Latest news with #AU
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
African Union says DR Congo-Rwanda deal ‘milestone' toward peace
NAIROBI: The African Union said on Saturday a peace deal signed between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda was a 'significant milestone' in bringing peace to the deeply troubled region. For more than 30 years the eastern DRC has been riven by conflict, which has intensified in recent years with the advance of an armed militia backed by Rwanda. A statement said AU Commission head Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who witnessed the signing of the deal in Washington on Friday, 'welcomed this significant milestone and commended all efforts aimed at advancing peace, stability, & reconciliation in the region.' It said he 'appreciated the constructive & supportive role played by the US & the State of Qatar in facilitating dialogue & consensus that led to this development.' The agreement comes after the M23, an ethnic Tutsi rebel force supported by Rwanda, sprinted across the mineral-rich east of the DRC this year, seizing vast territory including the key city of Goma. The deal does not explicitly address the gains of the M23 in the area torn by decades of on-off war but calls for Rwanda to end 'defensive measures' it has taken. Rwanda has denied offering the M23 military support but has demanded an end to another armed group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), which was established by ethnic Hutus involved in the massacres of Tutsis in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The agreement calls for the 'neutralization' of the FDLR.
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
All the big name stars spotted at Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding
Celebrities have stepped out in droves to celebrate Jeff Bezos' wedding to Lauren Sanchez. The wedding, which is expected to have cost upwards of AU$71.4 million - just a drop in the pond for billionaire Bezos - kicked off on Friday (local time). The glitzy event has sparked outrage among locals in Venice, many of whom banded together to force Bezos to change the venue earlier this week after they threatened to derail the big day with inflatable crocodiles. Oprah lead the big-name stars that stepped out for the big day, with the former chat show host waving to fans as she left the hotel that had been packed full of stars ready to see Bezos walk down the aisle with his bride. The Kardashians; Khloe, Kylie, Kim and their momager, Kris, were all seen glammed up in their best dress as they made their way to the ceremony. Kris showed off her latest cosmetic surgery as she flashed a youthful-looking grin at passersbye. British pop star Ellie Goulding looked chic in a red gown as she joined US model Brooks Nader on a boat headed to the wedding on Friday afternoon. Bezos' billionaire pals also joined in the fun, with US businessman Jared Kushner stepping out with his wife, Ivanka Trump, dressed in black tie. Orlando Bloom was seen for the first time since his reported split from Katy Perry after almost 10 years together. Perry and their daughter Daisy stayed in Australia while Bloom jetted off to the star-studded multi-day wedding. Bloom appeared to be in good spirits as he chatted with a pal, seemingly putting his split behind him to celebrate his pal's big day. The celebrations will reportedly end Saturday with a party at the Arsenale, a vast shipyard complex dating back to when the city was a naval powerhouse.
Global News
18 hours ago
- Global News
Teen arrested, charged with murder after Australian millionaire stabbed to death
Police in Brisbane, Australia, have arrested a 15-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a man while attending a house party at his residence. The unidentified teenager was charged with first-degree murder after the body of the 58-year-old victim — millionaire businessman Greg Josephson, co-founder of popular Australian retailer Universal Store — was found at his home in the upscale neighbourhood of Clayfield on Thursday night. Story continues below advertisement Emergency services were called around 8:15 p.m. after receiving a call for a man with critical injuries, Queensland police said in a statement on Friday morning. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Officers found the victim dead at the property, which was occupied by a large group of teenagers, Supt. Craig Williams told reporters during a press conference. He added that it was a confusing scene, explaining that most of the teenagers present were unaware of what had happened. The 15-year-old who was eventually charged was later located on a nearby street, police say. 'At this stage, the initial investigation indicates that no other persons were involved other than the 15-year-old boy,' Williams said. Police also located the alleged murder weapon, he confirmed. The teenager — who was refused bail and appeared in children's court Friday — was charged with one count of murder and taken into custody. Several teenagers at the party are co-operating with police and were transported to the station to contact their parents. Story continues below advertisement 'No others were taken into custody,' Williams said, assuring that other people present at the scene are being offered all possible support. Police say the victim and accused knew each other, but didn't elaborate on their relationship. A spokesperson for Universal Store confirmed the death of its co-founder in a statement. 'We wanted to share the sad news that Greg Josephson, who founded our company and played a significant role until 2018, has recently passed away,' it read. 'Our sincere thoughts and condolences are with his family at this very sad time.' Josephson co-founded Universal Store in 1999 with his brother Michael, and sold it in 2018 for a reported AU$100 million. Neighbours told Australian outlet 9News that they noticed some commotion. 'I just saw kids come up and congregate and then walk back down the street,' resident Patrick Gallagher said. 'Shocking, it's just unbelievable.' Another neighbour, Corinne Matthews, told 9News she was in 'absolute shock.' 'There was nothing that could give … any indication whatsoever that this ever could have happened,' she added.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
AU declares PG admission test results
Prayagraj: Allahabad University has declared the results of all courses under the Post Graduate Admission Test (PGAT)-2025. The announcement was made over three days, with the results for IPS courses and PGAT-II released on June 25, those for LLB (Hons), LLM, and MCom on June 26, and finally the results for PGAT-I on Friday. Like the previous results, AU also announced the names of the toppers in 29 subjects taught under PG, the result of which was announced on Friday. Candidates who appeared for the PGAT-2025 can download their scorecards from the official examination portal or via the PGAT-2025 link available on the AU's website: The PGAT-2025 examinations were conducted between June 10 and June 13 across 42 centres nationwide, including 14 offline and 28 online centres. Out of the 62,670 registered candidates, 32,868 completed the fee submission process, and 28,330 candidates ultimately appeared for the examination, marking a participation rate of 86.19%. As the results are now available, the AU has announced that the counselling process for admission to postgraduate programmes will be conducted exclusively through the SAMARTH Portal. "The schedule and registration process for counselling will be communicated soon via the AU's website. Aspirants are advised to regularly check the site for updates to avoid missing important notifications," said director Admission Cell, AU, Prof Jayant Pati.
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Five benefits Africa's new space agency can deliver
Africa's new space agency has an important role to play in coordinating satellite data and boosting connectivity. The African Space Agency was officially inaugurated in Cairo's Space City in April 2025. The event marked a milestone in a process that had been in the works since the early 2000s. Drawing inspiration from the European Space Agency, it unites African Union (AU) member states to harness space technology for development. This is in line with the AU's Agenda 2063, aimed at advancing Africa into a prosperous future. The agency's goal is to: coordinate and implement Africa's space ambitions by promoting collaboration among the AU's 55 member states harness space technologies for sustainable development, climate resilience and socio-economic growth oversee the African Space Policy and Strategy to enhance access to space-derived data foster partnerships with international space agencies like the European Space Agency and others Over 20 African countries operate space programmes and more than 65 African satellites have been launched. It is my view as a global space diplomacy expert that the agency can help ensure that Africa isn't a bystander in the space economy. This sector is projected to be worth US$1.8 trillion by 2035. The space agency positions Africa to address pressing challenges and take advantage of opportunities in the global space economy. These include using satellite data, boosting connectivity, driving economic growth, fostering global partnerships and training future leaders. Five benefits Valuable eyes in the sky Space assets, particularly Earth observation satellites, offer a number of advantages. The continent faces significant climate risks like droughts, fires and floods. This is particularly problematic as the agricultural sector is approximately 35% of Africa's GDP and employs about half of its people across over 1 billion hectares of arable land. Satellite data optimises crop yields, supports climate-resilient farming, and enhances sustainable fisheries and port modernisation. Nigeria's National Space Research and Deveopment Agency, for example, has used satellites like the NigSat-2 to monitor crop health and predict yields. Beyond agriculture, satellites assist in project planning in cities across Africa. Kenya uses a satellite to track urban development trends and enhance municipal urban planning capacities. Satellites also keep an eye on Africa's resource-abundant territories while tackling problems like armed conflict, deforestation, and illegal migration and mining. The African Space Agency will help provide access to AI-enhanced satellite data. This will enable even nations with constrained resources to tackle local needs. For instance, Côte d'Ivoire's first locally made satellite, launched in 2024, shows how African nations are building their own capabilities. By making it easier to share data, the African Space Agency also positions the continent to generate revenue in the global space data market. That fuels innovation. Enhancing connectivity and enabling cutting-edge technology Africa's digital divide is stark. Only 38% of its population was online in 2024, compared to the global average of 68%. The African Space Agency aims to bridge this gap through satellite-based communications. This technology can deliver broadband to remote regions where cell towers and undersea cables are impractical. Connectivity enables education, e-commerce and telemedicine. Satellite services, like those provided by SpaceX's Starlink in 21 African countries, will drive digital inclusion. In turn this promises to reduce unemployment and help entrepreneurs. The African Space Agency is also positioning Africa to embrace new space technologies. Examples include Japan's 2025 demonstration of beaming solar power from space, following a US achievement in 2023. This could revolutionise energy access. Space-based solar power captures solar energy in orbit via satellite and transmits it as microwaves to Earth. This offers a solution to Africa's energy poverty. It could provide reliable power to remote areas without extensive grid infrastructure. The African Space Agency's role in coordinating satellite launches and data sharing will make these technologies more accessible and cost-effective. Driving economic growth and innovation Africa's space sector, now worth over US$20 billion, is growing rapidly. The industry has seen an increase of private companies and investor support, moving beyond sole dependence on government funding. Investment is being fuelled by 327 NewSpace firms, a term used for the new emerging commercial space industry in nations such as Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa. These firms often excel in satellite communication, Earth observation and component manufacturing. But many African nations lack resources. The agency will lower barriers by fostering collaboration, coordinating national space programmes, and reducing example, the African Space Agency's efforts to streamline satellite development and launches will spur local manufacturing and tech hubs. This means that smaller economies will be able to participate. Strengthening regional and global connections Africa's space sector relies on partnerships with space agencies and commercial space companies based in the 'space powers'. These include the US, Russia, China, France, India, Italy, Japan, Israel and the United Arab Emirates. These institutions provide launch services, satellite development and ground stations. An example is Senegal's GaindeSAT-1A, a CubeSat launched in 2024 via America's SpaceX with French collaboration. Meanwhile, countries like South Africa are exploring local rocket programmes to enhance the agency's self-reliance. Africa's space ground stations are already located across the continent, supporting the European Space Agency and commercial missions. They will soon host a deep space ground station for America's National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Funding remains a challenge. African nations allocated just US$426 million to space programmes in 2025. That's less than 1% of global spending. The European Space Agency has an US$8 billion budget. However, initiatives like the €100 million Africa-EU Space Partnership Programme (2025–2028) aim to boost Africa's space sovereignty and innovation. The agency's vision extends beyond Earth, with an eye on the Moon. Some members, notably Angola, Nigeria and Rwanda, have already signed the US-led Artemis Accords for lunar exploration. For their part Egypt and South Africa are collaborating with China and Russia on the International Lunar Research Station. Training the next generation A skilled workforce is critical to Africa's space industry. The African Space Agency Space City plans to host a training academy. It will build on Egypt's programmes in space project management, satellite design, and orbital simulation. Partnerships like the Africa-EU programme offer scholarships, while private initiatives, such as the Pathways to Space programme by Boeing and the Future African Space Explorers STEM Academy, engage students in 63 schools in Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. DM
