Category: World

Europe’s police-intelligence agency appears poised to appoint a senior Italian law-enforcement official as head of its financial-crime division, as the bloc intensifies efforts to track illicit flows across borders. The official, named by insiders as Giuseppe Lopez, would assume responsibility for coordinating investigations into money-laundering, fraud and cross-border financial crime — a move that signals a sharpening of Europe’s enforcement stance.Lopez is described as a veteran law-enforcement officer from Italy, with a background in complex investigations and transnational crime. His

A massive fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong, killing at least 55 people and leaving around 279 unaccounted for, according to officials on Thursday. Flames ripped through seven high-rise residential blocks surrounded by bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh, with one of the dead identified as a firefighter who had been battling the blaze. Over 60 individuals were injured and many residents remain trapped or unreachable.Emergency teams deployed hundreds

Banks and insurers across South Africa are being confronted with a shifting regulatory landscape as the Financial Sector Conduct Authority and the South African Reserve Bank, through its Prudential Authority, move to formalise oversight of artificial intelligence across the financial sector. Their inaugural report on the topic reveals a growing, though still tentative, embrace of AI — and flags significant risks around data governance, transparency, and systemic stability across institutions.The 2025 FSCA–PA report draws on more than 2,000

During the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, stated that the Fund expects the Group of Twenty major economies to place sustained emphasis on global debt vulnerabilities, particularly in developing nations. She warned that global public debt is projected to exceed 100 % of world GDP by 2029 without decisive action, and added that the IMF intends to continue pressing the G20 on this issue.Georgieva highlighted that growth remains sluggish, debt

Production at the Volkswagen Group Africa facility in Kariega, Eastern Cape, has surpassed two million units of the Volkswagen Polo, marking a significant achievement for the plant and the region’s automotive sector. The milestone vehicle, a smoky-grey model destined for Australia, rolled off the production line earlier this month, underlining the global scope of manufacturing at the site.The factory, known as the “Home of Polo”, began producing the model in 1996 with the Polo Classic, manufacturing roughly 5

Security forces in Myanmar’s border region with Thailand have confiscated roughly 10,000 mobile phones and associated equipment as part of a wide-ranging operation against online fraud networks, the country’s military government announced. The action unfolded in the Myawaddy township of Kayin State, where an internet scam hub known as KK Park was raided, and approximately 346 foreign nationals detained during the sweep.The military accused the ethnic armed organisation Karen National Union of providing shelter and protection to the

Nairobi-based electric mobility firm Roam Electric Ltd has begun talks to monetise carbon-offset credits generated by its motorcycles while launching a global crowdfunding campaign to raise working capital. Each machine sold by Roam is designed to offset around three tonnes of CO₂ annually; with about 4,000 units currently in circulation, the company estimates roughly 12,000 tonnes of emissions reduction per year—equivalent to the output of some 2,600 typical US passenger cars.Roam’s push into the carbon-credit trade forms part of a

Kenya’s banking sector is under pressure as impaired loan ratios hover at elevated levels even though pre-tax profits and capital buffers point to resilience, according to a recent assessment by ratings agency Fitch Ratings. The sector’s net impaired loans to equity stood at around 23 per cent in the first half of this year, reflecting persistent debt servicing challenges.Fitch estimates that the sector-wide ratio of impaired loans to gross loans was about 17.1 per cent at the end of September,

President Donald Trump has pledged a one-time payment of $2,000 to moderate- and middle-income Americans, to be funded by revenues from the tariffs his administration has imposed. He proposed the payment in remarks signalling the effort will begin around mid-2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent clarified that the payout would depend on congressional approval and suggested the benefit might instead be delivered through tax reductions rather than direct checks.The payment would be characterised by Trump as a ‘dividend’ to citizens from

David Richardson has announced his departure as the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency after just six months in the role. His resignation marks a swift exit for the seasoned public servant, raising questions about the agency's leadership during a period of heightened national challenges.Richardson, who took over the role in May 2025, following the resignation of the previous administrator, had been tasked with navigating FEMA through a turbulent landscape marked by escalating natural disasters and mounting

A significant consultative meeting aimed at addressing Africa's veterinary medicine regulation challenges is taking place in Nairobi from 17 to 19 November 2025. The event, led by AU-IBAR, AU-PANVAC, GALVmed, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and several key partners, has brought together national regulatory authorities, Chief Veterinary Officers, regional bodies, manufacturers, and technical organisations. The central focus of the discussions is the long-standing issues that hinder access to quality veterinary medicines and vaccines across the continent.In her opening remarks, Dr. Huyam

The United Nations World Tourism Organization has named Khaby Lame, the world's most-followed TikTok star, as its newest ambassador. The move marks a significant step in the growing role of digital creators and influencers in shaping global tourism trends and promoting international travel.Lame, known for his humorous and minimalist videos that simplify complex tasks, has amassed over 200 million followers on TikTok. His viral content, which involves silent, relatable gestures that mock overly complicated solutions, has made him an

Iran has launched an ambitious cloud-seeding operation as its water crisis intensifies, with authorities warning that the capital may face rationing or even evacuation if supplies cannot be sustained. The move comes against a backdrop of six years of dwindling rainfall and widespread depletion of reservoirs, particularly around Tehran, where dam-levels are at historic lows and domestic pressure on water supplies has escalated.A specialised aircraft under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy’s “Atmospheric Water Technologies Organisation” was deployed over

Between 1991 and 2023, catastrophic events have left an indelible mark on global agriculture, causing losses exceeding $3.26 trillion, a report from the Food and Agriculture Organization reveals. These disasters have not only disrupted food systems but also devastated the livelihoods of farmers and communities dependent on agricultural output.The FAO's findings highlight that over the past three decades, agriculture has borne the brunt of a changing climate and more frequent natural disasters. In total, 4.6 billion tonnes of cereals,

Federal agents have arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, as part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to ramp up immigration enforcement across the country. The deployment marks a significant escalation in the administration’s crackdown on undocumented immigrants and highlights a growing focus on cities with higher immigrant populations. This move reflects the administration's strategy of targeting so-called “sanctuary cities,” areas where local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.The decision to station additional agents in Charlotte follows months of tensions

US President Donald Trump has confirmed his intent to sue the BBC for up to $5 billion, following a controversial incident involving a video edit that misrepresented his comments. The dispute stems from a video posted by the British broadcaster, which Trump claims distorted his remarks, resulting in what he described as unfair damage to his reputation.The controversy erupted after the BBC aired a clip from a press conference in which Trump allegedly appeared to downplay the significance of the