September 17
Africa: Scientists Have Found Evidence of Past Extreme Solar Storms. Their Return Could Be Disastrous for Our Technology-Based Societies
In September 1859, the same year that Darwin published On the Origin of Species, telegraph systems across Europe and North America stopped working and started sparking, leading to… Read more »
September 18
Zimbabwe: Lithium Mining in Zimbabwe - a Story of Loss for One Community
Lithium is an essential component of electric vehicle batteries, which are becoming more important as the world moves to a low-carbon energy future. Large deposits of lithium exist… Read more »
September 17
Africa: Why China Is Seeking Greater Presence in Africa
China's relationship with Africa is set to deepen. At a summit in Beijing in early September, China's president, Xi Jinping, pledged to deliver US$51 billion (£39 billion) in… Read more »
Africa: Four Ways Africa Is Already Seeing the Effects of Climate Change
Africa is already being heavily affected by climate change. Between 1991 and 2023, the African continent warmed at a rate of 0.3°C per decade, a rate slightly faster than the… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya Could Run Out of Money to Repay Massive Debts - How to Avoid This
Data from Kenya's central bank show that public debt (total money owed) declined between December 2023 and June 2024. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Move to Green Energy Was Slowed Down By Govt to Protect Coal Mining
South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy was split in two after the 2024 general elections: Electricity and Energy and Mineral and Petroleum Resources. Part of the… Read more »
September 15
South Africa: South African Agriculture Needs to Crack the Chinese Market. How to Boost Exports
South Africa's agricultural sector has more than doubled in value and volume terms since 1994. This success has been linked to international trade. Exports now account for roughly… Read more »
September 14
South Africa: Pravin Gordhan - a Lifetime of Service to South Africa - As an Activist and Then in Building the New Democracy
It is hard to give an account of Pravin Gordhan'spolitical commitment in a few words. Read more »
September 12
West Africa: Hustle Academies - West Africa's Online Scammers Are Training Others in Fraud and Sextortion
As the world becomes increasingly connected, digital fraud has evolved from a local problem into a global one. West Africa, particularly Ghana and Nigeria, is witnessing the rise… Read more »
Africa: African Countries Are Adopting Two Houses of Parliament to Boost Democracy - but That's Not Always What Happens
At independence, most African states had two legislative chambers - a lower and upper chamber - in their parliament. African leaders saw that as a colonial legacy and as… Read more »
September 11
South Africa: South Africa Is Failing Its Youngest Children - Report Flags Critical Gaps in Early Learning, Social Protection and Health Care
Nearly 10 years ago South Africa outlined its commitment to invest in the health and development of young children. Read more »
Africa: Global Media Tell Only Part of Africa's Story - New Report Shows Which Outlets Perform Best and Worst
Media coverage of Africa has always been dominated by narratives of disease, poverty, conflict and political instability. These portrayals, rooted in colonial histories, continue… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's Green Hydrogen Hub - EU Grants Not Nearly Enough to Get Industry Going
South Africa is poised to become a major player in the global energy transition, thanks to its vast renewable energy resources (sun and wind) and its plans for green hydrogen… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerian Farmers Lack Insurance - Payouts Triggered By Weather Data Offer a Solution
Agriculture is hugely important to Nigeria. It makes up about a quarter of the country's economy, and almost half of the population are smallholder farmers. Most farm on less than… Read more »
September 10
Africa: Ghana Is Africa's Largest Gold Producer, but It Has an Illegal Mining Issue - 5 Essential Reads
Ghana is one of the world's gold hotspots. It is Africa's largest producer of gold and it ranks sixth globally. In 2023, 4 million ounces were produced. It is essential to Ghana's… Read more »
September 09
Africa: Rating Agencies and Africa - the Absence of People On the Ground Contributes to Bias Against the Continent - Analyst
Rating agency Fitch recently warned that the rapid spread of the mpox virus in sub-Saharan Africa could add to the fiscal pressures many countries in the region are already… Read more »
September 08
Nigeria: Nigerian Households Use a Range of Energy, From Wood to Solar - Green Energy Planning Must Account for This
Low and middle-income countries generally lack access to renewable energy and rely excessively on traditional fuels like firewood and charcoal. In these countries, 2.6 billion… Read more »
September 06
South Africa: South Africa's Economy Needs a Shot in the Arm, Not Austerity
For the past 11 years the South African government has pursued a policy of austerity. In recent years, government has reduced per capita spending (adjusted for inflation) by… Read more »
September 05
South Africa: Technology Classes At School Can Also Teach Skills for Business and Life - South African Teachers Share Ideas
Starting and running your own business takes hard work and a can-do attitude. Typically, entrepreneurs are the kinds of people who can identify and solve problems innovatively, are… Read more »
September 04
Congo-Kinshasa: DRC Is the World's Largest Producer of Cobalt - How Control By Local Elites Can Shape the Global Battery Industry
The mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is often portrayed as a victim of exploitation by China, the US and Europe in their competition for its minerals, which are… Read more »
September 03
Africa: Mobile Phones Are Not Linked to Brain Cancer, According to a Major Review of 28 Years of Research
A systematic review into the potential health effects from radio wave exposure has shown mobile phones are not linked to brain cancer. The review was commissioned by the World… Read more »
Africa: China's Investments in Africa Aren't Working As Well As They As They Should for Cities - This Needs to Change
Over the past two decades African leaders have become increasingly drawn to Chinese financing and investment. These investments are made rapidly and with reportedly less stringent… Read more »
September 02
Africa: China Reaps Most of the Benefits of Its Relationship With Africa - What's Behind the Imbalance
The ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing takes place under the theme of "Joining hands to advance modernisation and build a high-level China-Africa community with a… Read more »
Africa: African Nations Can Do More to Benefit From Ties With China, the World's Second-Strongest Economy
China's relationship with Africa is vital to Beijing's efforts to expand its influence in the western-dominated world order. China is Africa's most significant trading partner and… Read more »
Africa: China's Interests in Africa Are Being Shaped By the Race for Renewable Energy
China-Africa relations have deepened over the past two decades, characterised by increased economic cooperation, investment and infrastructure development. China is now Africa's… Read more »