UN security council: African countries face hurdles and dangers in getting permanent seats: There is growing global consensus among the members of the United Nations that the UN security council, responsible for maintaining international peace and security, requires reform or restructuring to reflect the current balance of forces, and to improve its working methods and …
The dangers of sneezing – from ejected bowels to torn windpipes: Sneezing is normally a protective mechanism that keeps potentially harmful things out of our respiratory system. ShotPrime Studio/ Shutterstock If you were to envision the kind of accident that would cause a person’s bowels to explode out of their body, you might imagine some …
Eisenhower’s Atoms for Peace speech on nuclear dangers has important lessons even after 70 years: Seventy years ago, on December 8 1953, US president Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered a speech to the United Nations general assembly, setting out his concerns about “atomic warfare”. In the speech, later known as Atoms for Peace, he outlined a …
Prix Caine 2023 : des écrivains sénégalais remportent le prix pour un récit d’horreur sur les dangers auxquels sont confrontées les jeunes filles: Le prestigieux Prix Caine 2023 pour l’écriture africaine a été remporté par un couple d’écrivains sénégalais. Leur nouvelle _Une âme des petits endroits (que l’on peut lire ici (en anglais)) fait écho …
Israel-Hamas war: history shows the dangers of a creeping occupation: The US president, Joe Biden, has warned Israel that occupying Gaza “would be a big mistake”. The warning seemed to be aimed directly at voices within the Israeli government who are calling for Israel to not only destroy Hamas, but also to occupy the Palestinian …
Caine Prize 2023: Senegalese writers win for fantasy-horror story about dangers facing girls: markups/Getty Images, CC BY-SA The influential Caine Prize for African Writing for 2023 was won by a power couple from Senegal. Their short story A Soul of Small Places (which can be read over here) echoes deeper trends in the country’s literature …
We found coronaviruses in UK bats — so far the danger’s minimal but we need to know more about viruses that can spread to humans: Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock Most emerging infectious diseases are caused by zoonotic pathogens – viruses and bacteria which circulate in wild and domestic animals but are also capable of infecting humans. …
South Africa’s role as host of the BRICS summit is fraught with dangers. A guide to who is in the group, and why it exists: Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted the 14th BRICS Summit via video link in Beijing. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime …
Four dangers lurking in your garden – and how to protect yourself: The soil you use for your roses may contain something sinister. Mariia Boiko/ Shutterstock Many people see gardening as a relaxing pastime – an easygoing way to spend hours outdoors when the weather’s nice. But as a consultant in emergency medicine, I deal …
Cold water therapy: what are the benefits and dangers of ice baths, wild swimming and freezing showers?: Immersion in cold water is definitely an activity that divides people – some love it others hate it. But many now practice it weekly or even daily in the belief that it’s good for their mental and physical …
Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill wants to ‘rehabilitate’ LGBTIQ+ people – African psychologists warn of its dangers: Sukhomoy Sen/Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images Mental health professionals from across Africa, including Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Nigeria and South Africa, have signed a declaration against conversion practices that are used to forcibly change the sexual orientation, gender identity or …
Debt dangers in Africa: how defaults hurt people, and why forgiveness isn’t the answer: Shutterstock Public debt repayments in some African countries are at their highest levels since 1998. The Conversation Africa’s founding editor Caroline Southey talks to dean and economics professor Philippe Burger about the danger of debt problems some African countries face. What’s …
Nigeria’s election: six dangers of mixing religion with politics: Supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party describe their presidential candidate and his running mate as unifiers because of their ethnic and religious mix. Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images One of the issues that has generated great concern among voters in the run up to …
‘Gutter water’, ‘monkey tail’ and smoked faeces: new dangers on Nigeria’s drug scene: Some people take the new drugs to prolong sex. PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images New, unconventional drugs are becoming popular in Nigeria, designed by dealers and users to replicate the effects of illegal substances like cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy. They affect …
The dangers of eating raw meat: RossHelen/Shutterstock Rising energy and gas prices might make you think twice about firing up your stove for a roast or stew. Why cook that meat? After all, your menu could include trendy beef carpaccio, flavoursome wild boar’s liver, coppa or pancetta. If you learned to like raw meat, you …
Ukraine war: death of a ‘fixer’ underlines the dangers of this unsung but vital job for journalism: Oleksandra Kushynova died on March 14 in the village of Horenka north of Kyiv when the vehicle in which she was travelling was hit by incoming fire killing her and Irish cameraman Pierre Zakrzewski, as well as wounding …
Ukraine war: the dangers following Russia’s attack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant: Following recent news of Russian shelling of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which is the largest in Europe, there is great concern over the potential for a Chernobyl-esque release of radioactive material. Several security personnel at the plant were injured …
International Space Station: how Nasa plans to destroy it – and the dangers involved: The end of an era. Shutterstock Nasa has announced plans for the International Space Station (ISS) to be officially decommissioned in 2031. After dozens of launches since 1998 got the station up and into orbit, bringing it down will be a …