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Madagascar

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Madagascar. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Antananarivo

Head of State

President Andry Rajoelina

Head of Government

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay

Researchers have engineered brewer’s yeast to produce catharanthine – the direct precursor to the cancer treatment vinblastine. Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Science

Chinese ‘yeast factory’ boosts cancer drug production by 1,000 times

Turning point comes from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering.

13 Aug 2026 - 6:18PMvideocam

Crime

Don’t buy brides, China’s Bangladesh embassy warns as trafficking surges

15 Jul 2026 - 5:42PMvideocam

Climate change

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

29 Apr 2026 - 9:35PMvideocam

US-China relations

US slams Beijing after African countries block Taiwan leader’s eSwatini trip

A State Department official called the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.

23 Apr 2026 - 8:15AMvideocam

Taiwan leader William Lai Ching-te speaks during an interview in Taipei in February. Photo: AFP

My Take

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

In contrast to friendly China, the United States has weaponised foreign aid on one continent and returned to gunboat diplomacy in the western hemisphere.

5 Apr 2026 - 11:05PM

Africa

Madagascar’s leader orders lie detector tests for prospective ministers

President Randrianirina orders polygraph screening, seeking people who are more than ‘60 per cent clean’.

20 Mar 2026 - 12:13PM

Protests around the world

Opinion | From memes to the streets: Gen Z’s fight back against corruption

Youth-led movements are too often treated as fleeting emotional outbursts, even though they express structured political demands.

10 Jan 2026 - 4:00PM

An activist holds a poster next to a flag bearing an image of the “Jolly Roger” from popular Japanese anime “One Piece” during a protest in Jakarta, Indonesia, in September. Photo: AP

Africa

Army officer sworn in as Madagascar’s president after military takeover

Colonel Michael Randrianirina took the oath of office after a military power grab that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing.

17 Oct 2025 - 4:59PM

United Nations

AU suspends Madagascar as military prepares to install colonel as president

Colonel Randrianirina is set to be sworn in on Friday, ignoring international backlash surrounding the military’s unilateral move.

16 Oct 2025 - 2:58PM

Africa

Madagascar’s military coup leader ‘taking position of president’

Colonel Michael Randrianirina is assuming leadership at the invitation of the High Constitutional Court due to President Andry Rajoelina’s absence.

15 Oct 2025 - 7:47PM

CAPSAT military unit commander Colonel Michael Randrianirina and his troops took control of the presidency on Tuesday. Photo: AP

United Nations

Madagascar president breaks silence amid unrest and reports he fled country

Andry Rajoelina, who reportedly fled Madagascar on a French military plane, says he has relocated because his life was in danger.

14 Oct 2025 - 3:33PM

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina addressing the nation on Facebook on Monday. Photo: AFP

Africa

Madagascar ‘attempt to seize power illegally’ is under way, says president

The same army contingent, known as Capsat, was instrumental in propelling former DJ President Rajoelina to power in a coup in 2009.

12 Oct 2025 - 8:13PM

China-Africa relations

Demise of US trade deal AGOA pushes Africa further into China’s orbit

Lapse of African Growth and Opportunity Act deals tariff blow to continent and ‘creates fertile ground’ for Beijing to expand its clout.

7 Oct 2025 - 10:00AMvideocam

Science

Cyborg roaches for disaster relief? Singapore team’s 68-second feat says yes

Fast automated system shows the way to mass-produce remote-controlled cyborg roaches for future disaster search missions.

26 Aug 2025 - 5:10PMvideocam

Automated system devised by scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University can transform live insects into steerable biobots in just 68 seconds, which is 13 times faster than manual surgery. Photo: Shutterstock

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong’s No 2 official urges calm over fears of chikungunya fever outbreak

City’s five cases recorded in a week are ‘from the mainland or imported from overseas’, Eric Chan says.

9 Aug 2025 - 9:12PM

A worker from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department carries out Aedes mosquito control work at Lei Tung Estate. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Hong Kong uncovers new imported chikungunya fever case, bringing tally to 5

Case involves woman, 66, who just returned from Guangdong, while another probable patient under observation after three-country trip.

9 Aug 2025 - 1:20AM

China travel

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-grid

A growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

22 Jun 2025 - 11:00AM

China-Africa relations

China on African charm offensive to rally opposition to ‘bullying’ US

While Trump targets critical minerals and specific nations, China expands influence through bilateral and multilateral engagement: analyst.

6 May 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on April 29, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

China-Africa relations

China-Africa trade makes ‘moderate’ gains despite US tariffs, currency weakness

First quarter customs data shows Chinese exports to Africa climbed 11.3% to US$45.92 billion while imports from the continent fell 9.4%.

21 Apr 2025 - 5:28PMvideocam

Martial arts

Martial art you’ve probably never heard of, Moraingy seeks recognition

In Moraingy, combat sport with a 400-year history in Madagascar, Africa, there are no rules. A fan of the martial art hopes to change that.

7 Apr 2025 - 3:17PMvideocam

History

Christian Pilard’s Little Museum of the World, a cave of wonders in Chai Wan

Pet a prehistoric mammoth, marvel at a meteorite, and even stop pangolin extinction in this unassuming vault inside an industrial building

20 Jul 2024 - 5:00PM

Christian Pilard is the founder of Little Museums of the World, a small but surprising space of wonders in an unassuming industrial building in Chai Wan. Photo: Bérénice Gohel

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong women told to ‘seize opportunity’ after draw for 2025 World Cup bid

Hong Kong will make their WXV3 debut in Dubai later this year, qualification for second World Cup on the line.

17 Jul 2024 - 3:00PM

Hong Kong’s victory over Kazakhstan kept alive their World Cup qualifying hopes. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Food and Drinks

Climate change impact pushes Hong Kong chocolate makers to plant cacao trees

Prices of cocoa beans, key ingredient of chocolate, have rocketed as climate change hits harvests. Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers describe how they are growing their own.

8 Jul 2024 - 10:02AM

China-Africa relations

Can China balance local interests with its needs as it eyes African fish stocks?

The country is investing heavily in port facilities across the continent, but its trawlers are accused of putting local stocks at risk.

16 Jun 2024 - 3:13PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

China envoys deliver Xi’s invite to African leaders for September FOCAC summit

In a break with tradition, several countries have announced the date for the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing.

7 Jun 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Workers clean anchovies destined for the Chinese market at a processing plant in Kenya. Photo: Xinhua

Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong women keep World Cup dream alive, end ARC with win over Kazakhstan

Hong Kong outplay Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale to secure spot in WXV3 tournament later this year, and remain in contention for 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

1 Jun 2024 - 10:31PM

Hong Kong’s Georgia Rivers (left) is tackled by Kazhakstan’s Mariya Grishina in their Asia Rugby Championship clash. Photo: Jonathan Wong

China-Africa relations

Central Chinese province steps up to boost African farming and industrial gains

Hunan vice-governor Cao Zhiqiang leads delegation of officials and company representatives to trade show in Nairobi where nearly US$300 million in deals are signed.

16 May 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

India

‘Nothing to hide’?: India’s election body under fire for BJP bias

India’s election commission faces accusations of bias towards the ruling BJP by refusing to reign in the party’s divisive campaign rhetoric and for not providing voter turnout data quickly enough.

9 May 2024 - 12:24AMvideocam

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Madagascar

Chinese ‘yeast factory’ boosts cancer drug production by 1,000 times

Turning point comes from cross-disciplinary collaboration, including across plant biochemistry, synthetic biology and protein engineering.

Don’t buy brides, China’s Bangladesh embassy warns as trafficking surges

Tropical forest loss still 11 football fields a minute – or Denmark per year

US slams Beijing after African countries block Taiwan leader’s eSwatini trip

A State Department official called the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America

In contrast to friendly China, the United States has weaponised foreign aid on one continent and returned to gunboat diplomacy in the western hemisphere.

Madagascar’s leader orders lie detector tests for prospective ministers

President Randrianirina orders polygraph screening, seeking people who are more than ‘60 per cent clean’.

Opinion | From memes to the streets: Gen Z’s fight back against corruption

Youth-led movements are too often treated as fleeting emotional outbursts, even though they express structured political demands.

Army officer sworn in as Madagascar’s president after military takeover

Colonel Michael Randrianirina took the oath of office after a military power grab that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing.

AU suspends Madagascar as military prepares to install colonel as president

Colonel Randrianirina is set to be sworn in on Friday, ignoring international backlash surrounding the military’s unilateral move.

Madagascar’s military coup leader ‘taking position of president’

Colonel Michael Randrianirina is assuming leadership at the invitation of the High Constitutional Court due to President Andry Rajoelina’s absence.

Madagascar president breaks silence amid unrest and reports he fled country

Andry Rajoelina, who reportedly fled Madagascar on a French military plane, says he has relocated because his life was in danger.

Madagascar ‘attempt to seize power illegally’ is under way, says president

The same army contingent, known as Capsat, was instrumental in propelling former DJ President Rajoelina to power in a coup in 2009.

Demise of US trade deal AGOA pushes Africa further into China’s orbit

Lapse of African Growth and Opportunity Act deals tariff blow to continent and ‘creates fertile ground’ for Beijing to expand its clout.

Cyborg roaches for disaster relief? Singapore team’s 68-second feat says yes

Fast automated system shows the way to mass-produce remote-controlled cyborg roaches for future disaster search missions.

Hong Kong’s No 2 official urges calm over fears of chikungunya fever outbreak

City’s five cases recorded in a week are ‘from the mainland or imported from overseas’, Eric Chan says.

Hong Kong uncovers new imported chikungunya fever case, bringing tally to 5

Case involves woman, 66, who just returned from Guangdong, while another probable patient under observation after three-country trip.

China’s thrill-seekers eye adventure tourism as social media lures them off-grid

A growing contingent of Chinese tourists seeks ‘shareable’ and ‘off-the-beaten-path experiences’, away from the hustle and bustle of urban sightseeing.

China on African charm offensive to rally opposition to ‘bullying’ US

While Trump targets critical minerals and specific nations, China expands influence through bilateral and multilateral engagement: analyst.

China-Africa trade makes ‘moderate’ gains despite US tariffs, currency weakness

First quarter customs data shows Chinese exports to Africa climbed 11.3% to US$45.92 billion while imports from the continent fell 9.4%.

Martial art you’ve probably never heard of, Moraingy seeks recognition

In Moraingy, combat sport with a 400-year history in Madagascar, Africa, there are no rules. A fan of the martial art hopes to change that.

Christian Pilard’s Little Museum of the World, a cave of wonders in Chai Wan

Pet a prehistoric mammoth, marvel at a meteorite, and even stop pangolin extinction in this unassuming vault inside an industrial building

Hong Kong women told to ‘seize opportunity’ after draw for 2025 World Cup bid

Hong Kong will make their WXV3 debut in Dubai later this year, qualification for second World Cup on the line.

Climate change impact pushes Hong Kong chocolate makers to plant cacao trees

Prices of cocoa beans, key ingredient of chocolate, have rocketed as climate change hits harvests. Hong Kong’s bean-to-bar chocolate makers describe how they are growing their own.

Can China balance local interests with its needs as it eyes African fish stocks?

The country is investing heavily in port facilities across the continent, but its trawlers are accused of putting local stocks at risk.

China envoys deliver Xi’s invite to African leaders for September FOCAC summit

In a break with tradition, several countries have announced the date for the China-Africa cooperation forum in Beijing.

Hong Kong women keep World Cup dream alive, end ARC with win over Kazakhstan

Hong Kong outplay Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Championship finale to secure spot in WXV3 tournament later this year, and remain in contention for 2025 Rugby World Cup in England.

Central Chinese province steps up to boost African farming and industrial gains

Hunan vice-governor Cao Zhiqiang leads delegation of officials and company representatives to trade show in Nairobi where nearly US$300 million in deals are signed.

‘Nothing to hide’?: India’s election body under fire for BJP bias

India’s election commission faces accusations of bias towards the ruling BJP by refusing to reign in the party’s divisive campaign rhetoric and for not providing voter turnout data quickly enough.

My Take | Why Beijing is now the only true partner of Africa and Latin America