The eruption of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo in May 2026 sparked a major crisis. Transmissions and deaths are skyrocketing, and no vaccine is currently available. This virus is notably prevalent in settlements and communities for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and communities. This happened too…
Microbial ecology (the study of how tiny microbes interact with each other and their environment) underpins the health of every ecosystem on Earth. The microbes living in soil recycle nutrients, support plant growth and help ecosystems respond to environmental change. In this explainer, microbial ecologist Marc Van Goethem tells us why microbes are critical to…
A single New York Times article on a disaster generated an additional $500,000 in official aid. That’s just one of the findings on the critical role a free press plays in saving lives, according to a new UN report released on Tuesday. Key points A free press is critical to saving lives, mitigating the impacts…
(Geneva/New York, 19 August 2026): 2025 set another grim record for violence against aid workers, with 907 colleagues killed, injured or kidnapped, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today on World Humanitarian Day. While the death toll decreased slightly to 350 last year, the overall level of violence did not ease:…
Mogadishu, Somalia — The Federation of Somali Trade Unions, led by Secretary-General Omar Faruk Osman, met AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene and delegation in the capital, Mogadishu. The meeting focused on Somalia’s implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and the role workers and trade unions can play in Africa’s broader economic integration continentwide. FESTU emphasized creating decent…
Zimbabwe Identifies 39 More Kariba Boat Tragedy Victims Police in Zimbabwe have identified 39 more victims of the Kariba RIDA boat tragedy. This brings the total number of positively identified victims to 83. The latest group includes 21 children, including a one-month-old baby, and 18 adults. The overall death toll has risen to 92,…
Singer Angélique Kidjo has become the first black African performer to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame – telling RFI the honour represented “a door opening” at a time of global turmoil. The five-time Grammy winner unveiled her star on Tuesday at a ceremony in Hollywood attended by film stars and music…
Kampala — Reach A Hand Africa (formerly Reach A Hand Uganda) has launched a year-long, student-focused campaign to promote the well-being of young people across the country. The “Be Better” initiative was unveiled on 12th August 2026 during a school outreach at Namiryango SSS in Mukono. The campaign is a direct response to a survey…
Desertification is not the spread of deserts. It is the slow degradation of fertile land – a process that now affects 40 percent of the Earth’s land surface and leaves around 100 million hectares of healthy land unproductive every year. As governments gather in Mongolia this week for the UN’s Cop17 desertification summit, scientists say…
South Africa’s health department not hiring ‘property caretakers’ – ignore Facebook posts claiming otherwise IN SHORT: Facebook posts claiming that South Africa’s health department has “property caretaker” vacancies are false. The department advises job seekers to follow its verified recruitment portals for any opportunities. South Africa’s Department of Health is advertising “property caretaker” jobs. That’s…
