Contributed, Author at Future Media News

Houthi militant attacks in the Red Sea raise fears of Somali piracy resurgence

By Samuel Oyewole, Federal University, Oye Ekiti Renewed attacks on ships by suspected Somali pirates since November 2023 have fuelled fear of a new threat of piracy off the east coast of Africa. The area at risk stretches from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. At least four ships have been hijacked off the Somalia coast since November 2023. Concern has risen […]

1 February, 2024

Africa

African countries are struggling with high debt, demands to spend more and collapsing currencies: the policy fixes that could help

By Jonathan Munemo, Salisbury University Highly indebted African countries are facing stark trade-offs between servicing expensive debt, supporting high and growing development needs, and stabilising domestic currencies. Government debt has risen in at least 40 African countries over the past decade. As a result, some are experiencing a bad combination of high debt, elevated development spending needs amid budget shortfalls, and unfavourable exchange rate pressures. These issues have become […]

1 February, 2024

South Africa

Garbage piling up in Cape Town townships as extortion gangs drive out City contractors

Samora Machel residents say they have been using this part of Oliver Tambo Drive as a dumping site because their rubbish bins has not been collected for months. Photos: Sandiso Phaliso By Sandiso Phaliso via GroundUp On almost every corner in Samora Machel, Philippi East and Browns Farm in Cape Town, rubbish is piling up. There is so much rubbish that some streets, such as Hart Lane and Oliver Tambo […]

1 February, 2024

World

Guyana, Leading the UN Security Council, Is Not Giving Up on a Ceasefire in Gaza

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, permanent representative of Guyana, photographed at the country’s mission to the UN, Jan 22, 2023. “We would very much like to see a ceasefire for the people to receive the necessary humanitarian aid,” she said about Gaza in an interview. “We are not at that point yet, and that is really regrettable.” JOHN PENNEY/PASSBLUE By Damilola Banjo via PassBlue The United Nations Security Council’s continuing failure to agree […]

1 February, 2024

Environment

Tropical forests share similar mix of common and rare tree species, study shows

A flowering tree in the Amazon rainforest canopy. Photo credit: Rhett A. Butler By Liz Kimbrough via Mongabay A new study has for the first time identified the most common tree species in the tropical forests of Africa, the Amazon and Southeast Asia — and their similarities have surprised scientists. “The [study] shows some uncanny similarities among the world’s great tropical rainforests,” said tropical ecologist Bill Laurance, a co-author of […]

1 February, 2024

Environment

Why monkeys attack people – a primate expert explains

Witsawat.S/Shutterstock Tracie McKinney, University of South Wales Wildlife tourism thrives on our fascination with animals and primates are particularly attractive animals to tourists. With their human-like faces, complex family dynamics and acrobatic antics, they are a joy to behold. But recent stories have emerged that portray monkeys in a more sinister light. Reports of “monkey attacks”, “devil monkeys”, or even “face-ripping, bone-biting monkeys” have become common in the media. Have […]

31 January, 2024

Health / Medical

Your skin is a mirror of your health – here’s what yours might be saying

Acanthosis nigricans can cause skin to become thickened and velveteen to the touch. TuktaBaby/ Shutterstock Dan Baumgardt, University of Bristol Skin accounts for around 15% of our body mass. It is the largest and most visible organ in the human body. Yet many of the skin’s functions are often overlooked. It’s a sunscreen, a shield from germs, a reservoir of vitamin D and a means of tightly regulating our body […]

31 January, 2024

Health / Medical

Eating leafy greens could be better for oral health than using mouthwash

Eating nitrate rich vegetables like lettuce and spinach could hold the key to better oral health. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Mia Cousins Burleigh, University of the West of Scotland and Siobhan Paula Moran, University of the West of Scotland Over half the adult population in the UK and US have gum disease. Typical treatments include mouthwash and in severe cases, antibiotics. These treatments have side effects, such as […]

31 January, 2024

Opinion Pieces

Why Trump’s control of the Republican Party is bad for democracy

Republican elites have embraced Trump as their leader. AP Photo/Alex Brandon Erica Frantz, Michigan State University; Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Yale University, and Joseph Wright, Penn State As former President Donald Trump edges closer to clinching the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, our political science research has shown that a second Trump presidency is likely to damage American democracy even more than his first term did. The reason has less to do […]

31 January, 2024