insert_link Africa Ecowas summit: 6 steps the leaders can take to restore stability and growth in west Africa By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University This year’s summit of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) takes place against a challenging environment for the regional bloc. Recent developments in the region have included coups, insecurity and economic instability. Climate change also poses challenges. Six successful and two attempted coups in the region since 2020 were followed by the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina […] todayJuly 8, 2024 17
insert_link Namibia Namibia’s sodomy laws have been overturned – what that means for LGBTIQ+ rights in the country Bennian/Getty Images, CC BY By John Nakuta, University of Namibia The Namibian high court recently invalidated the country’s colonial-era “sodomy law”, which had made consensual sexual acts between men a criminal offence. The court declared that the common law offences of “sodomy” and “unnatural sexual offences” were unconstitutional. This ruling follows a separate decision in 2023 where Namibia’s supreme court ruled to recognise certain same-sex unions […] todayJuly 8, 2024 25
insert_link Africa Kenya’s protests are different this time: 3 things that make it harder for government to crush them By Awino Okech, SOAS, University of London On 25 June 2024, a youth-led protest primarily composed of Gen Zs, as they are popularly referred to, stormed Kenya’s parliament. Legislators voted to pass the Finance Bill 2024 in its third and last reading ahead of presidential assent. This was the second countrywide protest over the proposed taxes in the draft law and excesses in government […] todayJuly 8, 2024 15
insert_link South Africa South Africa’s healthcare system: eight steps that would get it on the right track By Lilian Dudley, Stellenbosch University; Catherine Mathews, South African Medical Research Council; Flavia Senkubuge, University of Pretoria; Guinevere Lourens, Stellenbosch University; Leslie London, University of Cape Town, and Sharon Fonn, University of the Witwatersrand South Africa’s healthcare system suffers from widespread problems in its governance. A number of indicators point to this dysfunction. These include the large number of managers in acting positions, frequent […] todayJuly 8, 2024 27
insert_link World Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi in Manipur today Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi is in the country's northeast today -visiting flood hit areas in Assam and meeting with riot victims in the region of Manipur. Rahul Gandhi, whose coalition bloc stopped Prime Minister Narendra Modi from winning a majority mandate in this summer's election, has criticised the government for failing to restore peace in Manipur. Since May last year, hundreds have been killed in ethnic clashes in that […] todayJuly 8, 2024 13
insert_link Namibia Basic Income Grant Gets Public Verbal Approval From Mbumba President, Nangolo Mbumba has said that the idea that the basic income grant should be given to every Namibian, including those who are employed, will only increase government expenditure; therefore, it should only be given to the needy. Mbumba was speaking during a courtesy visit by the Council of Churches in Namibia committee members on Friday, who called upon the government to seriously consider the income basic grant proposal for […] todayJuly 8, 2024 21
insert_link South Africa Gautrain services could be disrupted today as Metalworkers will embark on a strike over wages In S.A, Gautrain services could be disrupted today as members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa will embark on a strike over wages. The union is demanding a 13-percent wage increase, a 60-percent contribution to medical aid costs by Bombela Operating Company, which operates the service, and a housing allowance of two-thousand-rand per employee per month. Numsa’s spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola, says wage talks have deadlocked: todayJuly 8, 2024 16
insert_link Sport World number two Gauff knocked out of Wimbledon by Navarro World number two and US Open champion Coco Gauff suffered a surprise Wimbledon exit on Sunday, losing in the fourth round to America compatriot Emma Navarro. Navarro, ranked 19th in the world, triumphed 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time where she will face Italy's Jasmine Paolini. Gauff, who made the semi-finals at the Australian Open and French Open this year, […] todayJuly 8, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record By Rob Vos, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Khalid Siddig, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) After 14 months of escalating internal conflict, Sudan is now confronting its most severe food security crisis on record. The latest situation report, released on 27 June, reveals a grim picture: more than half the population of 47.2 million is facing acute food insecurity. This signifies […] todayJuly 8, 2024 27
