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Why Airlines need a new approach to payment

By Nick Careen

A passenger selects a flight. The schedule works, the fare is right, they add a bag and choose a seat. But the sale is not complete until the payment works.

That final step needs to be quick, secure, and familiar. If it’s slow, confusing, or does not offer the payment option the customer wants to use, the sale is at risk.

That risk is not theoretical. IATA’s 2025 Global Passenger Survey found that 17 percent of travellers who attempted to purchase an ancillary service—an extra bag, seat assignment, or other upgrade—could not complete their purchase. Why? Because the initial payment attempt failed and no other option was available.

The implication is straightforward: payments can directly affect revenue, as well as how much airlines spend, how quickly they receive their money, and their exposure to fraud or failed transactions. In 2024, IATA and Edgar Dunn & Company estimated that airlines processed approximately USD 977 billion in payments, at a cost of USD 22.2 billion.

At this scale, payment choices need to be managed deliberately. And that starts with recognising that there is no single one-size-fits-all solution. From the customer perspective, an individual traveller might prioritise speed and simplicity of payment. On the other hand, a corporate buyer’s needs include policy compliance, approvals, reconciliation, and reporting.

Meanwhile, airlines cannot view payments solely as a cost. Passengers are using an increasingly diverse range of payment methods. While physical cards still dominate, options such as instant payment and digital wallets are growing rapidly. If an airline does not offer a passenger’s preferred payment method, it risks losing the sale.

This growing choice also creates greater complexity. Without effective payment orchestration, matching the right payment method to each customer, sales channel and transaction, settlement costs and delays can increase. To help airlines manage this complexity, IATA supports the industry through the IATA Financial Gateway (IFG) and IATA Pay.

Pleasing all customer segments while maintaining control over cost, fraud risk, settlement timing, refunds, chargebacks, and cash flow is no small challenge. The answer is often different depending on whether you work in commercial, finance, treasury, distribution, digital, risk, or technology functions.

The Airline payment framework

IATA has developed the new Airline Payment Framework – Management Foundation to help management teams look at payment options. Cost remains an important consideration. But the framework broadens the discussion by helping management teams evaluate what payment options enable, and the trade-offs that come with them.

The framework helps airlines look at payments holistically, enabling airlines to make decisions with the same rigor applied to other strategic areas and to track performance over time. Essentially the framework is a common lens through which commercial, finance, treasury, digital, and technology teams can efficiently evaluate payment options together. This avoids fragmented decisions that may serve one purpose but compromise others.

Adopting this disciplined approach does not require major transformation. The payments framework makes ownership clearer, improves visibility of key issues, and facilitates more structured conversations across the business. Elevating payments strategy to this level of rigorous consideration alone will bring benefits across the business.

Publishing the framework now is timely. As the move toward Modern Airline Retailing accelerates, managing payment effectively will become more important. More dynamic offers, richer service offerings, and more personalised customer journeys will require management teams to make decisions on payment options.

In the world of modern airline retailing, payment is no longer a back-office function. It is a strategic capability that influences whether a sale succeeds, how customers experience the airline, and how effectively revenue is converted into cash.

Airlines that recognise the business impact of these decisions will be positioned strongly to compete and grow in the era of Modern Airline Retailing.

  • Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety & Security

Accelerating the energy transition in ports

    • UNCTAD is supporting port professionals through new training focused on practical solutions for cleaner and more efficient port operations.

GENEVA, Switzerland – Ports under growing pressure to adapt to the energy transition, as cleaner shipping, new fuels and changing regulations reshape maritime trade.

The maritime sector accounts for about 2 percent of global energy consumption, with almost all ship fuel still coming from fossil sources. Port operations produce a smaller share of emissions but play a critical role in enabling cleaner shipping.

For UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the transition is not only an environmental priority. It also brings economic, health and social benefits – helping ports secure a more competitive and sustainable future while strengthening their role as engines of global trade.

Training future-ready port communities

UNCTAD’s TrainForTrade programme has introduced a new online course on Energy Transition in Ports (ETP). The course covers methodologies, technologies, case studies and best practices to help port communities develop lower-emission operations.

The first edition of the ETP course, delivered in Spanish between April and June 2026, brought together 544 participants from 31 countries, with women representing 47 percent of the cohort.

“This training shows that sustainability should not be seen only as an environmental obligation, but as a core element of planning, governance and decision-making in ports,” said Sandra Asanza, a participant from Ecuador.

She said the course helped participants focus on practical steps, from measuring emissions to identifying energy-efficiency opportunities and improving coordination across port communities.

From training to action

UNCTAD will build on the course with a workshop in Argentina in October 2026, where selected participants will present concrete solutions and share best practices for advancing the energy transition in their ports.

The initiative is part of TrainForTrade’s longstanding Port Management Programme, which has trained more than 13,500 port professionals across 183 countries and territories since 1996.

The programme supports port communities in improving efficiency, boosting trade flows, enhancing resilience and advancing sustainable development.

Jamaica urges young farmers to embrace AI and Technology

By Vanessa James

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, Floyd Green is encouraging the youth in agriculture to utilise advancements in technology including artificial intelligence (AI) to be more efficient, productive and get better returns on their investments. The minister noted that while technological advancements do pose threats to certain jobs, food production will always require the human element.

“One of the messages that our youth must understand, as the world advances, as we look at things like artificial intelligence, as we think about the jobs that are under threat, no matter what happens in this world, we will have to eat. Even if you’re writing the programme for AI, you will have to eat. So, AI will never replace our farmers and food production,” the minister said,  speaking at the Jamaica 4-H Clubs Youth In Agriculture Village on Saturday (August 1), during the 72nd staging of the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon held under the theme ‘Growing Forward: Cultivating a Path to a Better Jamaica’.

The village serves as a strategic pipeline to guide youth toward profitable agricultural enterprises.

Minister Green emphasised that the ministry is actively working to remove barriers that often prevent young people from getting involved in agriculture. He highlighted the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) which is an entrepreneurial training platform organised by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs in partnership with Heart/NSTA Trust.

“Why RYEEP is working is because it takes a practical approach. It takes you where you are, it provides you with practical training, and it provides you with grant support so you can expand,” minister Green said.

Additional support provided by the Ministry is reserving land in agro-parks for young people and assisting with land preparation and agricultural inputs.

“Last year, we reserved 25 percent of our land [in agro-parks] for young people. I’m pleased to announce that we have passed that mark and last year, of all the land in the agro-park that we leased, 34 per cent of it went to youth in agriculture,” the minister announced.

A major highlight was the Youth Agritech Challenge, an initiative designed to encourage young Jamaicans to become creators, and not just consumers of agricultural technology.

The competition focused this year on climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, water management and food security. Following presentations to a panel of judges, six finalists were shortlisted to compete for a share of the $1 million cash prize.

Abena Corniffe secured the top spot, taking home $500,000, while the second and third-place winners received $300,000 and $200,000, respectively.

“We’re not trying to get our young people to just be users of the technology that already exists. We want our youth to create fit-for-purpose technology for agriculture in Jamaica. We know we have the capacity here, and we’re going to continue to incentivise our youth to get it done,” minister Green declared.

Touring the Youth in Agriculture Village, minister Green highlighted the collaborative effort of stakeholders including the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), HEART/NSTA Trust, the Northern Caribbean University (NCU), and Knockalva Polytechnic College.

Oman plans major expansion of certified organic farming to strengthen food security

OMAN, (TV BRICS) – Organic farmland is set to grow more than tenfold as the Sultanate increases investment in sustainable agriculture and domestic food production

Oman is preparing a major expansion of its certified organic farming sector, with plans to increase cultivated land from 4 hectares to more than 40 hectares as part of wider efforts to strengthen food security and promote sustainable agricultural development, as reported by Al Shabiba, a partner of TV BRICS.

The expansion will significantly increase domestic production of certified organic crops, helping to meet growing consumer demand for high-quality locally produced food while supporting the country’s long-term sustainability objectives.

The farm, currently the only internationally certified organic agricultural operation in Oman, cultivates more than 40 varieties of organic crops. Its produce supplies the hospitality and retail sectors while also reaching consumers through direct sales.

Authorities say the initiative is designed to encourage innovative agricultural projects capable of expanding both domestically and across regional markets. The investment also reflects Oman’s broader strategy to develop resilient food production systems based on sustainable farming practices and higher-value agricultural output.

Increasing organic cultivation is expected to strengthen local food supplies, reduce reliance on imported produce and encourage wider adoption of environmentally responsible farming methods. The project also supports efficient use of natural resources.

As Oman continues to invest in modern agricultural technologies and sustainable production, the planned expansion is expected to reinforce the country’s position as a growing regional hub for certified organic farming and environmentally responsible food production.

Amazon emerges as Brazil’s main hub for strategic mineral mining applications

BRAZIL, (TV BRICS) – New assessment highlights major potential for critical minerals while emphasising sustainable development and environmental governance

Brazil’s Legal Amazon accounts for 48.2 percent of all mining applications related to strategic and critical minerals nationwide, underlining the region’s growing importance for future supplies of resources essential to advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and emerging technologies, per Brasil 247, a partner of TV BRICS.

A new assessment by Brazil’s National Mining Agency identifies the Legal Amazon as one of the country’s most promising regions for the development of critical mineral resources, including copper, nickel, potash, cobalt and rare earth elements. The findings are expected to support the development of a national strategy for critical minerals.

Mining activity in the region is currently dominated by iron ore, bauxite, copper and gold, while production of several high-demand strategic minerals remains at an early stage despite substantial geological potential.

Critical minerals such as cobalt, potash and rare earth elements are increasingly important for the production of batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronic devices and other technologies supporting the global energy transition.

According to the source, future mineral development should be accompanied by robust environmental governance and transparent planning.

Researchers conclude that expanding geological knowledge, strengthening infrastructure and maintaining high environmental standards could enable the legal Amazon to play an increasingly significant role in global critical mineral supply chains while supporting Brazil’s long-term industrial and energy ambitions.

PM Gaston Browne seeks review of US Visa Restrictions and Visa Bond Measures

 

    • Prime Minister Gaston Browne writes to president Trump as Antigua and Barbuda seeks review of US Visa Restrictions and Visa Bond Measures

ANTIGUA / USA – The government of Antigua and Barbuda has initiated two further diplomatic representations to the government of the United States following the publication by the United States Department of State of the Final Rule establishing a permanent Visa Bond Program.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has written to president Donald J. Trump requesting that he direct a review of the restrictions currently affecting nationals of Antigua and Barbuda under Presidential Proclamation 10998, the related visa measures, and the newly established Visa Bond Program.

At the same time, the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in Washington, DC, has submitted a formal Diplomatic Note to the United States Department of State, for the attention of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, requesting an early review of Antigua and Barbuda’s continued inclusion in these measures.

The government’s representations are based upon the Department of State’s own explanation of the objectives of the Visa Bond Program, published in the Final Rule in the Federal Register. In that document, the Department states that the Program is intended as “a tool of diplomacy” to encourage foreign governments to strengthen information sharing, identity verification, screening and vetting, document security, compliance with immigration requirements and related security measures.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda has pointed out that it has responded positively and constructively to each of these objectives.

Among the measures highlighted in the prime minister’s letter and the diplomatic note are:

  • the strengthening by legislation of the residency requirements under Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme;
  • the establishment of biometric cooperation with the United States Department of Homeland Security to enhance identity verification and screening;
  • Antigua and Barbuda’s continuing full cooperation with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in accepting promptly the return of its nationals who are lawfully removed from the United States;
  • Antigua and Barbuda’s willingness to cooperate with the United States regarding Third-Country Nationals within the limits of its national capacity.

The government has also reminded the United States that Antigua and Barbuda has historically maintained a visa overstay rate of little more than one per cent, that no citizen of Antigua and Barbuda has sought refugee status in the United States, and that the country remains a stable parliamentary democracy recognised by the World Bank as an upper-middle-income economy.

Prime Minister Browne’s letter also recalls Antigua and Barbuda’s longstanding friendship with the United States and its consistent cooperation in matters of regional security, including the fight against illicit narcotics trafficking and transnational organised crime, intelligence sharing, immigration cooperation and other matters affecting the security interests of both countries.

The prime minister notes that Antigua and Barbuda has consistently responded constructively to concerns raised by successive United States administrations and respectfully submits that the objectives identified by the Department of State have now been substantially achieved in relation to Antigua and Barbuda.

Accordingly, the government has requested that the United States review Antigua and Barbuda’s continued inclusion in the visa restrictions and Visa Bond Program in light of the facts as they now stand.

“The government’s objective is not confrontation,” the prime minister said. “It is to ensure that decisions affecting the people of Antigua and Barbuda are based upon accurate information and upon the substantial steps our country has taken in close cooperation with the United States to address every legitimate concern that has been raised. We believe the time is now right for a review.”

The government of Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the United States and looks forward to continued engagement with the administration on matters of mutual interest and shared security.

In the Philippines, food security is going digital

    • The Philippines’ Walang Gutom Program is using electronic vouchers to reduce hunger, improve diets and support local economies.

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines reached an important development milestone on July 1, when the World Bank reclassified it as an upper-middle-income country. Its economy has doubled in size since 2010, while reforms have created millions of jobs, reduced poverty and increased fiscal capacity.

Yet the benefits remain uneven. Around 17.5 million Filipinos still live below the national poverty line, while an estimated 55.6 million cannot regularly afford a healthy and varied diet. Rural communities dependent on low-productivity agriculture are among those most at risk of being left behind.

The government’s Walang Gutom – Filipino for Zero Hunger – Program is responding by combining direct food support with nutritional education and livelihood training. Eligible low-income households receive electronic cards loaded each month with ₱3,000 in food credits, equivalent to around USD 50.

The OPEC Fund was among the program’s earliest supporters, providing a USD 500,000 technical assistance grant for the pilot implemented by the Philippines Department of Social Welfare and Development.

OPEC Fund country manager Driss Belamine said: “This is a highly important and impactful project that tackles the twin challenge of food poverty and healthy nutrition. It is a prime example of what sustainable development means, combining quantity – the provision of sufficient food – with quality by helping secure a healthy diet.”

The vouchers are designed to encourage balanced purchases. Beneficiaries may spend up to half of their credits on carbohydrates, up to 30 percent on protein and no more than 20 percent on dietary fibre. Participating vendors record purchases, helping the program assess nutritional compliance and respond to consumer demand.

Households must also attend monthly social and behavioural communication sessions covering nutrition and livelihood skills. The aim is to help families sustain improvements in their diets and food security beyond the period of direct assistance.

The program began with a pilot reaching almost 2,500 households between December 2023 and July 2024. Coverage expanded to 300,000 households by mid-2025 and reached 600,000 in February 2026. The government plans to support 750,000 households by 2027.

An impact analysis co-financed through an OPEC Fund grant found that the incidence of frequent hunger among beneficiaries fell by 20 percent. Nutrition advice delivered through text messages and social media also helped influence shopping and cooking choices, contributing to a 36 percent increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a 21 percent increase in protein consumption.

The benefits extended beyond participating households. More than 1,300 local retailers and agricultural cooperatives gained from increased demand for their products.

The Asian Development Bank is the program’s lead development partner. Other contributors include Agence Française de Développement, the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, and the United Nations World Food Programme.

Preparations are now in their final stages for a proposed USD150 million OPEC Fund loan supporting the Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers Project, known as REFUEL.

The wider rollout will also accelerate the use of digital payment systems in the Philippines. By combining social protection, better nutrition, local economic activity and digital delivery, the program supports both immediate household needs and longer-term development.

Seven OPEC+ countries – JMMC review global market conditions and outlook

VIENNA, Austria – The seven OPEC+ countries, which previously announced additional voluntary adjustments in April and November 2023, namely Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman met virtually on 2 August 2026 to review global market conditions and outlook.

In their collective commitment to support oil market stability, the seven participating countries decided to implement a production adjustment of 188 thousand barrels per day from the additional voluntary adjustments announced in April 2023. This adjustment will be implemented in September 2026 as detailed in the table below.

The seven OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation. The seven countries reiterated their collective commitment to achieve full conformity with the Declaration of Cooperation, including the additional voluntary production adjustments that will be monitored by the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC). They also confirmed their intention to fully compensate for any overproduced volume since January 2024.

The seven OPEC+ countries will continue to hold monthly meetings to review market conditions.

  • The next meeting will be held on 6 September 2026.

Meanwhile, JMMC, comprising Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, Algeria and Venezuela held its 67th Meeting via videoconference.

The JMMC reviewed current market conditions and emphasised the essential role of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) in supporting the stability of global energy markets. In this context, the Committee highlighted the critical importance of safeguarding international maritime routes to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy.

It also expressed concern regarding attacks on energy infrastructure, noting that restoring damaged energy assets to full capacity is both costly and takes a long time, thereby, affecting overall supply availability. Accordingly, the Committee stressed that any actions undermining energy supply security, whether through attacks on infrastructure or disruption of international maritime routes, increase market volatility and weaken the collective efforts under the DoC to support market stability for the benefit of producers, consumers, and the global economy.

The JMMC reviewed the crude oil production data for the months of May and June 2026 and noted the overall conformity for OPEC and non-OPEC countries participating in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC).

The Committee also reaffirmed that it will continue to monitor adherence to the production adjustments decided upon at the 38th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (ONOMM) held on 5 December 2024, and the additional voluntary production adjustments announced by some participating OPEC and non-OPEC countries as agreed upon in the 52nd JMMC held on 1 February 2024.

The JMMC will continue to closely monitor market conditions and retains the authority to convene additional meetings or request an OPEC and non-OPEC ministerial meeting, as established at the 38th ONOMM held on 5 December 2024.

  • The next meeting of the JMMC (68th) is scheduled for 4 October 2026.

How Santander Brasil and Eco Invest mobilise private capital at scale

    • IDB Invest provides financing to Banco Santander Brasil to support sustainable agriculture, land restoration efforts, and resilient infrastructure.

By Marcia Groszmann

WASHINGTON, USA – The Eco Invest Brasil Program recognises a simple reality: public capital alone is insufficient to finance Brazil’s resilient development. What is required is an environment that allows private investors to participate on reasonable terms – reducing risk, aligning incentives, and creating scale.

Eco Invest combines blended finance, currency hedging mechanisms, and competitive auctions to attract long-term private investment for sustainable agriculture, land restoration, and resilient infrastructure. Banks and other financial institutions compete for access to public funds, with bids evaluated primarily on their ability to mobilise the largest volume of private capital.

Banco Santander Brasil, one of the largest financial institutions in the country, participated in the first two Eco Invest auctions. While the bank has broad access to funding, the challenge lies in mobilising long-term foreign capital at scale for Eco Invest’s priority sectors.

To address this challenge, IDB Invest provided a loan to Banco Santander Brasil, with a tenor of up to five years and a maximum amount of $150 million, while mobilising an additional $400 million from international B-lenders with shorter tenors. By acting as Lender of Record, IDB Invest extends its preferred-creditor status and contractual framework to private investors – thereby significantly enhancing risk mitigation and investor confidence.

How Eco Invest auctions channel capital through banks to projects  

Eco Invest’s blended finance auctions operationalise a simple mechanism: public catalytic capital is allocated competitively to local financial institutions, which then mobilise private capital (including external funding) and on-lend to eligible projects, subject to defined eligibility, safeguards, monitoring, and reporting requirements.

Mobilising additional private capital, not replacing it

Santander’s funding profile is robust, supported by a large deposit base and diversified market access. As such, the value of this transaction lies not in providing access to capital but in mobilising additional private investment and extending tenors.

The A/B loan enables Santander  

  • Secure longer-term funding aligned with the cash-flow profile of resilient assets;
  • Mobilise private international capital at scale under Eco Invest requirements;
  • Strengthen its participation in Eco Invest auctions, where mobilisation ratios are a key success metric.

In practice, the transaction demonstrates how multilateral capital can be used not to crowd out private funding, but to catalyse it – bridging the gap between investor appetite and project needs.

Aligning finance with impact

The proceeds of the A/B loan will support financing for projects eligible under Eco Invest, including:

    • Sustainable agriculture and livestock;
    • Restoration and productive use of degraded land;
    • Resilient infrastructure aligned with national development priorities.

At a higher level, the transaction contributes to:

    • Mobilising private capital for aligned investments;
    • Supporting Brazil’s land restoration goals across multiple biomes;
    • Demonstrating a replicable model for scaling sustainable finance in emerging markets.

A model for emerging markets

As highlighted by the OECD, Eco Invest offers a replicable model for emerging economies seeking to mobilise foreign capital while managing currency risk. The Santander A/B loan shows how this framework can be operationalised through well-designed financial intermediation that combines public and private resources in a disciplined, market-oriented way.

For IDB Invest, this transaction reflects our Originate-to-Share approach: originating complex, high-impact transactions, structuring them to meet market requirements, and then bringing in private investors to scale impact.

In doing so, we help turn investment priorities into bankable projects – and demonstrate that with the right structures, private capital can play a decisive role in financing resilient growth.

IDB Invest – PBS supports digital services in Latin America and the Caribbean

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – IDB Invest announced a financing of up to USD 30 million for Productive Business Solutions Limited (PBS), a leading technology solutions provider headquartered in Barbados, to expand access to digital services and support the adoption of technology across Latin America and the Caribbean.

PBS operates in 24 countries, delivering integrated engineering and technology solutions that enable organizations to accelerate digital transformation. Its portfolio spans information technology, networking and communications, security systems, print and imaging, managed services, and AI-enabled solutions.

The financing will support PBS’s growth strategy and help expand access to innovative solutions that enable businesses and public institutions across the region to improve efficiency, modernise operations, and strengthen service delivery.

“The Caribbean has companies with the experience and ambition to scale across the region, and this is a clear example,” said Darryl White, managing director for the Caribbean region at IDB Invest. “Our role is to provide the financing and partnership they need to expand their reach, strengthen their operations and deliver greater impact across the markets they serve.”

“This financing agreement reinforces our long-term strategy of investing in the capabilities, expertise and partnerships needed to meet the evolving technology needs of the region. It strengthens our ability to better serve our customers and partners, broaden access to innovative technology solutions, deliver long-term value, and create lasting impact in the communities we serve,” said Pedro M. Paris, Group CEO of PBS.

Digital transformation is essential to improving competitiveness and productivity across the region. By supporting PBS’s expansion, the project is expected to help more companies and institutions participate in the digital economy, while contributing to productivity gains, job creation, and greater access to technology in Caribbean and Central American markets.

The financing consists of up to USD 30 million through a secured loan and committed revolving credit facility. The financing will provide flexible funding to support working capital needs and growth investments.

Young Indian ‘cockroaches’ reclaim democratic space

By K.S. Dakshina Murthy

Widespread agitation by Indian students against exam corruption and mismanagement since 6 June 2026 has tested the limits of the country’s receding democratic space. Satirically calling themselves the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ after a Supreme Court judge disdainfully referred to them as ‘cockroaches’, tens of thousands of mainly college and school age youngsters and young professionals took to the streets. Some went on hunger strike for several weeks at the high-profile protest platform, Jantar Mantar, in Delhi.

Their main demand was the resignation of Human Resources Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who managed the Education portfolio. He eventually had to resign. The protesters held him accountable for the leak of exam papers, which resulted in the suicides of 27 students, deeply distressed by the way the exams were mismanaged. These protests were against the backdrop of the rapid substantial expansion of tertiary education in India, but opportunities for graduates in quality, well-paid jobs have failed to keep pace. (Approximately 370 million of India’s population are aged between 15-29. Of these, nearly 40 percent of 15-25-year-olds are unemployed; for 25- 29-year-olds the unemployment figure is approximately 20 percent; and, only a small percentage manage to secure stable paid jobs within a year of graduation.) The series of test paper leaks across various prestigious exams, including NEET (for entrance into medical colleges) and CUET (for admission into the various universities), challenged prime minister Narendra Modi’s government in a rare show of spontaneous outrage against the inability of education officials to hold entrance exams.

In democratic societies, nationwide agitation like that of the students is not unusual. What has made the current protests stand out as a test case is because the protests are occurring at a time when Indian state institutions are under pressure to conform to the wishes of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government; public dissent is frowned upon – with sometimes serious consequences, including incarceration.

At the same time, many of those who criticise the government have been pressured by enforcement agencies; critics have been jailed pending trial for extended periods, underlining the process is the punishment for dissent. Many have, in fact, been acquitted of all charges after languishing in jail for months, if not years. Top opposition leaders, such as the former chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, have been arrested and jailed before being freed after the courts found no misdemeanour against them. Another oft-quoted case is of Umar Khalid, a student at Jawaharlal Nehru University, who played an active role in opposing the government’s move to amend the Citizenship Act (CAA) that discriminated against giving citizenship to undocumented Muslim migrants from neighbouring countries. Khalid was arrested for his alleged involvement in the Delhi riots in September 2020, and has since languished in jail, waiting for trial.

For many in India, the way elections have been conducted since independence in 1947 have been a source of pride. Despite issues with governance,  corruption and increasingly constrained freedom of media, elections were always regarded as above board – free and fair. However, the latest round of elections to state Assemblies, including in Bihar, West Bengal, have raised profound doubts over the fairness of polling. Under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls hurriedly undertaken in Bihar and then in West Bengal in 2025-6, over 4.5 million – particularly Muslim minorities  – were disenfranchised on various grounds. While it is obvious that the names of the dead, those who have changed their addresses, registered in multiple places or migrated from their homes need to be delisted, many others who have voted in the past and who have appropriate documentation, were removed the electoral list. The numbers were large enough to affect the outcome of the elections.

Since the start of SIR, in the last year alone, approximately 60 million names have been removed from the voters’ list across ten states. Such a mass disenfranchisement is unprecedented in the 79-year history of independent India. In past decades, the Election Commission (EC), originally designed as an autonomous institution, had largely been free from governmental interference. This appears to be no longer the case. There are scores of instances showing that the current EC has complied with the Modi government’s wishes. In July 2026, in an unusual move, the opposition parties approached the Supreme Court, alleging manipulation of elections and the partisan conduct of the Election Commission on the grounds that ‘democracy was in jeopardy’.

Given these extraordinary developments, one would have expected the media in India to call out the BJP government to halt the steady march towards autocracy. Barring exceptions in legacy print and digital media who seem to be maintaining editorial independence, the rest – in the electronic media – by and large appear to follow government diktat. Pejoratively termed the ‘godi’ media (‘lapdog media’), mainstream television channels unabashedly support the government. It is therefore no surprise that India’s ranking in the World Freedom Index has dropped sharply from 151/180 in 2025 to 157/180 in 2026. There are structural and financial reasons for this decline: historically the Indian media has been dependent on government and corporate advertising. Criticism of the government risks advertising revenue. The same is true for corporate sponsorship. Smaller, independent media outlets are reliant on reader/viewer subscription to avoid government or corporate control. Some succeed for a time, but these are far and few. As a consequence, in the post-2026 poll narrative, aided by a compliant media, the failings of the BJP have been ignored and instead a glowing picture of victory is headlined. Meanwhile, the massive delisting of eligible Indian citizens from the electoral process has been overlooked. The Supreme Court’s advice to the currently disenfranchised voters is to re-register to vote in the next elections.

This is the context of the Cockroach Janta Party’s agitation against blatant corruption and an increasingly repressive government which treats political opposition and criticism as enemies of the state.

Where is the Commonwealth, given the evident backsliding of democracy? India is a prominent member, and the supposed ‘largest democracy’ in the association. But India should not be immune to being held to the standards of the Commonwealth Charter.

– K. S. Dakshina Murthy is Consulting Editor for The Federal, India.

[This article was shared with the Round Table by the author. Views expressed in articles do not reflect the position of the editorial board.]

The struggle for justice, dignity, and equality remains unfinished

“As we honour the sacrifices of those who resisted enslavement and relentlessly demanded emancipation, we draw inspiration from their vision of freedom rooted in justice, human dignity and equality.”

By CARICOM Reparations Commission

On Emancipation Day 2026, the CARICOM Reparations Commission joins the people of the Caribbean, Africa and the global African diaspora in honouring the courage, resistance and unyielding determination of our ancestors, who fought for freedom against one of history’s most pernicious and enduring systems of oppression. As we come together to celebrate their triumph over racialised chattel enslavement, we are reminded that the struggle for justice, dignity, and equality remains unfinished.

This year’s observance has particular significance as it comes in the wake of the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 March 2026, of the landmark Declaration of the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the Gravest Crime Against Humanity.  This historic recognition affirms what descendants of the victims of enslavement, scholars and advocates have long asserted: that the transatlantic trafficking of Africans and the system of racialised chattel enslavement was a brutal dehumanising crime whose devastating consequences continue to shape the social, economic, political, and developmental realities of nations and peoples across the Caribbean and the African diaspora. The Resolution strengthens the moral and political foundation for reparatory justice and marks an important milestone in the international community’s acknowledgement of historical truth.

This Emancipation Day also heralds the 25 Anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The Durban Declaration remains the most comprehensive international framework for confronting the enduring legacies of enslavement, colonialism and systemic racism.  As the international community prepares to commemorate this important anniversary, the CARICOM Reparations Commission calls upon all states to renew their commitment to the full implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and to resist efforts to diminish its enduring relevance.

For the Caribbean Community, Emancipation Day is inextricably linked with the movement for reparatory justice. Political freedom, though hard won, did not erase the profound structural inequalities created by centuries of exploitation. The wealth extracted from enslaved African labour financed the development of European empires while leaving Caribbean societies to contend with underdevelopment, economic dependency, and persistent racial disparities. These historical injustices continue to impede sustainable development and demand meaningful redress.

The CARICOM Reparations Commission has therefore relaunched the expanded CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment, to serve as a framework for former colonizing states, private corporations, academia, the church, civil society and all people of goodwill, to engage in honest dialogue, acknowledge historical responsibility and embrace reparatory justice as an essential pillar of reconciliation, shared human progress and the coming enlightenment.

As we honour the sacrifices of those who resisted enslavement and relentlessly demanded emancipation, we draw inspiration from their vision of freedom rooted in justice, human dignity and equality. Their struggle compels us to continue building societies free from racism, discrimination, and exclusion. Together, let us transform remembrance into resolve and justice into reality for present and future generations.

Why Caribbean households remain under pressure after oil prices ease

    • Caribbean households are paying more for fuel and electricity even as oil markets calm, signaling that the effects of a supply shock outlast the disruption that caused it.

GENEVA, Switzerland – Oil prices have returned to near pre-Hormuz Strait crisis levels. But for economies importing both fuel and food, the disruption does not end when markets settle. It persists through freight and energy costs that weigh most on small and vulnerable importers.

“Resilience to these shocks is unevenly distributed; small, import-dependent economies face the highest costs and the fewest alternatives,” said Pedro Manuel Moreno, acting secretary-general of UNCTAD.

UNCTAD’s latest monitor shows oil shocks

Fuel-importing economies with limited fiscal space are hit hardest, with small island developing states among the most exposed. Of 75 vulnerable economies analyzed, 65 are net oil importers, home to nearly 1 billion people.

With as much as 50% of food being imported through fuel-dependent logistics in some of the Caribbean islands, energy costs can rapidly feed into the price of essentials. As food prices are already up from 55 to 60 percent since 2018, households have little room to absorb another rise.

How pressures hit households

UNCTAD draws on WFP/CARICOM 2024-2026 survey of 13,686 people across ten Caribbean countries.

Initially, effects appear limited. Reports of “not having enough food” rose from 22.1 to 22.9 percent , while “going to bed hungry” increased from 21.0 to 21.6 percent . These modest increases warrant caution rather than reassurance as food-security indicators lag that of prices.

Household costs, however, rose sharply after April 2026, spreading across electricity, food, gas and transport.

Reports of perceived higher electricity prices increased from 41 to 55 percent  and that of gas prices jumped from 38 to 57percent . Reports on perceived food prices also increased by 7percent , while that of transport increased by 4 percent . These combined increases in essential goods affect household budgets which will limit disposable income for food security.

Burden falls unevenly across the region

Jamaica reports the largest perceived increases, then Suriname and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, while Guyana and Grenada are more muted. As exposure reflects each country’s food and energy system, not household circumstances, the most affected economies can be targeted for support ahead of future shocks.

CARICOM heads of government have linked regional food security to the Middle East crisis and are addressing fuel, freight and energy costs under Vision 25 by 2025+5.

Measures introduced now, while the shock is felt through higher costs, are more effective than those taken once food insecurity rises. The timing of the support should consider the lag time to avoid leaving households exposed at the point of greatest strain.

Commonwealth dialogue brings generations together to inspire the next generation of leaders

LONDON, England – More than 40 young leaders from across the Commonwealth gathered in London for a special edition of the Commonwealth Leadership Series last week to explore what leadership should look like in a rapidly changing world.

The event, hosted by the Commonwealth Youth Council on 24 July 2026, in partnership with the John A. Kufuor Foundation, at the Commonwealth Secretariat’s headquarters in London, also brought together leaders from different generations to promote effective leadership as a catalyst for good governance and socio-economic development.

At the centre of the conversation was H.E. John Agyekum Kufuor, former president of Ghana, who drew on his experience in public office to share practical lessons with young leaders as they shape their own leadership journeys. Speaking to the young leaders in the room, he urged them to embrace technology and change while keeping people at the heart of their purpose.

“In an era defined by artificial intelligence, climate disruption, democratic pressure and economic uncertainty, leadership is no longer measured only by title or office. It is measured by judgment, service and the ability to hold ambition together with empathy”.

Youth leadership in action

For the Commonwealth, the President’s message comes at an important moment. More than 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s 2.7 billion people are under 30. Across the 56 Commonwealth countries, young people are building businesses, defending democracy, responding to climate shocks and using digital tools to solve local problems. In her welcome remarks, deputy Commonwealth Secretary-General (Corporate) Tania Baumann spoke about the value of bringing young people into decision-making spaces early, linking youth leadership directly to the Commonwealth’s work on democratic, economic and environmental resilience.

She said: “Young people are central to our Strategic Plan. Our responsibility is to create the conditions in which their leadership, ideas and action can grow — through access, opportunity, practical support and genuine influence on the choices we make together.”

Building on the call for greater youth participation, Joshua Opey, chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council, said:

“Young people must take a front seat, building on the experiences of those who have led before us, and making the most of the connections and opportunities the Commonwealth creates.”

Building tomorrow’s leaders today

The event also featured remarks from former prime minister, Gordon Brown of the United Kingdom and a leadership masterclass led by John Mark Williams, CEO of The Institute of Leadership, alongside Dr Pascal Brenya, director of the Kufuor Scholars Program at the John A. Kufuor Foundation.

Designed as a practical capacity-building session, the speakers challenged participants to move from discussion to action. Young leaders were invited to identify a real leadership challenge, reflect on the skills needed to address it, and consider how networks, mentorship and structured support could help turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Looking ahead

Participants reflected on the event in different ways, but a common message emerged: meaningful leadership grows when experience and ambition meet in genuine conversation.

Some young leaders said the dialogue showed the value of intergenerational exchange, while others said their biggest takeaway was that youth leadership is not a promise for the future but a force already shaping the present.

Later this year, the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) will take place from 2 to 4 November 2026 at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda alongside the 2026 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).  Under the theme ‘Investing in Youth Agency – Co-Creating Pathways Towards Shared Prosperity’, young leaders will explore how they can contribute as partners in building a resilient Commonwealth.