June 15, 2023
South Africa: Measles and Whooping Cough Outbreaks in South Africa - a Sign of Low Vaccination Coverage, Experts Warn
The concentrated global effort to use vaccination as a public health intervention began in 1974. Since then, vaccination has changed our lives. Worldwide, in the decades 2000-2020,… Read more »
Kenya: Mama Ngina Kenyatta At 90 - the Quiet Power Behind Kenya's Famous Political Family
Few witnessed the building of the young Kenyan state from within as did Ngina Kenyatta, the widow of Kenya's first president, Jomo Kenyatta. Mama Ngina, as she is known, will mark… Read more »
South Africa: South Africa Is Famous for Its Biodiversity - a New Network Will Store and Manage Its Plant and Animal Samples
South Africa has created a network of facilities to store hundreds of thousands of samples of biological material from plants, animals, bacteria and fungi. The samples are… Read more »
June 14, 2023
South Africa: Water Quality in South Africa - Reports Show What Needs to Be Fixed, and At What Cost
The citizens of Hammanskraal, a small town north of South Africa's capital, Tshwane, have been dealing with the deaths of 23 residents from cholera since 23 May 2023. Tests to find… Read more »
Africa: Why Does My Back Get So Sore When I'm Sick? the Connection Between Immunity and Pain
Have you ever wondered why your back aches when you're down with the flu or a cold? Or COVID? Read more »
Africa: What If China Really Did Develop Covid As a Bioweapon? Here Are the Issues Involved
China is facing renewed allegations that the COVID-19 outbreak was caused by a leak from one of their laboratories - and that this research is connected to biowarfare. Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria's Response to the Sudan Crisis Is Lacking - It Could Play a Leading Role in Bringing Peace
Hostilities between rival military parties in Sudan had claimed more than 600 lives by May 2023. Read more »
June 13, 2023
Senegal: Senegal's Internet Shutdowns Are Another Sign of a Democracy in Peril
Senegal's government began blocking several digital platforms - including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram and YouTube - in certain areas on 1 June. Days later, it extended… Read more »
Africa: Experts Explain Why It's Still Africa's Best Option for Cleaner, Greener Cooking (For Now)
Africa's growing population desperately needs clean, modern energy in the home. Currently, more than 900 million people, 85% of the region's population, still rely on solid biomass… Read more »
South Africa: Shaka Zulu Is Back in Pop Culture - How the Famous King Has Been Portrayed Over the Decades
Shaka Zulu is one of the most famous figures in South African history, even though not much is actually known about him. The subject of a hit 1980s TV show and of many books, Shaka… Read more »
South Africa: South African Activist Frank Anthony Wrote a Novel That Has Been Forgotten - Why It Shouldn't Have Been
How does it come about that a man who dedicated the greater part of his life to a vision of a just South Africa, and sacrificed his family and personal relationships to do so,… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's Budget Doesn't Allocate Funds for New Education Initiatives - This Will Stall Innovation in the Country
President William Ruto's first budget for Kenya sets no education priorities. The Finance Bill 2023 doesn't make it clear what Kenya is trying to achieve - stronger foundational… Read more »
June 12, 2023
Africa: Long Covid - Effects On Fatigue and Quality of Life Can Be Comparable to Some Cancers - New Research
As of March 2023, the Office for National Statistics estimated that 1.7 million people in the UK were living with self-reported long COVID. This refers to symptoms, including… Read more »
Kenya: Kenya's First Budget Under Ruto - Three Experts Review Its Key Points
President William Ruto's first budget comes to the national assembly on 15 June against the backdrop of massive public debt and public disquiet over high inflation. The KSh3.663… Read more »
Rwanda: Rwanda Genocide Accused Félicien Kabuga Is Ruled Unfit to Stand Trial - This Will Further Erode Trust in International Justice
The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals recently concluded a two-year court hearing on Félicien Kabuga. Kabuga is accused of crimes against humanity… Read more »
South Africa: HIV Care for Migrant Women in South Africa - the Gaps and 5 Steps Towards Offering Better Services
Around 8.45 million people in South Africa live with HIV - an estimated 13.9% of the population. Of South African women aged 15-49, approximately 24% are HIV positive. Read more »
Africa: Betelgeuse - Star Is Continuing to Behave Mysteriously - Here's What Would Happen If It Exploded
The bright, red star Betelgeuse in the constellation Orion has shown some unexpected behaviour. In late 2019 and 2020 it became fainter than we had ever seen it - at least in… Read more »
South Africa: Social Entrepreneurs Have Different Reasons for Creating Their Ventures - Policymakers Should Take These Into Account
Social entrepreneurs embrace social as well as economic value. They create ventures that aim to meet social needs. They are not only risk-takers and proactive innovators but have a… Read more »
June 11, 2023
Zimbabwe: Animal Farm Has Been Translated Into Shona - Why a Group of Zimbabwean Writers Undertook the Task
Since independence in 1980, Zimbabwe has in some ways become like Animal Farm. Like the pigs in the classic 1945 novel by English writer George Orwell, the country's… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigeria Needs to Take Climate Action - 4 Urgent Steps to Start With
Climate change is not just a buzzword or a topic for political debates. It is a real and pressing issue that affects every aspect of our lives. The effects of climate change are… Read more »
June 09, 2023
Egypt: Never Mind Cleopatra - What About the Forgotten Queens of Ancient Nubia?
Jada Pinkett Smith's new Netflix documentary series on Cleopatra aims to spotlight powerful African queens. "We don't often get to see or hear stories about Black queens, and that… Read more »
Africa: UK Ivory Trade Ban Extended to Five More Species - Here's Why We Think It Will Be Ineffective
The loss of nature is one of the many environmental crises facing our planet. And a key challenge in addressing this is halting the poaching and trafficking of wildlife, which is… Read more »
South Africa: Drinking Water Quality Has Dropped Because of Defective Infrastructure and Neglect - New Report
A report released by the South African government paints a grim picture of the country's water resources and water infrastructure as well as the overall quality of its drinking… Read more »
Kenya: New Spy Chief Will Lead the National Intelligence Service - What the Job Is All About
Kenya's President William Ruto recently nominated a new national intelligence chief. Breaking with tradition, the president picked a career intelligence officer, Noordin Haji. Read more »
South Africa: Should I Get the Flu Vaccine? South African Experts Say Yes - Here's Why
The winter months are synonymous with the flu in South Africa. Similar to other countries in the southern hemisphere, South Africa has an annual influenza season stretching from… Read more »