insert_link Africa Heavy rains cause devastating floods in Dar es Salaam Floods have damaged houses and roads and killed an unspecified number of people after heavy rains pounded Tanzania's commercial city of Dar es Salaam for two days. According to the BBC, many houses near rivers were seen collapsed and roads and bridges destroyed, making it difficult to navigate through the city. The Tanzania Meteorological Agency has warned of heavy rains for the rest of this month. todayJanuary 22, 2024 53
insert_link Africa Weaver Press is closing – how one small, brave Zimbabwean publisher made a difference By Tinashe Mushakavanhu, University of Oxford With the news that it is to halt operations it’s a fitting time to take stock of Weaver Press in Zimbabwe. The publishing house started small in 1998 and remained small, co-managed by its two full time employees, the husband and wife team of Murray McCartney and Irene Staunton. At the same time as Weaver Press was celebrating its 25th anniversary, McCartney revealed […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 23
insert_link Africa Rwanda pushes Africa towards universal smartphone access By Seth Onyango, via bird story agency Progressive policy reforms and the influx of budget-friendly smartphones are steering Africa towards complete digital connectivity in just over a decade. Rwanda's recently-announced, three-year target is the most ambitious on the continent, although statistics show that other nations are also rapidly closing in on similar milestones. As part of Kigali's innovative funding scheme, citizens can obtain handsets at the subsidised price of […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 30
insert_link Africa Congo’s blackwater Ruki River is a major transporter of forest carbon – new study River Ruki. Photo by Matti Barthel, Author provided Travis Drake, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich; Johan Six, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, and Matti Barthel, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich The Congo Basin of central Africa is well known for its network of rivers that drain a variety of landscapes, from dense tropical forests to more arid and wooded savannas. Among the Congo River’s large tributaries, the […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 15
insert_link Africa Ghana’s masked third candidate tests two party politics Eleven months ahead of Ghana's presidential election, a new political force is emerging to challenge the long-standing two-party status quo. With deft social media messaging, posters of his masked face and an appeal to younger voters, businessman Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, says his New Force movement will become a third political power. Few analysts believe Bediako can truly test the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 58
insert_link Africa Zambia races to curb fast-spreading cholera outbreak As the cholera outbreak in Zambia continues to expand rapidly, efforts are being stepped up to halt the spread of disease and save lives. A vaccination campaign is currently underway targeting 1.5 million people, including children, health workers and people at high risk of infection in the worst affected areas. In partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF and others, World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting the government to […] todayJanuary 20, 2024 5
insert_link 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. […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 21
insert_link 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 […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 19
insert_link 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 […] todayJanuary 19, 2024 15