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Australia Appointments – CBA appoints Belinda Allen as Head of Australian Economics

Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

Vivek Dhar and Adam Donaldson appointed to newly created leadership roles, providing actionable insights to help customers navigate a rapidly changing environment.

The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Belinda Allen as its new Head of Australian Economics. Belinda will be responsible for developing the Bank’s Australian economic forecasts, views on the Reserve Bank of Australia cash rate, while continuing to leverage CBA’s internal data assets to derive insights on the Australian economy.

Belinda currently serves as a Senior Economist within CBA’s Global Economic and Markets Research (GEMR) team, having joined the Bank in 2017. With extensive experience as a financial markets economist, Belinda has a long track record delivering insightful analysis and commentary on the Australian economy and financial markets.

“Belinda has established herself as a trusted and authoritative voice on the Australian economy over a long period of time. I’m delighted to announce her appointment as CBA’s Head of Australian Economics,” said Luke Yeaman, Chief Economist at CBA.

“Her deep expertise will be instrumental as we continue to lead the national conversation on key economic issues and leverage the Bank’s unique data capabilities to generate meaningful insights for customers.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Allen said: “It’s an honour to take on the role of Head of Australian Economics at CBA. I’m excited to lead our talented team in delivering timely, actionable insights, informed by key economic indicators and the Bank’s unique and comprehensive financial data set.”

Before joining CBA, Belinda spent over a decade at Colonial First State Global Asset Management (now First Sentier) where she held the role of Senior Analyst in the Economic and Market Research team. She holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University and is a CFA charterholder.

Vivek Dhar, Adam Donaldson appointed to newly created leadership roles

The appointment of Belinda Allen forms part of a broader refresh of CBA’s GEMR structure, which now comprises four teams.

Vivek Dhar has been appointed into the newly created Head of Commodities and Sustainable Economics role, reflecting the increasing influence of energy markets and the net zero transition on industries and markets. Vivek will lead the continued growth of CBA’s sustainability research offering and the development of forecasts for major commodities, including gas and electricity prices.

Based in Singapore, Vivek has worked as Commonwealth Bank’s lead mining and energy commodities strategist since late 2014.

Adam Donaldson has been appointed to the newly created position as Head of Market Strategy and Rates Research, joining from CBA’s Global Markets team. Adam will be responsible for developing and communicating integrated strategic insights related to Australian, New Zealand and global financial markets.  He will also lead the development of views on funding markets, swaps and various bond markets and yield curves.

Joseph Capurso will continue as Head of International Economics and Foreign Exchange, responsible for developing CBA’s forecasts for the major global economies, central bank policy and currencies. Joe will also have responsibility for expanding CBA’s geoeconomic research, reflecting the increasingly complex global environment.

“The refresh of our GEMR team underscores our commitment to delivering sharp, actionable insights for our customers. The creation of four dedicated teams reflects the need to help our customers navigate the increasingly complex and evolving economic landscape,” said Mr Yeaman.

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Energy Sector – Announcement of cash dividend of NOK 3.7740 per share for first quarter 2025

Source: Equinor

25 AUGUST 2025 – Equinor ASA announced on 30 April 2025 a cash dividend per share of USD 0.37 for first quarter 2025.

The NOK cash dividend per share is based on average USDNOK fixing rate from Norges Bank in the period plus/minus three business days from record date 19 August 2025, in total seven business days.

Average Norges Bank fixing rate for this period was 10.1999. Total cash dividend for first quarter 2025 of is consequently NOK 3.7740 per share.

On 29 August 2025, the cash dividend will be paid to relevant shareholders on Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) and to holders of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) on New York Stock Exchange.

This information is published in accordance with the requirements of the Continuing Obligations and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

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Universities – From the soil with love: How microbes influence our bodies and minds – Flinders

Source: Flinders University

Flinders University experts are exploring evidence that microbes in the soil and the environments around us can affect human microbiota and the ‘gut-brain axis,’ potentially shaping emotional states and relationship dynamics – including aspects of romantic love.

 

College of Science and Engineering biology researchers Dr Jake Robinson, Ondi Crino and Associate Professor Martin Breed, with UK neuroscientist Araceli Camargo, outline the idea in a review article proposing how the human gut microbiome might influence hormonal pathways involved in emotions commonly associated with love.

 

“We’re not claiming microbes ‘cause’ love,” says Dr Robinson. “Our aim is to map plausible biological routes, grounded in microbiology and endocrinology, that researchers can now evaluate with rigorous human studies.”

 

The mini-review, published in an American Society for Microbiology journal, synthesises evidence that microbes can modulate hormones and key neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.

 

“We are exploring how the evolutionary underpinnings of microbial-endocrine interactions could provide important insights into how microbes influence emotions beyond love, including hate and aggression.

 

“If these pathways are confirmed, the findings could open avenues for microbiome-informed strategies to support mental health and relational wellbeing. For now, it provides a roadmap for careful, hypothesis-driven science.”

 

As part of his research, Dr Robinson and colleagues are also mapping the complex web of interactions between biological, environmental and social systems – focusing on the potentially powerful role of soils in this network.

 

“As well as emitting important chemical and microbial signals, healthy soils support vegetation that improves air quality, buffer noise and moderate temperature to create immersive environments that affect our nervous, endocrine and immune system,” adds Associate Professor Breed.

 

“Conversely, soil degradation can increase unhealthy airborne particulates and reduce the richness of the aerobiome, with possible downstream effects on inflammation and mental wellbeing.”

 

Dr Robinson, the author of nature ecology books Invisible Fri

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Human Rights – Taro Leaf Becomes a Symbol of Rohingya’s Push Against Erasure – MSF

Source: Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)

25 August 2025: Marking eight years since more than 700,000 Rohingya people fled to Bangladesh, the launch of a taro leaf symbol today highlights the community’s refusal to be forgotten.

Inspired by the Rohingya proverb “Hoñsu Fathar Faaní” (“water leaves no trace on a taro leaf”), which speaks to the way water slides off the leaf leaving no mark – a metaphor for invisibility and displacement. Rohingya artists, diaspora leaders, and allies came together to create a set of taro leaf symbols through workshops. The taro leaf symbol will be shared with community groups, institutions and advocacy organisations worldwide to mark Rohingya presence and resistance against erasure.

In June 2025, after three years of community co-design across Kuala Lumpur, Chicago, Sydney, Johannesburg, and Cox’s Bazar, Rohingya and Australian artists created seven taro leaf designs, along with an animation, a poem, a folk story and the Meeras statement — a collective declaration of survival and identity.

This work led to the creation of the Creative Advocacy Partnership (CAP), reframing humanitarian engagement to move beyond aid alone and support Rohingya-led advocacy and strength-based community engagement. CAP’s message is clear: the Rohingya are not faceless victims but a people with culture, dignity and aspirations; the taro leaf symbol speaks to the emotional and political toll of statelessness; and after eight years in limbo, the community is calling for durable solutions — not just shelter, but a future with rights and dignity.

The taro leaf has become a powerful metaphor for the Rohingya experience of statelessness — where people are denied nationality, excluded from basic rights, and pushed to the margins by countries that refuse to accept them. It speaks to the daily reality of dehumanisation: living in limbo, barred from education, work, and movement, while being treated as though they leave no mark on the world. 99% of Rohingya currently live under these containment policies, the majority of whom are around Asia Pacific.

Yet the community continues to endure and assert its identity, carrying this symbol across campaigns and cultural spaces as a reminder: “We are still here. We still matter.”

The symbol invites the international community to see the Rohingya as not as faceless victims of tragedy, but people with a rich cultural heritage, people with full and complex humanity, dreams of better lives for their children; a culture that is at risk of erasure as they live in limbo even after eight years. The taro leaf calls for understanding of both the emotional and political toll of statelessness and to respond not just with empathy, but with action.

The release comes one month ahead of the opening of the Meeras Pavilion by the City of Sydney on 25 September, an interactive artwork and cultural space dedicated to Rohingya culture, storytelling and solidarity.

A growing number of NGOs and Rohingya institutions are actively supporting the release of this symbol, including Medecins Sans Frontieres Australia, Amnesty International Australia, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Refugee Council of Australia, Australian Global Health Alliance, and Save the Children Australia.

“The taro leaf captures both the fragility and resilience of the Rohingya people. At a time when their culture risks being forgotten, these symbols insist that the Rohingya cannot be erased—that their culture and humanity leave a mark the world must recognise,” said Jennifer Tierney, executive director, MSF Australia, one of the partners for this project.

Dr Graham Thom, Advocacy Coordinator for the Refugee Council of Australia says: “The taro leaf speaks to the quiet strength of the Rohingya people. Eight years after so many were forced to flee, their resilience remains clear, but so does the need for lasting solutions. When I visited Cox’s Bazar in June, I saw first-hand the urgent need for continued support, protection, and hope for the future.”

Jana Favero, Deputy CEO, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre “The taro leaf is a powerful reminder of the strength of the Rohingya people. It symbolises their resilience in the face of profound injustice. At ASRC we stand with the Rohingya community in their call for recognition, rights and a future with dignity.”

Notes

About the Rohingya displacement

  • In August 2017, more than 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar following a campaign of targeted violence.
  • Today, nearly 1 million Rohingya live in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, alongside tens of thousands elsewhere in the region.
  • Many remain stateless, denied citizenship and basic rights for decades.
  • The anniversary of the 2017 exodus is marked annually as Rohingya Genocide Remembrance Day.

About the taro leaf symbol

  • The taro leaf is inspired by the Rohingya proverb “Honsu fatar Paani” — “not even water leaves a mark on a taro leaf.”
  • Its waxy surface causes water to bead and roll away, symbolising how the world has tried to erase the Rohingya through making them stateless.
  • The symbol reflects the experience of statelessness: of floating without land underfoot, belonging nowhere, and being caught between countries that do not want them.
  • Launched in 2024, the Taro Leaf Symbols package is a global initiative of Rohingya artists and allies to mark presence, self-advocacy, survival, and cultural pride.
  • About the Meeras Pavilion
  • The Meeras Pavilion opens on 25 September as part of the City of Sydney’s Art and About Festival.
  • It will showcase Rohingya art, craft, and performance, serving as a cultural space of survival, resistance, and storytelling.
  • “Meeras” means heritage — a reminder of the specific issues the Rohingya face, that even in displacement, even against erasure, their culture endures.
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Australia – AI app that supports migrants, refugees find work wins tech award – AMES

Source: AMES

A revolutionary new AI-driven phone app that supports migrants and refugees improve their English language skills and employability has won a prestigious award.

The ‘MyAMES Chat app’, developed by tech company Getmee in partnership with migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, has won the ‘Government’ category award at the TechDiversity Awards 2025, while also being recognised in the Education & Government Category.

The app is a groundbreaking digital coaching tool that is revolutionising foundation skills education. It provides personalised, real-time support in English language learning, literacy, communication, interview preparation, and soft skills development.

Targeted at English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners and participants in migrant education and employment programs, the app improves digital literacy, confidence, and workforce readiness.

The app has delivered measurable outcomes through improved employability and communication skills, greater educator efficiency by complementing classroom teaching and enhanced government outcomes and contract performance.

 

It bridges education and employment pathways across VET, pre-accredited, and accredited training programs.

Accepting the award, CEO and Founder of Getmee Balendran Thavarajah, a former refugee himself, said it was pleasing to be able to make positive difference in the lives of other refugees and migrants.

He said the award affirms the potential of AI-driven tools in government-led initiatives.

“MyAMES Chat demonstrates how digital innovation can be harnessed to achieve both social impact and system efficiency, setting a new standard for how government can engage diverse communities through technology,” Mr Thavarajah said.

“This win is more than recognition. It is proof that technology, when designed inclusively, can transform lives and deliver real outcomes for communities and government alike,” he said.

Mr Thavarajah shared his personal journey, from refugee to technology founder, a story that deeply resonated with attendees and highlighted the transformative power of diversity in driving meaningful innovation.

“My journey is proof that when we embrace diversity, we unlock innovation that changes lives. MyAMES Chat shows how AI can break barriers and build bridges to employment for thousands of learners,” Mr Thavarajah said.

AMES Australia CEO Melinda Collinson said the app afforded added flexibility to newly arrived migrants and refugees studying English.

“It augments the support they get from the AMES Australia Skilled Professional Migrant Program (SPMP) teachers. It means they can study in their own time and at their own convenience. It will also help them acquire digital skills.

“The app will help the students find work commensurate with their skills and qualifications more quickly. This will produce a dividend for the broader economy, which is currently suffering from a skills shortage.

“It is an extension of work we have been doing over many years in supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees re-establish their professional careers in Australia.

“Our Skilled Professional Migrant Program has been assisting professionals from overseas to find pathways to jobs that are commensurate with their qualifications and experience through coaching and career counselling was well as through networking and mentoring opportunities,” Ms Collinson said.

The TechDiversity Awards, now in their 10th year, celebrate and amplify Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Australia’s tech workforce, spotlighting initiatives that are shaping DEI futures.

The awards celebrate organisations and leaders advancing DEI through technology. With over 100 nominations reviewed in 2025, the Awards continue to spotlight initiatives that create pathways for underrepresented groups and showcase the role of technology in shaping a fairer future.

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UPDATE – Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9): Japan International Cooperation Agency and African Development Bank sign agreement to extend Enhanced Private Sector Assistance initiative for $5.5 billion

SOURCE: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

The EPSA non-sovereign operations component helps finance the Bank's private sector operations through a line of credit from JICA to the Bank on concessional terms
YOKOHAMA, Japan, August 22, 2025/ — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the sixth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA6) agreement, which provides a framework for critical resource mobilization and development partnership for African countries.

Under EPSA6, the Bank and JICA will work together to support regional member countries over the period 2026-2028, to achieve a joint financing target of up to $5.5 billion – half a billion more than EPSA5.  

The signing ceremony by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, and African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki, took place during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), in Yokohama, Japan. Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Finance Minister of Japan witnessed the ceremony.

The EPSA initiative (https://apo-opa.co/41hTlGY), created in partnership with the Government of Japan and the Bank in 2005, supports the implementation of the Bank's Strategy for Private Sector Development. Its key priorities are power, connectivity, health, agriculture and nutrition.

Dr.  Tanaka said co-financing under previous EPSA agreements since 2005, had resulted in $12 billion of joint support to Africa from the African Development Bank and JICA. The $5.5 billion target for EPSA6 is more than five times the original target of EPSA1, 20 years ago, he said. “This reflects the growing strength of our partnership and the increasing importance of our joint effort,” he added. He also announced that resilience would be a new priority under EPSA6. “With this focus we are committed to address not only climate change but also a broad range of shocks.”

Tanaka lauded the role played by outgoing African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for over half of EPSA's history. “Thanks to his strong ownership and support, we are pleased that EPSA5 is now almost reaching its target of $ 5 billion by the end of this year,” he said.

The EPSA non-sovereign operations component helps finance the Bank's private sector operations through a line of credit from JICA to the Bank on concessional terms. Previous EPSA agreements have helped finance critical infrastructure such as the Bujagali Hydropower Plant (Uganda), RASCOM (the first Pan-African communication satellite), the East Africa Submarine Cable System, Lekki Toll road (Nigeria), and the Kigali Bulk Water Supply in Rwanda.

“The Government of Japan is one of the strongest shareholders of the African Development Bank and contributors to the African Development Fund. In addition, EPSA is the largest and longest-standing bilateral partnership the Bank has with any Development Finance Institution. We recognize that Japan has been an early mover in supporting private sector in Africa since 2005,” Kariuku said. “I wish to applaud the continued commitment of the Government of Japan and JICA towards Africa's development, and I am confident that we will consolidate the successes of development collaborations between Japan and Africa in a mutually agreeable manner.”

EPSA 5, which ran from 2023 to 2025, involved a $5 billion financial cooperation announced at the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) in 2022.

EPSA5 had achieved a $4 billion joint cofinancing target “as of today,” Kariuki declared, with projects worth $1.6 billion at an advanced stage of co-financing by the end of 2025.

In earlier opening comments Minister Kato said EPSA 6's focus on resilience would help African countries with a heavy debt burden as well as expand  private sector investment.

“Africa has tremendous opportunities for significant market expansion,” Kato said.

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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US Economy – Rate cut looms large after Powell’s Jackson Hole address – deVere Group

Source: deVere Group

August 22 2025 – The annual Jackson Hole gathering closed with what may well prove to be Jerome Powell's last major act before the September meeting — and while he resisted committing to a cut, the stage remains set for one, predicts global financial advisory giant, deVere Group.

The Federal Reserve Chair stressed caution, flagging that key jobs and inflation data are still to come before the mid-September decision. But despite the hesitancy, investors are right to expect that a rate cut is near.

Nigel Green, chief executive of deVere Group, says: “Powell did what central bankers do best at Jackson Hole — he kept the door open.

“The fact remains, we believe, that the Fed is already behind the curve, and the balance of risks is shifting toward easing sooner rather than later.”

The Fed has not reduced rates since December, but cracks in the economy are becoming more visible. Growth is softening, the labour market is showing signs of strain, and tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump are feeding price pressures across supply chains.

Nigel Green continues: “The irony is that Trump's tariff push, designed to project strength, is one of the biggest inflationary forces in the economy right now.

“Rate cuts may not solve the tariff problem, but they can keep credit flowing and prevent an avoidable downturn.”

The calendar matters. On the first Friday of September, the latest jobs report will test whether hiring momentum can reassert itself.

The following week, consumer and producer price reports will show whether July's unexpectedly hot wholesale prices were a blip or the start of a sticky trend. Markets are already on edge: the dollar has whipsawed, Treasury yields are sliding, and risk-sensitive currencies from the Australian dollar to the Korean won are reacting to every hint of Fed recalibration.

“Powell knows the cost of inaction is rising,” notes the deVere CEO.

“If the jobs data are weak, or if inflation shows signs of rolling over, he'll have all the cover he needs to move. Waiting longer risks tightening financial conditions even further — markets are not patient forever.”

Historically, Jackson Hole has marked turning points in Fed communication. It was here in 2010 that Ben Bernanke hinted at quantitative easing, setting the stage for years of ultra-loose policy.

In 2022, Powell first articulated “higher for longer.” This year, the message was more guarded, but the subtext is unmistakable: the Fed is preparing markets for change.

The potential beneficiaries of lower rates are already clear.

Tech and AI companies, with heavy investment pipelines, would find capital cheaper. Real estate investment trusts and utilities, which thrive when bond yields fall, could see demand surge. Small-cap stocks, often reliant on borrowing, would gain easier access to credit.

“The winners from lower rates are not theoretical,” Nigel Green explains.

“They're the companies that will drive the next cycle of growth. Investors who position early will capture the upside before it becomes consensus.”

At the same time, the broader economy is caught in a divergence. High-income households continue to spend, but middle- and lower-income consumers are feeling the squeeze. Earnings season has laid bare this split.

This dynamic is precisely why a rate cut is becoming necessary — to ensure that the weakest parts of the economy do not drag the rest into contraction.

“The Fed cannot target tariffs, but it can target confidence,” Nigel Green notes.

“A cut in September would reassure households and businesses that the central bank is not asleep at the wheel. Delaying only raises the odds of a harder landing.”

For Powell, the decision is not whether to cut, but when. At Jackson Hole, he signaled he is watching the data, but history suggests the data will point toward easing.

With global peers from the European Central Bank to the Bank of England already recalibrating policy stances, the Fed risks isolation if it holds back.

“The window for action is now,” says Nigel Green. “We expect a cut in September. It's not yet rubber-stamped, but the logic is overwhelming. If Powell waits for perfect conditions, the Fed will end up chasing events instead of shaping them.”

deVere Group is one of the world's largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients.  It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.

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Africa – Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9): Japan and African Development Bank sign agreement to extend Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for $5.5 billion sixth phase

SOURCE: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

The EPSA non-sovereign operations component helps finance the Bank's private sector operations through a line of credit from JICA to the Bank on concessional terms

YOKOHAMA, Japan, August 22, 2025 – The government of Japan and the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding launching the sixth phase of the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA6) agreement, which provides a framework for critical resource mobilization and development partnership for African countries.

Under EPSA6, the Bank and JICA will work together to support regional member countries for the period 2026-2028, with a financial package of up to $5.5 billion – half a billion more than EPSA5 – while ensuring their debt sustainability.

The brief signing ceremony by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, and African Development Bank Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki, took place during the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), ongoing in Yokohama, Japan. Mr. Katsunobu Kato, Finance Minister of Japan witnessed the ceremony.

The EPSA Initiative (https://apo-opa.co/3HMe4fn), created in partnership with the Government of Japan in 2005, supports the implementation of the Bank's Strategy for Private Sector Development. Its key priorities are power, connectivity, health, agriculture and nutrition.

Dr.  Tanaka said co-financing under previous EPSA agreements since 2005, had resulted in $12 billion of support to Africa from the African Development Bank and JICA. The $5.5 billion ambitious new target for EPSA6 is more than five times the original target of EPSA1, 20 years ago, he said. “This reflects the growing strength of our partnership and the increasing importance of our joint effort,” he added. He also announced that resilience would be a new priority under EPSA6. “With this focus we are committed to address not only climate change but also a broad range of shocks.”

Tanaka lauded the role played by outgoing African Development Bank President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, for over half of EPSA's history. “Thanks to his strong ownership and support, we are pleased that EPSA5 is now almost reaching its target of $5 billion by the end of this year,” he said.

The EPSA non-sovereign operations component helps finance the Bank's private sector operations through a line of credit from JICA to the Bank on concessional terms. Previous EPSA agreements have helped finance critical infrastructure such as the Bujagali Hydropower Plant (Uganda), RASCOM (the first Pan-African communication satellite), the East Africa Submarine Cable System, Lekki Toll road (Nigeria), and the Kigali Bulk Water Supply in Rwanda.

“The Government of Japan is one of the strongest shareholders of the African Development Bank and contributors to the African Development Fund. In addition, EPSA is the largest and longest-standing bilateral partnership the Bank has with any of its member countries. We recognize that Japan has been an early mover in supporting private sector in Africa since 2005,” Kariuku said. “I wish to applaud the continued commitment of the Government of Japan towards Africa's development, and I am confident that we will consolidate the successes of development collaborations between Japan and Africa in a mutually agreeable manner.”

EPSA 5, which ran from 2023 to 2025, involved a $5 billion financial cooperation announced at the Eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) in 2022.

EPSA5 had achieved a $4 billion joint cofinancing target “as of today,” Kariuki declared, with projects worth $1.6 billion at an advanced stage of co-financing by the end of 2025, leading to a total of $5.6 billion of co-financing by the end of December 2025 – 112% of the $5 billion target.

In earlier opening comments Minister Kato said EPSA 6's focus on resilience would help African countries with a heavy debt burden as well as expand  private sector investment.

“Africa has tremendous opportunities for significant market expansion,” Kato said.

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

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Pacific – NETWORK EXPANSION AS NAURU AIRLINES ADDS SUVA, FIJI

Nauru Airlines

– Effective from 28 August, 2025 – Nauru Airlines has announced a network expansion with the addition of scheduled services from Nauru to Suva, commencing from 28 August 2025. Nauru’s national airline already operates weekly flights from Nauru to Nadi International Airport.

Fiji’s Nausori International Airport, also known as Luvuluvu nausoriairport.com is the secondary international airport in Fiji after Nadi, situated on the southeastern side of Viti Levu, Fiji's main island, 23km from the capital of Suva.

“Suva is a strategically important market, adding a second gateway to our Fiji operations will allow us to enhance regional connectivity and offer even greater passenger, ACMI and cargo opportunities to our customers,” said Mr Robert Eoe, CEO of Nauru Airlines.

Effective from 28 August, 2025, Nauru Airlines will operate a new Thursday service from Nauru to Suva’s Nausori International Airport. Flight ON019 will depart Nauru at 20:45 arriving in Suva at 00:15+1. 

A Friday service from Suva to Nauru will operate as ON020 departing Suva at 01:15 arriving Nauru at 04:50.

Fiji Airports has announced a master plan for further development of both the Nadi and Nausori Airports. The plan includes upgrades to existing facilities and infrastructure, construction of new gates, new aerobridges, a new state-of-the-art domestic terminal, and extension and construction of new car parking facilities.

About Nauru Airlines

Nauru Airlines operates a fleet of 7 x Boeing 737 aircraft – four dedicated to freight operations, three operating as passenger aircraft. As one of the Pacific regions’ most experienced charter operators, Nauru Airlines offers scheduled passenger services as well as charter solutions to clients in Australia, New Zealand and the South/Central Pacific and Asia. The airline provides ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance), freight and passenger charter solutions to meet the needs of diverse clientele including government agencies, educational and religious organisations, emergency response service providers, corporate entities, entertainment, sporting and large private tour groups, and other transportation partners.

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Gaza – Israeli authorities starving Palestinians of water – MSF

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Jerusalem, 22 August – Israel is deliberately depriving people of water in Gaza as part of its genocidal campaign – denying Palestinians of life’s necessities, including food, water and healthcare – says Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). After 22 months of Israel destroying and restricting access to critical water infrastructure, the amount of water available in Gaza is wholly insufficient. 

Organisations like MSF would be able to increase the amount of safe water in the Strip, however, Israel is blocking imports of critical water treatment items. Since June 2024, for every 10 import requests of items for water desalination, MSF has had only one approved.

Israel must begin allowing the importation of critical equipment for water supply and distribution, at scale. The Israeli military must stop its destruction of water infrastructure and allow the immediate repair of water systems that have been damaged to ensure people have life-sustaining access to water.  Water and other necessities of life must not be used as weapons of war.

Not only is there insufficient water overall for people in Gaza, but the reliance on water trucking means they do not have predictable methods to obtain what is available. Eighty six percent of Gaza is under forced displacement order by the Israeli military, making it unsafe for water trucks to attempt to reach people in those areas. The lack of adequate storage methods in households compounds the problems people face.

The reduction of clean water in Gaza has resulted in an increase of disease, with MSF medical teams conducting over 1,000 consultations for acute watery diarrhoea a week for the past month. Without sufficient water for hygiene, people have been suffering from skin conditions, such as scabies.

Clean water is also essential for hospitals; to reduce the spread of infection and to keep patients hydrated so their bodies can heal from their injuries and illnesses.

“There’s too little water for too many people,” says Mohammed Nsier, a water and sanitation officer for MSF in Gaza. “The amount we can provide is very small compared to the need, and conditions are extremely difficult.”

Israel is creating difficult conditions for the delivery of safe water to people. It has always controlled much of the flow of water into Gaza. There is no naturally available drinking water in Gaza because of salination and contamination of sewage and chemicals, making people reliant on pipelines coming from Israel and desalination plants in Gaza. This infrastructure has been subjected to continuous Israeli attacks.

Israel has repeatedly damaged two out of the three water pipelines into Gaza since October 2023. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the water that goes through these pipes is lost because of leaks in the broader pipeline network, from the damage caused by bombardment. As a result, water must be distributed by water trucking, coming from desalination plants. Of the 196 desalination plants that are publicly- and NGO-run, over 60 per cent are non-functional because of their location or damage.

Humanitarian organisations are willing to repair the damaged pipes and plants of the water infrastructure that existed before October 2023, but Israel has repeatedly hindered these efforts by denying access to these sites. For locations that are reachable, repair efforts use “Frankenstein” techniques, salvaging parts from one generator or broken sites to fix another, and desperate attempts to source parts locally. Such actions are necessary as the supplies required to repair this infrastructure are impeded from entering Gaza by Israel. When items do come in, they arrive months late because of deliberate blockages.

Seven MSF water treatment units produce enough water for 65,000 people to receive 7.5 litres per day[1], a fraction of what is needed. For months, MSF has been trying to get nine new treatment units into Gaza – which would significantly increase MSF’s water production capacity – but these efforts have remained unsuccessful as Israel has not issued approvals or allowed the units to enter Gaza.

When water trucks can reach desalination plants, the next step of distributing it to people also means contending with major obstacles. Reaching people safely is near impossible, as the expansion of military activities and bombardments in so-called safe zones mean distribution points have to be continually re-located. In 2025, MSF has had to stop providing water at at least 137 water distribution points. To reach distributions, people must walk long distances carrying their heavy jerry cans.

“You see how people are struggling, everyone is desperate for water,” says a woman waiting for an MSF distribution in Gaza city. “Honestly, [it’s] very, very hard to get water, even walking a little bit is very difficult. I don’t know what to tell you—it’s torture.”

The dangers of collecting water are compounded by its limitation, with the scarcity creating tension at distributions. People have told MSF staff that they fear collecting water.  Our teams see children who get lost after a distribution site has been forced to move by a displacement order or an airstrike, or because extensive damage has made their surroundings unrecognisable.

“As with food, supplies, and healthcare, the Israeli military is restricting access to water to minimal levels,” says Ozan Agbas, MSF emergency manager. “By refraining from cutting off water entirely, they allow plausible deniability while choking Palestinians of their means of survival.”

Notes

Humanitarian organisations are struggling to increase water production activities. The Israeli authorities (data below since June 2024)

  • Often refuse the entry of new desalination units, and do not permit the entry of key elements to produce and distribute water, such as generators, spare parts of equipment, and chlorine and other chemicals used to treat water.
  • Of all MSF submissions to approve entry of items essential to water treatment, only 51% have been approved; for items necessary for water desalination, 11% have been approved (instead of refused or remaining pending). The same item may be approved one time and rejected the next, like membranes and filter parts used in desalination.
  • Many water and sanitation items also remain waiting for authorisation for months – some requests for water pumps, spare parts, and water tanks have been pending for hundreds of days.
  • We are forced to resort to “Frankenstein” techniques: to power our plants, we are forced to salvage parts from one generator to fix another; to produce clean water, we need to build desalination units from parts we find locally or from broken systems.
  • Fuel, essential to power the generators running the water plants and the water distribution trucks, is not entering in sufficient quantity.  Currently, the Israeli authorities are allowing in the bare minimum of fuel each week. Only enough for essential services to run at minimal capacity for a short time, not knowing week by week whether they will be able to continue.

According to information from the WASH cluster group working in Gaza, 125/196 public or NGO run desalination plants are damaged.

1 7.5 litres is the minimum amount of water a person needs per day during a humanitarian emergency, according to the WHO: Water Sanitation and Health.

MSF is an international, medical, humanitarian organisation that delivers medical care to people in need, regardless of their origin, religion, or political affiliation.  MSF Australia was established in 1995 and is one of 24 international MSF sections committed to delivering medical humanitarian assistance to people in crisis. Every year more than 120 Australians and New Zealanders go on assignment with Médecins Sans Frontières  working as: doctors, midwives, psychologists, laboratory technicians, human resource/finance coordinators, pharmacists, mental health specialists and logisticians. MSF delivers medical care based on need alone and operates independently of government, religion or economic influence and irrespective of race, religion or gender. For more information visit msf.org.au