One of the earliest sources of this sweet treat came from a humble African tree

With pollution on the rise, which cities release the most emissions? Data revelaed at COP29 that Asia and the United States release the most heat-trapping gas that feeds climate change. Shanghai’s 256 million metric tons of greenhouse gases led all cities and exceeded those from Colombia and Norway. New York City’s 160 million metric tons and Houston’s 150 million metric tons is in the top 50 of countrywide emissions whilst Seoul in South Korea, ranks fifth among cities to be the most polluting. China, India, Iran, Indonesia and Russia had the biggest increases in emissions from 2022 to 2023, while Venezuela, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States had the biggest decreases in pollution. The data set – maintained by scientists and analysts from various groups – also looked at traditional pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and other chemicals associated with dirty air. With these alarmings figures, nations at the UN climate talks in Baku, are trying to set new targets to cut such emissions and figure out how much rich nations will pay to help the world with that task. A report by an independent panel of experts at the summit said countries need to invest more than $6 trillion per year by 2030 or risk having to pay more in the future.

 South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the removal Friday of hazardous pesticides off the streets and shops as one of the measures to curb food poisoning which recently killed 22 children. “Since the beginning of September 2024, there have been a total of 890 reported incidents of food-borne illnesses across all provinces,’’ Ramaphosa said in a televised address to the nation to address the recent deaths of children caused by food poisoning which has caused concern across the nation. Ramaphosa said several people have become severely ill and even died after eating contaminated food that could have been purchased from spaza shops — small informal shops — and street vendors. South Africa recorded a major poisoning incident in Naledi, Soweto township near Johannesburg last month, where six children died after buying snacks at spaza shops. The youngest was just 6 years old. Ramaphosa said after scientific tests were conducted it was established that the deaths of the six children could be directly attributed to a highly hazardous chemical used as a pesticide known as Terbufos. Terbufos, registered in South Africa for agricultural use, is said to have serious health effects, even at low levels of exposure. Ramaphosa said although Terbufos is not allowed to be sold for general household use it is being informally sold as a so-called “street pesticide” for domestic use in townships and informal settlements to control rats. He said samples from 84 spaza shops in the Naledi area of Soweto showed three shops had evidence of Terbufos. It was also found that in some spaza shops pesticides and detergents were being stored next to food items. Ramaphosa said the spaza shops that have been implicated in the deaths of the children will be closed immediately. He also ordered all spaza shops and other food handling facilities to be registered within the municipalities in which they operate within 21 days and they should meet all health standards and requirements or they will be closed.

Voters in Senegal will head to the polls Sunday for snap legislative elections, months after electing the youngest president on the African continent in March. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye called the election after dissolving the opposition-led National Assembly in September in a bid to break the tension between the legislature and the executive. The move came six months after Faye was elected under the opposition platform. Roughly 7 million registered voters are eligible to take part in the election, with polling set to start at 8 a.m. local time (0800GMT) and close at 6 p.m. Voters will elect 165 lawmakers to a five-year term, including 15 representing citizens living abroad. Faye said the opposition-dominated legislature had made it hard for him to execute the “systemic transformation” that he promised during campaigns. He promised “free, democratic and transparent” elections. The dissolved parliament elected in 2022 was dominated by members of former President Macky Sall’s party — Benno Bokk Yakkar. – Coalitions The election campaign began Oct. 27 and ended Nov. 15. Forty-one parties, coalitions and political groups are participating in the election. Faye has asked voters to give his Patriots of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (PASTEF) party a mandate. Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Faye’s so-called political mentor, heads PASTEF’s coalition list for the legislative elections. Opposition coalitions led by Dakar’s Mayor Barthelemy Dias and former Prime Minister and former presidential candidate Amadou Ba are top contenders in Sunday’s vote. Ba leads the Jamm Ak Njarin coalition while Dias is leading the Samm Sa Kaddu coalition. Former presidents Sall and Abdoulaye Wade have formed a rival coalition and pose a big challenge despite defections from their camp. Sall is leading the Takku Wallu Senegal coalition for the legislative elections. The opposition claims that there has not been any change in management of the country since Faye assumed power, in relation to the price of necessities and youth employment. – What are the chances for Faye’s PASTEF party? In a letter to supporters, Sall painted a “gloomy picture” of the country’s situation, months after his departure as head of state, after 12 years as president from 2012 – 2024. He added that he could not sit back when things were going astray. Senegalese political analyst, Abdou Diop, said PASTEF is likely to secure a majority as it rallies the youth. Faye, 44, won with 54% of the vote in the March presidential election. “PASTEF needs a mandate to implement serious projects for the creation of decent jobs, especially for young people and women,” Diop told Anadolu over the phone. Diop, a lawyer, predicted that many opposition leaders could disappear from the political scene after the elections because they lack the political and strategic vision necessary to confront Faye’s regime. “This election is like a confidence vote for Ousmane Sonko and Faye,” said Diop. The campaign was marred by tension following violence between supporters of PASTEF and the opposition. – Significance and effect Diop believes the election is significant as a victory for PASTEF will help Faye fulfill his campaign promises, including uprooting corruption. “President Faye looks committed to fulfilling the commitments that he made — there is no reason to doubt that. But all that remains is to ensure that all the conditions for his success are met — by giving his party majority legislators to pass relevant laws. It is a question of political logic,” he said. The ruling party needs a three-fifths majority to effect any proposed constitutional amendments. Diop underlined that a win by Faye’s party could mean systemic transformation through the 2050 country’s development blueprint which involves making necessary reforms in different sectors of the economy, including fisheries, mining, agriculture, trade, education, higher education, the informal sector and taxation. Adama Sy, a civil society activist said, however, that there is a need for the National Assembly to be capable of “effectively checking the excesses of the government actions.” Some political analysts think Faye’s powers on the political scene could wane if PASTEF obtains a majority for the 15th legislature. Among them, Jean Baptist Tabaro, a Rwanda-based researcher on governance and public policy argued that the fact that Ousmane Sonko did not go to the legislative elections under the banner of Faye is an indicator that the political space of power in the aftermath of the elections will tilt toward Sonko. “If PASTEF wins the legislative elections Faye will no longer have any political space; instead Sonko will be the dominant figure and seen as kingmaker,” he said.

“The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is holding an emergency meeting on Mozambique following deadly protests after the ruling FRELIMO party’s presidential election victory. Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, Jenfan Muswere, announced that SADC leaders will meet in Harare from November 16-20 to discuss the situation in Mozambique. The meeting will also address recent elections in Botswana and the upcoming elections in Namibia on November 27. In the October 9 election, FRELIMO’s Daniel Chapo won with 71% of the vote, but opposition parties alleged election fraud, sparking nationwide protests. Two prominent opposition figures, Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, were killed in Maputo on October 18. Zimbabwe’s President Emerson Mnangagwa has expressed support for FRELIMO and congratulated them on their victory.”

Senegal is heading into crucial legislative elections after a tense campaign, with President Faye’s party hoping to gain a majority and carry out key reforms.

The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has officially concluded its peacekeeping mission, handing over 21 military bases to the Somali National Army.

A 27-year-old French Ph.D. student was arrested in Tunisia and detained for several weeks.

Ronald Lamola holds political consultations with Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty

Police have blocked supplies of food and water to force the miners out for arrest, as they seek leftover gold—a longstanding issue in South Africa

Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda justified the ban as essential for maintaining public order

Environmental activists and the Great Green Wall initiative are working to restore forests and combat desertification.

The sun continues to shine brightly across some regions, reminding residents to grab their sunglasses

Reporters Without Borders has condemned the harsh sentence and called for her immediate release.  

The outcome could shape the country’s economic future and stability as voters choose new leaders for a 165-seat assembly.

The broken weather stations and outdated equipment in many African countries are contributing to inaccurate forecasts and inadequate disaster preparedness.

The Australian gold miner Resolute is facing significant challenges in Mali, with its CEO and two other employees held captive by the military junta over tax disputes.

A Ugandan court has convicted a 21-year-old TikToker for insulting President Yoweri Museveni, highlighting the government’s increasing crackdown on online dissent.

At Gabon’s Loango National Park you can see elephants, hippos enjoying the Atlantic coastline

Morocco’s homegrown mpox test has been endorsed by the Africa CDC, a major milestone in strengthening Africa’s public health response.

Rwanda has successfully contained the Marburg virus outbreak, with no new cases reported in the past two weeks.

The confrontation comes after weeks of police operations aimed at emptying the abandoned gold mine in North West province as part of a broader crackdown on illegal mining

World Health Organization says malaria poses significant public health challenge in Ethiopia

Amani Festival, a celebration of music and peace, has fallen victim to the ongoing conflict in eastern Congo, forcing organizers to postpone the event.