insert_link Opinion Pieces Stakeholder contribution towards pension fund operational efficiency Pension funds are essential for the responsible management and safeguarding of members' retirement savings, providing peace of mind through robust communication and awareness efforts. These savings offer financial security, independence, and stability upon retirement, disability, ill-health, and death, while also serving as a cushion in cases such as retrenchment. For pension funds to operate efficiently, contributions must be managed responsibly within regulatory and legislative frameworks, with a focus […] today17 September, 2024
insert_link Africa Online classrooms where students run the show: we tested how this unconventional model can work Bringing together different ideas and experiences enhances the virtual classroom experience. Andriy Onufriyenko/Getty Images By Matthew Wingfield, Stellenbosch University; Bettina von Lieres, University of Toronto, and Laurence Piper, University of the Western Cape The Zoom meeting window opens, immediately revealing scores of smiling or anxious faces. Some people have quirky backgrounds; some are in the same room as friends and family, who appear occasionally on camera. The South […] today16 September, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical How we discovered that people who are colorblind are less likely to be picky eaters Watching Julia Child in color or black and white could influence how appetizing the food looks to some audience members. AP Photo By Isabel Gauthier, Vanderbilt University The seventh season of Julia Child’s “The French Chef,” the first of the television series to air in color, revealed how color can change the experience of food. While Child had charmed audiences in black and white, seeing “Bouillabaisse à la […] today11 September, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical Is weight loss as simple as calories in, calories out? In the end, it’s your gut microbes and leftovers that make your calories count Two foods may have the same number of calories, but other food factors and your microbes influence which calories your body uses more of. Martin Barraud/OJO Images via Getty Images By Christopher Damman, University of Washington Is the adage “calories in, calories out” true? The short answer is yes, but the full story is more nuanced. From the moment food touches your tongue to the time it leaves […] today11 September, 2024
insert_link Health / Medical What causes food cravings? And what can we do about them? Fascinadora/Shutterstock By Gabrielle Weidemann, Western Sydney University and Justin Mahlberg, Monash University Many of us try to eat more fruits and vegetables and less ultra-processed food. But why is sticking to your goals so hard? High-fat, sugar-rich and salty foods are simply so enjoyable to eat. And it’s not just you – we’ve evolved that way. These foods activate the brain’s reward system because in the past they […] today10 September, 2024
insert_link Namibia China-Africa Summit: Important Impulse Partnership, Security, and Economic Evolution Opinion Piece By Josef Kefas Sheehama, independent reasecher The China-Africa Summit, held from September 4 to 6, 2024, had the subject "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," and was attended by 53 Heads of State and Government. Furthermore, China announced $51 billion in support to Africa over the next three years. This comprises investments in infrastructure, industrial development, and […] today10 September, 2024
insert_link Africa Looting of the Sudan National Museum – more is at stake than priceless ancient treasures By Mohamed Albdri Sliman Bashir, University of Khartoum Reports continue to emerge of the alleged looting of tens of thousands of artefacts from the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum. The museum, near the confluence of the White and the Blue Niles, holds a history of the region, home to ancient civilisations, temples and pyramids. But it has been caught in the crossfire in a war between the […] today10 September, 2024
insert_link Africa Rating agencies and Africa: the absence of people on the ground contributes to bias against the continent – analyst By Misheck Mutize, University of Cape Town Rating agency Fitch recently warned that the rapid spread of the mpox virus in sub-Saharan Africa could add to the fiscal pressures many countries in the region are already experiencing. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have declared the latest outbreak of mpox in Africa a health emergency. An epidemic in the Democratic […] today9 September, 2024
insert_link Africa Technology classes at school can also teach skills for business and life: South African teachers share ideas PeopleImages/Getty Images By Adri Du Toit, North-West University Starting and running your own business takes hard work and a can-do attitude. Typically, entrepreneurs are the kinds of people who can identify and solve problems innovatively, are willing to take risks and learn from mistakes. But many entrepreneurs also have a set of skills that anyone can learn, and use in work and life. Examples include adaptability, problem-solving, collaboration, […] today9 September, 2024
