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☆ First British royal visits Ukraine since Russian invasion began
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Catherine Nicholls | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Duchess of Edinburgh has become the first member of the British royal family to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday. The duchess is a champion of the UK’s Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative and the United Nations’ Women, Peace and Security Agenda. Sophie met survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and torture, as well as children who were allegedly forcibly separated from their families by Russia, according to Buckingham Palace. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh lights a candle as she visits Saint Andrew's Church on April 29, 2024 in Bucha, Ukraine. In March 2023, Prince William visited the Ukrainian-Polish border to meet British and Polish troops and learn more about their collaboration in supporting Ukraine.

Persons: Duchess, Buckingham, Sophie, Edinburgh, Prince Edward , King Charles ’, “, ” “, ”, Anatolii, Volodymyr Zelensky, Olena Zelenska, ” Buckingham, Prince William Organizations: CNN, United Nations, CNN’s Royal, Ukraine, Andrew's Church, Democratic Locations: Edinburgh, Ukraine, Russia, Buckingham, Bucha, Kyiv, Kosovo, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Colombia

☆ Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos-backed startup discovers large-scale copper deposit in Zambia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

KoBold Metals, a California-based metals exploration company backed by billionaires including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, said that it has discovered a vast copper deposit in Zambia. A spokesperson for KoBold Metals told CNBC on Monday that the company believes its Mingomba copper project in Zambia "will be one of the world's biggest high-grade large copper mines." "It is Kakula-scale in size and grade," KoBold Metals President Josh Goldman said in a statement shared on the firm's social media site X. Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company founded by billionaire magnate Robert Friedland, owns nearly 40% of the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine. KoBold Metals says it uses artificial intelligence to create a "Google Maps" of the Earth's crust to help find new deposits of copper, lithium, cobalt and nickel.

Persons: Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Josh Goldman, Robert Friedland, Andreessen Horowitz, Ray Dalio, Virgin Group's Richard Branson, Alibaba's Jack Ma Organizations: KoBold Metals, CNBC, Democratic, Ivanhoe Mines, KoBold, BHP, Breakthrough Energy, Bridgewater Associates Locations: Victoria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Livingstone, California, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Canadian, Norwegian

☆ Opinion | Abolish the U.N.’s Palestinian Refugee Agency
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Bret Stephens | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

United Nations agencies and officials are no strangers to scandal and infamy. In the 1980s, Kurt Waldheim, a former U.N. secretary general, was unmasked as a former Nazi. He was the same secretary general who denounced Israel’s 1976 rescue of Jewish hostages in Entebbe as “a serious violation” of Uganda’s national sovereignty. Now comes the latest scandal of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, better known as UNRWA. Last Friday, Israeli officials presented the U.S. government with an intelligence dossier detailing the involvement of 12 UNRWA employees, seven of them schoolteachers, in the massacre of Oct. 7.

Persons: Saddam Hussein, Kurt Waldheim, Ronen Bergman, Patrick Kingsley Organizations: Nations, Democratic, Iraq, Nazi, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees, “ Intelligence, Street Locations: Haiti, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Entebbe, Gaza

☆ A slew of new conflicts could erupt in 2024, analysts say — while the world is watching Gaza and Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

- | Afp | Getty ImagesWith the eyes of the world on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, an unprecedented number of potentially "catastrophic" conflicts are going under the radar, analysts have warned. The U.N. estimated in October that more than 114 million people were displaced by war and conflict worldwide. There is good reason for that — it is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a civilian." The political turbulence comes amid ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC and widespread poverty, and precedes further regional elections early next year. If you look at Myanmar, of course you've got this huge population in Bangladesh of displaced Rohingyas, and also displaced within Myanmar itself," she said.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, David Miliband, Miliband, Isabelle Arradon, Rapid Support Forces —, Gen, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalifa Haftar —, Arradon, Félix Tshisekedi, U.N, Antonio Guterres, you've, We've, It's Organizations: Afp, Getty, Rescue, Crisis, CNBC, Rapid Support Forces, UAE, IOM, UN's, Organization for Migration, Sudanese Armed Forces, Democratic, Government Locations: Red Sea, Port Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libyan, Khartoum, Darfur, METEMA, Ethiopia, Metema, AFP, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of, Congo, DRC, Goma, North Kivu, Kigali, Kinshasa, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine State, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal

☆ Scientists Launch Research Effort at COP28 for Congo Rainforest
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Jake SpringSAO PAULO (Reuters) - Hundreds of scientists at the United Nations COP28 climate summit on Sunday launched a research coalition aimed at correcting a historic lack of information about the Congo River basin and its rainforest, the second largest in the world. The Science Panel for the Congo Basin, backed by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, aims to issue a report in 2025 that offers the most detailed scientific assessment to date about the Congo Basin. "Our current knowledge of the functioning of the Congo Basin ecosystem is really very, very limited." The Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to most of the forest, had the second highest rate of tree cover loss in the world last year after Brazil, according to Global Forest Watch. More than 300 scientists are expected to contribute to the Congo report, Tshimanga said.

Persons: Jake Spring, Raphaël Tshimanga, Tshimanga, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Jake Spring SAO PAULO, Reuters, United, Sunday, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions, University of Kinshasa, Democratic, Global Forest Watch Locations: United Nations, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazil

An agent of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) inspects a tree extracted from the Amazon rainforest, in a sawmill during an operation to combat deforestation, in Placas, Para State, Brazil January 20, 2023. "Our current knowledge of the functioning of the Congo Basin ecosystem is really very, very limited." The Democratic Republic of the Congo, home to most of the forest, had the second highest rate of tree cover loss in the world last year after Brazil, according to Global Forest Watch. The scientific effort is modelled on the Science Panel for the Amazon that in 2021 issued a roughly 1,300 page report summarising the scientific consensus on the Amazon rainforest, the world's largest. More than 300 scientists are expected to contribute to the Congo report, Tshimanga said.

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Raphaël Tshimanga, Tshimanga, Jake Spring, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Brazilian Institute for, Environment, Natural Resources, REUTERS, SAO PAULO, United, Sunday, United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions, University of Kinshasa, Democratic, Global Forest Watch, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Placas, Para State, Brazil, United Nations, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo

☆ Congo opposition party says activist killed in violence at election rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKINSHASA, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A Congolese youth activist was killed on Tuesday by stones pelted during an opposition campaign rally in the east-central city of Kindu, the party of presidential candidate Moise Katumbi said. "This violence ... caused the tragic death of Mr Dido Kakisingi," the party said in a statement. Kakisingi, a lawyer and father of six, was the head of a political youth league in Maniema province that supports Katumbi, the party said. They didn't even send the police to secure us," said Seth Kikuni, one of the opposition candidates backing Katumbi. The CENI election commission has promised a fair and well-run election, but all of the opposition candidates have expressed concerns about potential electoral fraud.

Persons: Moise Katumbi, Arlette, Mr Dido Kakisingi, Seth Kikuni, Stephane Kamundala, Felix Tshisekedi, Katumbi, Martin Fayulu, Denis Mukwege, Ange Kasongo, Sonia Rolley, Alessandra Prentice, Susan Fenton Organizations: Democratic, REUTERS, Rights, Congolese, United, Reuters, Peace, Thomson Locations: Kitutu, Mwenga, South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Rights KINSHASA, Kindu, Maniema, Africa's, United States

☆ Multipolar world opens up surprising safe havens
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Felix Martin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

This new-look cap table leaves the U.S. much more vulnerable to the vagaries of foreign investors than before. In a crisis, foreign investors would rush to buy even more U.S. debt. Reuters GraphicsA less orthodox option would be to invest in emerging markets instead. The last time net equity investment in the U.S. NIIP dipped close to negative territory was as the dot-com bubble was deflating in 2001. In the next six years the U.S. saw net equity outflows equivalent to nearly 30% of GDP.

Persons: Hubert Védrine, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, ’, Donald Trump’s, exceptionalism, NIIP, Peter Thal Larsen, Streisand Neto, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, French, U.S, United, United States, Treasury, Equity, U.S . Treasury, Japan, Democratic, Cooperation Council, Peterson Institute for International, Fed, ECB ”, Thomson Locations: United States, tatters, United, U.S, China, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Chile, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Washington

The groups said in a press release that “measles continues to pose a relentlessly increasing threat to children.”Estimated measles cases increased 18% last year while deaths increased 43%, according to the report. About 9 million cases of measles and 136,000 deaths – mostly among children – were reported globally in 2022. “Measles cases anywhere pose a risk to all countries and communities where people are under-vaccinated. Low-income countries reported the lowest vaccination rates and showed no signs of recovery from the vaccination coverage decline during the pandemic. “The lack of recovery in measles vaccine coverage in low-income countries following the pandemic is an alarm bell for action.

Persons: –, ” John Vertefeuille, Kate O’Brien Organizations: Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization, Democratic, Pan American Health Organization Locations: Angola, Brazil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, U.S, Ohio, Americas

☆ Exclusive: Canadian winner of gas rights on Congo's 'killer' Lake Kivu failed criteria
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Sonia Rolley | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

[1/5] Aerial view shows Lake Kivu and the skyline of the city of Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo October, 21, 2023. First to be auctioned were three methane blocks in Lake Kivu, sometimes dubbed a "killer lake" because of a risk of deadly eruption. The documents do not show why Alfajiri was included in the auction, who requested that the report be edited, or why. Lake Kivu is one of three lakes in Africa scientists say are at risk of limnic eruption. The report's second version - also dated Dec. 8 and seen by Reuters - raised Alfajiri's score to 55.75, putting it ahead of Winds.

Persons: Arlette, Felix Tshisekedi, Alfajiri, Didier Budimbu, Christian Hamuli, Hamuli, Joseph Nzau, Budimbu, Alfajiri's Hamuli, vulcanologist Dario Tedesco, Alfajiri's, Frank Ihekwoaba, Alessandra Prentice, Bate Felix, Joe Bavier, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: Democratic, REUTERS, Reuters, Alfajiri Energy Corporation, Investigative Journalism, Exploration, Ray Group, Ray, Thomson Locations: Lake Kivu, Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Canada, Calgary, Rwanda, Kivu, Africa, Congolese, U.S

☆ Conflict uproots record 6.9 million people in Congo -IOM
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Paul... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreJOHANNESBURG, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Conflict and escalating violence have uprooted a record 6.9 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo, mostly in the east of the country, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday. Years of rebel conflict and recurrent natural disasters have helped fuel one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Most of those forced to flee their homes live in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika, according to the data collected by the United Nations. In North Kivu alone, up to one million people have been displaced due the ongoing conflict with a Tutsi-led rebel group M23, IOM said. The most recent escalation of the conflict has uprooted more people in less time like rarely seen before," said Fabien Sambussy, IOM's head of mission in Congo.

Persons: Paul, Fabien Sambussy, Anait, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: United Nations Organization Stabilization, Democratic, REUTERS, International Organization for Migration, United Nations, IOM, Thomson Locations: Democratic Republic of, Congo, Djugu's, Ituri's province, Democratic Republic of Congo, JOHANNESBURG, North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri, Tanganyika, Congolese

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 12 (Reuters) - High levels of inflation and increased costs of living are contributing to worldwide hunger, according to a survey of 16 countries commissioned by the humanitarian group World Vision International. It also found that 37% of parents said their children fail to receive proper nutrition each day and 21% said their children have gone hungry in the last month. The percentage of children going to bed hungry rises to 38% in low-income countries. Among respondents who said their children went to sleep hungry, 46% cited inflation and the cost of living as the main reason. Persistently high inflation was the biggest economic concern of economists this year, according to Reuters polls.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Andrew Morely, Ipsos, Daniel Trotta, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: La Colaborativa, REUTERS, World Vision, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Chelsea , Massachusetts, U.S, United States, Ukraine, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Britain, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Malawi

☆ Pictures of the month: September
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[19/60]Relatives react as the coffin of a protestor killed during a demonstration against the presence of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) and East Africa Community Regional Force (EACRF), is carried before burial at the Makao cemetery in Goma, North Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo September 18. REUTERS/Arlette BashiziGOMA, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the

Persons: Arlette Bashizi Organizations: United Nations Organization Stabilization, Democratic, East Africa Community Regional Force, REUTERS Locations: Democratic Republic of, Congo, Goma, North Kivu province, Arlette Bashizi GOMA, Democratic Republic

☆ Russian troops raped women as old as 83 while their families were forced to listen
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A new UN report found that women in Ukraine experience systematic sexual violence by Russian troops. Women as old as 83 have been raped while their families were forced to listen to the brutal attacks. International criminal law considers rape and sexual violence war crimes and crimes against humanity. AdvertisementAdvertisementInsider previously reported on the case of a woman who recounted being raped by Russian soldiers who killed her husband. "Survivor-centered training and aid is the best way to support victims of sexual violence and to help them cope with the trauma, stigma, and the health consequences stemming from conflict-related sexual violence."

Persons: —, Beata Zawrzel, Pramila Patten Organizations: UN, Service, United Nations, Commission, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, of, Russian Federation, The Times, Getty, AFP, Democratic, Council, Foreign Relations, Court Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Kherson, London, Russia, Krakow, Poland, England, Bucha, France, Rome, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Yugoslavia

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — If you listen to the African leaders addressing the U.N. General Assembly this year, the message is emphatic and unanimous: The continent is done being a victim of a post-World War II order. It is a global power in itself and must be partnered with — not sidelined. There’s also a new boldness that comes with the African Union’s G20 seat. With the largest bloc of countries at the United Nations, it is understandable that African leaders increasingly demand a bigger voice in multilateral institutions, said Murithi Mutiga, program director for Africa at the Crisis Group. As African leaders spoke glowingly about the continent as a force on the global stage, some at home said the leaders must begin by delivering the dividends of democracy to their people.

Persons: —, There’s, William Ruto, Nana Akufo, Addo, Africa’s, Cyril Ramaphosa of, ”, Bola Tinubu, Tinubu, Murithi Mutiga, Rashid Abdi, Horn of, ” Abdi, Felix, Antoine Tshisekedi, Filipe Nyusi, Nyusi, Ibrahim Mayaki, Mayaki, Grace Agbu, Mamadi Doumbouya Organizations: General Assembly, Kenyan, United Nations, Crisis, African Development Bank, Gulf, Slave Trade, SEAT, Economic Cooperation, Development, Democratic, Africa Center, ” Locations: ABUJA, Nigeria, Africa, Russia, Ukraine, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Horn of Africa, Nairobi, Europe, United States, Paris, Democratic Republic of, Congo, New York, Nigeria’s, Abuja, “, ”

☆ Elon Musk denied a report that Tesla planned to build a factory in Saudi Arabia. It's the latest development in his complicated history with the nation.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Elon Musk has denied a report suggesting Tesla has plans to set up a factory in Saudi Arabia. It marks the latest twist in a long and complex history between Musk and Saudi Arabia. "Obviously, the Saudi sovereign fund has more than enough capital needed to execute on such a transaction." Funding secured. Funding secured."

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Musk, — Elon, Yasir al, hadn't, Jty05oJUTk, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Yasir Organizations: Street Journal, Service, Wall, Journal, Democratic, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Tesla, New York Times, Lucid Motors, JPMorgan, Financial Times, Lucid, @elonmusk, Twitter, Kingdom Holding Co, Reuters, Bloomberg Locations: Saudi Arabia, Wall, Silicon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Saudi, Here's, Tesla, Saudi Prince, San Francisco

☆ 'A real big deal': Biden backs economic corridor as shifting geopolitical alliances fragment the global economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

This would in turn secure regional supply chains, boost trade connectivity and economic activity — all similar to objectives underpinning China's Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure investment strategy that Beijing launched in 2013. - | Afp | Getty ImagesThis Biden-led initiative will comprise of two separate corridors, the east corridor connecting India to the Middle East and the northern corridor connecting the Middle East to Europe. Middle East influenceChina's BRI offers a glimpse into Biden's ambition and perhaps what his infrastructure pact will come up against. Debt risksEven then, China's 10-year head start offers some cautionary lessons for Biden's global infrastructure pact. "25% of debt of emerging markets is treading in distressed territory," IMF's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva told CNBC on the sidelines of the Delhi G20 leaders' summit.

Persons: Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Ludovic Marin, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Evan Feigenbaum, Emmanuel Macron, Joko Widodo, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gandhi, Biden, China's BRI, Beijing's BRI, Chong Ja Ian, Kristalina Georgieva, Janet Yellen, Chong, Modi Organizations: Saudi, Crown, India's, Bharat, Afp, Getty, Biden, Initiative, Carnegie Endowment, International, Brazil's, European Union, Democratic, Fudan University, for Economics, Business Research, Arab, United Arab, Bloomberg, IMF, National University of Singapore, Monetary Fund, World Bank, CNBC, Treasury, NUS, India, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Locations: New Delhi, Turkey, Delhi —, Beijing, U.S, Raj, India, East, Europe, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Delhi, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Zambia, Lobito, Angola, Middle, Shanghai, London, China, United Arab Emirates, Washington, Saudi, Iran, People's Republic of China, New York, United States

☆ The Ukraine War has accelerated research into lithium-ion battery alternatives, including ones made of sand
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The war in Ukraine has spurred more research into clean energy, including lithium-ion alternatives. Polar Night Energy says batteries made of sand could be as effective without the same risks. It has also spurred research into safer alternatives to the lithium-ion batteries used in the ever-expanding electric vehicle market. One of the key resulting innovations has been new alternatives to lithium-ion batteries, the development of which is tied to human rights abuses and environmental harm. Beyond the human rights abuses prevalent in the cobalt industry, lithium-ion batteries also present environmental hazards.

Persons: Olga Khakova, Khakova Organizations: Energy, Service, Research, The Washington Post, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council, Washington Post, Amnesty, Democratic, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Europe, Russia, Finnish, Democratic Republic of, Congo

☆ Prigozhin was thought to have died in a 2019 plane crash, only to reappear days later. This time, there's more evidence he's dead.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is presumed dead after a plane crash outside of Moscow. He was incorrectly reported as having possibly died in a plane crash in 2019. The circumstances of the recent crash are unclear, but he was in a position to be punished by Putin. But this isn't the first time the warlord, who had attempted an uprising against Putin, is thought to have died in a plane crash. But some are still skeptical that Prigozhin is definitely dead, and are waiting for more evidence.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, Prigozhin, Keir Giles, let's, that's, Vladimir Putin, Adrienne Watson Organizations: Service, Democratic, Novosti, Telegram, London, Chatham House, Washington Post, National, BBC Locations: Moscow, Wall, Silicon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Russia's Tver, Russia, Africa

☆ The Metals Company announces a controversial timeline for deep sea mining that worsens the divide in an already bitter battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +12 min

It then went public in 2021 through a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, and is looking to establish deep sea mining as a business. "Voices against deep sea mining have never been so loud — from the fishing sector to financiers, indigenous peoples, scientists and big business." In addition, the findings of the study do not mean that Benchmark is endorsing deep sea mining, she added. Deep sea mining won't replace land-based mining, but rather will simply add another source of minerals, she said in March. Regardless, Singh says, there is a lot of work yet to be done by members of the council to establish regulations before any deep sea mining commences.

Persons: Gerard Barron, Carolyn Cole, it's, Amon, That's, Louisa Casson, Charlotte Selvey Miller, Miller, that's, Barron, Kannah, Pradeep Singh, It's, Singh, Allseas, — Organizations: The Metals Company, Los Angeles Times, Authority, ISA, Metals Company, Maersk, CNBC, Greenpeace, Company, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Benchmark, Democratic, PT Vale Indonesia, . Geological Survey, Metals, Mining, Darton Commodities, Afp, Getty, International Union for Conservation of Nature Locations: Clarion, San Diego, Norway, Mexico, United Kingdom, Texas, Canada, Indonesia, Russia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sorowako ., Amon, Kolwezi, Shabara, Congo, Pacific, Nauru, Tonga, Kiribati

The principle is that nature is an unpaid worker providing services, like carbon sequestration, soil retention, water filtration, replenishing raw materials and more. It is providing an invisible subsidy to world economies. Take carbon pricing. Poor countries that have abundant natural resources are loaning their economic resources, like the carbon-sequestering value of their rainforests, to rich countries without compensation. Why add such a pricing structure when economies can exploit nature for free?

Persons: John Kerry, ” It’s Organizations: Democratic, Resilience Locations: Democratic Republic of, Congo

☆ Rwandan forces crossed Congolese border, Congo's army says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, July 27 (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo's army said Rwandan defense forces crossed the Congolese border on Thursday and attacked border security forces, potentially escalating tensions between the African neighbours. "The ensuing clashes enabled the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC) to repel the Rwandan terrorists who had perpetrated this intolerable provocation," the statement said, adding that the authors of the attack retreated to Rwanda. A Rwandan government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Congo and Rwanda have been involved in a dispute since last year over the resurgence of the M23 rebel group, a militia active in eastern Congo which Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backing. United Nations experts have also said they have evidence that Rwandan troops have fought alongside the M23 in eastern Congo and provided the rebels with weapons and supplies.

Persons: GOMA, Djaffar Al Katanty, Anait Miridzhanian, Nellie Peyton, Chris Reese, Sandra Maler Organizations: Democratic, Armed Forces, Rwandan, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of, Rwandan, Congolese, Congo, Rwanda, Kinshasa

☆ Nine new African countries to receive millions of malaria vaccines- GAVI
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 5 (Reuters) - Global vaccine alliance GAVI said on Wednesday 12 countries in Africa would receive 18 million doses of malaria vaccine over the next two years, expanding access to the shots to nine new countries in the region. Malaria remains one of the continent's deadliest diseases, killing nearly half a million children each year under the age of five. In 2021, Africa accounted for about 95% of global malaria cases and 96% of deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "At least 28 African countries have expressed interest in receiving the RTS,S (malaria) vaccine," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a media briefing, adding that a second malaria vaccine was under review for pre-qualification and if successful, could provide additional supply in the short term. The first doses of the RTS,S vaccine are expected to reach the 12 African countries during the last quarter of 2023, allowing them to start rolling out by early next year.

Persons: GAVI, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Raghav Mahobe, Shinjini Organizations: World Health Organization, WHO, GAVI, UNICEF, British, GSK, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Bengaluru

Despite a recent global pledge to reach zero deforestation by 2030, tropical forest loss last year exceeded 2021 levels. Global Forest Watch assessed 'primary forests', which includes mature forests that have not been cleared or regrown in recent history. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bolivia suffered the greatest losses of tropical forest after Brazil. The Global Forest Watch analysis found deforestation in 2022 was more than 10,000 sq km (3,900 sq miles) in excess of what would be needed to halt it by 2030. The world lost 10% less forest in 2022 than 2021, as fewer big fires burned in the Russian boreal forest, though the country still lost 43,000 sq km (16,600 sq miles) of tree cover last year.

Persons: Jair, Francis Seymour, Rod Taylor, Gloria Dickie, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute, University of Maryland, Watch, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, Brazilian, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Bolivia

☆ Rainforest destruction soared in 2022 despite global pledges to halt deforestation, new report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Caolán Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The destruction of the world’s rainforests ramped up last year, despite global pledges to end deforestation by 2030, according to a new report. The country’s rate of forest loss rose 15% from 2021 to 2022. Bolivia saw a record-high level of primary forest loss last year, with a 32% increase compared to 2021. It came in third behind only Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for area of primary forest loss, the report found. Despite the global increase in deforestation, there has been a sharp reduction in forest loss in Indonesia and loss levels in Malaysia have remained low, according to the report.

Persons: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Gustavo Moreno, Jair Bolsonaro’s, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Boris Johnson, Jane Barlow, Rod Taylor, ” Organizations: CNN, World Resources, Watch, University of Maryland, Democratic, UN, WRI’s Locations: Switzerland, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Glasgow, Indonesia, Malaysia

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