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Historical Context of Coups d'État: From Ancient Rome to Modern Africa

Historical Context of Coups d'État: From Ancient Rome to Modern Africa

The concept of a coup d'état, defined as a sudden and illegal overthrow of an existing government, has a long history dating back to antiquity, with early examples like Julius Caesar's march on Rome. Its modern usage began with Napoleon Bonaparte's Coup of 18 Brumaire in 1799, which established the idea of a swift seizure of power by political or military insiders. Unlike revolutions, coups are typically executed by a small group of elites. In contemporary international relations, coups are considered illegal, yet their illegality is often overlooked in response to perceived poor democratic governance, particularly in Africa. The African Union, through initiatives like the 2000 Lomé Declaration, has sought to create a continental framework to prevent unconstitutional changes of government, defining such changes to include military coups against democratically elected governments, mercenary interventions, and the refusal of leaders to cede power after fair elections. Despite these efforts, coups persist, of...
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African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah Faces Delivery Test After First Year in Office

African Development Bank President Sidi Ould Tah Faces Delivery Test After First Year in Office

After one year in office, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President Sidi Ould Tah is facing the critical test of delivering on his initiatives to reshape the bank's approach to fundraising and project preparation. Dr. Tah inherited a financially strong institution with $318 billion in authorized capital and triple-A credit ratings. His first year saw the completion of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund, securing a record $11 billion for 2026–28, a 23 percent increase over the previous round, though still short of the $25 billion ambition and notably without a pledge from the U.S. Dr. Tah's 'New African Financial Architecture for Development' aims to mobilize domestic capital, rebuild financial sovereignty, turn demographics into a dividend, and build resilient infrastructure. This architecture is underpinned by the 11-point Abidjan Consensus, adopted in April, focusing on project preparation, domestic capital mobilization, and risk-sharing.
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Lower Colorado River Basin Achieves Initial Water Use Reduction Targets, But Deeper Cuts Pose Unprecedented Challenges

Lower Colorado River Basin Achieves Initial Water Use Reduction Targets, But Deeper Cuts Pose Unprecedented Challenges

The Lower Colorado River Basin states have successfully reduced their consumptive water use, with 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the forecast for 2026, showing the smallest usage in the 2010-2026 period. These reductions, ranging from 1.4 to 1.7 million acre-feet per year (maf/yr) less than the typical 7.50 maf/yr allocation, align with the initial shortage targets outlined in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Post-2026 Operational Guidelines. Key contributors to these savings include significant reductions by Central Arizona Project (CAP) contractors and subcontractors, the Imperial Irrigation District (IID), and non-CAP water users in Arizona. Notably, reductions in IID have primarily occurred during summer months, affecting field crops like alfalfa and grass hay, without impacting winter garden crop production. However, achieving the potential maximum Lower Basin reduction of 3 maf/yr, as allowed by the Record of Decision (ROD), would require cuts beyond any historical precedent, as the sum...
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Turkmenistan Addresses Major Methane Leaks in Energy Infrastructure

Turkmenistan Addresses Major Methane Leaks in Energy Infrastructure

Turkmenistan is actively repairing its energy infrastructure to mitigate significant methane leaks, a move detailed in a report by The Guardian based on UN data. The UN’s Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) identified Turkmenistan as a primary source of methane emissions, noting three of the six worst leaks globally in the past six months and nine of the top 50. MARS brought 192 instances of methane plumes to the attention of Turkmen officials over the last year, with Turkmenistan addressing approximately 40 of these cases. The government has reportedly repaired at least eight significant leaks, which a UN official described as an “incredible first step.” This initiative is part of a broader plan to modernize the country’s natural gas infrastructure, as indicated by a July commentary from the TDH state news agency. The upgrades aim to strengthen the material and technical base of the domestic fuel and energy complex in accordance with modern requirements.
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UN Aquaculture Expansion Plan Could Divert Half of Wild Fish Catch to Feed by 2040, Warns New Analysis

UN Aquaculture Expansion Plan Could Divert Half of Wild Fish Catch to Feed by 2040, Warns New Analysis

A new analysis warns that nearly half of the world's wild fish catch, up to 34.6 million tonnes annually, could be ground into feed for farmed salmon and shrimp by 2040 if current industry trends continue. This projection challenges the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) 'blue transformation' agenda, which aims to increase aquaculture output by 75% by 2040 to enhance food security and combat hunger. Campaign groups, including the Changing Markets Foundation, whose modeling with the University of British Columbia underpins the analysis, argue that the FAO's plan could deplete marine ecosystems and negatively impact coastal communities reliant on wild fish. Farmed fish already constitute over half of the aquatic animals consumed globally, with carnivorous species like salmon and shrimp requiring fishmeal and fish oil derived from smaller wild fish such as anchovies and sardines for their feed.
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Solar Geoengineering Debated Amidst Growing Research and Public Concern

Solar Geoengineering Debated Amidst Growing Research and Public Concern

The concept of geoengineering, specifically Solar Radiation Modification (SRM), is gaining traction in government research programs, academic studies, and private investment, sparking considerable public debate. SRM aims to cool the Earth by reflecting a small portion of incoming sunlight back into space. This umbrella term includes methods such as Stratospheric Aerosol Injection (SAI), which involves injecting reflective particles into the upper atmosphere; Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB), releasing sea salt particles to increase cloud reflectivity; and Cirrus Cloud Thinning (CCT), reducing heat-trapping high-altitude clouds. SAI has received the most attention due to its technical feasibility, inspired by the temporary global cooling observed after the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption. The discussion around SRM is distinct from phenomena like contrails, cloud seeding, and 'chemtrails,' which differ in purpose, scale, and scientific basis. While most researchers agree SRM could produce a cooling effect, the ce...
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St. Mary's County Approves Partnership with Chesapeake Bay Trust to Allocate $368K for Bay Restoration

St. Mary's County Approves Partnership with Chesapeake Bay Trust to Allocate $368K for Bay Restoration

St. Mary's County, Maryland, has unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, establishing a mechanism to direct approximately $368,111.25 in restricted mitigation funds towards environmental restoration projects. For over seven years, these funds, collected as 'fee-in-lieu' payments from developers under Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Critical Area regulations, had accumulated without a clear program for their utilization. The Critical Area encompasses the Chesapeake Bay, its tidal tributaries, and land within 1,000 feet of these waters. Developers pay these fees when required tree or vegetation replacement cannot be completed on-site. The new partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust will provide the administrative framework to solicit proposals, evaluate projects, distribute grants, and oversee restoration work, ensuring the funds are used for eligible projects such as tree planting, habitat corridors, buffer restoration, and addressing severely eroding land within St. Ma...
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Andrés Muñoz Joins CITAGRO to Advance Holistic Agricultural Systems in Chile

Andrés Muñoz Joins CITAGRO to Advance Holistic Agricultural Systems in Chile

Andrés Muñoz, a professor in the Department of Production Agricultural at the Universidad de Chile, has joined CITAGRO, a new agro-food center focused on transforming Chile's food system. Muñoz will be part of Line 2, 'Holistic Agricultural Systems,' which concentrates on agroecology and sustainable food production practices. This initiative aims to leverage natural benefits such as nutrient cycling, pollination, and biological pest control to enhance agricultural resilience, adapt to climate change, and conserve biodiversity within agroecosystems. The center, funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation through the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), brings together researchers from various universities to address economic, environmental, climatic, and social crises affecting agro-food systems. Muñoz's work will specifically focus on quantifying the role of functional biodiversity in agricultural productivity and developing diagnostic tools to assess the sustai...
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UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size

UN General Assembly endorses a new world map that shows more accurately Africa's size

The United Nations General Assembly has voted to endorse a new world map that shows Africa's large size more accurately
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President Tinubu Welcomes Launch of African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA)

President Tinubu Welcomes Launch of African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA)

President Tinubu Welcomes Launch of African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA)
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UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size

UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa's true size

By Aleksandra Michalska NEW YORK, Sept 4 (Reuters) - The United Nations on Friday voted for a shift away from the 16th-century Mercator global map towards one more accurately reflecting countries' true size, a resolution sponsored by African states to counter perceptions that the continent is
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African Union to Launch African Credit Rating Agency on October 7 to Counter Skewed Perceptions

African Union to Launch African Credit Rating Agency on October 7 to Counter Skewed Perceptions

African Union to Launch African Credit Rating Agency on October 7 to Counter Skewed Perceptions