Europeans were reeling Sunday from President Trump’s announcement that eight countries will face a 10% tariff for opposing American control of Greenland. The responses to Mr. Trump’s decision ranged from saying it risked “a dangerous downward spiral” to predicting that “China and Russia must be having a field day.” Mr. Trump’s threat sets up a…
Timely detection and effective response to foodborne diseases are essential to protect public health and prevent local events from escalating into wider emergencies. To support countries in strengthening these capacities, the World Health Organization has released updated editions of its full set of manuals on strengthening surveillance of and response to foodborne diseases. The updated…
The U.S. State Department announced Wednesday it will pause issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries over concerns that they may rely on public assistance in the future. In a post on X, the U.S. government said immigrants from the list of countries “take welfare from the American people at unacceptable rates.” The list,…
Living costs differ significantly across Africa, shaped by factors such as import dependence, currency strength, urbanisation and consumer demand. While some countries remain relatively affordable, others stand out for their high day-to-day expenses–particularly for food, dining, transport and utilities. Using the latest Cost of Living Index data from Numbeo, which compares everyday expenses across cities globally…
On January 1, 2026, Bulgaria will bid farewell to its lev currency and become the 21st European nation to adopt the euro. The Balkan country of 6.7 million people has been a European Union (EU) member since January 1, 2007, and joined the Schengen Area in March 2024, both of which marked pivotal moments in…
The United Nations and the United States on Monday formalized an agreement under which the US committed $2 billion in humanitarian assistance for global relief programmes, a move the UN’s top relief official hailed as a landmark commitment to saving lives amid escalating humanitarian needs worldwide. Speaking at the signing in Geneva, UN Emergency Relief…
BRUSSELS, Belgium – On 11 December, Spotlight Initiative hosted ‘A sustainable legacy: An intimate evening of conversation and insights from global leaders on how seed investments to end violence against women and girls deliver sustainable outcomes’. The event launched the Initiative’s sustainability report, which found that a remarkable 97 per cent of programme countries had…
Nairobi — President Donald Trump has expanded United States travel restrictions to cover an additional 15 countries, the majority of them in Africa, in a move that is set to further strain U.S.-Africa relations and disrupt travel, education and business links across the continent. Of the 15 newly added countries, 11 are in Africa: Angola,…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the continent is moving closer to meeting the criteria for downgrading Mpox as a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. The move, it said, becomes imperative as more countries record zero cases for extended periods. Prof. Yap Boum, Incident Manager for Health Emergencies at…
Plastic waste is an internationally traded commodity, which can be recycled into reusable materials, whereas plastic litter is the pollution that results from untreated waste. PHOTO/Wikimedia Commons. By PATRICK MAYOYO [email protected] The ubiquitous plastic beverage bottle makes up about half of plastic waste collected for recycling in the U.S. Most recycled plastic is processed domestically,…
