Measles isn’t just dangerous – it may erase your immune system: INSAGO/Shutterstock Blindness, pneumonia, severe diarrhoea and even death – measles virus infections, especially in children, can have devastating consequences. Fortunately, we have a safe and effective defence. Measles vaccines are estimated to have averted more than 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023. Yet …
Cape Town’s sewage treatment isn’t coping: scientists are worried about what the city is telling the public: Urban water bodies – rivers, lakes and oceans – are in trouble globally. Large sewage volumes damage the open environment, and new chemicals and pharmaceutical compounds don’t break down on their own. When they are released into the …
Small towns are growing fast across Ghana – but environmental planning isn’t keeping up: Africa’s urban future will be shaped not only by large cities and capitals but also by its many small and medium-sized towns. Large capital cities are no longer the hotspots of rapid urban growth. According to the United Nations Human Settlements …
Malaria scorecard: battles have been won and advances made, but the war isn’t over: Sub-Saharan Africa continues to bear the brunt of malaria cases in the world. In this region 11 countries account for two-thirds of the global burden. World Malaria Day is marked on 25 April. What progress has been made against the disease, …
Sudan’s war isn’t nearly over – armed civilian groups are rising: Sudan’s war, now entering its third year, has taken another unexpected turn. In March 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), also known as the Janjaweed, withdrew from Khartoum, abandoning the presidential palace and airport. This retreat marks a significant contrast to the paramilitary group’s …
South Africa’s famous fynbos must be preserved – but burning invasive plants on site isn’t the best strategy: Invasive plants and trees were introduced to South Africa from as early as the 17th century for a range of commercial, subsistence and ornamental uses. Today, every area of the country has been invaded by a variety …
Welfare payments are going digital in Africa – but this isn’t helping those without internet access or smartphones: If you have ever received financial support from the state because you were unable to work due to pregnancy, disability, sickness or old age, you’ve benefited from what is known as social protection. Social protection is a …
Church of England: why the archbishop’s resignation isn’t justice for abuse survivors: Justin Welby resigned as archbishop of Canterbury following a damning report about a prolific child abuser in the Church of England. The report into decades of abuse of more than 100 boys perpetrated by the barrister John Smyth QC in the UK, South …
IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights: At the 2021 UN Climate Summit, Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley called for more and better use of special drawing rights (SDRs), the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset. The special drawing right is an international reserve asset created by …
Uganda’s tax system isn’t bringing in enough revenue but is targeting small business the answer?: Uganda, with a fiscal deficit of 5.6% in 2023, has increasingly turned to local resources to make up for its revenue shortfall since the World Bank suspended its funding on 8 August 2023 over the country’s anti-homosexuality law. In early …
Your smart watch isn’t a medical device – but it is tracking all your health data: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock For millions of people, smartwatches aren’t just a piece of technology. They can use them to take control of their health in ways never thought possible. As you go on your morning run, a smartwatch …
Man eats raw chicken for 25 days – why isn’t he sick?: Don't try this at home. Daria Miroshnikova/Shutterstock John (surname withheld) is an influencer from Florida who has gained notoriety by eating raw chicken for at least 25 days. He uses a blender to grind up the uncooked chicken (wing and breast) with flavourings, …
Somali pirates are back in action: but a full scale return isn’t likely. Here’s why: An Iranian fishing vessel, Almeraj 1, was reportedly hijacked by Somali pirates in November 2023. According to media reports, the pirates demanded US$ 400,000 in ransom and threatened to use the Iranian ship for additional hijackings if the payment was …
Uber’s U-turn over listing black cabs isn’t difficult to understand when you look at its finances: Fare enough? Ink Drop Uber is courting its arch enemy, London black cabs, inviting them to add their services to its app for the first time. Licensed taxis in 33 countries, including France and the US, have already received …
David Cameron returns: how can a prime minister make someone who isn’t an MP foreign secretary? And what happens now?: In a surprise move, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has appointed former prime minister David Cameron as foreign secretary. Cameron, who resigned immediately after losing the 2016 Brexit referendum, has been almost entirely absent from the …
Self-control isn’t always a good thing – having too much can be bad for your mental health: Characteristics of 'overcontrolled' personalities may make a person more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness. silverkblackstock/ Shutterstock Having high self-control is often seen as a good thing. It’s believed to be key to success in many aspects …
Storm Babet caused dangerous floods as the ‘dry side’ of Scotland isn’t used to such torrential rain: Storm Babet has caused havoc across the UK, with strong winds and rough seas along the east coast, record breaking rainfall and river levels in Scotland, overtopped flood defences, closed roads and railways and sadly at least two …
Why ‘toxic masculinity’ isn’t a useful term for understanding all of the ways to be a man: Masculinity is complex, diverse and can be expressed in multiple ways. yanik88/Shutterstock There seem to be as many interpretations of what “toxic masculinity” means as there are uses of the term. Some believe it’s a way to criticise …