He’ll also see community leader civil society activists and the diplomatic corps ahead of mass in Maputo tomorrow.

Visiting Mozambique lets Pope Francis concentrate on two main themes of his pontificate: care for the planet and compassion for the poor.

Although he’s not leaving the capital, he’ll see victims of the two devastating cyclone that hit Mozambique earlier this year, killing more than 600 people.

The Pope shares the majority opinion that these extreme weather phenomena are attributable to global warming and he has urged governments to make necessary changes to reduce climate change and protect the planet for generations to come.  

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He’s been stuck in a lift in the Vatican for 25 minutes and had to be recused by firefighters.

From his balcony overlooking the throng on St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis apologized for being late for his customary Sunday meeting with the masses.

He explained he had been stuck in a lift which he has had been caused by a drop in tension of the the electricity. 

The pontiff asked the faithful to applaud the firemen who had rescued him.

In his address he said the world was undergoing a climate emergency and urged governments to take drastic measures to stop global warming.

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It’s say a combination of human and natural changes is forcing mankind to prepare for deadly epidemics.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing the world’s second worst outbreak of EBOLA just three years after West Africa lost more than 11 000 people in the worst  outbreak.

Experts say ease and speed of travel is making the spread of EBOLA, cholera and yellow fever easier.

And urbanisation is amplifying the incubation and  spread of diseases.

Conflict is endangering  those involved vaccination and treatment. 

Global warming is causing flooding and  the destruction of forests which is driving humans into closer contact with disease-carrying animals. 

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However Defense Minister Oppah Muchinguri, who received the cheque in Harare yesterday sent her visitor Minister  of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu home with a list of further requirements.

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Zimbabwe’s Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri says  cyclone Idai is a stark warning about the realities of climate change and urges SADC countries to beef up their early warning systems so as never to be caught out again.

She tells foreign minister Lindiwe Sisulu it is encouraging  to have big-hearted and generous friends.

(take in the Oppah clip here)

The minister lists water purification tablets, building material and temporary bridges as Zimbabwe’s immediate needs.

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It’s  an indication , perhaps, that when it comes to saving the we’re all in the same boat.

French President Emmanuel Macron has issued a stern warning that the the rise in global temperatures is a permanent emergency.

“We are using the battle against global warming,” he says. “Leader can no longer say they didn’t;t know. We are learning about this every day.

The World Bank says it will stop funding oil and gas explorations in 2019.

Business leaders are making new commitments on using renewable energy.

Macron has taken up the cudgels to make these meaningful despite the fact that President Donald Trump is pulling the United States out of the historic Paris accord.

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It will put the world on the brink of enforcing the deal struck in the French capital to keep the global average rise in temperatures below 2 degrees Centigrade.

ends

China, Brazil and the United States ratified the Paris Climate Change agreement earlier this month.

It brought to 27 the number of countries who’ve taken this legal step.

To come into force internationally the agreement has to be ratified by 55 countries.

While there are sound practical reasons to have this measure in place to curb global warming, there are also pressing political pressures.

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump has called global warming a Chinese hoax and warned he’ll scrap the Paris accord.

The goal is to have the issue done and dusted and on the international statute books, presenting  a fait accompli to whoever makes it to White House

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