Ukraine drone attacks spark fires at Russia’s Kursk nuclear plant, Novatek’s Ust-Luga terminal
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TADB takes lead in tackling climate change impacts in Africa’s banking sector
The Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB) is taking a pioneering role in addressing the impacts of climate change within Africa’s banking industry. TADB has partnered with the African Development Bank and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) to establish systems that integrate climate risk management into agricultural lending.
In a landmark initiative, TADB has partnered with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Programme (AAAP) to establish systems that integrate climate risk management into agricultural lending.
Funded by the Africa Climate Change Fund (ACCF), these systems have been specifically designed to enable TADB to identify, assess, and mitigate the potential risks posed by climate change in the agricultural sector.
By embedding resilience measures into its lending practices, the bank is positioning itself as a model for other financial institutions across the continent.
With these developments, TADB has become the first development bank in Africa to adopt structured mechanisms that directly support farmers in accessing climate-smart loans.
This move is expected to provide Tanzanian farmers with greater financial security, enabling them to adopt sustainable farming practices, invest in climate-resilient technologies, and safeguard their livelihoods against extreme weather events.
The initiative is not only a breakthrough for Tanzania but also a milestone for Africa’s wider banking sector. By demonstrating that financial institutions can play a critical role in building resilience against climate change, TADB is paving the way for systemic transformation in agricultural finance.
UK to compensate Kenyans for 2021 fire caused by army drill
UK agrees to pay 2.9 million pounds ($4 million) in compensation to residents of Lolldaiga. Lawyer says compensation was paid to over 7,000 residents for “smoke nuisance” caused by fire. British army conducts joint exercises with Kenya in northern Laikipia region.
The British army conducts joint exercises with Kenya in the northern Laikipia region, where it has a base in the town of Nanyuki. The fire broke out in the nearby Lolldaiga in March 2021.
“We arrived at a settlement and have dispatched payments,” lawyer Kelvin Kubai said in a short message to Reuters. He said compensation was paid to over 7,000 residents for what he described as “smoke nuisance” caused by the fire.
Residents of Lolldaiga area accused a British army training unit of causing the wildfire that destroyed much of a nature reserve, leaving behind ordnance that injured locals.
A British soldier later seemed to claim responsibility for starting the wildfire in a social media post, prompting the British High Commissioner at the time to say she was “appalled” and to pledge an investigation by the Royal Military Police.
The British government on Friday expressed regret over the incident.
Downed Ukrainian drone causes short-lived fire at Russian nuclear power plant
A Ukrainian drone shot down by Russian air defence systems caused a short-lived fire at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. The detonation reportedly damaged an auxiliary transformer, cutting the plant’s capacity. There were no injuries, but as a result of the denotation, unit three of the plant was reduced to 50 percent capacity. The attack appears to be part of an overnight wave of Ukrainian drone assaults partly targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure. Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight over 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry said. The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned of the dangers of fighting around nuclear plants.
A fire broke out Sunday at a Russian nuclear power plant after the country’s military downed a Ukrainian drone, the facility said after the blaze was put out.
“A combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was shot down by air defence systems near the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant,” the plant’s press service said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
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“Upon impact, the drone detonated, resulting in damage to an auxiliary transformer.”
The press service added that there were no injuries, but as a result of the denotation, unit three of the plant was reduced to 50 percent capacity. The destroyed drone also sparked a fire that has since been extinguished, the press service said.
“The radiation background at the industrial site of the Kursk NPP and the surrounding area has not changed and corresponds to natural levels,” the press service said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly warned of the dangers of fighting around nuclear plants following Russia launching its military offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.
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The plant is near the Russia-Ukraine border and sits to the west of Kursk city, the region’s capital with a population of around 440,000 people.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. Kyiv has said its strikes inside Russia are in response to Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure deemed crucial to Moscow’s overall military efforts.
The attack appears to be part of an overnight wave of Ukrainian drone assaults partly targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure. Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s own energy grid since its full-scale invasion in 2022.
About 10 Ukrainian drones were downed over the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s northern Leningrad region, with debris sparking fire at the Novatek-operated terminal – a huge Baltic Sea fuel export terminal and processing complex, regional governor said.
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“Firefighters and emergency services are currently working to extinguish the blaze,” Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region where the Ust-Luga port is located, said on the Telegram messaging app. There were no injuries, he added.
According to Novatek, the Ust-Luga complex, which opened in 2013, processes gas condensate into light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, fuel oil and gasoil, and enables the company to ship oil products as well as gas condensate to international markets.
Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight over 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry said.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)
Ukraine attacks spark fires at Russian nuclear plant
Ukrainian drone attacks overnight on several Russia’s power and energy facilities forced capacity reduction at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. About 10 Ukrainian drones were downed over the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s northern Leningrad region. debris sparking fire at the Novatek-operated terminal – a huge Baltic Sea fuel export terminal and processing complex. There were no injuries and a fire sparked by the attack was promptly extinguished, the plant’s press service said. Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight over 13 regions, including Lenedrad and Samara, as well as the Crimean Peninsula.
A drone attack on the Kursk nuclear plant, not far from the border with Ukraine, damaged an auxiliary transformer and led to 50% reduction in the operating capacity at unit three of the plant, the plant’s press service said.
There were no injuries and a fire sparked by the attack was promptly extinguished, the plant’s press service said.
Radiation levels at the site and in the surrounding area have not exceeded normal limits, it added.
The regional acting governor said the attack is a threat to nuclear safety.
“They are a threat to nuclear safety and a violation of all international conventions,” Alexander Khinshtein wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
About 10 Ukrainian drones were downed over the port of Ust-Luga in Russia’s northern Leningrad region, with debris sparking fire at the Novatek-operated terminal – a huge Baltic Sea fuel export terminal and processing complex, the regional governor said.
“Firefighters and emergency services are currently working to extinguish the blaze,” Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region where the Ust-Luga port is located, said on the Telegram messaging app.
There were no injuries, he added.
According to Novatek NVTK.MM, the Ust-Luga complex, which opened in 2013, processes gas condensate into light and heavy naphtha, jet fuel, fuel oil and gasoil, and enables the company to ship oil products as well as gas condensate to international markets.
Russian units destroyed a total of 95 Ukrainian drones overnight over 13 regions, including Leningrad and Samara, as well as the Crimean Peninsula, the defence ministry said.
Rosaviatsia, Russia’s civil aviation authority, said flights were halted for hours on end at several Russian airports overnight, including at the Pulkovo airport in the Leningrad region.
Ukrainian drones also attacked an industrial enterprise in the southern Russian city of Syzran, Vyacheslav Fedorishchev, governor of the Samara region where Syzran is located, posted on Telegram, adding there were no casualties.
He did not say what the targets were or whether there was any damage.
Earlier this month, the Ukrainian military said it had struck the Syzran oil refinery. The Rosneft-owned ROSN.MM refinery was forced to suspend production and crude intake after the attack, sources told Reuters.
There was no immediate comment from Ukraine.
Kyiv has said its strikes inside Russia are in response to Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine and are aimed at destroying infrastructure deemed crucial to Moscow’s overall military efforts.
Accreditation: Reuters
Deadline nears for 2025/26 HESLB loans, Samia Scholarship
The Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) has reminded applicants for loans and the Samia Scholarship that the window for the 2025/2026 academic year closes on 31 August 2025.
The board announced on Thursday, August 22, 2025, urging eligible students to complete their applications well before the deadline.
HESLB Chief Executive Officer, Dr Bill Kiwia, told journalists on August 11, 2025, that the application period, which opened on June 15, 2025, will end as scheduled.
“Only nine days remain, so eligible students are advised to submit their applications early to avoid last-minute congestion,” reads part of the HESLB statement.