Fertility in England and Wales Hits Record Low Amid Rising Maternal Age and Population Shifts

The fertility rate in England and Wales has fallen to a record low, underscoring growing demographic concerns despite a slight rise in the number of births. According to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the total fertility rate—the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime—stood at 1.41…

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Mayor Appoints Top Economist to Maximise £2.4bn West Midlands Investment Programme

The West Midlands Mayor, Richard Parker, has appointed renowned economist Bridget Rosewell CBE to provide independent advice on aligning the region’s capital investments with his recently launched Growth Plan. The appointment aims to ensure that the region’s £2.4 billion Transport for City Regions fund and wider investment programme deliver maximum economic benefit while attracting additional…

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Mayor’s £300,000 Market Fund Aims to Revitalise High Streets and Reignite Community Spirit

On a brisk morning in Wolverhampton, Mayor Richard Parker walked through the city’s historic market, where traders were already busy setting up their stalls—arranging fruit and vegetables, displaying shoes, jewellery, and fabrics, and calling out to familiar customers. It was here, against the backdrop of centuries of tradition, that the Mayor announced a £300,000 support…

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Zambia’s Agribusiness Giant Powering Food Security and Rural Transformation.

In Zambia’s Copperbelt Province, a once-fallow wheat field now ripples golden under the midday sun. Workers load sacks of grain onto transport trucks, part of a vast supply chain that stretches across the country. For field supervisor James Mwape, the change has been personal: “I used to work seasonal jobs,” he says. “Now, with Zambeef,…

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Notting Hill Carnival Kicks Off in West London with Family Fun, Feathers, Beats, and Colour

The streets of west London erupted in colour and sound on Sunday as the Notting Hill Carnival kicked off, bringing Europe’s biggest street party to life with dazzling costumes, music, and dancing. Families flocked to the iconic festival for Children’s Day, filling the neighbourhood with laughter, paint, and infectious energy. The day began at 06:00…

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Kenya Looks to Japan and China for Low-Cost Financing Amid Fiscal Pressures

Kenya is increasingly turning to Asia for financing solutions as it faces mounting fiscal constraints, tapping into both Japan’s “samurai” bonds and China’s “panda” bonds to secure low-cost capital for development projects. The East African nation hopes that these innovative debt instruments will provide a lifeline while diversifying its sources of funding beyond traditional Western…

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Mozambique Sets September Restart for TotalEnergies LNG Project, Eyes Global Gas Leadership.

Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi has announced that the long-stalled liquefied natural gas (LNG) project led by France’s TotalEnergies will resume operations by September this year, marking a major milestone in the country’s ambition to become a global energy hub. Speaking at a business forum in Maputo, Nyusi confirmed that conditions had improved in the northern…

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Japan and Africa Forge Path for Fair Mineral Partnerships and Sustainable Development

Japan is deepening its engagement with African nations in the race to secure critical minerals, with both sides pledging to balance stability of supply with responsible development practices. The move comes as global competition for resources such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earths intensifies, driven by demand for electric vehicles, batteries, and clean energy technologies….

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