World Enemy collaboration in occupied Ukraine evokes painful memories in Europe – and the response risks a rush to vigilante justice A suspected Russian collaborator arrested in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo/Felipe Dana By Ronald Niezen, University of San Diego Collaboration with the enemy is a common and often painful part of armed conflict. It is also an issue in which I have both a professional and personal interest. The war in Ukraine is, in many ways, a transparent conflict, with cellphone images, drone cameras and satellite imagery feeding a flow […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 3
insert_link Health / Medical The royals have historically been tight-lipped about their health – but that never stopped the gossip By Lisa J. Hackett, University of New England; Huw Nolan, University of New England, and Jo Coghlan, University of New England King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. This is an unexpected announcement: it is unusual for the royal family to release details of medical conditions to the public. “Don’t let the daylight in” was how British essayist Walter Bagehot advised the British monarchy to deal […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 13
insert_link Health / Medical What happens if King Charles can no longer perform his duties? By Anne Twomey, University of Sydney King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis will turn minds to the question of what happens if he becomes unable to fulfil his constitutional duties. Buckingham Palace has announced he will continue performing his official paperwork and his weekly meetings with the prime minister throughout his treatment. But what happens if he becomes seriously ill? There are three options: counsellors of state, regency and […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 20
insert_link Environment ‘A deeply troubling discovery’: Earth may have already passed the crucial 1.5°C warming limit By Malcolm McCulloch, The University of Western Australia Global temperatures have already exceeded 1.5°C warming and may pass 2°C later this decade, according to a world-first study I led. The worrying findings, based on temperature records contained in sea sponge skeletons, suggest global climate change has progressed much further than previously thought. Human-caused greenhouse gas emissions drive global warming. Obtaining accurate information about the extent of the warming […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 20
insert_link Science & Technology South Africa’s internet space is getting hotter By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency A surge in internet connectivity and speeds will amplify opportunities within South Africa's already flourishing digital economy, executives in the sector believe. Africa-focused news platform Innovation Village reported the 2Africa subsea cable project is expected to be operational in the Rainbow Nation in 2024. “We expect 2Africa West and 2Africa East to be live by the end of the year,” David […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 22
insert_link Africa Somalia’s rekindled aviation industry By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency The recent opening of Somalia’s first plane maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility is the latest indicator of the country’s efforts to revive a civil aviation industry that collapsed more than 30 years ago. Christened the Blue Hangar, the facility in Mogadishu is a key step towards an independent industry, according to local officials, as it offers local flight maintenance capabilities. […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 28
insert_link Health / Medical Thirty years of rural health research: South Africa’s Agincourt studies offer unique insights By Stephen Tollman, University of the Witwatersrand and Kathleen Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand In 1992 a group of academics from the University of the Witwatersrand introduced a health and socio-demographic surveillance system in remote, rural South Africa to track and understand health and wellbeing in these environments. This initiative built on pioneering work by a Wits team to establish a health systems development unit in a […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 25
insert_link Africa Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger want to leave Ecowas. A political scientist explains the fallout By Olayinka Ajala, Leeds Beckett University Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have sent Ecowas, west Africa’s main political union of 15 countries, a formal notice of their withdrawal from the bloc. The three countries are governed by military rulers who have overthrown democratically elected leaders since 2021. The Conversation Africa’s Godfred Akoto Boafo asked political scientist Olayinka Ajala about the implications of the withdrawal. Why are Mali, Benin […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 3
insert_link Africa Livelihoods at stake as Lake Victoria’s papyrus swamps come under pressure Sarah Oginga harvesting papyrus reeds. Image by Patrick B. Newcombe. By Patrick Newcombe via Mongabay As the sun rises over the wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria, papyrus harvesters set out into the swamps to harvest stalks of papyrus. At the docks, fishermen returning from a night’s work haul their boats onto the shore. The deep, ringing song of the papyrus gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) and the hooting of the […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 7
