Cruise ships are convenient floating hotels by which to see far-flung parts of the world – but as an epidemiologist, I know they are also everything an infectious pathogen could want: thousands of strangers packed into enclosed spaces for days or weeks, sharing dining rooms and high-touch surfaces such as elevator buttons and handrails, breathing…
The South African division of Estonian ride-hailing giant Bolt has officially announced the launch of an electric vehicle (EV) category for the local market. The rollout follows a strategic partnership with ride-sharing platform YugoRide, which aims to deploy a fleet of 500 EVs in Cape Town by December 2025, with a broader expansion to Johannesburg…
Does the absence of African films in the main competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival point to a glass ceiling? Or is African cinema still slowly but surely finding its way to the top table? The absence of African-made films among the 22 contenders for this year’s Palme d’Or might suggest African filmmakers are…
Soaring housing costs, climate shocks and conflicts are leaving millions without adequate shelter – but what can be done? As the 13th UN World Urban Forum opens on Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan, participants will grapple with solutions to a deepening global housing crisis. The conference, organized by UN-Habitat together with Azerbaijan, will bring together world…
The World Bank made history in 1994 by creating the Inspection Panel, the first independent accountability mechanism at any international organisation. Its function is to investigate complaints from communities who allege they were harmed because the bank failed to comply with its own policies and procedures. By establishing the three-member Inspection Panel, the World Bank…
Violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people are widespread, including at school, where 45 per cent of LGBT youth report being bullied. That’s the worrying message from UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, who says that more than one in three countries still criminalize consensual same-sex conduct and several also maintain the death penalty for it….
Moscow — Under the auspices of the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Russian-African Club, in late April, held its IV International Forum of Journalists from Russia and Africa, which marked another historical milestone. According to an established annual tradition, discussions were focused on aspects of the media, its structure, current performance,…
At the 2026 Africa Forward Summit, convened by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, Heirs Holdings Founder and Group Chairman Tony O. Elumelu delivered a strong message to global leaders, investors, and development partners: Africa seeks meaningful partnerships rooted in equality, not dependency. Addressing delegates at the summit, Elumelu emphasized that Africa’s…
The Fundamental Imperative Financing education, particularly “foundational learning”, is the smartest investment a nation can make. The returns on foundational learning, the ability to read, write, and count, are individual, social, and economic, touching every level of society. Evidence from the World Bank report indicates that each additional year of quality education can increase an…
Joint naval patrols are stretched thin by the Middle East crisis, but their ability to eradicate piracy was always limited. Piracy has re-emerged off Somalia’s coast. Numerous dhows and larger merchant vessels were targeted in April and May, with some ships and their crews held for ransom. In response, the Joint Maritime Information Center raised…
