Scientists in France are reporting for the first time that sculptors from the fantastically wealthy ancient Empire of Mali — once the source of almost half the world’s gold — used blood to form the beautiful patina, or coating, on their works of art.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on May 24th an additional International Development Association (IDA) credit in the amount of US$20 million to finance the Agricultural Services and Producer Organization Support Project (PASAOP) in Mali.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on May 24th additional International Development Association (IDA) financing in the amount of US$15 million for the Second Education Sector Investment Program (PISE II) in Mali.

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved on May 24th an International Development Association (IDA) credit of US$90 million to benefit the Second Transport Sector Project (PST 2), the aim of which is to facilitate accessibility on the part of rural communities in Mali and in the District of Bamako by improving rural infrastructures, river transport services, and urban transport infrastructures in Bamako.

In the mostly desert nation of Mali, environmentalists and government officials are concerned about the increasing amount of wood used, largely for cooking, in the capital, Bamako. If the trend is not reversed, the government predicts Mali will be consuming more than it can supply within the next three years, accelerating the advancement of the Sahara desert.