Category: NEWS

In a recent discussion, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) urged the federal government to consider privatizing the national grid as a strategy to address Nigeria’s persistent power crisis and the frequent failures of the national grid system. This appeal was made public in a statement titled “Finding a Lasting Solution to the Frequent National Grid Collapse.” The call comes amid Mr. Olusegun Omotola’s assurances—acting Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP)—to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) about bolstering the government’s Executive Orders 003 and 005 aimed at boosting the patronage of locally manufactured goods.

Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director General of LCCI, highlighted the serious concerns within the business community regarding the regular collapse of the national grid, which is the primary source of hydroelectric power for the country. She noted that Nigeria has experienced eight grid failures this year alone, with three incidents occurring within just one week.

“What have we learned from past failures and recovery attempts?” she questioned. “By now, after numerous incidents, the management of the national grid should have pinpointed the root causes and implemented lasting solutions. It’s alarming that there seems to be no comprehensive understanding of these issues or the lessons learned from past restoration efforts. With roughly 105 collapses over the past decade, power sector stakeholders should know the factors contributing to these failures and how to avert them. We are concerned about the evident lack of awareness among regulators in the power sector.”

Furthermore, LCCI pointed out that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported a staggering 60.86% decrease in meter installations by electricity distribution companies in the second quarter of 2024. Only 49,188 meters were installed compared to 125,664 in the first quarter.

“We urge the government to maintain its course with reforms in the power sector, particularly regarding the metering targets initially set. We also call on NERC to foster a favorable regulatory environment for the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) to leverage a variety of financing models outlined in the 2021 Meter Asset Provider (MAP) and the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP),” LCCI stated.

Almona emphasized the advantages that a stable national grid could bring to businesses in Nigeria. “A consistent power supply can significantly reduce production costs, making Nigerian goods more competitive globally. It can also enhance our capacity to earn foreign exchange by supplying electricity to neighboring countries,” she noted, referencing the NERC’s 2023 Annual Report which indicated that international customers from countries like Niger, Benin, and Togo paid $50.36 million to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) for electricity distribution.

While the chamber recognized ongoing efforts and reforms in the power sector, it expressed hope for a swift continuation of these initiatives. In a related event, Omotola reassured Nigerian manufacturers about the BPP’s commitment to reinforce the execution of executive orders designed to enhance the uptake of Made-in-Nigeria products by government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

Delivering a keynote address at the “Made in Nigeria Exhibition,” which is part of MAN’s 52nd Annual General Meeting, Omotola emphasized that public procurement is a pivotal tool for shaping the economy. He noted that in Nigeria, where the government is a significant spender, effective procurement policies can drastically influence industrial growth.

“Public procurement policies that favor local manufacturing are crucial,” he stated, mentioning the government’s initiatives from 2017—Executive Orders 003 and 005—that encourage all MDAs to prioritize local suppliers in their procurement processes.

Omotola proposed raising the current local content requirement from 40% to between 60-70% over the next five years for key sectors. “The time for half-measures is over,” he urged. “We need a comprehensive and intentional approach to developing our manufacturing sector, grounded in sound policies and strategic investments.”

Meanwhile, President of MAN, Mr. Francis Meshioye, reaffirmed the necessity for a focused strategy to enhance domestic production. He acknowledged the government’s attempts to support Made-in-Nigeria products but highlighted the ongoing challenges associated with effective implementation.

“We call on all government agencies to uphold the Executive Orders and fully comply, as directed by President Bola Tinubu,” Meshioye asserted. He expressed confidence that through continued advocacy, they could foster an economy where locally produced items are favored both locally and in international markets.

Exhibitor and National Sales Manager of HMA Medicals Limited, Mr. Charles M. Akaka, shared positive insights about how improved adherence to the executive orders has positively impacted their sales of medical products, including syringes and intravenous fluids.

During a recent interview, Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, discussed the implications of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s death. He shared his insights with CNN, expressing concerns that this loss could escalate the ongoing conflict with Israel. According to Ibish, as Hamas faces leadership challenges, the group’s strategies are evolving.

Ibish pointed out that the conflict between Israel and Hamas is characterized by unconventional warfare. He noted that Israel fails to grasp that Hamas aims to sustain “an indefinite insurgency against Israeli forces in Gaza.”

He emphasized that Hamas’s military efforts are “only just beginning” and have shifted to a structure consisting of dispersed, loosely organized units made up of guerrilla fighters and insurgents, which do not rely on a centralized command and control system.

Furthermore, Ibish indicated that Hamas may resort to using low-grade, less sophisticated weaponry, including handguns, small-caliber machine guns, and even homemade improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He pointed out that Hamas is capable of operating under harsh conditions because “their people are willing to die.”

Ibish drew parallels with other conflicts where nations faced challenges from non-state actors, mentioning past struggles such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Vietnam War, and Israel’s own experience during its 1982 invasion of Lebanon. He noted that while the aim was to expel the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Beirut, it inadvertently led to the emergence of a more formidable Hezbollah.

Detectives are currently investigating the deaths of three individuals at a care home in Dorset, with authorities confirming that “possible carbon monoxide poisoning” is the main line of inquiry. As part of this investigation, a 60-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and remains in custody.

DCI Neil Third, from the major crime investigation team, stated that the arrest was made to determine if there were any negligent actions or omissions involved in this tragic event. “We are gathering as much information as we can about what has happened,” he said.

On Wednesday morning, police were alerted to the Gainsborough care home in Swanage at 7:16 AM after three residents were found deceased. Authorities have since evacuated dozens more residents, some of whom required wheelchairs or stretchers, to a nearby church while arrangements for their continued care are being made.

Ch Supt Heather Dixey reported that seven individuals were taken to the hospital as a precaution, while other residents were safely evacuated. “The deaths are being treated as unexplained,” Dixey noted, emphasizing the ongoing collaboration with partner agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The local community has stepped up to support the evacuated residents, with the Rev Jo Levasier from All Saints Church recounting how they quickly opened the church for those in need. “I received a call from the care home around 7:45 AM asking for assistance,” she shared. “Residents began arriving shortly thereafter, including some on stretchers. Many were confused and distressed, but the community came together brilliantly, providing blankets, food, and drinks.”

Salama Ghounaim, a kitchen staff member, explained the urgency of evacuating all residents from the building. “The decision was to take everybody out of the building to the church. The residents are very elderly – some almost 100 years old.”

Charlotte Harris, a former activities coordinator at the care home who witnessed the evacuation, voiced her shock: “When you do drills, you never expect it to happen in real life. I just wanted to help because those residents who have dementia need a lot of care.”

The church housing the evacuated residents received generous donations from local businesses, including pastries from a bakery and fish and chips from a restaurant. Agincare, which runs the home, stated that the wellbeing of residents is always their priority and that they were working closely with local authorities to facilitate the safe return of residents.

In response to concerns, the local gas company, SGN, confirmed that there had been no mains gas leak on the premises, which supports the theory of carbon monoxide poisoning as a potential cause.

The Care Quality Commission had rated the care home as “good” in a 2021 report, emphasizing that risks were managed effectively. Family members of residents have expressed their satisfaction with the home’s safety measures, as well as their praise for the staff’s dedication and care.

Carbon monoxide is known to cause approximately 60 deaths and 200 hospital admissions annually in the UK, highlighting the seriousness of the current investigation.

On October 15, North Korea unexpectedly detonated sections of the railway connecting the North and South, escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. This explosive action has raised concerns among South Korean citizens, as depicted in various media reports.

Experts suggest that North Korea has a history of using the destruction of its own infrastructure to send political messages. This incident appears to signal that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has no intention of engaging in negotiations with the South.

The North Korean military reportedly destroyed parts of the Gyeongui and Donghae railway lines around noon on the 15th. The South Korean military stated that the blast site was merely 10 meters from the military demarcation line, and the lack of prior notification constitutes a clear violation of the armistice agreement, prompting them to respond with gunfire.

In a statement, South Korea’s Ministry of Unification condemned the actions, highlighting that the Gyeongui and Donghae railways, along with connecting roads, were significant cooperative projects established after the inter-Korean summit in 2018. At North Korea’s request, the South Korean government provided materials and equipment valued at approximately $133 million through a loan arrangement.

The Ministry emphasized that North Korea still has an obligation to repay the loan and should bear full responsibility for the recent destruction.

According to reports from Central News Agency, experts noted that while these communication routes had long been inactive, the demolition conveys a clear message: Kim Jong-un is not interested in pursuing dialogues with South Korea.

Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, told AFP, “This reflects the real military measures related to the system of the two hostile nations that North Korea often discusses.”

He suggested that North Korea might be looking to establish more physical barriers along the border, making the demolition an act of “preparation.”

In 2020, North Korea destroyed the inter-Korean liaison office, which had been built by South Korea and was left vacant at the time, in retaliation against South Korean defector groups that were distributing anti-North Korean leaflets. Following this, South Korea filed a lawsuit against North Korea last year, seeking approximately 45 billion won in compensation for the damage.

During the initial stages of nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the United States in 2018, Pyongyang demolished its nuclear test facility tunnels. Similarly, in 2008, after entering negotiations with Washington and other nations to exchange nuclear disarmament for assistance, North Korea destroyed the cooling tower of its main nuclear facility.

Experts believe that Kim Jong-un’s strategy may be aimed at diminishing South Korea’s influence in the regional nuclear standoff while seeking direct engagement with the United States. He may also wish to reduce South Korea’s cultural impact and solidify his family’s rule over North Korea.

Tensions have surged between the two Koreas after North Korea accused South Korea of sending drones into Pyongyang last week. North Korea claimed these drones disseminated a “large number” of anti-North Korean pamphlets, with Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un’s powerful sister, warning Seoul of “terrible consequences” should such actions continue.

When questioned about whether the drones reportedly flying into Pyongyang were operated by the South Korean military or private citizens, a spokesperson for the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff declined to answer.

Late-night hosts are taking a humorous jab at Donald Trump’s recent antics, including his unusual photo op at McDonald’s and his bizarre commentary on Arnold Palmer’s genitalia as the election draws near.

On “The Daily Show,” Jon Stewart kicked things off with an amusing take on the surreal nature of the campaign. “With just two weeks until the presidential election, we’ve officially entered the fever dream portion,” Stewart remarked. “Right is left, up is down, the Republican nominee is hanging out at a Bronx barber shop, while the Democrat is hosting a book club with Liz Cheney. What the hell is going on?”

Stewart continued, “It feels so surreal. This campaign can’t possibly get weirder. Yet, this weekend saw the absurdity reach new heights at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, where he embarked on a long-winded spiel about golfer Arnold Palmer’s penis size. ‘Arnold Palmer was all man,’ Trump said, and followed that up with anecdotes about other golfers’ reactions after showering with him.”

In a separate interview, Trump ominously declared, “We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within. And let me tell you, the enemy from within is more dangerous than Russia or China.” Stewart pointed out the unsettling nature of those comments, emphasizing, “That’s not just playful banter; it carries a threatening tone that deserves serious scrutiny.” When Trump labeled Nancy Pelosi as part of this so-called “enemy from within,” some Republicans attempted to downplay the rhetoric. Stewart countered, “It’s not just a matter of ‘connecting dots’—those are his actual words.”

“Remember when he tried to stage a coup?” Stewart added, referencing the January 6th insurrection. “It didn’t work, but ‘attempted murder’ isn’t the same as ‘never tried murder.’ So here we are, grappling with the bizarre notion that Trump’s absurd remarks somehow make him harmless. We tend to brush aside his threats because he gets so carried away talking about Arnold Palmer’s size.”

On “The Late Show,” Stephen Colbert quipped, “We’re now more than a year into the presidential campaign, and with just two weeks to go, we’re in the home stretch. That gives enough time for three complete meltdowns and perhaps a wardrobe malfunction, but hey, his supporters will probably love him anyway.” Colbert dove right into Trump’s Palmer comments, sharing his disbelief that professional golfers would even shower together, saying, “This is an individual sport, not a team event! Do you really think Arnold Palmer was sudsing up at the Y while at the pinnacle of his career?”

Colbert also weighed in on Trump’s effort to connect with McDonald’s customers during a staged event by asking, “How did you produce those good-looking kids?” Colbert laughed, pointing out that if anyone wants to ask about how kids are made, they shouldn’t be doing it at a fast-food joint. “It’s no surprise that the man who’s never worked a real job didn’t actually work at McDonald’s,” he added. “This photo op was held at a closed McDonald’s with pre-selected fans. He’s not your average Joe! It’s all just blue-collar drag with a lot more makeup.”

Seth Meyers also chimed in on “Late Night,” critiquing Trump’s Palmer rant. “Republicans, is this what you mean when you say Trump has a plan? The only plan I see here is to bore the living daylights out of his audience,” Meyers joked. “No wonder people leave his rallies early! After one minute of that story, the crowd started Googling refunds for free tickets!”

After more than 12 minutes of Trump going off on Palmer, Meyers concluded, “Your story is long, bad, and doesn’t make a lick of sense. If you want a podcast, I’m sure someone will give you one—at least then people can fold laundry while they listen.”

With just two weeks before the election, Meyers wrapped up by laying out the stark contrast voters face: “On one hand, you have Kamala Harris’s plan to tackle price-gouging and lower prescription drug costs, while on the other hand, there’s Donald Trump’s aim to inform everyone about Arnold Palmer’s impressive anatomy.”

On October 15, during the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Islamabad, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Tajik Prime Minister Rasulzada.

During their meeting, Li highlighted the significance of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Tajikistan in July this year, where both leaders announced the elevation of China-Tajikistan relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era. He emphasized that this partnership aims to establish a community with a shared future, laying out a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation. Li expressed China’s readiness to work closely with Tajikistan to implement the consensus reached by their leaders, promote traditional friendship, deepen political trust, firmly support each other’s core interests, and elevate all-around cooperation to new heights, ultimately benefiting both peoples.

Li also stressed China’s willingness to strengthen alignment on development strategies with Tajikistan. He noted that they aim to build a community with a shared future, with a focus on high-quality Belt and Road Initiative construction, while exploring cooperation potentials in various fields including trade, investment, mining, and agriculture. Moreover, he mentioned expanding collaboration in emerging industries such as renewable energy and the digital economy, enhancing connectivity at a higher level, and fostering cultural, educational, and tourism exchanges to inject more momentum into their joint development. He urged both sides to effectively implement the outcomes of the first China-Central Asia Summit, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and jointly promote the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, advocating for a truly multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization to uphold international fairness and justice.

In response, Rasulzada acknowledged the deep-rooted traditional friendship and strong political trust between Tajikistan and China, stating that their relationship is at an all-time high. He congratulated China on its impressive achievements over the 75 years since the establishment of the People’s Republic and expressed gratitude for China’s long-standing support for Tajikistan’s development. Rasulzada noted that Xi’s recent state visit effectively propelled the comprehensive strategic partnership to new heights. He affirmed Tajikistan’s commitment to collaborating with China to fully implement the important consensus of their leaders, enhance exchanges at all levels, advance the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation in trade, investment, e-commerce, energy, industry, transportation, and agriculture. He also expressed a desire to expand cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital and green economy, and to broaden cultural exchanges for the betterment of both nations. Furthermore, he supported Xi’s vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the three global initiatives, expressing Tajikistan’s willingness to strengthen collaboration with China within the frameworks of the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to jointly promote peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

The dive team set out to document the wreck, thought to be the 18th-century French slave ship L‘Aurore. All photographs by Yuri Sanada/Aventuras ProduçõesBlack archaeologists join team investigating off the coast of Mozambique as part of global project to identify and tell stories of wrecked ships involved in transatlantic slave trade
By Carlos Mureithi in Ilha de Mozambique. Photographs by Yuri SanadaSupported byAbout this contentWed 16 Oct 2024 05.00 EDTLast modified on Wed 16 Oct 2024 05.39 EDTShareCelso Simbine walks briskly along the narrow streets of Stone Town in Ilha de Mozambique off the country’s north coast, a diving tank on his shoulder and a bag of scuba equipment on his back. Twelve years ago Simbine couldn’t swim, despite growing up in a port city. Today, the 32-year-old is joining colleagues on a nearby beach to embark on a diving expedition in the Indian Ocean. They include a fellow Mozambican, a Senegalese and a Brazilian – all young, black maritime archaeologists who are part of an international team exploring what they believe to be the wreck of an 18th-century slave ship.
The team has gathered in Mozambique for two weeks of exploratory dives and classroom sessions coordinated by the Slave Wrecks Project (SWP), a programme dedicated to searching for slave ship wrecks globally and to training Africans and people of African descent in underwater archaeology in a drive to equip communities with the knowledge and resources to identify, preserve and tell the stories of the wrecks in their waters.
View image in fullscreen Celso Simbine prepares for the dive in Stone Town, Ilha de Mozambique
“A lot of African history was written in a very Eurocentric spirit,” says Simbine, a lecturer at Eduardo Mondlane University in the capital Maputo and a doctoral student in maritime archaeology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. “We are looking to rewrite African history using underwater archaeology.”
Setting off in three motor boats from a beach near the Fort of São Sebastião, a 16th-century fortification used by the Portuguese to trade and detain enslaved people, the team speeds past small fishing vessels to the site of the wreck.
The goal of today’s dive is to document sections of the ship, identify which part of the vessel they are working on and gather information on its construction and the shipwrecking process.
SWP started searching for L’Aurore in 2015 when an archival researcher, Richard Allen, located a document in Mauritius that provided an account of the shipwreck by its captain and brought it to SWP’s attention. SWP identified the current site in 2022.
According to the captain’s account of the shipwreck, the French vessel left present-day Mauritius for Mozambique in November 1789 to pick up enslaved people en route to its final destination, the French Caribbean.
We are looking to rewrite African history using underwater archaeologyCelso SimbineIn January 1790, as enslaved people were boarding the ship in the harbour of Ilha de Mozambique, the 356 already on board attempted to mutiny, during which four of them drowned.
Because of the insurrection, the crew locked the enslaved men below deck. Women and children were kept in the main cabin. A month later, when the ship was ready to leave, a storm hit. The crew refused to open the lower deck until the vessel was sinking. When they finally opened the hatch, it was too late: 331 people died.
“It is murder,” says Steve Lubkemann, an American maritime archaeologist and co-founder of SWP. “There’s no other way to put it.”
“It’s a part of the slave trade that is often forgotten,” he adds. “People did not go quietly.”
Simbine says: “L‘Aurore is a symbol of resistance and revolt of black people refusing to be taken out of their land.”
Underwater footage of the dive siteVideo footage shows members of the team documenting the wreck, thought to be the 18th-century French slave ship L‘AuroreAs well as being an important symbol of resistance, L’Aurore is archaeologically significant because it is so well preserved. “It may be the best 18th-century slave ship example,” says Marc-André Bernier, a Canadian underwater archaeologist and the developer of SWP’s training programme, adding that the research will help archaeologists understand the structure of other slave ships and their living conditions.
The shipwreck has not been formally confirmed as L’Aurore, but evidence pointing to its likely identity includes the fact that the ship lies in the area described in the captain’s account; that its structure shows that it was constructed using a French technique; and that ballast found in the wreck was from Mauritius, the last port of call for L’Aurore before Mozambique.
SWP was launched in 2008 by four partners (the George Washington University, Iziko Museums of South Africa, the US National Park Service Submerged Resources Center and the South African Heritage Resources Agency) to draw attention to the study of slave shipwrecks and strengthen skills and capacity for research in maritime archaeology. It was joined by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and by Diving With a Purpose in 2013.
View image in fullscreen The wreck is particularly well preserved and could reveal important insights into the structure of slave ships and the living conditions onboard
View image in fullscreenView image in fullscreen One of the team takes measurements at the site, where exposed beams from the ship can be seen (right)
In 2015, the project identified the São José Paquete Africa, a Portuguese slave ship that was wrecked near the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa in 1794. It was the first recorded wreck discovered of a ship that sank in transit with enslaved humans.
More than 1,000 slave ships involved in the transatlantic slave trade, during which more than 12 million Africans were enslaved, sank around the world, according to archival records. But fewer than a dozen have been located and documented as archaeological sites.
Part of the reason is the lack of economic value in the ships, which means people are not incentivised to find the vessels, says Kamau Sadiki, a board member and lead instructor at Diving With a Purpose.
View image in fullscreen Training with Kamau Sadiki (right), lead instructor at Diving With a Purpose
“There wasn’t a lot of gold on these ships,” he says. “But from a cultural, historical perspective, it’s absolutely critical [to find them]. Because the period of transatlantic African enslavement is probably the most profound historical activity in the world.”
The Black divers excavating slave shipwrecks: ‘I’m telling my ancestors: I’m with you’Read moreAnother reason is underrepresentation of people of African ancestry in maritime archaeology, says Jay Haigler, founding board member and lead instructor at DWP.
“Maritime archaeologists are the first people at the scene – and it’s a crime scene,” he says. “Will 99% of the field actually start to explore any parts of an ongoing activity that doesn’t shine the best light on humanity?”
View image in fullscreen Mozambican maritime archaeologist Cezar Mahumane says: ‘We now have the ability to tell the story from our side’
Cézar Mahumane, a Mozambican maritime archaeologist who, like Simbine, started training with SWP in 2013 after learning to swim, and now heads the Centre for Archaeology Research and Resources of the Island of Mozambique (Cairim), says that by uncovering hidden narratives of their people and countries, trainees learn to challenge some of what’s been written in history.
“We now have the ability to tell the story from our side,” he says. “I feel very proud to be part of this trend and I look forward to training people in this field and sharing the knowledge that I have.”
SWP is working to develop similar centres in Senegal and Brazil where SWP’s partners have identified other slave wrecks. In December 2023, divers located the lost wreck of the Camargo, a ship that archaeologists believe was deliberately burned and sunk by the only American slave trader to have been executed for trafficking enslaved Africans.
“You can’t just train people. You have to help them build an institution,” says Lubkemann.
In Mozambique, the team, which includes community stewards who assist archaeologists, dives in the morning to map, excavate and photograph L’Aurore, carefully fanning the sand away to reveal the structure below. Over the two week period, the excavations reveal that the wreck settled on its side and that there are portions of one side of the ship intact. In the afternoon, they attend classes in project management, dive safety and principles of artefact recovery. Mentors include Brazilian Gilson Rambelli, the head of an expedition for the search of the Camargo close to Rio de Janeiro, and South Africans Jaco Boshoff, the principal investigator of the São José Paquete Africa, and Jonathan Sharfman, who also researched the ship.
View image in fullscreen The Fort of São Sebastião was used by the Portuguese to trade and detain enslaved people
The archaeologists have discovered ceramics, lead shot and a barrel top in the wreck of L’Aurore but their current objective is to understand the structure of the vessel. And while they may eventually remove select artefacts, there are no plans to raise the ship.
“You don’t need to raise the ship to tell the story,” says Lubkemann, giving the example of the São José Paquete Africa, from which a number of artefacts are on display at the Smithsonian in Washington DC.
Another reason not to interfere with the site, he says, is that people lost their lives there. “Even if the bodies are not there, it is a site of tragedy. And you treat it with respect,” he says.
Mozambique was a significant part of the global slave trade in the 18th and 19th centuries. Hundreds of thousands of Mozambicans were sold as slaves in the South Atlantic trade, in the Arab trade in the Indian Ocean and in the French trade to Indian Ocean islands.
The country is a former colony of Portugal, one of the earliest and biggest participants in the global slave trade.
View image in fullscreen Samira Jamú teaches other residents about their island’s underwater cultural heritage
Former slave-trading powers have largely failed to confront their past. But earlier this year Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said the country needed to “pay the costs” for crimes committed during the transatlantic slave trade. In 2022, Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, formally apologised for his country’s role in the slave trade.
In a makeshift classroom at a guest house in Stone Town, where most of the team are staying, Mahumane is painstakingly mapping a section of the wreck based on notes and measurements that he took underwater.
“From a historical point of view, we might be looking at one of the greatest testimonies of crimes against humanity, which was the slave trade,” he says.
“Every time you’re down there and you touch the structure, this plays with your feelings and the meaning that the structure might have. It goes beyond looking at scientific aspects and sometimes it really touches our spirituality.”
The search for L’Aurore and the discovery of the presumed site has gone largely unnoticed by the wider community of Ilha de Mozambique. Residents know that there are shipwrecks related to the slave trade off the island, but they don’t know much more than that, says Samira Jamú, 23, who lives on the island. She adds that she started learning more about the slave shipwrecks when she became a community monitor with the SWP in 2018 to teach children and other residents about underwater cultural heritage and the marine environment.
View image in fullscreen The crew hold a pre-dive ritual before entering the water. Each will take a symbolic cowry shell to the wreck site
“We are in the process of learning it. We are in the process of knowing ourselves. We are in the process of owning our history,” she says.
One morning before a dive, about half a dozen people from the SWP team stand in a circle on the beach. Sadiki hands each person a cowry shell, which used to be exchanged for enslaved people, and asks them to take the shells to the wreck. It is a ritual he has performed during explorations of the São José Paquete Africa in South Africa and the Clotilda, the last known ship to have taken enslaved people to the US.
“We are here again in these sacred waters to remember, to reclaim but more importantly to resist,” Sadiki says.
“We want you to remember as you do this work that our ancestors resisted. They resisted inhumanity against them. But more importantly, they struggled to reclaim and retain their humanity.”
Then the men walk to their waiting boats and head to the site for another morning of exploration.
View image in fullscreen ‘Sacred waters’: heading into the Indian Ocean for another day uncovering the past

Idris Elba is making waves with plans to relocate to Africa, aiming to reshape the narrative of African cinema. In a recent interview with the BBC while attending the Africa Cinema Summit in Accra, Ghana, the celebrated actor expressed his commitment to developing the sub-Saharan film industry, declaring, “It’s going to happen.”

Best known for his roles in hit TV series like “Luther” and “The Wire,” as well as films such as “Beasts of No Nation” and “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” Elba revealed his vision for African filmmaking extends beyond mere production. He previously announced intentions to establish a film studio in Tanzania and emphasized that his ambitions require him to live on the continent. “I think I’ll move in the next five to ten years, God willing. I’m here to bolster the film industry – that is a ten-year process – and I can’t do that from overseas. I need to be on the ground, in the country,” he stated.

Elba detailed his plans to immerse himself in various locations, saying, “I’m going to live in Accra, I’m going to live in Freetown, I’m going to live in Zanzibar. I want to be where the stories are being told – that’s really important.”

Born in London to a Sierra Leonean father and Ghanaian mother, Elba is passionate about the potential for filmmaking across Africa. “If you watch any film about Africa, all you see is trauma – slavery, colonization, war. But when you come to Africa, you realize that’s just not the whole story,” he explained. “It’s crucial that we tell our own stories that reflect our traditions, cultures, and languages, highlighting the nuances between them. The world doesn’t know that.”

In addition to his filmmaking aspirations, Elba is involved in a consortium working on an “eco city” on Sherbro Island in Sierra Leone, further contributing to his commitment to the continent.

On October 26, the finals and awards ceremony for the 5th “Zhengyan” Tea King Competition took place in Wuyishan City, Fujian Province. The event attracted a remarkable 2,732 tea samples, culminating in the selection of four Tea Kings, 12 special gold awards, 55 gold awards, 138 craftsman awards, and 165 quality awards.

The competition began with an announcement on September 11 and spanned over a month, involving multiple rounds of preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds to crown the new Tea Kings of the year. The winners included Yijian Bufen Tea Co. which garnered two titles for Wuyishan Da Hong Pao and Wuyishan Rougui, while Chen Mei, who entered as an individual participant, was honored as the Wuyishan Shui Xian Tea King. Yunjiao Shiyou Tea Co. also claimed the title for Wuyishan Chen Tea.

Jiang Fan, the head of Yijian Bufen Tea Co. and a rising star among Wuyishan tea producers, has dedicated over a decade to the craft. He expressed his passion by stating, “Making Wuyishan rock tea is my love; despite the hardships, the rewards are worth it—especially the feeling of winning, which is akin to savoring a great tea.”

“The Zhengyan Tea King Competition serves as a platform for outstanding tea enterprises and tea masters to shine,” remarked Wu Renzhong, the Party Secretary of Wuyishan Tea Farm. He emphasized the importance of the competition in carrying forward nearly a century of tea culture from state-owned enterprises and honoring the traditional craftsmanship of tea masters like Zhang Tianfu, Wu Juene, and Yao Yueming.

Zhang Xianjun, the president of the Wuyishan Tea Society, noted that the competition consistently plays a leading and exemplary role in the tea industry. This year’s event exceeded expectations in both the number of samples submitted and the quality of the teas entered, achieving its goal of enhancing tea planting techniques and processing methods in Wuyishan. This not only boosts the incomes of local tea farmers but also ensures that tea enthusiasts enjoy reliable, high-quality tea from farm to cup.

During the awards ceremony, Li Wenfu, Deputy Director of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Nanping City, expressed hope for consolidating lessons learned from the event. He emphasized the need for more standardized quality evaluations of Wuyishan rock tea, ensuring that its traditional production techniques and grading standards are better preserved and enhanced, ultimately contributing to the economic benefits for the region and its social development.

Yanchan Tea Co., which has participated in the competition for two consecutive years, represented by Chen Min, highlighted their efforts to promote Wuyishan rock tea across 27 countries, including Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Dubai, the UK, France, the US, and Peru. The goal through the “Zhengyan” Tea King Competition is to introduce even more high-quality Wuyishan rock tea to global markets and expand its cultural reach.

On October 14, during a press briefing, Wu Qian, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, addressed a provocative speech made by Taiwanese politician Lai Ching-te and the ongoing military exercises in the Eastern Theater Command.

When asked about Lai’s recent remarks during the so-called “Double Ten” celebrations, which promoted the “New Two States Theory” asserting that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not subordinate to each other, Wu expressed strong disapproval. He criticized Lai for attempting to sever the historical ties between Taiwan and mainland China, inciting hostility, and trying to misrepresent the fact that both sides belong to one China. Wu characterized Lai as a “destroyer of cross-strait peace” and a “manufacturer of crises in the Taiwan Strait,” asserting that such actions are unacceptable and warrant a firm response.

He emphasized that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, noting the historical and legal clarity of this assertion, which is widely acknowledged in the international community. Wu firmly stated that Taiwan has never been a separate nation and can never become one. He labeled the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) independence-seeking provocations and foreign interference as the root causes of instability in the Taiwan Strait, which would ultimately bring disaster to the people of Taiwan.

Regarding the military exercises, Wu clarified that they are specifically aimed at counteracting “Taiwan independence.” He underscored that the People’s Liberation Army is sending a clear message that those advocating for independence face dire consequences. While asserting that these drills are not directed at the people of Taiwan, he reaffirmed China’s commitment to striving for peaceful reunification, but indicated that the use of force would not be ruled out.

Wu insisted that the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise is not a mere repetition of previous drills but is a strategic escalation in response to independence provocations. He emphasized that with every provocation from the pro-independence camp, the military will advance its actions until the issue of Taiwan is fully resolved.

He concluded by asserting that the Taiwan issue is an internal matter for China, and should not invite interference from any individual or force under any pretext. Wu urged relevant parties to cease their support for “Taiwan independence” and to stop undermining peace and stability across the Strait. He proclaimed that the reunification of the motherland is an unstoppable historical trend and a matter of national righteousness. He called on the Taiwanese people to recognize the broader historical context, align with the correct side of history, and join efforts to oppose independence, fostering unity and sharing in the glory of national rejuvenation.