Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Minister Lamola briefs media ahead of DIRCO Budget Vote Speech

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

03 July 2025

Minister Lamola to deliver DIRCO Budget Vote Speech, which is to be preceded by a media briefing

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, will deliver the Budget Vote Speech of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) on Thursday, 03 July 2025, in Parliament, Cape Town.

Minister Lamola will use the occasion to outline South Africa’s foreign policy priorities for the financial year 2025-2026, focussing on programmes and activities aligned to the attainment of the priorities of the Seventh Administration.

Deputy Ministers Mr Alvin Botes and Ms Thandi Moraka will also deliver remarks during the debate on the Budget Vote Speech, focusing on South Africa’s relations with Europe and the Americas as well as Asia and Middle East regions, respectively.

Ahead of the Budget Vote Speech, Minister Lamola is scheduled to hold a media briefing.

The media briefing will take place as follows:

Date: Thursday, 03 July 2025
Time: 15:00
Venue: Imbizo Media Centre, Parliament, Cape Town

The DIRCO Budget Vote Speech is scheduled for 16h30, Good Hope Chamber.

Media RSVP: Mpho Rakgakole, rakgakolem@dirco.gov.za

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building
460 Soutpansberg Road
Rietondale
Pretoria
0084

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Xn4odiU2E

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DM Mhlauli visits the community of Saldanha Bay to support ongoing disaster relief efforts.

Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli visits the community of Saldanha Bay to support ongoing disaster relief efforts. In partnership with Gift of the Givers, the Deputy Minister assists in distributing essentials and warm blankets to affected residents.
The visit underscores government’s commitment to standing with communities during times of crisis and ensuring coordinated support reaches those in need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgRi36FmyuA

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Challenges and opportunities: what lies ahead for the world economy?

Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

Tariffs and geopolitical conflicts have created uncertainty around the world. But how does the new trade environment affect inflation and the economy? How can central banks adapt? And what is the potential impact on the dominance of the US dollar ?

In the third episode of our special Sintra series of the ECB Podcast, our host Paul Gordon talks to London School of Economics Professor Silvana Tenreyro.

The views expressed are those of the speakers and not necessarily those of the European Central Bank.

Published on 4 July 2025 and recorded on 1 July 2025.

In this episode:
01:30 How is the world economy doing?
What developments are having an impact on our economy today? And what uncertainties are arising from tariffs, trade fragmentation and armed conflicts in different parts of the world?

03:30 Tariffs, trade fragmentation and the economy
How can trade tariffs and fragmentation affect economic growth and inflation in the euro area and beyond?

06:25 How are prices changing?
How are prices changing in different countries? Will tariffs cause prices in the United States to rise, and those in Asia and Europe to fall? And why?

07:55 Lessons for central banks
Given the extremely high level of uncertainty, what lessons from past shocks can central banks apply in the future? Why do we need clearly defined frameworks? And what role do governments play?

09:55 How can governments prepare for potential shocks?
Investing in technologies that are difficult to substitute, diversifying energy sources and creating buffers for critical inputs – why it’s crucial that governments have a strategy to withstand various shocks.

12:05 What is a dominant currency?
When is a currency considered internationally “dominant”? And what dominant currencies have there been in the past?

13:40 Dollar dominance and monetary policy transmission
Does dollar dominance in international trade transactions reduce the effectiveness of monetary policy?

17:30 The future of dollar dominance
How will the dominance of the US dollar develop in the future? Is its role as a primary reserve currency at risk due to the Trump Administration’s policies?

19:10 What keeps you up at night?
What happens to our economy if there is a sudden shortage of a certain input? What impact will AI have if it remains largely unregulated? And what do stablecoins and digital currencies mean for our economy?

21:00 Our guest’s hot tip

Silvana shares her hot tip with our listeners.

Further readings:

Michael McLeay and Silvana Tenreyro: Dollar dominance and the transmission of monetary policy

Sintra Series episode 1/4: Price stability in times of change

Sintra Series episode 2/4: Adapting to change: Ensuring price stability in a new geopolitical era

Silvana’s hot tip: I’m still here/Ainda estou aqui

ECB Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/europeancentralbank/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1YYRg69syw

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Gaza , Palestine, Lebanon & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (3 July 2025) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
Deputy Secretary-General
Gaza 
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Lebanon
Cyprus
Ukraine
Russia
Senior Personnel Appointment  
Yemen
Global Risk Report
International Days
Financial Contribution

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
The Secretary-General will be arriving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to attend the 17th Summit of the BRICS countries.
The Secretary-General has been invited to speak at an outreach session on “Strengthening multilateralism, economic-financial affairs and artificial intelligence", that will take place on Sunday, 6 July. On Monday, 7 July, he will address a second outreach session, on "Environment, COP30 and global health.”
During his visit, the Secretary-General will also be having meetings with various leaders who are attending the BRICS Summit and we will share those readouts with you.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, returned to Seville today for the closing of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4).
At the closing with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of Spain, she underscored the consensus around the Seville Agreement as a demonstration of multilateralism in action — with actions to close the SDG financing gap, address the debt crisis, and reform the international financial architecture. She recognized the more than 100 initiatives launched on the Sevilla Platform for Action, including solidarity levies on private jets and first-class travel to generate new resources for sustainable development.
She said that the UN will be operationalizing a Seville Forum on Debt to help countries learn from one another and coordinate their approaches in debt management and restructuring; that forum will be supported by Spain.
She called for FFD4 to be remembered not only as a conference that responded to crisis, but as the moment the world chose cooperation over fragmentation, unity over division, and action over inertia.
Tomorrow, she will travel to Praia, Cabo Verde, to take part in celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence.

GAZA 
The Secretary-General is appalled by the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Multiple attacks in recent days hitting sites hosting displaced people and people trying to access food have killed and injured scores of Palestinians. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the civilian loss of life. 
In just one day this week, Israeli orders to relocate forced nearly 30,000 people to flee, yet again, with no safe place to go and clearly inadequate supplies of shelter, food, medicine or water.
International humanitarian law is unambiguous: civilians must be respected and protected, and the needs of the population must be met.
With no fuel having entered Gaza in more than 17 weeks, the Secretary-General is gravely concerned that the last lifelines for survival are being cut off. Without an urgent influx of fuel, incubators will shut down, ambulances will be unable to reach the injured and sick, and water cannot be purified. The delivery by the United Nations and partners of what little of our lifesaving humanitarian aid is left in Gaza will also grind to a halt. 
He once again calls for full, safe and sustained humanitarian access so aid can reach people who have been deprived of the basics of life for far too long. The UN has a clear and proven plan, rooted in the humanitarian principles, to get vital assistance to civilians – safely and at scale, wherever they are. 
The Secretary-General reiterates that all parties must uphold their obligations under international law. He renews his call for an immediate permanent ceasefire and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups. 

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=03%20July%202025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CJL7IZOkzs