A recent report by Sophos highlights the significant impact of the global cybersecurity skills shortage on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The survey, which gathered insights from over 5,000 IT and cybersecurity professionals in 14 countries, reveals that organizations with fewer than 500 employees are disproportionately affected, making them highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. The report finds critical skills shortage where the SMBs rank the lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise as their second-highest risk, following zero-day threats. In comparison, larger organizations list it as their seventh. It also identified limited capacity in which one-third of SMBs reported having no active monitoring…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has been impeached at the second time of asking, as lawmakers voted in favour of the motion by 204 votes to 85 against, with three abstentions and eight invalid ballots. It was the second impeachment vote in the space of a week, with President Yoon surviving the first vote in the National Assembly last Saturday. The majority of People Party lawmakers, the country’s ruling party, had boycotted the motion which meant it could not reach the minimum 200 votes out of 300 in order to pass. Today, all lawmakers were present for the vote. His…
Tokyo is making a significant shift in its work culture by introducing a four-day workweek for government employees, starting in April 2025. This initiative aims to support young families and address Japan’s alarmingly low fertility rates, which have reached a historic low of 1.2 children per woman. To maintain population stability, a fertility rate of at least 2.1 is necessary. Governor Yuriko Koike announced this policy as part of a broader strategy to enhance work-life balance and encourage family planning. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of flexibility in work arrangements, stating, “We will review work styles to ensure…
Tanzania is making strides in tackling HIV among children and adolescents through an innovative Family-Centred Approach (FCA) led by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the National Network of People Living with HIV. According to a recent report by the Fund, the model aims to break barriers preventing children from accessing HIV testing and treatment while addressing stigma and structural inequalities. The FCA leverages trained Treatment Advocates—community members living with HIV—to locate, link, test, and treat children who might otherwise go undiagnosed. In just one year, over 860 children in the Mbeya and Rungwe regions were tested, with 14% testing…
A global study conducted by the O’Neill Institute for National and International Health Law and the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed significant gaps in legal protections for health workers, with mental health services and safeguards against discrimination being the most neglected. The study reviewed over 1,200 laws from 182 countries to assess their alignment with the Global Health and Care Worker Compact, adopted in 2021 by the World Health Assembly. The Compact was designed to provide countries with a roadmap to safeguard health workers’ rights, promote decent work, and ensure safe working environments. It was a response to the…
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a remarkable 38% drop in global drowning deaths since 2000—a testament to the effectiveness of prevention strategies. However, despite this progress, drowning remains a grave public health concern, with more than 30 lives lost to drowning every hour. In 2021 alone, over 300,000 people died from drowning. The report underscores the disproportionate impact of drowning on young people: nearly half of all drowning deaths occur among individuals under 29 years old, and a quarter involve children under the age of five. Children without adult supervision are particularly at risk. “The…
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill tagged “Budget of Hope for Sustainability and Food Security” to the State House of Assembly. The budget, valued at N1.558 trillion, prioritizes agriculture, which received the highest allocation of N399 billion. During the presentation on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the Assembly Complex in Minna, Bago emphasized the need to strengthen the foundation for socio-economic development and food security under the New Niger Agenda. He noted that the 2025 budget represents a 48.32% increase from the 2024 appropriation. Revenue and expenditure breakdown The budget comprises N196.3 billion…
The Government of Tanzania, through the Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), has unveiled a €15 million, four-year project funded by the European Union to revolutionize the Dar es Salaam Port, enhance trade facilitation, and improve urban mobility across East and Central Africa’s trade corridors. Implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA), the Port of Antwerp, and UN-Habitat, with management support from Enabel, the project aims to tackle persistent inefficiencies hindering the port’s performance. As a critical gateway for Tanzania and its landlocked neighbors, the Dar es Salaam Port plays a pivotal role in regional trade. However, operational challenges and barriers have limited its…
The beauty industry in Africa is witnessing a significant rise, with countries across the continent spending millions on the importation of false beards, eyebrows, and eyelashes in 2023. According to data from Trade Map, South Africa leads the pack with imports worth $5.91 million, reflecting the growing demand for beauty enhancements in the region. Following South Africa, Zimbabwe imported $4.78 million worth of these products, while Mali and Uganda recorded imports of $3.76 million and $3.71 million, respectively. Ghana rounded out the top five with imports valued at $3 million. Nigeria among the top importers Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation,…
The 2024 Global Health Expenditure Report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a concerning trend: government spending on health per capita decreased in 2022 across all income groups after an initial surge during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, titled “Global Spending on Health: Emerging from the Pandemic,” has been released in conjunction with this year’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, observed annually on December 12. The 2024 campaign focuses on improving financial protection to ensure everyone can access the healthcare they need. Why government spending matters Government funding is a cornerstone of delivering Universal Health…