The alleged head of a network of fraudsters has been charged in Germany with defrauding 105 people of around €7.6 million ($8.3 million) via call centres and fraudulent trading platforms.

The special prosecutor’s office at Bavaria’s cybercrime centre in Bamberg said on Monday that the total worldwide fraud is expected to be significantly higher, as there is a large number of unreported cases.

The Bamberg district court issued an arrest warrant for the man, 42, last year. He was arrested at Larnaca Airport in Cyprus in July and extradited to Germany in mid-August. He is now in custody.

Some accomplices have already been sentenced to prison in Bavaria and Albania.

The unnamed man is accused of being a high-ranking member of a professionally organized group of fraudsters operating from around 2016 to 2021.

The fraud network maintained several call centres abroad, including in Israel, Serbia and Albania, the prosecutors allege.

The suspect is said to have received several million euros. During the investigation, a large-scale raid was carried out three years ago in the Albanian capital of Tirana.

Source: dpa

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Ahead of the 2025 Conference of Ministers, a three-day meeting of Experts closed with the Economic Commission for Africa’s Deputy Executive Secretary (Programmes) and Chief Economist Hanan Morsy calling for African countries to make a concerted effort to shape a more prosperous future for the continent.

“We stand at a crossroads,” Morsy said, highlighting the structural challenges facing Africa, including low levels of intra-African trade, persistent infrastructure gaps, and limited industrialization. While these obstacles are significant, she argued that they are not insurmountable “because alongside these challenges lie opportunities”.

In a rapidly evolving global landscape shaped by shifting power dynamics and digital disruption, Africa must take a proactive role in shaping its future, with the African Continental Free Trade Area – AfCFTA as a critical instrument.

“It is our chance to redefine Africa’s economic standing, to amplify our voice on global issues, and to shape the rules of global trade and economic governance,” she said of the trade agreement.

To achieve sustainable economic growth, Africa also must prioritize investments in local manufacturing and regional value chains, she urged.

“We must invest in local manufacturing, create regional value chains, and process our resources right here at home – in pharmaceuticals, electric mobility, agri-business, and beyond. That’s how we create jobs. That’s how we build prosperity that lasts.”

Noting that the future of trade is digital, Morsy called for an enabling environment for digital innovation. “We must remove barriers to e-commerce, harmonize digital payment systems, and expedite the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.

Investing in digital infrastructure isn’t just smart—it’s essential,” she stressed.

She also called for efforts to close the infrastructure and connectivity gap, saying, “We know the figures. Africa faces an infrastructure financing gap of $170 billion per year. But we also know the solutions. We need to embrace innovative financing—public-private partnerships, blended finance, regional collaboration. We need roads, energy, and digital infrastructure that can connect our people and unlock our markets,”

Ms. Morsy also stressed championing digital transformation and trade facilitation, underscoring that the future of trade is digital, borderless and fast. “We must remove barriers to e-commerce, harmonize digital payment systems, and expedite the implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade.”

“Investing in digital infrastructure isn’t just smart—it’s essential. It will drive transparency, cut costs, and open new markets for African entrepreneurs,” she added.

She also underscored the need to invest in building human capital for the future of work. “

Africa’s greatest asset is not under the ground; it is not in commodities. It is our people—our youth. That means scaling up education, vocational training, and skills development, particularly in industries that will define the future: advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, fintech, and renewable energy. When we empower our young people, we empower Africa,” she added.

She concluded by calling for strengthening macroeconomic stability and governance, and said, “without strong financial systems, progress stalls. We’ve heard the calls for enhancing fiscal discipline, improving debt management, expanding access to private finance, and advancing innovative financing models—including green finance to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.”

Ms. Morsy called on Africans to also speak with one voice to reform the global financial architecture and urged countries to “confront illicit financial flows and demand fair access to global capital.”

For his part, incoming Bureau Chair Zakaria el Harmiri congratulated the delegates on their insightful deliberations and called for urgent actions to bring the ideas to fruition. 

“Given the environment of geopolitical instability and uncertainty as well as the new technologies and the challenges that are facing, we are sure that the AfCFTA will boost industrialization and ensure that we do work towards diversifying African economies,” he emphasised.

Approximately 524 delegates from 40 member states alongside key partners and organizations were in attendance.

Ahead of her remarks, the recommendations and resolutions from the three days of deliberations were presented and accepted by the delegates. Among other issues, participants called for:

Accelerating the removal of trade barriers and improving logistics to reduce costs and enhance efficiency.

Investing decisively in our industrial and digital futures while ensuring food security and resilience to climate shocks.

Building strong partnerships—within Africa and beyond—that drive growth, sustainable development, and shared prosperity and

Strengthening macroeconomic stability and unlocking financing solutions across national, regional, and international levels.

Source: ECA

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Mrs Jean Mensa, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, has called on electoral management bodies in Africa to work towards zero rejected ballots to advance democracy on the continent.

She said the high incidence of rejected ballots in Africa “is a blot on our democracy” and emphasised the need for electoral management bodies (EMB) to work to “ensure that every vote counts.”

Mrs Mensa made the call in an interview with the media at the end of the 12th General Assembly of the Association Africa Election Authorities in Accra on Friday.

The meeting crowned the Ninth Annual Continental Forum for Electoral Management Bodies, hosted by Ghana’s Electoral Commission in Accra, from March 12 to 13, 2025.

Mrs Mensa said the Forum unanimously acknowledged the worrying nature of the high incidence of rejected ballots in national elections, which had the potential to undermine the credibility of elections on the continent.

It was incumbent on electoral management bodies to deploy workable solutions to address the problem, including e-voting technologies, redesigning of ballot papers, and public education on voting procedures, she noted.

“It is important for us as election management bodies to work to ensure that every vote counts. It’s not enough just to issue papers, ballot papers, to citizens who come to the polls, but it’s important that we educate the citizens and do everything within our power to ensure that every vote counts and every vote matters,” Ghana’s Electoral Commission Chairperson said.

The Association brings together heads of election-related bodies in some 45 countries on the continent to share lessons and best practices and experiences.

At the top of the agenda for the 12th General Assembly in Accra was the election of new leaders who would lead the Association within the next two years.

The meeting also discussed the Associations new five-year strategic plan that seeks to ensure long-term sustainability and boost visibility.

Mrs Mensa said one of the major success stories of the Association was the introduction of the solidarity missions in 2023.

The missions brought together the heads of the EMBs to visit member countries undertaking their general elections.

Data from the EC shows that between 1992 and 2020, one to three per cent votes in Ghana’s national elections were rejected.

In the 2020 General Election, 2.33 per cent of ballots were rejected, and this dropped to 2.08 per cent in the 2024 election.

Source: GNA

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Thousands of industrial workers demonstrated in several German cities on Saturday, during a nationwide day of action organized by the union IG Metall.

They were calling for measures to strengthen industry and secure jobs in the face of a worsening situation in the sector and growing concern about job security among the workforce.

The union wants more investment from politicians and companies and targeted support for innovations and future technologies.

“Without industry, Germany is a poor country, and we will not allow that to happen,” said IG Metall leader Christiane Benner in a statement.

The union wants more from employers to counter a climate of cut-backs, relocations and a lack of investment.

“We can shape the future, we can create new technologies, we can create green industry. And now we want to do it!” said Benner.

It was good that the likely new German government had shown it had understood, and was looking to foster innovation and defence, she said. “But no special fund has actually been set up yet, nothing is clear yet.”

All political forces must now take responsibility to ensure that this central project does not fail, she said.

The demonstrations were accompanied by performances by well-known bands and artists, which may have played a role in boosting attendance. 

The events took place in Hanover, Stuttgart, Cologne, Frankfurt and Leipzig. IG Metall described it as the largest public action by the union in decades.

The union says more than 77,000 people took part in the rallies under the slogan “My workplace. Our industrial country. Our future!” The numbers could not be verified.

The nation’s economy has struggled to recover from the pandemic and the consequences of the Russian war in Ukraine, with the country suffering from two consecutive years of recession. The downturn is also affecting industry.

Source: dpa

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Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, on Friday hailed a cross-party agreement on a landmark infrastructure and defence package amounting to €500 billion ($545 billion).

The agreement between his conservative bloc, the Social Democrats (SPD), and the Greens sends a clear message to friends and foes around the world that in future there will be no shortage of financial resources to defend freedom and peace, Merz said in Berlin.

“Germany is back,” he said.

The package has been highly controversial, not only for its size but also for the fact that it includes a relaxation of Germany’s constitutional limits on debt.

Furthermore, Merz intends to push the vote through in the coming week, before the first session of the new lower house of parliament. National elections in February changed the balance of power in the Bundestag, but the new lawmakers will only take their seats on March 25.

In the new parliament, Merz would not have an obvious way to gather enough votes to push the package through.

He is therefore using the strength of the SPD, conservatives and Greens in the outgoing parliament to push through the constitutional changes, which require a two-thirds majority.

A vote on the package is set for Tuesday in the lower house. A two-thirds majority is also required in the upper house for the changes to be approved.

The co-leader of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil said the package was a “powerful boost for Germany.”

“It has the potential to move our country forward for the next few years, perhaps decades,” said Klingbeil, according to a statement from the SPD parliamentary group.

Greens end opposition to bill

The Greens ended their opposition to the bill on Friday with the promise of €100 billion ($109 billion) earmarked to help fight climate change, dpa learned on Friday from the parties involved in the negotiations.

Some of the money will be used to make the economy more climate friendly, the sources said.

Green parliamentary group leader Katharina Dröge said that the “€100 billion will make a difference.”

The money would be “channelled in the right direction,” she said, and would allow ministers in a future government to “do the right thing.”

Other parties have put up legal objections to the bill, however.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and The Left have launched urgent complaints against the rapid scheduling of the vote with the country’s Constitutional Court.

The court is due to deliver its verdict before the vote scheduled for Tuesday.

Merz confident of majority

Following the dramatic developments on Friday, Merz said he firmly believes that there will be the necessary majority in the Bundestag to amend the constitution.

“I assume that we will easily achieve the two-thirds majority,” the possible future chancellor said after the consultations in Berlin.

Together, the conservative bloc comprising Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) and their Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), in addition to the SPD and the Greens should have 31 more votes than required for a two-thirds majority.

“So we also have a bit of a buffer – if you like – in case of illness,” Merz said.

Easing the debt limit

The so-called “debt brake” will be relaxed by the new legislation, and not only for defence spending.

After pressure from the Greens, the borrowing limits will also be relaxed for spending on cybersecurity and civil defence as well as intelligence services and support for states attacked in violation of international law.

All expenditure that exceeds 1% of gross domestic product can be financed from loans, according to the plans – with no upper limit.

Source: dpa

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The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is set to launch a 500-bed state-of-the-art hospital in Abuja, Nigeria, which will be replicated across Africa to boost healthcare on the continent.

It is part of Afreximbank’s African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE), in conjunction with King’s College London (KCL).

It will serve as a pilot project that will eventually provide essential healthcare in Africa where only 48 per cent of people are able to access basic health services.

Africa, with a population of 1.4 billion, is home to about 17 per cent of the world’s population, with projections for this figure to double by 2050.

But with low health coverage, more than 600 million Africans are excluded from the formal healthcare system.

The continent is estimated to have less than two healthcare professionals per 1,000 people as against the World Health Organisation’s recommended ratio of at least four healthcare workers per 1,000 people. 

In essence, some 80 per cent of Africa is currently experiencing medical staff shortages, due to high rates of healthcare professionals leaving to work in other countries, with the WHO estimating that the shortfall in such workers will reach about 6.1 million by 2030.

However, Afreximbank has been at the forefront of the drive to transform Africa’s healthcare landscape by facilitating the emergence of world-class medical infrastructure across the continent. 

The 500-bed Abuja medical facility, which is scheduled to take off in June this year under the aegis of the AMCE, is expected to provide a full range of services, including diagnostics, nuclear medicine, surgery and post-surgical care.

It will operate in collaboration with King’s College Hospital, London, leveraging its diagnostic, clinical and capacity building expertise to become a world class healthcare institution.

During Africa Week organised by the African Leadership Centre (ALC) in the School of Global Affairs at KCL last week, Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, updated participants about the progress of the AMCE.

He said it would help develop Africa’s healthcare services as well as research into areas of medicine.

“With the support of King’s College London, this partnership holds the potential to transform Africa’s healthcare sector, delivering quality healthcare workers, doctors, nurses and scientists not only for Africa but for the world,” Prof. Oramah said.

“Together, we embark on a journey that not only bridges the healthcare gap but also redefines the standards of medical education in Africa.”

Prof ‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice President (International, Engagement and Service) and Co-chair of the Board of King’s Global Health Partnerships, said KCL’s relationship with Prof. Oramah was established well over 10 years ago. 

“And King’s partnership with Afreximbank, which I am certain will be one of Prof. Oramah’s lasting legacies, is an illustration of King’s vision to make the world a better place,” she said.

“Since our foundation, King’s has been deeply committed to serving the needs of society.

“Our expertise is a force for good.

“We have a long tradition of active engagement with the world and its most challenging problems, above and beyond what might be expected of a university.

“This commitment to service is embedded in our teaching, research and operations,” Prof. Olonisakin added.

Touching on the development of the AMCE, she explained: “In 2023 we had a scoping study, which explored opportunities for a long-term partnership between King’s and Afreximbank in parallel with the Abuja project with King’s College Hospital.

“Afreximbank had commissioned King’s College London to undertake a scoping study for the development of a new medical school, nursing school and research centre in Abuja, Nigeria. 

“Afreximbank’s goal is to address the lack of high-quality healthcare in Africa using an integrated approach to healthcare education, research and training,” Prof. Olonisakin added.

By delivering world-class, lifesaving care to over 350,000 patients within its first five years, the Abuja AMCE facility will ensure that quality healthcare is no longer a privilege reserved for those who can afford to travel overseas, according to Prof. Oramah.

“It will create 3,000 jobs, stimulate intra-African trade in medical services and strengthen critical supply chains in pharmaceuticals and healthcare delivery.

“Most importantly, it will help Nigeria retain the over $1.1 billion lost annually to outbound medical tourism, redirecting those resources towards strengthening our own systems,” he added.

Source: GNA

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Rheinmetall, Germany’s largest defence contractor, plans to continue expanding its workforce as major military orders continue to pour in from Germany and other countries looking to rebuild their armed forces.

Rheinmetall currently employs around 32,000 people, and chief executive Armin Papperger said on Wednesday that he plans to grow to more than 40,000 workers within the next two years.

Rheinmetall’s business has been booming, the order books are fuller than ever before. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, alarmed European countries and drove a wave of military spending.

More recently, US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has prompted European NATO countries to question whether the United States remains a reliable ally and contemplate dramatic new investments in their own security.

Rheinmetall on Wednesday reported record profits from 2024, and forecast continued strong growth in the coming year as military forces around the world seek the infantry fighting vehicles, light tanks, artillery, air defence systems and ammunition that the Dusseldorf-based company produces.

Sales rose to around €9.8 billion ($10.7 billion) last year, 36% higher than in 2023, Rheinmetall announced.

While the military business is picking up strongly, Rheinmetall’s other business as an automotive supplier has been weakening as Germany’s carmakers struggle with difficult market conditions.

That’s prompted Rheinmetall to consider converting some of its auto parts plants to produce military hardware as well.

“We are of the opinion that automotive suppliers hardly have any growth opportunities left in Germany,” Papperger said on Wednesday while presenting the company’s 2024 financial results. “We want to try to convert individual plants and produce defence in these plants.”

Plants in the German cities of Neuss and Berlin would become “hybrid plants,” where production would take place for both civilian and military customers, he said.

Given the industry downturn, “basically, we would have to lay off people in the automotive sector – but we don’t want to do that,” Papperger said.

The majority of Rheinmetall employees will work in the defence sector in the future, he said. “It is quite possible that we will convert even more plants.”

The company now generates 80% of its consolidated sales with military goods.

Profits up, order books full

Rheinmetall’s business became more profitable in 2024 and the operating result soared by 61% to around €1.5 billion, the highest figure in the company’s history.

The company also has record numbers of pending orders from militaries around the world in its backlog, valued at a total of €55 billion, 44% higher than a year earlier.

The size of Rheinmetall’s order backlog, outstanding framework supply deals and scheduled deliveries has more than doubled since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

At the end of 2021, just before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rheinmetall reported an order backlog of €24.5 billion.

“An era of rearmament has begun in Europe that will demand a lot from all of us,” Papperger said.

Bright future for weapons

The military build-up will bring Rheinmetall unprecedented growth prospects for the coming years, the executive said.

For 2025, the Rheinmetall’s executive board expects sales growth of 25% to 30% and a further increase in business profitability.

The company points out that the forecast does not yet take into account “the improvement in market potential” that is likely to result from the developments of recent weeks.

Business seems likely to pick up even more than previously assumed given recent talk about increasing defence spending in Brussels and Berlin.

For this reason, the company said that it would “make adjustments to the forecast if necessary” as the year progresses.

According to the company, Rheinmetall had 27,244 employees last year, 649 more than in 2023.

Source: dpa

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The regional commissions of the United Nations convened a high-level interactive dialogue at the United Nations Headquarters to present the outcomes of the regional Beijing+30 reviews and outline next steps to accelerate gender equality.

Held during the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the dialogue underscored both progress and persistent challenges in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action.

In his address, Mr. Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), reaffirmed Africa’s commitment to gender equality, stressing the urgency of removing structural barriers to women’s empowerment.

“While Africa has made significant strides in education, political representation, and women’s involvement in peace and security, deep-rooted inequalities persist. Women’s economic exclusion, the gender digital divide, and the impact of debt burdens on gender-responsive investments must be addressed with urgency,” he stated.

He also highlighted ECA’s four strategic priorities to accelerate progress:

1. Legal and policy reforms – Strengthening enforcement of gender laws, aligning national frameworks with the Maputo Protocol, CEDAW, and ILO conventions.
2. Gender data and accountability – Expanding initiatives like the Africa Programme on Gender Statistics to enhance data-driven policymaking.
3. Debt relief and financing for gender equality – Advocating for reduced debt servicing to free resources for gender-responsive investments.
4. Women’s economic resilience and climate justice – Advancing financial inclusion, gender-responsive budgeting, and equitable access to capital, land, and markets while strengthening women’s leadership in climate action and sustainable development.

The dialogue reinforced the need for multi-stakeholder partnerships involving governments, civil society, the private sector, and development partners to drive gender equality efforts. The Chair’s summary will contribute to the 2025 global review of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, guiding future policy action.

Source: ECA

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All flights to and from Hamburg Airport have been cancelled in response to a pay strike after services trade union verdi brought the action forward by a day without prior notice, an airport spokeswoman announced on Sunday.

All flights to and from Hamburg Airport have been cancelled in response to a pay strike after services trade union verdi brought the action forward by a day without prior notice, an airport spokeswoman announced on Sunday.

“The airport has been closed for this reason with immediate effect,” she said. Of 144 scheduled arrivals and 139 departures on Sunday, only 10 flights had taken place in the early morning, she said.

The strike called by the verdi trade union was originally to have begun with the night shift on Sunday evening and to last up to the end of the late shift on Monday.

Verdi has called its members out on Monday at 13 German airports ahead of the next round of negotiations with federal and regional employers scheduled for mid-March.

Only Hamburg was affected on Sunday. A verdi spokesman said the unannounced strike there was necessary to “to ensure that the effects” of the walk-offs are really felt.

He accused the airport of using strike-breakers to mitigate the effects when strikes were announced in advance, as they were this time. Verdi was aware of the effects on travellers, but employers had now to make an offer, the spokesman said.

Source: dpa

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The Chinese Government has intensified its efforts to collaborate with global leaders to advance a stable and orderly multipolar world.  

 Mr. Wang Yi, China’s Foreign Minister, stated that promoting mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation was essential for the world to overcome emerging geopolitical conflicts.   

He noted that the growing global political and socio-economic challenges must be addressed jointly for the benefit of humanity, while speaking at a news conference on China’s foreign policy and diplomatic relations in Beijing.  

The event took place during the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress, an important occasion to evaluate the country’s development agenda and outline future policies.  

Faced with a complex and volatile international environment, the People’s Republic of China reiterated its commitment to a world that embraces peace, stability, and progress.   

The country expressed its willingness to foster cooperation between nations, particularly within the framework of global treaties.  

“China surely will move steadily on its path and work on building its circle of friends, working together to meet challenges posed by uncertainties,” Mr. Wang assured.  

 Amid rising global conflicts and regional tensions, which have reached their highest levels since the Second World War, the United Nations (UN) has expressed concern over the grave threats to humanity’s existence, as highlighted by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.   

The UN has warned that world peace is now under serious threat, with people’s sense of safety and security at an all-time low in nearly every country.   

It is estimated that around two billion people, a quarter of humanity, are living in areas affected by conflicts.  

Mr. Wang assured that the Chinese people remained steadfast in their commitment to advancing a community of shared future for mankind.  

Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has sought to strengthen cooperation, aiming to safeguard world peace and stability while pursuing its own development goals.  

Mr. Wang emphasized the importance of global leaders working together to overcome confrontation, stressing that the Cold War should not be allowed to resurface.  

The conference also addressed major global issues, including China’s pursuit of an equal, orderly multipolar world, Sino-US relations, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the One-China principle, Sino-Africa relations, China’s visa-free policy for selected European countries, and China-Russia relations.  

Source: GNA  

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