World

The ONE Campaign recently celebrated its 20th anniversary with a prominent event titled “Africa at the Forefront of Global Financing Solutions.

The gathering was a melting pot of global leaders who engaged in critical discussions about pressing issues such as climate change, conflict, debt, and health, emphasizing Africa’s role as a co-creator of solutions in the international arena.

As the recent United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) ignited vital conversations around global cooperation, all eyes are on South Africa, which is set to host the G20 Summit in 2025.

Central to these discussions is the urgent need to amplify African agency in tackling worldwide challenges. A diverse lineup of speakers underscored a collective call for collaboration, with a focus on prioritizing African perspectives and integrating them into global decision-making processes.

Deborah Roberts of ABC News kicked off the event, reflecting on ONE’s substantial impact over the last two decades, which includes mobilizing $1 trillion for development finance and facilitating 25 million actions towards sustainable development.

Jamie Drummond, co-founder of ONE, and Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of ONE, articulated the organization’s mission while advocating for a shift in how Africa is viewed—as a strategic partner rather than a passive participant in global affairs.

A panel featuring key figures such as Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Africa Bureau; Alexia Latortue, Assistant Secretary for International Trade and Development at the US Treasury; and Serah Makka, Africa Executive Director for the ONE Campaign, delved into the critical necessity for African-driven solutions to global challenges.

The discussion emphasized that prioritizing African agency must be the backbone of initiatives, influencing actions and methodologies to ensure that African interests remain at the forefront of advocacy efforts.

CNN’s Larry Madowo moderated a lively debate addressing the future of financing, asking whether we have reached the end of the “Golden Era” of replenishments.

Bright Simons, Founder and President of mPedigree, stressed the importance of innovative solutions to address the alarming 175 billion gap in health financing, calling for radical approaches to adapt to shifting economic landscapes.

$Conversely,JennyOttenhoff,ONE’sSeniorPolicy\; DirectorforGlobalHealth,assertedthat\; with$80 billion mobilized for global health since 2015, we are still in a golden era, and we must collectively work to maintain it.

In a thought-provoking segment, Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa CDC, Nisha Biswal, Deputy CEO of the Development Finance Corporation, and Jean-Paul Adam from the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa discussed how to translate the insights from debates into actionable solutions for world leaders. They stressed the necessity of aligning global health strategies with Africa’s unique needs to foster a more inclusive dialogue.

As the event drew to a close, ONE’s Youth Ambassador, Anoushka Sinha, inspired participants with a powerful call to unity, advocating for collective action to forge a more equitable and just world.

Looking ahead, the insights and discussions from this milestone event must catalyze actionable strategies that empower African nations and communities, paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable global landscape.

As the world stands on the brink of transformative change, one thing is clear: African voices must be integral to defining global solutions.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has been killed in Tehran, sparking outrage and threats of retaliation from the Palestinian group.

The assassination, confirmed by both Hamas and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, has been blamed on Israel, with officials in Tel Aviv celebrating the death.

The incident has raised fears of a significant escalation in the conflict, with Hamas vowing to continue its fight and Iran pledging to defend its territory.

The assassination of Haniyeh marks a significant development in the already volatile region, raising concerns of wider conflict and increasing the stakes for all sides involved.

Ismail Haniyeh, elected head of Hamas’s political bureau in 2017 and designated a terrorist by the US Department of State in 2018, has died in Tehran. He has resided in Qatar for the past several years.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) offered condolences, stating that they are investigating “the cause and dimensions of the incident” and will release the findings at a later time.

Troubled office-sharing firm WeWork may file for bankruptcy as early as next week, according to US media reports.

WeWork declined to comment when contacted by the BBC.

Earlier on Tuesday, the company told the US financial regulator it had agreed with creditors to temporarily postpone payments for some of its debt.

The firm, which as a private business was once valued at $47bn (£38.7bn), has lost almost 98% of its stock market valuation in the last year.

WeWork is considering filing for bankruptcy in New Jersey, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the story.

The Reuters news agency also reported the story, citing a source familiar with the matter.

In response to the reports a WeWork spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation.”

WeWork shares fell by more than 40% in after-hours in New York trading on Tuesday.

The New York-based firm has been struggling since its initial attempt to sell shares on the stock market collapsed in 2019 due to concerns about its debts, losses and management.

A week before the company confirmed that its share sale had been scrapped founder Adam Neumann stepped down as chief executive.

Scrutiny of his leadership had “become a significant distraction,” the firm said.

The company was also hit hard by the pandemic as social distancing rules drove people to work from home.

WeWork finally listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 with a much lower valuation.

The Japanese conglomerate SoftBank has pumped tens of billions of dollars into WeWork as it continued to lose money.

In August, WeWork raised “substantial doubt” about its ability to continue operations.

At the time, the company said in a statement that it faced challenges including softer demand and a “difficult” operating environment.

It has also seen the exit of several top executives this year, including chief executive and chairman Sandeep Mathrani.

As of the end of June WeWork had 777 locations in 39 countries around the world, according to the company.