insert_link Environment Hydropower damages river systems in Africa: how more solar and wind power can solve this problem By Angelo Carlino, Carnegie Science; Andrea Castelletti, Polytechnic University of Milan, and Rafael Schmitt, Stanford University Across the African continent, more than 300 new hydropower projects are planned to meet the growing demand for electricity. Some of these will require big dams, which can have major negative environmental impacts. Another looming problem with hydropower is that the water cycle is affected by climate change. Water […] todayJune 7, 2024 24
insert_link Environment Baobab trees all come from Madagascar – new study reveals that their seeds and seedlings floated to mainland Africa and all the way to Australia By Andrew R. Leitch, Queen Mary University of London There are eight species of baobab in the world, and they have a surprising distribution. Six are found in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean; one is found on the continent of Africa; and the last is far away in Australia. The origin of this group of plants has fascinated people for a long time. […] todayJune 7, 2024 15
insert_link Business / Economics How Dangote refinery is flipping the script on Africa’s oil By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Nigeria's Dangote refinery, a 650,000 barrels per day facility, has recently exported its first-ever jet fuel cargo to Europe, a move that signals not just growing production, but Africa's potential to become a major player in the global petroleum market. S&P Global in a report on May 30 explains that Bp, a British multinational oil and gas company, transported […] todayJune 6, 2024 23
insert_link Africa Africa enters into multi-country visa regime By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Africa is moving towards a multi-country visa system, with individual countries and regional blocs working to remove their borders to promote intra-Africa tourism. Southern African countries are the latest to signal their intent to allow tourists to explore more diverse offerings across multiple destinations using a single visa. Leaders from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, which comprise […] todayJune 6, 2024 15
insert_link Africa Nigerian tycoon taps Zimbabwe for lithium as Africa pushes local development of its mining sector By Seth Onyango, bird tsory agency Nigerian industrialist Benedict Peters’ Bravura Holdings will start production at a Zimbabwean lithium project in 2025, boosting Africa's drive to retain more profits from the global lithium boom, according to mining.com. African Intelligence reported in March that the Nigerian billionaire had acquired an exploration license in the key mining area of Kamativi. Peters' foray into lithium mining […] todayJune 5, 2024 16
insert_link Africa Nearly 25% of land in Africa has been damaged – what’s to blame, and what can be done By Mlungele M. Nsikani, South African National Biodiversity Institute Land degradation is a huge issue across the continent of Africa. One of its biggest drivers is biological invasions. This is when invasive species (species that aren’t naturally found in the area) arrive and produce large numbers of offspring which spread over long distances. Mlungele Nsikani, a land restoration specialist and environmental scientist, explains how […] todayJune 4, 2024 17
insert_link Africa Angola’s Petro de Luanda wins 2024 Basketball Africa League Championship By bird story agency Angola’s Petro de Luanda on Saturday (May 1) clinched the 2024 Basketball Africa League (BAL) Championship, becoming the first team outside of North Africa to win the BAL finals after overpowering Libya’s Al Ahly Ly 107-94 in the finals. The Angolans, who are also the 2022 BAL runners-up and one of only two teams to compete in all four BAL seasons, […] todayJune 3, 2024 26
insert_link World Russia FM in Guinea amid Africa influence boost Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived on Monday in Guinea, his ministry said, the first trip by Moscow's top diplomat to the West African country since 2013. Russia, which has seen its relations with the West plummet after it sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, has sought to boost its influence in Africa in recent years. Russia's foreign ministry announced the visit on the Telegram social media […] todayJune 3, 2024 9
Africa Africa’s green bond market is booming – report By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Green bonds are experiencing robust growth in Africa as governments, corporations, and financial institutions recognize their potential to fund sustainable projects. A new report shows green bond issuances in Africa jumped 125% last year, hitting US$1.4 billion from US$600 million in 2022. The report, ‘Emerging Market Green Bonds’ by the International Finance Corporation and Amundi, a European asset manager […] todayJune 3, 2024 15
