Antibiotic resistance causes more deaths than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. What Africa is doing to fight this silent epidemic

By Tom Nyirenda, Stellenbosch University Each year antimicrobial resistance – the ability of microbes to survive agents designed to kill them – claims more lives than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. Africa bears the brunt of this development, which thrives on inequality and poverty. Nadine Dreyer asked Tom Nyirenda, a research scientist with over 27 years’ experience in infectious diseases, what health organisations on the continent are doing to fight this […]

November 21, 2023 8

Africa

Geingob and counterparts reassure children of rights and safety

The leaders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe have reiterated their commitment to providing a safer environment for children in their countries. President Hage Geingob, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Minister of Community Development and Social Services Doreen Mwamba and Vice President Kembo Mohadi attended the UNICEF World Children’s Day commemoration in Walvis Bay on Sunday, joining over 500 children and dignitaries from the four countries. The three-day event was held under […]

November 21, 2023 12

Africa

Namibia, Ghana hold B2B networking session

The Namibian Tourism Board (NTB) on Monday held a business-to-business (B2B) networking session with over 21 tourism industry partners from Ghana to position Namibia as a tourism destination and investment opportunity. Speaking at the event in Windhoek, NTB Head of Marketing, Charmaine Matheus, explained that the B2B engagement aims to promote Namibia as a tourism destination and investment opportunity amongst Ghanaians in various sectors of the economy, including tourism. “Linking […]

November 21, 2023 9

Africa

Libyan desert’s yellow glass: how we discovered the origin of these rare and mysterious shards

The pieces of Libyan desert glass that formed the basis of the study. Author provided Elizaveta Kovaleva, University of the Western Cape The Great Sand Sea Desert stretches over an area of 72,000km² linking Egypt and Libya. If you find yourself in a particular part of the desert in south-east Libya and south-western parts of Egypt, you’ll spot pieces of yellow glass scattered across the sandy landscape. It was first […]

November 21, 2023 6

Africa

Urgent reforms needed to address unemployment crisis. BUT is Namibia’s labour force competent enough?

It's undeniably a crisis! Namibia is finding itself at a critical juncture as recent statistics from a survey conducted by the Economic Policy Research Association reveal the negative reality of the country’s job market. An alarming 56% of over 500 local businesses surveyed express difficulty in securing competent and skilled employees, with 30% describing the situation as "extremely difficult." This data highlights the immediate need for Namibians to align their […]

November 21, 2023 23

Africa

Premature babies evacuated from Gaza as hostage negotiations continue

28 premature babies have crossed into Egypt after they were evacuated from a surrounded hospital in Gaza. They were rescued from al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City which is occupied by Israeli forces, with gun battles continuing around the building. It comes as hostage negotiations are ongoing, with the hope that Hamas will release dozens of people taken captive six weeks ago. Sarah Coates reports from Tel Aviv.

November 21, 2023 13

Africa

South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights has raised concerns about the persistent challenge of overcrowding in prisons

The South African Prisoners Organisation for Human Rights has raised concerns about the persistent challenge of overcrowding in prisons. With the current inmate population exceeding 212-thousand, the organisation’s founder, Golden Miles Bhudu, expresses concern over the impact on inmate health and security. Bhudu attributes these issues to ongoing understaffing in prisons, emphasising that the overcrowded conditions are inhumane and violate prisoners’ rights. He says that the situation underscores the urgent […]

November 21, 2023 2

Africa

Concerns grow over unauthorised fuel licensing and pricing

The Ministry of Mines and Energy is concerned about the increasing number of advertisements on social media platforms where individuals and entities are offering wholesale and retail fuel licenses, marketing fuel at unofficially gazetted prices, often from unlicensed locations. Ministry spokesperson Ten Hasheela.

November 20, 2023 48

Africa

UK Prime Minister opens Global Food Security Summit in London

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has opened a Global Food Security Summit in London. The conference, according to the BBC, is a joint initiative between Britain, Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as organisations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Representatives from more than 20 countries are attending. Sunak also announced a new virtual hub to link British scientists with global research into climate-resilient crops.

November 20, 2023 8

Africa