Contributed, Author at Future Media News

South Africa’s ageing population comes with new challenges. How best to adapt to them

By Lauren Johnston, University of Sydney Young people – under the age of 15 – currently make up 29% of South Africa’s population. But this will soon change: the aged portion of the population is forecast to rise from 2030, bringing many challenges. Lauren Johnston, an economics and political economy expert, recently published a paper on the subject. We asked her to put the developments into perspective. What is […]

22 January, 2024

Business / Economics

ECB to signal no rush to cut interest rates

European Central Bank policymakers are expected to keep interest rates steady on Thursday and signal they are in no hurry to start slashing borrowing costs despite progress against inflation. The Frankfurt institute is tipped to pause for the third meeting in a row following a historic run of hikes to tame runaway prices, leaving the benchmark deposit rate at four percent. ECB president Christine Lagarde said last week rates had […]

22 January, 2024

Business / Economics

China’s population shrinks again and could more than halve – here’s what that means

By Xiujian Peng, Victoria University China’s population has shrunk for the second year in a row. The National Bureau of Statistics reports just 9.02 million births in 2023 – only half as many as in 2017. Set alongside China’s 11.1 million deaths in 2023, up 500,000 on 2022, it means China’s population shrank 2.08 million in 2023 after falling 850,000 in 2022. That’s a loss of about 3 […]

19 January, 2024

Africa

TB Joshua scandal: the forces that shaped Nigeria’s mega pastor and made him untouchable

By Nimi Wariboko, Boston University School of Theology TB Joshua was a world famous Nigerian televangelist, faith healer and Pentecostal pastor who established The Synagogue Church of All Nations. Three years after his death a BBC investigation alleges Joshua raped, tortured and abused several of his followers over a period of 20 years. There are allegations of child abuse at his Lagos compound and that he faked his miracles. […]

19 January, 2024

Africa

African creativity radiates excellence on the international stage

By Bonface Orucho, via bird story agency The global stage has become a platform where African creatives are increasingly gaining recognition, showcasing their exceptional talents, and receiving accolades that underscore the continent's rich creative value. News of Trevor Noah bagging an Emmy award in the Outstanding Talk Series category is the latest recognition of African creativity being appreciated by global audiences. The South African comedian, who hosted The Daily […]

19 January, 2024

Africa

What is genocide? Six western countries want a broader application of the law – experts unpack why it matters

By Kerstin Bree Carlson, Roskilde University and Line Engbo Gissel, Roskilde University In November 2023, six western states filed a joint application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing for an ample and expansive understanding of genocide. This intervention, as it is legally termed, was made by Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK in relation to the genocide case The Gambia filed against Myanmar in […]

19 January, 2024

Africa

Kenyan coastal gem gets a direct link to Middle East as Dubai ties to Africa

By Seth Onyango, via bird story agency Mombasa is set for a surge in tourism after FlyDubai launched direct flights between Dubai, the commercial hub of the United Arab Emirates, and the coastal city. This new direct route, a first for any UAE airline, is also poised to strengthen economic ties and cultural exchange between the two regions. Flydubai will operate four weekly direct flights to Mombasa from January […]

19 January, 2024

South Africa

Workers take newly merged Heineken-Distell to the CCMA

About 50 workers, mostly forklift drivers, are taking Heineken Beverages to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks By Liezl Human via GroundUp About 50 workers at Heineken Beverages, which recently merged with one of South Africa’s largest alcohol producers, Distell, have lodged a dispute with the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to get the company to employ them on a permanent basis. The workers, mostly […]

19 January, 2024

Business / Economics

Risks posed by the proposed In Situ Leach Mining of Uranium in the Stampriet Artesian Basin, southeastern Namibia.

Open Letter to the Members of Cabinet, Members of Parliament, Standing Committees, Regional Governors, Councilors, Traditional Authorities and the Namibian Public More than 99 percent of Earth's water is deemed unusable by humans and many other living organisms. It seems extraordinary that the water supporting all terrestrial life on our planet is so scarce (Source: National Geographic; North American and Australian groundwater databases). The water that sustains life falls […]

19 January, 2024