Contributed, Author at Future Media News

Finland is the happiest country in the world – but our research suggests the rankings are wealth and status-oriented

Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock By August Nilsson, Lund University Finland steadily ranks as the happiest country in the world. In March 2024 the country was, for the seventh year in a row, ranked as the happiness champion. The ranking is based on one simple question, using a ladder metaphor, that is asked to people across nearly every country in the world. But my team’s new experimental study suggests […]

2 April, 2024

Africa

Locals slam Zimbabwe for turning a blind eye to Chinese miner’s violations

By Tatenda Chitadu At the end of November last year, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Sinomine Resource Group chair Wang Pingwei walked into a lithium processing plant, construction hats firmly on. With a crowd of policymakers, company workers and press looking on, they hailed the mining group’s $300 million investment into processing plants. The facilities will process the ore that the company unearths at its Bikita mine and […]

2 April, 2024

Lifestyle

Holi: what the clouds of colour in the Hindu festival mean

Dibakar Roy|Unsplash Rina Arya, University of Hull Holi is one of the most vibrant and fun festivals in the Hindu calendar. It’s practised across India (though mainly in the north), Nepal and throughout south Asian diasporic communities. The date of Holi varies in accordance with the lunar calendar but the festival often takes place in February or March. In 2024, it’s celebrated on March 25. People gather together to throw […]

2 April, 2024

Africa

Somalia plugs 5G into its economic rebound

By Seth Onyango, bird story agency Somalia has received its first 5G installation, cranking up a series of reforms to revamp its economy after joining the East Africa Community (EAC). Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc., its largest telco, rolled out faster internet speeds last month, signalling budding growth in the country's digital services industry. "As Somalia strides towards stability, the launch of 5G services by Hormuud Telecom emerges as […]

2 April, 2024

Africa

Africa begins licensing crypto as verified transactions hit US $117 billion

By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency Regulators in Africa are taking steps to bring crypto entities under official oversight as treasuries seek to blunt fiscal risks amid a surge in demand for digital assets. Authorities in South Africa and Nigeria, the continent's most 'crypto-ready' countries, are leading the continent's efforts to place crypto dealers under a licensing regime to protect consumers against money laundering and terrorism-related risks. […]

2 April, 2024

World

Fasting is a key part of Ramadan, but for many Muslims, climate change is making food scarce all year

By Nasya Bahfen, La Trobe University Every Ramadan, volunteers at Westall Mosque and OneSpace in Melbourne hold free weekly iftars (communal dinners to break the fast in Ramadan). This year, volunteers say numbers are up. To cut down on the resulting landfill, attendees are asked to bring their own reusable food containers and water bottles. In dedicated bins, bottles and cans are collected and recycled under the […]

2 April, 2024

Environment

Protected products: what makes lamb from South Africa’s Karoo and France’s Mont Saint-Michel so special

By Johann Kirsten, Stellenbosch University A meal or food shopping experience can be more interesting and enjoyable when you know more about a particular product, like what region it came from and the culture that shaped it. Knowing what makes the food “unique” can improve the tasting experience. Think about drinking an ice-cold glass of “real” Champagne from France or the satisfaction of serving your dinner guests […]

2 April, 2024

Africa

Digital trade protocol for Africa: why it matters, what’s in it and what’s still missing

By Franziska Sucker, University of the Witwatersrand In February 2024, African heads of states adopted a draft protocol to regulate digital trade within the continent. This significant yet challenging course for Africa’s digital economy fits into the broader trade agreement, designed to create a single continental market for free movement of goods, services, capital and people. Franziska Sucker explains the protocol, why it matters and what still […]

2 April, 2024

World

Malta Urges the ICC to Hurry Up Its War Crimes Probes in Palestine

Ambassador Vanessa Frazier of Malta detailed to the press her country’s plans presiding over the Security Council in April 2024. Frazier is one of five women envoys in the Council, and she successfully led a resolution calling for a pause in fighting in Gaza in November by focusing on the plight of children. “Children are affected more in Gaza, and as women, it affects us too,” she said in […]

2 April, 2024