July 22
Africa: Urban Greening in Africa Will Help to Build Climate Resilience - Planners and Governments Need to Work With Nature
Nature-based solutions are actions that use nature to solve environmental problems. Examples in cities would be setting up a wetland near a group of buildings to absorb floodwater,… Read more »
South Africa: Invasive Wasps Threaten South African Ecosystems - What the Public Can Do to Help Stop the Spread
The sight of a swarm of wasps, or even just a single wasp, strikes fear into many people's hearts. Most wasp species aren't dangerous to humans (unless you're allergic), but their… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Is Trying to Put a Stop to the Abuse of Its Intelligence Agencies - What Still Needs Fixing
South Africa's security laws are open to abuse by rogue intelligence operatives and politicians. These laws are meant to govern the conduct of covert activities by intelligence… Read more »
Africa: Why Does Traditional Masculinity Have Such Longevity, Even Among Younger Boys?
We've all seen men lash out angrily when their masculinity is threatened - not least in Hollywood movies. And the extent of such behaviour has also been uncovered in scientific… Read more »
Africa: TB - Gene Editing Could Add New Power to a 100-Year-Old Vaccine
Tuberculosis dates back more than 9,000 years. It is the most infectious bacterial disease and in 2022 10.6 million people fell ill with it. Of these 23% occurred in Africa. Read more »
July 21
Africa: Who Were the First Africans At the Olympics? the Disturbing Story of Two 1904 Marathon Runners
Who were the first Africans to compete in the modern Olympic Games? The answer to that question reveals the surprising story of a 1904 marathon - and exposes the history of racism… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Chronic Power Shortages - Mini Grids Were Going to Crack the Problem for Rural People, but They Haven't. Here's Why
Electricity is a scarce commodity in Nigeria. With just over 4,000 megawatts supplying nearly 220 million people, the electricity access deficit stands at about 40% nationwide. The… Read more »
July 19
Africa: One Small Update Brought Down Millions of IT Systems Around the World. It's a Timely Warning
This weekend's global IT outage caused by a software update gone wrong highlights the interconnected and often fragile nature of modern IT infrastructure. It demonstrates how a… Read more »
South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa's Speech to Parliament Listed South Africa's Old Problems - but No New Solutions
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's opening of parliament speech successfully captured the spirit of a diverse and cohesive multi-party government ready to get down to work.… Read more »
Africa: What Is Crowdstrike Falcon and What Does It Do? Is My Computer Safe?
A massive IT outage is currently affecting computer systems worldwide. In Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, reports indicate computers at banks, media organisations, hospitals,… Read more »
July 18
Egypt: Is Your Desk Job Killing Your Back? Ancient Egyptian Scribes Had the Same Aches and Pains, Say Researchers
Tens of thousands of years ago, during a period of Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom (around 2649-2130 BC), it was rare for people to be able to read and write. From an… Read more »
Kenya: Economist Maps Out Ruto's Limited Options
Kenya's President William Ruto fired all but one cabinet minister in his second shock decision following deadly protests triggered by tax increases. The first was the withdrawal of… Read more »
Africa: DRC Conflict Risks Spreading - African Leaders Must Push for Solutions Beyond Military Intervention
In response to the deepening crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council established a panel of independent experts in 2023 to examine… Read more »
South Africa: 144 South Africans With Mental Disability Died in the Life Esidimeni Tragedy. Lessons From the Inquest Judgment
A South African high court ruling marks an important milestone in holding public officials to account for their decisions. Read more »
Africa: Long Covid Puzzle Pieces Are Falling Into Place - the Picture Is Unsettling
Since 2020, the condition known as long COVID-19 has become a widespread disability affecting the health and quality of life of millions of people across the globe and costing… Read more »
Africa: The HIV Epidemic 40 Years On - 5 Essential Reads On Breakthroughs, Blind Spots and New Challenges
In June 1981 The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a rare form of pneumonia in young gay men in California. Although they didn't know it at the time, these… Read more »
July 17
Congo-Kinshasa: Military Spending in DRC and South Sudan Rose Fastest in the World - Society Ends Up Paying the Price
Global military expenditure is dominated by the United States and China, with 49% of total spending between them. According to the most recent report by the Stockholm International… Read more »
Senegal: Olympics - Senegal Won Silver in 1988 - Why It's Never Managed to Repeat This Feat
Since Senegal first competed in the Olympic Games in 1964, its success has been marked by a single medal, a feat achieved in 1988 by El Hadji Amadou Dia Bâ at the Seoul… Read more »
Sudan: How Militia Groups Capture States and Ruin Countries - the Case of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces
The rise of Sudan's most notorious paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, shows how armed groups can infiltrate state institutions - often with disastrous results for… Read more »
South Africa: Wildfires in South Africa Are Set to Increase - How Legal Action Can Help the Country Adapt Better to Climate Change
As climate change drives temperature increases and lower precipitation in southern Africa, research has found that there is likely to be an increase in the number of wildfires in… Read more »
Africa: Beating River Blindness - Blackfly Bites Dramatically Reduced After Breeding Sites Are Destroyed With Machetes
Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is a neglected tropical disease that causes severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions and visual impairment. Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Has a Joblessness Crisis - Fixing It Will Take Fresh Thinking to Find a Game-Changer
Everyone agrees that solving the unemployment problem in South Africa is the number one priority for economic policy for the new government, as it has been for all governments… Read more »
July 16
South Africa: South Africa's 400 Parliamentarians Are About to Get Down to Business - 4 Essential Reads
On 29 May 2024 South Africans went to the polls and delivered a strong message to their political leaders: we're tired of the "same old same old". Read more »
Kenya: Kenya Protests Show Citizens Don't Trust Government With Their Tax Money - Can Ruto Make a Meaningful New Deal?
Each year, the Kenyan government tables a finance bill outlining measures for funding the national budget. In the past, these bills have scarcely attracted public attention. This… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa's New Parliament Needs to Do a Better Job of Holding Cabinet to Account - Legal Scholar Weighs the Chances
South Africa has entered new territory with a government of national unity after the May elections. The parties representing more than 70% of the electorate will now be the… Read more »