insert_link Africa Tanzania’s election laws make it hard to build political opposition – what needs to change By Aikande Clement Kwayu, Tumaini University Makumira Tanzanians go to the polls this year in local elections to vote for street and village chairpersons. This will be followed by a general election next year for councillors, members of parliament and the president. Both sets of elections are being watched closely. They’re the first to be held following a raft of changes over the past eight […] today15 July, 2024
insert_link Africa How old are South African fossils like the Taung Child? New study offers an answer By Francis Thackeray, University of the Witwatersrand One hundred years ago the discovery of a skull in South Africa’s North West province altered our understanding of human evolution. The juvenile skull was dubbed the Taung Child by Raymond Dart, an anatomist at the University of the Witwatersrand, who first described it. In 1924 Dart could not say exactly how old it was, but he […] today15 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya’s Lawmakers’ Opulent Lifestyles on Social Media Spark Public Outcry Luxury cars, private helicopters, and stacks of cash: the extravagant lives of Kenya's lawmakers showcased on platforms like TikTok and X have intensified discontent among the country's tech-savvy youth, already angered by proposed tax hikes last month as per Reuters. Protests spanning weeks against these tax measures have increasingly highlighted the high salaries, perks, and conspicuous consumption of MPs in a nation where a large majority of the population is […] today15 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Four Rescued And Two Critically Injured As Building Collapses in Nigeria Emergency officials have rescued four people after a section of a building collapsed in Abuja, Nigeria's capital. Two of them are critically injured, and receiving medical attention in hospital. Tesem Akende reports. today15 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Paul Kagame has had an iron grip on Rwanda for decades – 6 essential reads on what keeps him in power By Julius Maina, The Conversation and Kagure Gacheche, The Conversation There is little doubt that Paul Kagame will win the votes necessary to extend his 24-year rule in Rwanda’s general election on 15 July 2024. The ruling party, the Rwanda Patriotic Front, nominated Kagame as its presidential candidate during a congress in March. He got 99.1% of the vote. Kagame faces Frank Habineza, who […] today12 July, 2024
insert_link Africa ‘Kinship tax’ puts the brakes on business – Kenyan study measures the impact of helping family By Munir Squires, University of British Columbia Imagine working hard to build your business, only to find that your success brings about a wave of requests for help that you can’t turn down. This is a reality for many in African communities, where sharing income is a deeply rooted tradition. In fact, 93% of Kenyans I surveyed in a study of entrepreneurs believed that […] today12 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Kenya’s ambitious read-aloud event aims for a world record with 300,000 participant By Seth Onyango, bird story agency More than 300,000 young voices echoed across over 3,000 schools in Kenya, all reading aloud in unison in an historic attempt to break the world record for the most people reading aloud from the same text, simultaneously. From 8:30 am to 9:00 am on Friday (July 12), learners from various regions participated in this ambitious endeavour, aiming to surpass the […] today12 July, 2024
insert_link Africa President Ruto Of Kenya Sacks Cabinet Amidst Nationwide Protests President William Ruto of Kenya has dismissed his entire cabinet, except for the foreign minister, in response to widespread protests against proposed tax increases- Reuters has it. The demonstrations, initially peaceful, escalated into violence resulting in 39 deaths during clashes with police. Protesters, including youth groups, briefly occupied parliament before Ruto withdrew the tax proposals. today12 July, 2024
insert_link Africa Sudanese Factions Convene in Switzerland for UN Talks Amid Attendance Disparity Sudan's opposing factions have convened in Geneva for U.N.-mediated discussions aiming to establish local ceasefires reports Reuters. These talks, prompted by the humanitarian crisis affecting millions amid ongoing conflict since April 2023, seek to enable aid delivery and protect civilians. Previous negotiations in Jeddah collapsed in late 2023 amidst ethnic violence linked to the Rapid Support Forces. today12 July, 2024
