Flambée de maladie à virus Ebola Bundibugyo en République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et en Ouganda

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


RHNP consacré à la flambée de maladie à virus Ebola Bundibugyo (MVB) en RDC et Ouganda s’est tenu le 16 juin 2026, sous la présidence de S.E. Évariste Ndayishimiye, Président de la République du Burundi et Président en exercice de l’Union africaine. Il a réuni les chefs d’État et de gouvernement, la Commission de l’Union africaine, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org), des pays partenaires, l’Organisation des Nations Unies, l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS), les Communautés économiques régionales, les institutions financières internationales, le secteur privé, les fondations, les agences techniques et les partenaires. 

RHNP a été convoqué dans un esprit d’unité africaine et de solidarité internationale afin d’aligner le leadership politique, le financement rapide, l’assistance technique coordonnée et une mise en oeuvre responsable sur le terrain. Ses objectifs immédiats étaient de contenir la flambée à la source, de protéger les communautés de santé, de prévenir la propagation régionale, de préserver les services de santé essentiels et de renforcer la préparation dans les pays à risque. 

RHNP a noté avec une vive préoccupation l’évolution rapide de la situation épidémiologique. Au 15 juin 2026, 827 cas confirmés et 194 décès confirmés avaient été rapportés dans les deux pays touchés: 808 cas et 192 décès en RDC, dans l’Ituri, le Nord-Kivu et le Sud-Kivu; et 19 cas et 2 décès en Ouganda. 

RHNP a reconnu que la riposte a atteint un seuil critique, avec la persistance de la transmission communautaire, traçage sous-optimal des contacts, expansion géographique rapide, forte mobilité liée aux activités minières, insécurité et les déplacements de population, méfiance communautaire, réticence au dépistage post-mortem dans certaines zones, lacunes en prévention et contrôle des infections, capacité limitée d’inhumation sûre et digne, insuffisance des capacités d’isolement et de traitement. 

RHNP a en outre noté que l’Ituri demeure l’épicentre, tandis que le Nord-Kivu est devenu une préoccupation majeure, avec une hausse quotidienne des cas confirmés et le taux de létalité le plus élevé, estimé à 64 %. Il a demandé l’établissement urgent de couloirs d’accès humanitaire et de riposte, y compris de couloirs de paix, afin de permettre aux équipes, à Africa CDC, à l’OMS et aux partenaires d’atteindre en sécurité les zones touchées et à haut risque, d’évaluer la transmission, d’acheminer les fournitures, d’investiguer les alertes, d’appuyer la prise en charge et de maintenir les services de santé essentiels. 

RHNP a félicité les gouvernements de la RDC et de l’Ouganda pour leur leadership et le financement initial de leurs plans nationaux de riposte avec 50 millions USD pour la RDC et de 5 millions USD pour l’Ouganda. Il a rendu hommage aux agents de santé de première ligne, aux acteurs communautaires et aux intervenants locaux, et a salué l’activation de l’appui d’Africa CDC, de l’OMS et des partenaires, notamment la gestion des incidents, la coordination transfrontalière, les déploiements de laboratoires et d’équipes de terrain, la logistique, l’engagement communautaire et la préparation du plan conjoint de riposte et de préparation sur six mois (juin-décembre 2026) estimé à 518 millions USD. 

RHNP a approuvé le plan conjoint et a appelé à un financement urgent et flexible en début de période. Il a salué des annonces de contributions totalisant 910 millions USD, dont 80 millions USD des États Membres africains en vue de l’objectif continental de 100 millions USD venant d’Afrique, et a exhorté les États membres, institutions financières, donateurs et 

partenaires à transformer les engagements en ressources rapidement décaissables et en appui en nature, notamment véhicules, ambulances, laboratoires, capacités de traitement et d’isolement, équipements de protection individuelle, divers matériels, équipes d’inhumation sûre et renforts en personnel de santé. 

RHNP a appelé à une intensification opérationnelle immédiate de sept jours pour combler les lacunes les plus urgentes du confinement: renforcer l’investigation des cas et la gestion quotidienne des données au niveau infranational; recenser et suivre les contacts pendant la période d’incubation de 21 jours; accroître les capacités de traitement et d’isolement; protéger les agents de santé par la PCI, le triage et les équipements de protection individuelle; accélérer les inhumations sûres et dignes; résorber les retards de laboratoire et prépositionner les diagnostics au point de soins; et intensifier la communication sur les risques et l’engagement communautaire conduits par des leaders locaux de confiance. 

RHNP a souligné le renforcement de la coordination transfrontalière entre les États membres touchés et à risque, sous la direction des autorités nationales, avec l’appui technique d’Africa CDC et de l’OMS et la coordination humanitaire d’OCHA. Il a salué la mission opérationnelle Ouganda-RDC visant à finaliser les dispositifs de surveillance, de laboratoire et de prise en charge, et a appelé à un appui similaire, fondé sur les risques, pour les pays voisins à haut risque. 

RHNP a réaffirmé que les interdictions de voyage ou de commerce ne sont pas étayées par les données de santé publique et peuvent nuire à la riposte en décourageant la notification, en détournant les mouvements vers des points de passage informels et en retardant la circulation des intervenants, échantillons, fournitures et secours humanitaires. Il a demandé à tous les pays de suivre les orientations d’Africa CDC publiées le 9 juin sur le dépistage à l’entrée et à la sortie, de partager en temps utile les données avec Africa CDC et d’adopter des mesures fondées sur les données probantes, notamment la surveillance coordonnée aux points d’entrée et le passage sûr des personnes et du commerce. 

RHNP a souligné que l’Afrique doit passer des appels d’urgence récurrents à un investissement prévisible dans la préparation. Il a approuvé le principe d’un financement volontaire de 100 millions USD par an par les États members africains et le secteur privé africain, complété par des partenaires extérieurs, afin de renforcer la préparation aux 

épidémies, de maintenir la capacité de réaction entre les flambées et d’accélérer la fabrication locale des vaccins, médicaments, diagnostics et autres produits. 

RHNP a noté que, 19 ans après l’identification de la souche Bundibugyo, aucun vaccin ni traitement spécifique au MVB n’est homologué. Il a appelé à un accès accéléré, éthique et encadré par des protocoles aux vaccins, traitements et diagnostics candidats; à des essais cliniques adaptatifs; à des engagements fermes pour le partage des bénéfices; au transfert de technologie; et à la fabrication locale. Il a encouragé les pays à adhérer et utiliser le Mécanisme africain d’achat groupé et à adhérer à l’Agence africaine du médicament, les 2 étant les piliers de la sécurité et de la souveraineté sanitaires de l’Afrique. 

RHNP a approuvé le leadership continu d’Africa CDC, en étroite collaboration avec l’OMS et tous les partenaires, en appui aux États membres touchés. Il a salué la mise en place d’un mécanisme hebdomadaire de suivi des engagements pour suivre les promesses, décaissements, livraisons et écarts restants par rapport au plan de six mois, et a résolu de maintenir un engagement politique de haut niveau jusqu’au confinement de la flambée et à l’atténuation des risques pour la sécurité sanitaire régionale. 

RHNP a lancé un appel à toutes les parties à agir avec urgence, unité, solidarité et responsabilité: contenir la flambée à la source; garder les frontières ouvertes à la science et à la solidarité; protéger les agents de première ligne et les communautés; et faire en sorte que cette urgence laisse à l’Afrique une préparation renforcée, une capacité de fabrication accrue et une sécurité sanitaire plus solide. 

Distribué par APO Group pour Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

Angola’s Story of Reform Gets Reproduced for the Big Screen

Source: APO – Report:

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The remarkable structural turnaround of Angola’s energy sector is officially moving from the page to the big screen. Global production house Soyini Tales Inc. – led by founder Tahira Francis – has commenced production on a premium feature documentary based on the insights of the best-selling book Crude Oil: Power Turnaround and Transformation in Angola,  authored by NJ Ayuk.

Filming of the feature documentary starts next week in Angola, where the production team will conduct interviews, site visits and on-the-ground documentation across key energy and economic development locations.

At the core of the documentary is a compelling ten-year narrative arc, uniquely framed through the lived experiences of three generations of Angolans. The cinematic story will systematically chart the nation’s complex trajectory, moving from an era of oil-fueled expansion through severe macroeconomic contraction into the current phase of policy-driven energy sector revitalization.

The documentary will feature human accounts of systemic institutional reform, exploring how the country managed to stabilize its crucial production threshold at one million barrels per day. It will track how Angola looked honestly at its own economic vulnerabilities, rejected outside narratives and actively chose to rebuild its entire regulatory landscape from the inside out. The documentary will also detail the complex market mechanisms that successfully revived investor confidence, offering an authoritative and highly visual reference framework for international energy investors tracking global upstream flows.

Audiences will gain insight into how these macro-level policies directly translate into lived experiences across oilfields, boardrooms and family homes. Moving away from statistics, the documentary will show how regulatory determination can successfully break the boom-and-bust cycle that have long plagued resource-rich African nations.

Crucially, the narrative will highlight the primary African change-makers who executed this turnaround, detailing the political architecture of President João Lourenço, the commercial discipline introduced to Sonangol by Sebastião Gaspar Martins, and the regulatory efficiency driven by Paulino Jerónimo at the national concessionaire the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels.

Beyond state policy, the documentary will showcase vital local content champions driving specialized supply chains and industrial operations. This includes marine logistics and cargo management via João Filipe at Cabship, alongside upstream engineering and fuel services led by Janice Faria at Enagol. Furthermore, the documentary will explore tactical corporate leadership, noting Francisco Monteiro’s work in procurement and chemical supply at Brimont, as well as Bráulio de Brito’s strategic oilfield consulting and business advocacy at Tradinter. These figures demonstrate how local businesses actively capture and retain value within the modernizing energy economy.

“Angola’s story is a powerful blueprint of resilience, proving that structural turnaround is possible when driven by a nation’s own people and visionaries,” Francis said. “This documentary captures that vital transformation in real time, offering global investors and audiences an authentic look at what true economic sovereignty looks like.”

Following its anticipated premier, the documentary will be rolled out across the U.S. and Europe as well as major digital streaming platforms. The distribution strategy positions the film as both a narrative documentary and an investor-facing visual reference aimed at global audiences tracking African energy transitions, upstream investment flows and long-term production stability.

While Ayuk has authored several influential books on African energy economics – such as Big Barrels, Billions at Play and A Just Transition – this project marks his very first literary work to be adapted into a feature documentary. Ultimately, this production serves as an investor-focused blueprint for the entire continent. It proves that lasting economic fortitude is achieved when a nation empowers its own people, builds transparent regulatory institutions and actively transforms finite hydrocarbon wealth into permanent, broad-based domestic growth and industrialization.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda

Source: APO – Report:

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The Virtual HLPM of African Heads of State and Government and Partners dedicated to the Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda was held on 16 June 2026 under the chairmanship of H.E. Evariste Ndayishimiye, President of the Republic of Burundi and Chair of the African Union. The HLPM brought together African Union Heads of State and Government, the African Union Commission, Africa CDC (https://AfricaCDC.org), partner countries, the United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Economic Communities, international financial institutions, the private sector, philanthropies, technical agencies and partners. 

Convened in a spirit of African unity and international solidarity, the HLPM aimed to contain the outbreak at source, protect communities and frontline workers, prevent regional spread, safeguard essential health services and strengthen preparedness in countries at risk through aligned political leadership, rapid financing, coordinated technical assistance and accountable field delivery. 

The HLPM noted with grave concern the rapidly evolving epidemiological situation. As of 15 June 2026, 827 confirmed cases and 194 confirmed deaths had been reported across the two affected countries: 808 confirmed cases and 192 confirmed deaths in the DRC, across Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu; and 19 confirmed cases and 2 confirmed deaths in Uganda. Ituri remains the epicentre, while North Kivu has become a major concern, with daily increases in confirmed cases and the highest case fatality ratio, estimated at 64%. 

The HLPM recognized that the outbreak has reached a critical operational tipping point, driven by continued community transmission, suboptimal contact tracing, rapid geographic expansion, high mobility linked to mining, insecurity and population displacement, community mistrust, reluctance to post-mortem testing in some areas, infection prevention and control gaps, insufficient safe and dignified burial capacity, inadequate isolation and treatment capacity, and the absence of licensed BDBV-specific vaccines or therapeutics. 

The HLPM requested the urgent establishment of humanitarian access and response corridors, including corridors of peace where required, to enable national authorities, Africa CDC, WHO, UN OCHA and partners to safely reach affected and high-risk areas, including North Kivu and South Kivu; assess transmission and needs; deliver supplies; investigate alerts; support treatment; and maintain essential health services. It also called for an immediate seven-day operational surge to strengthen case investigation, daily data management, 21-day contact follow-up, treatment and isolation capacity, IPC, triage and PPE, safe and dignified burials, laboratory clearance, point-of-care diagnostics, and risk communication and community engagement led by trusted local leaders. 

The HLPM commended the Governments of the DRC and Uganda for their leadership and initial financing of national response plans, including announced contributions of USD 50 million by the DRC and USD 5 million by Uganda. It paid tribute to frontline health workers, community actors and local responders, and welcomed the activation of Africa CDC, WHO and partner support, including the Incident Management Support Team, cross-border coordination, laboratory and field deployments, logistics support, community engagement and preparation of the six-month joint response and preparedness plan. 

The HLPM endorsed the June-December 2026 joint response and preparedness plan, with an estimated envelope of USD 518 million, and called for urgent, flexible and front-loaded financing. It welcomed pledges totalling USD 910 million, including USD 80 million from African Member States toward the USD 100 million African Member State target, and urged Member States, financial institutions, donors and partners to convert pledges into rapidly disbursable resources and priority in-kind support, including vehicles, ambulances, laboratories, data managers, community workers, treatment and isolation capacity, personal protective equipment, IPC/WASH materials, safe burial teams, logistics, security-sensitive access and health workforce surge capacity. 

The HLPM emphasized strengthened cross-border coordination among affected and at-risk Member States under the leadership of national authorities, with Africa CDC and WHO technical support and UN OCHA humanitarian coordination. It welcomed the Uganda-DRC operational mission to finalize surveillance, laboratory and case-management arrangements, and called for similar risk-based preparedness support for high-risk neighbouring countries. 

The HLPM reaffirmed that blanket travel or trade bans are not supported by public health evidence and may undermine response operations by discouraging reporting, diverting movement to informal crossings and delaying the movement of responders, samples, supplies and humanitarian assistance. It requested all countries to follow the Africa CDC guidance released on 9 June on entry and exit screening; share timely data with Africa CDC for centralized situational awareness; and adopt evidence-based, risk-based measures, including exit screening, rapid information-sharing, coordinated points-of-entry surveillance and safe passage for essential travel, trade and response operations. 

The HLPM underscored that Africa must move from recurrent emergency appeals to predictable preparedness investment. It endorsed voluntary financing by African Member States and the African private sector of USD 100 million per year, to be complemented by external partners, to strengthen epidemic preparedness, sustain readiness between outbreaks and accelerate investments in local manufacturing of medical countermeasures, including vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other essential commodities. 

The HLPM noted that, 19 years after Bundibugyo ebolavirus was first identified, no licensed BDBV-specific vaccine or therapeutic is available. It called for accelerated, ethical and protocolized access to candidate vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; adaptive clinical trials; firm post-trial access commitments; benefit-sharing; technology transfer; and African manufacturing pathways. It further encouraged countries to enrol in and effectively use the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism as the continental platform for joint procurement of health commodities, and to sign and ratify, where applicable, the Treaty for the African Medicines Agency as a pillar of African health security and sovereignty. 

The HLPM endorsed the continued leadership of Africa CDC, in close collaboration with WHO and all partners, in support of affected Member States. It welcomed the establishment of a weekly commitment tracker to monitor pledges, disbursements, deliveries and remaining gaps against the six-month plan, and resolved to maintain high-level political engagement until the outbreak is contained and regional health security risks are mitigated. The HLPM concluded with a call to all stakeholders to act with urgency, unity, solidarity and accountability: contain Ebola at source; keep borders open for science and solidarity; protect frontline workers and communities; and ensure that this emergency leaves Africa with stronger preparedness, stronger manufacturing capacity and stronger health security. 

– on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

A história das reformas em Angola vai ser levada ao grande ecrã

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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A notável reviravolta estrutural do setor energético angolano está oficialmente a passar das páginas para o grande ecrã. A produtora global Soyini Tales Inc. — liderada pela fundadora Tahira Francis — deu início à produção de um documentário de longa-metragem de alta qualidade baseado nas ideias do livro best-seller Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola, da autoria de NJ Ayuk.

As filmagens do documentário começam na próxima semana em Angola, onde a equipa de produção realizará entrevistas, visitas ao local e documentação no terreno em locais-chave do desenvolvimento energético e económico.

No cerne do documentário está um arco narrativo cativante de dez anos, enquadrado de forma única através das experiências vividas por três gerações de angolanos. A história cinematográfica traçará sistematicamente a complexa trajetória da nação, passando de uma era de expansão impulsionada pelo petróleo, passando por uma grave contração macroeconómica, até à fase atual de revitalização do setor energético impulsionada por políticas.

O documentário apresentará testemunhos humanos sobre a reforma institucional sistémica, explorando como o país conseguiu estabilizar o seu limiar de produção crucial em um milhão de barris por dia. Acompanhará a forma como Angola encarou com honestidade as suas próprias vulnerabilidades económicas, rejeitou narrativas externas e optou ativamente por reconstruir todo o seu panorama regulatório de dentro para fora. O documentário também detalhará os complexos mecanismos de mercado que conseguiram restabelecer a confiança dos investidores, oferecendo um quadro de referência autoritário e altamente visual para os investidores internacionais no setor energético que acompanham os fluxos globais do setor upstream.

O público ficará a compreender como estas políticas de nível macro se traduzem diretamente em experiências vividas nos campos petrolíferos, nas salas de reuniões e nos lares. Afastando-se das estatísticas, o documentário mostrará como a determinação regulatória pode quebrar com sucesso o ciclo de expansão e recessão que há muito assola as nações africanas ricas em recursos.

Fundamentalmente, a narrativa irá destacar os principais agentes de mudança africanos que concretizaram esta reviravolta, detalhando a arquitetura política do Presidente João Lourenço, a disciplina comercial introduzida na Sonangol por Sebastião Gaspar Martins e a eficiência regulatória impulsionada por Paulino Jerónimo na concessionária nacional, a Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis.

Para além da política estatal, o documentário irá apresentar os principais defensores do conteúdo local que impulsionam cadeias de abastecimento especializadas e operações industriais. Isto inclui a logística marítima e a gestão de carga através de João Filipe, na Cabship, a par da engenharia a montante e dos serviços de combustíveis liderados por Janice Faria, na Enagol. Além disso, o documentário irá explorar a liderança empresarial tática, destacando o trabalho de Francisco Monteiro na área das aquisições e do abastecimento de produtos químicos na Brimont, bem como a consultoria estratégica em campos petrolíferos e a defesa dos interesses empresariais de Bráulio de Brito na Tradinter. Estas figuras demonstram como as empresas locais captam e retêm ativamente valor no seio de uma economia energética em modernização.

«A história de Angola é um poderoso modelo de resiliência, provando que a reviravolta estrutural é possível quando impulsionada pelo próprio povo e por visionários de uma nação», afirmou Francis. «Este documentário capta essa transformação vital em tempo real, oferecendo aos investidores e ao público globais uma visão autêntica do que é a verdadeira soberania económica.»

Após a sua estreia antecipada, o documentário será lançado nos EUA e na Europa, bem como nas principais plataformas de streaming digital. A estratégia de distribuição posiciona o filme tanto como um documentário narrativo como uma referência visual dirigida a investidores, destinada a públicos globais que acompanham as transições energéticas africanas, os fluxos de investimento a montante e a estabilidade da produção a longo prazo.

Embora Ayuk seja autor de vários livros influentes sobre a economia energética africana — tais como Big Barrels, Billions at Play e A Just Transition —, este projeto marca a sua primeira obra literária a ser adaptada para um documentário de longa-metragem. Em última análise, esta produção serve como um modelo centrado nos investidores para todo o continente. Demonstra que a solidez económica duradoura é alcançada quando uma nação capacita o seu próprio povo, cria instituições reguladoras transparentes e transforma ativamente a riqueza finita em hidrocarbonetos num crescimento interno permanente e abrangente e na industrialização.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

Emirates SkyCargo partners with Dogs 4 Wildlife to combat poaching

Source: APO

  • The partnership will support the deployment of highly trained conservation dogs to protect endangered wildlife and combat poaching in Southern Africa
  • The first phase will see Emirates SkyCargo transport specialist dogs from the UK to Zimbabwe, where they will support wildlife rangers at Matusadona National Park
  • Collaboration reinforces Emirates’ longstanding commitment to wildlife protection and efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking

Emirates SkyCargo (www.Emirates.com) has partnered with Dogs 4 Wildlife (https://apo-opa.co/4vor8eA), a UK-based charity that protects endangered wildlife in Africa through the deployment of specialist conservation dogs. The first phase of the partnership will see Emirates SkyCargo transport dogs from the UK to Southern Africa, where they will work alongside wildlife park rangers to track poachers and strengthen conservation efforts.

The first two dogs, Vega and Kuda, both Belgian Malinois, are specialist human scent tracking dogs trained by Dogs 4 Wildlife for conservation operations. Selected for their exceptional drive, determination, and natural tracking abilities, Vega and Kuda will help form a new conservation K9 unit supporting wildlife protection efforts in Zimbabwe.

The dogs are scheduled to travel from London to Harare via Dubai in late June and will be deployed at Zimbabwe’s Matusadona National Park on their arrival.

Welfare-focused animal transportation services

Emirates SkyCargo, the air freight division of Emirates, transports cargo for businesses across Emirates’ global network. Through its specialist live animal transportation services, the airline provides reliable and welfare-focused transportation for animals. This is supported by dedicated handling processes, purpose-built facilities, and trained experts across its global network.

Badr Abbas, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo, said: “Protecting wildlife is a shared responsibility that requires collaboration, innovation, and long-term commitment. Through our partnership with Dogs 4 Wildlife, we are proud to support the deployment of highly trained conservation dogs, such as Vega and Kuda, across conservation initiatives. These animals will play a vital role in protecting endangered species and strengthening conservation efforts on the ground. This partnership reflects Emirates SkyCargo’s broader commitment to combatting illegal wildlife trade and supporting organisations that are creating meaningful impact for wildlife and global communities.”

Darren Priddle, Founder and Volunteer Trustee, Dogs 4 Wildlife, said: “We are incredibly proud to be partnering with Emirates SkyCargo on this important initiative. The deployment of conservation dogs such as Vega and Kuda represents far more than the transportation of two animals; it represents the movement of specialist conservation capability that will directly support wildlife rangers working on the front line of wildlife protection.

“At Dogs 4 Wildlife, our mission is to protect endangered species by providing highly trained conservation dogs and supporting the dedicated people who work tirelessly to safeguard wildlife every day. Having the support of a global organisation such as Emirates enables us to expand that impact and deliver proven conservation tools to the areas where they are needed most. This partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when organisations from different sectors come together with a shared commitment to protecting wildlife for future generations.”

A commitment to wildlife protection

The partnership between Emirates SkyCargo and Dogs 4 Wildlife aligns closely with Emirates’ longstanding commitment to wildlife protection (https://apo-opa.co/4xAn0tp). The airline maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the illegal wildlife trade, including Emirates SkyCargo’s ban on the transportation of hunting trophies (https://apo-opa.co/4emw0te). Emirates SkyCargo also operates robust screening processes and works closely with industry partners, government authorities, and conservation organisations to help prevent the movement of illicit wildlife products through global supply chains. Since launching its illegal wildlife trade awareness programme, Emirates has trained more than 46,000 employees across its business, helping frontline teams identify, report and respond to potential wildlife trafficking risks. Emirates has also achieved IATA’s Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) certification, which includes a dedicated wildlife module aligned with the Buckingham Palace Declaration.

The announcement comes as the industry and conservation community mark the 10th anniversary of the Buckingham Palace Declaration and gathers for the United for Wildlife High-Level Business Forum in London, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in tackling illicit wildlife trade and protecting endangered species for future generations. Emirates has been involved with United for Wildlife since becoming a founding signatory of the Declaration and continues to contribute to industry-wide efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Emirates Group.

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International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) Strategic Partnership with Côte d’Ivoire Through the new US$750 Million Framework Agreement

Source: APO

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire have signed a US$750 million Framework Agreement to support the implementation of the National Development Plan 2026–2030, strengthen strategic sectors, and promote private sector-led growth.

The new US$750 million Framework Agreement triples the size of the previous agreement signed in 2023, reflecting the successful and expanding scope of collaboration between ITFC and Côte d’Ivoire.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku during a meeting attended by H.E. Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Planning and Development and IsDB Governor for Côte d’Ivoire, and Eng. Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, Chief Executive Officer, ITFC.

The partnership is already delivering tangible impact in strategic sectors. Current sovereign operations include a EUR90 million energy financing facility to support the procurement of petroleum products and gas for electricity generation with CI-Energies and CIE (Ivorian Power Company), thereby enhancing Côte d’Ivoire’s energy security.  In the health sector, a EUR25 million facility for the National Pharmacy (Nouvelle PSP-CI) supports access to essential medicines and strengthens the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain operations.

ITFC is also expanding private sector trade finance through partnerships with local banks and structured financing transactions – such as Bank of Africa Cote d’Ivoire, Bridge Bank Cote d’Ivoire, Coris Bank Cote d’Ivoire.

Since commencing operations in Côte d’Ivoire in 2008, ITFC has approved more than US$751 million across sovereign and private sector operations. The new Framework Agreement provides a broader platform to support the country’s industrialization agenda, agro-industrial development, and private sector growth through enhanced trade finance solutions.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

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About the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC): 
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) is a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. It was established with the primary objective of advancing trade among OIC member countries, which would ultimately contribute to the overarching goal of improving socioeconomic conditions of the people across the world. Commencing operations in January 2008, ITFC has provided more than US$96 billion of financing to OIC member countries, making it the leading provider of trade solutions for these member countries’ needs. With a mission to become a catalyst for trade development for OIC member countries and beyond, the Corporation helps entities in member countries gain better access to trade finance and provides them with the necessary trade-related capacity building tools, which would enable them to successfully compete in the global market.

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Partnering for Impact: Strengthening Arab Coordination Group (ACG)–Private Sector Synergies for Sustainable Development

Source: APO

The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) (www.TheACG.org), in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, hosted a high-level session titled “Partnering for Impact: Strengthening Arab Coordination Group (ACG)–Private Sector Synergies for Sustainable Development” during the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum (PSF 2026), held in Baku from 16–19 June 2026. The session took place on 18 June and brought together senior representatives from ACG institutions, private sector companies, development partners, government entities, and international organizations to explore practical approaches for advancing sustainable development through enhanced public–private collaboration.

The discussion highlighted the role of the Arab Coordination Group in supporting coordinated financing, policy alignment, and knowledge sharing across priority sectors such as infrastructure, energy, and social development. It also emphasized ACG’s continued function as a platform that helps mobilize resources and facilitate partnerships that support development efforts in emerging and frontier markets.

Participants shared examples of existing collaboration models and examined opportunities to expand joint initiatives that deliver measurable development outcomes. The session underscored the importance of stronger engagement between development finance institutions and private sector actors to help address financing gaps and improve the efficiency and impact of development investments.

The objectives of the session included presenting successful ACG–private sector partnerships, identifying strategic priorities for deeper engagement in emerging and frontier markets, encouraging dialogue on co-financing and joint investment opportunities, and increasing awareness of ACG’s role within the broader context of the IsDB Group Private Sector Forum. The discussion also reinforced the importance of public–private collaboration in supporting long-term development impact.

Key points of discussion focused on ACG’s contribution to sustainable development through coordinated financing mechanisms, approaches to attract greater private sector participation in member countries, the role of innovation and technology in improving development outcomes, lessons learned from existing partnerships, and priority areas for future cooperation. The session also highlighted risk-sharing approaches and tools designed to facilitate greater private capital mobilization for development-focused projects.

The session concluded with a shared understanding of the importance of continued collaboration between ACG institutions and private sector partners to support scalable and impactful development initiatives across key sectors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Arab Coordination Group (ACG).

About the Arab Coordination Group (ACG):
The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is a strategic alliance that provides a coordinated response to development finance. Since its establishment in 1975, the ACG has been instrumental in developing economies and communities for a better future, providing more than 13,000 development loans to over 160 countries around the globe. The ACG works across the globe to support developing nations and create a lasting, positive impact. The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is considered one of the most important and effective development partnerships at the international level. The group actively works to adopt the best global practices in sustainable development work. It also aims to align the efforts of these institutions to achieve convergence and harmonization in the policies governing their financing operations.

The Group comprises 10 national, Arab regional, and international institutions, including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.

www.TheACG.org

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President of Lebanon Receives Joint Ministerial Delegation from Qatar, Britain and France

Source: Government of Qatar

Beirut, June 18, 2026

HE President of the Republic of Lebanon Joseph Aoun received on Thursday a joint ministerial delegation from the State of Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the French Republic.
The visiting delegation included HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad; UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Baroness Jenny Chapman; and HE Minister Delegate for Francophony, International Partnerships and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Eleonore Caroit.
During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments in Lebanon and reaffirmed their unwavering support for the country’s sovereignty and stability, emphasizing the necessity of full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and the cessation of hostilities agreement.
In a press statement, HE Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad affirmed Qatar’s continued support for the Republic of Lebanon and its ongoing cooperation with international partners to aid. Highlighting the deep-rooted fraternal relations between the two nations, Her Excellency noted that this joint trilateral ministerial visit embodies a shared commitment to continuous coordination between Qatar, the United Kingdom, France, and Lebanon within the framework of international cooperation to support Lebanese stability, recovery, humanitarian, and developmental efforts.
Her Excellency explained that Qatar’s position rests on two main pillars: reaffirming its absolute support for Lebanon while rejecting any violation of its sovereignty and security, and firmly encouraging the path of diplomacy and peace.
HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation added that Qatar’s support for Lebanon extends beyond the political sphere to encompass vital economic and developmental assistance. She pointed out that the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has provided humanitarian and development aid totaling approximately $434 million, benefiting more than 1.5 million people. This is in addition to an emergency humanitarian aid package dispatched last April to assist nearly one million people displaced from their homes due to recent events.
Her Excellency stressed the critical significance of international cooperation at this juncture, highlighting the need to leverage international partnerships to serve communities and preserve human dignity. This approach, she noted, aligns with the directives of Qatar’s wise leadership, which advocates for investing in people to achieve lasting peace. She concluded by emphasizing that investing in education and healthcare within fragile zones is an act of preventive diplomacy that addresses root causes, such as poverty, ignorance, and youth marginalization, before they escalate into armed conflict or extremism, rather than delaying action until a crisis erupts. 

South African scientists make breakthrough in decoding cancer’s most effective survival strategy

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin Naidoo, Professor of Scientific Computing and Physical Chemistry, University of Cape Town

In the intricate biology of the human body, organs such as the breast, the colon and the lungs are lined with a defensive barrier known as the epithelium. At the heart of this barrier sits a remarkable protein called Mucin-1 (MUC1). In a healthy body, MUC1 is like a sentinel.

It stands on the cell wall, draped in a complex “armour” of long chains of sugar molecules (carbohydrates), where it serves as a physical shield against bacteria, viruses and toxins. Crucially, it communicates with the immune system, telling our natural defences when the body is under threat.

But in the case of cancer, this guardian exchanges its sugar coat armour for shorter sugar chains and so turns into a traitor. It stops sending danger signals to the immune system and instead binds to the immune cells, creating an anti-inflammatory microenvironment that promotes tumours.

The team I lead at the Scientific Computing Research Unit at the University of Cape Town is home to computer modelling experts and experimental chemical biology research scientists. The molecular details of this MUC1 alteration, which contributes to the transformation of normal cells into tumour cells, were recently published in Nature Communications, and provide a new look at exactly how this process happens.

By developing a novel “test-tube” synthetic biology approach, we modelled and decoded the molecular assembly line reorganisation that allows cancer to “redecorate” MUC1, turning it from a protective shield into a cloak of invisibility. We used our own computational chemistry algorithms to map the exact sugar coating positions that create a tumour-promoting environment.

Understanding the location and nature of the MUC1 sugars that prevent the immune system from detecting tumours provides the foundation for our laboratory and others in the field to develop cancer vaccines, biomarkers and therapeutics.

This South African-led discovery represents a major leap forward in our ability to decode one of cancer’s most effective survival strategies.

Dr Lateef Nashed and Professor Kevin J Naidoo. SCRU

The problem: a malignant makeover

In a normal cell, the sugar molecules attached to MUC1 are long and complex. The process of attaching sugars is called glycosylation. In cancer cells, however, this process goes haywire. The sugar molecules are often cut short or altered, creating “aberrant” structures like the Tn and sialyl-Tn (sTn) antigens. These are specific types of sugar-protein combinations that are tags for tumour cells.

These altered sugars do two dangerous things: they allow the tumour to evade detection by the immune system, and they actively trigger the process of turning a normal cell into a cancerous one.

Because MUC1 is found in so many different types of cancer, the US National Cancer Institute has ranked it as the most accesible target.

To stop the cascading effect of the MUC1 changes from normal to tumour cells, scientists first had to understand exactly how the “assembly line” breaks down.

The discovery: relocating the factory

Our research team set out to do something ambitious: recreate the transition from a healthy sugar coating to a cancerous one in a laboratory setting.

In normal cells, the enzymes that build these sugar chains (long molecules) live in a part of the cell called the Golgi apparatus, the cell’s “packaging and delivery centre”. We built an in vitro (test-tube) model to simulate what happens when these conditions change. We discovered that in tumour cells, the enzymes responsible for starting the sugar chains are relocated to another part of the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, essentially the cell’s “factory floor”.

This relocation changes everything. Here, the enzymes are no longer inhibited by the usual cellular checks and balances. They take over the sugar sites on the MUC1 protein, creating the foundation for the cancerous Tn antigen.

To take the study even further, we used quantum chemistry. We simulated the behaviour of atoms and molecules at the most fundamental level to find out where these changes are most likely to happen. We identified a specific location on the MUC1 protein, known as the T13 site, which cancer enzymes prefer. This specific interaction is what drives the massive increase in the sTn antigen seen in malignant tumours.

Why this matters: from lab to patient

Understanding the “how” and the “where” of these sugar changes is the first step towards stopping them. The research didn’t stop at the test tube; the team is already looking at what this means for patients.

The next phase of the research, as detailed in a recent paper in Glycobiology, involves building a sophisticated “systems biology” computational model. A model can connect the changes in the MUC1 sugar coating to the behaviour of immune cells. For example, scientists found that when these cancerous sugars interact with macrophages (a type of white blood cell), they trigger the release of specific signals that tell the tumour to grow and spread.

We are refining these details for various types of cancer. We are comparing common forms of breast cancer with more aggressive, currently untreatable types to see if the “sugar code” differs between them.

By using this accurate, atomic-level data to build computer models of the entire biological system, we hope to identify new drugs that can block these signals. The goal is to move towards precision medicine: treatments that can strip away cancer’s sugar shield, allowing the patient’s own immune system to finally see and destroy the tumour.

– South African scientists make breakthrough in decoding cancer’s most effective survival strategy
– https://theconversation.com/south-african-scientists-make-breakthrough-in-decoding-cancers-most-effective-survival-strategy-283545

People are marrying holograms and making friends with chatbots. But can AI bring true happiness?

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anné H. Verhoef, Professor in Philosophy, North-West University

Can technology really replace human relationships? As philosophy scholars who focus on human happiness and on artificial intelligence (AI), we tackle this question in a recent paper.

In our study, we address the rise of AI companions, chatbots, and social robots for friendship, advice, emotional support, and even romance.

We argue that AI can reduce loneliness and provide assistance, but it lacks the genuine understanding, emotions, and moral responsibility needed for human flourishing.

Genuine happiness relies on authentic interpersonal connections, but AI is disrupting traditional ideas of friendship and relationships. Replacing these with AI-driven interactions risks eroding well-being and community.

Human happiness

The study of happiness is a broad field. In our paper, we turn to the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur to address an aspect of happiness that links to authentic human connections, friendships, and community building.

Ricoeur was particularly influential in the field of human capability and how people understand themselves, others and their world. He advanced our understanding of happiness by connecting it to unhappiness and chance, but also by emphasising the human relational nature of happiness. He makes three interrelated claims on what happiness means.


Read more: What is happiness? A philosopher looks for answers


First, happiness reflects the individual’s desire for a fulfilled life and personal agency. Yet, Ricoeur warns that human beings exist within complex social systems that shape and constrain their pursuit of happiness. So, we can’t easily secure happiness through individual effort alone. This leads to the second thread.

Second, happiness is no longer a private aspiration but emerges through giving and receiving. Its fragility lies in its shared character, which builds friendships to dispel loneliness and deepen fulfilment. But this is not just about the bonds we share with those who are close to us.

Ricoeur adds a third thread to include those distant from us. He argues that happiness is linked to an individual’s private pursuits and the role others play in enabling or frustrating them. “Others” includes those with faces – friends and loved ones – and faceless, distant strangers.

Happiness, then, may be located within the self, in intimate relationships, or in relations with the wider community.

Ricoeur’s account of the concept of happiness reflects a well known study that found that strong community ties help people live longer and happier lives.

The study draws on nearly 80 years of data from the lived experiences of 268 students who moved from Harvard University dorms to residential houses in 1938. The research shows that close relationships best predict longevity, health, and life satisfaction. Such ties protect against discontent, and delay physical and cognitive decline. They’re more reliable predictors of well-being and happiness than wealth or status.

However, the rise of digitalisation and AI now complicates who and what may count as “others” in the promotion of our individual happiness.

Robot technology

According to a study on how AI companionship develops, 68% of AI chatbot users perceive these tools as “somewhat” or “fully” humanlike, 90% believe chatbots are intelligent, 78% believe chatbots are empathetic, and 75% believe they’re conscious.

AI is being used to answer questions and probe human interests, shaping a new kind of dialogue in many spheres of life. With it, ideas of friendships are shifting to involve human-technology relations.


Read more: Lifetime trends in happiness change as misery peaks among the young – new research


Traditionally, the “others” in a person’s life have been human subjects. Emerging scholarship on human-technology relations challenges this assumption. Ranging from sport companions to sexual intimacy, these studies compel us to reconsider what counts as the other.

Technologies like Replika now occupy the role of the “other” in some people’s lives. This human-companion chatbot with the motto “the AI friend to do life with” has over 42 million global users at the time of writing. Replika is designed to foster companionship and friendship among those who feel lonely. Users create an avatar that becomes their digital companion.

Socially disruptive technologies like AI-driven social robots are designs that distort our traditional social norms, relations, and the way we see the world. One reason they’re considered disruptive is that they are unpredictable and continually challenge our worldviews. Historically, technologies were not moral agents. Today, however, they play the roles of moral subjects and objects in our lives.


Read more: In a lonely world, widespread AI chatbots and ‘companions’ pose unique psychological risks


For example, in Japan the hikikomori phenomenon, a state of human social reclusiveness, is gaining momentum, with over 1.5 million individuals becoming attached to virtual companions instead of other people.

An estimated 3,700 individuals have reportedly applied for marriage certificates through Gatebox with a holograph called Hatsune Miku. One marriage has already been registered. In some religious settings, social robots serve as religious leaders to a community of believers.

These technologies have disrupted traditional concepts such as friendships and relationships, and what it means to contribute towards human well-being and flourishing.

So can robots bring real happiness?

In our study we acknowledge that these technologies can foster human flourishing and happiness, but not from the standpoint of Ricoeur’s “others”.

They fail to satisfy the criteria for human otherness. The technologies:

  • only mimic the experiences we share with them

  • do not act out of their own “will”, and we cannot hold them responsible for any moral or legal action

  • do not have stories and experiences of their own.

Social robots, though lacking sentience (the ability to feel pain or pleasure), can elicit meaningful emotional and psychological responses, enhancing human well-being and happiness in ways that resemble traditional human interactions. AI-driven social bots are always available, energetic, patient, adaptive, and responsive to our needs. In this regard, they seem to offer much more to our potential happiness than our best friends and families do.


Read more: Evidence shows AI systems are already too much like humans. Will that be a problem?


However, they are social bots and must remain as such. We must not confuse them with what the human others meant to Ricoeur or with what they meant in the Harvard study.

This because the experiences they elicit are not real, and they are not objects of moral considerations (receiving real care, justice, and sympathy). In our view, being an object of moral considerations is a necessary condition in promoting genuine human happiness and well-being.

– People are marrying holograms and making friends with chatbots. But can AI bring true happiness?
– https://theconversation.com/people-are-marrying-holograms-and-making-friends-with-chatbots-but-can-ai-bring-true-happiness-284872