Africa

Airtel Africa delivered a strong financial performance, reporting a sharp jump in profit to about Rs 4,860 crore, underscoring sustained momentum across its key African markets. The earnings growth was driven by robust demand for data services, expanding mobile money operations, and improved operational efficiencies. Despite currency volatility and macroeconomic challenges in several regions, the company benefited from rising smartphone penetration and increased digital adoption.

SpiceJet, one of India’s prominent low-cost carriers, has announced a strategic interline partnership with Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain. The collaboration is designed to streamline passenger travel, offering seamless connectivity across destinations in India, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. The agreement will allow travelers to book multi-leg journeys on a single ticket, simplifying transfers and expanding route options.

India and Africa are on course to redefine their trade relationship, with projections indicating that bilateral trade could double by 2030. This surge is being fueled by a convergence of factors—rising African demand for Indian goods, India’s growing need for natural resources, and policy initiatives aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation. With India positioning itself as both a major consumer market and an emerging industrial hub, Africa stands to gain from increased investments in infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity.

India and Africa have achieved a significant trade milestone, with bilateral exchanges surpassing USD 100 billion, underscoring the growing strength of their economic partnership. This achievement reflects not only the deepening commercial linkages but also the strategic importance of Africa in India’s global trade map. Driven by India’s demand for natural resources and Africa’s need for investment, infrastructure, and capacity building, the trade relationship has expanded beyond commodities to include technology, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, and digital services.

The global health community is sounding the alarm after newly released data revealed that approximately 14 million children worldwide did not receive a single dose of routine vaccine in 2024. This troubling trend, described by experts as a “silent emergency,” poses a serious threat to hard-won progress against preventable diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. The majority of these children reside in low-income and conflict-affected regions, where fragile health systems and inequality continue to obstruct access to basic healthcare.