Why Are the World’s Youngest Populations Led by Their Oldest Presidents?

The presidents of Cameroon and Ivory Coast, aged 92 and 83, are trying to extend their long periods in power, highlighting a trend in Africa where older leaders govern younger populations. This situation has led to calls for change from the youth,...

Jamaica Pavilion Wins Silver Award at Expo 2025 Japan

The Jamaica Pavilion walked away with a Silver Award at Expo 2025 Japan. The island was recognised for theme development in the shared pavilions ‘Connecting Lives’ category. Kazakhstan won the Gold Medal while the East African country of Djibouti...

Retooling The Trump Administration’s Somalia Policy

For years, the U.S. has backstopped the Somali federal government’s campaign against Al-Shabaab’s insurgency, even as frustration with Mogadishu grew in Washington. With a policy review reportedly pending, Washington should consider how to resolve...

China’s Type 076 blurs line between carrier and assault ship

China’s new amphibious assault ship – a drone-launching, catapult-powered hybrid that combines carrier punch with assault ship flexibility to project power like never before – is rewriting the rules of amphibious warfare. This month, the South...

Ethiopia’s grand renaissance dam a game changer in Nile Basin hydropolitics and water security

Ethiopia officially inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) on the Blue Nile river in the week of September when the country hosted the second African Climate Summit. The occasion was one of great celebration, national pride and...

IGAD Condemns Al-Shabaab Attack on Somali Intelligence Detention Facility

DJIBOUTI – The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has strongly condemned the recent attack carried out by the Al-Shabaab militant group on the Godka Jilacow detention and investigation center in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu. In an...

Water wars: has GERD reset Africa’s hydropolitics?

Water wars: has GERD reset Africa’s hydropolitics? Water scarcity in Africa is a crisis, and the GERD conflict shows why mutually beneficial cooperation agreements are vital. Published on 14 October 2025 in ISS Today By Dhesigen Naidoo Research...

Rwanda eyes bigger share of Africa’s $4trn service market under AfCFTA

According to Trade and Industry Minister Prudence Sebahizi, the government has developed the National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy and its Green Supplement, both of which prioritise service exports as a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable...

Africa Records 54% Drop In Type 2 Poliovirus Cases, 200 Million Children Vaccinated In 2025

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number of African countries with active type 2 poliovirus outbreaks between 2024 and 2025 has declined from 24 to 14, with the total virus detections dropping by 54 percent as of October this year. In a...

Egypt’s Expanding Footprint in Somalia

As Cairo’s influence in the Horn grows, Somaliland has a critical role in Egypt’s power struggle with Ethiopia Egypt’s widening military and political footprint in Somalia—and mounting signs of quiet maneuvering in Somaliland—signal a new phase in...

WHO: Type 2 Poliovirus Prevalence in Africa Drops By 54%

•As 15 countries record 200 million vaccinations in 10 months The World Health Organization (WHO) said the number of African countries with active type 2 poliovirus outbreaks between 2024 and 2025 has declined from 24 to 14, with the total virus...

How submarine cables work, why we need them

Being constantly engrossed in wireless communication thanks to the rapid advancement of digital infrastructures for day-to-day operations, it often feels like we are immersed in a sea of online activities and the internet travels invisibly through...

26 new Biosphere Reserves: UNESCO’s continues unprecedented expansion of its global network

This week, UNESCO gathered more than 2,000 international experts, public decision-makers, civil society, Indigenous representatives and youth for the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China, to take stock of the achievements of...

EDR transforms into Holding Company with World Bank support

The Ethio-Djibouti Railway (EDR) SC is undergoing a significant transformation into a holding company, driven by a newly secured World Bank project. This strategic shift positions the railway operator as a vital contributor to engineering and...

Study reveals overlooked cultural threat to wildcats across Africa

The role that cultural demand plays in driving hunting and trade of many species of wildcats is poorly understood. Research commissioned by the wildcat conservation NGO Panthera found widespread use across Africa by traditional leaders, healers...

Africa Slashes Polio Cases By 54% — But ‘The Last Mile Is Toughest,’ WHO Warns

1 ABUJA – Africa is closer than ever to eradicating polio, with virus detections dropping by 54% in just one year, but the World Health Organization (WHO) says the fight is far from over. “We stand together to celebrate Africa’s progress towards a...

News Digest: Foreign Media on Kazakhstan’s Pristine Snow, Dimash Qudaibergen’s Global Triumph, AI Ambitions, and More

ASTANA – The Astana Times has selected articles from global media outlets covering Kazakhstan. This week’s foreign media digest features reports on the country’s growing adventure tourism scene, Dimash Qudaibergen’s historic concert at Madison...

China deepening global collaboration in meteorological governance

China is deepening its collaboration with the international community in meteorological governance, using artificial intelligence and early warning technologies to help developing countries improve disaster preparedness and climate resilience,...

Second regional renewable summit kicks off in Sierra Leone

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Government of Sierra Leone on Wednesday officially launched the second edition of the Accelerated Partnership for Renewables in Africa (APRA) Investment Forum aimed at scaling up...

New Shipping Route Set to Transform Trade

DP World has launched a new strategic shipping route connecting Jebel Ali Port in the UAE with Berbera Port in Somaliland. The new service, operating every nine days, enhances DP World’s global network and reinforces Berbera’s position as a key...