insert_link Health / Medical Kush: what is this dangerous new west African drug that supposedly contains human bones? DeanP/Shutterstock Michael Cole, Anglia Ruskin University A new drug called kush is wreaking havoc in west Africa, particularly in Sierra Leone where it is estimated to kill around a dozen people each week and hospitalise thousands. The drug, taken mostly by men aged 18 to 25, causes people to fall asleep while walking, to fall over, to bang their heads against hard surfaces and to walk into moving traffic. Kush […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 21
insert_link Uncategorized India bans foreign donations to leading think tank India has blocked foreign funding to a leading think tank, the latest among several foreign charities, rights watchdogs and other civil society groups similarly targeted after commentary critical of government decisions. The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) is one of the country's most highly regarded public policy forums. Its staffers are prominent talking heads and columnists who have been rare dissenting voices in the media on sensitive political issues, […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 9
insert_link Uncategorized Africa’s 10 ‘most open’ countries for travel By Conrad Onyango, via bird story agency In the past eight years, 35 countries have improved their visa policies and, since 2016, five countries have abolished all visa requirements for African travellers. As a result, citizens of at least five countries can now enjoy visa-free travel in 42 different countries, compared to just three in 2020. According to the Africa Development Bank's Africa Visa Openness Report 2023, most countries […] todayJanuary 17, 2024 4
insert_link Uncategorized Colonialism shaped modern universities in Africa – how they can become truly African One of the roles of an African university is to produce critical and democratic thinkers. Vieriu Adrian/Getty Images Saleem Badat, University of the Free State Colonialism profoundly shaped modern universities in Africa. It implanted institutions on African soil that were largely replicas of European universities rather than organically African. For historian and political theorist Achille Mbembe, one problem of universities in Africa “is that they are ‘Westernised”. He describes them […] todayJanuary 16, 2024 7
insert_link Uncategorized Biden raises $97 million in last quarter 2023 US president Joe Biden closed out the final quarter of 2023 having raised 97 million dollars for his reelection campaign. The strong performance comes as his Republican rivals spend heavily on ads attacking each other. Kate Fisher reports from Washington. todayJanuary 16, 2024 2
insert_link Uncategorized ActionSA has named Nasiphi Moya as its candidate for the position of Tshwane deputy mayor ActionSA has named Nasiphi Moya as its candidate for the position of Tshwane deputy mayor. National chairperson Michael Beaumont sees Moya is stepping into a significant leadership role within the city’s governance structure. He says this move aligns with ActionSA’s strategic positioning, aiming to make a robust impact on Tshwane’s political landscape. Beaumont also emphasised the nomination underscores the party’s commitment to active participation in local governance and influencing the […] todayJanuary 16, 2024 14
insert_link Uncategorized Russia says sentenced more than 200 Ukrainian POWs Russia said Monday it has sentenced more than 200 Ukrainian prisoners of war to lengthy sentences, with some getting life in prison, almost two years into the Kremlin's offensive. Russia holds an unknown number -- believed to be in the thousands -- of Ukrainian captive soldiers, many of whom were taken during the siege of the port city of Mariupol in 2022. Kyiv and international rights groups have denounced Moscow's […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 2
insert_link Uncategorized AFCON 2024 : Salah rescues Egypt as Nigeria draw and Ghana lose Mohamed Salah saved Egypt from an embarrassing defeat in their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, while Nigeria were held by Equatorial Guinea despite Victor Osimhen getting on the scoresheet. Ghana were also in action in Abidjan and suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Cape Verde as three nations with 14 AFCON titles between them all failed to get off to winning starts at this […] todayJanuary 15, 2024 6
insert_link Uncategorized South Africa’s Black Sash decries Sassa’s repeated failure to pay social grants as inexcusable SA Human rights organisation, Black Sash, has criticised the South African Social Security Agency for missing the January payments. SASSA attributes the latest payment glitch to verification delays, leaving 150-thousand social grant beneficiaries without their money. The agency pledges double payments next month to rectify the issue. Black Sash spokesperson Thandi Henkerman deems SASSA’s actions unacceptable, accusing the agency of breaching its constitutional obligation. todayJanuary 15, 2024 8