insert_link Environment Microplastics found in Nile River’s tilapia fish: new study A fisherman on the River Nile. Khaled Desouki/AFP via Getty Images Dalia Saad, University of the Witwatersrand The Nile is one of the world’s most famous rivers. It’s also Africa’s most important freshwater system. About 300 million people live in the 11 countries it flows through. Many rely on its waters for agriculture and fishing to make a living. The Nile’s two main tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White […] today7 February, 2024
insert_link Lifestyle Is your pet exposed to secondhand smoke? Here are the (serious) health risks Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images Jacqueline Boyd, Nottingham Trent University Our pets share our homes, lifestyles, and sometimes even our food and beds. For many pets, this close contact with humans can include exposure to secondhand smoke from cigarettes and other air pollutants. This may have serious health consequences for our animal companions. So, how significant a risk is passive smoking for our pets and should we be concerned? Smoking […] today6 February, 2024
insert_link Lifestyle How AI could change our relationship with religion Metamorworks / Shutterstock Sreevas Sahasranamam, University of Glasgow Science and faith are often kept in two distinct boxes that hardly ever intersect. However, I believe that as AI becomes more mainstream, it will fundamentally alter our engagement with faith and spirituality. Let’s start by looking at what is already happening. Most ancient faith-related texts were documented in papyrus and palm leaves, many of which are difficult to access in the […] today6 February, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Stigma kills people with alcohol addiction sirtravelalot/Shutterstock Ashwin Dhanda, University of Plymouth One of my patients, Emma (not her real name), recently told me that she didn’t seek help for her alcohol problem because she was ashamed. She said that she didn’t want to waste anyone’s time on a self-inflicted problem. She lived with it for years, hiding bottles of alcohol so her partner wouldn’t find out. Only when she turned yellow and vomited blood did […] today6 February, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Thirty years of rural health research: South Africa’s Agincourt studies offer unique insights By Stephen Tollman, University of the Witwatersrand and Kathleen Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand In 1992 a group of academics from the University of the Witwatersrand introduced a health and socio-demographic surveillance system in remote, rural South Africa to track and understand health and wellbeing in these environments. This initiative built on pioneering work by a Wits team to establish a health systems development unit in a […] today6 February, 2024
insert_link Business / Economics Budget 2024-25 expectations: empowering youth, essential services, agriculture and tax reform By Josef Kefas Sheehama The Minister of Finance Hon. Iipumbu Shiimi is set to table the 2024-25 budget in February 2024. The upcoming budget is seen not just as an annual financial statement but a critical opportunity for the government to lay out a roadmap for sustained growth and equality. The Budget 2024-25 should focus on protecting and driving the recovery of lives and livelihoods of Namibians, […] today6 February, 2024
insert_link Africa Even many critics of the Rwanda deportation policy are missing the point of why it’s wrong By Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ Ṣóyẹmí, University of Oxford The UK government’s proposals to send asylum seekers arriving to the UK onto Rwanda continue to spark intense opposition. This includes opposition from right-wing Conservative MPs who don’t think the plan goes far enough. Several recently attempted a rebellion against the latest bill, arguing that it failed to conclusively stop refugees from legally challenging their own deportation to Rwanda. The government’s […] today5 February, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces Are social media apps ‘dangerous products’? 2 scholars explain how the companies rely on young users but fail to protect them The CEOs of Discord, Snap, TikTok, X and Meta prepare to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 31, 2024. Alex Wong/Getty Images Joan Donovan, Boston University and Sara Parker, McGill University “You have blood on your hands.” “I’m sorry for everything you have all been through.” These quotes, the first from Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and the second from Zuckerberg to families […] today2 February, 2024
insert_link Entertainment Grammy Awards: Africa finally has its own category – but at what cost? By Eric Charry, Wesleyan University For the first time in its 65-year history the Grammy Awards in the US has introduced an African category, Best African Music Performance, which recognises the song of the year. The Grammys is the most prestigious award in the largest music industry in the world. Its focus has always been US music styles in categories like pop, R&B, rap, country, jazz and classical. […] today2 February, 2024
