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Cricket world champions arrive home

Source: South Africa News Agency

Hundreds of South Africans braved the cold on Wednesday to welcome the national men’s cricket team back on home soil, following their historic victory in the 2025 International Cricket Council’s Test Championship (ICC).

The Proteas won against the then champions Australia, in a thrilling final at Lord’s in England with a five-wicket win on Saturday.
This marked South Africa’s first-ever appearance in a World Test Championship Final, and their triumphant performance signalled a landmark achievement for the nation’s cricketing history. 

This as Australia, currently ranked number one in the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings, entered the final as favourites and defending champions. 

The Proteas, ranked second, rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable performance, cementing their status as one of the world’s elite test sides.

READ | President Ramaphosa hails Proteas historic ICC test championship victory

The cricket team received an electrifying welcome with jubilation, song and dance from supporters, who arrived at OR Tambo International Airport, early on Wednesday morning.

The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said the team’s win gives the nation hope.

“People should see themselves when they watch our national teams and that is what we are doing in cricket. They are following in the footsteps of rugby. We are a socially cohesive country. We are a rainbow nation and you can see this.

“We are the best sporting nation in the world. We have the strongest women and men in the world. We have the fastest runners, the best soccer players, [and]we have the best rugby players and cricket team,” the Minister said.

The Proteas men’s head coach Shukri Conrad expressed his joy at the welcome the team received at the airport.

“I am absolutely ecstatic to see people come out in their hundreds. It makes this win even more special. We won a few days ago but it hasn’t sunk in. To get a reception like this… it starts to sink in. The guys have been great but the fans have been better,” Conrad said.

The Minister, together with the cricket team, will brief the nation this afternoon on their success. –SAnews.gov.za
 

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SA views G7 as strategic partner in several areas 

Source: South Africa News Agency

South Africa views the Group of Seven (G7) as a strategic partner in its efforts to drive climate resilience, promote a just energy transition, and secure value-added investment in its rich mineral resources.

This is according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who was speaking following the conclusion of his working visit to Canada where he participated in the G7 Summit Outreach Session. The session took place on the margins of the G7 Leaders’ Summit, held in Kananaskis, Alberta.

“South Africa views the G7 as a strategic partner. We seek greater cooperation in areas such as investment, financing for development, international crime, climate change and just transitions, as well as inclusive global growth and development,” the President said on Tuesday.

READ | President in Canada for G7 Leaders’ Summit

The G7 consists of the largest advanced economies namely: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

The European Union also participates in G7 Summits, although it is not a member.  

The Outreach Session aimed “to explore leadership and collaboration in driving a comprehensive approach to energy security with a focus on technology and innovation; diversification and strengthening critical mineral supply chains; and infrastructure and investment”.

The outreach theme resonated with South Africa’s national interests and priorities of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.  

The Outreach Sessions of the G7 have been a feature of the Group over the years with the aim being to strengthen unity among G7 members and like-minded countries to deliberate on and address some of the world’s most pressing issues. 

President Ramaphosa described the summit as “most meaningful” particularly in the context of South Africa’s role as the G20 President.

“We’ve just concluded our visit to Canada to attend the G7 Summit. It has been most meaningful for us, particularly as we are the President of the G20. We’ve had the opportunity to interact with a number of heads of state and government of various countries,” he said.

Climate change 

President Ramaphosa placed climate change and its devastating effects at the centre of South Africa’s message to the G7 leaders, highlighting the destruction brought by floods in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, as well as the ongoing droughts in parts of the Western Cape. 

“We put that firmly on the global agenda, that there should be sufficient funding for incidents such as those, as they happen on a repeated basis, particularly in our sub region – in [the] SADC [Southern African Development Community], but more importantly, in two of our provinces, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape [which] over the past few years have suffered repeated incidents of destruction from floods and also droughts in parts of the Western Cape,” the President explained.

Beneficiation 

On the economic front, President Ramaphosa also pushed for a shift in the global approach to Africa’s critical minerals, emphasising the need for beneficiation and inclusive value chains.

“We discussed the importance of how our critical minerals should be treated, particularly in view of the fact that they play such an important role in energy security and that the extraction of minerals from African countries and our own country, particularly, should be made more to be not only extractive, but also to have value add, where beneficiation becomes the order of the day,” he said. 

He said investors must be made aware upfront that South Africa seeks to move beyond raw exports to value-added production, in line with its long-held vision of selling finished goods rather than raw materials.

“Those who want to invest in our minerals, should know up front that we are not only looking forward to them extracting minerals, but also to value chain additions or advancements in the form of beneficiation, so that in the end, we live up to what we’ve been saying, that we want to sell value added products to the rest of the world,” the President stressed.

Bilateral meetings

The first citizen also held bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the summit, which he described as “most beneficial” for South Africa’s diplomatic and economic engagements.

He held bilateral meetings with Heads of State and Government from Canada, France, Germany and the Republic of Korea. The meetings centered on fostering greater cooperation on issues of mutual interest. 

President Ramaphosa welcomed the strengthening of cooperation between South Africa and Canada as it relates to the G20 and the G7. 

“Canada’s Africa strategy is comprehensive and there is potential for cooperation in areas where there is alignment with the African Agenda.”

Several engagements have taken place between South Africa and Canada at various levels, including at Sherpa and Ministerial levels. – SAnews.gov.za

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Tosyalı devient le plus grand producteur d’acier de Turquie et le troisième d’Europe

Le producteur d’acier mondial turc Tosyalı (www.TosyaliHolding.com.tr) poursuit sa croissance mondiale avec près de 50 installations sur 3 continents, une capacité de production d’acier liquide de 15 millions de tonnes et environ 15 000 employés.

Attirant l’attention avec ses investissements dans la production d’acier qualifié à haute valeur ajoutée en déterminant la durabilité comme agenda principal, Tosyalı grimpe rapidement les échelons de la production mondiale d’acier avec ses complexes de production dans différentes géographies du monde, ses produits d’acier vert produits avec une technologie avancée, la R&D et l’innovation, des capitaux propres solides et des employés hautement compétents.

Au milieu des conditions mondiales difficiles de 2024, une année difficile pour les producteurs d’acier du monde entier, Tosyalı a réalisé une montée rapide dans les classements mondiaux, ajoutant encore un autre succès à son record. Selon les données publiées par l’Association mondiale de l’acier, Tosyalı a produit 9,12 millions de tonnes d’acier liquide en 2024 et a grimpé de 21 places par rapport à l’année précédente, atteignant la 46e position dans le classement mondial. Avec une augmentation de 54,3% de la production, Tosyalı est devenu l’un des 3 producteurs d’acier à la croissance la plus rapide au monde. Aujourd’hui, Tosyalı a atteint la position du plus grand producteur d’acier de Turquie tout en renforçant également sa position forte sur la scène mondiale en tant que troisième plus grand producteur d’acier d’Europe. De plus, l’entreprise est entrée dans le top 50 des producteurs d’acier mondiaux, franchissant une étape importante pour l’industrie.

Fuat Tosyalı, Président du Conseil d’Administration de Tosyalı Holding : “Notre objectif est de devenir l’un des 20 premiers producteurs d’acier au monde”

Déclarant que le succès mondial de Tosyalı est basé sur des investissements stratégiques bien planifiés et une production d’acier qualifiée, Fuat Tosyalı, Président du Conseil d’Administration de Tosyalı Holding, a dit : “En tant que Tosyalı, nous avons identifié la durabilité, l’efficacité et les économies d’échelle comme trois priorités importantes. Avec cette stratégie, nous continuons à croître de manière saine et stable avec des investissements orientés vers l’éco-efficacité en Turquie et dans différentes géographies autour du monde. Nous avons achevé l’usine Tosyalı Demir Çelik İskenderun, le plus grand investissement industriel de notre pays ces dernières années, malgré la catastrophe du grand tremblement de terre et avons commencé la première production en 2023. Cette usine a éliminé les 4 millions de tonnes d’importations d’acier plat de la Turquie et a commencé à apporter une contribution significative aux exportations d’acier à valeur ajoutée.”

Fuat Tosyalı a continué: “Nous prenons des mesures fermes pour devenir l’un des centres de production sidérurgique intégrés les plus importants et stratégiques non seulement dans le bassin méditerranéen et en Afrique, mais aussi dans le monde avec nos investissements de quatrième phase dans notre complexe de production Tosyalı Algérie en cinq phases, qui est l’une des forces motrices de notre succès en tant qu’entreprise sidérurgique mondiale à ce jour. Nous avons également initié des investissements en Libye comme étape stratégique en Afrique. Avec nos investissements en Turquie, en Algérie, en Espagne et en Libye, nous renforçons notre position de producteur d’acier mondial jour après jour.”

Fuat Tosyalı a également souligné l’ampleur des investissements durables: “En tant que Tosyalı, notre montant total d’investissement au cours des 5 dernières années est de plus de 6 milliards USD et la majorité de ceux-ci sont des investissements orientés vers la durabilité. Nos investissements dans la R&D, la technologie avancée, la production circulaire et les sources d’énergie propre telles que le solaire et l’hydrogène continuent sans interruption. En même temps, nous nous concentrons sur l’efficacité, qui est également l’une des questions principales de la durabilité, et nous tendons à produire plus en consommant moins de ressources. Nous continuons à réaliser une croissance durable grâce à notre structure complètement indépendante, mais dynamique et efficace qui analyse tout de la mine au produit final dans l’écosystème Tosyalı.”

Tosyalı a conclu en déclarant: “Ainsi, nous continuons notre montée rapide mais stable dans les classements mondiaux. Entre 2020 et 2024, nous avons augmenté notre production mondiale d’acier brut de 110%. En raison de ces progrès, nous sommes entrés dans le top 50 des entreprises mondiales, devenant le plus grand producteur de Turquie et le troisième d’Europe. Parmi les 50 premières entreprises, nous sommes la seule à monter continuellement dans les classements mondiaux chaque année. Notre croissance stable et durable continue, et avec nos chiffres de production, nous avons pris une étape très forte vers le passage à la ligue suivante à l’échelle mondiale. Dans les 4–5 prochaines années, alors que nos investissements en cours commenceront la production, nous avancerons avec confiance vers notre objectif de devenir l’une des 20 premières entreprises sidérurgiques au monde.”

Distribué par APO Group pour Tosyali Holding.

Contact :
Serap Öztürk
sozturk@medyaevi.com.tr

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C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zambia 2025 launches in Lusaka – C&I Energy + Storage Summit is a project of VUKA Group

The C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zambia (https://apo-opa.co/4n3jClL), a landmark event for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, is set to launch on 27-28 August 2025 in Lusaka. Hosted in Zambia’s capital, this summit introduces a dynamic platform to tackle energy challenges and deliver sustainable solutions for commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. 

About the Summit

The C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zambia unites industry leaders, project owners, innovators, and financiers to advance energy security and sustainability. Following the success of the 2024 South Africa summit, this event connects pre-qualified C&I project owners with cutting-edge energy and storage providers, fostering actionable insights, peer collaboration, and strategic partnerships. As part of the Power and Energy Portfolio of VUKA Group, a leading organiser of transformative industry events across Africa, this summit will drive the SADC region’s energy future. 

“Zambia is at a turning point in its energy journey,” says Chanelle Hingston, Portfolio Director of VUKA Group’s Power and Energy Portfolio. “With growing demand, policy reform, and a clear appetite for private generation, there’s never been a more important time to connect buyers and solution providers. Launching the C&I Energy + Storage Summit here is about unlocking real opportunities—where energy independence meets economic resilience.”

Why attend?

This summit is essential for businesses facing unreliable utility power and pursuing energy independence. Through masterclasses, case studies, and networking, participants will explore alternative energy and storage technologies to secure reliable energy, learn from early adopters about successful project execution, gain insights into regulatory frameworks and policy advocacy, mitigate financial and technical risks with expert advice, and build partnerships to accelerate project development.  

This event is critical for Zambia’s C&I sectors, which depend on effective energy solutions. Key industries include retail, powering stores and supply chains consistently; manufacturing, ensuring stable energy for production; agriculture and agri-processing, supporting irrigation and processing; property development, enabling sustainable buildings; and energy-intensive users, stabilising operations for mining and industry. 

Download the programme (https://apo-opa.co/4n3jClL)

Programme highlights 

The two-day programme features dynamic sessions and masterclasses:

Day 1 (27 August 2025): The day kicks off with a keynote, moderated by Dr Johnstone Chikwanda, featuring a project briefing on energy strategies, followed by case studies where early adopters like Dangote Cement Zambia and Shoprite Zambia share embedded generation successes. This is followed by a panel discussion on derisking business continuity, featuring Helen Zulu, Zambia Country Director, ENGIE Energy  Access, and Chabuka Kawesha, Vice President (South Block), Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Day 2 (28 August 2025): The day begins with a plenary and a keynote by the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and a session on open-access electricity policy, outlining its economic impact and challenges.  

Masterclasses cover grid capacity and flexibility in an open-access era; navigating clean energy technologies, solar PV, and storage implementation; safety and sustainable asset management for solar PV projects; and analysis of Zambia’s renewable energy tariff regime and cost insights, featuring Billy Onyango, County Operations & Maintenance Engineer, Kenya Power. 

Closing remarks explore the future of storage for hydro-dependent nations, addressing battery storage, climate impacts, and investment frameworks. 

Join us 

Seize this opportunity to elevate your energy strategy, engage with top providers, and shape the future of Zambia and the SADC region. Whether a sponsor, delegate, hosted buyer, or investor, the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Zambia offers unmatched value. For more information visit https://apo-opa.co/4n3jClL

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group.

For sponsorship or hosted buyer enquiries, contact:
Marcel du Toit
marcel.dutoit@wearevka.com

For speaking opportunities, contact:
Babalwa Bungane 
Babalwa.bungane@wearevuka.com 

About VUKA Group:
As part of the Power and Energy Portfolio of VUKA Group (https://apo-opa.co/4jUGq4g), this summit aligns with VUKA’s mission to connect industries, spark innovation, and fuel economic growth. VUKA Group is a premier organiser of conferences, exhibitions, and events across Africa, delivering tailored platforms for networking, knowledge sharing, and business development in energy and related sectors. 

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Tosyalı has Become Türkiye’s Largest and Europe’s Third-Largest Steel Producer

Türkiye’s global steel producer Tosyalı (www.TosyaliHolding.com.tr) continues its global growth with nearly 50 facilities across 3 continents, a liquid steel production capacity of 15 million tons, and approximately 15,000 employees.

Drawing attention with its investments in high value-added qualified steel production by determining sustainability as the main agenda, Tosyalı is rapidly climbing the steps in world steel production with its production complexes in different geographies of the world, green steel products produced with advanced technology, R&D and innovation, strong equity and highly competent employees.

Amid the challenging global conditions in 2024, a difficult year for steel producers worldwide, Tosyalı achieved a rapid rise in the global rankings, adding yet another success to its record. According to data released by the World Steel Association, Tosyalı produced 9.12 million tons of liquid steel in 2024 and climbed 21 places compared to the previous year, reaching 46th position in the world rankings. With a 54.3% increase in production, Tosyalı has become one of the world’s top 3 fastest-growing steel producers. Today, Tosyalı has reached the position of Türkiye’s largest steel producer while also strengthening its strong position in the global arena as Europe’s third-largest steel producer. Additionally, the company entered the world’s top 50 steel producers, crossing a significant milestone for the industry.

Tosyalı Holding Chairman of the Board Fuat Tosyalı: “Our goal is to become one of the world’s top 20 steel producers”

Stating that Tosyalı‘s global success is based on well-planned strategic investments and qualified steel production, Fuat Tosyalı, Chairman of the Board of Tosyalı Holding, said: “As Tosyalı, we have identified sustainability, efficiency and economies of scale as three important priorities. With this strategy, we continue to grow in a healthy and stable manner with eco-efficiency-oriented investments in Türkiye and in different geographies around the world. We completed Tosyalı Demir Çelik İskenderun Plant, the largest industrial investment of our country in recent years, despite the major earthquake disaster and started the first production in 2023. This plant eliminated Türkiye’s 4 million tons of flat steel imports and started to make a significant contribution to value-added steel exports. We are taking firm steps towards becoming one of the most important and strategic integrated iron and steel production centers not only in the Mediterranean basin and Africa, but also in the world with our fourth phase investments in our five-phase Tosyalı Algérie production complex, which is one of the driving forces of our success as a global steel company to date. We have also initiated investments in Libya as a strategic step in Africa. With our investments in Türkiye, Algeria, Spain and Libya, we are strengthening our position as a global steel producer day by day.

As Tosyalı, our total investment amount in the last 5 years is over 6 billion USD and the majority of these are sustainability-oriented investments. Our investments in R&D, advanced technology, circular production, and clean energy sources such as solar and hydrogen continue without interruption. At the same time, we are focusing on efficiency, which is also one of the main issues of sustainability, and we tend to produce more by consuming fewer resources. We continue to achieve sustainable growth thanks to our completely independent, yet dynamic and efficient structure that analyzes everything from the mine to the final product within the Tosyalı ecosystem. Thus, we continue our rapid yet steady rise in the world rankings. Between 2020 and 2024, we increased our global crude steel production by 110%. Due to this progress, we have entered the world’s top 50 companies, becoming Türkiye’s largest and Europe’s third-largest steel producer. Among the top 50 companies, we are the only one to continuously rise in the global rankings every year. Our steady and sustainable growth continues, and with our production figures, we have taken a very strong step toward moving up to the next league on a global scale. In the next 4–5 years, as our ongoing investments begin production, we will move forward with confidence toward our goal of becoming one of the world’s top 20 steel companies.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Tosyali Holding.

Contact:
Serap Öztürk
sozturk@medyaevi.com.tr

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Advisor to Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Israeli Attack on Iran an Uncalculated Escalation

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha, June 17, 2025

Advisor to the Prime Minister and Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Majed bin Mohammed Al Ansari said that Israel’s attack on the Islamic Republic of Iran represents an uncalculated escalation with serious consequences for regional security, which is already strained and cannot handle further crises.

During the Ministry’s weekly press briefing, Al Ansari highlighted the State of Qatar’s deep concern over the situation, describing it as a new chapter in an ongoing pattern of provocations. He pointed out that, while countries across the region are making efforts to de-escalate various tensions, one regional actor continues to be the main source of instability and is undermining every peace effort.

He strongly criticized what he described as an uncalculated attack on nuclear and energy infrastructure, warning that this move could have far-reaching impacts on both global energy markets and regional security. He particularly highlighted the strategic significance of Gulf waters, not only as a local water source but also as a crucial artery for the world’s energy supply.

Al Ansari mentioned that, for the first time in over seven years, the region was witnessing real diplomatic momentum in talks between Iran and the United States, momentum that the State of Qatar and other countries were supporting. However, he cautioned that the current escalation could derail these efforts. He reaffirmed the State of Qatar’s commitment to working with both regional and international partners to help return to dialogue and avoid an unpredictable regional war.

He explained the region’s importance by citing that nearly 30% of the world’s exports of oil and fertilizers, and about 25% of its natural gas, pass through this area and the Strait of Hormuz.

He expressed confidence in the State of Qatar’s economy, highlighting that things remain very stable. He also noted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change announced yesterday that it had not detected any pollution in the water. He added that the government is monitoring the situation closely and, for now, water safety is intact and maritime movement in the Strait of Hormuz is normal, with energy exports proceeding without disruption.

When asked about contingency plans, he said that the State of Qatar has them in place and for various scenarios covering both the energy sector and public safety. He noted that the State of Qatar has consistently demonstrated readiness and resilience during past regional crises.

Despite the current calm in shipping and energy flow, he warned that any continued escalation could trigger dangerous and unforeseen consequences.

He also highlighted that the State of Qatar is in constant contact with its regional and international allies, aiming to end the crisis and facilitate dialogue. According to him, the country is actively engaged in mediation efforts to bring all sides closer together and reach a peaceful resolution to this dangerous escalation.

Al Ansari stressed that the region’s most urgent challenge now is escalation. He warned that if these tensions are not curbed, the consequences could be increasingly negative. That’s why, he added, all efforts must focus on crisis prevention.

Regarding Israel’s strike on Iran’s side of the South Pars gas field, He described the strike as a serious concern. He noted that many international companies operate in these energy fields and employ people from various countries. He said that, despite the State of Qatar’s energy infrastructure remaining unaffected and exports continuing normally, the targeting of the field has raised legitimate fears across the region about global energy supply security.

On Gaza, he confirmed that the State of Qatar’s mediation efforts toward a ceasefire were still underway. But he acknowledged that regional escalations, especially the latest confrontation between Iran and Israel, were severely hampering progress on multiple diplomatic fronts, including Gaza.

He raised alarm regarding the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying that the situation has been deteriorating since early March. Of particular concern, he noted, is the repeated targeting of civilians seeking humanitarian aid. He stressed that the only way to address this crisis is to allow the unconditional entry of aid into Gaza and enable international organizations to distribute it. Al-Ansari dismissed justifications for blocking aid as weak and disconnected from the reality on the ground.

Spokesperson Al Ansari addressed the recent diplomatic outreach conducted by HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. He noted that since last Friday and up to Monday, His Excellency made numerous phone calls with his counterparts, including Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abbas Araghchi. During that call, HE the Prime Minister extended the State of Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized that the State of Qatar would work with both regional and international partners to urgently halt the aggression against Iran and spare the region from its potentially disastrous consequences.

He also highlighted that HE the Prime Minister held conversations with several high-level officials, including UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Badr Abdelatty; Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ayman Safadi, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al-Saud, Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani; Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand; and Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis.

He also highlighted HE the Prime Minister’s expressing the State of Qatar’s condemnation of the repeated Israeli violations and attacks in the region during these conversations, stressing that such actions undermine peace efforts. He called for unified regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and resolve disputes through diplomacy.

The Spokesperson added that HE the Prime Minister hosted German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on Saturday in Doha. Their meeting focused on regional developments and enhancing international peace and security.

In a related development, He said that Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi held a phone call with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to discuss the recent Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities and the need to bolster nuclear site security. Dr. Al Khulaifi stressed during the call that targeting such facilities poses a serious threat to regional and global peace, reaffirming that Qatar is working actively with its partners to return to dialogue and promote lasting security and stability.

Al Ansari also noted that last Thursday marked the opening of the third Qatar-France Strategic Dialogue, held in Paris. The session was co-chaired by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot. One of the key outcomes of the meeting was mutual appreciation for the progress made since HH the Amir’s state visit to France in February last year, which paved the way for new cooperation initiatives across multiple sectors. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening strategic partnerships.

On the sidelines of the dialogue, HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and addressed regional developments, particularly the ongoing challenges surrounding the Gaza Strip.

He further noted that Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad met today with Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of UNRWA (the UN agency for Palestinian refugees). Their meeting focused on enhancing the collaboration between Qatar and UNRWA.

Additionally, on Monday, Minister Al Misnad also met with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Hadjivassiliou to discuss bilateral cooperation

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Le président algérien s’exprimera lors de l’African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 dans le cadre d’une campagne de 50 milliards de dollars en faveur des hydrocarbures

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, président de la République d’Algérie, s’exprimera lors de la conférence de l’African Energy Week (AEW) de cette année : Invest in African Energy. La participation du président Tebboune intervient alors que le pays ouvre la voie à une campagne d’investissement de 50 milliards de dollars au cours des quatre prochaines années et souligne l’engagement de l’Algérie à travailler avec des partenaires internationaux pour stimuler l’exploration et la production.

Sous la direction du président Tebboune, l’Algérie a mis en œuvre des plans de développement audacieux pour l’industrie pétrolière et gazière, s’efforçant de consolider sa position en tant que centre international d’exportation. Le pays a entrepris une ambitieuse campagne d’investissement et continue d’attirer les capitaux étrangers sur le marché en renforçant les partenariats et en améliorant les conditions commerciales. En mettant l’accent sur la promotion des zones frontalières, l’augmentation de la production de gaz et la création d’opportunités d’investissement dans l’hydrogène vert et les projets d’infrastructure régionaux, le président Tebboune jette les bases d’une croissance économique durable et à long terme en Algérie. Lors de l’AEW : Invest in African Energy 2025, le président Tebboune devrait partager ses idées sur cette stratégie, en soulignant les opportunités d’investissement à venir et la réforme de la réglementation.

AEW : Invest in African Energy est la plateforme de choix pour les opérateurs de projets, les financiers, les fournisseurs de technologies et les gouvernements, et s’est imposé comme le lieu officiel pour signer des accords dans le domaine de l’énergie en Afrique. Visitez le site http://www.AECWeek.com pour plus d’informations sur cet événement passionnant.

L’Algérie, l’un des plus grands producteurs de pétrole et de gaz d’Afrique, mise sur la réforme de sa politique pour attirer de nouveaux investissements dans des projets d’exploration. L’une des pierres angulaires de cette stratégie est le cycle d’octroi de licences en cours dans le pays, qui propose six blocs terrestres à des sociétés internationales et nationales. Lancé en novembre 2024, le cycle d’appel d’offres accueillera une cérémonie d’ouverture des plis en juin 2025, l’Agence nationale pour la valorisation des ressources en hydrocarbures en Algérie devant attribuer au moins cinq des six blocs. Ce dernier cycle d’attribution de licences s’inscrit dans le cadre d’un plan quinquennal qui prévoit plusieurs cycles d’appels d’offres, visant à offrir des superficies dans des zones géologiques à fort potentiel et à combiner une combinaison d’actifs nouveaux et anciens. Cette stratégie pluriannuelle témoigne de l’engagement du gouvernement à accroître la compétitivité des investissements en Algérie.

Au-delà des cycles d’octroi de licences, le président Tebboune a promulgué une série de réformes politiques visant à améliorer l’environnement des affaires pour les opérateurs étrangers. Il s’agit notamment de l’introduction d’une loi sur les hydrocarbures en 2019, qui offre des conditions fiscales améliorées par rapport à la législation de 2013. Depuis la promulgation de cette loi, la production a considérablement rebondi en Algérie, et les ventes de gaz à elles seules devraient se maintenir à 10 milliards de pieds cubes par jour jusqu’à la fin de la décennie. Avec un objectif de production de 200 milliards de mètres cubes de gaz sur cinq ans, la loi sur les hydrocarbures de 2019 continuera à jouer un rôle déterminant pour attirer les investissements sur le marché.

Grâce à cette loi, un certain nombre de compagnies pétrolières internationales ont augmenté leurs investissements en Algérie. ExxonMobil et Chevron explorent les ressources en hydrocarbures des bassins de l’Ahnet, du Gourara et de la Berkine ; Eni et Equinor revitalisent les champs d’In Salah et d’In Amenas ; tandis que TotalEnergies dirige l’évaluation et le développement du gaz à Timimoun. Parallèlement, la compagnie pétrolière nationale algérienne Sonatrach élargit rapidement son portefeuille, avec des investissements stratégiques dans le champ pétrolier de Zarzaitine et la relance des activités du complexe gazier d’Alrar. En 2024, Sonatrach a fait huit nouvelles découvertes d’hydrocarbures et en 2025, elle cherche à atteindre une production quotidienne de 1,2 million de barils.

Au-delà du pétrole et du gaz, le président Tebboune a fait du développement de l’hydrogène vert une priorité pour le pays, soulignant le rôle que cette ressource jouera pour faciliter une transition énergétique juste en Algérie. Le pays est en train de devenir un leader de l’hydrogène vert en Afrique, avec des projets tels que le projet SoutH2 Corridor – un réseau de gazoducs de 3 300 km développé en partenariat avec des acteurs européens – qui transforme le marché. Le projet réutilise les gazoducs pour transporter de l’hydrogène vert, en tirant parti des ressources stratégiques du continent et de la demande croissante de l’Europe pour soutenir les exportations. L’exploitation est prévue pour 2030, et le projet devrait permettre de transporter jusqu’à quatre millions de tonnes d’hydrogène par an. À l’avenir, les investissements dans l’hydrogène vert devraient permettre de diversifier le marché tout en créant de nouvelles opportunités commerciales pour les entreprises régionales.

“La stratégie énergétique diversifiée de l’Algérie devrait servir d’exemple aux autres pays africains riches en ressources. En donnant la priorité à l’exploration pétrolière et gazière, en réformant les politiques pour attirer les dépenses et en travaillant en étroite collaboration avec des partenaires internationaux pour établir des réseaux d’exportation durables, l’Algérie est en train de s’imposer comme un centre international de l’énergie. Le président Tebboune a joué un rôle déterminant pour faire du pays ce qu’il est aujourd’hui : un marché attractif et orienté vers la croissance”, déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. 

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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Algerian President to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Amid $50B Hydrocarbon Drive

Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the Republic of Algeria, will speak at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference. President Tebboune’s participation comes as the country paves the way for a $50 billion investment drive over the next four years and underscores Algeria’s commitment to working with international partners to bolster exploration and production.

Under President Tebboune’s leadership, Algeria has implemented bold development plans for the oil and gas industry, striving to consolidate its position as an international export hub. The country has undertaken an ambitious investment drive and continues to attract foreign capital to the market through strengthened partnerships and improved business terms. With a focus on promoting frontier acreage, increasing gas production and creating investment opportunities in green hydrogen and regional infrastructure projects, President Tebboune is laying the foundation for long-term, sustainable economic growth in Algeria. At AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, President Tebboune is expected to share insights into this strategy, highlighting upcoming investment opportunities and regulatory reform.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

As one of Africa’s biggest oil and gas producers, Algeria is leveraging policy reform to attract new investment in exploration projects. A cornerstone of this strategy is the country’s ongoing licensing round, which offers six onshore blocks to international and domestic companies. Launched in November 2024, the bid round will host a bid opening ceremony in June 2025, with the National Agency for the Valorization of Hydrocarbon Resources in Algeria expected to award at least five of the six blocks. This latest licensing round falls part of a five-year plan which features multiple bid rounds, aimed at offering acreage in high-potential geological zones and combining a mix of greenfield and brownfield assets. This multi-year strategy showcases the commitment of the government to increasing the competitiveness of investing in Algeria.

Beyond the licensing rounds, President Tebboune has enacted a series of policy reforms aimed at improving the business environment for foreign operators. These include the introduction of a Hydrocarbon Law in 2019, offering improved fiscal terms to those of 2013 legislation. Since the enactment of this law, production has rebounded significantly in Algeria, with gas sales alone projected to remain at 10 billion cubic feet per day until the end of the decade. Targeting 200 billion cubic meters in gas production over the five years, the Hydrocarbon Law of 2019 will continue playing an instrumental part in attracting investment to the market.

On the back of this law, a number of international oil companies have expanded their investments in Algeria. ExxonMobil and Chevron are exploring for hydrocarbon resources in the Ahnet, Gourara and Berkine basins; Eni and Equinor are revitalizing the In Salah and In Amenas fields; while TotalEnergies is leading gas appraisal and development in Timimoun. In tandem, Algeria’s national oil company Sonatrach is rapidly expanding its portfolio, with strategic investments in the Zarzaitine oilfield and revived operations at the Alrar gas complex. In 2024, Sonatrach made eight new hydrocarbon discoveries and in 2025, seeks to achieve 1.2 million barrels in daily production.

Beyond oil and gas, President Tebboune has set green hydrogen development as a priority for the country, underscoring the role the resource will play in facilitating a just energy transition in Algeria. The country is emerging as a green hydrogen leader in Africa, with projects such as the SoutH2 Corridor project – a 3,300 km pipeline network developed in partnership with European stakeholders – transforming the market. The project repurposes natural gas pipelines to transport green hydrogen, leveraging the continent’s strategic resources and growing European demand to bolster exports. Operations are planned for 2030, with the project set to transport up to four million tons of hydrogen per year. Looking ahead, investments in green hydrogen are expected to diversify the market while creating new business opportunities for regional firms.

“Algeria’s diversified energy strategy should serve as a strong example for other resource-rich nations in Africa. By prioritizing oil and gas exploration, reforming policies to attract spending and working closely with international partners to establish sustainable export networks, Algeria is establishing itself as an international energy hub. President Tebboune has played an instrumental role in making the country what it is today: an attractive, growth-oriented market,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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The Customer Experience Africa Awards Return to Honour the Continent’s Brightest in Customer Experience (CX)

After a powerful comeback in 2024, the Customer Experience Africa Awards (CXAs) are officially back for 2025 and bringing together the very best in customer experience from across the continent for a night of recognition, celebration, and connection. 

Taking place on Tuesday, 12 August 2025 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, the CXAs serve as the official opening of the CEM Africa Summit; Africa’s leading platform for CX professionals. 

 Last year’s event drew over 70 applications and a full house of CX champions, industry leaders, and visionaries.  

This year, excitement is already building with entries rolling in from across the continent, including submissions from ABSA Kenya and the University of Pretoria, the latter entering the brand-new Government & Public Sector category. 

This year’s CX Awards have already attracted entries from leading brands such as ABSA Kenya, ICX Kenya, QContact, Telviva, Wonga Digital, BOS Technology and more, a powerful reflection of the industry’s growing commitment to customer excellence. 

Judged by CX Leaders from Across the Continent 

  • Joan Ntabadde Kyeyune – Senior CX Consultant, Steadfast Quality Solutions 
  • Benson Mukandiwa – Trustee, Customer Experience World Games (CXWG) 
  • Qaalfa Dibeehi – Managing Partner, Human2Outcome 
  • Chantel Botha – Founder, BrandLove Customer Experience 
  • Charlie Stewart – CEO, Rogerwilco 

Entries are assessed across four core criteria: 

  • Challenge & Market Context 
  • Strategy & Execution 
  • Impact & Measurable Results 
  • Scalability & Industry Relevance 

Spotlight on Past Winners 

The 2024 CXAs celebrated game-changing work across sectors, including: 

  • Liz Okomba, NCBA Bank – CX Leader of the Year 
  • Digital Solutions Group – Best Customer Experience Team 
  • NCBA Bank – Best Overall CX Solution 
  • Kim Dalton & Greg Van Der Plank, ABSA Bank – Breaking Barriers in CX 
  • Multichoice – Best Use of AI 
  • Bilha Maina, NCBA Bank – Rising Star in CX 
  • Telviva – Best Contact Centre Platform 

Their stories inspired a room of 300+ CX professionals and reminded us of the power of people-led transformation. 

Deadline Extended: 7 July 2025 

Entries are open to individuals, teams, public sector departments, start-ups and multinationals across Africa. A free Tips & Tricks entry guide is available to help applicants structure their submissions.  

Submit your Application: https://apo-opa.co/4lbz1yo

Download the Tricks & Tips Guide: https://apo-opa.co/4k1LjZj

Sponsorship Opportunities 

A limited number of category sponsorships and on-site activations remain available. Sponsors benefit from on-stage visibility, branding across CXA campaigns, and direct access to Africa’s leading customer-focused brands and professionals. 

The CXAs are not just about awards – they’re about spotlighting the real people, ideas, and initiatives shaping customer experience across Africa. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vuka Group.

To apply, book tickets or enquire about sponsorship email: 
britney.price@wearevuka.com 
peter.chinanzvavana@wearevuka.com

Visit: www.CEM-CXA.com 

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Government commits to supporting families who were affected by storms and strong winds

Source: South Africa News Agency

Government has reaffirmed its dedication to supporting affected families, speeding up recovery efforts, and investing in long-term solutions to adapt to climate risks. 

At the same time, citizens are encouraged to stay alert, follow official alerts, and promptly report any hazards to local authorities in case of bad weather.

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, along with the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, conducted an oversight visit to the Impendle Local Municipality on Tuesday. 

They assessed the damage caused by recent extreme weather conditions that left hundreds of residents displaced.

The visit comes in the wake of a Level 5 weather warning issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS) last week.

Impendle was among the most severely affected areas in the province, following heavy windstorms that tore through homes and community infrastructure.

According to the department, a total of 140 households were affected, with 58 homes destroyed and 137 others partially damaged. 

Meanwhile, about 962 people were directly impacted, with 31 families currently displaced and relying on the support of relatives and neighbours for shelter.

The hardest-hit communities are located across five wards, and the department said the disaster management teams from local, district, and provincial structures have been deployed to the area. 

Meanwhile, relief efforts are underway, including the provision of temporary shelter, some of which is offered by community members, food parcels, and monetary vouchers for affected families.

Hlabisa commended the swift coordination between the different spheres of government and called for long-term resilience measures. 

“What we are seeing here must push us to improve our response systems and build safer communities. We must not only rebuild but rebuild better.”

Ntuli echoed the importance of proactive planning and described this disaster as a “wake-up call”. 

“Our systems must be more resilient to protect lives and livelihoods,” the Premier said. 

The department said the leaders engaged with community members and disaster teams on the ground to ensure that immediate needs are met and that medium- to long-term recovery plans are well-informed.

In addition to addressing the situation in Impendle, government leaders extended condolences to the families of two people who lost their lives in eThekwini due to recent storm-related incidents. 

“Sympathies were also extended to the families of 12 people who tragically died in a road accident involving a bus and truck in KwaZulu-Natal during the same period.”

According to the department, the incident comes as the province continues to experience more frequent and severe weather patterns, attributed to the growing impact of climate change. 

As a result, the National Disaster Management Centre has been tasked with conducting thorough vulnerability assessments across the country to inform more targeted early warning systems, resilient infrastructure plans, and proactive community risk management.

On Friday last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Mthatha in the Eastern Cape to offer support and assess the damage following the recent floods that killed about 90 people.

The floods have caused widespread destruction to homes, government facilities, roads, hospitals, and schools, highlighting the urgent need to tackle climate change. 

President Ramaphosa said that this is becoming a new reality for South Africa, with both the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal experiencing recurring annual disasters. – SAnews.gov.za