His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, has highly commended Honorable Miatta Fahnbulleh, Chairperson of the 2024 Inaugural Committee and members of the Committee for their selfless service and meticulous planning of the inaugural activities.

The President reiterated his utmost confidence in the integrity of Madam Fahnbulleh, who he considers a national icon.

The Liberian Leader expressed his satisfaction over the Fahnbulleh Committee’s handling the affairs of the inauguration  with remarkable probity and adherence to the financial guidelines in the disbursement of expenditures allocated for the inauguration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of Liberia: Executive Mansion.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill of 2023, which establishes a “two-pot” system that gives members of retirement funds access to retirement savings without having to resign or cash out entire pension funds.

The amendment law introduces a “two-pot” retirement system to address the concerns related to lack of preservation before retirement and lack of access to retirement funds by households in financial distress. 

This retirement system comprises a savings and retirement component for contributions made after 1 September 2024, while historical retirement benefits will be housed in a vested component. 

Individuals will have access to amounts in the savings component before retirement for times of financial distress, and the amounts in the retirement component are preserved until retirement.

The primary objective of the two-pot retirement system is to provide flexibility for fund members to access their retirement savings during emergencies, without necessitating resignation.

The reform introduced by the legislation strives to strike a balance between long-term security and immediate needs, recognising life’s unpredictability.

It permits fund members to access a portion of their savings during crises, such as those seen during the COVID-19 challenges.

These changes ensure the retirement system remains responsive to diverse financial needs, supporting both long-term financial security and immediate assistance during emergencies.

Traditional retirement systems primarily focus on long-term savings, often lacking the adaptability to address immediate financial crises.

President Ramaphosa said: “While we are continuing the task of growing our economy to create more opportunities for all South Africans and reduce the financial vulnerability affecting many individuals and households, the new retirement system offers protection and dignity to those who need it the most to overcome financial stress.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law legislation that ensures the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport complies with the World Anti-Doping Code which harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations with sport organisations and among public authorities globally.

President Ramaphosa has signed into law the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill which effects a number of amendments that bring South Africa in line with the World Anti-Doping Code of 2021.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) role is to promote, coordinate, and monitor the fight against drugs in sports.

The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) is a public entity under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and is defined in the amended legislation as the national anti-doping organisation.

The legislative amendment also clarifies the powers of SAIDS. The SAIDS has  major role to play in preventing the use of prohibited substances in the South African and international sporting environment that are contrary to the principles of fair play and the health and well-being of athletes

The amendments enacted by President Ramaphosa have been induced by a World Anti-Doping Agency review of relevant South African legislation in 2022.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with the Republican minority leader and ranking member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Senator Lindsey Graham. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, and Director of the General Intelligence Service, Major General Abbas Kamel.

Spokesman of the Presidency, Counselor Dr. Ahmed Fahmy, said that Senator Graham lauded Egypt’s pivotal and fundamental role in reinforcing security and stability in the region, as well as the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States. He noted that successive regional and global crises have proven the crucial need to further strengthen such strategic partnership, as it is a key pillar of regional stability. The Senator pointed out Egypt’s efforts and mediation to contain the situation in the Gaza Strip and acknowledged the burdens Egypt endure to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid into the sector.

Senator Graham was keen on getting a better understanding of the President’s vision on ways to resolve the crisis in the Gaza Strip. In this regard, President El-Sisi reiterated the vital importance of concerted international efforts to stop the war and prevent the expansion of its humanitarian and security repercussions. The President warned against the danger of the persistent and ongoing Israeli military operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, the ensuing exacerbation of the humanitarian catastrophe suffered by the people of the Strip and the war’s repercussions on regional security. President El-Sisi also affirmed the necessity for all parties to engage seriously in efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement, in a way that allows progress towards implementing the two-state solution, as it is the optimal path to ensure justice and sustainable security in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.