, and Rand Refinery is an active participant in the precious metals supply chain, working alongside other upstream and downstream actors to ensure that the communities and countries with gold resources benefit in a sustainable manner.

Under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain, AMW 2026 offers a critical interface between refiners, miners, regulators, and financial institutions, as African countries intensify efforts to capture more value from responsible mineral production.

A key pillar of Rand Refinery’s 2026 strategy is its expansion into high-growth gold markets beyond South Africa. In January 2026, the company partnered with Ghana’s Gold Coast Refinery (GCR) to support the Ghana Gold Board to locally refine artisanal and small-scale (ASM) gold and elevate responsible sourcing standards in West Africa. The partnership also positions Rand Refinery in a rapidly growing and historically fragmented supply segment: ASM operations, enabling the company to enhance traceability and strengthen compliance with global standards for ethical sourcing and anti-money laundering.

The partnership potentially allows the monetization of ASM supply streams in the formal gold ecosystem, complementing Rand Refinery’s established role in refining output from responsible large-scale producers. AMW 2026 represents a timely platform for the company to provide an update on its projects and contribution to Africa’s gold sector.

As demand for regional refining capacity expands, along with central bank buying programs, companies such as Rand Refinery will be crucial.

Central bank gold purchases are projected to average around 585 tons per quarter in 2026, underscoring sustained global demand. In Africa, gold now accounts for approximately 17% of total reserves – up from less than 10% in 2022–2023 – while physical holdings increased from 663 tons in 2022 to an estimated 738 tons in 2025.

This upward trajectory is driving demand for trusted refining and value addition services, positioning Rand Refinery as a key partner in the region. Against this backdrop, AMW provides a strategic platform for central banks and gold buyers to engage directly with one of the world’s largest integrated single-site precious metals refining and smelting complexes and strengthen regional beneficiation and national reserve strategies.

At AMW, Rand Refinery executives will participate in panel discussions and networking sessions, engaging stakeholders on partnership opportunities that support a more integrated, transparent and value-driven African gold ecosystem.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.