Tag Archives: Borders

AMA, Business

Africa and UK Fashion Designers Unite to Form a Sustainable Creative Skills Exchange Opportunity

MaraviPost

A new peer-to-peer programme pairs emerging designers from the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa for a landmark creative opportunity offering studio space, mentorship, and direct access to buyers, press, and industry leaders

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 18 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/- The British Council together with Paul Smith’s Foundation and Projekt today announced the launch of the Creative DNA x Studio Smithfield a new international exchange programme bringing together a total of six fashion designers from the UK and Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme kicked off effective from 16 to 23 March 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the aim to collaborate, share expertise, and forge sustainable creative and professional relationships. The programme marks a significant step in positioning London as a genuinely global fashion hub, built on equal partnership rather than one-way knowledge skills transfer.

Farai Ncube, Regional Arts Director, British Council said: ‘This initiative reflects the British Council’s commitment to supporting the creative economy across Africa and the UK by placing creative professionals and their potential at the centre of sustainable growth. Through authentic collaboration, skills exchange, and mutual respect across cultures, we support designers and creative practitioners in building sustainable enterprises and accessing global markets. This cross-continental residency exchange in London and Ethiopia, with an emphasis on craftsmanship and sustainability, will help foster enduring partnerships, facilitate knowledge sharing, and unlock new opportunities for creative talent to thrive and collaborate across borders.’

The six participating designers namely: Solome Asfaw (Ethiopia), Reneta Brehna (UK), Chido Kaseke (Zimbabwe), Bettydora Odhiambo (Kenya), Karoline Vitto (UK), and YAKU (UK) were selected from a closed call application by a jury including representatives from The British Council, Projekt and Paul Smith’s Foundation will receive direct access to industry leaders, buyers, and press through studio tours, professional networking and personal introductions; structured mentorship from Paul Smith’s Foundation’s extensive professional network; production support and facilities access throughout collection development; showcasing opportunities and sustained commercial guidance extending six months post-programme.

‘I was so impressed by the talent of these designers. This kind of residency nurtures the future shapers of the fashion industry, particularly through its invaluable cultural exchange. It reminds us of the importance of learning from voices around the world, and being inspired by our peers,’ said IB Kamara, Creative Director of Off-White.

International designers will be hosted within the Fashion Residency at Studio Smithfield a flagship business development programme for early-career fashion designers created by the Mayor of London, Projekt and Paul Smith’s Foundation, with support from British GQ and the City of London Corporation. The Residency offers free studio space for 18 months and more than 80 hours of business training delivered by industry experts.

‘We’re very excited to be working with the British Council and Paul Smith’s Foundation on this new, innovative programme. Providing subsidised and funded spaces and opportunities for collaboration is a key part of Projekts’ ethos, and we’re proud that this programme reflects our commitment to offering space and infrastructure that enables designers to develop and grow their businesses,’ Nick Hartwright, CEO of Projekt.

Rather than a traditional mentorship model, the programme is designed so that UK and African designers learn from each other sharing perspectives on sustainability, traditional craftsmanship, digital innovation, and the distinct challenges and opportunities of their respective markets. Practical studio sessions are woven together with cultural immersion and reflective learning, creating an experience that deepens each designer’s creative identity and sharpens their commercial edge.

‘We are delighted to be co-creating this new opportunity for international creative exchange. At Paul Smith’s Foundation we champion the enduring value of peer-to-peer support, and are excited to see how these brilliant brands develop their vision through the sharing of knowledge, skills and experiences,’ added Martha Mosse, Director of Paul Smith’s Foundation.

At the heart of Creative DNA x Studio Smithfield is a commitment to genuine creative equality. Rather than traditional mentorship models, the programme aims to strengthen participants’ understanding of sustainability, traditional craftsmanship, and digital innovation while expanding their entrepreneurial and creative skill sets. By blending practical, hands-on sessions with reflective learning and cultural immersion, the programme intends to create a holistic experience that enhances each designer’s creative identity and professional potential.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of ENAMEN Consulting

About The British Council Creative DNA
The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2024–25 we reached 599 million people. Creative DNA is a flagship programme of the British Council’s creative economy portfolio in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since 2020, it has supported over 200 fashion entrepreneurs across Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Malawi through mentorship, business development, and showcasing opportunities. The programme is designed to strengthen creative enterprises, foster inclusion, and build international connections between Africa and the UK. www.britishcouncil.org

About Projekt
Projekt was founded by Nicholas Hartwright as a social enterprise in 2012 in response to the lack of affordable creative workspaces in London. Since then, Projekt has opened an arts hotel, multiple creative large-scale music venues and hosts a wide range of events of organisations across its London sites, spanning over a million square feet and directly supporting hundreds of creative business tenants and organisations. Through Projekt’s work with the Mayor of London, the Greater London Authority, the Corporation of London and the British Council, the team at Projekt have come to understand that it’s about providing spaces and building networks, fostering community and shaping culture. This approach to large-scale community building is reflected in Projekt’s ability to collaborate with clients from the ground up and runs through the heart of Projekt’s development and repurposing of every site whether a smaller individual building or a large-scale development project. www.thisisprojekt.com

About Paul Smith’s Foundation
Paul Smith’s Foundation supports early career creative people working in fashion, visual arts, and design. Through in depth and bespoke business mentoring, the Foundation equips creatives with the insight, tools, and network they need to establish and sustain a healthy business for the long term. Through partnerships, we create paid opportunities to freely make, encouraging curiosity and experimentation without financial burden, whilst nurturing potential to help shape a dynamic and enterprising creative sector. https://www.paulsmithsfoundation.org/

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AMA, Health

African Leaders Call for Sustainable Malaria Financing as Progress Stalls and Funding Crisis Deepens

MaraviPost

The 2025 Africa Malaria Progress Report reveals 270.8 million cases and nearly 600,000 deaths. It warns of potential resurgence, as Heads of State and Government urge increased domestic resource mobilisation, call on partners to honour their commitments, and demand a renewed World Bank Malaria Booster Programme.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 16 February 2026-/African Media Agency(AMA)/- Against a backdrop of stalled progress, declining international funding, and intensifying threats, African Heads of State and Government today issued a unified call for a new era of malaria financing at the 39th African Union Summit in Ethiopia. The African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025, presented by President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana and Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), warns that without urgent action, the continent risks losing decades of hard-won gains against the disease.

Urgent action required as perfect storm intensifies
The 2025 report reveals that African Union Member States accounted for 270.8 million malaria cases (96% of the global total) and 594,119 deaths (97% of the global total) in 2024. Progress has stalled since 2015, and only five Member States have achieved the 2025 Catalytic Framework targets for reducing malaria incidence or mortality by 75%. These targets are part of the AU Catalytic Framework to End AIDS, TB and Eliminate Malaria in Africa by 2030.

The report warns that a 30% reduction in funding will result in 640 million fewer insecticide-treated nets, 146 million additional malaria cases, 397,000 additional deaths (75% among children under five), and a loss of $37 billion in GDP by 2030. Without urgent action, the report warns that malaria could resurge significantly, with cases potentially exceeding 400 million per year and deaths surpassing one million annually.

“The perfect storm of converging crises threatening malaria elimination has intensified. Official Development Assistance for health in Africa has declined by 70% in just four years, and the Eighth Replenishment of the Global Fund fell significantly short of its $18 billion target. We cannot allow these challenges to reverse decades of progress that have prevented 1.64 billion cases and saved 12.4 million lives since 2000.”
~ President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, Republic of Botswana, Chair of ALMA

A new era of financing as Africa takes the lead
In response to the funding crisis, African leaders reaffirmed their commitment to domestic resource mobilisation, innovative financing and the development of national health financing sustainability plans. The report highlights that End Malaria Councils and Funds in 12 countries have now mobilised over $200 million through public-private partnerships, demonstrating the power of multisectoral collaboration. Establishing public-private partnerships is essential for delivering sustainable financing. These partnerships can unlock new investments, propelling progress not only toward malaria elimination but also toward universal health coverage. A whole-of-society approach, engaging the private sector, philanthropic foundations, high-net-worth individuals and the diaspora through a public private health accelerator, will reinforce domestic commitments and deliver a win-win partnership.

Countries across the continent are stepping up with increased domestic financing commitments for malaria in 2025. Leaders called on global partners to honour their commitments, renew the World Bank’s Malaria Booster Programme, and align support with national strategies. The original World Bank Malaria Booster Programme (2005-2010) committed over $1 billion with transformative results. Today, African leaders are urging a renewed programme to close funding gaps, deploy next-generation tools, strengthen community health worker programmes, and build climate-resilient health systems. Investing in malaria in this way will also strengthen primary health care, making our health systems more resilient to shock and put us on a path to defeating other health challenges such as neglected tropical diseases.

“Our approach has spanned the full spectrum of what it takes to beat this disease. Tanzania has invested in world-class research and is home to the Ifakara Health Institute, where our scientists are working at the frontier of new technologies, including gene drive–an innovative approach that aims to ensure mosquitoes can no longer transmit the malaria parasite. This is African science, conducted by African researchers, addressing an African challenge.”
~ H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania

New, powerful next-generation tools gaining ground
Despite the challenges, the report highlights significant progress in deploying innovative tools. In 2025, 74% of insecticide-treated nets distributed across Africa were next-generation dual active-ingredient nets, up from just 20% in 2023. These nets are 45% more effective than pyrethroid-only nets against resistant mosquitoes.

Twenty-four countries have now introduced WHO-approved malaria vaccines for children under five, with 28.3 million doses distributed in 2025, up from 10.5 million in 2024. Additionally, WHO prequalified two spatial repellent products in 2025, marking the first new vector control intervention introduced in decades. A record 22 countries planned to implement seasonal malaria chemoprevention in 2025. The malaria innovation pipeline remains stronger than ever.

Promoting health sovereignty through local manufacturing
Leaders emphasised the importance of local manufacturing to ensure affordability, access, and supply chain resilience. Currently, Africa imports 99% of vaccines and 95% of medicines. The report highlights that Nigeria has entered into partnerships for local production of antimalarial treatments and rapid diagnostic tests, and is working to establish the first Africa-manufactured next-generation nets.

The African Medicines Agency, with 31 countries now ratified, and Regional Economic Communities are harmonising regulatory frameworks to accelerate the registration of new commodities across the continent.

“Full deployment of existing and new tools, combined with full funding, could save over 13.2 million lives over the next 15 years and boost African economies by over $140 billion. Every dollar invested in the Global Fund delivers $19 in returns. We have the tools. We need the resources.”
~ Dr. Michael Adekunle Charles, CEO, RBM Partnership to End Malaria

What must be done
The Heads of State and Government issued a clear call to action, urging all Member States to treat malaria as a central pillar of health sovereignty and economic transformation, protect and increase domestic and external funding, and fully implement the priorities of the Catalytic Framework through a Big Push Against Malaria.

Leaders called on international partners to fulfil commitments, align support with national strategies, and invest in the tools and systems that will secure a malaria-free future. They emphasised that the path ahead is challenging. Nevertheless, with determined leadership, the smart use of data, and sustained investment, Africa can bend the curve towards elimination and ensure that future generations grow up free from the threat of malaria.

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

Notes to Editors: The African Union Malaria Progress Report 2025 is available for download at:  www.au.int and  www.alma2030.org

About the Africa Malaria Progress Report:
The Africa Malaria Progress Report is an annual publication prepared by the African Union Commission, African Leaders Malaria Alliance and RBM Partnership to End Malaria. It tracks progress against the AU Catalytic Framework targets, highlights challenges and threats to malaria elimination, and documents Member State actions to accelerate progress. The report is presented annually to Heads of State and Government at the African Union Summit.

About ALMA:
Founded in 2009, the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) is a ground-breaking coalition of African Heads of State and Government working across country and regional borders to achieve a malaria-free Africa by 2030. www.alma2030.org

Media Inquiries:

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AMA, Business, Technology

Nigeria to Host 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President

MaraviPost

Conference to Convene Global Leaders on Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy
for a Borderless Economy

ABUJA, Nigeria, 02 February 2026-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Preparations are underway for the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo (RACE 2026), Africa’s flagship platform on regulatory technology, digital innovation, and policy reform, scheduled to hold from 20–22 May 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Conference will be held under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in partnership with the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), and in collaboration with the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA)—underscoring its strategic importance to Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic transformation agenda.

Anchored on the theme “Building Trust, Infrastructure, Inclusion, and Policy for a Borderless Economy,” RACE 2026 will convene regulators, policymakers, technology leaders, innovators, investors, and development partners to shape the future of Africa’s digital and regulatory landscape in an era of accelerating cross-border trade and financial integration.

As Africa advances the promise of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)—a single market of over 1.4 billion people and a projected value of US$3.4 trillion—the Conference will address one of the continent’s most pressing challenges: how to align technology, regulation, and policy to enable seamless, trusted, and inclusive economic activity across borders.

“RACE 2026 is positioned as a strategic policy and innovation platform—where technology-enabled regulation becomes a catalyst for trust, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth across Africa,” Cyril Okoroigwe, Chair Organising Committee.

A Platform for Regulatory Innovation and Economic Empowerment

The Conference will spotlight how RegTech, SupTech, artificial intelligence, digital identity, interoperable payment systems, cybersecurity, and data-driven compliance solutions can reduce friction, lower risk, and unlock opportunities for governments, businesses, startups, and citizens.

Key outcomes will focus on:

  • Building trust through technology-enabled regulation and smarter supervision
  • Strengthening digital infrastructure for interoperable payments, identity, and data exchange
  • Driving inclusion for SMEs, startups, women, and underserved populations
  • Modernising policy frameworks to support innovation while safeguarding financial integrity

High-Level Engagement and Global Participation

RACE 2026 will feature 50+ world-class speakers, 10 thematic tracks, and over 1,000 in-person and virtual participants from across Africa and the global financial and technology ecosystem. The hybrid event will include ministerial dialogues, regulators’ CEO forums, innovation showcases, and curated B2B and B2G networking sessions.

A major highlight will be the Global Startup World Cup – Regional Challenge, positioning Abuja as a launchpad for Africa’s most promising technology startups to compete on the global stage.

Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, Technical Adviser to the President / Executive Secretary, Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI):

“The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo aligns strongly with Nigeria’s commitment to economic and financial inclusion. By bringing together regulators, innovators, and policymakers, the Conference provides a critical platform to harness technology and smart regulation as tools for trust-building, inclusion, and sustainable economic growth—both within Nigeria and across Africa.”

Call to Action: Registration and Partnerships

Attendance at the 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is strictly by registration, which is mandatory for all participants. Early registration is strongly encouraged due to limited capacity and high-level security protocols at the venue.

Organizations interested in partnerships, sponsorships, exhibitions, or strategic participation are invited to engage with the Organising Committee.

📩 Partnership & Sponsorship Enquiries:
Email: info@regtechafricaconference.com

🎟 Registration & Event Information:
🌐 Website: www.regtechafricaconference.com

Positioning Africa for a Borderless Future

Through strategic media engagement and the #BorderlessAfriconomy and #RACE2026 campaigns, the Conference aims to reshape global narratives—presenting Africa not as a high-risk market, but as a policy-aware, innovation-ready, and investment-attractive continent.

The 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo is expected to play a defining role in advancing Africa’s journey toward borderless economic empowerment, where trust, technology, and policy work together to deliver shared prosperity.

Event Details:
📍 Venue: State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja
📅 Date: 20–22 May 2026
🌍 Format: Hybrid (In-person & Virtual)
🔗 Website: www.regtechafricaconference.com

Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of RegTech Africa.

The post Nigeria to Host 2026 RegTech Africa Conference & Expo Under the Patronage of the Office of the Vice President appeared first on African Media Agency.

Entertainment

Teen Believed to Be in ‘Danger’ After Disappearing on Christmas Eve

Maravi Post Reporter

A 19-year-old girl is believed to be in “imminent danger” in Texas after she disappeared on Christmas Eve.

Camila Mendoza Olmos was last seen on the morning of Wednesday, December 24 when she left her family home in Bexar County, Texas, around 6:58 a.m., according to a statement from the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told ABC News that the sheriff’s office is working with the FBI amid the search for Olmos, as well as the Department of Homeland Security as they monitor potential border crossings and international travel.

Salazar also noted that they believe Olmos is in “imminent danger,” sharing that investigators have not ruled out kidnapping and human trafficking as potential factors in her disappearance. However, he did note that she could have also left her home on her own accord.

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“We definitely don’t want to miss anything,” Salazar said. “The ground search is somewhat limited to a couple of square miles. We’re also not ruling out that this case may take us outside the borders of the continental United States.”

Olmos’ mother, Rosario Olmos, said that she and her daughter were sleeping together at their home on the morning of Christmas Eve when she felt the teenager get up from the bed, according to KENS.

The mother said she woke up about 90 minutes later to find her daughter was not home, though her car was still at the residence. Rosario attempted to find her daughter by calling her cell phone, though she later found that it was left in the bed.

“I put it to charge and went out to look for her. I thought I would find her like other times, walking, and we would come home together,” she told the outlet, adding that her daughter would often start her mornings by going on a walk.

While not much is known about Olmos’ disappearance, ABC News reported that investigators believe she left the residence on foot. Salazar added that it was “highly unusual” for Olmos to leave without her phone, which he said added considerable concern to her case. “That’s why we’re working basically around the clock on this case,” he said.

Salazar also revealed that Olmos had recently gone through a “mutual” breakup before her disappearance. However, authorities do not believe anything “nefarious” happened in light of the split.

Additionally, Salazar confirmed to ABC News that Olmos is a U.S. citizen and was not detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“That was a personal concern,” Salazar said. “So, I had it checked to make sure that there were no stops, no detentions, and that she’s not somewhere in a federal detention facility. That is something we needed to check.”

He also shared that her friends and family are all cooperating with authorities as the investigation into her disappearance continues.

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The teen was last seen wearing a baby blue and black hoodie, baby blue pajama bottoms and white shoes.

Police are asking for help regarding the investigation into Olmos’ disappearance. Anyone with information about her whereabouts has been asked to call the BCSO at (210) 335-6000 or email the department’s missing persons unit at missingpersons@bexar.org.

AMA, Education, Technology

Yango Fellowship launches at 6 African countries, empowering the next generation of STEM leaders

MaraviPost

ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 17 December 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/-Yango Group, a global tech company, has announced the next chapter of its Yango Fellowship; a program designed to unlock the potential of STEM talent across Africa. By providing mentorship, resources, and networks, the Fellowship helps participants turn ideas into solutions that benefit their communities. After successfully launching in Zambia and Ivory Coast, Yango is bringing the program to four more countries – Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Senegal.

The expanded Yango Fellowship will provide financial support, expert guidance, and access to a cross-country community of Fellows working on impactful solutions for their communities. As the last years students of the programme landed prestigious internships that will help them achieve significant results in their future careers, in 2026 Yango is moving beyond country levels and builds to create a network of STEM professionals that will function after the conclusion of the year’s programme, defying borders and uniting aspiring young people from different African regions.

Across Africa, the demand for skilled scientists, engineers, and technologists far exceeds the number of graduates entering these fields. The World Bank estimates a shortage of more than 2.5 million STEM professionals needed to support sustainable economic growth across sub-saharan Africa. At the same time, Africa’s rapidly growing youth population faces a persistent skills gap: only 10–15% of young people have access to quality digital or technical training, and fewer than 5% gain experience in fields such as programming, data analysis, or cybersecurity.

With 10–12 million young people entering the labor market each year and only about 3 million formal jobs created annually, the need for practical STEM education, mentorship, and career pathways is urgent. By expanding the fellowship to new regions, Yango aims to help build a diverse, capable, and future-ready STEM workforce, empowering students to develop solutions for challenges faced by their communities. The program encourages collaboration, creativity, and leadership, while building a supportive alumni network that spans the continent.

Adeniyi Adebayo‏ – ‏Chief Business Officer at Yango Group, said: “Africa has an extraordinary pool of talent, who bring creativity, and problem-solving energy. The Yango Fellowship is a hands-on program designed to support these talents, connecting young innovators with the mentorship, resources, and knowledge they need to develop solutions that benefit their communities. This year, the program will be held at our African hub in Abidjan, and with its expansion to six countries, we can share expertise, learn together, and harness technology to make a real impact across the continent.”

The Fellowship has already delivered meaningful impact: past Fellows have launched community projects and became role models in their countries. Yango’s local hubs play a key role in mentoring Fellows, ensuring the program strengthens both talent and local ecosystems.

Beyond the Fellowship, Yango is driving digital innovation by partnering with universities and educational organizations across its markets, sharing expertise with young data scientists and IT students. Through programs like Urban Mobility Hackathons, participants tackle real-world traffic prediction challenges, gaining skills they can apply to improve their cities and communities. All of Yango’s youth initiatives are designed to empower participants with practical knowledge while creating tangible benefits for their local communities and countries.

Applications are now open to university STEM students aged 18–25 in all six countries. Interested candidates can apply until January 26, 2026, at yangofellowship.com.

Watch here testimonial videos of first cohort of Zambian STEM fellows.

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

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AMA, Human Rights, Technology

Digital violence is intensifying, yet nearly half of the world’s women and girls lack legal protection from digital abuse

MaraviPost

UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism campaign demands a world where technology is a force for equality – not harm.

New York, USA, 20 November 2025 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/-The digital world promised connection and empowerment – but for millions of women and girls, it has become a world of abuse. Digital violence is spreading at alarming speed fueled by artificial intelligence, anonymity, and the absence of effective laws and accountability. It now spans every corner of the Internet – from online harassment and cyberstalking to doxing, non-consensual image sharing, deepfakes, and disinformation – weaponized to silence, shame, and intimidate women and girls. According to World Bank data, fewer than 40 per cent of countries have laws protecting women from cyber harassment or cyber stalking. This leaves 44 per cent of the world’s women and girls – 1.8 billion – without access to legal protection.

Stock photo posed by model.

Women in leadership, business, and politics face deepfakes, coordinated harassment, and gendered disinformation designed to drive them to deplatform or leave public life altogether. Across the world, one in four women journalists report online threats of physical violence, including death threats. 

“What begins online doesn’t stay online. Digital abuse spills into real life, spreading fear, silencing voices, and—in the worst cases—leading to physical violence and femicide,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous. “Laws must evolve with technology to ensure that justice protects women both online and offline. Weak legal protections leave millions of women and girls vulnerable, while perpetrators act with impunity. This is unacceptable. Through our 16 Days of Activism campaign, UN Women calls for a world where technology serves equality, not harm.”

Reporting of online abuse and violence remains low, justice systems are ill-equipped, and tech platforms face little accountability. The rise of AI-generated abuse has only deepened impunity across borders and platforms. But there are signs of progress. Laws are beginning to evolve to meet the challenges of technological change: from the UK’s Online Safety Act to Mexico’s Ley Olimpia to Australia’s Online Safety Act and the EU’s Digital Safety Act, new reforms are taking shape. As of 2025, 117 countries reported efforts addressing digital violence, but efforts remain fragmented for a transnational challenge.

UN Women is calling for:

  • Global cooperation to ensure digital platforms and AI tools meet safety and ethics standards.
  • Support for survivors of digital violence by funding women’s rights organizations.
  • Holding perpetrators accountable through better laws and enforcement.
  • Tech companies to step up by hiring more women to create safer online spaces, removing harmful content quickly, and responding to reports of abuse.
  • Investments in prevention and culture change through digital literacy and online safety training for women and girls, and programmes that challenge toxic online cultures.

Feminist advocacy has driven global recognition of digital violence as a threat to women’s fundamental human rights resulting in growing prioritization and action against digital violence by countries. However, shrinking civic space, coupled with unprecedented funding cuts and pushback against feminist movements threatens to undermine decades of progress. In this context, initiatives such as the EU-funded ‘ACT to End Violence against Women and Girls’ programme are more important than ever to support feminist movements in their push for justice.

This year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign calls for urgent global action to close legal gaps and hold perpetrators and tech platforms accountable. To support governments and policymakers, UN Women is launching two new tools – the Supplement to the Handbook for Legislation on Violence against Women on Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls and the Guide for Police on Addressing Technology-Facilitated Violence, which complements previous guidance for police on addressing violence against women and girls from the Handbook on Gender-Responsive Police Services for Women and Girls Subject to Violence – providing practical guidance for prevention and response. Until the digital space is safe for all women and girls, true equality will remain out of grasp, everywhere.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UNWOMEN.

Note to editors

For media enquiries, please contact the UN Women Media Team at [ Click to reveal ]

About the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a global campaign led by UN Women under the UNiTE to End Violence against Women initiative. It runs each year from 25 November to 10 December, connecting the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Human Rights Day.

In 2025, the campaign focuses on ending digital violence against all women and girls – one of the fastest-evolving forms of abuse worldwide. Digital violence includes online harassment, stalking, gendered disinformation, deepfakes, and non-consensual sharing of intimate images, all of which are rising sharply as technology advances.

The 2025 UNiTE campaign calls on governments, technology companies, and communities to act now – to strengthen laws, end impunity, and hold platforms accountable. It urges sustained investment in prevention, digital literacy, and survivor-centred services. It also calls for long-term support to women’s rights organizations that are leading efforts to make digital spaces safe and inclusive for all.

About ACT

The Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action (ACT) programme, is a game-changing commitment between the European Commission and UN Women as co-leaders of the Action Coalition on Gender Based Violence (GBV), in collaboration with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The ACT shared advocacy agenda is elevating the priorities and amplifying the voices of feminist women’s rights movements and providing a collaborative framework focused on common priorities, strategies and actions.

About UN Women

UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.

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Entertainment

3 Under-the-Radar Hulu Movies to Watch This Weekend (November 7-9): ‘A Knight’s Tale’ and More

Maravi Post Reporter

If you’re depressed that Halloween is over, don’t fret — Hulu has you covered.

The Disney-owned streamer has a stellar November lineup of hit movies, so much so that it’s hard to pick which ones to watch.

Well, not for Watch With Us. We’ve curated a brief list of 3 under-the-radar Hulu movies you should watch this weekend.

You can’t go wrong if you stream with the historical comedy A Knight’s Tale, the searing drama Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead or the underrated fantasy flick Eragon.

‘A Knight’s Tale’ (2001)

In the late ‘90s, Heath Ledger’s star was ascending thanks to a series of modestly successful teen comedies like 10 Things I Hate About You, but he established himself as a leading man with A Knight’s Tale, a rousing Medieval rom-com that charmed moviegoers in the summer of 2001. Nearly a quarter of a century later, it will charm you, too.

7 New Movies to Watch This Weekend on Netflix, Prime Video and More (October 31-November 2)

Ledger stars as William Thatcher, a poor squire who impersonates his very wealthy but very dead master in a jousting tournament to win some badly needed money. To maintain his noble disguise, he teams up with struggling author Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany) to fool the tournament’s organizers and woo Jocelyn (Shannyn Sossamon), a noblewoman who longs to have some fun. But how long can Will’s charade last, especially when his rival, the evil Count Adhemar (Rufus Sewell), smells a rat?

Even though it incorporates real historical figures and faithfully recreates 14th-century England, A Knight’s Tale plays fast and loose with facts. When William dances with Jocelyn at a ball, they shake their butts to David Bowie’s “Golden Years” instead of more period-accurate harpsichord music. It’s that kind of anachronistic, free-wheeling spirit that permeates throughout A Knight’s Tale, and makes it as irresistible as Ledger himself.

A Knight’s Tale is streaming on Hulu.

‘Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead’ (2007)

Ethan Hawke just gave one of his best performances ever in the biopic Blue Moon, but the Before Sunrise actor has been quietly great for decades. One underrated movie of his you should check out is Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, an ensemble drama featuring some of the best actors of this generation and masterful direction by Sidney Lumet, who would pass away shortly after this movie’s release.

Cash-strapped brothers Hank (Hawke) and Andy (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) concoct a wild scheme to get some much-needed cash — they will rob their parents’ jewelry store in the hope that they can fence the stolen goods and pocket the insurance money. But their best laid plans soon go awry, and a tragedy tears their family apart. As their involvement in the crime threatens to surface, each brother has to deal with the likelihood that they will go to jail — or a fate much worse than that.

Hawke is terrific as the easily swayed Hank, who just wants to win the approval of his big brother, but Hoffman is even better as the son who never felt as loved as his other sibling. That resentment explains a lot of his behavior throughout the film, which borders on the cruel. Albert Finney and Marisa Tomei round out the cast as the patriarch and Andy’s cheating wife, respectively, and they give some of the best performances of their careers. By the end, the movie transforms into a modern-day Greek tragedy, with an emotionally shattering climax that Aeschylus himself could have written.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is streaming on Hulu.

‘Eragon’ (2006)

In the mid-2000s, Harry Potter reigned supreme at the box office, and every studio wanted its own family-friendly fantasy franchise. That explains why Eragon was one of 2006’s most eagerly awaited movies. Based on Christopher Paolini’s successful YA novels, the film ultimately proved a monumental disappointment, and a newly born franchise was cut short before it could truly take flight. Seen nearly 20 years later, the film still has its flaws, but it’s a surprisingly fun adventure story with an impressive cast of Oscar winners and some of the best English character actors around.

When curious farm boy Eragon (Edward Speleers) finds an ancient stone while foraging, he thinks he can trade it for some money. To his surprise, the stone is actually a dragon’s egg that quickly hatches. Eragon raises the dragon, which calls itself Saphira (voiced by Rachel Weisz) and talks to him via a telepathic link with his mind. They quickly become the best of pals, but soon, they’re both hunted by the evil king Galbatorix (John Malkovich), who wants them dead because they threaten his power. Now Eragon must train to battle Galbatorix’s army to save himself, Saphira and all of Alagaesia before it’s too late.

New on Hulu in November 2025 — The Full List of Movies, TV Shows and More

Sound familiar? That’s because Eragon borrows shamelessly from Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and pretty much any fantasy franchise you can think of. Original it is not, but it’s amusing enough to watch if you’re craving something that’s not too challenging. The stacked cast makes it watchable, with Weisz bringing it as the fierce dragon and Malkovich making a meal out of any piece of scenery he can chew on and spit out.

Eragon is streaming on Hulu.

AMA, Environment

African Countries Urged to Seize Economic Opportunities Through New Climate Plans

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UN Climate Chief highlights potential for millions of new jobs, secure energy, rising living standards

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 15 September 2025 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/UN News- African governments are being encouraged to present their new national climate plans as opportunities to supercharge economies and boost living standards across the continent, as deadlines approach for all countries in the Paris Agreement to submit these plans.

“Strong new national climate plans are blueprints for stronger economies, more jobs and rising living standards, across all African nations. Strong plans open the door to new industries, large-scale investment, more affordable clean energy accessible to all, and more resilient infrastructure, as climate disasters hit African nations harder each year,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.

“Africa is not just on the frontlines of climate impacts; it is also at the forefront of solutions. Right across the continent, we are already seeing massive potential and innovations which cut planet-heating pollution and build more climate-resilient economies. Strong new national climate plans are the key to converting that potential into real-economy outcomes at scale, including the millions of new jobs they create,” Stiell added.

The United Nations is calling on all countries to submit their new plans, formally called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, as soon as possible ahead of key milestones, including the UN Secretary General’s September Climate Summit and November COP30 in Brazil. September will be an important milestone, but submissions will continue in the run-up to COP30, with each plan helping to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius and protect all peoples, while also unlocking jobs, growth, and economic benefits at home.

While particular responsibility rests with the largest economies, whose choices determine the global trajectory of emissions, it is essential that every nation puts forward its most ambitious plan, both to strengthen humanity’s collective response and to drive each nation’s own prosperity and security.

Examples from Across Africa

  • In South Africa, the NDC process is framed around a just transition that protects workers and communities while scaling renewables to strengthen energy security. International partnerships are signalling momentum, bringing together governments, public financiers, and private investors to support South Africa’s shift from coal to clean energy – growing from USD 8.5 to 11.6 billion.
  • Nigeria is advancing a whole-of-government and society approach, linking climate action to job creation, poverty reduction, and improved energy access. Over 85 million people still lack electricity, making decentralised renewables critical. Large-scale solar is expected to generate 33,905 direct green jobs by 2030, the micro-solar sector is already employing youth as “energy officers,” the Great Green Wall has restored more than 5 million hectares, and the country’s extensive mangroves provide carbon storage and flood protection. With a population projected to surpass 400 million by 2050 and GDP already over USD 470 billion, Nigeria has unparalleled potential to be a powerful leader in Africa’s green transition. Its upcoming climate plan is being designed as a national investment strategy to generate millions of green jobs by 2035 and secure a strong share of the USD 2.2 trillion global clean energy market. The transformation is already underway: over 170 solar mini-grids are already operational, bringing reliable electricity to nearly 6 million people, while young entrepreneurs are driving innovation in recycling, clean transport, and sustainable agriculture.
  • Morocco has emerged as a regional leader in renewable energy, with the Ouarzazate solar complex among the largest in the world. It stands as a positive example of how national ambition can deliver clean power at scale.
  • Recent milestone UN climate events, including Climate Week in Ethiopia and the Adaptation Expo in Zambia, have showcased innovative and practical new climate solutions emerging right across African nations, helping them to be scaled up and replicated across the continent and globally.

Africa Leading the Way

Momentum for strong climate action by and for African nations is building following the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa last week, where leaders called for climate action to be treated as a driver of development and investment; and the Nairobi Declaration agreed by African leaders at the Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi in September 2023, which highlighted the continent’s role as a driver of global solutions. Countries are being urged to turn political signals into concrete plans that deliver for people and economies, echoing Simon Stiell’s message that delivery is the essential driver of climate justice and economic opportunity.

Through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area, African nations can build resilient regional supply chains, export green goods and services, and foster shared prosperity across borders.

Climate finance remains central and a vital enabler of stronger climate actions by vulnerable and developing countries. Climate finance is not charity but an investment in shared prosperity, essential to convert climate ambitions into real-economy outcomes, strengthen global supply chains which all economies rely on, and ensure the vast benefits are spread much more widely across all nations in Africa and the developing world.

The COP29 UN Climate Conference in Azerbaijan last year reached a new global agreement to triple climate finance to USD 300 billion per year. This must be delivered in full, and a new Finance Roadmap expected at COP30 in Brazil this November will be key to scaling climate finance to USD 1.3 trillion annually by 2035.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of UN Climate Change.

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About Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

NDCs are the central mechanism under the Paris Agreement through which countries outline plans to reduce emissions and build resilience. Done well, NDCs serve as investment roadmaps that attract capital, create jobs, lower health costs, and deliver affordable, secure clean energy. Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit new NDCs every five years. The third round of NDCs are due in 2025 and will detail countries’ intended climate actions through 2035.

Media enquiries: press@unfccc.int

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