#africa

#africa

Structural biology is essential for understanding diseases and for developing drugs and vaccines. Africa has few specialists in this field, owing to limited infrastructure, training and mentorship opportunities - despite the efforts of non-profit organizations such as BioStruct-Africa, which I co-founded. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00072-3Competing Interests E.N. received a 2024 Google Award for a socially impactful project enabled by AlphaFold and Google DeepMind sponsorship in 2025 to support the BioStruct-Africa structural-biology training event (series 6). E.N. is also supported by a Wellcome Trust award (grant number 222999/Z/21/Z).

In 2025, the continent's top Facebook markets reveal where the largest user bases are and how gender shapes social media engagement. Despite increasing competition from short-form video platforms such as TikTok and X, Facebook's combination of low data consumption, wide smartphone compatibility, and deep integration with WhatsApp has preserved its dominance in Africa's digital ecosystem. Based on 2025 data from World Population Review, the African countries with the largest Facebook user bases are:

Nationals from Syria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and South Sudan will be prohibited from coming to the US People on Palestinian Authority issued-travel documents are also subject to a total ban Sierra Leone and Laos moved from partial to full restrictions Measures come after an Afghan immigrant was charged in November in the shooting of two National Guards New restrictions to go into effect on January 1

The shift could make African countries among the fastest-growing economies in the world - or create a string of humanitarian crises that may define the start of the next century. By the numbers: Africa will become the world's demographic center of gravity as it more than doubles its population from 2030 to 2100, the U.S. Census Bureau's International Database (IDB) released last week projects.

Africa's official maps are stuck in the past, often either outdated, incomplete-or both. But governments don't have the budgets to fix them, making it difficult to complete projects as complex as deciding where to put new solar plants to as simple as delivering a package. Now a new plan is underway to map the entire continent using satellite data and AI.

A decade on from deadly attacks in Paris, the world's two most notorious jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda have significantly evolved and their branches still pose a global security threat, especially from Africa, analysts say. With strong central leadership, the groups were once able to train and then send commandos into Europe to carry out attacks such as the November 13, 2015 strikes in Paris that left 130 people dead.

Stemaide's goal is to bring science and technology skills to all young Africans. Started in 2022 in Ghana, it has developed a science kit that will work in areas without the internet. Prince Boateng Asare, CEO of Stemaide, says the firm wants to prepare young Africans for the jobs of the future. This is the second in a six-part series on technology in Africa. More on Technology in Africa

The last outbreak of cholera in Britain was in 1866; in the United States there has not been an outbreak since 1911. And yet today people are sick with this ancient disease in 32 countries, with more than 6,800 deaths reported so far this year already exceeding all of last year's toll of 6,000 deaths, which was itself a 50% increase on 2023.

The company just announced a $100 million investment round led by The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development arm of Afreximbank. The raise marks Africa's largest-ever EV mobility investment and cements Spiro as the continent's most aggressive electric motorbike company. Spiro says it plans to deploy more than 100,000 electric bikes across Africa by the end of 2025, a 400% year-over-year jump that underscores its ambition to dominate a category long considered too fragmented to scale.

According to an analysis of shutdowns in 11 different African countries by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) and the African Digital Rights Network (ADRN), each internet blackout deprives millions of citizens and businesses of access to information and communication tools that are essential to their social, economic and political life.

An attempt to promote friendship between Japan and countries in Africa has transformed into a xenophobic row about migration after inaccurate media reports suggested the scheme would lead to a flood of immigrants. The controversy erupted after the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA, said this month it had designated four Japanese cities as Africa hometowns for partner countries in Africa: Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania.

In recent months, Africa's skies have been under intense scrutiny as a series of fatal crashes have raised questions over pilot training, regulatory enforcement, maintenance standards, weather preparedness and other key issues pertaining to the safety of continent's aviation industry.

SphiderAss Web Ltd, founded in 2019, specializes in delivering high-quality software solutions and sharing expertise in programming languages, aiming to positively impact society while building lasting client relationships.

The United States has announced a pause on all routine visa applications for citizens of Zimbabwe, citing concerns with the Government of Zimbabwe.

Africa's off-peak or "green season" offers a vibrant landscape and intimate wildlife experiences with fewer crowds, making it a unique time to visit.

JNIM is likely the most powerful al-Qaeda affiliate, but this designation is relative, as al-Qaeda's influence and operational capacity have diminished significantly.

APT41 has initiated a campaign targeting government IT services in Africa, utilizing hardcoded internal service names and embedded proxy servers in their malware.

Egypt has over 3,600 tanks in service, surpassing the combined total of the next two nations in Africa. Its tank fleet is superior in technology and numbers.

"Now, the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is under construction. It will have more than 100,000 tree-like antennas in Australia and almost 200 dish antennas in South Africa."

"Together with our partners, we are proud to have gone further to develop the first clinically proven malaria treatment for newborns and young babies, ensuring even the smallest and most vulnerable can finally receive the care they deserve."

The Trump administration's actions on immigration may inadvertently encourage African nations to foster self-reliance and reduce dependency on Western migration opportunities.

The best time to go on safari in Africa may be during the off-season or 'secret seasons.' This occurs twice a year, in March and April, and again in November.

An alarming number of people across Africa may be taking cancer drugs that don't contain the vital ingredients needed to contain or reduce their disease.

"The International Criminal Court has been asked to review a confidential legal report asserting that the Russia-linked Wagner Group has committed war crimes by spreading images of apparent atrocities in West Africa on social media."

"A lot of these countries, particularly African countries, come to study what we have done in Nigeria..."

Now, the cuts usher in a new era in which African governments will be forced to redefine their priorities, according to Congolese doctor Jean Kaseya.

Countries like Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa are increasing their defense budgets, demonstrating a shift in military strategy and regional influence across Africa.

In a volatile global market, African economies have a unique opportunity to diversify trade partnerships and reduce dependence on single markets, fostering economic resilience.

Through our training programs, we're creating a new class of African tech talent skilled in automation, systems integration, and no-code tools.