Category: World

The African Union and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at bolstering health systems across the continent, particularly in the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The agreement, inked on 3 November 2025 in Geneva, commits both parties to deeper collaboration including data-driven accountability, domestic resource mobilisation and integrated development planning.Under the pact, the AU and the Global Fund will target implementation of the AU’s “Roadmap to

Wall Street’s surge in equity valuations, largely driven by a small group of technology giants, has raised concerns about the shallow nature of the rally and the potential risks that may follow. Leading the pack are companies such as Nvidia, Microsoft and Amazon. com, whose combined market capitalisations and dominant positions in artificial-intelligence-driven sectors are exerting an outsized influence on the broader market. Analysts note that the broader index gains owe little to widespread corporate strength, raising questions about the

Sky enthusiasts worldwide are preparing for what scientists describe as the largest and brightest full moon of the year. On 5 November 2025, the moon will reach its full phase while positioned at perigee—its closest point to Earth—amounting to a lunar distance of approximately 356,980 km. This alignment marks the second in a series of three consecutive supermoons and the most extreme of the year.Called the “Beaver Moon” in traditional North American lunar naming, the 5 November event will

Belgrade’s governing party has introduced legislation designed to fast-track the development of a luxury hotel complex linked to the son-in-law of former United States President Donald Trump, signalling the project is gaining momentum despite mounting controversy. The law would relax planning and heritage oversight on the site of the former Yugoslav Ministry of Defence buildings, allowing the U. S.-based investment firm Affinity Partners, headed by Jared Kushner, to proceed under accelerated terms. This move raises questions about transparency, cultural protection

Chinese authorities have agreed to suspend implementation of a new wave of export controls on rare-earth metals and to cease investigations into U. S. semiconductor companies, signalling a de-escalation in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. According to a White House fact sheet, the measures to be paused were those announced by People's Republic of China in October and would have expanded export licences and extraterritorial jurisdiction on materials such as gallium, germanium, antimony and rare-earth metals.The

Fintech firm Afriex has announced a strategic collaboration with payments giant Visa to deliver real-time cross-border transfers to over 160 markets, marking a significant expansion of its global payments network. The platform will integrate with Visa’s “Visa Direct” service through Afriex’s financial institution partner, enabling eligible Visa endpoints to receive funds instantaneously, according to the announcement.Afriex’s chief executive, Tope Alabi, emphasised that “for the millions of families and businesses who depend on remittances, speed and transparency matter most. Working with

Major banks in Nigeria posted solid earnings in the quarter ending September 30 as elevated interest rates and assets repricing lifted income streams, though underlying risks linger. Leading the pack, United Bank for Africa Plc recorded a profit after tax of ₦537.53 billion, up 2.3 per cent from the same period last year. Gross earnings rose 3.0 per cent to ₦2.469 trillion while net interest income climbed 6.2 per cent to ₦1.172 trillion, supported by deposit growth and disciplined

US retail giant Walmart has chosen the upper-level of Clearwater Mall in the Strubens Valley area of Roodepoort, Johannesburg, as the site for its first branded store on the African continent. The cornerstone agreement was confirmed by mall owner Hyprop Investments and partner retailer Massmart, signalling a strategic push by Walmart into the broader Africa market.The move brings the hallmark “Every Day Low Prices” shopping model to South African consumers, promising stable pricing rather than traditional promotion-driven offers.

The White House announced a policy that prohibits credentialed reporters from freely entering Room 140, a section of the West Wing known as “Upper Press” housing senior communications staff, unless they first secure an appointment. The directive originates from the National Security Council, which cited the protection of “sensitive material” now routinely handled in that zone.Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and her deputy Steven Cheung are among the officials whose offices lie within the restricted zone. Previously, accredited journalists could

Chicago futures for soybeans surged as trade diplomacy between the United States and China paved the way for a revival of American oilseed exports. The most-active contract on the Chicago Board of Trade reached the highest level in 15 months and is on track for its largest monthly gain in nearly four years.China’s state-owned enterprise COFCO confirmed the purchase of three cargoes of U. S. soybeans — a small but symbolically important step. One trader estimated the deal at

Texas has approved a significant $1.1 billion loan for a proposed natural gas-fired power plant in the Permian Basin, marking the largest financial commitment under a state programme designed to secure the state’s energy future. The funding, provided at low interest rates, aims to address the rising demand for electricity driven by both industrial growth and the increasing need for energy to power emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.The planned facility, which will utilise natural gas, is set to become a

Gold prices escalated early on Saturday, drawing fresh investor interest as the U. S. Federal Reserve’s quarter-point rate reduction to the 3.75 %-4.00 % range reinforced the appeal of non-yielding assets. Spot gold edged up 0.3 % to US$4,034 an ounce, and bullion is positioned to record a third consecutive monthly gain driven by both bargain buying and institutional demand.The backdrop includes a sharp rise in quarterly demand to 1,313 tonnes, the highest level in the historical series for

Tech giant Google has announced a $2.85 million funding package to support artificial-intelligence skills development, education, online safety and cybersecurity in South Africa. The funding was disclosed at the AI Expo Africa event in Johannesburg and forms part of Google’s broader continental strategy to cultivate an AI-ready workforce and digital ecosystem.The funding will be channelled through Google. org, the company’s philanthropic arm, and it builds upon an earlier pledge of $37 million toward AI talent, agriculture, languages and research

The African Development Bank has approved a US$75 million financing package for Nyanza Light Metals Pty Ltd of South Africa to construct an 80 000-tonne-per-year titanium dioxide pigment production facility at the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone. The plant will process locally and regionally sourced ilmenite ore into high-value pigment used in paints, coatings, cosmetics, food processing and medical applications.The financing deal includes US$50 million drawn from the AfDB’s own capital and US$25 million from the Africa Growing

President Donald Trump is advancing plans to nominate Ryan Baasch, a senior aide within the White House’s economic policy team, for a commissioner seat at the Federal Trade Commission. Sources familiar with the matter say the 37-year-old special assistant at the National Economic Council would step into the post vacated by Commissioner Melissa Holyoak, who is expected to be tapped for the role of U. S. Attorney for Utah.Baasch’s background centres on competition policy, technology and regulation, having

President Donald Trump has filed a formal appeal with New York’s Appellate Division, First Department, seeking to overturn his conviction for falsifying business records in the so-called hush-money case. In a 96-page brief submitted on Monday, his legal team argues that the trial in Manhattan was fatally compromised by judicial bias and improper admission of evidence.The conviction dates back to May 30, 2024, when a jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts stemming from efforts to reimburse his former

The national assembly’s Committee on Agriculture launched a week-long oversight tour of the Eastern Cape that began with a visit to the Eastern Cape Rural Development Agency-backed macadamia and citrus programmes, signalling heightened focus on agricultural transformation and small-farmer inclusion.The delegation arrived in the Raymond Mhlaba local municipality to meet traditional authority Chief Siseko Maqoma and inspect packhouse operations in the Kat River/Seymour area, before moving on to the Keiskammahoek zone’s Zanyokwe Farmer Production Support Unit and the community half-owned

Dubai hosted a high-level ministerial roundtable alongside the UAE‑Africa Tourism Investment Summit 2025, assembling officials from more than 20 African nations and the United Arab Emirates to outline an investment mapping totalling about USD 6 billion aimed at boosting tourism, aviation, transport, infrastructure and digital transformation across Africa. The joint ministerial statement forecasts creation of some 70,000 jobs across participating countries.At the meeting, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy and Tourism, declared that the UAE and Africa

President Paul Biya has been declared the victor of Cameroon’s presidential election with 53.66 per cent of the vote, according to the country’s Constitutional Council. The announcement deepens political tension after opposition leader Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed he had won the vote and alleged gunfire targeting civilians outside his home in Garoua.At 92 years old, Biya is now positioned to serve another seven-year term, extending his rule which began in 1982. His leadership, uninterrupted by presidential term limits since they

A high-level delegation from China plans to meet officials in Brussels this month to discuss tightening restrictions on rare earths and other critical minerals after the bloc flagged the controls as a threat to its key industrial sectors. The European Union has increased pressure on Beijing to restore stable access to materials essential for electric vehicles, semiconductors and defence capabilities while also advancing its own diversification plan to reduce dependency on China.China’s expanded export-licensing regime, announced earlier this month, added