Nigeria has had a flood crisis since June 2022, with a resounding impact — over 600 lives lost, almost 1.5 million displaced, and over 200,000 homes damaged in 370 local governments across the country’s 36 states. This is the country’s worst flood incident in a decade, with floods projected to …
Read More »Transition minerals could transform the Democratic Republic of Congo, but local communities must be consulted
DRC’s minerals have been systematically plundered for centuries; now, its cobalt is coveted by the world for green energy transition. Will this finally bring transformation or more misery to the local communities? Kinshasa, DRC | BIRD AGENCY | Congo’s natural resources have been plundered at a terrible cost to its …
Read More »OPINION: Understanding Ethiopia’s Tigray war and the new peace deal
What has the fighting been about? And why? What does this recent truce mean for Ethiopia, Tigray and conflict participants like Eritrea? Lagos, Nigeria | RICHARD ALI – BIRD AGENCY | The Ethiopian conflict centred on the Tigray region has concerned African security watchers since November 2020, when the fighting …
Read More »World Bank tells Africa: Invest in climate adaptation to achieve economic growth
Egypt, Sharm El-Sheikh | BIRD AGENCY | The recent World Bank report urges African countries to increase their investment in climate adaptation lest they miss out on their development goals. As African nations push for more climate financing at the ongoing COP 27, a series of reports by the World Bank underscores the …
Read More »Green bottles and blue denim – an activist’s guide to saving the planet
Kampala, Uganda | BIRD AGENCY | Sandra Suubi, 32, is rallying against climate change through wearable installations made from various waste products. At the Climate Story Lab Africa 2022 edition, a woman dressed in a costume made with over 500 green plastic bottles struts onstage in a fully packed auditorium. “Kiragala …
Read More »THE INDEPENDENT: Muhoozi tweets, East African armies
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | These are the top stories in this week’s THE INDEPENDENT. COVER STORY Muhoozi tweets trigger look at regional armies: Military experts note growing capability of East Africa forces THE LAST WORD The Lee Kuan Yew myth: Why I think Singapore would have transformed even with …
Read More »Why some people are mosquito magnets
The answer why may be hidden in our skin SPECIAL HEALTH REPORT | THE INDEPENDENT | It’s impossible to hide from a female mosquito — she will hunt down any member of the human species by tracking our CO2 exhalations, body heat, and body odor. But some of us are …
Read More »Why politics can get so heated
The psychology behind and how to show up differently | THE INDEPENDENT | It’s easy to dehumanise those we disagree with. But who does that really serve? Recently, my brother and I had an argument about politics. It wasn’t a very long conversation, but it devolved quickly into hurtful, personal …
Read More »Building the critical minerals industry
The hidden environmental, human cost and solutions to the Great Lakes regional peace, security, stability and development In 2007, a global consortium of 31 universities and colleges across the world took part in developing a 5-Seater plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, the Vision 200, targeting the Indian market. This innovation was …
Read More »What’s next for Xi’s China?
Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) by celebrating the destruction of Hong Kong’s autonomy, reiterating the goal of “reunification” with Taiwan, praising the zero-COVID policy, and stressing the importance of economic “self-reliance.” What he did not do was allow the …
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The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price