An aerial view of Johannesburg, which is beset by billing issues. City Power, which has taken sole responsibility for electricity billing in the Johannesburg metropolitan area, has met with hundreds of residents and businesses to address account queries and discrepancies. In collaboration with other City of Johannesburg departments, the utility said the engagement “allowed customers…
Kayla Epstein and Nardine Saad Getty Images Donald Trump’s budget chief Russell Vought The Trump administration has begun laying off thousands of federal workers in an effort to pressure Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown. “The RIFs have begun,” White House Office of Management Director Russell Vought announced in a post on X on Friday…
More women must have a role in shaping peace agreements, security reforms and post-conflict recovery plans, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Monday. Members met for their annual open debate on the women, peace and security agenda just ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Council’s landmark resolution 1325 (2000) on the…
If it’s steered correctly, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to accelerate development. It can drive breakthroughs in agriculture. It can expand access to healthcare and education. It can boost financial inclusion and strengthen democratic participation. But without deliberate action, the AI “revolution” risks deepening inequality more than it will expand opportunity. As a scholar…
No, applying castor oil to sanitary pad won’t solve reproductive health issues IN SHORT: Facebook posts claiming that castor oil applied to a sanitary pad can fix issues such as endometriosis and stomach cramps are being shared widely. But there’s no scientific evidence to support these claims. “Try this and thank me later” reads the…
Saildrone Surveyor – Courtesy Saildrone Technologies ABS awarded Classification to the Saildrone Surveyor, a fully autonomous deepwater unmanned surface vehicle (USV). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250826434666/en/ At 20 meters long and capable of unmanned operations across all of the world’s oceans, the Surveyor breaks new ground. The Surveyor is…
The rise in vaccine-preventable diseases around the world is threatening decades of progress in public health and putting millions of people at risk. The decline in vaccination coverage in the United States illustrates the global problem. Rates of most routine vaccinations recommended for children by age 24 months by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,…
Gauteng’s education department is working to resolve technical issues impacting its call centre number. The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) says its 0800 000 789 call centre number is experiencing technical issues. This comes as the provincial education department is in the process of its 2026 online admissions application period for grades one and eight,…
A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit near Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, prompting Japan’s meteorological agency to issue a tsunami alert and the National Weather Service to issue a tsunami warning for the state of Hawaii and parts of Alaska on Wednesday. A tsunami advisory was also issued for parts of Alaska and the entire West Coast, stretching from…
In a world increasingly shaped by climate extremes, environmental experts are delivering a blunt warning: four rapidly emerging threats could reshape life for millions unless urgent action is taken. From ancient microbes awakening in melting glaciers to toxic pollutants unleashed by floods, the dangers are no longer distant or theoretical. They are here, and they…
