Inspired by similar “Gen Z” demonstrations in Kenya and Nepal, the protests have grown since last week into the largest wave of unrest Madagascar has seen in years

International News via Reuters:

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said on Friday he was ready to listen to find solutions to problems facing the poor island nation, but ignored calls for his resignation by a nationwide youth-led protest movement.

Inspired by similar “Gen Z” demonstrations in Kenya and Nepal, the protests have grown since last week into the largest wave of unrest Madagascar has seen in years, tapping into widespread discontent with high levels of poverty and corruption.

The president disbanded the government late on Monday in an attempt to quell public anger, but the move has done little to address grievances that initially erupted in the capital on September 25 over worsening water shortages and power outages.

The United Nations says at least 22 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the first few days of the protests. The government rejects those figures.

“No one benefits from the destruction of the nation. I am here, I stand here ready to listen, ready to extend a helping hand, and above all, ready to bring solutions to Madagascar,” Rajoelina said in a speech broadcast on his Facebook page.

He said, without providing evidence, that some politicians were plotting to take advantage of the protests and had considered staging a coup while he was addressing the United Nations in New York last week.

“Criticism of existing problems does not necessarily have to be expressed in the streets; it should be done through dialogue,” said Rajoelina, who himself first came to power in a 2009 coup after leading mass protests against the government.

In a post on his X account on Friday, Rajoelina said he had also met various groups for the past three days to discuss the situation.

Protests resumed in the capital on Friday after a one-day pause, with police firing tear gas to disperse some marchers, footage from Real TV Madagasikara showed.

Despite Madagascar’s significant mineral wealth, biodiversity and agricultural land, the Indian Ocean island nation is among the poorest countries in the world.

Between independence in 1960 and 2020, income per capita has fallen 45% in real terms, according to the World Bank, which blames the poor economic performance on tight control of the institutions and resources by an unaccountable elite, and a lack of competition and transparency.

Reporting by Lovasoa Rabary; writing by George ObulutsaEditing by Bate Felix and Ammu Kannampilly

The breakthrough in September deliveries, up from 61 in the same month last year, brings the cumulative total since January above 2024’s running year-to-date tally for the first time

International News via Reuters:

Airbus delivered a stronger-than-expected 73 jets in September, a record for that month of the year, as delays in engine deliveries showed signs of easing, industry sources said.

Airbus declined to comment on the figure, which is higher than earlier analyst forecasts of 69 to 70 deliveries.

The breakthrough in September deliveries, up from 61 in the same month last year, brings the cumulative total since January above 2024’s running year-to-date tally for the first time.

However, it also leaves Airbus needing to pull off a record fourth-quarter with 313 deliveries between October and December, up 16% from the last three months of 2024, to reach a full-year target of 820 deliveries, independent analyst Rob Morris said.

The previous fourth-quarter peak was 297 in 2018, he added.

September’s figure implies that Airbus delivered 507 aircraft between January and September, up 2% from 497 in the first nine months of last year. Deliveries at the half-year stage were down 5%.

Jefferies, which estimates 69 deliveries in September, said this week that the month had seen a notable increase compared with the previous year, suggesting an easing of the recent gaps in engine supplies mainly from CFM.

Provisional data from analytics firm Cirium pegged September deliveries at 70 aircraft.

Airbus has seen production of its A320 single-aisle held back by delayed engines, while also struggling with plans to increase output of its best-selling model to 75 a month.

Even so, the 54-year-old European company is on the cusp of making industry history as total A320 deliveries look set to match those of the Boeing 737 – or more than 12,250 aircraft each – to become the most-sold commercial jetliner, Morris said.

Airbus will issue monthly order and delivery data on October 8.

Reporting by Tim HepherEditing by Mark Potter and Bill Berkrot

Small island states on the frontline of rising sea levels are confronted with having to consider reducing the size of delegations they send to Belem

International News via Reuters:

Dozens of countries have yet to secure accommodation at next month’s COP30 climate summit in Brazil and some delegates are considering staying away as a shortage of hotels has driven prices to hundreds of dollars per night.

Small island states on the frontline of rising sea levels are confronted with having to consider reducing the size of delegations they send to Belem, while two European nations said they were considering not attending at all.

COP30 organisers are racing to convert love motels, cruise ships and churches into lodgings for an anticipated 45,000 delegates.

Brazil chose to hold the climate talks at Belem, which typically has 18,000 hotel beds available, in the hope its location on the edge of the Amazon rainforest would focus attention on the threat climate change poses to this ecosystem, and its role in absorbing climate-warming emissions.

LATVIA SAYS ROOMS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE

Latvia’s climate minister told Reuters the country has asked if its negotiators could dial in by video call.

“We already basically have a decision that it’s too expensive for us,” Melnis said. “It’s the first time it’s so expensive. We have a responsibility to our country’s budget.”

A second eastern European country, Lithuania, also said it may stay away after being quoted prices for accommodation exceeding $500 per person per night.

A spokesperson for Lithuania’s energy ministry, which covers climate affairs, said the legitimacy and quality of negotiations would suffer if governments could not attend because of the costs.

A spokesperson for Brazil’s COP30 presidency said the decision was up to each government.

COP30 HOTEL PRICES LEAVE DELEGATIONS OUT OF POCKET

Days after Brazil opened a booking platform in early August, the website showed rates from $360 to $4,400 a night. Prices this week started at $150 per night, the platform showed. 

The host country has dismissed calls to relocate the summit and said it would provide 15 rooms priced below $220 per day for each developing country delegation, and below $600 for each wealthy nation delegation. The United Nations has also increased its subsidy to help low-income countries attend.

Less than six weeks out from COP30, 81 countries remain in negotiations over hotel rooms while 87 countries have reserved accommodation, according to Brazil’s COP30 Presidency.

Evans Njewa, chair of the Least Developed Countries group that represents the world’s poorest nations in U.N. climate talks, said it was still assessing countries’ attendance plans.

“We’re receiving a high volume of concerns … and numerous requests for support,” Njewa told Reuters. “Regrettably, our capacity is limited, which may affect the size of delegations.”

CLIMATE ACTION UNDER THREAT

This year’s COP summit takes place after U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to lead a shift away from climate action and Europe’s priorities change as economies struggle.

Ilana Seid, chair of the Alliance of Small Island States, said the lack of affordable accommodation placed its members at a “severe disadvantage”. Small island countries have used previous COPs to secure more funding to adapt to climate change.

Smaller delegations would leave island nations “lacking expertise needed to effectively participate in the negotiations which decide our future,” Seid said.

Reporting by Kate Abnett in Brussels; Additional reporting by Jason Hovet, Luiza Ilie, Manuela Andreoni; Editing by Richard Lough and Barbara Lewis