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Why some humans grow horns

Cutaneous horns are compacted keratin masses that grow outward from a person’s skin. Their typically curved shape and hardened texture make them look like the horns of a goat, sheep or cow.

By 1 day ago

Climate talks: Children and young people seen, photographed, but not allowed to decide anything

The global youth climate justice movement uses protests, strikes and court cases to block fossil fuel expansion.

By 1 day ago

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Why mediation hasn't worked for Sudan so far

Several mediation initiatives have been launched since the start of the war, with limited success. The AU has also been unable to get the main warring parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire.

By 3 days ago

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Why men need more exercise than women to see the same heart benefits

Researchers found that men need roughly twice as much exercise as women to see the same reduction in their heart disease risk.

By 3 days ago

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How Ethiopia used starvation as a weapon against Tigray

The lack of reliable data caused by government restrictions, international inaction and structural blind spots in global famine monitoring systems hid the scale of one of the deadliest wars.

By 3 days ago

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Bamako under siege: Why Mali's army is struggling to break jihadist blockade

Multiple terrorist groups operate in Mali. An al Qaida-linked group known locally as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is the most lethal, considering the audacity and scale of its attacks.

By 3 days ago

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How Suluhu's grip on power has been shaken

By putting her main rival Tundu Lissu on trial for treason and barring others from contesting the presidency, Hassan has crossed autocratic thresholds that other leaders have not.

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Risks of dismissing back pain during pregnancy

About half to three-quarters of expectant mothers experience pain during pregnancy that is largely untreated, contributing to preventable suffering and harm.

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How to recognise child-on-child sexual abuse

Harmful sexual behaviour can involve forcing other children into penetrative acts, such as oral sex, or coercing other children into sexual “play”.

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How devastating floods expose decades of poor urban planning

Floods in Kenya killed at least 169 people between March and April 2024. The most catastrophic of these deaths occurred after a flash flood swept through a rural village killing 42 people.

By 8 days ago

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Why Paul Biya's presidency in Cameroon has entered a fragile final phase

For the first time ever, the opposition parties in Cameroon have come “close” to unseating 92-year-old Paul Biya, who has run the country since 1982.

By 8 days ago

Study finds one in six cancer drugs in Africa are substandard or fake

There have been disturbing reports of substandard or falsified products causing harm to patients in a number of countries, including Brazil, the US and Kenya.

By 11 days ago

Japan's economy needs foreign workers, not the nationalist approach pushed by its new leader

Far from solving Japan’s economic problems, however, policies that restrict immigration tend to cause labour shortages and inflation.

By 14 days ago

Why ghosts wear clothes or white sheets instead of appearing in the nude

We see a ghost in its usual dress because that is the mental picture we have of the person, and this choice of garment is most likely to inspire recognition.

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How Raila Odinga changed Kenya without ever ruling it

Raila Odinga became bitterly critical of Kenya’s enduring political and economic inequalities, speaking out on behalf of the county’s “have nots”, which earned him a place in the hearts of millions

By 17 days ago

Four signs you may need to seek grief counselling after losing someone you love

Grief is a natural response to losing something you felt a bond with. This loss ranges from death to the end of a relationship.

By 17 days ago

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Child malnutrition: How Kenya's AI model can forecast rates six months before

Acute malnutrition weakens a child’s immune system leading to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases like pneumonia. It can also cause more severe illness and an increased risk of death.

By 26 days ago

How safe is your face? The pros and cons of having facial recognition everywhere

Once your facial scan is stored, it can stay in a database forever. As it stands, facial recognition would seem to carry more risks than rewards.

By 28 days ago

How Tanzania's Samia Hassan has ushered in a new era of authoritarianism

Samia has become more autocratic than Magufuli. She has crossed autocratic thresholds that have not been breached since Tanzania’s transition to multipartyism in 1992.

By 28 days ago

Why Taylor Swift's Father Figure isn't a cover but an 'interpolation'

A cover is a new performance of an existing song. An interpolation means re-performing part of a song, such as a melody, lyric, or riff, within a new composition.

By 28 days ago

What to watch out for when IMF staff come to town

The IMF provides financing to countries that do not have sufficient foreign exchange to meet all their needs and obligations.

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How African urban planners can tap into population rise

Africa’s population is projected to nearly double by 2050, with 80 per cent of that growth being concentrated in urban areas, leaving two out of three Africans living in cities.

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Slaves of God: Why suffering continues despite Nigeria's Osu slavery halt

Another common way to become an Osu was through marriage to an Osu, leading to persistent marriage discrimination even today. A woman labours in a cotton farm. [Courtesy/AFP]

By 3 months ago

Should Kenya's police be abolished for violence and unaccountability?

A world without the police is inconceivable to many people. The police are viewed as part of modern society’s foundation, ensuring democracy and keeping people safe.

By 3 months ago

Nairobi flies: unpacking mystery of a small beetle with huge burn power

They belong to the genus Paederus which contains about 600 described species and is part of the beetle family Staphylinidae, commonly known as rove beetles.

By 3 months ago

How does food get contaminated? The unsafe habits that kill more than 400,000 people a year

Unsafe foods contribute to poor health, including impaired growth and development, micro-nutrient deficiencies, noncommunicable and infectious diseases, and mental illness

By 3 months ago

Airbnb scams: new book explores thriving criminal activity on big tech platforms

Scam hosts use misleading, plagiarised, or AI-generated property images and fake descriptions along with fake personal profiles and aliases.

By 3 months ago

Who is Joseph Kony? The altar boy who became Africa's most wanted man

Joseph Kony the Ugandan warlord whose forces are believed by the United Nations to be responsible for the deaths of more than 100,000 people.

By 4 months ago

The fascinating history of how residents named informal settlements in Nairobi

In Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, it is estimated that over 70 per cent of the population live in informal settlements.

By 4 months ago

African countries are bad at issuing bonds, so debt costs more: what needs to change

Over the past two decades, African countries have increasingly turned to international capital markets to meet their development financing needs.

By 4 months ago

The fascinating history of how Nairobi slums were named

As these informal settlements grew over the years, their names – and the names of places within them – have grown to encapsulate their history.

By 4 months ago

Just one man survived the Air India crash. What's it like to survive a mass disaster?

Being a sole survivor of a mass casualty may have its own complex psychological challenges. Survivors can experience guilt they lived when others died.

By 4 months ago

Albert Ojwang's murder exposes how state has failed to deal with police brutality

Successive governments have used the police to suppress dissent. This has cemented a culture of violence and police impunity.

By 4 months ago

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Why some humans grow horns

Cutaneous horns are compacted keratin masses that grow outward from a person’s skin. Their typically curved shape and hardened texture make them look like the horns of a goat, sheep or cow.

By 1 day ago

Climate talks: Children and young people seen, photographed, but not allowed to decide anything

The global youth climate justice movement uses protests, strikes and court cases to block fossil fuel expansion.

By 1 day ago

Premium

Why mediation hasn't worked for Sudan so far

Several mediation initiatives have been launched since the start of the war, with limited success. The AU has also been unable to get the main warring parties to agree to a permanent ceasefire.

By 3 days ago

Premium

Why men need more exercise than women to see the same heart benefits

Researchers found that men need roughly twice as much exercise as women to see the same reduction in their heart disease risk.

By 3 days ago

Premium

How Ethiopia used starvation as a weapon against Tigray

The lack of reliable data caused by government restrictions, international inaction and structural blind spots in global famine monitoring systems hid the scale of one of the deadliest wars.

By 3 days ago

Premium

Bamako under siege: Why Mali's army is struggling to break jihadist blockade

Multiple terrorist groups operate in Mali. An al Qaida-linked group known locally as Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is the most lethal, considering the audacity and scale of its attacks.

By 3 days ago

Premium

How Suluhu's grip on power has been shaken

By putting her main rival Tundu Lissu on trial for treason and barring others from contesting the presidency, Hassan has crossed autocratic thresholds that other leaders have not.

By 3 days ago