insert_link Business / Economics Airbnb agrees 576-mn-euro deal in Italy tax dispute Short-term rental platform Airbnb said Wednesday it has agreed to pay Italy's tax agency 576 million euros ($621 million) following allegations of tax evasion. Italy's financial police seized over 779 million euros from the online accommodation service last month on the order of Milan prosecutors, who accused the site of having failed to collect a rental income tax from landlords in the period from 2017 to 2021. "Airbnb Ireland has […] todayDecember 13, 2023 28
insert_link Business / Economics Scramble in SA crypto market ahead of licensing round By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency South Africa is witnessing an expansion in cryptocurrency offerings as the country gets closer to issuing its first operational licenses to financial service providers. Payment firms and fintech companies are driving the move, with commercial banks expected to follow suit. One of the latest offerings enables users to purchase goods and services using cryptocurrency, while another allows them to withdraw digital currency as cash […] todayDecember 13, 2023 9
insert_link Africa COP28’s commitment to transforming farming and food systems is an insult to Africans By Florian Kroll, University of the Western Cape Globally, food systems are unsustainable: 80% of the production of food is powered by fossil fuels. The food system is responsible for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. The COP28 climate change conference has issued a declaration on sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. An expert on food systems, Florian Kroll, sets […] todayDecember 13, 2023 17
insert_link Namibia Ministry of Home Affairs making inroads with civil registration The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security issued 92 330 birth certificates this year through fixed registration points and mobile registration services, its Deputy Minister Lucia Witbooi said on Wednesday. Speaking at the government information centre in Windhoek, Witbooi reiterated the importance of birth registration, saying it is a human right and establishes a child’s legal identity, which, together with the ascertainment of that child’s citizenship, is […] todayDecember 13, 2023 14
insert_link Health / Medical Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why By Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cheryl Baxter, Stellenbosch University; Houriiyah Tegally, Stellenbosch University; Monika Moir, Stellenbosch University, and Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal Climate change is our planet’s most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future. Among its numerous adverse effects on human health, there is strong evidence linking climate change to infectious disease outbreaks. A recent analysis revealed that of 375 infectious diseases […] todayDecember 13, 2023 14
insert_link Opinion Pieces Practical financial tips for a joyous Namibian festive season By Mauriza Fredericks, Group Brand Manager, Old Mutual Namibia As the Namibian festive season fills the air, many families eagerly anticipate a time of celebration, togetherness, and cherished memories. However, this joyous period can also bring financial strain due to increased spending on gifts, travel, and entertainment. To avoid the post-holiday financial blues, it is crucial to plan your festive season expenses wisely and ensure a joyous celebration without […] todayDecember 13, 2023 7
insert_link Africa Illegal gold mining in the firing line By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency Countries across the continent are moving to quash illegal gold mining, using a variety of methods including formalising the sector, applying more stringent legal processes and even resorting to military intervention, with a Ghanaian court recently sentencing a Chinese national to prison for illegal gold mining, “The court in the capital, Accra, sentenced Aisha Huang to four and a half years imprisonment and a […] todayDecember 13, 2023 20
insert_link Opinion Pieces Madagascar cave art hints at ancient connections between Africa and Asia By David Burney, University of Hawaii Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. I was part of a team that discovered and described these ancient treasures. They’re the first truly pictorial art, depicting images of nature with human-like and animal-like figures, to be seen on the island. Until recently, rock art in Madagascar had only yielded a few sites with basic symbols. […] todayDecember 13, 2023 6
insert_link Namibia Roads Authority extends business hours to Saturdays in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund Natis Offices for the Festive Season In anticipation of the upcoming holiday season, the Roads Authority (RA) has announced the extension of its operating hours to include Saturdays in December at the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay NaTIS Centres. This strategic move is aimed at easing congestion and providing improved accessibility to the RA's services for its customers. Given the heightened demand for NaTIS services, the RA acknowledges the significance of ensuring a smooth and accessible experience […] todayDecember 13, 2023 14