Designed to capture the frequencies of sounds commonly found in nature , the technology would be used to provide power in isolated areas.

For instance, it could supply electricity to monitor conditions in crop fields. The device is still in the theoretical stage at present but the researchers hope soon to be able to move onto working prototypes.

Cuba’s government condemned what it described as a new aggressive escalation by the United States, reaffirming its determination to defend national sovereignty. Official statements accused Washington of intensifying economic pressure through additional measures that further strain the island’s fragile economy. Authorities framed the latest actions as part of a broader hostile policy aimed at destabilising the country. Havana insisted it will resist external interference and continue defending its political system. The rhetoric underscores renewed diplomatic tension between the two nations.

Open-air cinema offers relief amid prolonged blackouts in Havana

Residents in Havana gathered for an open-air film screening organised by the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic Art and Industry (ICAIC), creating a rare communal moment amid severe electricity shortages. Using inflatable screens and rechargeable batteries due to fuel scarcity, organisers transformed a darkened street into a temporary cinema. Blackouts now affect more than half of the island during peak hours, worsening after new US measures targeting countries supplying oil to Cuba. President Miguel Díaz-Canel accused Washington of “asphyxiating” the country energetically, while residents described the screenings as a welcome emotional escape. The initiative reflects community resilience in the face of a deepening energy crisis.

Cuba commemorates key milestone in Martí’s political project

Cuban media marked an anniversary described as a decisive moment in the maturation and crystallisation of José Martí’s political vision. The date is portrayed as pivotal in consolidating the ideological foundations of Cuba’s independence movement. Official narratives emphasised Martí’s enduring influence on national identity and revolutionary thought. The commemoration reinforced the symbolic importance of historical memory in contemporary political discourse. Authorities highlighted Martí’s project as a cornerstone of sovereignty and unity.

US Supreme Court to examine issues related to measures against Cuba

Cuba reported that the United States Supreme Court will examine matters linked to the application of aggressive measures against the island. State media framed the review as part of ongoing legal and political disputes surrounding US sanctions policy. The development is seen as significant given the long-standing legal battles connected to economic restrictions. Cuban authorities continue to criticise the broader sanctions regime as unlawful and harmful to the population . The case adds another dimension to bilateral tensions.

Solar kits priced at over 75,000 pesos amid worsening blackouts

The Cuban government is promoting the sale of solar panel kits as power outages across the country frequently exceed 12 to 16 hours per day. According to the state electricity company, an 800-watt module costs 75,200 Cuban pesos and includes a solar panel, cables, connectors and a battery with 1,200-watt output. While the system can power basic appliances such as a refrigerator, rice cooker or television, it does not fully cover the needs of an average household. The programme is partly aimed at recognised “Heroes and Heroines of Labour”, with more than 130 modules already installed under a broader plan targeting over 10,000 workers. However, the price equals more than 20 average monthly state salaries, making it largely inaccessible without remittances or external support. Although authorities announced tariff exemptions and tax incentives for renewable energy investment, the high upfront cost highlights the economic constraints facing most Cuban families amid the ongoing energy crisis.

For more than a century, economic power meant industrial power. The battle was over manufacturing. But that battle is largely settled. Supply chains have been redrawn, factories relocated, and the geography of production transformed. A new contest is under way.

It is the battle for power. Not political power, but electrical power.

Electricity is the enabling force behind everything else. It runs factories, data centres, transport systems and defence networks. It is what allows countries to manufacture, to digitise, to modernise and to fight. Energy is not just another sector of the economy. It is the fuel of the economy.

And at this moment in history, one country has placed itself at the centre of that system. First through trade. Then through renewables. Now, potentially, through the most transformative technology of all: nuclear fusion.

1. Trade wars

The China US trade conflict of 2025 will likely be remembered as a decisive moment in the global balance of power.

Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on allies and adversaries alike, threatening to restrict access to the world’s largest consumer market. The UK, Europe, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and others made concessions in return for slightly lower duties. They did not reverse the policy. They negotiated for marginally better terms.

One country did not give way. China.

Tariffs escalated in stages. Ten percent. Twenty percent. Fifty four percent. One hundred and four percent. Eventually more than one hundred and twenty five percent on some goods. The pressure was intense.

Beijing responded in kind, but more importantly it deployed a weapon decades in the making: control of critical minerals.

In April, China signalled it could restrict exports of rare earth elements such as samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium and yttrium. These are not household names. Yet they are essential to the production of high performance magnets used in electric motors, wind turbines, defence systems and advanced electronics.

China produces up to 90 percent of global supply in several of these materials. Cutting off access would not simply raise prices. It would stall entire industries.

That leverage mattered. Tariffs were eventually wound back after high level talks, without Beijing making equivalent structural concessions. Whatever one thinks of the politics, the economic lesson was stark. Through long term planning, subsidies, environmental trade offs and export controls, China had embedded itself so deeply in strategic supply chains that it could exert systemic pressure.

This was not an isolated case. During the pandemic, China demonstrated overwhelming dominance in the production of personal protective equipment. In consumer electronics, seven of the top nine phone manufacturers are Chinese. Even devices branded in the United States or South Korea are largely assembled in Chinese factories.

Over three decades, China moved from low cost goods to advanced manufacturing and then to strategic inputs. It did not simply compete in markets. It positioned itself at choke points.

The trade war did not create that reality. It revealed it.

2. The green transition

The next stage of the power shift is already visible in the energy transition.

The world is undergoing the most significant transformation in electricity generation since the first mass power plants came online in the nineteenth century. Wind and solar capacity have surged globally. But one country stands apart.

China has multiplied its wind capacity several times over since the early 2010s and expanded its solar capacity at extraordinary speed. It accounts for close to half of global installed solar capacity and is still growing faster than any other major economy.

At the same time, China continues to build coal plants. Critics point to this as evidence of contradiction. In reality, it reflects scale. China is not simply replacing old capacity. It is expanding total energy production on a vast scale, ensuring reliability while renewables ramp up.

Crucially, China does not only install renewables. It manufactures them.

It produces more than 80 percent of the world’s solar panels and around 60 percent of wind turbines. Six of the top ten global manufacturers in these sectors are Chinese. The same pattern is visible in lithium batteries and electric vehicles. In 2010, battery technology was led by firms in Japan and South Korea. Within a decade, China controlled roughly three quarters of global production, supported by a vertically integrated domestic supply chain and strong state backing.

Rare earths tell a similar story. The United States once dominated production. By 2020, China controlled the overwhelming majority of global processing capacity.

For developing countries, cheap Chinese solar panels and batteries have been transformative. They have enabled electrification at lower cost and accelerated economic development. For advanced economies, affordable electric vehicles have made net zero targets more attainable.

Yet from a strategic perspective, the pattern is clear. The first phase of the clean energy transition has been shaped and largely controlled by China. The technologies that will replace fossil fuels are, to a significant extent, designed, manufactured and refined within its borders.

Energy is becoming the central arena of geopolitical competition. And China has already secured commanding positions.

3. Energy upscaling

The next challenge is more speculative, but potentially far more consequential. Nuclear fusion.

Unlike nuclear fission, which splits heavy atoms to release energy, fusion forces light atoms together. It is the process that powers the sun. Fusion promises enormous advantages. It carries no risk of meltdown in the conventional sense. It produces far less long lived radioactive waste. It requires small quantities of fuel, much of it derived from hydrogen that is widely available.

There are currently no commercial fusion reactors. Most experimental designs rely on containing plasma heated to around 100 million degrees Celsius using extremely powerful magnets. Other approaches use high energy lasers to compress fuel to fusion conditions.

Both pathways depend on advanced materials and components.

High performance magnets require rare earth elements. High temperature superconducting tape is essential for efficient magnetic confinement. China controls the majority of global production in several of these inputs and is expanding capacity rapidly. Laser systems depend on laser diodes, of which around 70 percent are manufactured in China. Tungsten, vanadium, barium titanate and graphene, all relevant to advanced energy systems, are also heavily concentrated in Chinese supply chains.

Private investment in fusion is growing worldwide. In recent years, funding from China has surged from negligible levels to several billion dollars annually, outpacing much of the rest of the world combined.

None of this guarantees technological supremacy. Fusion remains uncertain. Breakthroughs could emerge from the United States, Europe or collaborative international projects. But the early signs echo previous patterns. Identify a strategic technology. Secure the materials. Scale manufacturing. Invest heavily. Build domestic demand. Then dominate global supply.

The stakes are enormous. Electricity demand in developed economies was broadly flat for much of the early twenty first century. That era is ending. Artificial intelligence, electrified transport, heat pumps and industrial decarbonisation are driving a structural increase in demand. Energy systems are not merely being cleaned. They are being expanded.

With sufficient energy, societies can desalinate seawater, irrigate deserts, power vertical farms, heat cold climates and cool hot ones. Energy abundance changes what is economically possible.

Whoever controls the infrastructure of that abundance will shape the terms on which the future is built.

Conclusion

Over the past two decades, China has executed a coherent long term strategy. It entrenched itself in manufacturing. It secured control over critical minerals. It scaled renewable energy production to unprecedented levels. In key areas of the green transition, it has already won the first round.

Now the focus shifts to the next frontier: energy upscaling through technologies such as nuclear fusion. This is not simply about climate policy or industrial policy. It is about the foundations of economic and geopolitical power in the twenty first century.

Trade shaped the past. Renewables define the present. But the ultimate contest is over who will generate, store and control the energy that powers everything else.

In that contest, the outcome may determine not just which country is great, but which country sets the rules for the century ahead.

Most of the data in this article is sourced from a report circulated in the US government. Its authors operate within the industry but wish to remain anonymous. 

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World Reframed is produced in London by Global South World, part of the Impactum Group. Its editors are Duncan Hooper and Ismail Akwei.

ISSN 2978-4891

I will tell you. Manufacturing just one tonne of aluminium consumes the same amount of electricity needed to power 1,000 households for a full week.

Why does aluminium, a metal praised for its lightness and recyclability, demand so much from the world’s power grids?

According to Alufinish , aluminium’s energy demands begin with its complex extraction process. The metal does not occur naturally in pure form, so producers must refine bauxite into alumina before smelting it at temperatures nearing 950°C.

This final step, electrolysis in what is known as the Hall-Héroult process, requires uninterrupted, high-voltage electricity. Energy alone can account for 30–40% of total production costs, making aluminium one of the most electricity-intensive industrial materials in the world.

Sohar Aluminium, one of the leading producers in the Middle East, reports that modern smelters consume roughly 13–15 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity to produce a single tonne of aluminium. To put that into perspective, the average household in many countries uses about 200–300 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per week. Multiply that by 1,000 households, and the comparison suddenly becomes very real.

This energy use matters more than ever as the world navigates a turbulent energy landscape. Europe, for example, has seen several aluminium smelters temporarily shut down or reduce output due to soaring electricity prices, a trend widely reported in recent years. These closures ripple through supply chains, raising the cost of everything from beverage cans to aircraft components.

As the International Aluminium Institute notes, the metal is essential to modern life, used in transport, construction, packaging and renewable energy systems, yet its production is tightly tied to the stability and price of electricity.

There is also a human dimension behind the numbers. When power grids struggle, or energy prices climb, workers often face uncertainty long before consumers feel the impact at the store. At the same time, global pressure is mounting for cleaner, more sustainable manufacturing, pushing companies to rethink how aluminium is produced without compromising livelihoods.

Despite its heavy energy demands, aluminium remains one of the world’s most recyclable materials. Recycling aluminium uses 95% less energy than producing it from raw ore, a fact many experts are championing as countries set climate targets and transition to greener industries.

However, just days ago, a partial collapse of the grid once again plunged Havana and large swathes of western Cuba into darkness. A transmission-line failure severed the connection between the capital and the country’s largest power plant in Matanzas, the latest in a string of outages underlining how fragile the system remains. Even though officials reported a gradual restoration of power, the blackout reinforced doubts among citizens about whether promises of recovery are realistic.

In recent years, the government has announced plans to diversify energy production by investing in renewable sources, including solar, wind and biomass projects and to gradually reduce reliance on fossil-fuel thermal plants. But experts warn that these measures alone may not be enough. With effective generation capacity reportedly far below national demand, and a legacy of deferred maintenance and substandard fuel quality, the grid remains highly vulnerable to further failures unless major structural reforms are implemented.

For ordinary Cubans, the unreliability of electricity has become a daily reality, with long power cuts, unpredictable outages, and uncertainty over essential services from water pumping to food preservation. While 2026 is being billed by authorities as a year for possible recovery, the recent collapse illustrates how fragile hope remains, and how much work still lies ahead if the island hopes to restore a stable, reliable power supply.

The reduction has especially hurt supplies of fuel oil, one of the most important inputs for Cuba’s ageing thermoelectric power plants. Deliveries from Mexico fell by approximately 73%, while imports from Venezuela, historically Cuba’s most significant energy partner, dropped by nearly 15%.

As a result, Cuba has been forced to shut down significant portions of its electricity generation capacity. According to the national electrical union, nearly 900 megawatts, almost a third of daily demand, are now offline due to a lack of fuel and lubricants. In Havana, residents report unplanned blackouts of up to nine hours, while more remote provinces sometimes receive only two to four hours of electricity each day.

Cuban officials have attributed the crisis to a combination of external and internal factors, including the steep reduction in shipments from allies, payment difficulties, and a shortage of vessels capable of transporting fuel across the Caribbean. Meanwhile, longstanding US sanctions , economic instability and damage to infrastructure from Hurricane Melissa are also compounding the problem.

The situation has renewed international attention on Cuba’s energy vulnerability and geopolitical isolation. As global allies recalibrate their own energy strategies, Havana’s ability to maintain stable electricity access and avoid further social disruption may depend on forging new partnerships or accelerating its transition to renewable energy .

Under the amendments, penalties outlined in Articles 70 and 71 of the law will be significantly stiffened, while a newly added Article 71 introduces a formal reconciliation mechanism for past offences, Youm7 reports.

According to the committee, the move specifically targets two problems: the increasing frequency of electricity theft, often involving the manipulation of meters or tapping into the grid, and violations by employees who knowingly supply power unlawfully or fail to report breaches.

Article 70, which applies to electricity-sector staff, has been rewritten to impose a minimum one-year prison sentence and fines ranging from 100,000 to 1 million Egyptian pounds on workers who illegally supply electricity, intentionally deny licensed services or conceal violations. Previously, the maximum penalty was six months in prison and a 50,000-pound fine. Repeat offenders will now face doubled penalties.

Article 71, concerning electricity theft by individuals or entities, has also been sharply toughened. Those found guilty of illegally obtaining electricity will face at least one year in prison or fines between 100,000 and 1 million pounds. If the theft results in a power outage, imprisonment becomes mandatory. Offenders who tamper with electrical equipment to steal power will face a minimum two-year sentence and fines of up to 2 million.

In all cases, convicted individuals must pay double the value of stolen electricity as well as the full cost of repairing damage.

According to Slashgear , generating just one AI image consumes about 0.011 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. That might sound small, but it’s roughly the same amount of energy your refrigerator uses in four minutes.

To put it in perspective, a standard fridge running continuously for a full day consumes about 4 kWh, according to EnergySage .

That means every AI-generated picture carries a tangible, if tiny, environmental footprint, one that multiplies quickly when millions of images are created daily across platforms.

While a fridge hums quietly in the background, the servers powering AI models run at massive data centres, drawing electricity from grids that often rely on fossil fuels.

Slashgear notes that a single AI image may require dozens of processing steps from high-performance GPUs, each contributing to that energy cost.

Multiply this by the growing number of users experimenting with tools like Midjourney, DALL·E, or Stable Diffusion, and the numbers add up quickly.

Globally, the conversation around AI’s energy footprint is intensifying. The UN Environment Programme recently highlighted that as AI adoption accelerates, so does its electricity demand, raising concerns about sustainability and carbon emissions.

With major tech companies investing billions into generative AI, the race isn’t just about smarter models anymore; it’s also about greener ones.

The ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development's head of Research and Strategic Planning, MacDonald Goanue told Global South World

An immediate problem for the bank has been that it has had to delay the sale of Eurobonds: “Because of the geopolitical situation and rising tariffs in the United States, the cost of funding has gone up,” Goanue said in an exclusive interview at the Crans Montana Forum. “Given the fact that we are a non-investment-grade bank, we are waiting to see how the market cools down before we can go.”

For Goanue, this is not a problem confined to EBID. It reflects a deeper flaw in the international financial architecture. Credit rating agencies, he argues, apply methodologies that “tend to punish” African countries because of structural factors - security risks, low per-capita incomes, shallow domestic markets - that are hard to change overnight. When West African regional entities try to raise capital, they end up paying nine or ten percent interest - sometimes even 12 percent - far higher than institutions elsewhere.

While a major part of the answer lies in debt forgiveness, countries can also improve their situations but developing deeper domestic capital markets, he argued. However he cautioned against following artificial deadlines for the introduction of a single currency - the Eco is still official slated for 2027.

"I think the leadership of ECOWAS is playing cautious, because they want to be sure that they don't want to go into an arrangement tomorrow that will collapse," he said, adding that intraregional trade only accounted for perhaps 8 percent within the block against 77 percent in the euro area prior to the introduction of the Euro.

Powering growth

Against this backdrop, EBID’s core mission is to finance infrastructure—especially energy. Access to electricity in West Africa is among the lowest in the world, a bottleneck that constrains industrialisation, raises costs for basic services, and feeds inflation. Nigeria, the region’s largest economy, still faces enormous deficits in power supply, while only a few countries like Cape Verde and Côte d’Ivoire have relatively high coverage.

Goanue, himself Liberian, paints a vivid picture: without reliable electricity, shops close at sunset, hospital services cost more to run, and even banks struggle with overheads. “With electricity access, there will be a 24-hour economy,” he said. “Small businesses can stay open later, people feel safer, and factories can be powered. It will create the entrepreneurial spirit.”

EBID has already financed power plants in Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire and is seeking to increase its footprint in Nigeria. One flagship example is the Maria Glater plant in Benin, which the bank has supported. Yet the scale of the challenge is immense, and Goanue is cautious about promising big breakthroughs in the next 12 months. “It takes time,” he said, noting that the bank also funds connecting roads and other infrastructure that underpin regional trade.

Climate considerations

How does EBID square this urgent need for energy with global pressure to shift away from fossil fuels? Goanue admits it is not easy. “It’s not possible to end investment in fossil fuels immediately,” he said. Nigeria’s budget, for example, still relies heavily on oil revenues, and new discoveries are seen as good news by African governments. EBID does have environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, and most of its member states subscribe to the Paris Climate Accord, but Goanue emphasises that transition will take time. “There is a way you can make these things clean,” he said. “We want to invest into clean energy, but we have to balance it.”

Managing a split

Guanoe is evidently proud of his institutions pragamtic approach to the biggest challenge ECOWAS has faced in recent times - the departure or Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger - reducing the bloc's membership to twelve. With major major exposure in these states - about 23 percent of its portfolio or more than $200 million - the bank has resisted pressure to pull out completely.

Instead, the bank has persuaded ECOWAS leaders to let it continue disbursing funds for ongoing projects and to keep staff from these countries in place. Goanue likens the approach to how British citizens were treated in EU institutions after Brexit. “We are careful and circumspect to ensure that our facilities are repaid,” he said. Burkina Faso has stayed current on its restructured repayments, Mali has restarted payments, and Niger is making token transfers despite fiscal stress.

This pragmatic stance is driven by economic as much as political logic. If EBID simply withdrew, non-performing loans would spike, undermining its own creditworthiness and pushing up borrowing costs further. In addition, nobody benefits if projects already paid for are not completed.

A brighter future

Despite the obstacles, Goanue remains optimistic. West Africa’s population exceeds 480 million—roughly the size of the European Union —but its GDP is only around $700 billion, and per-capita incomes and banking penetration are low. Building deeper domestic markets, harmonising regulations, and moving toward a single currency are all on the agenda.

What gives him hope is demographics. The region’s average age is under 20, offering a potential “youth dividend” if the right investments in capacity and infrastructure are made.

According to recent data confirmed by the Energy Institute’s Statistical Review of World Energy 2025, a surprising number of nations, particularly in Africa, have overwhelmingly renewable electricity grids.

Here are the top 10 countries with the highest share of renewable electricity production:

What these numbers show is that countries often overlooked in global energy conversations are, in fact, global leaders when it comes to renewable reliance. Much of this dominance comes from hydropower, supported in some cases by biomass and smaller-scale solar and wind systems.

In places like DR Congo and Ethiopia, vast river systems provide clean electricity, while in Kenya and Tanzania, investments in geothermal and hydropower have transformed their national energy profiles.

The 2025 Statistical Review of World Energy highlights the significance of these shifts in a broader global context. Worldwide, energy demand rose by around 2% in 2024, but electricity demand grew even faster at nearly 4%, creating pressure to expand capacity quickly.

For the first time, low-carbon electricity sources (renewables plus nuclear) accounted for more than 40% of global electricity production, thanks largely to record additions of solar and wind. Yet fossil fuels continue to rise in absolute terms, showing the world is still in a difficult transition phase.

Africa’s dominance in renewable share is not just about resources, but also about constraints. Many of these nations lack the infrastructure to rely heavily on coal, oil, or gas. Electricity demand is relatively low compared to industrialised economies, which means that even modest renewable installations can supply the majority of power.

At the same time, dependence on hydropower makes these systems vulnerable to drought and climate variability, raising questions about resilience and reliability.

Globally, the conversation around renewables is moving beyond capacity building to issues of finance, policy, and grid integration. Recent news reflects a major pact cut public funding for fossil fuels by as much as 78% in 2024, while clean energy investments in 2025 are projected to reach $2.2 trillion, nearly double fossil fuel financing.

The demonstrations, spearheaded by the country’s so-called “Gen Z” movement, made up of young activists born between 1997 and 2012, erupted on September 25 in Antananarivo before rapidly spreading nationwide.

Protesters erected barricades, torched vehicles, and looted shops, prompting a violent crackdown by security forces. The UN human rights office said casualties included both demonstrators and bystanders.

Rajoelina’s announcement removes Prime Minister Christian Ntsay and his cabinet but stops short of meeting protesters’ demands for his own resignation.

“I heard the call, I felt the suffering,” Rajoelina said in a televised address, while promising measures to stabilise businesses hit by unrest and to accelerate electricity and water projects.

Madagascar’s Foreign Ministry rejected the UN casualty figures, calling them based on “rumours,” but local civil society groups have confirmed widespread violence.

Gen Z leaders say the government shake-up is not enough and vowed to return to the streets on September 30 to intensify protests.

The unrest highlights deep governance challenges in the Indian Ocean nation, where nearly 80% of urban households face frequent power outages and water shortages .

Observers warn the crisis could escalate further ahead of upcoming local elections, with Rajoelina facing the most serious challenge to his rule since his 2023 re-election.

The latest map, comparing 2014 and 2024 night-time satellite images, paints a different picture , one of rapid urbanisation, expanding electrification, and shifting human footprints.

By 2024, vast new swaths of Asia will glow at night. India, in particular, is now almost impossible to ignore on the map, with its cities and corridors glowing far brighter and wider. Across Southeast Asia , new hubs of illumination appear.

Even in regions previously less connected, the lights have spread outward. The contrast is visually striking.

This change is rooted in data from the Earth Observation Group (EOG), which uses the VIIRS Day/Night Band (DNB) sensors aboard satellites to produce night-light composites that exclude interference from clouds, moonlight, fires, or stray light.

The EOG track record builds on legacy tools like DMSP-OLS, and the modern imagery offers far greater sensitivity and dynamic range.

Night-time light data are more than pretty views. They’re economic and social barometers. Economists, geographers, and planners use them to track urban growth, energy access, economic shifts, and even disaster impact in places where traditional data are sparse.

The 10-year leap in Asia’s night-light footprint echoes broader global trends: Asia is urbanising faster than ever, and more households now enjoy electricity and infrastructure than before.

In India, for instance, even rural areas that once rested in darkness now contribute to the glow. Studies using night-light data have already linked that lift to surging economic activity in formerly underlit zones.

But the story isn’t only about growth. Some areas, often in conflict zones or where lights are managed for efficiency, show muted change or even dimming. The map also implicitly highlights that not all light is uniform or stable: sensor noise, temporal variability, and calibration differences mean some apparent changes may reflect measurement artefacts.

This visualisation arrives at a moment when global attention is keen on energy transitions, infrastructure equity, and climate resilience. As Asia powers ahead, light pollution and energy demand become pressing questions.

A recent study suggests that artificial lighting is making the night sky about 10% brighter per year, much faster than previous estimates, disrupting ecosystems and human health alike.

This striking figure, published by World Visualized and confirmed by data from, highlights a widening gap between regions where power is cheap and those where households face mounting energy bills.

The disparity is dramatic. Countries such as Egypt , Oman, Laos, and Kuwait pay just a fraction of what European households do, with rates as low as USD 0.024 per kWh.

Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, and the UK routinely exceed USD 0.40 per kWh. In other words, a European family may be paying more than ten times as much for the same amount of power as a household in parts of Asia or Africa.

The reasons for these steep prices are complex and interconnected. European electricity generation still relies heavily on natural gas, leaving prices vulnerable to global fuel markets.

When gas prices climb , as they did in 2024 and 2025, so do wholesale power costs. Compounding this, the European Union’s Emissions Trading System adds a carbon price to fossil-fuel power generation, which directly flows into consumer bills.

Weather patterns have also played a role. Lower-than-expected wind output in northern Europe and reduced hydropower generation in southern regions have forced a return to fossil-fuel-based generation, pushing costs even higher.

Grid bottlenecks across the continent add another layer of expense, limiting the ability to move cheaper renewable power to where it’s needed most. The European Commission recently launched its “Energy Highways” initiative, targeting eight major grid constraints to improve interconnectivity, lower prices, and enhance energy security.

For households, these trends translate into steadily climbing energy bills and a growing risk of energy poverty. Reports from several EU countries show more families falling behind on payments, especially after the summer heatwaves that drove cooling demand to record levels. For businesses, especially in energy-intensive sectors, high electricity costs threaten competitiveness and may encourage production shifts to cheaper jurisdictions.

Globally, the picture is mixed. While much of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East continue to enjoy very low residential electricity prices, their grids face challenges of reliability and capacity.

“Salt contains magnesium, and it has a positive charge component to it,” he explained. “Like a battery, you need the plus and the minus. For the positive side, you can use copper or aluminium, and for the negative side, carbon or other materials,” he told Global South World .

When both electrodes are placed in a cup of salt water, a reaction occurs that generates electricity. The process is similar to a conventional battery, where chemicals inside react with components to produce energy.

Dundas says the challenge lies in amplifying and converting the raw current into usable voltage through circuits. His team has been testing different elements to find the most effective combination.

Unlike acid-based batteries, he stresses that salt water is safe. “It does not affect the skin because we swim in the sea every day. Salt water doesn’t burn the skin like acid does, and it’s safe for the environment ,” he said.

Dundas believes salt water could one day provide a quick, reliable and eco-friendly power source for homes, hospitals, and schools.

“I could remember vividly the panic. That moment was something I don’t want to revisit,” Dundas said. “When the light went, he was struggling to breathe, and you could hear him struggle to breathe, just a two-month-old baby,” he told Global South World .

With no backup generator at the hospital, Dundas raced home to fetch an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) from his desktop computer. The small device kept the oxygen machine running long enough to stabilise his child. “We could have lost him,” he recalled. “Thank God he’s now six years plus.”

That terrifying night became the turning point. As a trained innovator with a passion for problem-solving, Dundas began asking himself questions like “what energy source is abundant, reliable, and accessible within seconds? As an innovator, I was always thinking, what can we use that is readily available, that in zero to ten seconds, you can have electricity, just like that?” His answer was salt water .

Dundas started experimenting with seawater, which makes up 70% of the earth’s surface and contains minerals such as magnesium. The principle, he explains, is not far from a battery. “You have the plus and the minus, and it creates charges,” he said.

Over several years of research, from 2018 through 2020 and beyond, he refined a system that uses salt water to generate safe, instant electricity. His goal was to create power that communities could depend on when the grid failed.

In countries like Sierra Leone, where Dundas lives, blackouts are common and hospitals often lack backup systems. His invention, still under development, is aimed at bridging that electricity gap, ensuring that no family experiences the terror he once faced with his son.

Members of Bhutan’s Parliament will now receive Nu 2.5 million ($28,713) as a lump sum for vehicle allowance, a 150% increase from the earlier Nu 1 million ($11,485). A senior government official said the increase was not a monetisation of the discontinued “Prado Quota,” but an enhancement of the allowance. The decision follows debates during the Summer Session of Parliament, where MPs pressed for either designated duty vehicles or a return of vehicle quotas. The additional Nu 1.5 million ($17,227)was released in June 2025.

Rowover junking of development fund

The National Council (NC) has accused the National Assembly (NA) of removing the Nu 94 million ($1.079 million) Priority Development Fund (PDF) from the 2025-26 Budget Appropriation Bill after the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. The NC said the NA failed to consult or seek consensus before forwarding the revised Bill for Royal Assent. The NA responded that it acted within its exclusive constitutional authority over Money Bills and noted the Supreme Court’s interpretation was binding. It rejected the NC’s call for an emergency joint committee meeting, saying there was “no legal or procedural basis.” The NA stressed that legislative control over public finance rests with the Assembly, not the Council.

Bhutan’s electricity export paralysed as tariff talks with India stalls

Bhutan is unable to export electricity from the 1,020 MW Punatsangchu II Hydroelectric Project (PHPA II) as no tariff agreement has been reached with India. The project, which will be fully commissioned by August 27, is currently generating over 850 MW, but all power is being used domestically at a temporary rate of Nu 3 ($0.034) per unit. Talks between the two governments remain stalled, with disagreement over future tariff revisions. Loan repayments for PHPA II will start two years after commissioning, heightening the urgency for a resolution.

By-election in Trongsa’s Nubi-Tangsibji constituency set for September 4

Voters in Trongsa’s Nubi-Tangsibji constituency will head to the polls on September 4 for a by-election following the resignation of former MP Tashi Dorji after his conviction for child molestation. The polls feature Bhutan Tendrel Party’s (BTP) Tashi Samdrup, 53, who pledges to focus on effective implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan, and People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Phuntsho Dendup, 40, who is campaigning on improving road connectivity and rural services. In the 2023-2024 general election, Dorji won narrowly over Dendup with 54% of the vote.

Bhutan’s king to make first state visit to Vietnam

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema will pay a state visit to Vietnam from August 18 to 22 at the invitation of President Lương Cường. This will be the first such visit since Bhutan and Vietnam established diplomatic relations in 2012. The King is scheduled to meet Vietnam’s top leaders, including the President, Prime Minister, and National Assembly Chairman. Talks will cover cooperation in agriculture, tourism, culture, education, technology, and green development. Trade between the two countries currently stands at about US$20,000 annually, with two Vietnamese investment projects in Bhutan.

Ghana’s defence and environment ministers die in military helicopter crash

Ghana’s Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed died in an August 6 crash of a Ghana Armed Forces helicopter travelling from Accra to Obuasi. Read more here .

Mission 300: The bold plan to bring power to half of Africa by 2030

Nearly 600 million Africans live without electricity—more than the populations of the U.S., Canada, and Brazil combined. The African Development Bank and the World Bank’s Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million people by 2030, linking half of unserved communities to the grid within five years. Read more here .

What should US deportees expect from Rwanda?

Rwanda will take in 250 immigrants deported from the US, becoming the third African nation after Eswatini and South Sudan to accept such arrivals. The country has struggled to secure similar migration deals. Read more here .

Latin America

Brazil's Bolsonaro arrested, adding to tensions with Trump

Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest before his coup plot trial, citing violations of prior restraining orders and alleged attempts to involve U.S. President Donald Trump. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the order despite recent U.S. sanctions against him. Read more here .

Sarah Sanabria: Humour, activism, and journalism in the digital age

Bolivian journalist Sarah Sanabria, with degrees in communication, journalism, and audiovisual production, has built a following on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube by mixing humour with sharp political critique, carving out a unique space beyond traditional media. Read more here .

Oil find could bring $$$ for BP and $ for Brazil but what will it cost the planet?

BP has announced its largest oil and gas discovery since 1999, uncovering the Bumerangue field off Brazil. The find could boost its fossil fuel portfolio and mark a shift away from renewable energy investments. Read more here .

Hong Kong hit by heaviest August rainfall since 1884

On August 5, Hong Kong saw its fourth top-tier rainstorm warning in just over a week, with over 355 mm of rain—the highest August daily total since 1884—causing severe flooding and shutting hospitals, schools, and courts. Read more here .

Indonesia warns ban of ‘One Piece’ flag, seen as symbol of protest vs President Prabowo

Indonesia is restricting public displays of the One Piece “Jolly Roger” flag, which has become a symbol of dissent against President Prabowo Subianto. Authorities warn it must not be flown alongside the national flag. Read more here .

Inside India’s temple ritual, where priests smash coconuts on worshippers’ heads for blessings

For generations, thousands have travelled to Mahanadapuram Temple from across southern India to fulfil vows and seek blessings. Locals say the tradition, often tied to personal milestones, deepens their connection to the deity. Read more here .

A joint programme known as Mission 300 has been launched by the African Development Bank and the World Bank Group. The initiative aims to provide electricity to 300 million people in Africa by the year 2030.

The plan includes connecting half of the unserved communities to the power grid within five years. Achieving this objective requires a large-scale investment in electricity generation and distribution infrastructure . The estimated requirement to reach universal energy access in Africa by 2030 is close to $25 billion annually.

One of the primary challenges is finding financing models that do not place an unsustainable debt burden on countries or expose communities to high energy costs from private firms.

Addressing the lack of electricity goes beyond simply powering homes. It also includes reducing dependency on traditional cooking fuels such as wood fires, which are a major contributor to climate change and public health issues in the region.

To further support this agenda, the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) introduced the Mission 300 Local Currency Guarantee Facility earlier this year. This programme is designed to mobilise $5 billion to support energy access projects across the continent.

This comes as much of Egypt, including the capital Cairo, struggles through temperatures reaching 40°C or more in recent days.

The Electricity Ministry said this surge in demand is different from previous years.

While last year’s highest load came on a single day during a heatwave, this year’s pressure on the grid has stretched across several days, with no immediate sign of cooling.

To deal with the growing demand, authorities have increased emergency preparedness across the national electricity system.

Power stations, transmission lines , and distribution networks are all being closely monitored.

The ministry has also deployed teams on the ground and ordered continuous checks to ensure the system holds up.

Electricity Minister Mahmoud Esmat said the country is doing everything it can to prevent blackouts and ensure stable power supply.

“There must be immediate and accurate communication with citizens, verification of complaint resolution, and a continued push for better services,” he was quoted by local media as saying.

In recent years, Egypt has struggled with repeated power cuts during hot summer months, when air conditioning use rises sharply.

In 2023, the country introduced power-saving measures to reduce strain on its gas-based energy system.

But this year, the government has promised there will be no planned power cuts, despite the sharp rise in usage.

John Titus, director of energy in the Ministry of Mines and Energy, said Namibia currently imports about half of its power from countries such as South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

He made the announcement during a green hydrogen conference in Windhoek attended by Namibian and German officials, researchers, and industry partners.

According to him, the country’s energy strategy is centred on renewable power, particularly wind energy and green hydrogen.

Namibia also plans to export products made from green hydrogen, such as green ammonia and fertiliser, through major projects like the Hyphen scheme.

“We don’t just want to stop at producing green hydrogen, we aim to turn it into green ammonia and green fertiliser. That’s what drives this project forward,” he was quoted by the New Era .

Traditional leader Chief Sakarias Seibeb praised the impact of the green hydrogen initiative on his community in the desert.

He said residents now have better access to water and jobs, and that small businesses and farming projects have begun to grow.

He also called on young people to take advantage of training and employment by staying away from drugs and alcohol.

The two-day Namibia-Germany Green Hydrogen Research and Development Conference aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries as Namibia pushes forward with clean energy plans and prepares to become a global exporter of green fuel.

The plan was presented at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, where the government unveiled its National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 initiative led by the World Bank and African Development Bank.

The money will go toward building and upgrading energy infrastructure to connect around 42 million people to the power grid.

Tanzania's energy permanent secretary, Felchesmi Mramba, said the country needs $8.85 billion in public funding and $4.04 billion from private investors over the next five years.

Key projects include power generation , transmission lines, grid expansion, clean cooking, and last-mile electricity connections.

In the last year, Tanzania more than doubled its national power supply to over 4,000 megawatts, with the bulk coming from hydropower and natural gas.

But the country is also working to tap into solar, wind , biomass, and geothermal energy sources. Mramba said Tanzania’s location between the East and Southern African power pools offers strategic opportunities for cross-border electricity trade.

Several steps are being planned out for implementation in the next 18 months. These include new power trading systems, regional interconnectors, support for private energy companies, and clean cooking solutions.

A national fund will also help households get connected through credit, while tax cuts are expected to make clean stoves more affordable.

The government has already allocated nearly $427 million in its 2025/26 budget to begin implementation.

Officials said the reforms are part of broader goals to meet rising electricity demand, strengthen climate resilience, and attract global partners to help close the country’s energy gap.

“This is a way to turn a problem into progress,” he said. “We’re not just wasting energy—we’re finding a smart use for it.”

This plan is part of a bigger goal to grow Pakistan’s digital economy. The country already has millions of people using cryptocurrency and has one of the largest groups of freelance workers in the world .

To help with this idea, the founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, has joined the Pakistan Crypto Council as an advisor and is expected to help build better rules for crypto and teach young Pakistanis new digital skills.

Experts believe t hat with the right training and support, Pakistan could become a strong player in blockchain and digital finance.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Boko emphasised that the decision was made to provide affordable water access for ordinary citizens while requiring government agencies to shoulder a greater financial burden, Mmegi reports.

"We are looking at making it easier for households to survive," Boko stated. "At the same time, government agencies must play their part in ensuring sustainability by paying more for their usage."

The Water Utilities Corporation (WUC), the state-owned water supplier, has been grappling with financial challenges due to mounting debts, with millions of pula owed by consumers, including businesses and government departments. The financial strain has affected WUC’s ability to maintain and upgrade water infrastructure.

While the reduction in household water costs will provide relief to consumers, the ability of the increased government tariffs to offset revenue losses remains uncertain. Some experts question whether the adjustment will help bridge the financial gap or further burden the already strained water provider.

For households, the reduction in tariffs is expected to free up disposable income, easing financial pressures amid rising living costs. However, government agencies will need to adjust their budgets to accommodate higher water costs, which could lead to cutbacks in other areas of public spending.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, met with Egypt’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohammed Fouad, in Abuja to discuss how both countries can work together in the energy sector.

Adelabu praised Egypt’s progress in power development and said Nigeria wants to learn from its success.

He explained that Nigeria has been working to fix its power sector and is in talks with Siemens to help improve electricity supply.

He also stressed the need to provide power to rural areas, saying many villages cannot be connected to the national grid because it is too expensive. Instead, the government is focusing on renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, to bring electricity to remote communities.

“Egypt has made remarkable strides in energy transformation, and we are eager to collaborate and learn from your expertise. Our goal is to ensure reliable, stable, and affordable energy access for all Nigerians,” Adelabu said .

He added that Nigeria has secured large investments for this, including $750 million from the World Bank and $190 million from Japan’s International Cooperation Agency. These funds will help set up renewable energy projects to give more Nigerians access to electricity.

Egypt’s Ambassador, Mohammed Fouad, said his country is ready to work with Nigeria, especially in solving electricity metering problems and making energy more accessible. He said both nations share similar goals and can benefit from working together.

Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is in preliminary talks with a private Zambian firm to establish an electricity export agreement, aiming to sell electricity to Zambia and potentially other countries. The deal, facilitated by Kanona Power Limited, is expected to offer a premium rate that exceeds Tanesco's current import costs from Ethiopia. With administrative approvals, the electricity trade could rapidly recoup costs from the Julius Nyerere Hydroelectric Project within four years. Tanesco currently generates 3,431 megawatts (MW) of power, primarily from hydro and gas, and aims to increase capacity by 2,463 MW by 2030 through renewable sources. 

Zambia records first mpox death 

Zambia has reported its first death linked to mpox, involving an eight-month-old infant who succumbed to complex pneumonia while receiving treatment in Lusaka. Health Minister Elijah Muchima announced that the country now has a total of 31 confirmed mpox cases, with seven new infections identified in the past week. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral infection that spreads through close contact and contaminated surfaces. 

China-Zambia economic and technical agreement

China and Zambia have signed an agreement for economic and technical cooperation, enhancing their long-standing relationship. The deal, signed by Chinese Charge d'Affaires Wang Sheng and Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane, sets a framework for future China-aided projects. Key initiatives include constructing three additional milling plants to boost food security and establishing 300 solar-powered water systems to address water shortages. A program for HIV testing kits and medication support is also in place. Wang highlighted ongoing efforts to revitalise the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) and reaffirmed China's commitment to fulfilling its promises to Zambia. Musokotwane emphasised the importance of this agreement for both countries' economic growth and technical advancement. 

Huawei partnership with Zambia’s tech ministry

Huawei has partnered with Zambia's Ministry of Technology and Science to launch its first smart village in Muchila, aimed at improving rural digitization through enhanced access to electricity and the Internet. This initiative aligns with Zambia’s Vision 2030 and aims to equip the next generation with digital skills vital for the fourth industrial revolution. The Smart Village Solution, utilising RuralStar technology for robust connectivity, enables better education and healthcare for rural communities. At the global showcase during MWC Barcelona 2025, Zambian Minister Felix C. Mutati emphasised the project's role in bridging inequalities and promoting sustainable economic development. 

Acidic leak in copper mine causes environmental crisis  

A severe environmental crisis has unfolded in Zambia following an acid leak at the Sino-Metals Leach Zambia copper mine, which occurred on February 18 when a waste dam collapsed. Approximately 50 million litres of toxic waste contaminated a tributary of the Kafue River, affecting areas over 100 kilometres downstream. The incident has raised alarms about pollution that threatens the health of millions, including about five million people who rely on the river for drinking water. The Zambian government has dispatched the air force to neutralise the acid with lime, while the mining company has pledged to cover cleanup costs. Local reports indicate drastic ecological changes, including dead fish and damaged crops. 

Cuba’s electricity issues have mostly been resolved, with much of Havana reconnected by Sunday night, Reuters reports. A blackout that began Friday night—caused by a substation short—left over 10 million people without power, highlighting the strain on Cuba’s ageing, oil-dependent grid. It was the country’s fourth major grid collapse since October 2024. According to Travel Pulse Canada , Canada’s travel advisory warns visitors of ongoing power shortages, noting that while resorts have generators, outages may still affect service.

Project on climate change adaptation makes strides in Cuba

The “Mi Costa” project, led by Cuba’s Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment with support from national and international partners, aims to boost climate resilience along 1,300 km of Cuba’s southern coast through ecosystem-based adaptation. ACN reports that over an eight-year implementation period and 22-year operation, it covers 24 municipalities across seven provinces, offering training and workshops for officials and communities. The project focuses on climate adaptation, water and soil management, coastal ecosystems, and blue carbon initiatives in mangroves, seagrasses, peatlands, and more.

Trump administration orders deep cuts to Office of Cuba Broadcasting

President Trump ordered the shutdown of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, which runs Radio and Television Martí, Spanish-language stations created under Reagan to promote democracy in Cuba. As reported by WPTV , the executive order also cuts back the U.S. Agency for Global Media and six other small agencies. Staff were placed on administrative leave, and the future of the Martí stations remains uncertain.

Cuban foreign minister visits Nigeria to strengthen bilateral ties

Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, is visiting Nigeria to strengthen bilateral ties in healthcare, education, agriculture, science and technology, and cultural exchange, according to a statement by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit highlights the long-standing relationship between the two nations, rooted in cooperation and shared history, including support for anti-apartheid and liberation movements. He is expected to meet with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, to discuss further collaboration, Arise TV reports.

Trump wants 30,000 migrants held at U.S. Base in Cuba

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a controversial proposal to detain up to 30,000 migrants at the U.S. naval base in Guantánamo Bay, reigniting debate over the use of the remote military facility for immigration enforcement. According to reporting by CNN’s Patrick Oppmann , the plan would represent a dramatic expansion of the base's role in U.S. immigration policy. While Guantánamo Bay is most often associated with its detention facility for terror suspects, it has also been used in the past to house migrants — most notably during the 1990s Haitian and Cuban migration crises, when thousands were temporarily held at the base.

Jolinette Gaba, a 24-year-old mother, described the dire situation as she struggled to find water for her seven-month-old baby.

"We've been here since midnight to fetch water despite the insecurity in certain areas of our neighborhoods. When we come here, we can stay for hours and hours before we get water to prepare food for our children . If there's no water, we have to stay no matter what time it is. Sometimes we get some around 5 PM. The day before yesterday, I left home at 5 AM and got back around 5 PM without finding any,” she told the AFP.

She also shared the impact on childcare, explaining how she is forced to leave her baby at home to search for water. “If I can't find any water, the baby's clothes may be left for two or three days in a basin of dirty water, often full of germs. How are we supposed to live in these conditions ?,” she added.

The crisis is also crippling local businesses. Patrick Kourama, a vendor at the Boyrabe market, explained how the blackouts have led to food spoilage and financial losses.

Kourama said, “Most of our products are frozen, so it's thanks to electricity that we can preserve them to sell to our customers. Products like chicken wings, backs, and thighs need to be fresh. The worst thing is fish like tuna, which spoils very easily without electricity.”

The government says the problem is due to major failures at the country’s power plants. Nine thermoelectric plants are down five because of breakdowns and four for maintenance.

Two floating power plants rented from a Turkish company are also not working because there is no fuel. The authorities hope to get them running again by Friday. Other power generators in the country have stopped for the same reason, no fuel.

People in many areas are struggling. Some say they cannot cook because gas is hard to find. Others say they are running out of money because they cannot work without electricity. In some towns, even water supplies are affected.

The government’s power company, UNE , said the country faced outages on Thursday, February 13, 2025, affecting at least 56% of the country.

In Cienfuegos, some areas have gone more than a full day without power.

Even Havana, which usually gets fewer blackouts, has seen scheduled six-hour cuts during the day and more unplanned ones at night.

Cuba has been struggling with electricity issues for years. Last year, the country had several major blackouts, including three that left almost the entire island in darkness. This latest crisis shows the problem is not getting any better.

His plan could bring bigger savings than a previous suggestion by the Energy Regulatory Commission, which aimed to cut bills by 0.17 baht per unit by reducing government spending on renewable energy incentives.

However, Pirapan says that approach could cause legal problems.

Most of Thailand’s electricity comes from natural gas , which is expensive and makes up more than 60% of the country’s energy supply.

The price of imported liquefied natural gas, or LNG, often changes and is a major reason why power bills are high.

According to the minister, that is a better management of locally sourced and imported gas, known as Pool Gas, could make electricity cheaper.

Experts say the plan might allow power plants to buy gas at lower prices than factories.

Pirapan hopes this strategy will reduce electricity prices in the next four-month pricing cycle. The current electricity rate is 4.15 baht per unit, and he believes it can be brought down to below 4 baht.

The Energy Regulatory Commission adjusts electricity prices every four months, so any changes would take effect in the next cycle.

One option suggested by the commission is cutting government subsidies that support private companies producing renewable energy. These subsidies make up about 4% of electricity costs.

However, the minister says the government cannot cancel these contracts because they are renewed automatically every five years. Breaking the agreements could lead to lawsuits.

Bangkok reports that the government is now working on Pool Gas management to find a way to bring electricity prices down while avoiding legal issues.

Power Minister Kumara Jayakodi who confirmed the incident in a statement said that key places like the national hospital had power restored within an hour.

However, it took longer to bring electricity back to other areas amidst government caution that water supplies could also be affected.

This blackout comes at a time when Sri Lanka is already struggling with power shortages, local reports say.

On February 10 and 11, the country planned 90-minute power cuts due to a problem at a large coal power plant.

The 900-megawatt Norochcholai plant in the northwestern region broke down, making it harder for the country to generate enough electricity.

Sri Lanka has faced power crises before during its economic collapse in 2022 as a result of inadequate money to import fuel.

At one point, people had to live with 12-hour power cuts, leading to protests that forced then-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign.

India later stepped in with a $4 billion loan to help Sri Lanka recover.

Sunday’s outage is the first major blackout since 2022.

Officials from the Ceylon Electricity Board , which runs the country's power supply, apologised for the disruption but did not explain how a single monkey caused such a widespread failure. There was also no update on what happened to the monkey.

During a panel discussion at the Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga, commended the Tanzanian government’s efforts to electrify both urban and rural regions, which has empowered citizens to boost their economies with reliable power. He described Tanzania as a "lighthouse" for other African nations to emulate.

"This is something we need across the continent," Banga said . "Tanzania serves as a lighthouse and beacon for others to follow."

The summit, which kicked off at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), aims to accelerate electricity access throughout Africa. The Energy Compact initiative, which was launched during the event, aims to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030, with a focus on setting achievable goals for each nation.

Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), praised Tanzania's success and suggested that neighbouring countries learn from its strong electric access methods.

“We cannot develop in the dark,” Dr Adesina said, emphasizing the need for partnerships to bring power to the millions still living without it.  

As part of efforts to deal with the situation and propose a solution, Innocent James, a Tanzanian himself, who grew up in Arusha without electricity, has created solar-powered backpacks to help children read after dark.

His company, Soma Bags , makes school bags with built-in solar panels that charge a reading light.

The idea began as a small project using old cement bags, a sewing machine, and a solar panel.

Today, Soma Bags is a growing business which has sold over 36,000 solar backpacks across Africa, providing affordable light to families and schools.

James, now 33, was raised by his mother and grandmother, both teachers, to love reading.

At university, he saw many children skipping school and spending time at video game cafés. Frustrated by this, he dropped out of school during his final semester and used his tuition money to start a mobile library.

His library cart visited schools and created reading clubs that attracted hundreds of children. This experience inspired him to create Soma Bags, which has since become a lifeline for children in rural areas.

Most of Soma’s customers are families and schools in rural Tanzania, but the company is expanding to other African countries and Europe. Soma Bags are now sold in Nigeria, Rwanda, Madagascar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and even to fashion brands in Europe and Kenya.

Over 200 charities have bought bags to distribute to children in need.

“Seeing kids arrive with my bags makes me so proud,” said James. “It reminds me why I started this journey,” he told CNN .

The bags come in different sizes . Smaller ones include lights for reading, while larger ones can charge phones and other devices.

The company has won awards and support from organisations like the UNDP and the British government.

The project will use waste to produce affordable electricity while creating jobs for many in the country. It will be built as a public-private partnership, with Beeah Group bringing its 15 years of experience in waste management across countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Speaking during a meeting with President Museveni at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week , Mr. Khaled promised to deliver electricity at a price below 8 cents per unit, which Museveni called significant for Uganda’s development.

The plan comes after a deadly incident at Kampala’s Kiteezi dumpsite in 2024, where a collapsing landfill killed several people.

The tragedy highlighted the city’s poor waste management system, which struggles to handle the 2,500 tonnes of garbage generated daily.

Currently, only half of Kampala’s waste is collected, with the rest clogging drains and worsening sanitation issues. The waste that is collected goes to overcrowded landfills, which are neither safe nor sustainable.

Uganda hopes to follow in the footsteps of Addis Ababa, where a waste-to-energy plant burns 2,000 tonnes of garbage daily to generate electricity.

President Museveni described waste mismanagement as a “disease” that needs urgent attention and praised the waste-to-energy project as the solution.

The meeting was attended by senior Ugandan officials, including the Attorney General, finance and foreign affairs officials, and ambassadors to the UAE.

This project marks a significant step towards solving Uganda’s waste crisis while boosting electricity supply for its growing economy.

Kenya is currently in discussions with the UAE about extending its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) to Uganda and South Sudan. This initiative is part of a feasibility study aimed at enhancing regional integration and boosting trade in East Africa, Africa Business Insider reports. President William Ruto made this announcement during a summit in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, Kenya is seeking a significant $1.5 billion loan from the UAE to fill its budget-financing gap and bolster its foreign-currency reserves. This effort is aligned with the UAE’s strategic objective to invest in Africa and assert greater regional influence, which complements Uganda’s recent agreement with Yapi Merkezi Holdings concerning its SGR segment.

Human rights abuse

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has condemned the Ugandan government following the arrest and torture of human rights lawyer Eron Kiiza. Kiiza was detained on January 7 while representing opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye in a military tribunal. According to Jurist.org , his arrest was marked by violence, denial of access to his client, and subsequent torture in custody. He faced conviction for contempt of court and was sentenced to nine months in prison without proper charges or legal representation. Human rights organisations contend that these actions violate Uganda's Constitution and international human rights standards, demanding Kiiza's immediate release, the annulment of his conviction, and an inquiry into the torture. A 2023 UN review highlighted the systemic judicial harassment experienced by lawyers in Uganda.

Clean energy collaborations

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni underscored the robust economic partnership between Uganda and the UAE during his address at the World Future Energy Summit at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2025. He expressed aspirations to fortify bilateral ties across various sectors, Zaywa reports. Museveni underscored the significance of the UAE's international events in driving climate action and elucidated Uganda’s commitment to a green economy, emphasising the adoption of global best practices for clean energy.

Electricity distribution

In a decisive policy shift, the Ugandan government will take control of the electricity distribution sector, relieving Umeme of its responsibilities in favour of the state-owned Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL) starting April 1, 2025. This transition marks the conclusion of Umeme's 20-year concession and aims to bolster the national energy infrastructure, which is crucial for the country’s industrialisation and socioeconomic advancement. Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa noted that this move is in line with the objectives of the National Development Plan IV and Vision 2040, aiming for 80% electricity access within three years and universal access by 2030. UEDCL is set to focus on the expansion and rehabilitation of vital infrastructure to enhance service reliability, according to the Independent .

Marburg Virus Disease

Amidst these developments, Uganda is on heightened alert due to a suspected outbreak of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in neighbouring Tanzania, which has caused eight fatalities. The Ministry of Health has ramped up surveillance and implemented preventive measures at border points to mitigate the risk of the virus entering Uganda. Currently, no cases have been recorded in Uganda. Lokmattimes reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) has notified member states regarding suspected cases in Tanzania's Kagera Region, where symptoms include headaches, high fever, and bleeding. The situation poses a high risk due to significant cross-border movement. MVD is known for its high fatality rate, reaching up to 88%, and is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. 

The project will allow Kenya and Tanzania to share power during shortages and sell surplus electricity to one another.

The line is linked to the Ethiopia-Kenya transmission system, which will be an important part of the Eastern Africa Electricity Highway. This highway is designed to support regional energy trade across 13 countries in the Eastern Africa Power Pool.

According to John Mativo , the Managing Director of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company, the project is a "game changer" for both nations.

Kenya has already been importing more electricity from Ethiopia and Uganda to meet its growing demand. Tanzania has also boosted its power supply with the new Julius Nyerere Hydropower Plant, which adds 940 megawatts to its grid.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia also plans to export 100 megawatts of electricity to Tanzania through this system, strengthening energy cooperation across the region.

Officials say the project will improve power reliability and foster stronger ties between the countries.

In recent developments, coffee prices have reached unprecedented heights, with a staggering surge to a 47-year peak driven by severe droughts in Brazil and Vietnam—two of the world's foremost coffee producers. This phenomenon is accentuated by the adverse effects of climate change and the El Niño weather pattern, causing researchers to project a potential reduction in suitable coffee-growing regions by nearly 50% by 2050. The current drought conditions in Brazil, characterised as historically intense, are causing significant detriment to crop yields, whilst Vietnam contends with comparable agricultural challenges. In response, major coffee companies like Nestle and Starbucks are diversifying their supply sources and amending their business models to adapt to these shifts. According to Inside Climate , the price of arabica beans has skyrocketed by nearly 70% this year, and this alarming trend highlights a grim agricultural outlook for coffee without prompt adaptation initiatives to mitigate climate change impacts.

Electricity production

On the energy front, the Santo Antonio hydropower plant in Brazil is witnessing a boost in electricity output following the alleviation of an unprecedented drought in the Amazon region, Oilprice.com reports. With the rainy season now underway, Eletrobras, the operator of the facility, has taken proactive measures to enhance water levels artificially. This development has empowered the hydropower plant to generate approximately 400 megawatts during peak drought months. Hydropower remains a cornerstone of Brazil's energy generation, constituting around 60% of the nation's electricity mix, augmented by wind and solar power. Despite the strain caused by drought on hydroelectric production, Brazil retains one of the cleanest energy profiles globally, with fossil fuels comprising merely 9% of its electricity output last year.

Oil sector growth

Brazil has also made strides in its oil sector, with the approval to auction pre-salt oil blocks—a strategic move intended to stimulate investment and bolster oil production in the region. For those keen on detailed insights, a wealth of information on various projects and companies operating within Latin America is available through subscription services, BN Americas reports.

Protection deal for Amazon forest

The environmental landscape faces grave challenges, particularly concerning the Soy Moratorium, a crucial measure aimed at safeguarding the Amazon rainforest. The moratorium has been under increasing pressure from Brazilian agribusiness, influential politicians, and global trading entities. Incepted in 2006, this voluntary agreement has effectively curtailed approximately 17,000 square kilometres of deforestation by banning soy purchases from areas deforested after 2008. Nonetheless, developments within the Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE), which is considering reforms that could potentially diminish the moratorium's effectiveness, have raised concerns among conservationists. The Guardian reports that they argue that these proposed adjustments—which include monitoring at an individual field level—could create vulnerabilities that heighten deforestation risks. Environmental advocates assert that undermining the current moratorium could lead to dire consequences for Brazil's environmental commitments and the Amazon ecosystem, potentially resulting in escalated CO2 emissions and land conflicts.

Pesticide reduction and regulation

Lastly, the Brazilian government's attempts to launch its National Pesticide Reduction Program have faltered significantly, failing to materialise on the international observation of Pesticide Free Day, Human Rights Watch reports. Despite being conceived in 2014, substantial hurdles laid by the Ministry of Agriculture have thwarted efforts towards realisation, leaving scientists, activists, and farmers disillusioned. The initial proposal aimed to enhance monitoring protocols for pesticide exposure, tighten regulations, establish pesticide-free zones, eliminate tax benefits for pesticide usage, and advocate for agroecological alternatives. Noteworthy proposals include the application of the precautionary principle when evaluating pesticides and banning substances no longer permitted in other countries. Moreover, recent investigations unveiled the frequency of meetings between pesticide manufacturers and government representatives, suggesting considerable lobbying influence is at play. The urgency voiced by advocates for the immediate implementation of this long-awaited plan stands in stark contrast to fierce opposition from the agribusiness sector.

Sarker noted that Petrobangla has already shared its recommendations with the Energy and Mineral Resources Division.

“We do hope that the division will soon take its final decision in this regard,” Sarker told reporters, highlighting the importance placed on industrial sectors when allocating gas resources to support economic priorities.

This decision follows a policy introduced under ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in April, which restricted new electricity and gas supplies to factories built outside of government-designated economic zones or industrial enclaves.

The policy aimed to concentrate industrial growth in specified areas to streamline resource management and support regional planning.

Hasina also encouraged industrialists to self-fund energy production rather than rely on government subsidies , creating a pathway toward energy independence for industries. This approach aimed to reduce pressure on the national grid and ensure that resources reached critical sectors.

As of recent data , about 85% of the population has access to electricity, a substantial increase from just 20% in 2000. Despite these improvements, the country has experienced significant blackouts in recent years due to issues like natural gas shortages and infrastructure problems.

"Approximately 86 million Nigerians lack access to electricity, making Nigeria the leading country globally in terms of the total number of people without electricity," he disclosed.

The AfDB president also highlighted the significant economic impact of the country’s power shortages, stressing that the unreliable electricity supply is crippling Nigerian businesses and industries.

"It has been estimated by the IMF that Nigeria loses about $29 billion annually, or 5.6% of its GDP, due to the lack of a reliable power supply. The report also indicates that Nigeria spends $14 billion per year on generators and fuel," Adesina stated.

He went on to describe how deeply entrenched the reliance on alternative power sources has become, saying, "The lack of electricity is killing Nigerian industries. Today, no business can survive in Nigeria without generators. Consequently, the abnormal has become normal."

Despite Nigeria's rich natural resources, including gas and crude oil, millions of Nigerians live without power. Adesina expressed concern, adding, "Nigeria has gas and crude oil in abundance, yet 86 million people live daily without electricity."

Adesina also spoke on the AfDB's ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s power challenges. He revealed that the bank is partnering with the World Bank to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans, including Nigerians, by 2030, through a significant investment programme called "Mission 300."

"We have invested $210 million in the Nigeria transmission project to strengthen the grid and support power evacuation and regional interconnection. To fill Nigeria’s electricity access gap, we’ve provided $200 million for the Nigerian electrification project," Adesina explained.

"The President of the World Bank and I made a decision in April that the two banks will connect 300 million Africans, including Nigeria, to electricity by 2030. That’s what is called Mission 300—the largest such effort in the world," he further noted.

The Kariba dam lies on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, 200 kilometres (125 miles) south of Lusaka, the capital.

It was built in the 1950s to generate electricity by trapping water from the Zambezi River. However, after months of drought and rising temperatures, the dam is barely operating.

The lake now has insufficient water to run the country’s hydroelectric turbines and is facing the possibility of a shutdown for the first time since its construction.

It is currently running at less than 10% of its normal capacity, with only one of six turbines operating on the Zambian side.

The power shortage has led to regular outages, with small and medium businesses bearing the brunt of the crisis.

 In some cases, these outages last for days, affecting daily life and severely impacting small and medium start-up businesses .

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy has assured that the government is working tirelessly to prevent future occurrences of load shedding by 2026.

“Two years from now, Zambia will be a net exporter of power. We are not sleeping. In two years, hold me accountable,” Mumba was quoted .

ZESCO, the state-owned power company is also receiving funding to address power shortages.

As part of these efforts, more than 23 diesel generators arrived in the country last month, to be installed at various locations in markets around Lusaka.

Uganda's foreign exchange reserves have experienced a notable decline of 4.3% over the past three months, concluding July with a total of $3.3 billion. This amount is sufficient to cover approximately three months of imports, a decrease from $3.5 billion recorded in April. The decrease has been attributed to several factors, including increased external debt payments, challenges in securing affordable external loans, and limited foreign exchange purchases. In response to these economic challenges, the Bank of Uganda is actively purchasing gold to diversify its reserves, Zawya reports.

Funding for hydropower plan

Uganda is taking proactive measures to address its rising energy demands by seeking funding for the construction of three new hydropower plants. These projects—comprising the 840 MW Ayago, 400 MW Kiba, and 392 MW Oriang—are anticipated to add over 1,600 MW of capacity, resulting in an 80% increase in the nation’s total power capacity, which will reach 3,678 MW. This initiative is underscored by an annual power demand growth rate of 10%, as reported by energy official Wamala Julius Namusanga. Currently, hydropower accounts for nearly 85% of Uganda's electricity supply, with the commissioning of its largest plant—a 600 MW facility funded by China, reports Zawya .

UBA Uganda rejects management crisis rumours

UBA Uganda has firmly denied accusations of a management crisis, affirming that Chioma A. Mang, the current Managing Director, is set to assume expanded responsibilities within the UBA Group effective from October 1, 2024. According to The Independent , plans to announce a new Managing Director are underway, with the bank underscoring a commitment to corporate governance and clarifying that the leadership transition is part of a strategic development plan rather than indicative of any issues within the work environment. Established in 2008, UBA Uganda has successfully expanded its operations nationally.

Fresh US sanctions

In a significant move, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on four Ugandan police officers—Bob Kagarura, Alex Mwine, Elly Womanya, and Hamdani Twesigye—prohibiting their travel to the U.S. This action is a direct response to their involvement in grave human rights violations, including acts of torture. The sanctions derive from credible civil court reports and data provided by human rights organisations, highlighting the U.S. commitment to upholding human rights standards in Uganda, adds the Monitor .

Calls to decriminalise homosexuality

The Uganda Human Rights Commission has made a compelling call for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, stressing the unjust punishments that arise from such criminalisation, particularly affecting vulnerable groups. This request follows the controversial enactment of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, which is currently under appeal and was signed into law by President Yoweri Museveni in May 2023. As reported by Watermark , commission chair Mariam Wangadya stressed the necessity for universal human rights protection in Uganda, free from discrimination. In a gathering with rights organisations, Wangadya acknowledged the critical issues confronting LGBTQ and intersex communities, highlighting the government's failure to recognise intersex individuals as a protected minority group.

Marineuza Pontes, a 50-year-old teacher from the Santo Antonio community, shared the devastating impact the drought is having on daily life. "I was born and raised here, and we've rarely seen the river like this. In the past, it would dry up every seven or eight years, but now it's happening back-to-back. Last year the river dried up completely, and this year it's the same," she said.

The drought has also caused severe electricity shortages, leaving residents without power. "Our biggest problem is the lack of electricity," Pontes explained. "We have to walk a kilometre just to get ice, which we need to keep our food from spoiling. Our diet relies heavily on fish, and without ice, preserving it becomes impossible." 

Tourism in the region has also taken a hit as Cilene Santos, a 47-year-old tour guide, described the challenges of navigating the dried-up rivers. "The sandbanks are everywhere, and we constantly worry about our boat hitting one and damaging the propeller," she said.

Authorities have declared a "critical water resource shortage" in the region as water levels in the rivers remain well below their seasonal averages. The Belo Monte hydroelectric plant is operating at reduced capacity due to the drought, further compounding Brazil's energy challenges.

South Africa's rand has strengthened against global currencies, trading at approximately R17.24 against the dollar, its best level since July 2023. This surge is expected to lead to further petrol price cuts, with projections indicating a decline in petrol inflation to around -20% year-on-year. As a result, overall inflation, which was at a three-year low of 4.4% in August, could see a reduction by about one percentage point, Media agency Independent Online reports. Despite these changes, Old Mutual's Izak Odendaal noted that the South African Reserve Bank is unlikely to cut interest rates in response to oil price declines, as they focus on the broader economic impacts rather than initial price shocks.

Ramaphosa speaks against apartheid

In his address at the United Nations General Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa affirmed South Africa's stance against apartheid, expressing solidarity with those facing oppression. He underscored the UN's vital role in advocating for human rights, the dignity of all individuals, and the need for an immediate ceasefire in the ongoing violence in Palestine. According to SA News , Ramaphosa announced plans for South Africa to submit a case to the International Court of Justice in 2024, accusing Israel of genocide.

South Africa's rand

On September 25, South Africa's rand rose to a 20-month high, trading at 17.22 against the U.S. dollar, marking a 0.3% gain. Analysts attribute this rally to positive sentiment following interest rate cuts by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the U.S. Federal Reserve. Currency strategist Andre Cilliers predicts the rand will likely trade between 17.20 and 17.40. Investors are awaiting August producer inflation figures to gauge easing price pressures. CNBC Africa reported the Johannesburg Stock Exchange's Top-40 index climbed 1.5%, while the yield on South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond increased slightly to 8.86%.

Electricity prices

Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, has requested a 36% increase in electricity prices for the 2026 financial year, significantly surpassing the country’s 4.4% inflation rate. This increase is deemed essential for addressing Eskom's financial challenges, including a debt of 400 billion rand (approximately $23 billion), Financial Post report indicates. Although the company has recently experienced fewer power cuts, it struggles with consistent electricity supply and long-term sustainability. Eskom has also proposed smaller price hikes of 11.8% for fiscal 2027 and 9.1% for 2028.

South Africa ranks among least secure nation

A recent Gallup poll indicates that South Africa ranks among the least secure nations, with 70% of citizens feeling unsafe walking alone. The country is in the bottom three globally, alongside Ecuador and Liberia. In contrast, Kuwait, Singapore, and Norway have significantly higher safety perceptions, with only 1% to 8% feeling unsafe. According to Africa.com , consistent low safety perceptions and confidence in police are noted in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite efforts to improve police visibility, South Africa faces high crime rates, including over 6,000 murders and 9,000 rapes reported between April and June 2024.

Mumba emphasized that government is working tirelessly to prevent future occurrences of load shedding.

“Two years from now, Zambia will be a net exporter of power. We are not sleeping. In two years, hold me accountable,” Mumba was quoted .

ZESCO, the state-owned power company is also receiving funding to address power shortages.

As part of these efforts, nine out of 23 diesel generators have already arrived in the country to be installed at various locations in markets around Lusaka.

The remaining 14 generators are expected to arrive subsequently.

Meanwhile, load shedding in some parts of the country have been resolved and power supply is expected to be more stable.

“As of today, the country’s power generation stands at 1,019 megawatts, while demand is 2,400 megawatts, leaving a deficit of 1,381 megawatts. The government will continue working around the clock to find solutions to improve power supply and keep the economy running,” he quoted .

He also mentioned that the government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Power China to establish new power projects in Zambia, further enhancing the country's energy capacity.

While Venezuela is no stranger to power outages, this one was particularly widespread. President Nicolás Maduro's government often blames such incidents on unproven conspiracies aimed at overthrowing him. Authorities reported the blackout began shortly before dawn, but by late afternoon, power was returning to parts of Caracas, as well as the southwestern state of Táchira and western Mérida, according to AFP correspondents.

"We are normalising, regularising, step by step," Maduro said in a televised address on Friday evening, though he did not detail the full extent of the outages or the progress in restoring power. He described the incident as "an attack full of vengeance, full of hatred," accusing "fascist currents" and political opponents, with allegations of U.S. involvement.

Earlier in the day, Communications Minister Freddy Ñáñez had reported "an electrical sabotage... which has affected almost the entire national territory."

In an interview with Global South World, Benedict Owanga shared his journey to entrepreneurship. Originally from Congo, he spent his early years in South Africa, then moved to Canada, and eventually studied law in the United States.

During his second year at law school, a power outage during a crucial training session led him to consider the broader implications of unreliable electricity. "I lost power for an hour but that one hour has shaped my two months' worth of experience," Owanga said. This experience prompted him to think about the daily struggles of those who face frequent power outages.

With his co-founder Chinelo whom he met in law school, they set out to address the severe electricity shortages in Congo.

Despite receiving millions in donor funding, the World Bank reports that just 19 per cent of the Democratic Republic of Congo's 108 million people have access to electricity.

The common and costly methods of power; kerosene lamps and generators which contribute to fossil fuel pollution have proven to be dangerous and harmful to the environment.

Owanga and Chinelo offer a fresh and affordable take on electricity distribution. The company has developed portable battery packs that can power a three-bedroom house or a small shop. These packs are available for rent at $2 a day or can be purchased for $250. They are powered by solar panels or regular grid energy, making them both accessible and sustainable.

"And one thing that we're really proud of is that we make it on the continent, but it's also sustainable," Owanga said.

"So the biggest problem we encountered was just like logistics and getting batteries abroad. So we were like, hey, let's build with what we have." Owanga explained. So we used recycled laptop batteries. We obviously analyse everything, make sure it's safe. And we also use plastic bottles to create the device.

By manufacturing locally, Owanga Solar is also creating skilled labour opportunities for those who need them most.

Launching a hardware company in a developing region presents unique challenges. Owanga and Chinelo faced issues ranging from logistics and production delays to securing funding. Their initial support came from a $10,000 grant from DivInc and a $500 monthly stipend from The Hatchery at Emory University, which allowed them to experiment and refine their prototype. They also gained traction through pitch competitions, which provided additional funding and recognition.

"I really want to try and fix Congo and it all starts with electricity. The moment people are connected to the grid, the moment people have electricity, students, and kids can study much better. Moms can make that money they need," Owanga expressed his desire for change. "And not only that, like the society is so much better and people can be more innovative and people can really open the country."

Watch the full interview:

"The Ministry wishes to inform all diplomatic and consular missions, regional and international organisations in Addis Ababa that in light of the pressing challenges posed by climate change and Ethiopia's commitment to contribute to emission reduction and transition to renewable energy, the importation of vehicles using fuels (petrol and diesel) for internal combustion engines is prohibited," a statement from the Foreign Affairs ministry was quoted .

The Ministry added that all those with diplomatic privileges must "continue importing only electric vehicles as per the direction enforced for duty-free importation of vehicles."

Ethiopia first announced a total ban on the import of fossil-fuelled vehicles in January, a significant policy shift to enforce the use of electric vehicles (EVs).

The government's push towards electric vehicles aims to reduce the financial burden of importing fuel and capitalise on the country's renewable energy resources. Ethiopia relies heavily on hydropower, which generates 96 percent of its electricity.

According to the government, this transition to electric vehicles will strengthen the economy while promoting environmental sustainability to reduce the effects of climate change.

The decision could also prompt other countries to consider similar measures, especially since these organisations will now be limited to using electric vehicles in Ethiopia.

Challenges

There are concerns about the country's transition to electric vehicles because of the current electricity capacity. Only about 40 percent of Ethiopia's 110 million people have access to electricity, highlighting the need for the government to improve electricity distribution and infrastructure.

Efficient charging stations will need to be established beyond the capital, Addis Ababa, to support the growing number of electric vehicles.

However, Ethiopia's strategy to promote electric vehicles is tied to its reliance on hydroelectric power, particularly from projects like the Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam (GERD). The country has already begun generating electricity from a section of the dam that is still under construction.

 The move is expected to create a competitive electricity market by reducing energy costs and attracting investment in new generation capacity.

The new law sets the groundwork for establishing a fully independent Transmission System Operator (TSO) within five years.

Meanwhile, the state-owned National Transmission Company will serve as the TSO.

The legislation also introduces a new market code to oversee the future competitive market, enabling both wholesale and retail electricity markets. The National Energy Regulator of South Africa, an engineering consultant, will be responsible for licensing new market activities and approving prices, charges, and tariffs.

The law also aims to strengthen the protection of public infrastructure by imposing penalties for theft, destruction, and sabotage of electricity equipment, Energy Capital & Power reports .

This is part of South Africa’s broader Energy Action Plan and Eskom Roadmap, which aim to improve energy access and eliminate load-shedding in the country.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi has acknowledged the challenges posed by regional and international conflicts. He reassures the nation that they will overcome this tough phase and continue to progress and develop. The president also reaffirms Egypt's support for the Palestinians' right to an independent state, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.

Release of detainees

Egypt released 79 detainees from pretrial detention in response to President Al-Sisi's engagement with political forces. The National Dialogue Board of Trustees thanked the president and other officials for their efforts and stated that this decision aims to create a positive environment for the National Dialogue. According to the Middle East Monitor , the board was formed in June 2022 and includes prominent figures from both the government and the opposition. This release follows Al-Sisi's call for national dialogue and previous releases of detainees.

Electrical capacity boost

Egypt plans to raise electrical capacity by 750 megawatts with two $700 million renewable energy projects by October 2024. The projects include a 250-megawatt wind energy farm and a 500-megawatt solar energy station. The country aims to generate 42% of its power from renewables by 2030, five years ahead of the initial target. Middle East Economy reports that the country has also partnered with foreign direct investments and the European Union to advance its renewable energy agenda.

Medical evacuation

The EU coordinated the first medical evacuation of 16 Palestinian children and their families from Egypt to Spain. Several EU countries offered assistance for medical evacuations. The EU has allocated €32.5 million to support health response in Gaza. EU officials emphasised the importance of safe medical evacuations for vulnerable patients, particularly children, in the ongoing health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Egypt set for Paris Olympics

Egypt has sent its biggest team ever to participate in the Paris Olympics games starting on July 26. Speaking at a press event on Tuesday, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy said Egypt had not hesitated in providing its athletes with the resources they needed to qualify for the Games and as a result, it had the biggest team of any Arab or African nation. The games start on Friday and run until August 11 in Paris, Arab News reports.