insert_link Africa Rising megacities: A superhighway for Africa’s shared mobility market By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency As Africa's urban centres continue to grow and with an increasing number of cities now expected to surpass 10 million residents, the shared mobility sector is expanding fast too, raising prospects of more income for cab-hailing companies and drivers. Global management firm, Oliver Wyman, has revealed in a new report that ride-hailing, scooter or e-bike rentals, and car-sharing, which together make up […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link World Outside spending on 2024 elections tops $318 million Former President Donald Trump at a watch party during the 2024 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo by Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) By Anna Massoglia and Jimmy Cloutier via OpenSecrets Outside spending on 2024 federal races is outpacing all previous election cycles, according to an OpenSecrets analysis of campaign finance reports. Super PACs and other outside groups that can raise and spend unlimited […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Science & Technology South African researchers are tracing the vibrational language of elephants – using fossils By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Researchers in South Africa have unearthed groundbreaking evidence that sheds light on the ancient communication methods of elephants. A research team led by Charles Helm of the African Centre for Coastal Palaescience at Nelson Mandela University in South Africa published the report on ScienceDirect, a scientific research journal, in September 2023. The team discovered 35 fossilized elephant track sites, some of which are the […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Uncategorized New bill to try to enforce clean drinking water A boy on his way home with a drum filled with water from a private borehole. Behind him are empty reservoirs meant to supply homes in Mazista, Kgetlengrivier Municipality. Archive photo: Steve Kretzmann By By Steve Kretzmann via GroundUp Almost two-thirds of water-supplying municipalities (94 of 144) were failing to provide clean drinking water to residents in 2022. In 61 municipalities water treatment and supply was in “a critical state” according to the […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces At Davos Forum, Secretary-General Warns of Global Norms Collapsing, Highlights Need to Rebuild Trust, Reform Governance UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland: Thank you very much for your warm welcome. It’s good to be back — to be back and to see Davos highlighting the global crisis in trust. I believe this crisis is the direct result of a paradox facing our world. In the face of the serious, even existential threats posed by runaway climate chaos, and the […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Namibia Alcohol abuse and unemployment major contributors to malnutrition: Nganate Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate has cited alcohol abuse and unemployment as some of the major contributors to the spike in malnutrition in the region. Nganate during a press conference here on Wednesday said cases of malnutrition have increased. He said some of the factors contributing to malnutrition amongst children are parents who exchange food provided to them for alcohol, as well as child negligence by younger parents who leave […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Africa Should Kenya abolish all school exams? Expert sets out five reasons why they’re still useful By Beatrice M’mboga Akala, University of the Witwatersrand The role of examinations in Kenyan schools is under scrutiny. This is because there is a lot that is wrong with the country’s examinations, a situation that threatens to derail education gains made over the decades. For instance, for two consecutive years – last year and the year before – the periods during the country’s national examination period were marred by […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link Sport Meet the trailblazing women who are officiating at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations By Joel Omotto via bird story agency With the introduction of the first African woman referee at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2021 and three more women referees at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the expansion of women into football decision-making continues in the Ivory Coast where a total of six women are officiating at the 2023 AFCON tournament. The six are among 68 match officials appointed for […] today18 January, 2024
insert_link World UN Begs for Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine as War Hits Two-Year Mark A Ukrainian rescuing a cat amid fatal missile attacks by Russia, Jan. 2, 2024. The United Nations launched a humanitarian appeal of $4.2 billion for Ukrainians inside and outside the country for the year. “But we beg today,” said Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian relief chief, “please don’t walk away from Ukraine.” DEFENSE OF UKRAINE/LIBEROV By Michelle Langrand via PassBlue The United Nations launched an appeal on Jan. 15 for […] today18 January, 2024
