black death' Madagascar is at risk of a major outbreak of bubonic plague unless it can clean up its rat-infested jails, health experts have warned. The Indian Ocean island became the most severely affected country in the world last year, with 256 cases and 60 fatalities from the disease known as the "black death" when it swept through Europe in the 14th century. The International Committee of the Red...
s presidential election Madagascar's special electoral court has removed the country's incumbent president, the wife of his longtime rival and a former president from its list of presidential candidates. The court cancelled the candidacy of President Andry Rajoelina and Lalao Ravalomanana, who is the wife of Marc Ravalomanana, the leader Rajoelina overthrew in 2009. Former president Didier Ratsiraka...
s food crops Madagascar is in a race against time to raise enough money to tackle its worst plague of locusts since the 1950s. Locusts have already infested over half of the island's cultivated land and pastures, causing the loss of 630,000 tonnes of rice, corresponding to 25% of food consumption. At least 1.5m hectares (3.7m acres) could be infested by locusts in two-thirds of the country by September,...
To celebrate Africa day on the anniversary of the birth of the Organisation of African Unity, 25 May 1963, we have put together this quiz. No Googling now, says David Smith David Smith Judith Soal ...
s southern Atsimo-Andrefana region. The work is hard, but in the past year, access to microcredit has boosted both her business and her hopes for the future. "Before, I used to make 10,000 to 20,000 ariary ($4.50-9.00, about £3) a day. Now, with the credit, I can make double that amount," she told IRIN. "I can put my four [grand]children in school, buy some livestock and save the rest of the money....
Thai man arrested with 54 tortoises at Bangkok airport, taken from ploughshare species numbering around 400 in the wild On 15 March, Thai authorities arrested a 38-year-old man attempting to collect a bag containing 54 ploughshare tortoises ( Astrochelys yniphora ) and 21 radiated tortoises ( Astrochelys radiata ) at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Found only in Madagascar, both species...
s biggest wildlife summit agree to strictly regulate trade in mahogany and rosewood timber Every species of mahogany and rosewood tree in Madagascar gained new protection on Tuesday against a rampant logging trade that threatens to wipe out some species before they are even discovered. The 178 nations at the world...