insert_link Business / Economics Needing to borrow money? Four tips on what’s okay and what’s not By Bomikazi Zeka, University of Canberra It’s a financially challenging time for most households. With interest rates rising, many are spending even more money on debt repayments or taking out loans to help make ends meet. A report released recently in South Africa, compiled by one of the country’s biggest banks, found that 42% of South Africans, across various income levels, cannot manage their debt. This indebtedness has caused […] todayDecember 14, 2023 4
insert_link Environment Get rid of leaf blowers: they pollute and their purpose is dubious The most infuriating feature of my walk up to my office every morning is neither the distance nor the steep hill; it is the daily presence of a leaf blower. Never has a machine been so pointless, wasteful and widely disliked, and yet so widely used. There are many reasons to hate leaf blowers. They are loud and their sole purpose is to over-manicure nature. They disperse debris rather […] todayDecember 14, 2023 4
insert_link Environment Hard-fought COP28 agreement suggests the days of fossil fuels are numbered – but climate catastrophe is not yet averted Shutterstock Matt McDonald, The University of Queensland As negotiators stagger towards their beds in Dubai and another year’s climate talks come to a close, it’s time to take stock. Did COP28 achieve the big breakthrough the world needs on climate change? Probably not. But the final agreement – met with an ovation – includes a first call for nations to transition away from fossil fuels. It’s a step short of […] todayDecember 14, 2023 3
insert_link Africa African countries at COP28: several big wins and a united voice By Bamidele Olajide, University of Lagos African countries entered the recent COP28 negotiations on climate change in high spirits. Before this conference, in September, African government leaders, policymakers, activists and other groups from the continent met at the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The African position and expectations for COP28 were shaped at this summit by the adoption of the Nairobi Declaration. Africa’s main agenda at COP28, hosted […] todayDecember 14, 2023 10
insert_link Africa COP28’s commitment to transforming farming and food systems is an insult to Africans By Florian Kroll, University of the Western Cape Globally, food systems are unsustainable: 80% of the production of food is powered by fossil fuels. The food system is responsible for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. The COP28 climate change conference has issued a declaration on sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. An expert on food systems, Florian Kroll, sets […] todayDecember 13, 2023 15
insert_link Health / Medical Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why By Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cheryl Baxter, Stellenbosch University; Houriiyah Tegally, Stellenbosch University; Monika Moir, Stellenbosch University, and Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal Climate change is our planet’s most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future. Among its numerous adverse effects on human health, there is strong evidence linking climate change to infectious disease outbreaks. A recent analysis revealed that of 375 infectious diseases […] todayDecember 13, 2023 13
insert_link Opinion Pieces Practical financial tips for a joyous Namibian festive season By Mauriza Fredericks, Group Brand Manager, Old Mutual Namibia As the Namibian festive season fills the air, many families eagerly anticipate a time of celebration, togetherness, and cherished memories. However, this joyous period can also bring financial strain due to increased spending on gifts, travel, and entertainment. To avoid the post-holiday financial blues, it is crucial to plan your festive season expenses wisely and ensure a joyous celebration without […] todayDecember 13, 2023 5
insert_link Opinion Pieces Madagascar cave art hints at ancient connections between Africa and Asia By David Burney, University of Hawaii Unique, prehistoric rock art drawings have been discovered in the Andriamamelo Cave in western Madagascar. I was part of a team that discovered and described these ancient treasures. They’re the first truly pictorial art, depicting images of nature with human-like and animal-like figures, to be seen on the island. Until recently, rock art in Madagascar had only yielded a few sites with basic symbols. […] todayDecember 13, 2023 5
insert_link Entertainment 5 tips to overcome grief and loneliness over the holidays In My Grief Is Not Like Yours: Learning to Live After Unimaginable Loss, A Daughter’s Journey (Forefront Books; May 2023; ISBN: 978-1637631560; Hardcover; Click Here for Book Trailer), Theo Boyd writes with honesty and raw emotion about the day that started the contagion of devastating events that would leave her “without hope, without purpose, without direction.” After the terrible shock and pain of losing her Momma, losing her father and losing her marriage, Boyd […] todayDecember 13, 2023 4
