Pressure on freshwater resources is growing as demand increases in regions marked by scarcity, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report published on Friday. It provides an update on renewable water availability, which refers to the amount of freshwater that is replenished each year in rivers and aquifers through precipitation. Renewable…
The world is witnessing an alarming erosion of respect for international law, with conflicts increasingly targeting civilians and heightening the risk of atrocity crimes, warns the United Nations’ newly appointed Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. In his first interview since assuming the post in August, Chaloka Beyani reflected on the origins of his…
Africa is grappling with increasing public health threats amid overstretched resources and persistent gaps in preparedness, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said. Prof. Yap Boum, Incident Manager for Health Emergencies at Africa CDC, gave the alert during the agency’s weekly virtual press briefing. He gave the alert as the…
Hardly a month goes by without news of another unconstitutional change of government on the African continent. These can take one of three forms. The first is a military coup d’état or violent change of (democratically) elected government. The second is the refusal of an incumbent government to relinquish power after losing an election. And…
United Nations — The revenues from arms sales and military services by the 100 largest arms-producing companies rose by 5.9 per cent in 2024, reaching a record $679 billion, according to new data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). www.sipri.org Global arms revenues rose sharply in 2024, as demand was boosted by…
Despite official US boycott, participants agreed for shared responsibilities in dealing with the challenges of climate change and reforms in the UN with the objective of equitable global governance The first ever G20 summit on the African continent concluded on Sunday, November 23 on a note of shared responsibilities to deal with global inequality and…
The Academy of Public Health (APH) has called for stronger digital innovation and shared leadership in addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Africa. The academy made the call during its 10th anniversary and the induction of new fellows, members, associate members, graduate members, and institutional members into the academy, in Abuja. The…
Every 10 minutes, partners and family members killed a woman intentionally in 2024 and that trend is growing, according to the UN. Gender-related killings, known as femicide, are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of violence against women and girls. The latest report from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women,…
As COP30 concluded in Belém, Brazil, a noticeable shift in broad ocean ambition was observed. However, the deep sea – one of our planet’s most vital carbon stores and a key climate regulator – remained largely absent from negotiations. Brazil, the host country, integrated the ocean into its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), marking an important…
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection, is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, according to new data from its Enhanced Gonococcal Antimicrobial Surveillance Programme (EGASP), which monitors the spread of drug-resistant gonorrhoea. The report highlights the need to strengthen surveillance, improve diagnostic capacity and ensure equitable access to new treatments…
