Andre Britz pulled over his pick-up truck on a rocky mountain track to show off the nature-preserving powers of southern Africa’s spekboom shrub.The 62-year-old Afrikaner is an evangelist for Portulacaria afra, a red-stemmed bush or small tree with thick, dense green leaves that acts as a sponge for carbon dioxide.”Here you can see the difference …

Spekboom bushes protect earth but can they cool Earth?Thu, 07 Mar 2024 01:38:25 GMT Read More »

Senegalese voters should finally head to the polls at the end of March, following a string of announcements late Wednesday marking the latest twist in weeks of crisis triggered by the delay to the presidential election.But there is still some confusion on the precise date of the first-round vote.While President Macky Sall set March 24 …

Senegal should vote at end of March after weeks of crisisWed, 06 Mar 2024 22:48:25 GMT Read More »

South Africa on Wednesday petitioned the International Court of Justice to impose fresh emergency measures on Israel over what it described as the “widespread starvation” resulting from its Gaza offensive.It is the second time Pretoria has asked the court for additional measures — its first request in February was denied.South Africa said it was “compelled …

S. Africa urges more emergency ICJ measures against Israel over Gaza ‘starvation’Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:52:05 GMT Read More »

Senegalese MPs on Wednesday debated an amnesty bill covering acts linked to deadly protests in recent years, a controversial text aimed at calming the crisis sparked by the presidential election delay.The bill has faced criticism that is is shielding perpetrators of serious crimes, including homicides, and its passage is not certain.A vote is expected later …

Senegal MPs debate contentious amnesty billWed, 06 Mar 2024 19:29:41 GMT Read More »

At least 8,565 people died on migration routes worldwide in 2023, making it the deadliest year since records began a decade ago, the United Nations said Wednesday.”The 2023 death toll represents a tragic increase of 20 percent compared to 2022, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further loss of life,” the UN’s International …

UN says 2023 was deadliest year for migrants in a decadeWed, 06 Mar 2024 15:11:00 GMT Read More »

Morocco experienced record heat this winter, including the hottest January since measurements began, the country’s meteorological department told AFP, placing the blame on climate change.The North African kingdom, where temperatures recently approached 37 degrees Celsius (99 Fahrenheit), is facing a sixth consecutive year of drought.The lack of water threatens the viability of agriculture — a …

Morocco winter breaks heat records: meteorologistsWed, 06 Mar 2024 14:45:19 GMT Read More »

A violent stand-off between local residents and squatters that invaded a field outside Bloemfontein starkly underlines the politics behind South Africa’s housing crisis ahead of May’s cliff-edge general election.On the north side of Curie Avenue new arrivals are setting up a sprawling shanty town of corrugated iron shacks stretching almost four kilometres from the city …

Land grab underlines housing crisis ahead of South Africa pollWed, 06 Mar 2024 14:44:59 GMT Read More »

A reciprocal agreement between Kenya and Haiti to send police from the East African nation to the violence-wracked country has raised hopes the Nairobi-led, UN-backed multinational peace mission could deploy soon.But the Kenyan government still faces legal hurdles in soldiering on with the plan after a court decision put the brakes on the deployment to …

Kenya police deployment to Haiti: What’s next?Wed, 06 Mar 2024 12:40:14 GMT Read More »

In war-torn Sudan, where chaos and fuel shortages have ground normal motor traffic to a halt, people once more rely on donkey carts — even for urgent trips to the hospital.In a small town south of the capital Khartoum, Hussein Ali has been busy carting patients to a clinic on a rickety wooden carriage that …

War-weary Sudanese without fuel turn to donkey cartsWed, 06 Mar 2024 09:55:55 GMT Read More »