Faith Nyasuguta Protesters in Peckham, southern London, took action on Thursday, blocking a bus suspected to be transporting asylum-seekers to the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge.  The barge, chartered by the UK government last year, houses 222 rooms across three stories and is currently anchored off Dorset, a region known for its economic struggles. In a bold move, demonstrators slashed the tires of the bus and staged a sit-in on the road, preventing its intended passengers from boarding. Despite the disruption, the bus was eventually escorted away empty-handed. The UK’s Home Office ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta  As the United States prepares for its military withdrawal from Niger, an intriguing development unfolds as American troops find themselves sharing an airbase with Russian trainers. According to a U.S. official, Airbase 101 in Niamey hosts international troops, including contingents from Germany, alongside the U.S. forces. Confirming these reports from Honolulu, Hawaii, the U.S. Secretary of Defense addressed concerns regarding the cohabitation of U.S. and Russian forces in Niger. He clarified that while the Russians occupy a separate compound within the airbase, they have ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta  Major General Fatuma Ahmed continues to make history, becoming the first woman to lead any service branch within the Kenyan Armed Forces. On May 2nd, President William Ruto appointed her Commander of the Kenya Air Force, solidifying her position as a pioneer for women in military leadership. General Ahmed’s journey is a series of “firsts.” In 2015, she shattered a glass ceiling when promoted to Brigadier, a rank previously unattainable for women in the male-dominated military. This recent appointment marks another significant milestone. But who is this trailblazer? In 202 ..read more

Faith  Nyasuguta  Bathing every day could increase people’s risk of infections, experts caution. Showering excessively can reduce skin hydration, causing it to become dry and cracked, which allows germs to enter, according to infectious-disease expert Dr Elaine Larson from Columbia University. She adds most people bathe in the belief it will reduce their risk of illness, however, it actually does little more than remove body odour. Dr Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University, adds that washing strips the skin of its natural oils, which can ..read more

Faith  Nyasuguta  Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, has announced that Turkey will back South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).  Fidan affirmed Turkey’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause, stating that they would submit the official intervention declaration upon completing the legal groundwork. This announcement came during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Ankara. The case at the ICJ stems from South Africa’s accusation of Israel’s state-led genocide in Gaza. In response ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta A notable shift is underway in the landscape of international education, with China rapidly gaining traction as a preferred destination for African students seeking advanced studies abroad.  This burgeoning trend is attributed to the escalating levels of Chinese investments across Africa, igniting a burgeoning interest among African youths in mastering the Chinese language and exploring educational opportunities in the country. Analysts anticipate that China’s allure could soon surpass that of many traditional European study destinations. According to data sourced from The ..read more

Faith  Nyasuguta  The recent directive issued by the Dutch government, ordering thousands of international students and young professionals who sought refuge in the Netherlands following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to leave the country this week or face expulsion, has ignited a firestorm of controversy and raised profound ethical and legal questions. According to a comprehensive report by Al Jazeera, the affected individuals, predominantly students and young workers from diverse regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and India, now find themselves grappling with the prospe ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta A Zambian firm, AFNON Industries, is on the cusp of reshaping the regional stove manufacturing landscape with an ambitious investment of $10 million. This landmark initiative signifies the genesis of Zambia’s inaugural stove production facility, slated to become the largest of its kind across the African continent.  CEO Arnold Nyendwa (pictured above)heralded the venture as a pivotal moment in the nation’s industrial evolution, emphasizing its transformative potential for both domestic and regional markets. In a strategic collaboration with a prominent Chinese partner reno ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta A senior Islamic State group commander, Abu Huzeifa, also known as Higgo, wanted in connection with the deaths of US forces in Niger, has been eliminated in an operation by Malian state forces, according to the country’s army. Abu Huzeifa, notorious for his leadership role in the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, had a hefty bounty of up to $5 million placed on his head by the US State Department. He was implicated in orchestrating the 2017 attack on US and Nigerien forces in Tongo Tongo, Niger, resulting in the deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers.  In r ..read more

Faith Nyasuguta  IQ, or intelligence quotient, serves as a yardstick for measuring an individual’s cognitive abilities relative to others in their age bracket, encompassing problem-solving skills, logical reasoning, memory retention, and linguistic proficiency. At the national level, IQ is often utilized to assess the average intellectual aptitude of a country’s populace, shedding light on its collective cognitive capacity. Intelligence, whether at the individual or societal level, significantly influences a nation’s trajectory, impacting various facets of societal advancement, from econo ..read more