insert_link World Five things to know about the Northern Mariana Islands WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is headed to Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands to plead guilty in a deal with US authorities that will leave him a free man. Here are five things to know about the US territory in the Western Pacific: Surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean, the Northern Mariana Islands is a tiny, remote outpost of the world's largest economy. Its closest large […] todayJune 25, 2024 15
insert_link Health / Medical Caesarean births: South Africa’s rates are too high – they can be dangerous for mothers and babies By Priya Soma-Pillay, University of Pretoria and Andre Van Niekerk, University of Pretoria A caesarean section is an important surgical intervention that can save the lives of mother and baby. Caesarean sections are essential in complicated labours such as prolonged or obstructed labour or if the baby is distressed. The World Health Organization says that while “every effort should be made to provide a caesarean section […] todayMay 7, 2024 16
insert_link South Africa How the Mandela myth helped win the battle for democracy in South Africa By Jonny Steinberg, Yale University Political history scholar Jonny Steinberg’s 2023 book Winnie & Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage is a double biography of South Africa’s most famous political figures – Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela Mandela – and their role in the country’s struggle for democracy. It’s also a book that shatters countless myths about the couple and the liberation struggle that have been formed in popular […] todayApril 29, 2024 13
insert_link Africa Tunisia’s El Kef city is rich in heritage: centuries of cultural mixing give it a distinct identity By Majdi Faleh, Nottingham Trent University; Asma Gharbi, Université de Carthage, and Nourchen Ben Fatma, Université de Carthage El Kef is a city built into the southern face of Jebel Dyr mountain, which is linked to the High Atlas mountains in the north-western region of Tunisia that borders on Algeria. The breeze that sweeps off the mountain and through the city’s streets offers relief from the hot […] todayApril 9, 2024 9
insert_link Africa What are Sabaki languages? How people formed ethnic groups along the coast of east Africa By Daren Ray, Brigham Young University A new book called Ethnicity, Identity and Conceptualizing Community in Indian Ocean East Africa tracks the history of the coastal communities of east Africa and how the Sabaki family of Bantu languages was formed, shaped in part by the sea and the arrival of visitors from other shores and within the continent. We asked historian Daren Ray to tell us […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Sudan Armed Forces are on a path to self-destruction – risking state collapse By Harry Verhoeven, Columbia University It is now 10 months since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023, pitting the Sudan Armed Forces against the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary group. The war, which erupted after relations between the two wings of Sudan’s security apparatus broke down, rapidly spread beyond the capital, Khartoum. More recently, the Sudan Armed Forces have suffered numerous setbacks […] todayFebruary 20, 2024 9
insert_link Sport Paris 2024: the Olympic and Paralympic medals have been revealed In a few short months, the next Olympic Games will begin and the athletes now know the reward they will receive if they make it onto the podium. On Thursday 8 February, the Olympic and Paralympic medals were unveiled. And, whether they are gold, silver or bronze, they will all contain a very special piece of metal that was once part of the Eiffel Tower. The secret behind […] todayFebruary 14, 2024 16
insert_link Health / Medical The royals have historically been tight-lipped about their health – but that never stopped the gossip By Lisa J. Hackett, University of New England; Huw Nolan, University of New England, and Jo Coghlan, University of New England King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. This is an unexpected announcement: it is unusual for the royal family to release details of medical conditions to the public. “Don’t let the daylight in” was how British essayist Walter Bagehot advised the British monarchy to deal […] todayFebruary 6, 2024 10
insert_link Lifestyle Who created the alphabet? A historian describes the millennia-long story of the ABCs Creating the alphabet took thousands of years. kovalchuk/iStock via Getty Images Plus Jane Sancinito, UMass Lowell Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Who created the alphabet and decided its order? – Priti C., age 12, Mumbai, India A, B, C, D, E, F, G – makes you want to hum the […] todayJanuary 29, 2024 9
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
