While Namibian judiciary protects media, Eritrean president adjudged world’s worst media freedom assaulter
Across Africa, laws and customs respecting the media vary considerably. As the world marked World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday, the occasion offered moments of reflection on the brightest and darkest situations for the continent’s news media. On the positive side is the southwest African nation of Namibia, ranked the...
Defiant Liverpool manager Klopp doesn’t care whether he’ll play Man City or Madrid in Champions League final
Jurgen Klopp anticipated the line of questioning and answered before the interviewer could finish when the subject of Liverpool’s Champions League final opponent arose. Liverpool secured passage to their third Champions League final in five years, though it was far from smooth sailing in Spain. Villarreal halved Liverpool’s aggregate lead...
New ISS report says dramatic surge in criminal activities of unknown gunmen in Nigeria does not occur in a vacuum
Insecurity in Nigeria is growing in scale, spread and sophistication, according to recently published research findings by the International Security Studies (ISS). The report says a total of 1,486 people in the country were victims of insecurity in January 2022, with 915 killed and 571 kidnapped. “While no zone or...
Two African states ratify Internet Future declaration, Kenya among countries awaiting parliamentary nod
Cabo Verde and Niger are the only two African countries that have signed ‘The Declaration for the Future of the Internet’. The United States also lists Kenya as one of the three from Africa to have committed to the cause, but Nairobi said they are yet to do so, since...
International bodies accuse Russian mercenaries of serious human rights violations in Central African Republic
Human Rights Watch on Tuesday said there was “compelling evidence” that Russian paramilitary troops were committing serious rights abuses and killing civilians in the Central African Republic. A civil war in the CAR that began in 2013, pitting numerous militias against a state on the verge of collapse, had eased...
Blurred lines vs complementarity: Professional question the boundary between researchers and support staff
Professionals at research organisations are typically split into two categories: academic staff and support staff. As professionals working in research environments in the Netherlands and Australia, we have straddled the dividing lines between these conventional divisions. We’ve also met many other professionals who have operated across this divide. And we...
US and Russia swap prisoners as tensions between the superpowers escalate over Moscow invasion of Ukraine
The parents of Trevor Reed, a 30-year-old US Marine veteran imprisoned by Russia who was released in a prisoner swap announced on Wednesday, described the moment they found out their son would be coming home. In an interview with CNN, Joey and Paula Reed said they were first notified by...
China State Council on research institutions focuses on ethics training to deter risky gene-editing scandals
China’s powerful State Council is calling on research institutions to expand and improve their ethics training. The directive, one of several detailed in a comprehensive ethics statement, is intended to address gaps in oversight exposed when Chinese researcher He Jiankui shocked the world by creating the first babies with edited...
New report accuses technology giants Apple and Intel of illicitly trading in ‘blood minerals’ from DR Congo
A new report has warned that a scheme set up to ensure mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo does not fuel conflict is being abused to launder tainted minerals. Global Witness says companies – including Apple, Tesla and Intel – are relying on the due diligence scheme to source...
Renewed Janjaweed attacks in Sudan’s Darfur region linked to scramble for gold, ICC cases
A major city in Sudan’s Darfur region has been under fierce attack, days after thousands of people arrived there seeking safety after their own town was set ablaze by horse-riding Arab militias known as Janjaweed. “For the first time in Geneina’s history, the hospital has been completely evacuated. All health...
