More than 71% of patients treated with Unloxcyt achieved disease control

Renthia Kaimbi The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has renewed the board of directors of the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in Maputo, Mozambique, as the region strengthens efforts to combat illegal fishing and improve fisheries management. The decision was approved on 29 May during the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers […]

The weekend begins with a highspeed autocross, HPDE, and drivers school on Saturday, followed by wheel to wheel races on Sunday and Monday. North Suburban Sports Car Club (NSSCC) presents Midwestern Council’s (MCSCC, MC) Memorial Day 2025 Salute to Speed Race Weekend! Come join us at Blackhawk Farms Raceway with DOUBLE SPRINT RACES Sunday May 25th and Monday May 26. Also this weekend: a Saturday May 24 HPDE / High-Speed Autocross event along with dinner on Saturday evening! For more information: MCSCC Salute to Speed Sprint Races # 2-3.

Renthia Kaimbi The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has renewed the board of directors of the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in Maputo, Mozambique, as the region strengthens efforts to combat illegal fishing and improve fisheries management. The decision was approved on 29 May during the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Agriculture and Food Security and Fisheries and Aquaculture in Victoria Falls. The renewal keeps Namibia’s Fisheries Observer Agency chief executive officer, Stanley Ndara, as chairperson of the MCSCC board for a second term. Other board members are Antonio Francisco Jaime of Angola, Kagisanyo Bedi of Botswana, Boy Ronald Mavuso of Eswatini, Rijasoa Fanazava of Madagascar, Simeao Lopes of Mozambique, Alban Pulaizi of Malawi as a stakeholder representative, Bokang Makututsa of Lesotho as a stakeholder representative, Sakwimba Constance Mwanza of Zambia as a finance expert, Ndapanda Kanime and a nominee from the SADC Secretariat. Ndara said the board remains committed to implementing all resolutions with accountability and transparency. He said the board’s priorities include strengthening the sustainability of the centre, reducing reliance on donor funding and building capacity through the appointment of key personnel. Ndara said the board will also focus on rolling out the Regional Register of Fishing Vessels to improve governance and safety across the region. “The MCSCC is indeed a beacon of hope for the SADC region and an active catalyst in coordinating intelligence-led information to the rest of the Member States. With continued leadership as Chairperson of the SADC MCSCC Board, the ministers have shown trust in my leadership and the rest of the Board. The region is in capable hands and Namibia should be proud of their own! We will keep stakeholders informed and hold ourselves accountable to deliver on our commitments,” said Ndara. The board renewal was carried out under Article 14 of the Charter Establishing the MCSCC. SADC said the move reflects its commitment to sustainable fisheries management and the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Ministers also approved the appointment of a candidate from Zambia as the new executive director of the centre for a four-year term. They reached an agreement on a contingency plan that would enable the appointment of a candidate from Mozambique if the Zambian nominee becomes unavailable. SADC believes the appointment will strengthen the centre’s operations and improve regional coordination. The meeting also called on member states to pay outstanding contributions and take part in programmes such as the regional register of fishing vessels. Member states were encouraged to support efforts to phase out illegal monofilament nets and other destructive fishing gear that threaten fish stocks and aquatic ecosystems. Ministers commended countries that have already signed the charter establishing the MCSCC and urged those that have not yet done so to sign it. Mozambique received recognition for signing the Host Country Agreement and registering the MCSCC as a diplomatic organisation, a step expected to support the centre’s full operation. The meeting also recognised the support of international and regional partners, including the African Development Bank, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Union, GIZ, Oceans 5, Stop Illegal Fishing, Trygg Matt Tracking, the United States Government and the World Wide Fund for Nature. SADC encouraged partners to continue supporting programmes that strengthen fisheries management and the centre’s long-term sustainability. The renewed leadership comes as illegal fishing continues to cost African countries billions of dollars in lost revenue and declining fish stocks, placing pressure on communities that depend on fisheries for food and income.

Renthia Kaimbi The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has renewed the board of directors of the Regional Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC) in Maputo, Mozambique, as the region strengthens efforts to combat illegal fishing and improve fisheries management. The decision was approved on 29 May during the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers […]

Regional experts warn that Namibia's outdated laws and weak penalties are making it harder to deter offenders in the fight against illegal fishing in the ocean. Fisheries inspectors from Walvis Bay and Lüderitz have completed a three-day training workshop aimed at tightening port controls and improving enforcement. The training, held in Walvis Bay, was led by the Southern African Development Community Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (SADC-MCSCC), together with Stop Illegal Fishing. "It's increasingly becoming important for Namibia to safeguard which vessels come into port and the risks that law enforcement officials need to assess before they provide access," said SADC-MCSCC Technical Committee Chairperson Stanley Ndara. Under international port state measures, vessels suspected of illegal activity can be denied entry, cutting off fuel, supplies, and landing opportunities. However, Dr. Ndara stressed that a major challenge is building strong court cases when it comes to illegal activities. "There is a critical outcome based on the feedback from participants, and that is the issue of gathering evidence. So we will go back to the drawing board and assess how we can roll out further training to participants on how to properly gather evidence." Another concern is outdated legislation and fines that experts say are simply too low to deter repeat offenders. Erik Per-Bergh, the Coordinator for Stop Illegal Fishing, explained that "You cannot violate the law and just pay a little bit, because then it becomes a business expense. The fines must have deterrent value. It doesn't stop people from doing it, because the fine is too small. It doesn't have any impact. So this is really important to look into." Hailing regional cooperation as a success, Dr. Ndara noted that information sharing between Southern and West African states has uncovered forged fishing documents and led to the prosecution of vessels operating illegally. "There is a monitoring, control and surveillance centre that we are setting up in Maputo. That centre will serve as a catalyst for the region. If a fishing vessel is spotted operating illegally or moving into certain waters, countries alert each other. That regional collaboration is key. MCS is quite expensive; you need to collaborate to be effective. Otherwise, you will not be able to manage it on your own." The experts stressed that a full review of fisheries legislation is now urgent, with calls for heavier fines and stricter penalties.

On December 13, 2024, the FDA approved cosibelimab-ipdl (Unloxcyt, Checkpoint Therapeutics, Inc.), a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody, for adults with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mCSCC) or locally advanced CSCC…

TOSCA demonstrated better survival and response outcomes for cemiplimab versus HST in la/mCSCC; emphasizing, the importance of this retrospective studie in the absence of standard comparative trials.