Why are critical minerals suddenly at the centre of global politics? The story in 60 seconds Every electric vehicle, wind turbine, solar panel, smart phone; they all depend on minerals extracted from the earth. As countries accelerate the transition to clean (non-fossil fuel) energy, demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and graphite…
From drugs to arms to poaching, unmarked boats sustain a criminal economy threatening coastal livelihoods and security. In October 2025, a major maritime operation in the high seas revealed the evolving sophistication of organised crime along East Africa’s Swahili Coast. Acting on a tip-off, the Kenyan Navy intercepted the MV Mashallah, an unregistered ‘fishing’ dhow,…
Why performance reviews and feedback can feel like physical threats. There are few things in modern work life that trigger as much dread as a performance review. They aren’t just uncomfortable; they can feel like a full-blown danger response to our identity and sense of safety. In South Africa’s high-pressure and economically uncertain work environment,…
Beneath our feet lie some of the largest living organisms on Earth. Fungi are mostly invisible and largely overlooked, but they help sustain the ecosystems and food systems that we depend on every day. In a new global study, colleagues and I have mapped Earth’s vast underground networks of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. These fungi are…
For the first time in history, adults aged over 60 now outnumber children under five – and are projected to outnumber all youth by 2050. Older women are the fastest-growing demographic globally. Yet, when it comes to preventing violence, they are often overlooked. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June aims to shine a…
Just twenty-four hours after Wired exposed dormant facial recognition code inside Meta’s smart glasses companion app, the tech giant quietly pushed a software update to purge the software. Discovered on June 4, the internal code, dubbed “Name Tag”, was embedded within the core Meta AI application required to pair the wearable hardware to smartphones over…
Can conservation pay for itself and create meaningful livelihoods beyond fenced protected areas? Researchers and entrepreneurs across southern and east Africa are exploring ways for rural communities to generate income from sustainably harvested wild resources. At the Carnivore Restaurant, one of the most famous dining spots in Nairobi, the menu offers a telling contradiction. You…
[CAPTION] South Africa lacks the election transparency tools available to voters in stricter jurisdictions. (Image created via ChatGPT) South African voters are set to enter the 2026 local government elections with fewer safeguards against online manipulation, voter suppression and discriminatory political targeting than their counterparts in many democracies across the globe. This is according to…
Australia’s decision to restrict social media access for children under 16 has attracted global attention. Supporters argue that the measure is a necessary response to growing concerns about cyberbullying, harmful content, compulsive usage patterns and deteriorating adolescent mental health. Similar proposals are now being discussed in Europe and elsewhere. South Africa’s communications minister, Solly Malatsi…
Jason Harrison, chief operating officer of The Up&Up Group Companies large and small are pouring capital into AI projects, chasing the promise of efficiency, speed and scale. But as Jason Harrison, chief operating officer of The Up&Up Group, argues in this episode of TechCentral’s TCS+, the upfront price tag tells only a fraction of the…
