World
UN Calls for More Action as Child Mortality Reduces In Last 100 Years
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Nations has revealed children under-five mortality rate fell by 50 per cent since the start of the century, while mortality rates in older children and youth dropped by 36 per cent, and the stillbirth rate decreased by 35 per cent.
This, however, leaves room for more work as an estimated 5 million children died before their 5th birthday, and another 2.1 million children and youth aged between 5–24 years lost their lives in 2021, according to the latest estimates released by the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).
In a separate report also released today, the group found that 1.9 million babies were stillborn during the same period. Tragically, many of these deaths could have been prevented with equitable access and high-quality maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health care.
The reports showed some positive outcomes with a lower risk of death across all ages globally since 2000. This can be attributed to more investments in strengthening primary health systems to benefit women, children and young people.
However, gains have reduced significantly since 2010, and 54 countries will fall short of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals target for under-five mortality.
The global agency warned that if swift action is not taken to improve health services, warn the agencies, almost 59 million children and youth will die before 2030, and nearly 16 million babies will be lost to stillbirth.
The report noted that children continue to face wildly differentiating chances of survival based on where they are born, with sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia shouldering the heaviest burden, the reports show. Though sub-Saharan Africa had just 29 per cent of global live births, the region accounted for 56 per cent of all under-five deaths in 2021, and Southern Asia for 26 per cent of the total. Children born in sub-Saharan Africa are subject to the highest risk of childhood death in the world – 15 times higher than the risk for children in Europe and Northern America.
Mothers in the two regions (sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia) also endure the painful loss of babies to stillbirth at an exceptional rate, with 77 per cent of all stillbirths in 2021 occurring in both, with nearly half of all stillbirths happening in sub-Saharan Africa. This showed that the risk of a woman having a stillborn baby in sub-Saharan Africa is seven times more likely than in Europe and North America.
“Every day, far too many parents are facing the trauma of losing their children, sometimes even before their first breath,” said Vidhya Ganesh, UNICEF Director of the Division of Data Analytics, Planning and Monitoring. “Such widespread, preventable tragedy should never be accepted as inevitable. Progress is possible with stronger political will and targeted investment in equitable access to primary health care for every woman and child.”
Access to and availability of quality health care continues to be a matter of life or death for children globally. Most child deaths occur in the first five years, of which half are within the very first month of life. For these youngest babies, premature birth and complications during labour are the leading causes of death.
While COVID-19 has not directly increased childhood mortality – with children facing a lower likelihood of dying from the disease than adults – the pandemic may have increased future risks to their survival. In particular, the reports highlight concerns around disruptions to vaccination campaigns, nutrition services, and access to primary health care, which could jeopardize their health and well-being for many years to come.
In addition, the pandemic has fuelled the largest continued to backslide in vaccinations in three decades, putting the most vulnerable newborns and children at greater risk of dying from preventable diseases.
The reports also note gaps in data, which could critically undermine the impact of policies and programmes designed to improve childhood survival and well-being.
Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing at the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “Children everywhere need strong primary health care systems that meet their needs and those of their families, so that – no matter where they are born – they have the best start and hope for the future.”
“Behind these numbers are millions of children and families who are denied their basic rights to health,” said Mr Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition and Population, World Bank and Director of the Global Financing Facility.
“We need political will and leadership for sustained financing for primary health care, which is one of the best investments countries and development partners can make,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria will bear a 15 per cent tariff as President Donald Trump looks to enforce tariffs on countries trading with the United States.
President Trump has set a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all imports to the United States, as well as additional duties on certain products or countries.
The American President says tariffs will encourage US consumers to buy more American-made goods, increase the amount of tax raised and boost investment.
So, Nigerian companies that bring goods into the US have to pay the tax to the government.
However, they may pass some or all of the extra cost on to customers.
Countries and Tariffs
Here is a list of targeted tariffs he has implemented or threatened to put in place.
Afghanistan – 15 per cent
Algeria – 30 per cent
Angola – 15 per cent
Bangladesh – 20 per cent
Bolivia – 15 per cent
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 30 per cent
Botswana – 15 per cent
Brazil – 50 per cent, with lower levels for sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice
Brunei – 25 per cent
Cambodia – 19 per cent
Cameroon – 15 per cent
Canada – 10 per cent on energy products, 35 per cent for other products not covered by the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement
Chad – 15 per cent
China – 30 per cent, with additional tariffs on some products. This agreement, which was due to expire on August 12, has been extended for another 90 days through an executive order, according to a White House official.
Costa Rica – 15 per cent
Cote d’Ivoire – 15 per cent
Democratic Republic of the Congo – 15 per cent
Ecuador – 15 per cent
Equatorial Guinea – 15 per cent
European Union – 15 per cent on most goods
Falkland Islands – 10 per cent
Fiji – 15 per cent
Ghana – 15 per cent
Guyana – 15 per cent
Iceland – 15 per cent
India – 25 per cent, additional 25 per cent threatened to take effect August 28
Indonesia – 19 per cent
Iraq – 35 per cent
Israel – 15 per cent
Japan – 15 per cent
Jordan – 15 per cent
Kazakhstan – 25 per cent
Laos – 40 per cent
Lesotho – 15 per cent
Libya – 30 per cent
Liechtenstein – 15 per cent
Madagascar – 15 per cent
Malawi – 15 per cent
Malaysia – 19 per cent
Mauritius – 15 per cent
Mexico – 25 per cent for products not covered by USMCA
Moldova – 25 per cent
Mozambique – 15 per cent
Myanmar – 40 per cent
Namibia – 15 per cent
Nauru – 15 per cent
New Zealand – 15 per cent
Nicaragua – 18 per cent
Nigeria – 15 per cent
North Macedonia – 15 per cent
Norway – 15 per cent
Pakistan – 19 per cent
Papua New Guinea – 15 per cent
Philippines – 19 per cent
Serbia – 35 per cent
South Africa – 30 per cent
South Korea – 15 per cent
Sri Lanka – 20 per cent
Switzerland – 39 per cent
Syria – 41 per cent
Taiwan – 20 per cent
Thailand – 19 per cent
Trinidad and Tobago – 15 per cent
Tunisia – 25 per cent
Turkey – 15 per cent
Uganda – 15 per cent
United Kingdom – 10 per cent, with some auto and metal imports exempt from higher global rates.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Director-General (DG) of Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Emomotimi Agama, says Africa and the Middle East must tap into opportunities in digital assets, which will be worth $10 trillion by 2030.
The SEC DG said this in his acceptance speech after he was elected the Vice Chairman of the Africa/Middle East Regional Committee (AMERC) of the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO).
According to a statement, with young and tech-savvy populations, Africa and the Middle East must lead and not follow in digital assets.
He said his mandate as the Vice Chairman was to transform the capital markets into engines of inclusive growth, innovation, and shared prosperity for Africa and the Middle East.
”We must aggressively expand listings by working with African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) and SSA exchanges to harmonise standards, reduce listing costs, and create cross-border linkages.
”To boost liquidity, we will pioneer regional market-making schemes and advocate for pension fund reforms to channel domestic savings into productive investments.
“Critically, we will partner with AFMI and development institutions to de-risk infrastructure investments and attract global capital.
”However, infrastructure alone is not enough. With 70 per cent of Africa’s population under 30, we must empower youth through: Retail investor programmes to democratise market participation, Fintech sandboxes to nurture youth-led innovation and Listings of high-growth startups to create wealth and jobs,” he said.
Mr Agama said there was still a lot of work to be done despite the progress made by IOSCO, calling on members to continue to render the mutual support and cooperation of past years for the benefit of investors, markets and indeed the world economy.
He noted that the committee would continue to deepen discussions and debates to launch a “Listings Growth Initiative” for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Mr Agama will serve on the Board of IOSCO, the highest decision making organ of the global securities regulatory organisation, till 2026.
IOSCO was established in 1983 as the standard setter for the securities industry worldwide and currently has over one hundred ordinary members. It is recognised as the leading international policy forum for securities regulators. The organisation’s membership regulates more than 95 per cent of the world’s securities markets in over 100 jurisdictions.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A leading figure in the global cryptocurrency landscape, Tether, has revealed that its exposure to the United States treasuries stood at $127 billion in the second quarter of 2025 compared with about $119 held in the first quarter of this year, becoming one of the largest US debt holders.
This milestone comes at a time when US policymakers, through the GENIUS Act, have taken decisive steps to solidify the Dollar’s global leadership in digital form.
Tether’s reserves composition exemplifies how private innovation can align with public monetary goals, serving as a conduit for secure, on-chain access to US Dollar liquidity at scale.
Business Post gathered that the treasuries held by Tether comprise $105.5 billion in direct holdings and $21.3 billion owned indirectly.
In its financial figures, Tether also revealed that it issued over $13.4 billion USDT between April and June 2025, bringing the circulating supply to more than $157 billion, reflecting the growing adoption of the stablecoin and deepening the trust in Tether as the most stable, transparent, and resilient digital dollar instrument in the world.
The firm said it closed June 2025 with a net profit of about $4.9 billion, bringing the total for the first six months of the year to $5.7 billion.
Building on the strength of its equity buffer and continued profitability, Tether has reinvested a substantial portion of its recent earnings into long-term strategic initiatives.
“Q2 2025 affirms what markets have been telling us all year: trust in Tether is accelerating. With over $127 billion in US Treasury exposure, robust bitcoin and gold reserves, and over $20 billion in new USD₮ issued, we’re not just keeping pace with global demand, we’re shaping it,” the chief executive of Tether, Mr Paolo Ardoino, stated.
“As regulators formalize frameworks for digital dollars, Tether stands as a live, proven model of what stablecoin innovation can achieve: transparency, resilience, and massive global reach.
“USDT is helping billions access the stability of the US Dollar, and that mission has never been more urgent or more relevant,” Mr Ardoino added
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