March 10, 2023
Africa: Three Years On, The Covid Pandemic May Never End - But The Public Health Impact Is Becoming More Manageable
Three years ago, on March 11 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus first formally described COVID-19 as a pandemic. Read more »
South Africa: Peter Hain - Neil Aggett Died Fighting Apartheid - South Africa's Rulers Have Betrayed the Struggle
Neil Aggett, the trade unionist and anti-apartheid activist who died in detention at the hands of police 41 years ago, was one of very few white South Africans who actively fought… Read more »
March 09, 2023
Africa: Suicide Attempts Rose Among Children and Adolescents During the Covid-19 Pandemic, Especially for Girls
Will the kids be alright? There was hope that children and adolescents would "bounce back" as the pandemic progressed, but sadly, the data suggest otherwise. Read more »
Africa: The World's First Islamic Art Biennale Shines a Light On Muslim African Artists
The inaugural Islamic Arts Biennale is underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Biennales are large and prestigious international art exhibitions held every two years.) This important… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's First Skyscraper Closes - and Leaves a Complicated Legacy
The Hilton Hotel was one of Nairobi's first skyscrapers. The iconic cylindrical tower was opened in 1969 by President Jomo Kenyatta, six years after Kenya's independence from… Read more »
South Africa: Depression, Anxiety and Childhood Trauma- Study Explores Links, Prevalence and Who's Most At Risk
Mental health problems among adults are an ever-increasing public health concern. These include depression, anxiety, and conditions associated with bad childhood experiences such… Read more »
Africa: Jimmy Carter's African Legacy - Peacemaker, Negotiator and Defender of Rights
When historians and pundits praise Jimmy Carter's achievements as the US President and extoll his exemplary post-presidential years they mention the recognition of China, the… Read more »
March 08, 2023
Africa: Why Are There So Few Women in Top Development Posts?
A global reckoning is emerging in the international development sector. Donors and the wider public are recognising the need for aid organisations to practise what they preach on… Read more »
Senegal: Traditional Wrestling in Senegal - Much More Than a Sport, It Keeps Culture Alive
Traditional wrestling plays an important role in much of Senegalese society and is one of the country's national sports. Read more »
Tunisia: Tunisia's President Is Targeting Migrants to Divert Attention From Serious Domestic Problems - a Classic Tactic
Tunisia's president Kais Saied recently called for urgent measures against illegal immigration of sub-Saharan African nationals. He said they were a source of "violence, crime and… Read more »
South Africa: Power Cuts - South Africa's State of Disaster Is Being Contested in Court
South Africa has declared a second national state of disaster in less than three years. Read more »
Africa: Disputes Over Covid's Origins Reveal an Intelligence Community in Disarray. Here Are 4 Fixes We Need Before the Next Pandemic
A recent Wall Street Journal article reported on new, classified intelligence from the US Department of Energy about the origins of COVID. It concluded with "low confidence" that… Read more »
March 07, 2023
Kenya: A New Invasive Mosquito Has Been Found in Kenya - What This Means for Malaria Control
The Kenya Medical Research Institute recently detected an invasive mosquito species in Laisamis and Saku subcounties of Marsabit county in Kenya's northern region. Read more »
Africa: Africa's Shift to Low-Cost Manufacturing Puts Women At Risk
Economists have urged African countries to shift to low-cost manufacturing - the path that led countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan - to industrial… Read more »
Africa: Militant Islamist Violence in Africa Surges - Deaths Up Nearly 50%, Events Up 22% in a Year
Militant Islamist violence in Africa set new records for violent events and fatalities this past year. This continues a relentless decade-long upward trend. To give a sense of the… Read more »
Africa: Long Covid Linked to Air Pollution Exposure in Young Adults - New Study
Although COVID-19 infections are typically less severe in young adults, that doesn't mean they aren't still at risk of complications from COVID-19. For example, around one in 25… Read more »
Africa: The Pandemic Exposed Gender Inequality - Let's Seize the Opportunity to Remedy It
This year, we are commemorating International Women's Day alongside the three-year anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more »
South Africa: Sex, Intimacy and Black Middle-Class Christianity in South Africa - a Difficult History
A new book, Convening Black Intimacy, explores the history of Christianity, gender and precolonial marriage and sex traditions in South Africa in the late 1800s and early 1900s. To… Read more »
March 06, 2023
Africa: Teachers Change Lives - But What Makes a Great Teacher?
Excellent teachers can change our lives. Researchers have shown that good teachers encourage us to think critically, reflect and learn across disciplines. These are all skills that… Read more »
Ghana: Bipolar Disorder Is Poorly Understood in Ghana - Knowing the Facts Can Help Prevent Suffering
Attitudes to mental health conditions are often influenced by matters of awareness and belief systems. Bipolar disorder is one of the conditions that's frequently misunderstood and… Read more »
Africa: Children and Teenagers Can Carry Out Valuable Wildlife Research - Here's How
The environment is in crisis. Young people are calling for environmental action and requesting more education about the environment and the climate emergency. They are also looking… Read more »
Africa: Curious Kids - Who Was the First Celebrity?
Who was the first celebrity? - Grace, aged eight, Belfast, Northern Ireland Read more »
South Africa: The Real Johannesburg - 6 Powerful Photos From a Gritty New Book On the City
Wake Up, This is Joburg is a collaboration between photographer Mark Lewis and urban planner and writer Tanya Zack. Striking images and beautiful texts follow 10 stories the team… Read more »
March 05, 2023
South Africa: LGBTIQ+ Migrants and Asylum Seekers - Major New Study Identifies a Diverse, Wide-Spread Community
Since 1998, South Africa has recognised persecution based on gender and sexuality as legitimate grounds for asylum. This makes it the only African country to formally extend… Read more »
Africa: Who Is Joseph Kony? the Altar Boy Who Became Africa's Most Wanted Man
Eleven years ago, a documentary catapulted the name Joseph Kony onto the global stage. The controversial film Kony 2012 told the story of a Ugandan warlord whose forces are… Read more »