Category: World

Sun King, a leading renewable energy firm, is poised to make significant strides in solar manufacturing, with its CEO, T. Patrick Walsh, announcing an ambitious target to establish new production plants by 2026. The company’s aggressive expansion plans aim to bolster solar panel production and position Sun King at the forefront of the renewable energy sector.Walsh's announcement underscores the company’s commitment to addressing the global demand for clean energy solutions. With countries around the world intensifying their focus on reducing

A sweeping storm unleashed by the extratropical remnants of Typhoon Halong has destroyed two remote Alaskan villages and displaced more than 1,500 residents, triggering one of the largest emergency airlifts in state history. Officials confirmed at least one fatality and two missing persons as rescue and recovery efforts intensify.Winds exceeding 100 mph combined with an extraordinary storm surge—measured at 6.6 feet in the hardest-hit hamlet of Kipnuk—flattened homes, flooded infrastructure, and submerged boardwalks. Entire houses were carried off their foundations,

South Africa’s township economy, long relegated to the informal fringes of growth, is now drawing deliberate attention from government, corporates and fintech innovators alike as a pivotal engine for broad-based development. The sector is increasingly viewed not as a peripheral “slack” market but as a strategic frontier offering scale, resilience and social inclusion.Analysts estimate that the township economy could be worth between R900 billion and over R1 trillion, with some experts arguing that conventional measurements understate its full scope. Within that total,

At least 30 major U. S. news organisations, including The New York Times, The Associated Press, Reuters, and Newsmax, have refused to endorse the Pentagon’s newly imposed rules for press access, positioning themselves for a possible mass withdrawal of reporters from the Pentagon.The Department of Defense’s policy requires journalists covering the Pentagon to sign a document acknowledging restrictions on access, including the possibility of having their credentials revoked if they solicit or publish “unauthorised” information—even if unclassified. Media outlets contend

The 2025 Global Fraud Index ranks Africa as the world’s most exposed region to digital fraud, marking a significant shift in the global fraud landscape. Sumsub’s study, covering 112 countries across four structural pillars, places Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Senegal among the least protected nations.Sumsub built its index on four weighted dimensions: fraud activity, resource accessibility, government intervention, and economic health. The combined framework aims to show not only where fraud is occurring but also why some countries are

Kigali has become the launchpad for the Rwanda chapter of the Africa Trade Gateway, a comprehensive digital trade ecosystem developed by the African Export-Import Bank in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. The rollout aims to accelerate uptake of the platform across the nation and integrate Rwandan firms more closely into Africa’s digital trade networks.The ATG combines five integrated modules—including PAPSS, MANSA, ATEX, TRADAR Club, and logistics/connectivity services—into a unified “one-stop” window for digital trade

Russia and China have endorsed an ambitious joint action plan to expand shipping via the Northern Sea Route, setting freight targets and launching collaborative projects that signal a deepening strategic partnership in the Arctic domain.At a meeting of the bilateral NSR sub-commission in Harbin, officials agreed on a roadmap aimed at scaling cargo traffic to 20 million tonnes by 2030, while pursuing development in shipbuilding, logistics, training, and technological innovation. Rosatom, Russia’s state nuclear corporation, will play a central role

Addis Ababa — Ethiopia’s Ministry of Finance and Italy’s development cooperation agency have inaugurated a two-year, €1.7 million project aimed at strengthening community resilience and restoring heritage in the Wukro–Gheralta belt of the Tigray region. The “Supporting Community Resilience through Community-Based Tourism and Heritage Conservation” programme is designed to generate livelihoods, preserve cultural identity and foster post-conflict reconciliation.Semereta Sewasew, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Finance, signed the agreement alongside Italy’s Ambassador Agostino Palese. Sewasew described the venture as a “symbolic

By K Raveendran[caption id="attachment_109100" align="alignleft" width="374"] Sushil Kutty[/caption]Sushil Kutty, who passed away on Sunday night, lived and wrote like a man apart — a loner in every sense, and yet deeply connected to the world through the force of his words. A regular columnist for the India Press Agency for the last ten years, Sushil was that rare journalist whose writing transcended political lines, winning admiration from across the ideological spectrum. He belonged to no camp, pledged loyalty to no

The United Arab Emirates has asserted that open, rules-based trade is vital to sustainable development, while unveiling strategic moves to strengthen its global trade footprint at the G20 Trade & Investment Ministerial Meeting in Gqeberha, South Africa.At the opening sessions, Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, emphasised that trade frameworks anchored in transparency and fairness are the cornerstone for inclusive growth and resilience. He urged member nations to modernise supply chains, deepen cooperation across institutions,

A team from the International Monetary Fund has secured a staff-level agreement with Somali authorities to complete the fourth review under the Extended Credit Facility arrangement. The agreement, pending approval by the IMF’s Executive Board, unlocks a portion of additional funding and reaffirms commitments to macroeconomic reform.The mission, led by IMF representative Ran Bi, conducted talks with Somali officials between 16 September and 8 October, resulting in concurrence on key policy measures and an augmentation request under the ECF

The French presidency announced that President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, tasking him with forming a viable government and shepherding a 2026 budget through a fragmented parliament. The move follows the abrupt collapse of Lecornu’s earlier cabinet, which lasted scarcely hours.Lecornu’s renewed mandate comes after he resigned on 6 October, mere hours after unveiling a cabinet, citing opposition across ideological lines to its composition. Under intense pressure, Macron began consultations and settled on reinstating Lecornu, who

Washington pressed Beijing to adopt a more conciliatory stance in an intensifying trade dispute over rare earths, as Vice President JD Vance asserted that President Donald Trump holds superior leverage in any escalating confrontation. Speaking on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures, Vance warned that China’s reaction will largely decide whether the standoff becomes a full-blown trade war or returns to negotiation.China responded with defiance. Its Ministry of Commerce demanded the U. S. cease threatening additional tariffs and reiterated that it

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has outright rejected a federal proposal from the Trump administration that would grant preferential funding to universities in exchange for adopting ideological and policy constraints. The university’s leadership argues the offer undermines academic freedom and institutional autonomy.MIT President Sally Kornbluth issued a letter addressed to Education Secretary Linda McMahon in which she affirmed the institution’s commitment to merit-based scientific funding and independent governance. She noted that while MIT already adheres to many principles cited in the

Metra will implement fare hikes ranging from 13 % to 15 % starting February 2026 to counter a projected $200 million funding shortfall — a move that aims to prevent service cuts in the immediate term.The commuter rail system’s proposed 2026 budget, set at about $1.1 billion, depends heavily on that increase to stem deficits, while maintaining its existing service levels. The Regional Transportation Authority has mandated that Metra, CTA and Pace must raise fares by at least 10

Dubai’s GITEX GLOBAL 2025 is turning the spotlight on East Africa as a rising force in the artificial intelligence landscape, with regional governments and private players leveraging the event to signal ambition across infrastructure, AI research and startup ecosystems.More than 6,800 tech enterprises and 2,000 startups from 180 countries will convene in Dubai from 13 to 17 October under the GITEX banner, showcasing breakthroughs in biotech, robotics, quantum, semiconductors and sustainable data infrastructure. Alongside is Expand North Star, a startup

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has entered into force, with the Israel Defence Forces confirming a suspension of major offensive operations and stepping back from parts of Gaza. The armistice supports a mediated exchange: Hamas will release 20 living hostages within 72 hours, and Israel will free a broad list of Palestinian detainees.The ceasefire commenced at midday local time, with Israeli troops withdrawing to a predetermined “yellow line.” Israeli military statements confirm that while many hostilities have halted, forces

Cameroonian fintech startup REasy has secured a $1.8 million pre-seed investment to expand its cross-border payment and trade infrastructure for small and medium enterprises.The funding was led by Ingressive Capital, Launch Africa, 54 Collective and Digital Africa, alongside fintech angels including Christophe Chausson, Mathias Léopoldie and Joël Nana Kontchou. REasy intends to deploy the capital toward technology development, regulatory licensing across new markets and accelerated customer acquisition.At the heart of REasy’s proposition is a platform that links African payment rails—such as

Ethiopia’s central bank has held its benchmark rate at 15 per cent while expanding the cap on credit growth to 24 per cent for the 2025/26 fiscal year, balancing a cautious monetary stance with support for economic expansion. The move coincided with the country’s inaugural export shipments under the African Continental Free Trade Area, marking a defining moment in Ethiopia’s trade and financial policy strategy.The National Bank of Ethiopia’s Monetary Policy Committee, meeting on 25 September, opted to maintain the

A wave of AI-generated protest videos created using OpenAI's Sora 2 technology has sent shockwaves through the online community, fuelling confusion and sparking debates about the integrity of digital media. The rise of these deepfake videos, often portraying political unrest and protests, has raised concerns about the blurring of the line between reality and manipulation in the digital age.The videos, designed to look incredibly realistic, feature prominent figures and ordinary citizens in politically charged scenarios. Many of the videos depict

Sub-Saharan Africa’s gross domestic product is now projected to grow by about 3.8 percent in 2025, up from 3.5 percent in 2024, as inflation moderates and foreign exchange markets stabilise across many nations.The updated outlook emerges from the latest “Africa’s Pulse” report by the World Bank, which highlights a more favourable macroeconomic backdrop enabling central banks to ease policy constraints and stimulating consumption and investment.The revised forecast elevates expectations for the region over the medium term, with growth anticipated to

Violent protests have forced the University of Fort Hare in Alice, Eastern Cape, to suspend all operations, as buildings were set ablaze and mounting demands for institutional accountability intensified.Officials estimate damage to campus infrastructure could reach between R 250 million and R 500 million after fires consumed the main administration building, the student affairs block, an agriculture facility and a new clinic under construction.Police have arrested at least seven students for public violence, and reports indicate that law enforcement

Donald Trump announced that Israel and Hamas have acquiesced to the first phase of a U. S.-brokered Gaza peace plan, under which hostages would be released “very soon” and Israeli troops would withdraw to a predetermined line. He described the agreement as an opening step toward “a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.”The accord, reportedly brokered in Egypt, calls for the immediate release of all living hostages—with 20 expected to be freed over the coming days—and a simultaneous pullback of Israeli