Art & Culture

This visual securitisation not only heightens fears of dependency but also primes certain audiences – in the US, Japan and France, for instance – to view China’s presence as a direct challenge to their interests.

All observers would be wise to note that the famous dictum “Russia is never as strong as she looks … nor as weak as she looks” has been ominously rephrased by Putin himself: “Russia was never so strong as it wants to be and never so weak as it is thought to be.”

The mobile communication landscape is on the brink of a major transformation as Apple, SpaceX, and T-Mobile join forces to integrate Starlink satellite connectivity into iPhones.

Emerging writers, whether first-time authors or from disadvantaged communities, often struggle to have their voices heard. Abdullahi Bulle has crafted a vibrant platform for African authors. His online platform and physical bookshop help authors on their self-publishing journey.

“Assuming that the playing field shall be free and fair, with the opposition allowed to freely tour the country and sell its vision, it also depends on how CHADEMA's unity shall sustain during the next eight months, and also as has been seen in other African countries where incumbents have been toppled, whether the opposition shall coalesce and field a single candidate.”

Helen, a baby eland, was forcibly separated from her mother at birth by an electric fence in Kenya’s Pardamat Conservancy. Found weak and malnourished the following day by a local herder boy, he took her to Jackson the conservancy manager to be protected and cared for by the conservancy rangers.

Things looked bad for Francis Thoya when the event planner lost his income and became a shark meat seller. But that led to an “aha” moment that has since become a win-win for him and his community.

Seventeen years ago, African Union member countries committed to spending 1% of gross domestic product on research and development. By 2019, the continent’s average remained only at 0.42% – far below the global average of 1.7%. Not a single African country has met the 1% target. South Africa, the continent’s leader in research and development spending, peaked at just 0.85% of GDP.

Intrigued by threads he had come across online, Lesalon Kasaine hunted down Peter Ngugi, to hear first-hand his life story and unpack how the Kenyan became a household name in India. Kusaine, who edits the news site Qasini, appears here as a guest writer for bird story agency.