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UK Overseas Territories Day

UK Overseas Territories Day

2/06/2025

This historic first celebration began with an Evensong service featuring special prayers for the Overseas Territories, during which Dr. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, the Cayman Islands Government Representative, delivered a reading. A reception at The Cellarium Terrace of Westminster Abbey followed the service.

UKOTA President and Cayman Islands Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly emphasised the day’s significance in celebrating diversity and fostering unity within the “Global British Family.” The initiative represents a formal recognition of the historical, cultural, and economic importance of these territories to the United Kingdom.

The event marks a new chapter in recognising the cultural contributions and unique identity of Britain’s Overseas Territories, with plans for future celebrations to include activities and events across both the territories and the United Kingdom.

Malta to formally recognise Palestine next month

Malta to formally recognise Palestine next month

2/06/2025

Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that his country will officially recognise the State of Palestine following a summit on June 20, citing moral obligations amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has claimed nearly 54,000 Palestinian lives.

The decision comes after a tragic incident in Khan Younis, where nine children of Palestinian paediatrician Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Abela offered to welcome the surviving doctor and family members to Malta. While Malta has maintained a Representative Office in the Palestinian territories since 2009, facilitating educational and cultural exchanges, this recognition marks a significant diplomatic shift. The office currently oversees scholarship programs and provides consular services to Maltese citizens.

Malta joins a growing list of nations recognising Palestinian statehood, becoming the latest of 147 UN member states to do so. Nine countries, including Ireland, Spain, and Norway, have extended recognition in 2024 alone. Notable G20 members, including Brazil, China, and Russia, have already recognised Palestine. The recognition encompasses the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as part of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Read the original article here: https://5pillarsuk.com/2025/05/28/malta-to-formally-recognise-palestine-next-month/

South Africa to host Global SME Ministerial Meeting

South Africa to host Global SME Ministerial Meeting

30/05/2025

South Africa will make history by hosting the first-ever Global Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) Ministerial Meeting in Johannesburg from July 22 to 24, Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni announced recently.

The landmark gathering aims to strengthen the voice of SMEs within the G20 framework, with South Africa pushing for a dedicated MSME Working Group. The meeting will bring together ministers and officials to address critical challenges facing small businesses globally, including access to capital and trade barriers amid growing protectionism. Ndabeni emphasised the crucial role of small businesses in the global economy, noting they constitute 90 per cent of all enterprises and provide two-thirds of worldwide employment. The meeting will focus on developing practical solutions to support the SME ecosystem and enhance their participation in global value chains.

The initiative represents a significant step toward elevating small business concerns on the international stage and fostering collaborative policy solutions for the sector’s growth.

Read the original article here: https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_6683082

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Commonwealth digital lending markets in Africa

Commonwealth digital lending markets in Africa

Please join the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce for a webinar on Commonwealth digital lending markets in Africa. The webinar will take place online via Zoom on the 4th of July at 5 pm HKT.

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