insert_link Namibia Hage Geingob: Namibian president who played a modernising role By Henning Melber, University of Pretoria Hage Gottfried Geingob served as the third president of Namibia from 2015 until his death on February 4 2024. He was Namibia’s first prime minister from 1990 to 2002, and served as prime minister again from 2012 to 2015. Geingob was born on 3 August 1941. He joined the ranks of the national liberation movement South West African People’s Organisation (Swapo during its […] todayFebruary 5, 2024 8
insert_link Opinion Pieces Are social media apps ‘dangerous products’? 2 scholars explain how the companies rely on young users but fail to protect them The CEOs of Discord, Snap, TikTok, X and Meta prepare to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 31, 2024. Alex Wong/Getty Images Joan Donovan, Boston University and Sara Parker, McGill University “You have blood on your hands.” “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.” These quotes, the first from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the second from Zuckerberg to families […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 23
insert_link World Ukraine war: corruption scandals and high-level rifts could become an existential threat as Kyiv asks for more military aid By Stefan Wolff, University of Birmingham and Tetyana Malyarenko, National University Odesa Law Academy The latest revelations about corruption in Ukraine tell a complex story. A scandal has engulfed the Ukrainian ministry of defence, where 100,000 mortar shells worth about $40m (£31m) were paid for but never delivered. But within days of this story emerging, Ukraine achieved its best-ever ranking in the annual corruption perceptions index complied […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 20
insert_link 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 […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 15
insert_link 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 […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 19
insert_link 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 […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 9
insert_link Health / Medical Surge in Syphilis Cases Leads Some Providers to Ration Penicillin Vials of injectable penicillin in cold storage at the Metro Public Health Department in Nashville, Tennessee. Injectable penicillin is the go-to treatment for syphilis and the only treatment considered safe for pregnant people with the disease. In mid-2023, the health department began rationing the injectable to just pregnant women because of a nationwide antibiotic shortage. Patients who test positive for syphilis and are not pregnant are given an oral antibiotic […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 9
insert_link Local Bank of Namibia warns against fraudulent investment scams. The Bank of Namibia (the Bank) has noted with concern an escalation in the number of fraudulent investment scam activities, targeting and using references to the Government, its Ministries, Offices, and Agencies. The Bank has identified fraudulent investment scam activities, offering unsolicited financial assistance to fund Namibia’s developmental initiatives, with perpetrators applying particular focus on senior public figures, high-ranking government officials, politicians, and civil servants, to promote the fraudulent […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 20
insert_link Health / Medical How dieting, weight suppression and even misuse of drugs like Ozempic can contribute to eating disorders Although semaglutide drugs like Ozempic are indicated to treat Type 2 diabetes, they are increasingly prescribed off-label because of their observed effectiveness at inducing weight loss. (Shutterstock) Samantha Withnell, Western University and Lindsay Bodell, Western University Up to 72 per cent of women and 61 per cent of men are dissatisfied with their weight or body image, according to a U.S. study. Globally, millions of people attempt to lose weight […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 35
