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US slams China’s ‘irresponsible’ military drills near Taiwan

World /

 The Pentagon on Monday slammed China’s “irresponsible” military drills near Taiwan, saying that the US “closely” monitored the exercise. “This military pressure operation is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing,” spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a written statement. His remarks came after the Chinese military said its Joint Sword-2024B drills took place on Monday in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south, and east of the self-ruled island. “Deterrence remains strong in the Indo-Pacific, and the Department remains confident in its current force posture and operations in the region,” said Ryder. “The entire world has a stake in peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and we continue to see a growing community of countries committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.” The US will continue to work with allies and partners to advance its shared vision for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, despite China’s “destabilizing behavior,” he added. Beijing considers Taiwan “an inseparable part of Chinese territory” and has repeatedly urged other nations to refrain from actions that would send a wrong signal to “separatist forces” seeking independence. The drills come four days after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in a speech that China has no right to represent Taiwan and declared his commitment to “resist annexation.”

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Senegal launches ‘2050’ plan to cut debt and boost local resources

Africa /

On Monday, October 14, Senegal’s government, led by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, unveiled its 25-year development plan, “Senegal 2050.” The initiative aims to reduce foreign dependency and debt by focusing on local resources and human capital. Sonko criticized past development models as failures and cited Japan’s success as a potential model for African nations. The program intends to alleviate poverty, triple per capita income by 2050, and achieve annual economic growth of 6-7%. It will be organized around eight development hubs throughout the country. Sonko also addressed the concerning state of public finances, revealing a larger budget deficit and public debt than previously disclosed. He accused the prior government of manipulating financial data, a claim they denied. Meanwhile, credit rating agency Moody’s has downgraded Senegal’s rating.

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14,000 vaccinated against Mumps in Democratic Republic of Congo

Africa /

More than 14,000 people have been vaccinated against mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as part of a campaign launched in early October, according to the country’s health ministry. Since the campaign began, approximately 14,180 individuals have received the vaccine across three provinces, the ministry announced on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. The campaign started on October 5 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu Province. The DRC aims to vaccinate a total of 2.5 million people using 3.5 million doses, with Health Minister Roger Kamba noting that about 265,000 doses are currently available. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 16 countries in the African region have been affected by mpox, labeling the DRC as the epicenter of the epidemic. Since the start of the year, the DRC has recorded 31,350 suspected cases, including 992 deaths, and 6,169 confirmed cases, with 25 fatalities. The country is facing a high mortality rate due to late diagnoses and limited access to treatment, with only 41 percent of suspected cases tested in 2024. As of October 6, Africa has reported a total of 36,787 suspected cases, including 998 deaths, complicated by several clades of the virus. In mid-August, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared the ongoing mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Shortly after, the WHO declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern, activating its highest alert level for the second time in two years. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus, which spreads through close contact. Symptoms include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, skin rash, and back pain.

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Nationwide blackout in Nigeria after electricity grid collapse

Africa /

The national electricity grid collapsed on Monday, resulting in a nationwide blackout. In a statement on X, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) reported that the grid failure occurred at 6:58 PM, impacting power supply in their service areas. “The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) wishes to inform its valued customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 6:48 PM today, October 14, 2024,” said Ezeh. “This has led to the loss of power currently being experienced across the EEDC network. As a result, all our interface TCN stations are offline, preventing us from providing services to customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. “We are on standby, awaiting detailed information about the collapse and restoration efforts from the National Control Centre (NCC) in Osogbo.” The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) also stated that they are collaborating with stakeholders to restore power. “Please be informed that a system collapse at 6:48 PM has led to a loss of power supply across our network,” EKEDC announced. “The power outage is due to a failure in the national grid at 6:58 PM today, affecting our franchise areas. Rest assured, we are working with relevant stakeholders to restore power as soon as the grid stabilizes. Thank you for your understanding.” Emeka Ezeh, head of corporate communications at EEDC, confirmed that they are unable to supply power to customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

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WHO approves mpox vaccine for teens amid African surge

Africa /

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the Bavarian Nordic mpox vaccine for use in adolescents aged 12 to 17, a group considered particularly vulnerable to the disease. This decision follows the WHO’s endorsement of the vaccine for adults in September, which facilitated access for African countries heavily impacted by mpox. Danish pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic is also preparing to conduct a clinical trial to assess the vaccine’s safety for children aged 2 to 12. As parts of Africa face a rise in mpox cases, which present flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, the urgency for vaccination has increased. In August, the WHO declared mpox a global public health emergency after a new strain of the virus spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries, including Burundi and Rwanda. Scientists have identified this new strain, known as clade 1b, as a more dangerous variant. Nearly 30,000 suspected cases of mpox have been reported across Africa this year, with a few cases also recorded in Europe and Asia.

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Rwanda launches vaccination campaign amid Marburg virus outbreak

Africa /

After Rwanda declared an outbreak of Marburg virus disease on September 27, the country’s Minister of Health reassured attendees at a briefing that the situation is under control. During a meeting with diplomats and development partners, Minister Nsanzimana discussed the vaccination strategies being implemented to combat the disease. Last week, Rwanda received 700 doses of an experimental vaccine, which has been administered to healthcare professionals and those who have been in contact with confirmed cases. “We were informed that the vaccines were available. We viewed it as a great opportunity to enhance our immune systems,” said Augustin Sendegeya, Chief Medical Officer at King Faisal Hospital. Despite the vaccine being in trial stages, Sendegeya expressed confidence in its safety and potential value for those at risk of infection. Some doctors have reported no significant side effects from the vaccine. “I didn’t observe any major reactions; those who were vaccinated yesterday experienced few symptoms,” noted Blaise Dushimiyimana, a gynecologist at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali. So far, more than 200 people in the country have received the vaccine. Marburg virus disease is a severe and often fatal illness in humans, and Rwanda has reported 13 deaths related to the outbreak since it was announced.

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Flash floods in Jonglei State displace hundreds, spread disease

Africa /

Flash floods have wreaked havoc in Jonglei State, South Sudan, leaving hundreds of families without shelter and access to clean water, according to a United Nations report on Monday. Intense rainfall in Bor town has displaced around 375 households across four areas of the state capital. Residents are enduring severe conditions, lacking basic necessities and medical care. Maper Kuot Akuei, a community leader in Bor, voiced his concerns about contaminated floodwater, which has contributed to the spread of diseases such as malaria and pneumonia. “The water is contaminated, bringing malaria, pneumonia, and other hidden diseases,” Akuei said. “There’s no medicine in the hospital; only the clinic can help us, but if you don’t have money, you can’t get treated.” Akuei highlighted the tragic toll on the community, reporting that children have died, women have miscarried, and the elderly have succumbed, largely due to the government’s inaction. As conditions deteriorate, frustration is mounting among flood victims, who are urgently calling for government and international assistance to meet their pressing health and humanitarian needs. Without prompt intervention, the crisis in Jonglei State is poised to worsen further.

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Zambia faces severe energy crisis as drought drains Kariba dam

Africa /

Zambia is grappling with a climate-related energy crisis that has severely diminished its power supply. Frustrated residents are even transporting their entire desktop computers to local cafes to work. The country is experiencing unprecedented electricity blackouts due to a severe drought that has left the Kariba dam, the source of much of its power, with critically low water levels. This massive dam, built in the 1950s, was intended to provide a sustainable source of hydroelectric power by harnessing the Zambezi River. However, prolonged drought conditions, worsened by the El Niño weather pattern and rising temperatures, have pushed Zambia’s hydroelectric capacity to the brink of collapse. Currently, only one of the six turbines at the dam can operate, generating less than 10% of its normal output. With over 80% of Zambia’s electricity coming from Kariba, residents often experience just a few hours of power each day, and some areas go days without any electricity. The situation is particularly detrimental to small businesses, which struggle to operate during daylight hours. Tindor Sikunyongana, who runs a welding business, expressed his frustration, noting that his generator ran out of diesel while he was speaking. He has tried to mitigate the impact by investing in a diesel generator, but the cost of fuel is often prohibitive. Experts warn that Zambia’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric power has left it vulnerable. Geoffrey Chiyumbe, Vice Chairman of the Energy Committee at the Engineering Institute of Zambia, noted the risks of depending on hydro for 85% of the energy supply and emphasized the need for a more diverse energy mix to prevent crises like the current one. At the Kariba dam, the 128-meter-high wall is nearly exposed, with a reddish-brown stain marking where the water once flowed in better times over a decade ago.

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