Wednesday, August 4We Break the News

Climate

Jul52021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Fears grow for dozens in landslide-hit Japan town

Fears grow for dozens in landslide-hit Japan town

Climate, CRISIS, Disaster Preparedness, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Nature
Rescuers in Japan's Atami wade through streams of murky water and move large blocks of timber and other detritus out of the way - Copyright AFP CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Rescue teams trawled Monday through muddy debris in a landslide-hit Japanese holiday town looking for survivors, as concerns grew that dozens of people may be missing. Soldiers and emergency workers used hand-held poles and mechanical diggers in the desperate search, two days after a torrent of earth slammed down a mountainside and through part of the hot-spring resort of Atami in central Japan. Three people have been confirmed dead, although authorities are struggling to pinpoint the whereabouts of dozens of residents as they scour the wreckage of 130 hillside homes and other buildings that were destroyed. Vehicles w...
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Jul32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Hurricane Elsa threatens Caribbean

Hurricane Elsa threatens Caribbean

Climate, Disaster Preparedness, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Nature, USA
Hurricane Elsa churned through the Caribbean early Saturday, bringing powerful winds and threatening to pile further misery on violence-wracked Haiti. The Category 1 storm weakened slightly overnight and was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 miles (120 kilometers) per hour. At 5:00am (0900 GMT), it was just south of Hispaniola -- which is made up of Haiti and the Dominican Republic -- and moving northwest at 31 mph, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. "On the forecast track, Elsa will move near the southern coast of Hispaniola later today and tonight, and move near Jamaica and portions of eastern Cuba on Sunday," the NHC said. "By Monday, Elsa is expected to move across central and western Cuba and head toward the Florida Straits." It said Elsa could bring ...
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Jul32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
At least 19 missing after mudslide in central Japan

At least 19 missing after mudslide in central Japan

Climate, Disaster Preparedness, INTERNATIONAL, JAPAN, Nature
Heavy rain has been lashing across Japan since earlier this week. Houses are damaged by mudslide following heavy rain at Izusan district in Atami, west of Tokyo, Saturday, July 3, 2021. A powerful mudslide carrying a deluge of black water and debris crashed into rows of houses in a town west of Tokyo following heavy rains on Saturday, leaving multiple people missing, officials said. (Naoya Osato/Kyodo News via AP) At least 19 people are missing after a powerful mudslide swept away rows of houses in Atami, west of Tokyo, Japanese authorities said. Disaster management officials in Shizuoka prefecture in central Japan say the mudslide occurred on Saturday morning in Atami, a town known for its hot springs. Prefectural disaster management official Takamichi Sugiyama said rescu...
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Jul22021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
How record temperatures are setting Canada on fire

How record temperatures are setting Canada on fire

CANADA, Climate, FAMILY, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Nature, PEOPLE
The village of Lytton has recorded Canada’s all-time high temperature of 49.6°C.  Wildfires have burned 90 per cent of the village of Lytton in British Columbia after it broke the record for the highest-ever temperature recorded in Canada on three days in a row. The village recorded Canada’s all-time high temperature of 49.6°C on 29 June as a heatwave continued to sweep across North America. Unusually high temperatures have been recorded across the continent's Pacific NorthWest in the past week, with cities including Seattle and Portland breaking all-time heat records. The unbearably hot temperatures have led to a wave of deaths. British Columbia coroners recorded at least 486 sudden deaths between 25 June and 30 June, almost triple the 165 sudden deaths that would usuall...
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Jun302021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Iran’s Water Crisis: In 20 Years Drought Could Make Some Iranian Cities Uninhabitable

Iran’s Water Crisis: In 20 Years Drought Could Make Some Iranian Cities Uninhabitable

Asia, Climate, CRISIS, EMERGENCY, FAMILY, FAMINE, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Nature, PEOPLE
In the next 20 years some Iranian cities might no longer be fit for human habitation because of drought and water shortages, warned Ahad Vazifeh, head of the National Center for Drought and Crisis Management at the Iran Meteorological Organization. In the past 12 months rainfall in Iran has 55 percent of the norm what it should have been, Vazifeh said in an interview with Khabar Online. He added that rainfall in some provinces has been so low as to be unprecedented in the past 50 years - including the province of Hormozgan, where just 20mm of rain has fallen compared to a usual year-round average of 141mm. “We must be frank with ourselves and accept that Iran is now beset by low rainfall and drought,” Vazifeh said. He also warned that certain agr...
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Jun182021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Third largest diamond found in Botswana

Third largest diamond found in Botswana

AFRICA, BOTSWANA, Climate, Nature
BOTSWANA: A 1,098 carat diamond believed to be the third largest gem-quality stone ever to be mined, has been discovered in Botswana, according to a joint venture between Anglo American's De Beers and the government. The stone was presented to President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday (June 16) by Debswana Diamond Company's acting managing director Lynette Armstrong. It is the third largest in the world, behind the 3,106 carat Cullinan stone recovered in South Africa in 1905 and the 1,109 carat Lesedi La Rona unearthed by Lucara Diamonds in Botswana in 2015. "This is the largest diamond to be recovered by Debswana in its history of over 50 years in operation," Armstrong said. "From our preliminary analysis it could be the world's third largest gem quality stone. We are yet ...
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Jun162021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Museveni, Tshisekedi to launch Mpondwe Bridge

Museveni, Tshisekedi to launch Mpondwe Bridge

AFRICA, Climate, DEVELOPMENT, DRC, EAST AFRICA, GOVERNMENT, Nature, PAN AFRICA, PRESIDENT, UGANDA
President Museveni and his DR Congo counterpart Felix Tshisekedi are this morning expected to officially launch Mpondwe Bridge in Kasese District. The bridge links Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The two heads of state will also commission a joint construction project of major road infrastructure that links the two countries. President Museveni recently defended Uganda’s funding of infrastructure development in DR Congo, arguing that it was aimed at boosting trade between the two neighboring countries. In May this year, officials from Uganda and DRC signed major agreements that will see the two countries bolster cross-border trade, development and the stabilization of eastern Congo. The signing ceremony that was held on May 27, 2021 at State House Enteb...
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Jun162021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Eastern Indonesia hit with 5.8 magnitude earthquake

Eastern Indonesia hit with 5.8 magnitude earthquake

Climate, EMERGENCY, FAMILY, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, Nature, PEOPLE, TRAGEDY
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia’s remote Maluku islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, but there was no tsunami warning. The shallow quake hit at 1:43 pm local time (0443 GMT) in the Banda Sea about 70 kilometers (44 miles) southeast of Amahai on the island of Seram. Shallow quakes tend to do more damage than deep ones, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties. Indonesia experiences frequent quakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position on the “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity where tectonic plates collide that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. In 2004, a devastating 9.1 magnitude quake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that...
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Jun152021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Sudan says open to ‘interim’ dam deal with Ethiopia

Sudan says open to ‘interim’ dam deal with Ethiopia

AFRICA, Climate, DIPLOMACY, Diplomats, Nature, PAN AFRICA, Sudan
Sudan will only be willing to strike an interim deal with Ethiopia over its Nile dam on conditions including assurance of further talks, the water minister said Monday. Downstream Egypt and Sudan have been pushing upstream Ethiopia to ink a binding deal over the filling and operation of its mega dam on the Blue Nile that broke ground in 2011. "Given the time constraints, Sudan will accept an interim agreement based on certain conditions which include signing on all the terms that have been already agreed," Water Minister Yasser Abbas told reporters in Khartoum. "There should also be guarantees that negotiations will continue ... and that those talks will be held within a defined timeframe." The minister said the three countries had already "reached consensus" over most tec...
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Jun82021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
World Oceans Day: What must African oceans do to clean up?

World Oceans Day: What must African oceans do to clean up?

AFRICA, Climate, ECO
Photo Credit above by CSG Ltd https://www.cheapsurfgear.com/. Tuesday 8 June marks World Oceans Day, a day to inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean. The United Nations says: "World Oceans Day reminds everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. They are the lungs of our planet and a major source of food and medicine and a critical part of the biosphere." Africa is no stranger to man-made disasters in its oceans. In August 2020, the pristine coast in Mauritius turned black after a major oil spill caused by a Japanese ship that ran aground.
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Jun42021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Arctic sea ice thinning twice as fast as thought, study finds

Arctic sea ice thinning twice as fast as thought, study finds

Climate, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD
Less ice means more global heating, a vicious cycle that also leaves the region open to new oil extraction Sea ice across much of the Arctic is thinning twice as fast as previously thought, researchers have found. Arctic ice is melting as the climate crisis drives up temperatures, resulting in a vicious circle in which more dark water is exposed to the sun’s heat, leading to even more heating of the planet. The faster ice loss means the shorter north-eastern shipping passage from China to Europe will become easier to navigate, but it also means new oil and gas extraction is more feasible. Calculating the thickness of sea ice from satellite radar data is difficult because the amount of snow cover on top varies significantly. Until now, the snow data used came from measureme...
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May262021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Earthquakes in Congo raze buildings, stoke fear of second volcanic eruption

Earthquakes in Congo raze buildings, stoke fear of second volcanic eruption

AFRICA, Climate, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES
Flowing lava from the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, which occurred late on May 22, 2021, is seen between buildings in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, in this still image from undated video obtained via social media. ENOCH DAVID via REUTERS GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo An earthquake on the border of Congo and Rwanda razed buildings in the city of Goma on Tuesday and stoked fears a nearby volcano would erupt again three days after dozens of people were killed and 17 villages were destroyed by lava. The quake, measured at 5.3 magnitude by the Rwandan Seismic Monitor, was the largest of over 100 tremors that have followed the eruption on Saturday of Congo’s Mount Nyiragongo volcano, one of the world’s most active and dangerous. “We know that children were injure...
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May242021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Tech giants in the US to lead renewable energy business in the next five to ten years: Poll

Tech giants in the US to lead renewable energy business in the next five to ten years: Poll

Climate, TECHNOLOGY, USA
WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America Google was one of the first technology companies to use renewable energy for its operations by signing a power purchase agreement (PPA) in 2010 and since then other companies have followed. Verdict has conducted a poll to assess by when the US tech giants such as Amazon and Google can become prominent players in the clean energy business. Analysis of the poll results shows that it could take between five and 10 years for the US tech giants to gain that position. It would take five years, according to 33% of the respondents and ten years according to 22% of the respondents. Whereas 24% opined that it would take more than ten years. The remaining 20% of the respondents were unsure about the time it would take for the tech giants to achie...
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May182021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Hamburg’s German African Energy Forum to jumpstart Africa’s Economic Transformation

Hamburg’s German African Energy Forum to jumpstart Africa’s Economic Transformation

AFRICA, African Union, Climate, EAST AFRICA, EUROPEAN UNION, United Bank For Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa The African energy sector continues to solidify partnerships with German investors and technology with the aim of leading energy businesses from Germany, Europe and across the African continent. From upstream to downstream, Africa’s energy sector must accelerate its transition to net-zero, continue to adopt new technologies and start to embrace digitization and decentralization over the next decade. he 14th German African Energy Forum in Hamburg hosted by Afrika Verein continues this dialogue and pushes for investment with a clear focus on highlighting the entire African energy mix, together with economic cooperation between Germany and Africa. As stated by Afrika-Verein, "the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the ongoing dig...
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May172021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments
Private Infrastructure Development Group’s (PIDG) company Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund’s 2020 review shows loan book topped US$1 billion for the first time.

Private Infrastructure Development Group’s (PIDG) company Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund’s 2020 review shows loan book topped US$1 billion for the first time.

AFRICA, Bank Of Uganda, BREAKING NEWS, Central African Republic, Climate, EAST AFRICA, KENYA, Kenyan Parliament, South Africa, South African Parliament, UGANDA
8 projects with an EAIF loan commitment value of USD 243m; 19% year-on-year committed loan portfolio growth; Local capital markets strengthened with EAIF anchor support for two local currency bond issues; Zimbabwe becomes 18th African country in current portfolio. The Private Infrastructure Development Group’s (PIDG) (PIDG.org) long-term infrastructure debt business, the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF) saw its loan book break through the US$1 billion mark in 2020. EAIF signed eight  new projects, bringing the loan book value to US$1.04 billion.  The Fund committed $243 million in new loans to businesses in digital and telecommunications, energy generation, manufacturing, transportation and logistics and bulk storage. Managed by Ninety One, EAIF offers loans to m...
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May72021 by Denis SseggujjaNo Comments
Million Trees National Initiative Uganda, MTNi-Ug have kicked off the national action campaigns by planting trees at the Bushenyi District Local Government headquarters and clearing up rubbish along the Bushenyi-Ishaka Road and Bushenyi Health Centre IV

Million Trees National Initiative Uganda, MTNi-Ug have kicked off the national action campaigns by planting trees at the Bushenyi District Local Government headquarters and clearing up rubbish along the Bushenyi-Ishaka Road and Bushenyi Health Centre IV

AFRICA, Asia, Climate, EAST AFRICA, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, UGANDA, USA, WORLD
The police in the town have also joined in on the action rather than sabotaging it. The activists have emphasized the importance of planting medicinal and fruit trees in order to ensure a long and healthy future. They have set a target to raise green forestry by 9% today and 50% in the future.We cannot exclude environmental justice from social justice and the Bushenyi chapter are encouraging us all to work together to build a world that is secure, clean, and sustainable for everyone. This is also a wake-up call for police officers around the country to join in on such constructive reform instead of engaging in violence.
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May42021 by Denis SseggujjaNo Comments
Government of Uganda Should halt operating licenses for all bottling companies who have failed to set up trapping systems of collecting back the empty plastics- Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha, CEO Million Trees National Initiative Uganda (MTNi-Ug) At the function ” Stop Dumping Plastics, Save River Rwiizi”

Government of Uganda Should halt operating licenses for all bottling companies who have failed to set up trapping systems of collecting back the empty plastics- Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha, CEO Million Trees National Initiative Uganda (MTNi-Ug) At the function ” Stop Dumping Plastics, Save River Rwiizi”

AFRICA, Asia, Climate, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, UGANDA, USA, WORLD
Saving River Rwizi Green Trek around Mbarara Town marked to be Memorable as a thousands of empty plastics bottles we're collected around the City. With Communities involved, this campaign was all about Creating awareness as far as better health is concerned. It was all about collecting of plastic materials that all along have been making life hard on River Rwizi, whereby it's depth had reduced, it's ability to support Aquatic life ceased as well as reduced water pressure of this Mbarara serving River. According to Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha, Chief Executive Officer Million Trees National Initiative Uganda, MTNi-Ug; He requested the Government of Uganda to halt all operating licenses for all bottling companies who have failed to set up trapping systems of collecting back the empty plast...
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Apr282021 by Denis SseggujjaNo Comments
BOTSWANA: BOTSWANA WINTER OUTLOOK (MAY TO JULY 2021)

BOTSWANA: BOTSWANA WINTER OUTLOOK (MAY TO JULY 2021)

AFRICA, BOTSWANA, BREAKING NEWS, Climate
The Department of Meteorological Services (DMS) informs the public that during the period of May to July 2021 largely normal with a tendency to below-normal temperatures are likely to occur over the extreme north of the country whilst normal to above normal temperatures are expected over the rest of the country. Accordingly: • Temperatures over the extreme northern parts of the country (Northern Ngamiland and Chobe) are expected to be largely normal with a tendency to below. • Temperatures over Southern Ngamiland and northern parts of the Central Districts are expected to be normal with a tendency to above. Normal maximum and minimum temperatures are 27.4°C and 9°C respectively. • Temperatures over the eastern parts of the country (Northeast and southern parts of the Central Distric...
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Apr172021 by Denis SseggujjaNo Comments
Butembe chiefdom Prime minister, Mr. Munaaba Paul urges Basoga to resort to Agro-forestry and aquaculture than sugarcane growing as Million Trees National Initiative Uganda-MTNi-Ug teaches

Butembe chiefdom Prime minister, Mr. Munaaba Paul urges Basoga to resort to Agro-forestry and aquaculture than sugarcane growing as Million Trees National Initiative Uganda-MTNi-Ug teaches

AFRICA, Buganda Kingdom, Busoga Kingdom, Climate, UGANDA
According to Butembe chiefdom Prime Minister, Mr Munaaba Paul, he explained that all along Basoga are known of sugar canes farming neglecting other short term plants that can yield a lot of Money, foods and Jobs to Communities around Busoga. He explained that Busoga has a very good soil with humus that can support Fruit Planting, Aquaculture as well as tree planting. He went ahead to urge all Communities to use the opportunity brought in by Million Trees National Initiative Uganda, MTNi-Ug to end poverty, unemployment, hunger while growing more Million Trees in every county. Chief Munaaba Paul, showing his Aquaculture Project to Chief Executive Officer of Million Trees National Initiative Uganda, MTNi-Ug Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha. He explains how much he's growing fish in his H...
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Apr132021 by Denis SseggujjaNo Comments
Million Trees National Initiative Uganda (MTNi-Ug) launches it’s green activities in Rukungiri District at Rukungiri District Headquarters

Million Trees National Initiative Uganda (MTNi-Ug) launches it’s green activities in Rukungiri District at Rukungiri District Headquarters

AFRICA, Arua, Australia, Benin, BOTSWANA, Buganda Kingdom, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Business, Busoga Kingdom, Cameroon, Central African Republic, China, Climate, Denmark, Djibouti, DUBAI, EALA, EAST AFRICA, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, ETHIOPIA, European Council, EUROPEAN UNION, FAO, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Gulu, Hotels, IGAD SUMMIT, INTERNATIONAL, IRAN, IRAQ, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jinja, KENYA, Kenyan Parliament, Lesotho, LIBYA, London, Luweero, Malawi, Mbale, Mengo, Mozambique, Nairobi, NAMIBIA, New York, Nigeria, Parliament, Peru, RUSSIA, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Sweden, SYRIA, TANZANIA, Tony Elumelu Foundation, UAE, UGANDA, UK, UN, USA, West Africa, Wildlife, WORLD, Zambia, ZIMBABWE
Mr Byamungu Elias (CAO Rukungiri District) Vs Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha (CEO MTNi-Ug) while receiving the MTNi-Ug Forest Development Plan For Rukungiri District For the Period of 2019 to 2029. MTNi-Ug is abroad based Organization that also improve Household income, Food Security and Agro-industrialization by donating short term plants like Vegetable seeds, Organic fertilizers and pesticides to peasants, Fruit plant Seedlings for Agroforestry in Uganda. District leaders lead by Chief Administrative Officer Mr Byamungu Elias, Ass. RDC, Production Officer, all in place for the launch Mr Byamungu Elias (CAO Rukungiri District) Vs Dr Semakura Jibril Owomugisha (CEO MTNi-Ug) growing a Fruit tree at Rukungiri District Headquarters. Million Trees National Initiative Uganda (MTNi-Ug) ...
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