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AMA

With Millions of Children’s Lives on the Line, Bill Gates Says Humanity Is at a Crossroads

MaraviPost

At 2025 Goalkeepers event, Gates lays out roadmap for saving millions more children’s lives by 2045 if governments stretch every dollar and scale a pipeline of affordable, lifesaving innovations

Announces new pledge to the Global Fund 2026-2028 replenishment to prevent deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria

Honors President of the Government of Spain with 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award and 10 champions for their ingenuity and resilience, and for offering hope, solutions in the face of steep funding cuts

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 23rd, 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- At its 2025 Goalkeepers event, Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates stood before an audience of more than 1,000 global government, community, philanthropy, and private-sector leaders and issued a stark but hopeful call to world leaders: save millions of children’s lives and make some of the deadliest diseases history by 2045.

“Humanity is at a crossroads. With millions of children’s lives on the line, global leaders have a once-in-a-generation chance to do something extraordinary,” said Gates. “The choices they make now—whether to go forward with proposed steep cuts to health aid or to give the world’s children the chance they deserve to live a healthy life—will determine what kind of future we leave the next generation.”

This year, donor countries dealing with domestic challenges, high debt levels, and aging populations made dramatic funding cuts to global development assistance for health (DAH). According to a recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), global DAH fell by 21% between 2024 and 2025, and is now at a 15-year low. With key global health funding decisions expected before the end of the year, total funding levels could rise. However, if the current cuts hold, they threaten decades of progress that saw child mortality cut in half since 2000—from 10 million children to less than 5 million children a year—one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

During the annual event, which this year focused on reigniting a shared commitment to saving children’s lives, Gates announced his foundation’s pledge of $912 million over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s 2026-2028 replenishment. The Global Fund is one of the most effective lifesaving initiatives of the 21st century. Its fundraising replenishment cycle ends this November, underscoring the urgency for governments to make pivotal decisions in the coming weeks and months for the lives of millions of people.

“What’s happening to the health of the world’s children is worse than most people realize, but our long-term prospects are better than most people can imagine,” said Gates. “I don’t expect most governments to suddenly restore foreign aid to historic levels, but I am an optimist, and I believe governments can and will do what’s needed to save as many children as possible,” said Gates.

With shrinking global health budgets as the backdrop, the Goalkeepers event highlighted the people, science and innovations, and policies that are accelerating solutions for how leaders can do more with less.

A Roadmap to a Healthier Future

“We have a roadmap for saving millions of children and making some of the deadliest childhood diseases history by 2045,” Gates asserted. “I’m urging world leaders to invest in the health of all people, especially children, to deliver this future.”

Results from work by the Gates Foundation and the IHME indicate that sustaining global investments in child health and scaling lifesaving innovations could cut child deaths in half again over the next 20 years.

The roadmap includes:

  • Renewing investments in proven initiatives, such as the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to help countries make smarter, more cost-effective health decisions; gain access to proven vaccines, medicines, and treatments; and focus on sustainability and transitioning to self-reliance
  • Prioritizing primary health care systems—even in the face of challenging budget decisions—to prevent, detect, and treat childhood illnesses early
  • Investing in further R&D and effectively rolling out breakthrough innovations that include:
  • A suite of new approaches to combating malaria, including innovations that prevent mosquitoes from carrying parasites and single-dose treatments to accelerate eradication of the disease
  • Long-acting HIV drugs and prevention options that replace daily pills to drive AIDS deaths down to single digits
  • New maternal vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group B streptococcus (GBS) that have the potential to protect babies from deadly respiratory illnesses
  • Artificial intelligence to leverage smarter, faster, and cheaper delivery of safe, cost-effective medicines to dramatically improve lives

A New Three-Year Commitment to the Global Fund

Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved more than 70 million lives; reduced deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria by more than 60%; and strengthened global health security. Each dollar invested in the Global Fund delivers an estimated $19 in health and economic returns.

The foundation’s new pledge brings its total commitments to the Global Fund to $4.9 billion since 2002, making it one of the foundation’s largest investments. The pledge aims to galvanize governments, philanthropists, and the private sector to come to the table with significant investments for the fund’s Eighth Replenishment, which is co-hosted by South Africa and the United Kingdom. With millions of lives on the line, the level of investment in the Global Fund over the next three years will determine whether the world saves millions of lives; curbs HIV, TB, and malaria; and bolsters economies and global health security.

“An entire generation is alive today thanks to the world’s generosity, smart investments, and the hard work of governments and Global Fund partners,” Gates said. “Now, we must go further so the next generation grows up in a world where no child dies from preventable causes.”

Celebrating Goalkeeper Award and Champions

In recognition of his continued commitment to advance the Global Goals, the foundation announced President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez as the winner of its 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award. Under Prime Minister Sanchez’s leadership, Spain increased contributions to the Global Fund this year by nearly 12% and to Gavi by 30%, expanded official development assistance (ODA), and hosted the landmark International Conference on Financing for Development in June 2025.

The event also honored Goalkeepers Champions—experts, innovators, and advocates driving progress in child survival worldwide. They include:

  • Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang (India) – Pioneering community-based health care in India
  • David Beckham (UK) – Advocating for child health and education
  • Krystal Mwesiga Birungi (Uganda) – Championing youth-centered policies and equitable health access across Africa
  • Toni Garrn (Germany) – Mobilizing resources to expand education and health care for girls
  • John Green (USA) – Using storytelling and advocacy to spark vital conversations on tuberculosis and mental health among young people
  • Osas Ighodaro (Nigeria) – Driving awareness and action in the fight against malaria
  • Dr. Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda) – Advancing global health financing for effective health system strengthening and expanding access to health care worldwide
  • Jerop Limo (Kenya) – Advancing HIV awareness and care for children and families across Africa
  • Reem Al-Hashimy (United Arab Emirates) – Championing investments in health and education through initiatives like Dubai Cares
  • Dr. Naveen Thacker (India) – Advancing child health through community-based innovations

“We Can’t Stop at Almost”

The Goalkeepers event was co-hosted by singer, songwriter, and composer Jon Batiste, who returned as musical curator for the second year with the PS22 elementary school choir, and actress and director Olivia Wilde. Together, they urged the audience to remember that while the world has made progress, “we can’t stop at almost,” which was the event’s theme.

Community champions, scientists, health workers, faith leaders, and activists from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States shared powerful stories of resilience and innovation. Several showcased breakthrough technologies already saving lives and moving the world closer to eradicating deadly diseases.

“Every year, Goalkeepers unites changemakers to inspire and push one another forward,” said Dawda Jobarteh, deputy director of the foundation’s Goalkeepers campaign. “Together, we can reimagine a future without preventable child deaths and unlock the next wave of breakthroughs for the world’s children.”

Event session presenters included Rick Warren, pastor and author; El Hadji Mansour Sy, co- president of World Council of Religions for Peace; Ingrid Silva, ballet dancer and activist; Krista Tippett, journalist and author; Latif Nasser, co-host of “Radiolab”; and Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia’s minister of health.

Looking Ahead

Later this year, Goalkeepers will expand to the Middle East for the first time, convening leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the region and beyond in Abu Dhabi on December 8.

Ahead of that, the foundation will release its 2025 Goalkeepers Report, focusing on the impact that leaders’ choices between now and the end of the year will have on saving children’s lives.

Earlier this year, Gates made a historic announcement that he would give away virtually all of his wealth to the foundation to advance progress on saving and improving lives. He also announced the foundation would spend $200 billion over the next 20 years, working with its partners to make as much progress as possible towards three primary goals: end preventable deaths of moms and babies; ensure the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases; and lift millions of people out of poverty, putting them on a path to prosperity. At the end of the 20-year period, the foundation will sunset its operations.

Photos and b-roll from the event, full bios of the Goalkeepers champions, and more can be found here.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of the Gates Foundation.

About the Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.

About Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers is the foundation’s campaign to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data behind the Global Goals through an annual report, the Gates Foundation hopes to inspire a new generation of leaders— Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals.

Media Contact:

Press Office

Gates Foundation

media@gatesfoundation.org

The post With Millions of Children’s Lives on the Line, Bill Gates Says Humanity Is at a Crossroads appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA

With Millions of Children’s Lives on the Line, Bill Gates Says Humanity Is at a Crossroads

MaraviPost

At 2025 Goalkeepers event, Gates lays out roadmap for saving millions more children’s lives by 2045 if governments stretch every dollar and scale a pipeline of affordable, lifesaving innovations

Announces new pledge to the Global Fund 2026-2028 replenishment to prevent deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria

Honors President of the Government of Spain with 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award and 10 champions for their ingenuity and resilience, and for offering hope, solutions in the face of steep funding cuts

NEW YORK, United States of America, September 23rd, 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- At its 2025 Goalkeepers event, Gates Foundation Chair Bill Gates stood before an audience of more than 1,000 global government, community, philanthropy, and private-sector leaders and issued a stark but hopeful call to world leaders: save millions of children’s lives and make some of the deadliest diseases history by 2045.

“Humanity is at a crossroads. With millions of children’s lives on the line, global leaders have a once-in-a-generation chance to do something extraordinary,” said Gates. “The choices they make now—whether to go forward with proposed steep cuts to health aid or to give the world’s children the chance they deserve to live a healthy life—will determine what kind of future we leave the next generation.”

This year, donor countries dealing with domestic challenges, high debt levels, and aging populations made dramatic funding cuts to global development assistance for health (DAH). According to a recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), global DAH fell by 21% between 2024 and 2025, and is now at a 15-year low. With key global health funding decisions expected before the end of the year, total funding levels could rise. However, if the current cuts hold, they threaten decades of progress that saw child mortality cut in half since 2000—from 10 million children to less than 5 million children a year—one of humanity’s greatest achievements.

During the annual event, which this year focused on reigniting a shared commitment to saving children’s lives, Gates announced his foundation’s pledge of $912 million over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s 2026-2028 replenishment. The Global Fund is one of the most effective lifesaving initiatives of the 21st century. Its fundraising replenishment cycle ends this November, underscoring the urgency for governments to make pivotal decisions in the coming weeks and months for the lives of millions of people.

“What’s happening to the health of the world’s children is worse than most people realize, but our long-term prospects are better than most people can imagine,” said Gates. “I don’t expect most governments to suddenly restore foreign aid to historic levels, but I am an optimist, and I believe governments can and will do what’s needed to save as many children as possible,” said Gates.

With shrinking global health budgets as the backdrop, the Goalkeepers event highlighted the people, science and innovations, and policies that are accelerating solutions for how leaders can do more with less.

A Roadmap to a Healthier Future

“We have a roadmap for saving millions of children and making some of the deadliest childhood diseases history by 2045,” Gates asserted. “I’m urging world leaders to invest in the health of all people, especially children, to deliver this future.”

Results from work by the Gates Foundation and the IHME indicate that sustaining global investments in child health and scaling lifesaving innovations could cut child deaths in half again over the next 20 years.

The roadmap includes:

  • Renewing investments in proven initiatives, such as the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to help countries make smarter, more cost-effective health decisions; gain access to proven vaccines, medicines, and treatments; and focus on sustainability and transitioning to self-reliance
  • Prioritizing primary health care systems—even in the face of challenging budget decisions—to prevent, detect, and treat childhood illnesses early
  • Investing in further R&D and effectively rolling out breakthrough innovations that include:
  • A suite of new approaches to combating malaria, including innovations that prevent mosquitoes from carrying parasites and single-dose treatments to accelerate eradication of the disease
  • Long-acting HIV drugs and prevention options that replace daily pills to drive AIDS deaths down to single digits
  • New maternal vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and group B streptococcus (GBS) that have the potential to protect babies from deadly respiratory illnesses
  • Artificial intelligence to leverage smarter, faster, and cheaper delivery of safe, cost-effective medicines to dramatically improve lives

A New Three-Year Commitment to the Global Fund

Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved more than 70 million lives; reduced deaths from AIDS, TB, and malaria by more than 60%; and strengthened global health security. Each dollar invested in the Global Fund delivers an estimated $19 in health and economic returns.

The foundation’s new pledge brings its total commitments to the Global Fund to $4.9 billion since 2002, making it one of the foundation’s largest investments. The pledge aims to galvanize governments, philanthropists, and the private sector to come to the table with significant investments for the fund’s Eighth Replenishment, which is co-hosted by South Africa and the United Kingdom. With millions of lives on the line, the level of investment in the Global Fund over the next three years will determine whether the world saves millions of lives; curbs HIV, TB, and malaria; and bolsters economies and global health security.

“An entire generation is alive today thanks to the world’s generosity, smart investments, and the hard work of governments and Global Fund partners,” Gates said. “Now, we must go further so the next generation grows up in a world where no child dies from preventable causes.”

Celebrating Goalkeeper Award and Champions

In recognition of his continued commitment to advance the Global Goals, the foundation announced President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez as the winner of its 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award. Under Prime Minister Sanchez’s leadership, Spain increased contributions to the Global Fund this year by nearly 12% and to Gavi by 30%, expanded official development assistance (ODA), and hosted the landmark International Conference on Financing for Development in June 2025.

The event also honored Goalkeepers Champions—experts, innovators, and advocates driving progress in child survival worldwide. They include:

  • Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang (India) – Pioneering community-based health care in India
  • David Beckham (UK) – Advocating for child health and education
  • Krystal Mwesiga Birungi (Uganda) – Championing youth-centered policies and equitable health access across Africa
  • Toni Garrn (Germany) – Mobilizing resources to expand education and health care for girls
  • John Green (USA) – Using storytelling and advocacy to spark vital conversations on tuberculosis and mental health among young people
  • Osas Ighodaro (Nigeria) – Driving awareness and action in the fight against malaria
  • Dr. Donald Kaberuka (Rwanda) – Advancing global health financing for effective health system strengthening and expanding access to health care worldwide
  • Jerop Limo (Kenya) – Advancing HIV awareness and care for children and families across Africa
  • Reem Al-Hashimy (United Arab Emirates) – Championing investments in health and education through initiatives like Dubai Cares
  • Dr. Naveen Thacker (India) – Advancing child health through community-based innovations

“We Can’t Stop at Almost”

The Goalkeepers event was co-hosted by singer, songwriter, and composer Jon Batiste, who returned as musical curator for the second year with the PS22 elementary school choir, and actress and director Olivia Wilde. Together, they urged the audience to remember that while the world has made progress, “we can’t stop at almost,” which was the event’s theme.

Community champions, scientists, health workers, faith leaders, and activists from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, and the United States shared powerful stories of resilience and innovation. Several showcased breakthrough technologies already saving lives and moving the world closer to eradicating deadly diseases.

“Every year, Goalkeepers unites changemakers to inspire and push one another forward,” said Dawda Jobarteh, deputy director of the foundation’s Goalkeepers campaign. “Together, we can reimagine a future without preventable child deaths and unlock the next wave of breakthroughs for the world’s children.”

Event session presenters included Rick Warren, pastor and author; El Hadji Mansour Sy, co- president of World Council of Religions for Peace; Ingrid Silva, ballet dancer and activist; Krista Tippett, journalist and author; Latif Nasser, co-host of “Radiolab”; and Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia’s minister of health.

Looking Ahead

Later this year, Goalkeepers will expand to the Middle East for the first time, convening leaders, innovators, and changemakers from across the region and beyond in Abu Dhabi on December 8.

Ahead of that, the foundation will release its 2025 Goalkeepers Report, focusing on the impact that leaders’ choices between now and the end of the year will have on saving children’s lives.

Earlier this year, Gates made a historic announcement that he would give away virtually all of his wealth to the foundation to advance progress on saving and improving lives. He also announced the foundation would spend $200 billion over the next 20 years, working with its partners to make as much progress as possible towards three primary goals: end preventable deaths of moms and babies; ensure the next generation grows up without having to suffer from deadly infectious diseases; and lift millions of people out of poverty, putting them on a path to prosperity. At the end of the 20-year period, the foundation will sunset its operations.

Photos and b-roll from the event, full bios of the Goalkeepers champions, and more can be found here.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of the Gates Foundation.

About the Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, we work with partners to create impactful solutions so that people can take charge of their futures and achieve their full potential. In the United States, we aim to ensure that everyone—especially those with the fewest resources—has access to the opportunities needed to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Mark Suzman, under the direction of Bill Gates and our governing board.

About Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers is the foundation’s campaign to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals). By sharing stories and data behind the Global Goals through an annual report, the Gates Foundation hopes to inspire a new generation of leaders— Goalkeepers who raise awareness of progress, hold their leaders accountable, and drive action to achieve the Global Goals.

Media Contact:

Press Office

Gates Foundation

media@gatesfoundation.org

The post With Millions of Children’s Lives on the Line, Bill Gates Says Humanity Is at a Crossroads appeared first on African Media Agency.

AMA, Business, Technology

JustMarkets Trading App: One of the Fastest Growing Trading Apps in Nigeria

MaraviPost

CITY, Country, 22 August 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Interest in trading in financial markets is growing at an unprecedented rate in Nigeria. As more Nigerians seek to diversify their income sources, trading across a wide range of financial markets is becoming an increasingly attractive way to earn money with ample opportunities. One of the most popular trading apps is the JustMarkets Trading app – a mobile solution that combines speed, flexibility, and professional tools within one convenient interface.

Our Take on JustMarkets

JustMarkets is a world-renowned multi-asset broker with over 12 years of industry experience, operating in over 160 countries. The company has won over 50 international awards, including Best Trading Conditions at Money Expo Abu Dhabi 2025, and Best IB/Affiliate Programme 2025. In Nigeria, the JustMarkets Trading app has quickly gained popularity among beginner and professional traders alike due to its powerful functionality, low trading costs, and fast order execution speed.

Benefits of the JustMarkets Trading app

  • Instant withdrawals without delays from JustMarkets
  • Flexible leverage of up to 1:3000 – one of the highest in the industry
  • Ultra-fast order execution, up to 20% faster than many competitors
  • Low and stable spreads on top instruments
  • Over 260 trading assets, including currencies, indices, commodities, and stocks
  • Swap-free trading for all account types
  • Different account types for different trading strategies
  • Fast and secure transactions with a wide range of payment methods
  • 24/7 multilingual customer support

Latest App Improvements

The latest update for iOS and Android focuses on improving usability, speed, and analysis tools:

  • Accounts screen: Instantly switch between multiple accounts for seamless multitasking
  • Trade screen: Expanded workspace to track more instruments at once, with faster navigation to focus on specific assets
  • Symbols screen: Larger price display for better analysis on smaller mobile screens, improving visibility of indicators and chart patterns

These improvements are especially valuable for traders in Nigeria, where mobile trading is the primary way to access financial markets and analyze trading instruments.

Unique trading conditions

  • Ultra-fast execution and tight spreads

The app’s execution speed and consistently tight spreads, better than 90% of competitors on most instruments, allow traders to take advantage of market opportunities without worrying about slippage or high commissions

  • Flexible leverage 

With leverage of up to 1:3000, Nigerian traders can manage larger positions with a smaller capital investment. This flexibility is ideal for experienced traders who know how to combine leverage with disciplined risk management

Various trading asset coverage

The JustMarkets Trading app offers:

  • Forex: Majors, minors, and exotics, including cross-access to USD/NGN through supported accounts
  • Indices: S&P 500, Dow Jones, NASDAQ, and more
  • Commodities: Gold, Silver, WTI, Brent, and Natural Gas
  • Stocks: Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Google, and more

Account Types for Every Trader

  • Standard: Entry from $10, spreads from 0.3, leverage up to 1:3000
  • Pro: Minimum deposit from $100, spreads from 0.1, zero commission
  • Raw Spread: spreads from 0.0, commission of $3 per lot – ideal for scalping and high-frequency strategies

Global recognition and regulatory trust JustMarkets is licensed by:

  • FSA Seychelles
  • Cyprus CySEC
  • FSCA South Africa
  • FSC Mauritius

This ensures compliance, segregation of funds, and transparency for Nigerian clients.

Who is the JustMarkets Trading app for?

With a low entry threshold, swap-free conditions, and a variety of account types, the JustMarkets trading app is equally suitable for:

  • Beginners looking for an easy-to-use platform with a wide range of educational and analytical resources
  • Active traders who value fast order execution, low spreads, and flexible leverage
  • Investors are diversifying their investments into global stocks, indices, and commodities

Final verdict on JustMarkets Trading app

The JustMarkets trading app offers Nigerian traders a professional platform optimized for mobile access to financial markets from anywhere in the world. Fast withdrawals, super-fast order execution, competitive spreads, and access to over 260 instruments make it one of the fastest-growing forex apps in Nigeria. Coupled with the latest usability updates and various top licenses and educational programs, the JustMarkets Trading app is poised to become the top choice for those serious about trading the financial markets in 2025.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of JustMarkets

About JustMarkets:

JustMarkets is a globally recognized multi-asset broker providing reliable and transparent trading services since 2012. The company has earned over 60 industry awards, highlighting its excellence in the financial sector. JustMarkets offers a diverse array of trading instruments, including forex, stocks, commodities, indices, metals, energies, and cryptocurrencies, serving clients in over 160 countries.

The company is renowned for its competitive pricing, featuring low spreads and zero commissions. JustMarkets caters to both new and experienced traders by providing a wide range of services designed to enhance their trading experience.

Media Contact:

Samuel Apkan

samuel.akpan@justmarkets.com

The post JustMarkets Trading App: One of the Fastest Growing Trading Apps in Nigeria appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle

Trump to speak with Putin, then Zelenskyy, to push for Ukraine ceasefire

Maravi Post Reporter

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of various NATO countries, about ending the war in Ukraine.

Trump said the call with Putin will be about stopping the “bloodbath” in Ukraine.

“Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,” Trump wrote Saturday in a post on his social networking site Truth Social.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in comments to Russian media that preparations were underway for Monday’s call.

Trump’s remarks came a day after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire. Putin had spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey after he himself proposed direct negotiations — although not at the presidential level — as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including the U.S.

Also on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. During a visit to Rome, Rubio suggested that the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

In Ukraine, a northeastern town declared a period of mourning after a Russian drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from front-line areas, killing nine people, Ukrainian officials said. The strike came hours after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations left Istanbul, after agreeing to what would be the biggest prisoner swap to date between the warring parties.

Zelenskyy faces a gamble as talks stall

The talks in Istanbul on Friday broke up after less than two hours without a ceasefire, although both sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Ukrainian television Saturday that the exchange could happen as early as next week.

But the Kremlin has pushed back against a proposal by Ukraine and its Western allies for a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement, and the parties remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting.

Since U.S.-brokered talks began in March, Ukraine’s strategy has been to convince the Trump administration that Putin is unreliable, and that Kyiv is serious about peace. Trump has expressed frustration with the stalled talks and threatened to abandon his efforts if results aren’t achieved.

He has also said that no peace would be reached until he held a face to face meeting with Putin. On Friday, Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Abu Dhabi that he may call Putin soon.

“He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it, or maybe not,” Trump said. “At least we’ll know.”

The political theatrics are underscored by stark realities on the ground in Ukraine. In a war of attrition against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s position is poised to grow weaker as time goes on, unless powerful sanctions are imposed against Moscow and the U.S. continues arms deliveries.

Zelenskyy said that he had discussed the outcome of the talks with Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland. In an X post from a European leadership meeting in Albania on Friday, Zelenskyy urged “tough sanctions” against Moscow if it rejects “a full and unconditional ceasefire and an end to killings.”

Peskov on Saturday held open the possibility of Putin holding talks with Zelenskyy, providing the agreed prisoner swap goes ahead, and if the Russian and Ukrainian delegations reached unspecified further “agreements.”

Peskov also told reporters that Moscow will present Ukraine with a list of conditions for a ceasefire, but gave no timeframe, or say what needed to happen before Zelenskyy and Putin can meet.

A town in mourning

In Ukraine, nine civilians were killed and seven others were wounded when a Russian drone struck a bus evacuating people from Bilopillia, a town around 10 kilometers (6 miles) from Russia’s border, according to local Gov. Oleh Hryhorov and Ukraine’s national police. The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Moscow.

Zelenskyy described the attack as “deliberate killing of civilians,” adding in a post on the Telegram messaging app that “Russians could scarcely not realize what kind of vehicle they were hitting.”

The local media outlet Suspilne said that the passengers on the bus were being evacuated from the town when the strike happened. Authorities are working to identify some of the victims, most of them older women.

Local community chief Yurii Zarko called the day “Black Saturday,” and mourning was declared in the town through Monday.

Zelenskyy lamented the missed opportunity from Friday’s peace talks, saying that “Ukraine has long proposed this — a full and unconditional ceasefire in order to save lives.”

Ukraine’s European allies strongly condemned the attack. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that he was “appalled” by it. “If Putin is serious about peace, Russia must agree to a full and immediate ceasefire, as Ukraine has done,” he wrote on X.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking at a joint news conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, condemned Russia for “continuing their attacks today with undiminished ferocity.” He vowed to continue to increase the pressure on Moscow with added sanctions.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/19/07/03/ED_PYR_1519073_20250518071351.mp4
Lifestyle

Donald Trump wraps up Gulf tour with a string of lucrative deals in UAE

Maravi Post Reporter

United States President Donald Trump wrapped his Middle East tour on Friday that saw him visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and with a last stop in the United Arab Emirates.

In this first visit to the UAE by a US president since 2008, the two countries pledged to strengthen ties and announced deals totalling over $200 billion.

This includes a partnership with the UAE to build a massive AI data centre in its capital, Abu Dhabi, and for the Gulf state to buy advanced AI semiconductors from US companies.

Its Etihad Airways has said it will buy in 28 US-made Boeing aircraft in a deal worth $14,5 billion.

Abu Dhabi itself has pledged to hike the value of its energy investments in the US to $440 billion in the next decade.

The four-day trip to the region was very much focused on business and resulted in a string of lucrative deals  for both Washington and the three countries.

Trump boarded Air Force One in Abu Dhabi on Friday, giving his signature fist pump before heading back home, having shifted Washington’s focus from Israel to the wealthy Gulf states.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/08/18/06/ED_PYR_1508186_20250516122833.mp4
Lifestyle

Trump arrives in UAE on last leg of Middle East tour

Maravi Post Reporter

Four days, three countries: US president Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday after having started his tour of several Gulf states on Tuesday.

The American president touched down in Abu Dhabi, where he was greeted by President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Trump was then given a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which he called “beautiful”.

The trip is part of a four-day visit of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Trump’s first major overseas tour of his second term as president.

These countries, among the world’s wealthiest nations due to their oil-rich territories, have shown keen interest in closer ties with the US since Trump returned into office.

A deal emblematic of this new relationship was announced with Saudia Arabia on Tuesday: while the US pledged to sell  Saudi Arabia an arms package valued at nearly $142 billion dollars, the Middle Eastern country in turn announced a $600 billion dollar commitment to invest in the United States.

Whether similarly significant deals with the United Arab Emirates are to be announced soon remains to be seen, yet the possibility exists.

Meanwhile, Qatar announced that it wanted to gift Trump a $400 million luxury plane to replace his Air Force One. Trump said that he was planning on accepting the gift, despite sparking outrage among Democrats and causing concerns for the ethical, security and legal implications of the move.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/14/99/35/08/ED_PYR_1499358_20250515131820.mp4
Regional, Sports

Will UFC Fight Island 3 Feature Another Female Main Event?

Maravi Post Reporter

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Abu Dhabi has become the UFC’s home away from home since the global pandemic started. Seeking a way to stage international shows at a time when worldwide travel has been severely restricted, the UFC struck a deal with the capital of the United Arab Emirates to stage ‘Fight Island’.

The first Fight Island series, held in July, proved so successful that the UFC returned to the Middle East in September for a second edition.

Now attention has turned to the possibility of Fight Island 3, and while there has yet to be confirmation from the UFC or local organizers, Dana White has strongly suggested that it will take place, most likely at the end of January, start of February.

Understandably, much of the attention surrounding Fight Island 3 focuses on the return of two-weight champion Conor McGregor, who is expected to confirm his comeback fight in a rematch with Dustin Poirier. UFC president White expects that fight to headline a show in the next Fight Island series.

“Jan 23 on Fight Island if everything goes according to plans,” White told ESPN last week. “There are a ton of ifs right now. I have to see where the world is in the next couple of months.”

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Such were the epic match-ups that took place during the first two Fight Island series, McGregor v Poirier would probably not even feature in the top three, even if it does involve arguably the biggest superstar the UFC has ever had.

Kamaru Usman’s welterweight title bout against the hugely popular Jorge Masvidal headlined the very first Fight Island show, UFC 251, although the fight itself failed to live up to the hype owing to Masvidal’s extremely late call-up to replace Gilbert Burns, who withdrew at the last minute after contracting Covid-19.

There was the hugely anticipated and bad-tempered clash between Israel Adesanya and Paulo Costa for Adesanya’s middleweight belt in the first show of Fight Island 2. Adesanya proceeded to put on a clinic in the UFC 253 main event to retain his title.

Then there was the biggest of them all: UFC 254, which saw lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov return to the octagon after more than a year out to face interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje. Nurmagomedov’s ruthless win was given greater importance after the Russian star emotionally announced his retirement immediately after the fight.

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Yet, in terms of historical importance, there was another bout that carried even greater significance than the three mentioned above. At UFC Fight Night 4 on October 11, Holly Holm and Irene Aldana became the first women to headline a main event in Abu Dhabi.

In total, there were 16 female bouts staged across both Fight Island series and women had competed in the UAE capital before, at UFC 242 – incidentally, the last time Khabib fought prior to his final bout in Abu Dhabi when he defeated Poirier, who now looks likely to return to the city to face McGregor.

However, the magnitude of a female headline bout cannot be overstated. With Abu Dhabi demanding top quality fights to make their investment in Fight Island worthwhile, it was another clear sign that female MMA is strong enough to carry its own UFC show.

But beyond that, it was a strong indication of the changing times in the Middle East. Granted, Abu Dhabi is one of the more liberal societies in the region, but it is still strongly conservative compared to the UFC’s other regular destinations such as the US, UK, and Brazil.

Holm, who shot to prominence in 2015 when she destroyed Ronda Rousey, said she was “honoured” to win the first ever women main event bout in Abu Dhabi. But given the depth of female talent, she will surely not be the last.

One fight that could come into play following recent developments could be the rearranged featherweight title clash between champion Amanda Nunes and Megan Anderson after their initial bout was called off when Nunes withdrew due to “serious medical issues”.

Nunes is regarded as one of the greatest five female UFC fighters of all time, if not the very best and she easily has the talent, fanbase, and clout to headline a Fight Island card.

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Should her fight with Anderson be rescheduled for early next year, that could fall around the same time the UFC is expected to return to Abu Dhabi.

Elsewhere, Chinese star and strawweight champion Weili Zhang would be another female fighter that could headline a show in Abu Dhabi. A showdown with No 1-ranked Rose Namajunas, whose rematch win over Jessica Andrade was one of the most exciting bouts on Fight Island, would comfortably carry an event.

However it plays out, if the UFC returns to Abu Dhabi for a third Fight Island series as expected, then a female main event as the potential to be just as enticing as McGregor’s rematch with Poirier.

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