Food slaves: Since AGRA’s launch, African biodiversity has been severely lost, farmers tricked into dumping nutrient-dense, drought-resistant crops
In 1999, Monsanto’s CEO Robert Shapiro bragged that the company planned to control “three of the largest industries in the world – agriculture, food and health – that now operate as separate businesses. But there are a set of changes that will lead to their integration.” Today these chemical manufacturers control a huge percentage of the world’s food supply.
86 passengers die as 187 others swim ashore in overloaded boat on Kwa River in DR Congo
The boat was carrying 271 passengers to Kinshasa when it broke down due to an engine failure, according to the UN-backed Radio Okapi, citing Ren Maker, the water commissioner in the Mushie district where the accident happened.
Relief for South Africa ruling ANC party as IFP, DA show willingness to join unity government
Hlabisa told reporters that the IFP was willing to join a unity government that includes the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party that received the second largest share of the vote.
Nativisation: South Africa ‘recalls’ isi-Zulu names to bolster protection of indigenous birds
IsiZulu is one of about 2,000 languages spoken in Africa, the overwhelming majority of which have been ignored by modern science. This can hamper research in many disciplines, including conservation science. Monitoring wild birds is a good way to gauge ecosystem health.
From Boko Haram’s rape and rip to sex slaves in military camps: The plight of rescued Nigerian women
Nigeria’s army dismissed the report as “unsubstantiated” and reiterated that it has continued to improve on its human rights record and holds personnel to account. The conflict has spilled over borders and killed at least 35,000 people and displaced over two million. Women and young girls are often forcefully married or sexually abused in captivity.
Uncertainty looms in South Africa as ex-president petitions court to halt first sitting of parliament
The legal challenge now asks the Constitutional Court to set aside the commission’s decision to declare the election free and fair, and to order the president to call another election.
Malawi’s vice president, nine others confirmed dead after their plane’s wreckage is found
Hundreds of soldiers, police officers and forest rangers had searched for the plane since it went missing on Monday at around 10am, while making the 45-minute flight from Lilongwe to Mzuzu, around 370 kilometres (230 miles) to the north.
Malawi military aircraft goes missing moments after leaving from Lilongwe airport with vice president on board
Vice President Saulos Chilima had been facing corruption charges over allegations that he received money in return for influencing the awarding of government contracts, but the charges were surprisingly dropped by prosecutors last month. That led to criticism that Chakwera’s administration was not taking a hard enough stance against graft.
Militants allied with Islamic State reportedly kill 80 civilians, displace hundreds in eastern DRC
Eastern Congo has struggled with armed violence for decades as more than 120 groups fight for power, land and valuable mineral resources, while others try to defend their communities. Some armed groups have been accused of mass killings.
Doctors Without Borders: Sudan’s notorious paramilitary group loots a main Darfur hospital
Most patients and the medical team, including Doctors Without Borders staff, managed to flee the shooting. It was not immediately clear whether there were casualties from the attack, according to the aid group.
