DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Lobito Corridor: Angola’s US, Europe-backed railway could change how minerals move in Africa – and globally
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-04 | by ( Amy Gunia | Jackelyn Prager | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —In late August, a container vessel sailed out of Angola’s Port of Lobito carrying railway operator Lobito Atlantic Railway’s first shipment of copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the US. That’s about 30 days faster than a road journey, according to Francisco Franca, the CEO of Lobito Atlantic Railway (LAR), a consortium of firms that took over operations of the railway in January. The ship took Lobito Atlantic Railways first shipment of copper to the US. “Lobito Corridor is not just a railway line, but is the economic development along the corridor,” said Franca, the CEO of LAR. For companies like his, the benefits of the Lobito Corridor are clear.

Persons: CNN —, Francisco Franca, Franca, LAR, Washington jostle, Emmet Livingstone, Joe Biden, “, David Reekmans, Reekmans, Asia ”, Trump, Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, Evelyn Hockstein, Xi Jinping, ”, Wamkele Mene, Décio Catarro Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Lobito Atlantic Railway, Washington, MSC, Lobito Atlantic Railways, Atlantic Railway, Initiative, Benguela Railway, Partnership for Global Infrastructure, Investment, Getty, Port, White House, Reuters, African Continental Free Trade Area, Industry Locations: Angola’s Port, Lobito, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Europe, Kolwezi, Angola, Africa’s, Beijing, Benguela, China, Africa, Washington, AFP, America, Asia, Zambia, Tanzania, Tanzanian

☆ Dikembe Mutombo: Basketball Hall of Famer dies from brain cancer at 58
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( David Close | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo – known for his shot-blocking and famed finger wave after denying opponents at the hoop – died Monday from brain cancer aged 58, according to the NBA. Dikembe Mutombo wags his finger during a game in Atlanta in 1998. In 1997, Mutombo established the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation with a mission to improve education and quality of life in his native DRC. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement, saying, “Dikembe Mutombo was simply larger than life. Dikembe Mutombo, playing for the Houston Rockets, blocks a shot during a game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 2004.

Persons: CNN — Basketball Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, –, Dikembe Mutombo, Scott Cunningham, Mutombo, Adam Silver, “ Dikembe Mutombo, “, Dikembe’s, Rose, ”, Nathaniel S, Butler, Daryl Morey, ” Morey, Joel Embiid, He’s, Andy Scholes, ” Scholes, ‘ Andy Organizations: CNN — Basketball Hall of Famer, NBA, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Democratic, Georgetown University, Denver Nuggets, Nuggets, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Global, Sixers, GM, 76ers, CNN, Rockets Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Atlanta, Democratic Republic of, Congo, Africa, East Rutherford , New Jersey, Houston

☆ Three Americans are accused of trying to overthrow Congo's president. They're now sentenced to death.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-14 | by ( Freddie Clayton | Freddie Clayton Is A Freelance Journalist Based In London. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Five years ago, while playing for the Copper Hills High School football team, Thompson met Marcel Malanga, the son of Christian Malanga. He proclaimed himself president of the United Congolese Party and railed against what he saw as vast government corruption in the DRC. On May 19, he assembled a ragtag band of a few dozen paramilitaries, leading them in an extraordinarily ambitious yet ultimately amateurish attempt to unseat Congolese president Felix Tshisekedi. Among them were Thompson, Malanga's son Marcel, and 36-year-old Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, a convicted drug trafficker from Maryland. Videos taken in Kinshasa after the aborted coup showed Thompson being hit with the butt of a rifle by security forces.

Persons: Tyler Thompson, Miranda Thompson, Marcel Malanga, Thompson, Malanga, —, Brittney Sawyer, Matt Miller, “, Christian Malanga, Felix Tshisekedi, Vital Kamerhe, Malanga's, Marcel, Benjamin Reuben Zalman, Polun, Tyler, he’s, ”, Marcel Malanga's, Brittany Sawyer, ” Sawyer, Zalman Organizations: Democratic, BBC, —, State, Embassy, High School football, New, United Congolese Party, U.S . State Department, Associated Press Locations: Utah, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congolese, DRC, U.S, British, Belgian, Canadian, Salt Lake City, American, Brussels, New Zaire, Maryland, Kinshasa, West Jordan , Utah, Congo

Unless you’re directly touching them, you’re not going to get infected.”How does mpox spread? Mpox, previously called monkeypox, is a virus that causes fevers, headaches, muscle aches and painful, open wounds on the skin. While Covid is a respiratory virus that spreads through the air, mpox is spread from person to person through close, skin-to-skin contact with those lesions. Clade I accounts for the latest mpox strain that’s driving the outbreak in parts of Africa. “It’s not airborne,” Taylor said, adding that there is no evidence that the mpox virus is mutating or spreading in a way that would prompt school closures.

Persons: “ I’M, Young ”, ‘, ’ ”, “, ”, Michelle Taylor, Christina Hutson, you’re, Paul Offit, “ That’s, ” Hutson, Carlos del Rio, Del, mpox, ” Taylor Organizations: World Health Organization, Health Department, Centers for Disease Control, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Democratic, CDC, Emory University Locations: Shelby, Memphis , Tennessee, Africa, United States, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Sweden, U.S, Atlanta, Del Rio

The virus is classified into two distinct groups: clade I and clade II. Clade II was responsible for the 2022 outbreak, which has led to around 100,000 cases worldwide. Clade I is more transmissible than clade II and capable of being more severe, so infectious disease experts are concerned about further international spread. How does this version of mpox spread? Historically, mpox lesions have tended to appear on the face, chest, palms of the hands and the soles of the feet.

Persons: ”, Anne Rimoin, that’s, Stuart Isaacs, Isaacs, there’s, Rimoin, Marc Siegel, Amira Albert Roess, “ It’s Organizations: Democratic, Health, University of California, Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health, University of Pennsylvania, George Washington School of Medicine, Health Sciences, ”, Department of Health, Human Service, George Mason University Locations: Mpox, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sweden, Africa, Pakistan, Los, Congo, U.S, DRC

☆ Experts are racing to contain 'the most dangerous' monkeypox virus yet before it causes a global outbreak
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewA deadly and fast-spreading new strain of mpox, the disease caused by the monkeypox virus, has global health officials ringing alarm bells. The new virus is called clade Ib, since it's a mutation of an even earlier form of mpox. AdvertisementThe new clade Ib virus could cause a global outbreak, experts fear, though they stopped short of warning of a pandemic. "The pandemic question is difficult," Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at Oxford University, said in the briefing. The new clade Ib strain seems to do it all.

Persons: —, John Claude Udahemuka, Trudie Lang, There's, Lang, Murhula, mpox, Rosamund Lewis, Murhula Masirika Organizations: Service, University of Rwanda, Business, World Health Organization, Democratic, Global Health Network, Oxford University, Centers for Disease Control, WHO, Reuters Locations: Democratic Republic of, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Africa

☆ DR Congo: Americans involved in foiled deadly coup, military says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Nimi Princewill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —American citizens were involved in an attempted coup d’état that left at least three people dead on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a military spokesperson told CNN Monday. Malanga was killed in a gun battle between the armed putschists and the presidential guards, Ekenge said. Videos widely shared on social media, but not verified by CNN, showed a man with a bloody face being surrounded by Congolese military personnel. Sunday’s incident was the second coup attempt by the now deceased Malanga, a former Congolese military veteran, Ekenge told CNN. The African Union condemned Sunday’s coup attempt in the DRC and welcomed the “control of the situation” by the country’s security forces.

Persons: d’état, Vital Kamerhe, Christian Malanga, General Sylvain Ekenge, Malanga, Ekenge, “, ” Ekenge, Marcel, Benjamin Reuben Zalman, Polun, Patrick Ducey, Taylor Thomson, “ Patrick Ducey, Lucy Tamlyn, ”, Felix Tshisekedi, Kamerhe’s, Sunday’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Palais, Nation, Congolese, United Congolese Party, Reuters, World Bank, Central, African Union Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Congolese, Kinshasa, Africa, Gabon

☆ Drones have turned the tables in recent African wars
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Drones recently supplied to Sudan by Iran are already making an impact in that country's brutal civil war. Similar types of drones played decisive roles in turning the tables in two previous African civil wars in recent years and could do so again. "It should come as no surprise that these drones are being used in wars around the world," Rogers told BI. In this context, drones are useful to achieve specific objectives, but they will not win the war alone," Rogers said. RANE's Dodd also credited Ethiopia's drone procurements for decisively "turning the tide" of the Tigray War.

Persons: —, Remi Dodd, RANE, it's, Dodd, James Patton Rogers, Rogers, Turkey's TB2, Loong, Debretsion Gebremichael, RANE's Dodd Organizations: Service, Business, Sudanese Armed Forces, Rapid Support Forces, United, Ethiopian, Tigray, Libyan National Army, Cornell Brooks Tech, Institute, Cornell University, American Warfare, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Locations: Sudan, Iran, Iranian, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Libya, Tripoli, Omdurman, Tehran, Red, Yemen, Ukraine, Tigray War, Tigray, Addis Ababa, Ukrainian, New York, Donetsk, Nigeria, DRC, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burkina Faso

☆ Thousands sheltering in hospital as fighting escalates in Democratic Republic of Congo
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Sarah Dean | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Thousands of people are seeking shelter inside an “overwhelmed” hospital amid an escalation of fighting in North Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warned on Thursday. At least 2,500 people, including children, are currently sheltering in Mweso Hospital, around 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the provincial capital Goma. “The hospital is overwhelmed, with thousands of people crowded inside, trying to find some protection from the fighting. In recent years, protesters have taken to the streets to demand the withdrawal of UN forces for failing to rein in rebel groups, including M23. The M23 group was named after a March 23, 2009, peace deal, which it accused the government of violating.

Persons: ”, Çaglar Tahiroglu, Jean, Pierre Lacroix, Felix Tshisekedi Organizations: CNN, Democratic, MSF, Ministry of Health, United Nations, UN, Rwandan Locations: North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Mweso, Goma, Congolese, Rwanda

"After 25 years of presence, MONUSCO will definitively leave the DRC no later than the end of 2024,” Keita said at a media briefing in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. The end of the mission will not be “the end of the United Nations” in the country, she added. The U.N. and Congolese officials worked together to produce a disengagement plan for “a progressive, responsible, honorable and exemplary withdrawal of MONUSCO,” Congolese Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula said. Modalities have also been set for “the gradual transfer of tasks from MONUSCO to Congolese government,” Lutundula added. The violence is occasioned by rampant mass killings and has displaced nearly 7 million people.

Persons: Bintou Keita, MONUSCO, ” Keita, Christophe Lutundula, ” Lutundula, —, “ Organizations: Central, United Nations, East Locations: KINSHASA, Congo, Congolese, Central African, South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, Kinshasa, MONUSCO, East African

☆ Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes: He ignored a Linkedin message once, but not the second time. When he responded his life changed forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Alasdair Howorth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

I just thought it was a welcome message … so I ignored it.”Fortunately for Lopes, Cape Verde head coach time Rui Águas messaged the Shamrock Rovers defender again nine months later – this time in English – asking if he had considered his offer. Roberto Lopes, who plays for Cape Verde, was born and raised in Dublin. French forward Just Fontaine (L) scores in France's World Cup 5-2 semifinal defeat to Brazil in 1958. France’s captain at the first ever World Cup in 1930 was Algerian-born Alexandre Villaplane. But having recently reversed that policy, the Taifa Stars will have a number of players born outside the continent in its squad for the 2024 tournament.

Persons: CNN —, Roberto “ Pico ” Lopes, Lopes, “, ” Lopes, Rui Águas, Roberto Lopes, Ulrik Pedersen, Mohamed Salah, Lopes won’t, Alexandre Villaplane, Fontaine, Eusébio, Samuel Eto’o, Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, ” Wissa, Darren Lewis, Benoît Assou, Ekotto, Ryan Byrne, ”, ‘, ’, Abdoulaye Doucouré, Wilfred Zaha, Les, Patrice Beaumelle, I’ve, I’m, ” Carlos ‘ Caluccha ’ Lopes, Roberto’s, Roberto, “ It’s, he’s, hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Shamrock Rovers, Cape, CNN Sport, Africa, of Nations, LinkedIn, AP, Google, Blue Sharks, Rovers, Professional, Association of Ireland’s, body’s, AFP, Getty, France, UEFA, Benfica, English Premier League, Cameroon soccer, Brentford, Ireland, Democratic, Former Cameroon, Tottenham Hotspur, Lions, League of Ireland Premier Division, Everton, Mali, Ivorian national team, Galatasaray, Cape Verde Locations: Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Cape Verde, Lopes , Cape Verde, Ireland, Egypt, Cape Verde’s, Ghana, Mozambique, Brazil, Africa, Algerian, French, Marrakech, Morocco, Mozambican, Angolan, Portuguese, Portugal, Algeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, Europe, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, France, Poland, you’re, Ivory Coast, Cape Verdean, Verdean

☆ 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

"We have decided to unanimously declare unconstitutional the entire law 406 of October 20, 2023," Supreme Court President Maria Eugenia Lopez said. First Quantum acknowledged the ruling and affirmed its "unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance in all aspects of our operations within the country." Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the country will abide by the court ruling. For First Quantum, the Panama ruling would be a repeat of its decade-old experience in the Democratic Republic Of Congo. The company exited DRC in 2012 after it filed an arbitration procedure against the African country for cancelling its mining contract.

Persons: Aris Martinez, Maria Eugenia Lopez, Quantum, Laurentino Cortizo, Morgan, Ricardo Martinelli, Leonardo Di Caprio, Elida Moreno, Valentine Hilaire, Natalia Siniawski, Denny Thomas, Chizu Nomiyama, Mark Porter Organizations: Minerals, REUTERS, PANAMA CITY, Reuters, Panama, London Metal Exchange, Central, RBC, Democratic, Natural Resources Corporation PLC, Cobre, Thomson Locations: Panama's, Panama, Panama City, PANAMA, Central American, Democratic Republic Of Congo, Hollywood, Cobre Panama

☆ Eyeing Election, Congo President Eases Some Terms of Eastern Military Rule
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Ange KasongoKINSHASA (Reuters) - With little over two months until a general election, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi on Thursday said some conditions of military rule in conflict-hit eastern provinces would be eased, partly to encourage participation in the vote. Last year, U.N. experts and Amnesty International said security had deteriorated since the state of siege was imposed. The insecurity has caused the displacement of about 6 million people, the United Nations' top representative in Congo said in September. On Thursday, the U.S. embassy said it was concerned about an increase in violence in North Kivu. "The crisis in eastern DRC requires a political and not a military solution," it said in a statement.

Persons: Ange Kasongo, Felix Tshisekedi, Alessandra Prentice, Grant McCool Organizations: Amnesty International, Amnesty, United Nations Locations: Ange Kasongo KINSHASA, North Kivu, Ituri, Congo, U.S, DRC

REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - China's appetite for base metal imports appears to be growing. FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVEChina's imports of primary aluminium surged to a near two-year high of 153,000 metric tons in August, bringing the year-to-date count to 755,000 metric tons. SLOW COPPER BOAT TO SHANGHAIRefined copper imports were 340,000 metric tons in August, the highest monthly tally this year. The country's refined zinc trade has reverted to net imports this year but volumes remain modest by historical standards. SHIFTING THE NICKEL MIXThere has been no pick-up in China's imports of refined nickel.

Persons: Florence Lo, they've, They've, China's, David Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Shanghai Futures Exchange, London Metal Exchange, LOVE, Malaysian, New, Democratic, China's CMOC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, contango, Shanghai, RUSSIA, U.S, New Zealand, SHANGHAI, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Indonesia

☆ Prices tumble for cobalt used for electric vehicle batteries
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Pratima Desai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Vincent West Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Prices of the cobalt hydroxide used to make chemicals for electric vehicle batteries have plummeted due to an upsurge of supplies from top producer Democratic Republic of Congo. Cobalt hydroxide is produced in Congo, where it is a byproduct of copper. According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), payables in August dropped to 46% of the cobalt metal price compared with around 90% in late 2021 and early 2022 when cobalt metal traded around $60,000 a metric ton. "These developments pose long-term challenges to cobalt demand," analysts at Morgan Stanley said in a note. "We see cobalt prices remaining under pressure as supply growth and CMOC destocking come through."

Persons: Vincent West, Roman Aubry, Tenke, Morgan Stanley, destocking, Pratima Desai, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, BMI, China's CMOC, Thomson Locations: Bilbao, Spain, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, payables, Indonesia, DRC

☆ DRC Congo to Move Its Embassy to Jerusalem From Tel Aviv -Israeli Statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo will move its Israel embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday. Netanyahu, who met Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi during the U.N. General Assembly, announced in a statement that Israel would also be opening an embassy in Kinshasa, the capital of Democratic Republic of Congo. Only a handful of countries have their embassies in Jerusalem, with most others maintaining their diplomatic representation in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel's main economic hub. While Israel considers Jerusalem its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there, most of the world does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over the entire city, believing its status should be resolved in negotiations. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem; Editing by Leslie Adler and Matthew Lewis)

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Felix Tshisekedi, Israel, Ari Rabinovitch, Leslie Adler, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Democratic, General Assembly Locations: JERUSALEM, Democratic Republic of Congo, Israel, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Kinshasa

CNN —Dozens of people were killed in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo this week during demonstrations against the United Nations’ mission in the country. At least 43 people were killed and a further 53 were injured during the clashes with local authorities. Over 150 people were arrested, including the leader of the group which organized the protests, the government said. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called for DRC authorities to ensure that “future law enforcement actions in the context of the policing of public assemblies fully adhere to international human rights norms and standards.”Anti-UN protests in the DRC broke out in July and have since escalated. The UN has a longstanding and significant footprint in the country, which has been the object of local demonstrations for years.

Persons: “, ”, MONUSCO, ’, ” Ravina Shamdasani, ” Shamdasani, Volker Türk Organizations: CNN, Democratic, United Nations, Protesters, Wednesday, East African Community, UN, Human Rights, Human Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, Goma, ”, Congolese, ’ Goma, DRC

[1/2] A general view shows the water conditions of the Piraiba river before a summit of Amazon rainforest nations, in Belem, Para state, Brazil August 5, 2023. Leaders are expected to announce the final agreement, known as the Belem Declaration, late on Tuesday afternoon. Presidents from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela will attend, while Ecuador and Suriname will send other representatives. ACTO Executive Director Carlos Lazary said the final agreement may include Brazil's plans for a regional center in Manaus where Amazon countries can coordinate police operations. Norway and Germany, which have funded Amazon preservation, and France, which controls the Amazon territory of French Guiana, will also participate.

Persons: Ueslei Marcelino, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Jair Bolsonaro, Carlos Lazary, Jake Spring, Brad Haynes, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: REUTERS, Ueslei, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, CNN Brasil, European Union, Thomson Locations: Belem , Para, Brazil, Ueslei Marcelino BELEM, Brazilian, Belem, Belem Declaration, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, Suriname, policymaking, Manaus, Congo, DRC, Indonesia, Norway, Germany, France, French Guiana

☆ Uganda to reopen century-old rail link after China fails to fund new line
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Elias Biryabarema | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The line, which has been out of use for roughly 40 years, is part of the East Africa rail network that stretches from Kenya's Indian Ocean seaport of Mombasa. It was built by Kenya and Uganda's former colonial ruler Britain around the beginning of the 20th-century. Uganda decided to revamp the old network after plans to build a separate modern standard gauge railway (SGR) failed to secure financing from China. The European Union funded construction of the Gulu hub, completed in late 2021, as part of the effort to revamp Uganda's railway network, which fell into disrepair during the country's economic collapse in 1970s and early 80s. Ugandan officials hope once the link is restored, rail will replace trucks in shipping transit goods to South Sudan and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, John Linnon Sengendo, Sengendo, Elias Biryabarema, George Obulutsa, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Democratic, Uganda Railways Corporation, Reuters, China Harbour, Engineering Company, Bridge Corporation, European Union, Thomson Locations: Kenya, Uganda, Kibera, Nairobi, South Sudan, DRC Kenya, KAMPALA, Democratic Republic of Congo, East Africa, Mombasa, Britain, China, Ugandan, Tororo, Uganda's, Gulu, Kampala

☆ Glencore expects 2023 trading unit profits of up to $4 bln
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Glencore (GLEN.L) on Friday said it expects profits at its trading division this year of up to $4 billion, exceeding its long-term annual guidance. It expects full-year trading earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to be between $3.5 and $4 billion. The group left its overall 2023 guidance for copper unchanged at 1.04 million metric tons, even as production fell by 10% to 488,000 tons in the first half. "Our full-year production guidance remains unchanged from earlier guidance," boss Gary Nagle said in a release. "Second-half volume weightings in copper, zinc and nickel reflect higher expected production volumes from Collahuasi, Kazzinc, Mount Isa and INO."

Persons: Gary Nagle, Mount Isa, INO, Clara Denina, Jason Neely, Jan Harvey Organizations: Democratic, Thomson Locations: Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC

In the video, a Central African Republic rebel fighter says "the French want to drive Wagner out of Africa". Russia and Wagner have a track record of media manipulation and disinformation, which Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin has admitted to. The European Union sanctioned Wagner in February for alleged rights abuses and spreading disinformation, including in Africa. The foreign ministry unit doesn’t promote or generate fake news, the two diplomats said. However, the foreign ministry unit, and the broader strategy, will face an uphill battle to convince people in Africa that France has changed, seven analysts and diplomats said.

Persons: Ibrahim Traore, Vincent Bado, Wagner, Catherine Colonna, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Maria Zakharova, Meta, Anne, Sophie Ave, Lakhta, Prigozhin, Viginum, Faustin, Archange Touadera, “, Michael Shurkin, I'm, Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi, John Irish, Elizabeth Pineau, Bate Felix, Michel Rose, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, Central, Facebook, Kremlin, Reuters, Quai D'Orsay, Vigilance, Protection, European Union, West, Central African, Twitter, Democratic, Internet Research Agency, Meta, Global, National Union, Gabonese, Thomson Locations: Burkina, French, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Russia, PARIS, DAKAR, Central African Republic, France, Russian, Africa, Paris, France's, Ukraine, Moscow, Central, West Africa, Quai, Kinshasa, Mali, Sahel, Europe, Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, U.S, Togo, Libreville, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Dakar

Kampala, Uganda CNN —At least 26 students have been killed and six abducted following an attack at a western Uganda school by armed rebels from the Allied Democratic Force, a Ugandan major told CNN on Saturday. The military suspects more dead bodies may be found, but said there was no one still alive trapped in the school. Armed rebels of the ADF, which has ties to ISIS, attacked the school in Mpondwe on Friday night, police have said. “A dormitory was burnt and a food store looted,” Uganda Police Force Spokesperson Fred Enanga said on Twitter, adding that the bodies had been transferred to Bwera Hospital. The spokesperson said that Ugandan Police and the Uganda People’s Defense Force were in “hot pursuit” of the suspects.

Persons: Major Bilal Katamba, Fred Enanga Organizations: Uganda CNN, Allied Democratic Force, CNN, Democratic, Authorities, ADF, ISIS, Uganda Police Force, Twitter, Bwera Hospital, Ugandan Police, Uganda People’s Defense Force Locations: Kampala, Uganda, Ugandan, Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Mpondwe, Congo

CNN —At least 46 people, including 23 children, were killed and six were wounded at a displacement camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to network of observers based in the country. The Kivu Security Tracker said the incident happened in the Djugu territory following an attack by the militia group ‘Codeco,’ on Monday. “At least 46 civilians were killed and six wounded on Monday 12 June at the #Lala displaced persons camp (Djugu territory, #Ituri) following an incursion of #CODECO,” Kivu Security said on Twitter. Kivu Security added that the attack was the deadliest experienced in the area in more than a year. “MONUSCO has reinforced its security presence in the area, in liaison with the provincial authorities,” a statement by MONUSCO chief said.

Persons: ’, “, Monusco ’, “ MONUSCO, MONUSCO, LUCHA Organizations: CNN, Democratic, ” Kivu Security, Twitter, Kivu Security, UN, ADF Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, Kivu, Ituri, ” Kivu, North Kivu, Congolese, Kasindi

☆ Congolese artists wear costumes made of trash to shine a light on Kinshasa’s pollution problem
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Flo Cornall | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Artist Junior Mungongu made an interactive costume from plastic bottles and lids to raise awareness of the city’s lack of action on single-use plastics. Walking around the city in his elaborate creation, he engages with his audience by asking people to screw plastic bottles onto the lids. Artist Junior Mungongu wears a costume made out of plastic bottles and lids. Colin Delfosse“Giving echo”Brussels-based photographer Colin Delfosse has created “Fulu Act,” a portrait series featuring some of the KinAct artists. It is estimated that Kinshasa’s inhabitant, known as “Kinois,” produce around 9,000 tons of garbage daily, including 1,500 tons of plastic waste which clogs rivers, contributing to flooding.

Persons: Junior Mungongu, “, ”, Colin Delfosse, Jean Precy Numbi, ” salvages, Samba, ” Jean Precy Numbi, Delfosse, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Sony Locations: Democratic Republic of Congo’s, Kinshasa, Colin Delfosse Belgium, Congolese, DRC, Lingala, Europe, Africa, Brussels

Search resuls for: "DRC"

25 mentions found