Reactive counter-terrorism posture risks entrenching armed groups in a new corridor linking northwest to southwest Nigeria. Mass killings, abductions and roadside bombs in recent weeks point to a dangerous escalation of violent extremism in the Borgu-Kainji axis along Nigeria’s western borders with Benin and Niger. These are not isolated events. Continuing to respond narrowly and…
Over the last several decades, the oceans have become more crowded. Aquaculture, wind and wave energy, and oil and gas exploration are taking up more space. This growth threatens the health of ocean ecosystems and coastal communities’ access to food and livelihoods that they have relied on for centuries. It can also lead to conflicts….
Imagine walking into tall grass or working barefoot in a field … and suddenly feeling sharp pain on your foot. You’ve just been bitten by a snake. This is more than a moment of shock; it could be the beginning of a dangerous medical emergency. Not all snakebites involve venom, since less than 20% of…
Blatter’s comments, made on Monday via social media, lend high-profile support to a controversial warning issued by Mark Pieth, the Swiss anti-corruption lawyer who once worked with FIFA Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has waded back into global football’s biggest political fault line, openly backing calls for fans to boycott World Cup matches in the…
A notification popped up on my LinkedIn the other day. Africans were doing a traditional celebratory dance at the Africa Stablecoin summit in Johannesburg. The picture gave me a sinking feeling. Why? While stablecoins can advance financial inclusion in Africa, could this celebration mark the potential transfer of monetary sovereignty from African economies to the…
As Black Friday banners flash across screens and festive cheer builds, South Africans face a surge of high-pressure buying moments. On Black Friday last year alone, FNB customers spent over R3.2 billion, marking an 11% increase in spend from the previous year. The bulk of this spending went toward groceries, clothing, entertainment, and travel, reflecting…
Martin May, business development: networks at Duxbury Networking. I have been in networking long enough to see technologies come and go. Firewalls, MPLS and VPN concentrators have all had their place. But the way we work today has outgrown the idea of a neat perimeter that can be protected with a single box at the…
President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to reach a deal to avert a new 100% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods and are likely to meet in person soon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said following talks with Beijing’s top trade negotiator. Bessent told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker in…
A man who jumped off a Royal Caribbean cruise ship near the Port of San Juan over the weekend — allegedly to avoid paying off more than $16,000 in gambling debt to the cruise line — has been charged with a federal crime, authorities said. Jey Gonzalez-Diaz embarked on the Rhapsody of the Seas…
The U.S. exploration company OceanGate used “intimidation tactics” to “evade regulatory scrutiny” in the years leading up to the June 2023 Titan submersible tragedy, according to findings released by the U.S. Coast Guard Tuesday. Those conclusions are part of an over 300-page report released by officials into the incident, which killed five people onboard when…
