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☆ Africa should not be arena for international competition, says Chinese foreign minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Dawit Endeshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang addresses delegates at the inauguration of the new Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, which China is building and equipping in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Tiksa NegeriADDIS ABABA, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Africa should not be an arena for competition between world powers, China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Wednesday, opening a new headquarters for a pan-African health body at the start of five-country Africa tour. "Africa should be a big stage for the international cooperation, not an arena for major countries competition," Qin said at a news conference with AU Commission chair Moussa Faki. A trusted aide of President Xi Jinping and former ambassador to the United States, Qin was appointed foreign minister last month. Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies, said the choice of countries reflected China's diversity of interests in Africa.

☆ Ukraine is getting Western armored vehicles as US, Germany, and France agree to send more firepower its way
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US, Germany, and France are sending Ukraine Western-made armored vehicles for the first time. The White House announced in a joint press statement on Thursday that the US intends to provide Kyiv with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, while Germany plans to send Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Earlier, both countries had hinted that Western armored vehicles could be included among future military aid. Zelenskyy did not specify which light vehicles he was referring to, though French politician Benjamin Haddad later confirmed that they are AMX-10 RC armored fighting vehicles. Ukraine has repeatedly requested heavy tanks and armored vehicles from Western countries.

☆ African migrants on rudder of a ship rescued by Spanish coast guard after an 11-day voyage
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Mirna-Alsharif-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Mirna Alsharif | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Three African migrants who were balancing on a ship's rudder were rescued by the Spanish coast guard on Monday after an 11-day voyage, according to officials. In a tweet published Monday, the coast guard said it rescued the migrants from the rudder of Alithini II, a ship that traveled from Nigeria to the Canary Islands. They can be seen sitting on the ship’s rudder with their backs bent, apparently due to lack of space, in a picture shared by the agency. The Alithini II, an oil and chemical tanker, arrived at the Canary Islands on Monday following an 11-day journey from Lagos, Nigeria, according to Marinetraffic.com. The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa, "are a popular gateway for African migrants attempting to reach Europe," with Spanish data showing migration to the archipelago increased to 51% the first five months of 2022 compared to last year, Reuters reported.

☆ Column: Key African nations set off on energy & emissions growth paths
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

However, the power mix varies greatly by country depending on locally available power sources, legacy power production infrastructure, and proximity to energy exporters. Electricity generation by source in key African economiesThis wide variance in power mix is clear when comparing the electricity source profiles of Africa's two largest electricity producers, South Africa and Egypt. In contrast, Egypt uses natural gas for 77% of its electricity, and uses no coal in electricity generation at all. The two countries' electricity systems have starkly divergent emissions footprints as a result of their different primary fuels. Across Northern Africa, natural gas is making rapid inroads into energy systems, primarily from the abundant local supplies in Algeria and Egypt.

☆ Lauren Sánchez on going to space, philanthropy and trying to bring light to the world
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —For four years, Lauren Sánchez has been quietly working behind the scenes to help Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos, strategically give away his vast wealth to a variety of causes. In their first sit-down interview as a couple at their sprawling Washington, D.C. home, Sánchez got candid about her philanthropic projects, space travel and what makes her relationship with Bezos work so seamlessly. “The work that we’re doing with the Bezos Courage and Civility Award I think needs to have a voice,” Sánchez said. Lauren Sanchez visits the US-Mexico border. Sánchez and Bezos said they wanted to bring a “little bit of light” to the people who use unity instead of conflict to resolve issues.

☆ Factbox: COP27: Which countries have offered 'loss and damage' funds?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

While vulnerable countries say one-off commitments are no substitute for a fund to provide ongoing support, some praised Scotland's leadership in acknowledging the issue. AUSTRIAAustria will provide at least 50 million euros to tackle loss and damage over the next four years, the government said on Tuesday. IRELANDIrish PM Micheal Martin committion 10 million euros to the "Global Shield" initiative for 2023. Some vulnerable countries say that type of funding does not count as "loss and damage" money, which they say should compensate countries for unavoidable costs from disasters. Wealthy countries already provide funds to help countries adapt to climate change by preparing for worse weather impacts, although this funding has fallen short of promised amounts.

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