The country loses 40% of its water to crumbling pipes, with peaks of 45% in the eThekwini (Durban) metropolitan area. Drought, climate change, corruption and ineffective management of funds contribute to the problem. South Africa is a semi-arid country with an average annual rainfall of 497 mm, compared to the global average of 860 mm.…

Mauritius and the United Kingdom have reached an agreement on the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, almost bringing to a close a little-known but truly global dispute. One of the atolls hosts a major US military base. The Chagos Archipelago is located in the heart of the Indian Ocean: a group of 60 small islands…

After diamonds and minerals, soft drinks and other products are increasingly profiting from bloodshed. Most of the world’s supply of Gum Arabic, which the food industry relies on, is controlled by Sudanese warlords. Moreover, alternatives are unlikely to emerge soon. Traditionally, gum Arabic, derived from the sap of acacia trees, serves as an emulsifier in…