South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea

South Africa’s conservation model: why expanding the use of biodiversity to generate money is a good idea

By Hayley Clements, Stellenbosch University; Alta De Vos, Stellenbosch University, and Matthew Child, University of Pretoria South Africa’s government is calling for public comments on an updated version of its existing biodiversity economy plan. The National Biodiversity Economy Strategy aims to conserve biodiversity while also contributing to job creation and economic growth. It proposes to do this by promoting sustainable use of the country’s natural resources. The […]

April 5, 2024 16

Africa

Nigerian bandits strategically target school children for kidnappings – here’s why

By Oluwole Ojewale, Institute for Security Studies It is every parent’s worst nightmare: armed criminals attacking their child’s school, kidnapping students and teachers. In some parts of Nigeria, this scenario is not just the stuff of nightmares – it has become all too common in the past 10 years. The most famous incident was the mass abduction of 276 students from a girls’ school in Chibok, a […]

March 27, 2024 10

Business / Economics

Fitch Ratings Rates Namibia’s Development Bank as Outlook Stable

Opinion Piece, By Josef Kefas Sheehama Fitch Ratings has affirmed DBN's Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at 'BB-' and it’s National Long-Term Rating at 'AA+. These credit ratings cover the widest range of credit risk factors and have no limitations. The Namibian Development Bank (DBN) is the country's flagship and largest policy bank, contributing to economic and social development. Its strategy is in line with national development […]

March 26, 2024 24

Namibia

Karasburg Council suspended over mismanagement

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has suspended all seven councillors at the Karasburg Town Council with immediate effect due to persistent shortcomings in strategic direction, leadership, and accountability, among other reasons. The minister further accused the town council of dismissing the substantive CEO and other staff members without following due processes.

March 18, 2024 26

Science & Technology

Is TikTok’s parent company an agent of the Chinese state? In China Inc., it’s a little more complicated

Some U.S. lawmakers have grown concerned about TikTok. Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images. By Shaomin Li, Old Dominion University Does the Chinese government have officials inside TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, pulling the strings? And does the storing of data from the popular social media app outside of China protect Americans? These questions appear to dominate the current thinking in the U.S. over whether to ban TikTok if its […]

March 18, 2024 15

Namibia

President Mbumba prioritises legacy projects in first SONA

President Nangolo Mbumba delivered the State of the Nation Address at Parliament this afternoon. It marked Mbumba's inaugural SONA, focusing on job creation and advancing late President Hage Geingob’s legacy projects, such as green hydrogen and oil initiatives.

March 14, 2024 55

Environment

Technology to protect South Africa’s oceans: experts find that a data-driven monitoring system is paying off

A fishing boat launching into South African waters at dawn. Justin Klusener Photos Marjolaine Krug, University of Cape Town Nine years ago South Africa put in place an innovative information management system designed to monitor and protect its seas. The country is surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian oceans on its southern, eastern and western borders. The oceans are an important source of income and employment. The ocean economy contributed […]

March 12, 2024 51

World

US attempt to ‘revitalize’ Palestinian Authority risks making the PA less legitimate, more unpopular

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meet on Nov. 30, 2023. Saul Loeb/Pool via AP By Dana El Kurd, University of Richmond Gaza is still very much in the midst of war, yet discussion is turning to “the day after” the conflict – and who will govern the war-ravaged territory. The Biden administration has said that a full Israeli occupation of the […]

March 12, 2024 4

Opinion Pieces

NIST-CSF 2.0 – A Namibian Pipedream or Reality?

Opinion Piece, by Tyrone Nashandi The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made significant changes to its popular Cybersecurity Framework (NIST-CSF). That will leave organizations mulling over how this affects their cybersecurity programs. More specifically, my favorite - the new "Govern" function. As a result, organizations having tirelessly identified gaps, may have to reanalyze their existing assessments and remediation activities to dissect the impact of the framework […]

March 11, 2024 26