Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, affects millions of people every year across Asia, Africa and Latin America. And it’s expanding geographically as warmer temperatures and urban growth allow mosquito populations to thrive in new regions. At first glance, dengue seems like an obvious candidate for vaccination. It is caused by a virus. Infection triggers an immune…
A new paper by the Reserve Bank argues that South Africa’s market-driven approach to open banking is limited in its reach. In fact, it risks entrenching the same socioeconomic barriers that have locked large sections of the population out of the financial system. The newly published working paper (PDF) argues that a regulated approach is…
Digital transformation outpaces talent supply, forcing local companies to upskill internally. (Image created via ChatGPT) The South African education system’s inability to sufficiently equip students for a technology-driven economy is among the key factors that have intensified the country’s IT skills crisis. This is the sentiment shared by industry pundits from training providers and business…
Shea butter has become a highly sought-after ingredient in cosmetics and food manufacturing worldwide. Since the early 2000s its use as a substitute for cocoa butter has driven a dramatic rise in international demand. The shea butter industry has grown by more than 600% over the last 20 years. The shea tree is semi-domesticated across…
Across Africa, a third of children under the age of five suffer from chronic malnutrition, according to Unicef, while in recent years the baby food industry has been rocked by a series of scandals, many involving major multinationals. But a growing number of local agri-food companies are moving into the baby food market. Ivorian Marie-Ange…
Climate change is no longer just about melting ice or hotter summers. It is also a financial problem. Droughts, floods, storms and heatwaves damage crops, factories and infrastructure. At the same time, the global push to cut greenhouse gas emissions creates risks for countries that depend on oil, gas or coal. These pressures can destabilise…
FAJ and its affiliated journalist unions and associations continue to document intimidation, arbitrary detention, online harassment, censorship and physical attacks against journalists across the continent. These violations do not only endanger individual media professionals. They also undermine the public’s right to information, which is central to human rights and democratic accountability. When journalists are silenced,…
Uber South Africa is actively exploring the transition to electric motorbikes for its popular Uber Moto service, aligning with the company’s broader commitment to sustainable mobility. The Uber Moto service, which offers quick and affordable short-distance trips, has seen rapid growth in Johannesburg since its launch. Read: Epson CO-W01 Projector Review: Project Success While the…
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell / PHOTO/UN Climate Change/ Diego Herculano. By PATRICK MAYOYO [email protected] In a compelling speech at the high-level closing event of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell called for urgent and transformative action on climate change, emphasising that the time for delay is over….
Tali Anderssen, legal and compliance executive at RCS. RCS and TymeBank are sounding the alarm over a sharp rise in online harm, warning that digital violence against women and AI-driven scams are becoming major risks for public safety and economic stability. The warnings come during International Fraud Awareness Week (16-22 November) and ahead of the…
