Addis Ababa — The United Nations General Assembly has endorsed a resolution supporting the transition from the centuries-old Mercator projection to more accurate equal-area world maps, including the 2018 Equal Earth projection. The resolution was backed by 164 countries, with the United States voting against and six countries abstaining. Togo introduced the resolution to the…
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Friday September 4, calling for world maps that more accurately represent the true size of continents, particularly Africa. The resolution, titled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing global cartographic representation and promoting equitable representation of the world’s regions, particularly Africa,” received 164 votes in favour. Rwanda was among…
The Mercator map was designed in 1569 by the Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator to help European explorers navigate across the world. The distortion of his map is a result of the fact that it is impossible to accurately represent the surface of a globe on a two-dimensional chart. Whenever a map of the world is…
Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday that embattled Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, who is facing abuse allegations, should drop his re-election bid and resign “if the allegations are true.” Miller’s ex-wife Emily Moreno, the daughter of Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, accused the congressman of domestic violence. Miller has…
At every Football World Cup and any other major football tournament, it is not only Les Bleus performances on the pitch that come under scrutiny, but also the players’ identities, their migrant backgrounds and the extent to which they represent France and French society. This recurrent question speaks to unresolved issues and questions about France’s…
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are often described as Africa’s “silent epidemic,” but much of that silence reflects how little of the true burden is actually visible. The burden of NCDs now accounts for a growing share of deaths across Africa, driven by rising risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and air…
Can technology really replace human relationships? As philosophy scholars who focus on human happiness and on artificial intelligence (AI), we tackle this question in a recent paper. In our study, we address the rise of AI companions, chatbots, and social robots for friendship, advice, emotional support, and even romance. We argue that AI can reduce…
The United Nations paused on Friday to pay tribute to the more than 4,500 peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty over the past 78 years. The commemoration of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers came hours after another blue helmet serving with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died from…
Nairobi, Kenya – When African leaders gathered in Addis Ababa on May 25, 1963 to found the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the occasion became a symbol of continental liberation that many still call Africa Liberation Day. Sixty-three years later, as the continent marks Africa Day 2026, questions over what liberation really means still linger….
Mondli Gungubele, deputy minister of communications and digital technologies. (Image source: GCIS) Digital inclusion and the role of tech in driving economic participation were in the spotlight on the second day of the Sentech Africa Tech Week Conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, this week. Delivering the opening address, Mondli…
