Africa

France mourns Cyclone Chido victims

Africa /

France observed a national day of mourning Monday in honor of the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the French overseas department of Mayotte earlier this month. Flags were flown at half-staff across the country, and a minute of silence was observed at 10 a.m. GMT. President Emmanuel Macron commemorated the victims at Elysee Palace as ‘The Last Post’ was played, while recently appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou led what he said “a very moving moment of silence” at his residence Hôtel de Matignon. Bayrou spoke to media after the observance, saying the tribute “signifies a commitment so that the international community is present to reconstruct Mayotte.” The cyclone, the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years, caused extensive damage to the island, known as France’s poorest department. It left at least 35 dead and around 2,500 injured, with the actual toll likely higher due to the widespread destruction of infrastructure and precarious living conditions. Cyclone Chido struck Mayotte on Dec. 14, destroying homes, disrupting water and electricity supplies, and severing communications. Emergency crews continue efforts to restore basic services, but the scale of the damage has made recovery efforts particularly challenging.

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Study: Coffee may lower risk of head and neck cancers

Discover /

 Regular coffee drinkers may face a significantly lower risk of developing head and neck cancers, according to new research published on Monday. Researchers from the Huntsman Cancer Institute in the US analyzed data from 9,548 cancer patients and 15,783 healthy controls. An analysis combining data from multiple studies found that consuming four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily was associated with a 17% reduction in overall head and neck cancer risk, researchers reported in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Coffee drinkers showed 30% lower odds of oral cavity cancer and 22% lower odds of throat cancer compared to non-coffee drinkers. Even decaffeinated coffee consumption was linked to a 25% reduction in oral cavity cancer risk. Tea consumption showed mixed results. While drinking one cup or less daily was associated with a 9% lower overall head and neck cancer risk, consuming more than one cup is associated with a 38% higher chance of laryngeal cancer, the study found. “Coffee and tea habits are fairly complex,” said senior author Yuan-Chin Amy Lee from the research center in a press release by the publisher. “These findings support the need for more data and further studies around the impact that coffee and tea can have on reducing cancer risk,” she added. The research gains significance as head and neck cancer, which rank as the seventh most common cancer globally, continue to rise in low- and middle-income countries.

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Eskom posts R55 billion loss, yet projects R10 billion profit by 2025

Business /

South Africa’s state utility, Eskom, reported a massive R55 billion ($3 billion) loss for the fiscal year ending March 2023, largely due to a one-time charge related to the separation of its transmission unit. Despite this setback, Eskom is optimistic about its future, projecting a R10 billion profit for the fiscal year ending March 2025. The utility is undergoing a major restructuring, splitting into three units—generation, transmission, and distribution—as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2019 reform plan. Eskom attributed its losses to underperforming coal power stations, unsustainable debt, rising municipal arrears, and insufficient tariffs. On a positive note, Eskom saw a 14% increase in revenue, reaching R295.8 billion for the year ending March 2024. However, sales volumes fell 3% due to 329 days of load-shedding, which has hampered South Africa’s economic growth. In a positive development, Eskom’s power supply has stabilized, with no power cuts in the past nine months, raising hopes for economic recovery. This improvement in reliability has enhanced business confidence, and Eskom is hopeful for a financial turnaround by 2025.

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Chad orders full withdrawal of French troops

Africa /

France Forced to Speed Up Troop Withdrawal from Chad After Sudden Demand France was caught off guard as Chad ordered the full withdrawal of French personnel from its N’Djamena base by December 31, despite plans to begin a gradual repatriation of troops starting next week. This marks a significant blow to France’s influence in the Sahel, as Chad was its last stronghold in the region. The rapid change in circumstances comes after a deadly Boko Haram attack in October that killed 40 Chadian soldiers. The Chadian government accused France of failing to provide necessary assistance following the attack, leading to a breakdown in relations. The French army’s departure follows public demonstrations demanding that France end its military presence in the country. As a result, France began sending the first batch of 120 soldiers back on Friday, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks. This sudden withdrawal raises questions about Chad’s future alliances and the broader impact on security in the Sahel.

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