World Food Programme (WFP) calls for urgent, safe access to feed millions in Sudan as fighting rages across the country

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) urgently calls on Sudan’s warring parties to provide immediate guarantees for the safe and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian food assistance to conflict-hit parts of Sudan, especially across conflict lines where hungry displaced civilians are trapped and cut-off from life-saving humanitarian assistance. The situation in Sudan is dire. Despite WFP's efforts to provide food assistance to millions of people across the country since the […]

February 2, 2024 1

South Africa

South Africans are opting to go off-grid: how they’re being helped, and hindered, in their efforts

By Germarié Viljoen, North-West University and Felix Dube, University of Pretoria Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned power utility, struggles to generate and supply a stable flow of electricity to meet demand. In 2023, there were times when households and businesses had no power for up to 11 hours a day. Eskom has warned that load shedding will be worse in 2024. The result is that many South Africans […]

February 2, 2024 16

APO International

Afreximbank, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and White & Case Partner to Co-host Africa Energy Transition Seminar in Cairo, Egypt

As Africa continues to position itself to reap the full benefits of the drive for energy transition, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), IFC, and the legal firm White&Case partnered to host a one-day seminar to discuss “Energy Transition and Infrastructure in Africa”. The seminar attracted about 150 participants drawn from key financial institutions, project sponsors and developers, and consultancy firms across Africa. Afreximbank has been at the forefront in […]

February 2, 2024

Lifestyle

Green NCAP releases first results of 2024: Family Cars go Green

Green NCAP released its first results for 2024, and the year starts with impressive Green Stars in the Large Family and Small Family categories.As with 2023, Chinese and Electric cars loom large in the line-up, delivering high scores in their environmental performance.For this release, Green NCAP made assessments on the electric Hyundai IONIQ 6, BMW i4, BYD DOLPHIN, MG 4, smart #3, and the petrol mild hybrid BMW 2 Series Active Tourer. Those drivers who have had […]

February 2, 2024 23

Africa

1,000 days to go to the first Olympic event in Africa: the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 are coming

As the Senegalese capital prepares to welcome the world’s best youth athletes aiming to create a positive impact for young people throughout the host nation and the African continent, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee (YOGOC) celebrates 1,000 days to go until the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 (YOG). This event holds historical significance as it will be the first Olympic event to be held on African soil. “We cannot wait for […]

February 2, 2024 23

APO International

Zambia steps up cervical cancer screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) testing

Zambia has the third highest burden of cervical cancer in the world, with an incidence rate of 65.5 per 100 000 women and a mortality rate of 43.4 per 100 000 women in 2020. Despite being a preventable and treatable disease, cervical cancer accounts for about 23% of all new cancer cases in the country. The peak age at diagnosis is between 40-49 years. To address this challenge, Zambia has […]

February 2, 2024 7

Health / Medical

Global cancer burden growing, amidst mounting need for services

Ahead of World Cancer Day, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), released the latest estimates of the global burden of cancer. WHO also published survey results from 115 countries, showing a majority of countries do not adequately finance priority cancer and palliative care services, as part of universal health coverage (UHC). The IARC estimates, based on the best sources of data available in […]

February 2, 2024 15

South Africa

Illegal dumping swamps Nelson Mandela Bay

Residents burn rubbish outside the Motherwell NU8 clinic. Photos: Joseph Chirume By Joseph Chirume via GroundUp An ever-increasing number of illegal dump sites that are not getting cleared by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is making life unpleasant for people living in the townships of Gqeberha. It may also be impacting their health. GroundUp visited Motherwell, Kamvelihle, Wells Estate, and Kuyga, and found garbage blowing about the streets and a […]

February 2, 2024 23

Africa

Three new species of frogs found nestled in Madagascar’s pandan trees

Guibemantis rianasoa, a new frog species from Madagascar. Image courtesy of Hugh Gabriel By Liz Kimbrough via MongaBay Scientists have described three new frog species that dwell exclusively in the spiky leaves of pandan trees in Madagascar’s eastern rainforests. Lead researcher Hugh Gabriel, from the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany, described the frogs’ sounds as “soft clicks that sound like rain falling on leaves.” And he would know. Gabriel […]

February 2, 2024 11

Month: February 2024