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Turkish Airlines pilot dies mid-flight, forcing emergency landing

Turkey, World /

A Turkish Airlines flight traveling from Seattle to Istanbul had to make an emergency landing in New York after one of the pilots collapsed during the flight, the airline confirmed on Wednesday. The incident took place shortly after takeoff from Seattle on Tuesday evening. Despite swift attempts at first aid, the 59-year-old pilot sadly passed away before the plane could reach its destination, as reported by Turkish Airlines spokesperson Yahya Ustun on social media. The Airbus A350, operating as flight TK204, was diverted to New York by the co-pilot and remaining flight crew. The pilot, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007, had recently passed a routine medical examination in March with no reported health issues.

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The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded

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The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded Wednesday to American biochemist David Baker and British scientists Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, recognizing their pioneering work in protein design and AI-based protein structure prediction, according to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Baker was awarded half of the prize for his achievements in “computational protein design.” His research, which began in 2003, achieved the previously unattainable: creating entirely new proteins. Baker’s work has since led to the production of numerous innovative proteins, opening up potential applications for pharmaceuticals, vaccines, nanomaterials, and precise molecular sensors. “David Baker has succeeded with the almost impossible feat of building entirely new kinds of proteins,” the Academy stated. His initial designs have spurred a wave of imaginative research, producing unique proteins that could transform various fields in health and technology.  The other half of the prize went jointly to Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, and John M. Jumper, also from DeepMind, for solving a 50-year-old scientific challenge: predicting complex protein structures. In 2020, Hassabis and Jumper introduced AlphaFold2, a revolutionary AI model capable of predicting the structures of nearly all 200 million known proteins, according to the Academy. Since its release, AlphaFold2 has been accessed by over two million researchers across 190 countries, proving indispensable to scientists seeking to understand the biological roles and applications of various proteins. The Nobel Committee emphasized the global impact of AlphaFold2, describing it as an invaluable resource for advancing biological research on an unprecedented scale.

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Nigeria receives 600,000 doses of cholera vaccine

Africa /

Nigeria received 600,000 additional doses of cholera vaccine Tuesday to contain an outbreak of the infectious disease in northeastern Borno State caused by devasting floods. UNICEF Deputy Representative in Nigeria Rownak Khan said the vaccine and other medical items were part of a global response to halt the spread of cholera, a waterborne disease which hit the state weeks after massive flooding damaged sanitary facilities and water supply. “This oral cholera vaccine was a joint effort between the government and the partners. UNICEF is one of the partners. We also have other partners who also put a lot of effort to bring the cholera vaccine to Nigeria,” Khan told Anadolu in the state capital Maiduguri after handing over the items to the government. The donation also included acute water diarrhea kits and hospital beds worth $69,000, she added. Last month, UNICEF delivered the first 300,000 doses of cholera vaccine to the state, starting massive vaccination in the area. Abubakar Hassan, special adviser to the Borno State governor on Health, said the state is yet to record any cholera-related deaths days after the outbreak of the disease was reported. Authorities said 451 suspected cases of cholera were recorded in Borno on Oct. 4, with 128 cases testing positive after a rapid diagnostic process.

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Mozambique Elections: Frelimo set to maintain power

Africa /

Mozambique is set to welcome 17 million voters for elections on October 9, determining the makeup of 250 parliamentary members and provincial assemblies. The ruling Frelimo party, in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is expected to nominate its next presidential candidate from within its ranks. Daniel Chapo, a former radio announcer and law teacher, is anticipated to succeed Filipe Nyusi as president. Local resident Julio Macamo expressed hopes for progress, stating, “We aspire for a better future. Given our past experiences, we want the new government to succeed.” At least four candidates are vying for change in a nation grappling with a jihadist insurgency and severe climate challenges, including flooding. The insurgency has displaced over 1.3 million people, while many others face significant food shortages due to drought. Sheila Duarte Timana from Maputo remarked, “If the president-elect delivers the improvements we’ve been asking for, I believe the people will be very happy.” Last year’s local elections were marred by serious allegations of vote-rigging and fraud, leading to violent protests in Maputo and its vicinity. This time, however, concerns appear to be less pronounced.

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Rabat named World Book Capital for 2026 by UNESCO

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The Director-General of UNESCO announced on Tuesday (Oct. 8) that Morocco’s capital, Rabat, will be designated as World Book Capital for 2026. This decision follows the recommendation of the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the event in 2025. Rabat, known for having Africa’s third-largest international book and publishing fair, will begin its year of celebrations on April 23, 2026, coinciding with World Book and Copyright Day. Rabat is the fifth African city to receive this honor, following Alexandria (Egypt), Port Harcourt (Nigeria), Conakry (Guinea), and Accra (Ghana). As part of the designation, Rabat will implement a range of activities to promote books and reading for all ages. The initiatives aim to foster sustainable economic growth and social benefits by improving access to literature and supporting the local publishing sector. UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay emphasized the importance of Rabat’s book industry in democratizing knowledge. Strasbourg, France, was named the World Book Capital for 2024.

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21 feared dead after boat collision in Nigeria

Africa /

At least 21 people drowned after two unregistered passenger boats capsized after colliding in Nigeria’s Lagos state, police confirmed Tuesday. The incident occurred in the town of Imore in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area. The boats, each carrying 16 passengers, capsized in the middle of a lagoon. Lagos state police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said the incident occurred on Monday. He said 11 passengers with injuries were rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija. Police teams, local divers and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilized to the scene. Hundeyin confirmed that efforts are underway to recover the bodies of those who drowned, adding an investigation into the incident is being conducted. Last week, 48 people died and around 150 others went missing when a boat capsized in Kebbi state. The boat was carrying around 300 passengers.

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ASEAN leaders’ summit kicks off in Laos

World /

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders’ summit began in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on Wednesday. In a short statement on X, the ASEAN Secretariat said the summit started with the opening ceremony which will be followed by a plenary session and a retreat session. “ASEAN Leaders will engage with representatives from AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly), ASEAN-BAC (ASEAN Business Advisory Council), and ASEAN Youth,” it said. Leaders from member countries who arrived on Tuesday in Vientiane are expected to discuss regional issues, including recent devastating floods that have hit several ASEAN countries, the crisis in Myanmar, South China Sea tensions, and Middle East violence. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other leaders from partner countries are also expected to arrive in Laos for summits with regional bloc leaders. The ASEAN region is home to over 700 million people, spans 1.7 million square miles (4.5 million square kilometers), and recorded a total GDP of $3.62 trillion in 2022.

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Towards the parliamentary elections in Mozambique

Africa /

Mozambique is set to hold general elections on October 9 to choose a new President, Parliament, and regional governments. The ruling Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) is campaigning to maintain the presidency and its parliamentary majority under new leader Daniel Chapo. They face challenges from the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) led by Ossufo Momade, the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) headed by Lutero Simango, and independent candidate Venancio Mondlane. As the campaign wraps up on October 6, there have been no significant reports of partisan violence. However, on September 28, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) disclosed it had experienced a cyber-attack, the repercussions of which are still unclear. In anticipation of the elections, authorities are expected to heighten security across the nation, with potential measures including checkpoints, increased patrolling in urban areas, border restrictions, and curfews. Protests and clashes between party supporters and security forces are anticipated, particularly in major urban centers, opposition strongholds, and northern provinces like Cabo Delgado, Nampula, Niassa, and Zambezia. Significant disruptions to urban and intercity travel, business operations, and telecommunications may occur due to civil unrest or preemptive security measures.

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Ethiopia elects Taye Atske Selassie as first female president

Africa /

Ethiopia’s two houses of parliament elected Taye Atske Selassie as president on Monday (Oct. 7). He was sworn in on the same day, receiving the Constitution from the outgoing president. Taye succeeds Ethiopia’s first female president, who held the largely ceremonial role for six years, as executive power remains with the prime minister. The Chairperson of the African Union congratulated Taye and reaffirmed the AU’s support for Ethiopia’s democratic development. A seasoned diplomat, Taye previously served as Ethiopia’s Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations in New York. His predecessor, Zewde, who made history as Ethiopia’s first female president in 2018, resigned from her role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the African Union to take on the presidency. Reports suggest there were tensions between her and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

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Zambia and China sign MOU for Africa’s first cholera vaccine plant

Africa /

Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China on Monday to establish the southern African nation’s first cholera vaccine manufacturing plant. The project’s first phase will cost $37 million, with about three million doses expected to be produced through a joint venture between Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Jijia International Medical Technology Corporation. Speaking during the signing ceremony for the agreement at State House in the capital Lusaka, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema said the development was a key step in the country’s quest to eradicate the disease, which took away productivity as a result of affecting citizens. “We are also sending a signal that Zambia, Africa and the globe are able to work together. Zambia must be looked at as a center, as a location to manufacture for a bigger market. And if you look at the population of Africa, it is growing very rapidly,” Hichilema was quoted as saying on state television. Hichilema said he expected the project to be commercially viable, adding there was no room for bureaucracy in its implementation, as it was lifesaving. He added that ahead of the manufacturing, China would donate about three million doses of the cholera vaccine. Cholera is perennial in the southern African nation, especially during the rainy season, and while curable, it also claims lives.

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