Latest news with #Surveillance
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
ECB Wants to Be Neutral at This Stage: Kumra
TD Securities European and UK Rates Senior Strategist Pooja Kumra discusses the impact of Chinese overcapacity, tariffs and strong Euro on the ECB's outlook. She speaks to Bloomberg's Jonathan Ferro and Lisa Abramowicz on 'Surveillance.' (Source: Bloomberg)
Mail & Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Aid cuts, including by UK, undermine progress on fight against superbugs
Antimicrobial resistance silent pandemic that already claims more than 1.3 million lives every year. File photo A recent global economic model warns that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) may cost the world economy up to This escalating threat coincides with a decline in international support for AMR surveillance. The Low- and middle-income countries, including South Africa, are likely to bear the heaviest burden because of under-resourced health systems, limited surveillance capacity and growing barriers to effective treatments. AMR arises when microorganisms evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics intended to eliminate them. As resistance spreads, infections that were once easily treatable become increasingly difficult, and sometimes impossible, to cure. This silent pandemic is already responsible for more than By 2050, resistant infections could reduce global GDP by up to 3.1% and push millions into poverty as a result of the cost of prolonged illness and ineffective treatment. Health systems, especially in countries already facing a high burden of disease, are at risk of being overwhelmed. The But Experts caution that even partial reductions in funding may accelerate the spread of AMR in high-risk regions. Such cutbacks can delay the detection of resistant pathogens, disrupt surveillance efforts and weaken public health responses. The consequences are clear: more infections, higher mortality rates and mounting pressure on already overstretched health systems. AMR does not respect borders. Resistant bacteria can emerge in one location and spread globally through travel, trade and migration. Inadequate surveillance in one part of the world increases vulnerability everywhere. Many low- and medium-income countries face compounded problems: limited access to diagnostics, overuse or misuse of antibiotics in both clinical and agricultural settings, as well as underinvestment in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. Surveillance programmes supported by international aid help fill these gaps by enabling early detection and informed response. Cutting funding now undermines global preparedness just as AMR risks are accelerating. While AMR is a long-term challenge, the window for effective action is narrowing. Delaying investment now will probably increase the cost and complexity of response in the future. According to recent economic analyses, every dollar spent on AMR containment today could save up to $20 in future health and productivity costs. Continued investment in surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce training and antimicrobial stewardship is essential for all countries and for global health security. Multilateral partnerships, sustained funding, and equitable access to innovation are critical pillars of any effective AMR strategy. What can be done? Given the recent decline in global funding, it is essential to explore alternative strategies to sustain and strengthen AMR efforts. Reinforce multilateral funding: Donor countries should explore shared funding mechanisms to sustain critical AMR programmes beyond bilateral commitments. Strengthen regional cooperation: Regional AMR surveillance networks can improve resilience and facilitate data-sharing, even in the face of international funding cuts. Mobilise domestic resources: Prioritise public health investment in laboratory systems, data infrastructure, and training to reduce reliance on fluctuating aid flows. Promote responsible antimicrobial use: Stewardship programmes in human and veterinary medicine are essential to slow the development of resistance. Invest in research and equitable access: Support for the development and fair distribution of new antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics must remain a global priority. AMR is one of the most urgent and complex public health issues of our time. Progress made in the past decade, through global collaboration, investment and capacity-building now stands at risk. At the very moment when stronger action is needed, international funding is contracting. The decisions made now will shape the trajectory of AMR for decades. Reducing support is not just a financial recalibration; it is a choice that may have irreversible consequences for millions of people worldwide. The global community must act decisively to protect hard-won gains, support countries most at risk and uphold the shared responsibility of safeguarding the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. Dr Jose L Balcazar is a senior microbiologist at the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA), Spain.
Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Bessent hails Japan's financing pitch as EU readies 100 billion euro plan to match Trump's 30% tariff
[BRUSSELS] US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stopped short of saying the European Union can win the same sort of trade deal as Japan cut with Trump, highlighting that Tokyo's success came thanks to an innovative financing arrangement. 'They got the 15 per cent rate because they were willing to provide this innovative financing mechanism,' Bessent said in an interview on Bloomberg Television's Surveillance programme on Wednesday (Jul 23), when asked whether other trading partners could get a similar reciprocal levy. While Japan was previously facing a 25 per cent tariff, its negotiators reached an agreement for a 15 per cent rate, including on imports of automobiles – which are otherwise subject to a 25 per cent product-related duty. The deal also features a US$550 billion fund to make investments into the US. 'They came to us with the idea of a Japan-US partnership, where they are going to provide equity, credit guarantees and funding for major projects in the US,' Bessent said. He also said that the foreign direct investment pledge is 'all new capital'. The EU plans to quickly hit the US with 30 per cent tariffs on some 100 billion euros (S$150 billion) worth of goods in the event of no deal, and if US President Donald Trump carries through with his threat to impose that rate on most of the bloc's exports after Aug 1. As a part of a first wave of countermeasures, the EU would combine an already approved list of tariffs on 21 billion euros worth of US goods and a previously proposed list on an additional 72 billion euros of American products into one package, a spokesperson for the European Commission said. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The US exports, which include industrial goods such as Boeing aircraft, US-made cars and bourbon whisky, would face a levy that matches Trump's 30 per cent threat, according to people familiar with the matter. The tariffs would be prepared to come into force next month – but only if there is no deal and the US implements its levies after the August deadline, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Bessent said the EU's plan is 'a negotiating tactic, and it's what I would do if I were in their place.' Asked whether Brussels had come up with anything innovative in the talks with the US, he said: 'Not yet, but again, talks are going better than they had been.' He added that there has been 'good progress' with the EU, while reiterating his assessment that the bloc has a collective action problem given its 27 member nations. By contrast, Japan – a country Bessent said he had visited 52 times since 1990 – 'moves as one entity'. Europe's trade surplus with the US also means that 'any kind of escalation in trade problems will always hit them worse'. The EU's plans come as member states, including Germany, have hardened their positions in response to the US stiffening its negotiating stance. Berlin would be willing to even support the activation of the EU's anti-coercion instrument (ACI) in a no-deal scenario, a government official said on condition of anonymity. This tool would come into play only if a deal fails to materialise. The ACI is the bloc's most potent trade tool; a growing number of member states is pushing for its use if a deal is not reached. The instrument is primarily designed as a deterrent and is currently not on the table, with its activation requiring a qualified majority of member states in support of its use. The ACI would enable the EU to launch a broad range of retaliatory actions, including new taxes on US tech giants, targeted curbs on US investments and limiting access to the EU market. 'We are now approaching the decisive phase in the tariff dispute with the USA,' said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to reporters in Berlin on Tuesday, after a meeting with his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala. 'Without such an agreement, we risk economic uncertainty at a time when we actually need exactly the opposite.' Still, the overwhelming preference is to keep negotiations with Washington on track in a bid for an outcome to the impasse ahead of next month's deadline. Speaking on talks with China, the next round of which looms Jul 28 to 29 in Stockholm, Bessent said: 'We're in a very good place with China now, and we can start moving on to bigger discussions.' He reiterated that those included Beijing's purchases of sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil along with 'a number of security things'. 'We will be talking about purchasing agreements, especially' on agriculture, he added. With the latest truce on escalatory tariffs with China set to expire Aug 12, Bessent said he thinks 'we could roll it forward, maybe in a 90-day increment'. 'Both sides have de-escalated, and I think we can get into a very good cadence of regular meetings with them.' BLOOMBERG
Zawya
7 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
Malaria Surge in Southern Africa
Malaria is on the rise in southern Africa, with several countries – including Botswana, eSwatini, Namibia and Zimbabwe – reporting new outbreaks, underscoring the ongoing challenges in eradicating the disease in Africa. Data from the Surveillance and Disease Intelligence Division of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reveals a dramatic spike in Zimbabwe, where suspected cases have increased in 2025. As of epidemiological week 23, of 2025, Zimbabwe has reported 111,998 cases and 310 deaths (case fatality rate [CFR]: 0.27%) as compared to 29,031 cases with 49 deaths (CFR: 0.17%) in the same period in 2024. 'This surge is no coincidence,' says Dr Memory Mapfumo, an epidemiologist at the Africa CDC. 'Prolonged rains have fuelled mosquito breeding, while activities like gold panning, fishing and artisanal mining are exposing more individuals to risk, especially during peak mosquito activity hours.' A contributing factor is the interconnectedness of the countries, which drives transmission. Across Zimbabwe, 115 out of 1,705 health facilities have been affected, highlighting the widespread impact of the disease on healthcare infrastructure. Since the start of 2025, Mashonaland Central Province has accounted for 32% of all malaria cases, while Manicaland reported 25% of the malaria-related deaths. The situation is worsened by the low use of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), leaving communities exposed and placing further strain on already stretched health systems. This reflects a broader challenge across southern Africa, where shifting climate patterns and expanding high-risk livelihoods are driving a growing malaria threat, necessitating quicker, more targeted and sustained responses. However, malaria is endemic across sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in regions with high temperatures and rainfall, which create ideal breeding grounds for Anopheles mosquitoes, the vector that transmits the malaria parasite. The central part of the continent – both north and south of the equator – experiences the highest malaria incidence. Other factors include the tropical climate, as well as displacement and limited access to preventive measures. Southern Africa, although comparatively less affected, remains vulnerable to the disease due to climatic conditions that favour mosquito breeding, cross-border population movements and localised outbreaks in high-risk areas. The region's malaria burden fluctuates with rainfall patterns, human activities such as mining and agriculture, and gaps in healthcare access, making sustained intervention crucial for reducing transmission. 'As climate change accelerates, we are witnessing shifts in temperature and rainfall that are expanding the range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, introducing vectors into previously unaffected regions,' said Dr Merawi Aragaw, head of Africa CDC's Surveillance and Disease Intelligence. He emphasised that this is not only a regional issue but a global challenge that calls for coordinated international efforts. 'Sustained vector control measures – including environmental management, strengthening surveillance, drug and diagnostic resistance monitoring, and fostering cross-border collaboration – will be critical in mitigating the growing threat of vector-borne diseases, especially malaria,' said Dr Merawi. The regional surge underscores a broader global trend, with malaria cases worldwide climbing to 263 million in 2023, up from 252 million the previous year, and Africa accounting for 95% of all malaria-related deaths. Despite these alarming figures, there have been significant successes: Cabo Verde was certified malaria-free in 2023, and Egypt is poised to achieve the same in 2024. Yet for many countries in southern Africa, the road to elimination remains steep, with outbreaks threatening to reverse years of progress. Take Botswana, which since epidemiological weeks 1–23 of 2025 has recorded 2,223 cases and 11 deaths, compared to 218 cases and no deaths in the same period in 2024. Okavango has been hit hardest, accounting for 69% of the cases. Since the outbreak began in November 2024, a total of 2,344 cases have been reported, with sporadic outbreaks appearing in non-endemic districts. Flooding caused by heavy rains has contributed significantly to the outbreak by creating favourable conditions for mosquito breeding. Furthermore, many local residents remain unaware of the risks, contributing to delayed responses when symptoms first appear. To counter this, Botswana's Ministry of Health has intensified case management and surveillance, launched community engagement campaigns, and distributed ITNs. However, efforts have been hindered by inadequate funding and community resistance to the interventions. Although the Kingdom of eSwatini is in the malaria elimination phase, eSwatini, too, is grappling with an upsurge in malaria cases. The Ministry of Health recently issued a press notice to draw attention to the issue. From July 2024 to March 2025, the kingdom has recorded 187 malaria cases. Children under 15 years account for 15% of the reported cases, which has led to increased school absenteeism. Twenty per cent of cases have been among farmers, especially those involved in illegal farming activities in the mountains. These farmers often work at night, guarding their crops without any protective measures, leaving them exposed to mosquito bites. The majority of cases are concentrated in the Hhohho and Lubombo regions, prompting the Ministry of Health to increase its response efforts, including indoor residual spraying (IRS) and the distribution of ITNs. Despite these interventions, eSwatini's malaria elimination programme faces significant hurdles. There are challenges in achieving complete coverage of IRS and ITN distribution, and many individuals still fail to adopt protective behaviours. Nonetheless, the government remains committed to eliminating malaria and addressing the underlying causes, such as illegal farming and inadequate community awareness. Namibia is another country witnessing a significant rise in malaria cases, with over 89,959 cases and 146 deaths reported since November 2024 from 37 of 121 districts. Of these cases, 18% (15,954 cases) are imported from neighbouring countries experiencing malaria outbreaks, and 82% are local. The hardest-hit districts in Namibia include Katima Mulilo, Nkurenkuru, Andara, Outapi and Rundu. Malaria continues to have a severe impact on children above five years and pregnant women, who represent 11% and 3% of the reported cases, respectively. Most cases reported were among males (58%). Of major significance is the interconnectedness of southern Africa, which complicates malaria control efforts, especially in border regions. In Botswana, districts bordering Namibia and Zimbabwe are particularly vulnerable to cross-border transmission, with malaria spreading easily between neighbouring countries with ongoing outbreaks. This highlights the importance of regional cooperation and cross-border surveillance in combating the disease. Efforts to enhance case management, improve surveillance and increase the use of ITNs are critical in curbing transmission in these high-risk areas. According to Africa CDC, the increase in malaria cases in the region highlights the pressing need for continued vigilance and investment in malaria control. Governments need to enhance their efforts to improve the use of ITNs, strengthen community engagement, and address the environmental and social factors driving the outbreaks, such as illegal farming and exposure to mosquito breeding grounds. Equally important is the need for a concerted effort to address delays in reporting, ensuring the timely and accurate collection of data to inform public health interventions. Yet, while the fight against malaria remains an uphill battle, the successes in Cabo Verde and Egypt offer hope that with the right strategies, the elimination of malaria in southern Africa is possible. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Forbes
17-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Trojan Horse In Your Pocket: How Everyday Tech Is Being Weaponized
Wayne Lonstein, CEO, VFT Solutions, Inc. Anti-Piracy, Social Media and Cybersecurity law and practice. From the smartphone in your hand to the car in your garage, the technology that powers your daily life may also be working against you. What was once the stuff of spy thrillers is now reality: consumer electronics—when manufactured in adversarial nations or connected to opaque systems—can become instruments of surveillance, control or even warfare. I discussed the risks of such overreliance in a 2018 Forbes article when I introduced the term "intechication." Mandated use and reliance upon technology in every aspect of our daily lives have created vulnerabilities and risks that are no longer speculative. Connected technology is embedded in your firmware, routed through your cloud services and amplified across your social feeds, residing in your appliances, phone, internet, electricity and other utility services. Of major concern is China's dominance in electronics manufacturing, which gives it gives it vast influence over the global tech supply chain. Electronic devices exported from Chinese factories have been discovered with pre-installed malware. These vulnerabilities can't be patched with a simple update; they're often baked into the hardware. According to former NSA director Mike Rogers, these threats are real and of concern: "We know that China believes there is value in placing at least some elements of our core infrastructure at risk of destruction or disruption. I think that the Chinese are, in part, hoping that the widespread use of inverters limits the options that the West has to deal with the security issue." Autonomous vehicles add a new layer of complexity. With cameras, sensors, GPS tracking and cloud integration, these rolling data centers can be monitored or disabled remotely. If components or software originate from untrusted sources, the risk extends to physical safety and national infrastructure. Even innocuous-seeming devices—smart TVs, baby monitors, fitness trackers—are potential vulnerabilities. They collect and transmit data constantly, often with minimal security or user oversight. According to Suzanne Bernstein, counsel at Electronic Privacy Information Center, "Health data collected by many wearable devices and health and wellness apps don't fall under HIPAA's umbrella." In recent conflicts, off-the-shelf drones have been repurposed for surveillance, targeting and even improvised attacks. In Ukraine, consumer drones are now part of the battlefield toolkit. And smartphones have been turned into IED triggers (registration required) for decades. These tools offer strategic advantages: They're cheap, common and difficult to trace. Legacy devices like pagers, once considered obsolete, have also been reportedly used in covert missions—the most notable of which was the apparent Israeli attack on Hezbollah, where thousands of pagers distributed by Hezbollah to its operatives in Lebanon and Syria exploded. The lesson is clear: Even low-tech tools can become high-risk in a technology-centric world. Foreign intelligence services don't need to smuggle agents into enemy territory—they just need access to the software supply chain. Malware campaigns like China's APT41 and Russia's NotPetya have shown how compromised consumer and business software can serve as vectors for espionage and sabotage. Worse still, these attacks are often undetected for months or years, lying dormant until they're activated—either during conflict or in moments of strategic tension. The threat isn't only abroad. In the U.S., law enforcement has increasingly deployed Stingray devices—tools that mimic cell towers and intercept mobile phone signals. These devices collect data indiscriminately and are often used without judicial oversight. Meanwhile, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has been stretched beyond its original intent, allowing agencies to access cloud-stored messages, documents and communications with limited transparency. In the shadowy world of covert data collection, you can end up with plenty of dolphins in tuna fishing nets. According to House of Representatives testimony of Americans for Prosperity's James Czerniawski, "The FBI used Section 702 data to conduct 200,000 warrantless searches of American citizens' communications in 2022 alone. In 2023, a FISA Court opinion revealed that the government improperly searched the 702 database 278,000 times between 2016 and 2020. It used the database to spy on people present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and to find information about Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, among other things." Artificial intelligence now governs energy grids, transportation systems and financial markets. As AI becomes more autonomous, the risks of malfunction—or manipulation—increase. A compromised or misconfigured AI system could trigger cascading failures, cut off emergency services or escalate conflict before human intervention is possible. Even more alarming is the rise of deepfakes and large language models (LLMs). AI-generated videos and audio can impersonate politicians, fabricate events and spread disinformation at scale. LLMs, if abused, can produce extremist content, guide harmful actions or generate synthetic propaganda—without accountability. Since the launch of multiple platforms in the early 21st century, social platforms are no longer just tools of expression—they're battlegrounds for influence. Russia's use of troll farms during U.S. elections and China's social media campaigns to suppress dissent are just the beginning. As we saw in the "Arab Spring," social media also enables rapid mobilization—of protests, riots and radicalization. Algorithms optimized for engagement often amplify the most divisive content, creating echo chambers where conspiracy spreads faster than truth. Additionally, as the Covid-19 pandemic revealed, social media platforms were pressured by governments and private interests to silence certain viewpoints or manipulate visibility, the digital public square becomes a tool of control. The real war of the 21st century may not be fought with bombs and bullets—it may be waged through apps, devices and AI. The Trojan horse is already here, shipped in packaging we eagerly unwrap and install in our lives. To meet this challenge, governments and companies must prioritize transparency, secure their supply chains, regulate AI responsibly and protect civil liberties in the digital age. Because in a world where every device could be a weapon, the first step to defense is knowing where the vulnerabilities lie. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
