Experts aver they’ve failproof early warning mechanisms to detect imminent Russian nuclear attack in Ukraine
This Week, Nato is conducting its regular, long-planned nuclear strike exercise known as “Steadfast Noon” to practise deploying fighter jets used to carry nuclear weapons. And Russia is expected to conduct its own nuclear drills sometime this month – as it typically does – in reaction to Nato’s exercises. While...
Weaponisation of drones by Islamic militias, rebel groups in Africa sparks global sense of urgency to tame it
Drones have for some time been used by regular armed forces on Africa’s battlefields, such as in Ethiopia and Mali. But now they’re increasingly being deployed by terrorists – sparking a global sense of urgency. At the end of October, the United Nations (UN) Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee will host...
How UK accidentally met its R&D target, spent $18 billion annually above threshold over the past five years
The UK government has unexpectedly met its research and development spending target – an achievement revealed by changes in how industrial investment is calculated. The adjustments were announced on September 29 in a briefing note from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS), a non-ministerial government body. They show that...
UN’s FAO places Peru at the top of countries in South America with acute food insecurity
Rising prices, government mismanagement, dietary habits and an over-reliance on imported food staples and fertiliser have left half of Peruvians struggling to feed themselves, the Food and Agriculture Organization has warned. A recent report by the UN agency put the Andean country in top position in South America in terms...
East Ukraine residents wary of ruthless attacks Russian during freezing winter temperatures
Much of the aid in east Ukraine is being provided to people who remain in recently liberated areas is distributed by a decentralised network of volunteers and ad hoc aid groups. The groups – such as Volonter68 – started by husband and wife Serhiy and Galina Kharlamova, aged 52 and...
Ukraine’s liberated east faces cold season minus humanitarian aid and heating worries as winter sets in
In late September, as Albina Iliushchenko drove down the familiar streets of her childhood in Izium in eastern Ukraine, she choked back tears looking at the cracked, blackened facades of apartment blocks, and at the restaurants and shops reduced to rubble. At the elementary school where her mother used to...
Alert: China’s diplomacy in Horn of Africa that’s anchored on firming ruling regimes protects its interest only
At the outset of the conflict in Tigray in November 2020, China worked with the Ethiopian military to evacuate 600 Chinese citizens from the massive Wolkaiyt sugar refinery near the frontlines and a water project near Mekelle run by the Gezhouba Group, one of China’s largest energy state-owned enterprises. In...
China’s parallel peace agenda in Horn of Africa questioned as it lures region toward the Communist Party
The launch of China’s Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa initiative in March 2022 to facilitate a Chinese-led peace process in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa highlights Beijing’s interest in the region that is grappling with humanitarian crises touched climate change and scramble for natural...
Finally, HIV cure? Bold efforts to treat patients with Crisper gene editing technology offers best prospects snipping killer virus
An experiment to test whether gene-editing technology can stop the HIV from replicating has given the highest hopes that humanity may be on the brink of the cure for virus. The Crisper gene-editing technology has demonstrated that HIV can be wiped out the infection, raising hopes for an HIV cure....
How Taliban power grab in Afghanistan ushered in biting economic crises after donors pulled out
Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the country has faced spiralling economic and humanitarian crises. Some three quarters of the government budget was previously funded by international donors, and the loss of aid money – coupled with billions of dollars in assets frozen by foreign powers...
