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Editor's PickThe US military has initiated airstrikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Sirik, Qeshm Island, and Bandar Abbas. US Central Command CENTCOM stated these strikes are a response to Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi reported multiple explosions on Qeshm Island and near Sirik Port, both strategically significant for Iran's control over the Strait. Iran's foreign ministry holds the US responsible for breaching a June memorandum of understanding MoU that aimed to end a conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, and included lifting a US naval blockade in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait. The MoU also involved a temporary waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil, which the US Treasury Department has now revoked. This revocation followed attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, stated that the US actions violate the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and that Iran will take necessary measures to protect its interests.
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Must ReadThe Council of the European Union has expanded its sanctions against Sudan, banning the import of Sudanese gold and restricting the export of key mining chemicals like mercury and cyanide. These measures aim to cut off revenue streams financing the country's civil war, which erupted on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Gold has become a major funding source for the conflict, and limiting its trade, along with access to mining chemicals, is intended to reduce financial resources for those driving the violence. The sanctions include exemptions for humanitarian operations, public health emergencies, or disaster response. This action follows the EU's establishment of a sanctions framework for Sudan in October 2023, which has been expanded several times, most recently in January 2026. The conflict has displaced over 14 million people and led to widespread violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reiterated the bloc's call for an immediate ceasefire and warned against external actors fueling the conflict, stating the EU would use all available tools, including additional sanctions, to pressure those sustaining the war.

The African Development Bank AfDB and Tamwilcom are deepening their cooperation to explore new partnership opportunities aimed at strengthening financing for very small, small, and medium-sized enterprises VSMEs. Abdelmoughite Abdelmoumen, Tamwilcom's Director of Strategy, stated in an AfDB interview that their partnership has yielded "convincing results" in financial inclusion and enhancing guarantee mechanisms. This long-standing cooperation has led to the implementation of programs supporting inclusive financial sector development and a program dedicated to the resilience and competitiveness of microfinance institutions. Over the past two years, the partnership has been reinforced with a new generation of results-based financing, particularly for VSME funding, job creation, and the promotion of women's entrepreneurship. A key initiative is the Entrepreneurship Support and Financing Program for Job Creation, approved by the AfDB in 2025 for 119 million euros. This program also includes a 2.5 million dollar grant from the "Afawa" initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to support 8,700 women entrepreneurs. Tamwilcom reports a significant leverage effect, where one euro mobilized in guarantees can generate up to 24 euros in bank financing for VSMEs, demonstrating the effectiveness of guarantee mechanisms in mobilizing private funding. Beyond financing, the cooperation also focuses on strengthening Tamwilcom's capacities in sustainable development,

The Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority BERA has approved a nine percent across-the-board increase in tariffs for the Botswana Power Corporation BPC, effective August 1. This decision follows BPC's request in December for an average 46% increase across consumer categories. BERA, acting as the regulator, conducted a public hearing in February where significant opposition to BPC's initial request was voiced.

Amref International University AMIU announced plans to establish a Beyond Zero Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital at its Northlands campus. This specialized teaching facility will be developed in partnership with former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta's Beyond Zero Initiative, which has championed maternal and child healthcare since 2014. The announcement was made by Sheila Khama, Chairperson of the International Board of Directors for Amref Health Africa, during AMIU's 7th graduation ceremony. The proposed hospital aims to train healthcare professionals and advance maternal and child health across Africa. The Beyond Zero Initiative, launched in 2014, focuses on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates, tackling mother-to-child HIV and syphilis transmission, and providing healthcare to underserved communities. Its achievements include deploying mobile medical clinics to all 47 counties and organizing the Beyond Zero Half Marathon to raise funds for medical equipment. The new hospital will be located within Northlands City, a mixed-use development associated with the Kenyatta family, positioning it as a potential center for healthcare excellence in East Africa.
Artificial intelligence is fundamentally changing the value of human competence by reducing the cost of producing knowledge while increasing the importance of judgment. Historically, expertise was linked to access to information and experience, which required significant effort and time. AI now allows for rapid generation of business strategies, literature reviews, campaign concepts, and financial report summaries across various industries, making the mechanics of knowledge production significantly easier. However, the ability to evaluate knowledge and exercise sound judgment becomes more valuable. While AI democratizes access to intelligence, it does not democratize competence, which is built through exposure to uncertainty, decision-making with incomplete information, and understanding consequences and trade-offs. AI excels at pattern recognition and predicting statistically likely responses, but prediction differs from judgment. Judgment determines appropriateness, decides if history applies, and accepts responsibility for choices, whereas prediction identifies probability and generates possibilities. Context, which includes timing, culture, stakeholder expectations, and individual circumstances, remains a crucial and less transferable dimension of intelligence. The fluency of AI's communication can be mistaken for sound reasoning, making the ability to distinguish between the two a critical professional skill. AI also makes expertise less visible but more valuable, shifti
Must ReadSix civil society organizations in Gabon, led by Patrice Thérence Mezui, are demanding the immediate lifting of the social media suspension, which has been in effect for five months. They argue that the decision by the High Authority of Communication HAC is unconstitutional, disproportionate, and an abuse of power. The groups, including the Network of Free Civil Society Organizations for Good Governance in Gabon ROLBG and SOS Prisoners, met on July 11 in Libreville to denounce the ban, which was implemented to combat "informational disorders, cyberbullying, and the dissemination of hateful content." The organizations contend that while they share the goals of a healthy digital space, the repressive method used has punished millions of citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, startups, and informal sector actors who rely on these digital channels for their daily economic activities. They highlight that the ban has inadvertently led to a surge in cyberattacks and account hacking, as citizens resort to Virtual Private Networks VPNs to bypass restrictions, creating significant digital security vulnerabilities. Patrice Thérence Mezui warned that this widespread vulnerability could impact state systems, banking institutions, and other vital sectors. Legally, the groups cite Article 14 of the Constitution, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples'
Tunisia ranks 110th out of 135 countries and jurisdictions in the 2026 Global Index on Responsible AI GIRAI, scoring 16.37 out of 100. This places Tunisia significantly below the global average of approximately 35 points and far behind European nations that lead the ranking. The index assesses public authorities' capacity to regulate AI, protect fundamental rights, ensure system transparency, and establish oversight and recourse mechanisms, rather than technological development or company performance. The data for the report covers November 1, 2023, to September 30, 2025. Tunisia's scores across the five dimensions of AI governance are: 19.22 for inclusion and diversity, 9.61 for ethics and sustainability, 13.46 for labor and skills, 23.52 for trust and security, and 16.04 for AI use in public services. Trust and security is the highest-rated dimension, while ethics and sustainability is the lowest. The country received a zero score for civil society engagement in AI governance. General conditions for responsible AI development, such as institutional, legal, and technical capacities, scored 49.22 out of 100. These results indicate that while Tunisia has some favorable conditions, they have not yet translated into effective public policies or control mechanisms. Globally, Norway leads the index with 75.26 points, followed by Italy 72.71 and Ireland 71.39. France is fourth 70.32, the Netherlands fifth 69.51, and Germany sixth 68.98. The UK is seventh 67.27, followed by Slovenia

Media organizations worldwide are experiencing financial strain due to the digital transformation of news consumption and funding models. Nangula Shejavali, representing the Namibia Media Trust board, stated in Windhoek that the current media model is under significant pressure. She highlighted that digital disruption has altered information consumption, global platforms aggressively compete for advertising revenue, and misinformation spreads rapidly, often overshadowing verified reporting. Shejavali emphasized the increased need for quality journalism, as digitalization allows widespread content publication. She noted that trusted journalism serves as a reliable source for facts and accountability. Consequently, Shejavali called for corporations to support media houses. During the same event, The Namibian editor Johnathan Beukes announced the introduction of 'Good News' pages in the newspaper's daily coverage, aiming to highlight positive community and national initiatives. Shejavali expressed enthusiasm for this initiative, underscoring the importance of sharing positive stories.

New Chelsea coach Xabi Alonso has indicated his intention to evaluate Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson during the club's upcoming summer preparation tour in Asia. Alonso, who was officially presented as Chelsea's new coach, stated that Jackson will join the tour, providing an opportunity for the 25-year-old international to demonstrate his potential and secure a place in the team for the upcoming season. Jackson, who was on loan at Bayern Munich last season and recently participated in the World Cup, is under contract with Chelsea until 2033.

Dr. Abderahmane Fédior has responded to public questioning of his academic qualifications by Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation FSF, regarding his role as the national team's doctor. Dr. Fédior revealed previously unknown tensions during the World Cup 2026, specifically concerning the integration of a new French medical team, including a doctor, an assistant, two physiotherapists, a dietician, and a mental coach, into the national team staff. He stated that he had proposed Dr. Babacar Ngom to reinforce the team instead. While acknowledging tensions, Dr. Fédior emphasized that they were not personal and that he had sought to integrate the new staff, even proposing a division of roles. However, a major disagreement arose with Abdoulaye Fall just hours before the match against France. Dr. Fédior, who had organized the designation of the sideline doctor for over ten years, was informed he would not be on the bench. He challenged this decision, stating that it was not the FSF president's responsibility to make such medical staffing choices. Dr. Fédior maintains that Fall's subsequent statements about him are false and that he has always maintained a respectful and diplomatic attitude.

Mmegi Online, an independent news source in Botswana, displayed a 404 error message indicating that the page a user was looking for does not exist. The error appeared on a page that was likely intended to feature news about Manchester United signing Santos and closing in on Tielemans. The website provides various sections including news, business, sport, lifestyle, and features, and offers contact information and social media links.
Must ReadAbdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, expressed measured confidence regarding Senegal's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport concerning the allocation of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Fall emphasized that the national team's recent results would not influence the upcoming decision. During a press conference reviewing the Lions' participation in the 2026 World Cup, he dismissed concerns that the CAS decision could be affected by the team's performance, stating, "There is no fear in that regard. What happened at the World Cup has no connection with the appeal filed with CAS. We are mobilized and awaiting the verdict." Senegal is challenging the Confederation of African Football's decision regarding the hosting of AFCON 2025. As the procedure is not expedited, a verdict is anticipated by the end of 2026.