By Hugo Bourhis * NEW YORK (IDN | Africa Renewal) – When some people think of artificial intelligence (AI), they think of humanoid robots turning against their creators in an apocalyptic science fiction movie. In reality, AI is already playing an increasing role in many existing and evolving technologies, from driverless cars to translation software, […]
Diamonds Leave Sierra Leone Villagers Poor and Sick
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Since the first diamonds were found in the 1930s, the villagers of Kono, in the eastern region of Sierra Leone, have seen the wealth under their feet make others rich. Instead of joy, the shiny stones have left a trail of contaminated water, pockmarked mud […]
DR Congo Violence Survivors Highlight Armed Militia Brutality
By Kwame Buist GENEVA (IDN) – Two months since hundreds of thousands of people fled violence in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), UN humanitarians have warned that armed militia continue to make their safe return impossible. Briefing journalists in Geneva on August 16, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Babar Baloch said that staff […]
New Initiative Helps Tackling Clean Cooking Crisis in Rwanda
By Kizito Makoye KIGALI (IDN) – At a bustling neighbourhood, nestled on the rolling hills of Nyamirambo, southwest of the Rwandan capital city, Kigali every woman has a story to tell about a smart cooker and how it has removed hardship when someone is preparing a meal. “It’s such a good stove, it doesn’t emit […]
New Ebola Drugs Show Exciting Promise With 90% Cure Rate
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – Two experimental treatments are raising hopes among medical personnel that a cure for the deadly virus Ebola has been found. The antibody-based treatments will now be offered to all patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute […]
Uganda Detains Feminist for ‘Cyberharassment’ of President
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – A prominent university lecturer, poet and gender rights activist has been ordered to serve nine more months in prison for the ‘crime’ of criticizing President Yoweri Museveni on Facebook. The sentence outraged rights activists. Joan Nyanyuki, director for East Africa at Amnesty International said: “This […]
South African Miners Win Compensation for Lung Diseases
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK | JOHANNESBURG (IDN) – A Johannesburg High Court has approved a pioneering 5 billion rand ($353 million) “class action” settlement on behalf of miners who contracted tuberculosis, silicosis and other chronic lung diseases through their work in the mines. A class action, also known as a class […]
Unexpected Struggles in The Fight Against Ebola
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – The battle to knock out the Ebola virus should have its eyes on the goal. Instead, politics and a divisive struggle between two drug makers has interfered. A key health minister in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has resigned in protest. In his resignation […]
African Media Recall Disturbing Remarks by New British Leader
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK (IDN) – African media greeted the new British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, by recalling some of particularly cringe-worthy remarks made during his formative years in politics. The new Conservative Party leader has a history of gaffes involving Kenya and Africa, having once attacked Barack Obama saying the […]
EU Leaps to Africa’s Rescue with Clean Water
By Jeffrey Moyo BLANTYRE, Malawi (IDN) – In Karonga, a district in the northern region of Malawi, 32-year old Mavis Banda, a mother of three daughters busies herself drawing safe drinking water from a borehole located at the heart of her village. Banda and several other villagers claimed they long abandoned a local well where […]