Gallery identifies sitter in centuries-old portrait of black woman
For over six years, a striking 18th-century portrait at the Art Gallery of Ontario remained a mystery—its artist, subject, and origins unknown. Now, thanks to a global team of art historians, botanists, and Dutch genealogy hobbyists, the painting has been identified as Portrait of Eleonora Susette, an enslaved mixed-race woman from Guyana painted by Jeremias […]
Semenya slams IOC’s return to gender testing
Caster Semenya, the two-time Olympic 800-meter champion, has condemned the International Olympic Committee’s decision to reinstate gender verification tests for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, calling it a profound disrespect to women. The South African sprinter, who has spent over a decade fighting sex eligibility rules, expressed particular disappointment that the policy shift came under […]
Africa’s nuclear ambitions grow—but big hurdles remain
Across Africa, interest in nuclear power is growing as governments search for reliable, low-carbon energy, but turning ambition into reality remains difficult. Today, the continent’s only plant operates at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town in South Africa, supplying a small share of the nation’s electricity. Still, countries from Egypt to Kenya and Ghana […]
Gene-editing offers hope for sickle cell patients
A potential breakthrough in the fight against sickle cell disease is raising hope across Africa, where the vast majority of global cases occur. Researchers say advances in gene-editing could move treatment beyond symptom management toward a possible cure. The process involves extracting a patient’s stem cells, modifying their DNA, and returning them to the body—an […]
Saudi Arabia turns to Africa in economic expansion
Saudi Arabia is rapidly transforming its insular past into an outward-looking economic powerhouse, and Africa sits at the heart of that vision. Under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 plan, the Kingdom has pledged over $40 billion in investments across the continent, targeting ports, agriculture, mining, and renewable energy. From Acwa Power’s sprawling solar […]
Cleopatra comes to life in immersive exhibition
The legend of Cleopatra is being reimagined through immersive technology in a major exhibition opening in London. Cleopatra: The Experience, debuting at Immerse LDN near the ExCeL London Waterfront, blends virtual reality, holograms, and historical artefacts to transport visitors into the queen’s world. Spanning nine interactive galleries, the show recreates ancient Alexandria, allowing guests to […]
Congo moves to disarm Rwandan genocide-linked militia
Congo’s army has launched a disarmament campaign against the FDLR—a militia tied to the perpetrators of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide—in a potentially decisive move toward implementing last June’s US-brokered peace agreement with Rwanda. Lieutenant General Nduru Jacques Ychaligonza announced that fighters must surrender “willingly or by force,” with a reception site established in Kisangani to receive […]
Nigeria launches digital trade platform for ports
Nigeria is taking a significant step toward fixing one of its most persistent economic headaches. The country’s National Single Window—a centralized digital platform designed to dramatically reduce bureaucratic delays for importers and exporters—is launching its first phase, starting with one shipping line and one port. The urgency is real: bringing goods from Europe to Lagos […]
Ghana and Colombia open direct shipping route
Ghana and Colombia are turning the Atlantic Ocean from a symbol of historical tragedy into a corridor of economic opportunity. The two nations have agreed to establish a direct maritime link between Ghana’s Port of Tema and Colombia’s Port of Cartagena, bypassing the costly and time-consuming indirect routes through Europe and North America that have […]
South Africa cuts fuel levy as price surges
South Africa will temporarily slash its fuel levy to $0.18 per liter for gasoline and diesel in April, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced, as surging oil prices driven by the Iran war threaten to spike domestic fuel costs. Consequently, consumers will only pay about $0.18 more rather than the previously expected $0.36. The move aims […]
