CO2 ice formations discovered on Indian Ocean floor near Mayotte
via Le Mauricien2 min read
A vast field of CO2 hydrates, a type of ice containing trapped CO2, has been discovered for the first time on the Indian Ocean floor, in the "Horseshoe" area, 10 km east of Mayotte. Ifremer announced this scientific finding on June 12, attributing it to the appearance of the Fani Maore volcano. These unusual formations, resembling "large agglomerated snowmen," are located at a depth of 1,200 meters, where the water temperature is 4°C. Cécile Cathalot, a marine geochemistry researcher at Ifremer and lead author of a study published on Friday, stated that this is the first observation of CO2 hydrates on the ocean floor. Ifremer suggests that the appearance of these magmatic liquid CO2 sources in the Horseshoe area is likely linked to the seismic-volcanic crisis affecting Mayotte, which includes the formation of the new Fani Maoré volcano discovered in 2019. This activity may have destabilized the volcanic structure of the Horseshoe, which predates the Fani Maore eruption. The initial discovery of these formations was made in 2021 by an international team of researchers, with a subsequent campaign in August 2025 revisiting the site, which appears stable over the preceding four years. This area serves as a natural laboratory, offering the opportunity to study natural processes, ecosystem responses, and the long-term effects of excess CO2 exposure in the underwater environment. The discovery could also aid in studying CO2 sequestration pathways through gas hydrate formation, parti
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
BreakingDonald Trump announced on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely open" on Friday, the day a framework agreement between the United States and Iran is set to be signed to end the war in the Middle East. Trump stated on Truth Social that ships, including oil tankers, were already beginning to exit the strait, urging vessels worldwide to "start your engines. Let the oil flow!" Iranian media reported that three oil tankers and two cargo ships had passed through the area previously under a US naval blockade. A senior US official confirmed the framework agreement was electronically signed by Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The text of the agreement has not been made public, leading to questions about remaining differences after lengthy negotiations. Trump, arriving at the G7 summit in Evian, France, promised the agreement would "bring peace to the region" and expressed a desire to make it public, possibly after its signing in Geneva on Friday, which would initiate a 60-day period to finalize a comprehensive deal. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while more cautious, acknowledged past unfulfilled commitments but emphasized efforts to create economic opportunities for Iran through this process. Iranian diplomatic sources indicated the agreement includes an immediate and definitive end to the war and military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon. In the St
Must ReadOn May 28, 2026, the French Parliament unanimously voted to repeal the Code Noir law, originally promulgated in 1685 under Louis XIV and re-issued in 1724 under Louis XV. This law regulated and conditioned the practice of slavery in former French colonies from the late 17th to the first half of the 19th century. The continued existence of this law in French legal texts was considered an anomaly, given that slavery had been abolished across all French territories since 1848, and in Mauritius under British administration in 1835. The repeal carried significant symbolic and memorial weight for populations who were victims of slavery under French colonization. Among the speeches delivered during the National Assembly session, one by ecologist deputy Steevy Gustave, who referenced "Les Antilles," his father's origin, particularly resonated with parliamentarians and French media.
The Council of Ministers noted the presence of 49,631 foreign workers in Mauritius, primarily in sectors facing labor shortages. The main countries of origin are India 15,840 workers, Nepal 14,821, Madagascar 9,995, and Bangladesh 8,975. Due to concerns about illegal recruitment and missing workers, the Ministry of Labor and Industrial Relations is revising its recruitment mechanisms. The Minister of Labor met with his Bangladeshi counterpart at the 114th International Labor Conference in Geneva. They agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a central governmental body in Bangladesh to oversee recruitment for Mauritius. This aims to curb issues with private intermediaries charging excessive fees or facilitating irregular recruitment. A similar model, the India-Mauritius Government-to-Government Mobility Partnership, already exists with India through the National Skills Development Corporation NSDC, described as a modern, transparent, and ethical recruitment framework. Additionally, the Council of Ministers noted strengthened control measures by the Passport and Immigration Office, which has been asked to intensify efforts to locate missing foreign workers. These measures aim to better regulate foreign labor, which is vital to several sectors of the Mauritian economy.