Excluded Headlines: Israel stalls on ceasefire, southern African aquifer affected by mining, Nigeria to use oil minister funds for electricity infrastructure ...
Stay up to date on the Global South news stories the US- and Eurocentric media overlook, with author and journalist, Tamara Pearson.
In this week’s Global South news:
Stalling on genocide in Gaza - On Wednesday, Hamas and Israel agreed on a deal that includes a ceasefire. The text of the deal was largely written by Israel, proposed in May by Biden and agreed to by Hamas last July, but Israel did not agree then. The Israeli cabinet has to approve the deal also, and was due to vote today, but stalled.
The ceasefire agreement includes provisions for the exchange of prisoners, return of internally displaced civilians to their homes in the north, and the crossing of wounded Palestinian combatants and civilians to Egypt via the Rafah crossing in southern Gaza. The agreement outlines an exchange of hostages and prisoners to ultimately achieve a “permanent ceasefire.” Full text here, and here.
Palestinians reacted to the news, with some calling it a victory, and others worried that the ceasefire will “just be a pause in killing us”. Within less than 24 hours of the agreement (due to be implemented from Sunday), Israeli forces killed over 70 Palestinians. A recent study found that the real Gaza death toll is like 41% higher than the official figure, which relies on reports by health ministry institutions like hospitals. Source, source, source, source, source, source, source.
Giant freshwater aquifer in southern Africa threatened by mining - The Namibian government has awarded uranium prospecting licences to several mining companies across an aquifer system, and those mines will likely contaminate the system with metals that cause cancer and other severe illnesses. The underground Stampriet Transboundary Aquifer System is the size of Austria, stretching for 87,000km² across Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana. It supplies 50,000 people with water pure enough to drink, and is their only source of water. Source.
Myanmar army kills 40 - The army struck a village run by the Arakan Army, which is fighting for autonomy and which had previously seized the Myanmar military’s Western Command in Rakhine State, where the airstrikes hit. Some 40 people were killed and hundreds of houses caught fire. Source, source.
India added record amounts of solar to its grid last year - India installed a record 24.5 GW of solar capacity in 2024, bringing its total renewable energy capacity to 209.44 GW, with solar accounting for 47% of that. For comparison, Australia has a total solar capacity of 37.8 GW and the UK 16.9 GW. Source, source, source.
Ethiopia launches first stock exchange market - After decades without one, the country launched the Ethiopian Securities Exchange. The move signals greater privatisation. Source.
1 million internally displaced people in Haiti - A million people have been forced to flee their homes within Haiti over the past year, many of them multiple times. The total of internally displaced people has tripled just in the past year. Source.
Nigeria to use funds recovered from oil minister to fund electricity projects - About 45% of Nigerians do not have access to electricity. The government says it will use funds recovered from the corrupt minister and her associates to fund projects for electricity infrastructure in rural areas. Source.
Over 100,000 displaced in DR Congo in a week - Recent fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo displaced more than 100,000 people. At the start of the month, the M23 seized control of Masisi, a key town for minerals. Within a few days, there was some calm in the area and some people did return again. Source.
US removes Cuba from terrorism list - With just days to go before stepping down, President Biden reversed a few measures implemented against Cuba by Trump during his term. Some of Trump’s policies that tightened the blockade were left in place, and it is likely that he will restore the measures - which severely limit Cuba’s ability to acquire important basic goods - once he swears in again on Monday. Source.
Useful reads (general)
Indonesia in the Pacific: Military engagement and the quest for control in West Papua
Life in Cuba Has Grown Harder. Biden’s Modest Reversal Was Too Little Too Late
Tanzania’s Maasai are being forced off their ancestral land – the tactics the government uses
After five days that changed its face, where is Lebanon headed?
How much money has Israel received from the US since 1948? (short video).
The colonizer’s mask has slipped to the floor
It’s time for Africa to join the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
How U.S. Media Hide Truths About the Gaza War