Sputnik international news agency and radio held its first online SputnikPro session for the School of Journalism and Communication at Addis Ababa University, the oldest institution of higher education in Ethiopia.

During the event Vasily Pushkov, Director of International Cooperation at Sputnik, delivered a lecture on the current state of global communications and the key principles of work of an international multimedia outlet. Victoria Budanova, Head of Sputnik Africa, showcased the agency’s cutting-edge AI initiatives, including its multilingual virtual news anchors.

Dr. Elias Worku Wordofa, Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, remarked: “It was an eye opening and insightful lecture from both presenters. Such interventions have the opportunity to balance the dominant narratives in place for so long. We believe that media and information literacy are critical to all community including students and academic community.”

The event was held as part of a lecture series for Russian and international universities titled “The Global Majority and the Challenges of Neocolonialism”, supported by the Gorchakov Fund for Public Diplomacy and the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Center for Humanitarian and Educational Initiatives.”

Instant payment systems and building digital inclusivity in Africa has cost and efficiency benefits but many issues still need to be tackled to build trust among consumers, speakers said at a panel discussion held during the 2025 Conference of African Finance Ministers.

“Cross-border payment systems can be a game-changer in advancing the AfCFTA. They accelerate the time and reduce the cost of doing a transaction and address perennial foreign exchange constraints,” said Hanan Morsey, Deputy Executive Secretary (Programmes) and Chief Economist, ECA.

But many issues need to be addressed on this journey, she said. These include putting in place supportive regulations, looking at issues of digital infrastructure and interoperability and ensuring data privacy and safeguarding information.

“This goes beyond the central bank of one country and to how we can have that oversight at a continental level.”

“We also need to look at digital public infrastructure and see what we need from a cross-border perspective, and how to bring down costs of the internet to improve access.”

Somalia has formally acceded to the Establishment Agreement of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), becoming the 53rd African member state of the African multilateral financial institution and bringing the Bank closer to its goal of broadening its product offerings to all parts of the continent.  

In the instrument of accession signed by Hon. Hirsi Jama Gani, State Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, Somalia notified Afreximbank that Somalia “accepts, and hereby accedes, to the Agreement for the Establishment of the Bank” and pledged to undertake all necessary steps to expedite ratification of the Agreement. 

Somalia’s membership of Afreximbank is a significant milestone that places the country on a path of sustainable economic transformation, upgrading of the country’s trade and industrial infrastructure, and most importantly joins the rest of the continent in the push towards continental integration and self-reliance through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

Expressing deep satisfaction at Somalia’s decision to accede to the Agreement, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, emphasised the mutual benefits to both parties. 

This year, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is set to mobilize stakeholders in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Zimbabwe to improve urban living conditions through UN-Habitat’s Quality of Life Initiative.

As African cities grow rapidly, ensuring that urbanization leads to better living standards remains a pressing challenge. The Quality of Life Initiative equips local authorities with the data and insights they need to ensure that urban expansion benefits every resident.

Central to the Initiative is the Quality of Life Index, which gives local authorities a pulse-check of urban life across nine critical domains, including access to basic services, housing and economic opportunities. 

What sets the Index apart is its adaptability. It combines global benchmarks from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with local priorities identified by city stakeholders, enabling each municipality to develop a bespoke index that reflects its unique context, values and priorities. This evidence-based approach enables local authorities to make targeted decisions and measure their precise impact.