As we approach World Diabetes Day on November 14, civil society organisations warn that the cost of inaction on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes is already being paid for in lives, livelihoods and lost potential. The Healthy Living Alliance (HEALA) is calling on the South African government to increase the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) on sugary drinks from 11% to 20%, to help curb sugary drinks consumption and reduce the financial burden on the health system from rising non-communicable diseases. “Diabetes is now the second leading cause of death in South Africa,1 yet every year we allow preventable diseases to…
Author: Montage Africa
A seismic shift is underway in Nigerian pop music, as a new vanguard of artists rises to global prominence alongside the established “Big Three” of Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy. This fresh class, led by the dynamic trio of Rema, Tems, and Asake, is expanding the very sound and scope of Afropop. Rema’s high-energy hits, including the multi-platinum “Calm Down (Remix),” have taken him from viral freestyles to sold-out arenas worldwide. Tems has captivated international audiences with her soulful vocals, becoming a Grammy-winning and highly sought-after collaborator. Completing this new trifecta, Asake has taken the scene by storm with an unparalleled hit-making…
The Dangote Group has agreed on a $1 billion deal with Zimbabwe to establish an integrated industrial complex, marking a major boost for the country’s Vision 2030 industrialization agenda. The investment spans cement production, mining, and energy, including a cement factory with a limestone quarry, a coal mine, and a power station to support operations and strengthen the national energy supply. This integrated approach is strategically designed to bolster Zimbabwe’s manufacturing capabilities while simultaneously tackling its persistent energy and infrastructure deficits. The project aims to reduce reliance on imports, expand local manufacturing, and generate thousands of jobs, particularly for youth. By fostering…
A groundbreaking chemical analysis has provided definitive proof that ancient Egyptians consumed opium, confirming what textual and archaeological evidence has long suggested. Researchers from the Yale Ancient Pharmacology Program analyzed organic residue from a 2,500-year-old alabaster vase from the Babylonian Collection using a novel, nondestructive technique. Their examination revealed the presence of key opium biomarkers, including morphine and noscapine. This discovery moves beyond confirming ritual or medicinal use, strongly indicating that opium was also used recreationally across different levels of society. The vase is inscribed in Akkadian, Elamite, Persian, and Egyptian and dates to the reign of Xerxes I. Its discovery…
Damian Burnett, Sales Director at VAS-X Modern customers no longer compare their experience with one telecoms operator against another, they benchmark their engagements against the best digital interactions they’ve had anywhere. This means that if your self-service portal isn’t intuitive, easy to use and available 24/7, your customers will notice and they might even be inspired to go elsewhere. In fact, a 2017 McKinsey & Co study found that the telecoms companies that implement a comprehensive, analytics-based approach to managing their customer base – which means that they’re using customer data to improve how they address customers needs and provide better experiences –…
By Rédaction Africanews with agencies Government officials in Cameroon updated the death toll in last month’s post-election protests, saying on Wednesday that 16 people died and more than 800 others were arrested. Data from two United Nations sources estimate that at least 48 civilians were killed during the demonstrations, while opposition groups put the toll at 55. There has been widespread international criticism of the violent crackdown by security forces on the protesters. Human Rights Watch on Wednesday accused the police and gendarmes of using lethal force, committing killings, and arbitrarily detaining hundreds of people. The NGO said many protesters…
By Agencies Doctors in Gabon say a new single-dose malaria treatment could help curb the disease’s growing resistance to existing drugs. Led by Dr. Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma at the Medical Research Centre of Lambaréné, researchers tested a one-time treatment combining four widely available anti-malarial compounds — sulfadoxine, pyrimethamine, artesunate, and pyronaridine. The new drug cleared malaria parasites in 93% of patients, matching the success of the standard three-day regimen. “As malaria mortality rises, we need solutions now,” said Mombo-Ngoma. “So we thought, why not make the most of existing anti-malarial drugs.” For many Gabonese, malaria remains a constant struggle. Libreville resident…
By Rédaction Africanews with agencies South Sudan’s President, Salva Kiir, has sacked one of his five vice presidents in a series of firings that come amid escalating internal conflict. Benjamin Bol Mel was appointed in February and had been widely rumoured to be Kiir’s preferred successor. The powerful vice president was also stripped of his position as deputy leader of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party, and was demoted from general to private in the National Security Service. No reason was given for his sacking and no successor has been named. Bol Mel has been under United States.…
By Agencies Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop has rejected claims that Islamist militants are close to seizing the capital, Bamako, calling such fears “far-fetched.” Speaking at the BAMEX’25 Defense Expo on Wednesday, Diop said the government had largely contained the effects of a fuel blockade announced in September by al Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The blockade caused long queues at petrol stations and temporary school closures. “We are very far from the scenario being described outside our country, saying that the terrorists are here or coming to take Bamako,” Diop told reporters, adding that JNIM was “no…
By Rédaction Africanews with AP A constitutional court in the Central African Republic began examining on Wednesday a request to disqualify the head of state from the presidential election scheduled for next December. The petition, filed by the Observatory for Democratic Governance , a civil society organization, argues that President Faustin Archange Touadéra should be disqualified on the grounds that he does not meet the criteria required to run for president. Élysée Nguimalé, president of the group, disputes the origin of the president’s name, claiming that it would indicate a lineage impossible to trace — a requirement stipulated by the country’s Constitution. “The name…