Search

The author described the discussion on EU-Malaysia political, economic and trade relations at the 11th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting in the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur as productive and open. They said prospects were good for bilateral parliamentary support for the upcoming FTA and referred to increasingly close ties. https://t.co/aTfjQ7DhJD #EUMalaysia #TradeRelations #InterParliamentaryMeeting #EU #MY

Anthropic has submitted a prospectus to the US stock market regulator and is going public in November, emphasizing that AI brings both great opportunities and significant risks, while reporting extremely high revenue growth and loss. #Anthropic #KunstmatigeIntelligentie #Beursgang (translated)

AFRICA DAILY REPORT — 26 OCTOBER 2026 1. DR CONGO — Ebola response worker killed and another seriously injured Importance: 10/10 — Critical The World Health Organization reported that attackers killed a nurse and severely injured another health worker responding to an Ebola alert in Bafwasende, Tshopo province, on Saturday. The attack was disclosed on Sunday. The suspects have not been identified. The violence further complicates outbreak control in Congo, where the health ministry has recorded more than 9,800 cases and 4,700 deaths since May. Source — Associated Press, 26 October 2026 https://apnews.com/article/congo-ebola-b739277681b530aef772cf66be7e41f0 2. UGANDA — Mandatory 21-day quarantine introduced for returnees from DR Congo Importance: 10/10 — Critical Uganda announced that citizens returning with recent travel history to DR Congo must quarantine for 21 days, at their own expense. The government also strengthened airport and border screening and required passenger locator forms. Uganda says it has no active Ebola outbreak. Officials are investigating the travel histories of infected patients who passed through Uganda before diagnosis in Kenya and Nigeria; no direct transmission link has been established. Source — Reuters, 25 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/uganda-impose-21-day-quarantine-returning-citizens-with-congo-travel-history-2026-10-25/ 3. GABON — Offshore drilling rig sinking leaves one reported dead, four missing Importance: 10/10 — Critical Borr Drilling's Prospector 5 rig sank off Mayumba during preparations for drilling. Reuters reported one worker found dead and four still missing among the 115 aboard, citing sources; Gabon's government had not yet confirmed the death. Preliminary information suggests a seabed punch-through destabilised the rig. Search operations continue, production was halted and officials ordered a technical investigation. No harmful discharge had been observed. Source — Reuters, 25 October 2026 (updated casualty information) https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/borr-drilling-rig-sinks-offshore-gabon-five-personnel-missing-2026-10-25/ 4. ALGERIA–NIGER — Parliament authorises potential Algerian military deployment Political/security development — Neutral coverage Algeria's parliament unanimously approved sending army units to Madama in northern Niger, near the Libyan border. No troops had officially deployed at the time of reporting. The move would mark Algeria's first overseas military deployment since 1973 and reflects closer security cooperation with Niger, where insurgent violence and shared energy infrastructure are major concerns. Source — Reuters, 25 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/algeria-send-troops-niger-first-foreign-deployment-since-1973-2026-10-25/ 5. LIBYA–UNITED STATES — Libya summons US envoy over presidential remarks Political/diplomatic development — Neutral coverage Libya's foreign ministry summoned the US chargé d'affaires after President Donald Trump characterised Libya negatively during a campaign rally. Authorities in both eastern and western Libya criticised the remarks. Trump subsequently expressed respect for Libyans while reiterating US concerns about irregular migration. The dispute has become a diplomatic issue amid Libya's divided domestic governance. Source — Reuters, 26 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/us/libya-summons-us-envoy-protest-trump-remarks-2026-10-26/ 6. NIGER — Overnight petrol-sales restrictions imposed amid shortages Importance: 9/10 — Very High Niger restricted petrol sales from 21:00 to 06:00 except at designated stations, saying suppliers needed time to replenish stocks. A ban on selling fuel in jerry cans outside petrol stations also applies in areas served by stations. Long queues and transport disruption have affected residents and taxi drivers, whose union has requested exemptions or changes. Source — Africanews, 25 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/25/niger-imposes-curfew-on-petrol-sales-amid-national-fuel-shortage/ 7. GABON — Social media restored after eight-month suspension Political/digital-rights development — Neutral coverage Gabon restored access to major social platforms following a suspension imposed in February. The media regulator said the interruption had allowed changes to its oversight framework; users are now required to provide identification. Opposition figures and civil-liberties advocates had criticised the ban, while authorities argued stronger content regulation was necessary. Source — Africanews/AFP, 25 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/25/gabon-restores-social-media-access-after-an-eight-month-ban/ 8. KENYA — Red Cross reinforces Ebola safe-burial training after second death Importance: 9/10 — Very High Kenya Red Cross personnel conducted simulations of safe and dignified burial procedures after Kenya confirmed a second Ebola death. Officials reported nine infections, all linked to the initial patient, and 135 identified contacts. Seven confirmed patients remained in care, with no new cases reported outside Nairobi. The training addresses a high-risk stage of Ebola response. Source — Africanews, 25 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/25/red-cross-trains-staff-as-kenya-records-its-second-death-from-ebola/ 9. SOUTH AFRICA — Pick n Pay reduces first-half loss as turnaround advances Importance: 8/10 — High Retailer Pick n Pay reported that its first-half headline loss narrowed 31.9% to 299 million rand, while trading profit rose 58.1% to 490 million rand. Group turnover increased 2.4% to 60.5 billion rand, helped by discount retailer Boxer. The results indicate progress in restructuring, although the core Pick n Pay business remains under pressure. Source — Reuters, 26 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-africas-pick-n-pay-narrows-headline-loss-boxer-boosts-performance-2026-10-26/ 10. SOUTH AFRICA — Rand steady ahead of domestic data and US rate decision Importance: 7/10 — Significant The rand traded near 16.61 per US dollar in early Monday dealings, little changed from the previous close. Investors are awaiting South African money-supply, credit, trade, budget and producer-inflation data, as well as the US Federal Reserve's 28 October decision. The currency remains sensitive to global monetary policy and domestic growth indicators. Source — Reuters, 26 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/south-african-rand-steady-with-local-economic-data-fed-decision-focus-2026-10-26/ #AfricaNews #AfricaDailyReport #TopNewsOfAfrica #AfricaToday #Uganda #UgandaHealth #EbolaOutbreak #EbolaPrevention #EbolaQuarantine #21DayQuarantine #DRCongo #PublicHealth #BorderSecurity #HealthScreening #DiseasePrevention #SouthAfrica #SouthAfricaEconomy #PicknPay #RetailIndustry #BusinessTurnaround #CorporateEarnings #FinancialRecovery #AfricanBusiness #Algeria #Niger #AlgeriaNigerRelations #MilitaryDeployment #SahelSecurity #AfricanSecurity #WrldOrg

'Leaving the European Union was the biggest act of economic self harm any country has ever committed' Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, told #BBCBreakfast Andy Burnham 'is spot on' about having an "honest discussion" ove the prospect of returning to free movement between the UK and European Union

AFRICA DAILY REPORT — 25 OCTOBER 2026 1. Nigeria — Gunmen kill at least 40 people in Taraba state Importance: 10/10 — Critical Amnesty International reported at least 40 people killed after armed attackers raided Binnari village in northeastern Taraba state. Police initially confirmed 10 deaths; additional bodies were found on Saturday. Police said the assailants fired heavily and looted food from shops. The attackers' identity and motives had not been established. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-kill-least-40-people-northeastern-nigeria-amnesty-international-says-2026-10-24/ 2. Gabon — Offshore drilling rig sinks; five workers unaccounted for Importance: 10/10 — Critical Borr Drilling said its Prospector 5 rig sank off Gabon while preparing for a BW Energy drilling campaign. Five of the 115 people aboard were unaccounted for at the time of the announcement. The company said preliminary information indicated a seabed 'punch-through' during preloading that destabilised the rig. Search and rescue outcomes were not yet confirmed. Source: Reuters, 25 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/borr-drilling-rig-sinks-offshore-gabon-five-personnel-missing-2026-10-25/ 3. DR Congo — Clinical trial begins for vaccines targeting Bundibugyo Ebola Importance: 10/10 — Critical A new clinical trial called TUMAiNi began in Bunia, Ituri province, to evaluate candidate vaccines against the Bundibugyo Ebola virus among contacts of confirmed patients. Congo's National Institute for Biomedical Research is leading the trial with World Health Organization support. The initiative comes amid an outbreak with more than 9,000 confirmed infections in the country. Trial launch does not mean an approved vaccine is available. Source: Africanews / Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/new-tumaini-ebola-vaccine-trial-launches-in-bunia-as-drc-struggles/ 4. Kenya — Survivor rescued from Nairobi building collapse as others remain missing Importance: 9/10 — Very High A man was pulled alive from the rubble of an unfinished multi-storey building in Nairobi's Eastleigh district more than 24 hours after its collapse. The interior minister initially cited seven missing people; the Kenya Red Cross said it had received 31 missing-person reports, still subject to verification. Teams used sniffer dogs and thermal sensors as concerns grew over construction oversight. Source: Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://apnews.com/article/kenya-building-collapse-nairobi-search-acdba9d2a215da372a28086979f6f6d5 5. Nigeria — President Tinubu launches campaign for January 2027 election Political/electoral development — Neutral coverage President Bola Tinubu formally opened his re-election campaign in Kaduna. He argued that economic reforms are beginning to yield results despite high living costs. Opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, are among his challengers; opponents dispute his account of the economy. Reuters identified the cost of living and insecurity as likely major election issues. The presidential vote is scheduled for 16 January 2027. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigerias-tinubu-launches-re-election-campaign-economic-pain-tests-support-2026-10-24/ 6. Libya–Egypt — Tripoli offers talks over disputed Mediterranean maritime boundaries Political/diplomatic development — Neutral coverage Libya's UN-recognised prime minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah told Egypt's intelligence chief that Tripoli was ready to address Cairo's concerns about maritime boundaries and economic waters. Egypt had rejected a Libya–Turkey maritime agreement ratified by Libya's eastern-based parliament. Greece and Cyprus also oppose the accord. The dispute concerns overlapping maritime claims and potential energy exploration rights. Source: Reuters, 24 October 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/libyas-dbeibah-says-ready-address-egypts-maritime-concerns-2026-10-24/ 7. Morocco — Draft 2027 budget outlines MAD 400 billion in public investment Importance: 9/10 — Very High Morocco's draft 2027 Finance Bill envisages MAD 400 billion (about $40.7 billion) in public investment. Planned allocations cover transport, telecommunications, energy, water, housing and social infrastructure. Public enterprises and establishments account for MAD 251 billion, central budget-related channels MAD 124 billion and local authorities MAD 25 billion. These are proposals for 2027, not completed spending. Source: Morocco World News, 24 October 2026 https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2026/10/343652/morocco-sets-public-investment-at-mad-400-billion-for-2027/ 8. Uganda — Ebola travel precautions tightened despite no active domestic outbreak Importance: 9/10 — Very High Uganda reinstated traveller locator forms and temporarily restricted transit for people with recent travel to DR Congo while investigating the journey of a woman later diagnosed with Ebola in Nigeria. Authorities say the woman had no symptoms when leaving Uganda and that the country has no active Ebola cases. The infection's origin remains unresolved, and officials are cooperating with Nigeria on travel-history and genomic investigations. Source: Daily Monitor, 24 October 2026 https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/ebola-uganda-restricts-border-transit-reinstates-locator-forms-5643842 9. Central African Republic — Three former hostages return to Bangui after ten months Importance: 8/10 — High Three people kidnapped in Bambouti during the December election period returned to Bangui on a UN flight after about ten months in captivity. They included a local official and two National Election Authority staff members. President Faustin-Archange Touadéra welcomed them. Africanews reported that UN peacekeepers had negotiated with the Azandé armed group for their release. Source: Africanews, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/car-former-hostages-greeted-by-president-touadera-on-return-to-bangui/ 10. Uganda — Shortages constrain rollout of twice-yearly HIV prevention injection Importance: 8/10 — High An Associated Press report from Mbarara described high demand for lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV-prevention injection, but limited local supply. Health workers said funding cuts have also reduced outreach and early testing. Uganda is among the countries receiving doses through international programmes, but available supplies remain insufficient for everyone who could benefit. Source: Africanews / Associated Press, 24 October 2026 https://www.africanews.com/2026/10/24/hiv-prevention-jab-offers-hope-in-uganda-but-doses-are-hard-to-find/ #AfricaNews #AfricaDailyReport #TopNewsOfAfrica #AfricaToday #Kenya #Nairobi #Eastleigh #KenyaBuildingCollapse #NairobiRescue #SurvivorRescued #SearchAndRescue #MissingPersons #ConstructionSafety #Libya #Egypt #LibyaEgyptRelations #MediterraneanSea #MaritimeBoundaries #MaritimeDispute #EnergyExploration #AfricanDiplomacy #Nigeria #TarabaState #NigeriaSecurity #ArmedAttack #CivilianCasualties #HumanRights #AfricanPolitics #AfricanSecurity #WrldOrg

The author wrote that centrist parties were struggling in Europe’s most important countries, arguing that anger over weak economic growth, high inflation, debt and poor prospects for young people was fueling protest movements and populist parties on the far right and far left, which promised radical change. https://t.co/DdUlRiA7wc #Politik #Europa #Wirtschaft #EU

RADIO ARC 101:“NEWSSTANDS, ‘ENDANGERED SPECIES’ LIKE CAFÉS: MONEY LOST AND HOPES FROM STANFORD” by NANDO SILVESTRI SOURCE: https://radioarc.it/edicole-razze-in-estinzione-come-i-bar-soldi-persi-e-speranze-da-stanford/ Newsstands are another repository of humanity and knowledge, in many respects similar to cafés, at least as far as the unfortunate fate that has befallen many of them is concerned. The smell of printed paper, coloured card, variegated covers, surprise packets and cellophane was an olfactory molasses that once intoxicated young and old alike and represented, at the same time, a sought-after destination for daily walks and pauses. Stopping by the newsstand meant drawing upon knowledge, entertainment, culture, imagination and creativity. All prerogatives lost on account of the shapeless and amorphous surrogates disseminated by the web. This is the principal reason for the cumulative and recurring closure of a great many Italian newsstands: in economics, one speaks of a sector in demand collapse. But it is not merely a newsstand that closes; a piece of the local and national economy closes with it. From 35,000 newsstands in 2005 to about 20,000 in 2024: -43%. With them goes direct turnover of over €400 million per year, but the real hole is the indirect economy that is never calculated. Each average newsstand in a small town generated distribution worth €15,000 per year in margins for local distributors, couriers, and printers. Moreover, the customer who bought the newspaper would have a coffee, buy a bus ticket, place a bet. Download the Medium App One must consider that without a newsstand, the village cinema loses its only physical promotional outlet, not to mention the losses in terms of advertising. When it closes, it is not only the newsagent who loses. The café loses, the driver loses, the printer loses. In Irpinia, over the last five years, Avellino has lost six newsstands, Ariano Irpino three, Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi two. The total loss in Irpinia amounts to about 22% of outlets. All this means that many of the closures mentioned above have deprived Irpinian cafés of several dozen customers, harming workers, distributors and suppliers. These are jobs that do not make the news, but they exist. Another hard blow inflicted upon the local and national economy in the name of a false progress that almost always favours the business of fixers and the usual suspects. However, what is happening in Puglia, a few kilometres from Irpinia, opens up scenarios of renewal based precisely upon the reconversion of disused newsstands. These are prospects so unique and innovative as to have aroused interest worldwide, especially at Stanford University. This is news of enormous significance that few news programmes have disseminated, in the name of a perennial pre-emption by technologies contemptuous of common sense, tradition and art. In San Severo, 40 km from Upper Irpinia, a newsstand abandoned for six years in Via Matteo Tondi became, on 27 March 2026, the Teatro-Edicola Foyer’97: six chairs, four square metres, an idea by Francesco Gavino. The well-received 10- to 15-minute shows have piqued the curiosity of Stanford University. Its academic journal, the Stanford Social Innovation Review [SSIR], has chosen the Teatro Edicola in San Severo as an international case study with the reportage “The Six-Seat Revolution”. Why is Stanford watching us? Because it has realised that those four square metres can once again generate indirect economic activity. Indeed, 60 spectators in an afternoon can become 60 coffees at the neighbouring café. With a symbolic ticket price of €5, we are talking about a cultural micro-economy. Not to mention the indirect income from tourists and journalists who arrive and frequent B&Bs and restaurants. It is the model Irpinia needs: not to leave the void, but to reconvert it virtuously. Every closed newsstand can become an information point, a micro-cinema, a service hub. Otherwise we shall continue to count only the lowered shutters, without counting the money that no longer circulates.