The Andringitra Massif, which forms also the Andringitra National Park, is a granite massif that is approximately 64 km (40 mi) long, and it is located in the Haute Matsiatra Region in the central part of the Republic of Madagascar.

As the massif stretches, the width varies, especially in the center where it gets up to the maximum of 10 km (6 mi) in width.

Being part of a relatively geologically-stable area, on solid precambrian ground, the Andringitra Massif is considered to be formed by a sudden volcanic event.

With sharp cliffs and rises, as well as several volcanic formations, the area was declared as a national park in 1999 which nowadays is managed by the Madagascar National Parks Association.

Due to the importance, it was adjoined with the Rainforests of the Atsinanana, which together were inscribed in 2007 on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Covering an area of about 31,160 hectares (77,000 acres), the altitude is between 700 meters (2,300 feet) and 2,658 meters (8,720 feet) above the sea level.

Being somewhat known as a hiking destination, there are plenty of spectacular views in all directions, and the very well developed hiking trails and interesting local villages, it is not so known place for visitors, as there are around 3,000 ones per year.

Treated as one of the most biologically diverse places in Madagascar, there are certain endemic species, such as over 1,000 species of plants, 100 species of birds, and 55 species of frogs.

In addition, there are over 50 species of mammal, among which can be found 13 species of Madagascar’s symbol, the lemur.

Throughout the history, the massif played important role for the local Betsileo people who were hiding here from the plain during raids conducted by the Sakalava or the Merina.

Today, the local population that lives around Andringitra Massif usually grows rice, coffee, sugar cane, fruit trees, and they also practice cattle breeding.

Considering that there is a very long history from the locals here, the massif together with the national park most likely shall become one of the most visited places in the country, as it is booming with flora, fauna and cultural elements of Madagascar.

The U.S. government has sued Southern California Edison, accusing the Edison International (EIX.N) unit of negligence that caused the 2020 Bobcat Fire, which burned close to 180 square miles (466 sq km) in one of the largest wildfires ever in Los Angeles County.

In a complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, the government said the fire began on Sept. 6, 2020 when a poorly maintained tree contacted power lines, igniting vegetation on a branch that then fell to the ground, spreading the fire.

SCE and Utility Tree Service, a contractor also named as a defendant, knew for “months” before the fire that the tree posed a danger but did nothing to address it, the complaint said.

The government is seeking to recoup more than $121 million, representing property and natural resources damages and costs to fight the fire, and double or triple damages for harm to timber, trees and underwood.

SCE said it would be inappropriate to discuss the case outside of court. “Our thoughts remain with the people who were affected by the Bobcat Fire, who lost homes and vehicles and were evacuated,” spokesman Reggie Kumar said.

Utility Tree Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Located in and around the San Gabriel Mountains and the Angeles National Forest, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Los Angeles, the Bobcat Fire and was among the larger fires in California’s record-setting 2020 wildfire season.

It burned more than 114,577 acres (46,368 hectares), destroying 171 structures and 178 vehicles and before being contained after about 2-1/2 months.

The government said many campgrounds and more than 100 miles of trails remain closed to the public.

It is common for utilities to be sued over wildfire damage, though many lawsuits are filed privately.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PCG.N) filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019 after being blamed for a series of northern California wildfires in 2017 and 2018.

Hawaiian Electric (HE.N), meanwhile, now faces multiple lawsuits over last month’s Maui wildfires.

The case is U.S. v Southern California Edison Co et al, U.S. District Court, Central District of California, No. 23-07254.

President Joe Biden traveled to Florida on Saturday to survey the destruction from Hurricane Idalia and comfort victims of the storm, but he did not meet Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential rival, who opted not to come.

Biden, who praised DeSantis during the visit, said he was not disappointed by the governor’s absence and said DeSantis had helped plan the trip.

DeSantis’ spokesperson said on Friday the governor had no plans to meet Biden, saying “the security preparations alone that would go in to setting up such a meeting would shut down ongoing recovery efforts.”

Biden took an aerial tour and received a briefing from local officials and first responders in Live Oak, a town that was hit hard by the storm. He saw houses with fallen trees on them and said no one “intelligent” could doubt that climate change was happening.

But politics hung over his trip. The president, who has spoken to DeSantis multiple times this week, had said on Friday they would meet in person. The decision by the governor caught the White House off guard.

“No, I’m not disappointed. He may have had other reasons… But he did help us plan this. He sat with FEMA and decided where we should go, where would be the least disruption,” Biden told reporters, while standing in front of a damaged house.

Biden said he was pleased that Senator Rick Scott, a Republican former governor of Florida, had come despite their disagreements on many issues. Scott, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, wore a hat that said “Navy” on the front and “45” on the back. Trump was the 45th U.S. president.

DeSantis, 44, spent the day about 50 miles (80 km) south, touring small communities along Florida’s Gulf Coast, according to his official schedule.

Responding to an earlier question on Saturday on what had happened to the meeting, Biden had told reporters: “I don’t know. He’s not going to be there.”

DeSantis is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination to oust Biden from the White House, but trails Trump in opinion polls. Biden, 80, is running for re-election.

Biden and DeSantis have spoken regularly this week about the storm, which pummeled Florida’s Big Bend region with Category 3 winds of nearly 125 mph (200 kph). On Wednesday, the president said politics had not crept into their conversations.

From Lagos State website:

The Federal Government has fumed and ordered all illegal miners across the country to immediately vacate sites or will be seriously dealt with.

The stern warning was given by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, during the graduation ceremony and presentation of starter-packs to 30 graduating trainees under Batch 3 of the Ministry’s Programme on ‘Gemstone and Jewellery Master Training and Empowerment’ under the Mineral Support for Economic Diversification, MinDiver, a World Bank assisted project.

Alake said the skill acquisition programme is part of the ‘Renewed Hope’agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which Tinubu during his presidential campaign promised to create jobs massively for the youth, and this graduation is a fulfilment to it.

He also commended MinDiver for the efforts made so far to add value to the lives of Nigerians via the intensive training which was done by dedicated, experienced and committed experts for the days and weeks spent to transfer the knowledge and skills into young Nigerians who also will in turn train other Nigerians and create jobs for them in all the 774 Local Government Areas of the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, in order to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the economy.

He also acknowledged that the programme had earlier produced 40 Master Jewellers who were trained between 2021 and 2022, and today (Thursday) additional 30 jewellers are graduating.

He said the pioneer set of 70 Master Jewellers will be a faculty that would train would-be jewellers in the 774 local governments of Nigeria.

However, the Minister called on state governments to partner with the Ministry by sponsoring at least 10 youths per local government for training to acquire this highly profitable skills.

he also assured them that the faculty will be mobilised to any state that is ready to empower their youths to impart their technical knowledge and demonstrate the procedures for using solid minerals to embelish the beauty of our people.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi has said that the proposed Lagos 4th Mainland Bridge Supersonic Highway will make travelling from Lagos to Abuja a four-hour journey.

The Minister stated this during a visit to Ogun and Oyo states on Thursday in continuation of his highway inspection tour, according to a statement by the Director Press and Public Relations unit of the Ministry of Works, Blessing Lere-Adams on Friday.

During a meeting with the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun in his Office in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Umahi was quoted to have said, “Let me announce to you that Lagos proposed 4th Mainland Bridge Supersonic Highway will take four hours to drive from Lagos to Abuja.

“We had a presentation on it yesterday with the consultant and it’s going to be on Public Private Partnership (PPP), driving from Lagos to Abuja will take 4 hours, we are concluding on it within one or two months and work will start.”

He further told the Governor, “We have a programme called Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) and it allows states and other private investors to engage with the Federal Government either to take over a fully constructed road to toll and maintain it in partnership with FG or take a brand new road and reconstruct it and toll it under laid down agreement.

“l am very much open to that, we also bring some roads architecture into this kind of arrangement. Solar lights where we can fix CCTV to monitor our roads and increase visibility; this will largely reduce insecurity and also create service stations. We can monitor security at these service stations; we have mini clinics, toll vans at these stations just as we see outside the country.”

Also holding similar meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in his office in Ibadan, the Minister commended Oyo government for working on Federal Roads.

“You have done quite a number of roads and you were not waiting that you must have all approval before you do it, if we are waiting for due process of refund for working on FG roads, our people will be the ones to suffer. We are excited with Governor Seyi Makinde, we as a Government has also done a number of roads” Umahi said.

The Legislative Assembly Building is the former seat of the Assembly that was ruling the tiny Territory of Norfolk Island in the South Pacific Ocean.

The building is actually located in a large walled compound which dates back from the time when the British Empire was ruling the region.

There is a series of stone Georgian buildings which were built by convicts between 1829 and 1834, and in the past they were known as the Old Military Barracks and Officer’s quarters, whereas between 1979 and 2015, it was the home of the Norfolk Island Legislative Assembly, which is today abolished by the Australian Government.

Located in what is known as the capital city of the island, Kingston, the sandstone walls from the colonial era with four rounded towers on each corner are one of the best preserved structures which can be found there.

Even though on the political front the Norfolk Island has never been part of the Commonwealth of Australia, it existed as a separate colony administered by Britain until administration was passed to Australia, which in other words means that the Australian Government was in charge of looking after and protecting the island, unlike the events that lead to the abolishment of the Assembly, and unilaterally “annexing” it on 1 July 2016.

Nowadays, only the Court House can be found on the ground floor of the main building which is two floors, however, there are ancillary buildings which were in the past officers’ outbuilding, officers’ privy, guard room, powder magazine, military hospital and wells.