Africa: Strokes Are On the Rise in Africa - Why the Continent Needs Its Own Care Guidelines

A stroke is a medical emergency that happens when something prevents the brain from getting enough blood flow. Stroke is now one of the leading causes of death and disability in… Read more »

Africa: Smartphones, Women's Rights and Coupons - New Trends That Can Boost Insurance for African Farmers

Storms, drought, floods and heatwaves are a disaster for small scale farmers in Africa, who can't all afford insurance. Yet new, technologically advanced and cheaper types of… Read more »

Africa: Africa's Drone Wars Are Growing - but They Rarely Deliver Victory

In the last decade, armed drones have become one of the most visible symbols of modern warfare. Once the preserve of advanced militaries, armed drones are now widely available on… Read more »

Africa: What Will It Take to Make Africa Food Secure? G20 Group Points to Trade, Resilient Supply Chains and Sustainable Farming

The Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems work stream of the Business 20, a G20 engagement group, has endorsed three principles that it argues will contribute to the building… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Harare's Street Traders Create Their Own System to Survive in the City

The informal sector has become a dominant source of livelihoods for urban residents in African cities. Within this sector, street trading is one of the most visible and vital… Read more »

South Africa: South Africa's Flagship Telescope At 20 - an Eye On the Sky and On the Community

The Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) celebrates 20 years of observing the sky. SALT is the largest optical telescope in the southern hemisphere. It's been steadily revealing… Read more »

Africa: Culture As a Sustainable Development Goal? It's Starting to Become a Reality

Eight global millennium development goals were established in 2000 by member states of the United Nations (UN) and endorsed by other multilateral organisations. They ranged from… Read more »

Africa: Climate Tipping Points Are Close - Scientists Urge Radical Action Before It's Too Late

New research has found that the world has reached the first of many Earth system tipping points. These will cause catastrophic harm unless humanity takes urgent action. Read more »

South Africa: When Polluters Don't Pay - Still No Cleanup At South African Oil Refinery That's Caused Millions in Damage but Was Sold for 6 Cents

When BP and Shell sold the South African Petroleum Refinery (Sapref) in 2024 to the Central Energy Fund, a government entity, for R1 (or six US cents), environmental advocates… Read more »

Africa: Land Is Africa's Best Hope for Climate Adaptation - It Must Be the Focus At COP30

Agriculture, forestry and other land uses together account for about 62% of Africa's greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, land degradation, deforestation and biodiversity… Read more »

Nigeria: Nigeria's Violent Conflicts Are About More Than Just Religion - Despite What Trump Says

The US president, Donald Trump, is threatening military action in Nigeria over what he sees as the persecution of Christians there. He has accused the Nigerian government of not… Read more »

Africa: African Poetry Is Celebrated in a Groundbreaking Publishing Project

For 10 years, Ghanaian poet Kwame Dawes and his friend the Nigerian writer Chris Abani have sifted through piles of manuscripts looking for Africa's new poetic talent. Since 2014,… Read more »

Nigeria: The Comedy Economy - Nigeria's Online Video Skits Are Making Millions

Short comedy videos circulating on social media have created a booming industry in Nigeria in the past few years. The country's comedy creators put their skits out on platforms… Read more »

Africa: The Secret Life of Baobabs - How Bats and Moths Keep Africa's Giant Trees Alive

Baobabs are sometimes called "upside-down trees", because their branches look like roots reaching skywards. Of the eight species of baobab in the world, six are confined to… Read more »

South Africa: Access to Water Has a Long Racial History in Durban - I Followed the Story in the City's Archives

The water infrastructure politics of eThekwini, the municipality that includes the city of Durban, have been splashed across the digital pages of South Africa's news outlets in… Read more »

Nigeria: Is There a Christian Genocide in Nigeria? Evidence Shows All Faiths Are Under Attack By Terrorists

Terrorism and insurgency have ravaged parts of Nigeria since 2009, especially in the northern regions. Tens of thousands of Nigerians have been killed and millions have been… Read more »

South Africa: Sex for Money - South African Study Reveals the Harm That 'Blessers' Can Do to Young Women

A "blesser" is typically an older, relatively wealthier man who provides a younger woman with money, gifts, school fees or lifestyle access in exchange for a relationship that… Read more »

South Africa: Can South Africa's Social Grants Help People Make a Better Life? Research Offers Hope

There is now a growing global consensus that additional measures are needed to support the agency of social protection beneficiaries. Such support will strengthen their… Read more »

Africa: Children and Young People At Climate Talks - Seen, Photographed, but Not Allowed to Decide Anything

Children and young adults are very much involved in campaigning against the climate change that older generations have caused. The global youth climate justice movement uses… Read more »

South Africa: Social Work Is a Serious Profession - Why Not Youth Work? What South Africa Needs to Get Right

About 3.5 million South Africans aged 15-24 are disengaged from the formal economy and education system. In the first quarter of 2025, 37.1% of young people were not in employment,… Read more »

South Africa: Social Media Can Cause Stress in Real Life - Our 'Digital Thermometer' Helps Track It

Social media has reached more than half (63.9%) of the world's population since it got started in 1996. Social network platforms grew from 970 million users in 2010 to 5.41 billion… Read more »

South Africa: AI in the Courtroom - the Dangers of Using ChatGTP in Legal Practice in South Africa

A South African court case made headlines for all the wrong reasons in January 2025. The legal team in Mavundla v MEC: Department of Co-Operative Government and Traditional Affairs… Read more »

Africa: African Countries Need Strong Development Banks - How They Can Push Back Against Narrative to Weaken Them

A quiet but consequential contest is playing out in the global financial architecture. One that could determine Africa's ability to finance its own development. Read more »

South Africa: Boys, Bullying and Belonging - Understanding Violent Initiation At a South African School

Violence among learners in South African schools is a pressing concern. The minister of basic education told parliament in 2025 that hundreds of bullying cases had been reported in… Read more »

Africa: What Is Françafrique? the Taboo Word That Reveals the Shifting Influence of France in Africa

The term "Françafrique" describes the political, economic and military networks built to preserve French influence in Africa. It refers to a past era but many believe that… Read more »