insert_link Africa Ghana wants to restrict imports on 22 products – an economist explains how, why and what else must be done By Adu Owusu Sarkodie, University of Ghana Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has tabled in parliament a proposed ban or restrictions on imports of certain goods, including rice, sugar, poultry, fruit juices and animal intestines (tripe). The proposed legislation empowers the trade minister to issue licences to potential importers of goods. Critics of the policy say it will give too much power to the minister and create room for […] todayDecember 1, 2023 5
insert_link South Africa Sharpeville: new research on 1960 South African massacre shows the number of dead and injured was massively undercounted Nancy L Clark, Louisiana State University and William H. Worger, University of California, Los Angeles On 21 March 1960 at 1.40 in the afternoon, apartheid South Africa’s police opened fire on a peaceful crowd of about 4,000 residents of Sharpeville, who were protesting against carrying identity documents that restricted black people’s movement. The police minimised the number of victims by at least one third, and justified the shooting by claiming […] todayDecember 1, 2023 9
insert_link Entertainment Opera in Cape Town: critics trace how a colonial art form was reinvented as African By Wayne Muller, Stellenbosch University via The Conversation Many people thought that classical opera in South Africa – regarded as a western, colonial art form that was the preserve of white people during apartheid – would die with democracy in 1994. Instead the opposite happened. Black singers emerged as the new stars and the format of opera began to be Africanised for new audiences. Critics mapped this transformation as Cape […] todayDecember 1, 2023 5
insert_link Africa Zambia’s foreign debt tragedy – what needs to happen to resolve the crisis By Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria Three years after defaulting on its foreign debt, Zambia is still trying to reach agreement with all its creditors on how to manage this situation. This has left the southern African country in a state of development finance limbo. It is handicapped in raising the funds needed to generate jobs, build infrastructure, provide health, education and social services and deal with climate change. Its president, […] todayDecember 1, 2023 7
insert_link Opinion Pieces Henry Kissinger was a global – and deeply flawed – foreign policy heavyweight Amelia Hadfield, University of Surrey Declarations of the end of an era are made only in exceptional circumstances. Henry Kissinger’s death is one of them. Kissinger was born into a Jewish family in Germany, and fled to the US in 1938 after the Nazis seized power. He rose to one of the highest offices in the US government, and became the first person to serve as both secretary of state […] todayDecember 1, 2023 7
insert_link Science & Technology Do we live in a giant void? It could solve the puzzle of the universe’s expansion Pablo Carlos Budassi/wikipedia, CC BY-SA Indranil Banik, University of St Andrews One of the biggest mysteries in cosmology is the rate at which the universe is expanding. This can be predicted using the standard model of cosmology, also known as Lambda-cold dark matter (ΛCDM). This model is based on detailed observations of the light left over from the Big Bang – the so-called cosmic microwave background (CMB). The universe’s expansion […] todayDecember 1, 2023 10
insert_link Africa Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost. By Velma Pamela via bird story agency The first thing that the new arrivals at Kairat Medical Centre receive is breakfast. “We start by giving them Uji because most of them have travelled a long distance and haven't had breakfast, so they need the energy,” explained Amina Omar, project manager at a groundbreaking medical scheme hosted by the medical centre. The other thing the new arrivals tend to notice is […] todayDecember 1, 2023 6181
Uncategorized Iiyambula re-elected as Okahao mayor Cornelia Iiyambula was on Thursday re-elected as Okahao mayor and pledged to maintain effective service delivery for the town’s residents. Iiyambula, supported by fellow Swapo Councillor Julia Katoole as her deputy, leads a team including Johannes Kaushi Uushini, Aina Kagasheka Amalovu, and Andreas Embula Nekwaya, all Swapo Councillors, who were re-elected as members of the management committee. Uushini retains his position as the committee’s chairperson. Magdalena Ileimo Iitula and Petrus […] todayDecember 1, 2023 1
insert_link Africa MTN and Yango forge transformative partnership to empower partner drivers in Côte d’Ivoire Yango partner drivers to benefit from unlimited data packages Yango has joined forces with MTN to improve the working conditions of its partner drivers. The international ride-hailing company has teamed up with MTN, a leading telecommunications company, to offer drivers free data packages for the Yango Pro app. This collaboration represents a monumental stride in the shared vision of both organizations to innovate and elevate service offerings; underscoring MTN’s belief […] todayDecember 1, 2023 20