By Craig Morris, Senior Researcher, Agricultural Research Council - Animal Production, University of KwaZulu-Natal
For 75 years, grasslands research conducted just outside Pietermaritzburg, South Africa has informed policy makers and farmers about sustainable management, while training generations of students.
Grasslands and savannas cover more than 60% of South Africa. They are vital not only for livestock and wildlife forage but also for providing key ecosystem services such as water regulation, carbon storage, biodiversity, cultural resources and recreation.
The Ukulinga…
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By Edward Khomotso Nkadimeng, Post Doc Fellow: AI and Data Systems in Nuclear/Particle Physics, Stellenbosch University
In most industries, maintenance is a waiting game. Things are fixed when they break. But in the 21st century, an age defined by data and automation, that approach no longer makes sense. The solution could be predictive maintenance. This is an approach that uses sensors and software to analyse equipment performance in real time and predict when it…
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By Thelma Obiakor, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Cambridge
Nigeria’s basic education landscape consists of public (government) schools and a diverse private sector. Private schools in Nigeria refer to educational institutions that are run by private individuals, religious organisations, foundations or business enterprises. These schools are diverse in terms of size, cost, ownership models and target populations, ranging from low-fee neighbourhood schools to faith-based schools and “premium” schools. The number of private schools isn’t captured in official statistics.
Over the past year, many private schools have been closed across the country.…
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By Amnesty International
Responding to the arrest of a Hong Kong student who launched a petition demanding government accountability following a deadly fire in the city’s Tai Po district, Luk Chi-man, the Executive Director of Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas, said: “We extend our deepest condolences to the families of residents, workers, and firefighters who tragically lost their […] The post Hong Kong: Government must investigate and allow freedom of expression following deadly fire appeared first on Amnesty International. ]]>
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image The International Campaign to Ban Landmines holds a demonstration during the Mine Ban Treaty’s Fifth Review Conference in Siem Reap, Cambodia on November 26, 2024 to protest a United States decision to transfer antipersonnel landmines. © 2024, International Campaign to Ban Landmines. (Geneva, December 1, 2025) – The global ban on antipersonnel landmines saves civilian lives but faces serious threats from countries leaving the treaty and new landmine use, Human Rights Watch said today in releasing the “Landmine Monitor 2025” report. Member countries should take…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image A breach at a dam at a Sino-Metals Leach Zambia mine near Kitwe, Zambia, from video taken on February 19, 2025. © 2025 AP Photo/Richard Kille, file When 29-year-old Norbert Amoya went to fetch water from a river in northern Zambia earlier this year, he found large numbers of dead fish and the water had a strange smell. The cause was a major mining disaster. On February 18, a dam at a Chinese copper mine had burst and released toxic waste into a tributary of Zambia’s largest river, threatening the ecosystem, the livelihood of millions, and putting communities…
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By Mong Palatino
“Banning an entire news organization from press conferences hurts the public interest as people will lose access to independent reporting on matters of national importance.”
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By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
Defence Minister Richard Marles has confirmed Australia is monitoring a flotilla of Chinese Navy ships currently in the Philippine Sea but with its destination unknown.
Marles volunteered the information while announcing a shakeup that will establish a new Defence Delivery Agency designed to improve military acquisition and sustainment operations.
The agency will be headed by a national armaments director, who will advise the government on strategies for acquisitions and the delivery of projects after they have been approved. The government says it is the biggest reform…
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By Human Rights Watch
Click to expand Image Seventeenth session of the International Criminal Court's Assembly of States Parties in The Hague, Netherlands, December 2018. © 2018 Syd Boyd/Coalition for the International Criminal Court The International Criminal Court (ICC) is under assault by the United States and Russia, among others, which are determined to undermine its mandate as the court of last resort.ICC member countries need to stay firm in their defense of the court so that impartial justice remains a critical part of the rules-based international order.ICC member countries should use their…
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By James Ley, Deputy Books + Ideas Editor, The Conversation
Jo Case, Senior Deputy Books + Ideas Editor, The Conversation
We found out the favourite 2025 books of 35 expert readers – and the Books & Ideas team shares our own picks, too.
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