East Africa

South32 reported a higher-than-expected output of manganese for the first three months on Tuesday. This was after its Australian operations recovered from weather-related interruptions. The shares of the world's largest manganese producer rose as much as 6.3%, to A$3.315. This is their highest level since March. The diversified mining company said that it had executed a successful operational recovery plan in its Australian manganese sector and increased export shipments following the damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Megan last year. The company announced that the unit had completed an insurance settlement relating to the effects of the tropical storm. An additional...

Researchers in northern Kenya have discovered fossils of the hand and foot bones of an extinct human relative that dates back to 1.52million years ago. This species was able to manipulate stone tools, and would have been fully bipedal. The fossils were the first to be unambiguously associated with the species Paranthropus boisei. Researchers found a partial skull that contained a large portion of the hand and three foot bones. They also discovered most of teeth, a forearm fragment, a partial tooth, and a fragment of a skull. The new discovery is a revelation, especially when you consider the fragmentary...

On Wednesday, youth protesters in Madagascar rejected an invitation to participate in President Andry Raoelina's 'national dialogue' with different groups. They accused his government of repression following weeks of demonstrations on the African island nation. The protests, which began on September 25, are a response to similar "Gen Z' movements" in Kenya and Nepal. They represent the greatest challenge to Rajoelina’s government since its re-election to office in 2023. They give voice to widespread discontent about poverty and corruption at the highest levels. Rajoelina dismissed his cabinet in an attempt to quell unrest last week. He appointed a new premier...

Ethiopia announced its bid to host the United Nations Climate Change Summit in 2027, in Addis Ababa. This puts it in direct competition with Nigeria who wants Lagos as the host. Nearly 200 nations gather every year for the "Conference of Parties", also known as COP, which is the primary global negotiation between governments to tackle climate change. Ethiopian President Taye Selassie said at a U.N. conference in Addis Ababa, "We have the infrastructure, the facilities, and the location to host the much anticipated climate summit." COP summits are rotated around the world. The 54 African countries that make up...

A senior official in the agriculture ministry said that Zimbabwe had brought back its ban on maize exports to support local farmers. The country has also grown enough this year to provide its millers with a bumper crop, the official added. The improved rainfall has increased production and reversed the sharp decline that occurred last year, when El Nino caused a drought in Zimbabwe which forced it to import maize, including GM varieties. "We evaluate the situation daily. Obert Jiri is the Permanent Secretary of Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture. Zimbabwe's maize consumption, which is around 1.8 million tons...

USAID cuts health services in Malawi dependent on aid The threat to progress on maternal health, which includes fistula, is real Donors, including UNFPA, support lone fistula clinic By Charles Pensulo She could have suffered permanent damage, been incontinent, and even been expelled from her community if she had developed an obstetric fistula after giving birth to her second child. The 31-year old mother, however, is in front of the hot stove, in Kukawundu, a village near Lilongwe in Malawi, excited to serve the scones that she will be cooking in the tearoom she runs with Damston. Lloyd, who lost...

Zambia denied that an acid spill six months ago in its copper mining region still poses a serious risk to health, just a day after U.S. Embassy restricted travel for U.S. government officials due to widespread contamination. In February, a tailings pond at a Chinese copper processing plant failed, releasing 50,000 cubic meters of acidic slurry in nearby rivers. The government of the Southern African country has said that there is no need to be alarmed and has taken steps to reduce acidity in affected areas by using lime. At a recent press conference, Cornelius Mweetwa, a government spokesperson, said...

According to new research, the Trump administration's decision of cutting nearly all U.S. aid to foreign countries has left dozens water and sanitation projects in the middle of completion around the world, creating hazards for those they were intended to help. After speaking with 17 sources who are familiar with infrastructure plans, we have identified 21 unfinished construction projects in 16 different countries. The majority of these projects were not reported before. Workers have abandoned their shovels, left half-dug holes, and unguarded building materials after hundreds of millions in funding were cancelled since January. This is according to internal documents...

Global Environment Facility (GEF), the oldest multilateral climate change fund in the world, plans to issue a new round of wildlife conservation bonds as a way to assist African countries with saving endangered species and eco-systems. In 2022, the World Bank backed rhino bond was the first of many wildlife bonds that provide low-cost funding in exchange for reducing poaching and other measures. Last month, the GEF approved a conservation plan for lemurs in Madagascar. Fred Boltz is the head of programming for the GEF which is affiliated with the World Bank. He told African environment ministers on the sidelines...

According to a report released by the Convention on Wetlands on Tuesday, the destruction of wetlands around the world, which are vital for fisheries, farming and flood control could result in a loss of $39 trillion by 2050. According to an intergovernmental report, 22% of freshwater systems, such as rivers, lakes and peat lands, and coastal marine ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs and coastal systems, have disappeared since the 1970s. This is the fastest rate of loss for any ecosystem. The declines are a result of pressures such as land-use changes, pollution, agricultural expansions, invasive species and climate change impacts,...

Lula draws parallels with the Non-Aligned Movement of Cold War Group condemns attacks against Iran and Gaza, increasing tariffs Xi Jinping skips, Putin online, Modi and Ramaphosa present By Lisandra Paraguassu and Manuela Andreoni RIO DE JANEIRO - On Sunday, the BRICS leaders condemned the attacks in Gaza, Kashmir and Iran during their summit. They portrayed the group as a defender for multilateral diplomacy, while criticizing the U.S. trade and military policy. The expansion of BRICS is a response to the divisions in the G7 and G20 group of major economies and the "America First" policy of U.S. president Donald...

Britain, Kenya, and Singapore launched a coalition to encourage companies to purchase carbon credits. The guidelines are aimed at buyers. Carbon market experts describe this as the strongest policy support for such markets yet. Carbon market proponents have been trying to create a market to buy and sell credits that companies can use to offset their emission for decades. Corporate buyers are still hesitant despite the fact that nations agreed on a U.N. backed system at the COP29 conference in Baku. On Tuesday, Britain, France Kenya, Singapore, and Panama announced their intention to reach an agreement on a set of...

A draft declaration following a climate summit of leaders in Addis Ababa on Wednesday showed that Africa aims to secure $50 billion per year for a continental climate solutions initiative. The initiative is sponsored by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmad. The 54-nation African continent, which was ravaged by landslides and floods, wants to continue with its climate commitments despite the United States withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. In the draft declaration, it was stated that the push is to establish the Africa Climate Innovation Compact (African Climate Facility) and the Africa Climate Facility in order "to mobilize $50 Billion...

African leaders want to provide a global model of tackling climate change through green investments. They said this on Monday after the United States pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement, which deflated efforts against climate changes. Ethiopia is hosting its second climate summit, COP30. The continent has been ravaged by landslides and floods in the past year. "We are here to design the world's next climate economy," Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said at the opening ceremony. "We are here to design the next climate economy," Ethiopian Premier Abiy Ahmed said at the opening ceremony. Leaders have positioned the...

Kamini Kurmi, a picker at a tea estate in Assam (India's northeastern State), wears an umbrella over her head so that her hands are free to pluck the delicate leaves off the bushes. Kurmi is one of many women who are employed to harvest conventional crops using their dextrous hands, rather than machines. The extreme weather conditions are shrinking harvests in India's tea plantations. This is threatening the future of a beverage industry that has been renowned for refreshing beverages like Assam and Darjeeling. It also threatens a global market valued at over $10 billion per year. Scientist Rupanjali Baruah...

A U.N. study released on Monday said that the number of hungry people in 2024 fell for a 3rd straight year, falling from an era of COVID spike. Conflict and climate shocks also exacerbated malnutrition throughout much of Africa, and Western Asia. According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report, which was jointly prepared by five U.N. organizations, 673 millions people or 8.2% of the global population will experience hunger in 2024. This is down from 8.5% in the 2023 report. The report, they said, focused on chronic and long-term issues and did not reflect...

On Monday, the final summit day in Rio de Janeiro for the BRICS group, leaders of developing nations were ready to tackle the challenges that we all face, including climate change, by demanding wealthy nations pay global mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. As he prepares for the United Nations Climate Summit in November, Brazilian President Luiz inacio Lula da Silva has emphasized the importance of the Global South to combat global warming. In a statement released by BRICS leaders on Sunday, they argued that fossils fuels would continue to play a major role in global energy, especially in developing economies....

Mozambicans are in need due to drought and conflict USAID cuts put strain on charities and households UN warns about 'children's crisis' By SAMUEL COME Nobody brings food, clothes and blankets anymore to her camp in Pemba city, where she's lived for five years, ever since she fled the rebel attack on Macomia, a northern town, five years ago. "They used to help us for a long time but they have now left us." "Everyone manages on their own, we don't receive food or clothing, and no one supports the children any longer," she said. Omar and the other families...

Wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe said that they have issued permits for the culling of at least 50 elephants from a reserve with three times as many elephants as it can support. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority stated in a press release that the Save Valley Conservancy, in southern Zimbabwe, is home to approximately 2,550 elephants. However, it only has "carrying capacities" for 800 elephants. In the last five years, the conservancy has already relocated 200 elephants from its reserve to another reserve to control elephant numbers. The meat from the cull is distributed to the locals for consumption, and...

Senior bank officials announced on Thursday that the African Development Bank would launch a carbon market support facility to help unlock financing for a region that is increasingly affected by climate-change related droughts and hurricanes. Africa's largest multilateral lender said that the Africa Carbon Support Facility will be divided into two components. The first component helps governments create policies and regulations for carbon trading. The second component focuses on increasing the supply and demand of credits, as well as improving the market infrastructure necessary to increase their usage. Anthony Nyong said at the AfDB annual meeting that "we envision a...

Patrick Pouyanne, the chief executive of TotalEnergies, defended his company's involvement in oil projects in East Africa after a U.N. independent human rights expert stated that the French firm must address new allegations of abuses. Michel Forst, Special Reporter on Environmental Defenders, said in a late-Thursday statement that the company should take immediate steps to protect activists connected to the East African Crude oil Pipeline and its associated oilfields. This decision followed the decision of German asset manager Union Investment, which dropped TotalEnergies bonds and shares from their sustainable investment funds due to this issue. Pouyanne spoke out against the...

Foreign Ministers of BRICS Group of Developing Nations met on Monday, to discuss a common defense of the global trading system and coordinate their response to President Donald Trump's barrage of new duties. The group, which was formed by Brazil and Russia but has recently been expanded to include China, South Africa, India and South Africa, is expected to issue a joint statement in Rio de Janeiro criticizing the "unilateral trade measures" of this group. Brazilian Ambassador Mauricio lyrio stated that the ministers were negotiating a statement to reaffirm multilateral trade agreements as the primary axis for action in the...

According to a report by UNESCO released on Friday, glaciers are disappearing more quickly than ever. The last three years saw the greatest loss of mass on record. Michael Zemp of the Switzerland-based World Glacier Monitoring Service said that the 9,000 gigatons (or a quarter of a million tons) of ice lost by glaciers since 1975 is roughly equivalent to an ice block as large as Germany and with a thickness of 25 meters. This was revealed at a Geneva press conference to announce the report. Climate change caused by fossil fuels will likely cause global temperatures to rise, accelerating...

Residents of Maputo struggle with flooding Mozambique has a high vulnerability to climate change Planning and lack of funds hamper the authorities' response By Samuel Come The stagnant green water reflects the salmon-pink walls of the house as blankets and rugs hang outside to dry. The 46-year old woman, who was carrying two buckets of water, said, "I am struggling to get the water out of my home, but it may rain again in a few more days and I will be back in the same situation." Two cyclones, one after the other, have killed over 130 people in the...