Africa’s ambition to build globally competitive corporations continues to clash with a persistent structural weakness: the near-absence of reliable data, research investment, and business intelligence to guide growth. Analysts warn that without a decisive shift toward research-driven decision-making, African enterprises will struggle to match the scale, resilience, and innovation capacity seen in advanced economies. Across developed nations, research stands at the center of national and private-sector progress. Israel, one of the clearest examples, invests more than seven percent of its GDP in research and development one of the highest ratios in the world. The results are visible in its thriving…
Author: Ohene Anochie
Ohene Anochie
Senior Reporter at AMN News Agency, known for his insightful journalism and in-depth coverage of current events.
A long-standing claim that the United States “funds” Israeli universities is once again under scrutiny, as new analysis from academic experts challenges the narrative and points instead to a far more complex and unequal exchange of scientific value between the two countries. According to research cited in an opinion shared by leading scholars, including Prof. Eric Schmidt of MIT and former Google CEO, the belief that American taxpayers underwrite Israeli academic institutions is “deeply misleading.” Competitive research grants, awarded through global programs also accessed by universities in Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, and more than 100 other nations, account for nearly…
Israeli intelligence agency Mossad has claimed that dozens of members of Hamas and Hezbollah died over the past two weeks after allegedly coming into contact with toxin-treated toilet paper, a development that—if confirmed—would mark one of the most unusual targeted operations in recent years. According to information circulated through Israeli security channels, the deaths reportedly occurred inside facilities used by both groups in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria. Mossad officials have not publicly detailed the type of toxin said to have been used, but sources familiar with the operation described it as a substance activated through skin contact. Israeli officials said…
More than 700 students and staff at the University of Helsinki staged a coordinated walkout on Wednesday, joining nationwide demonstrations demanding an end to Finnish universities’ academic cooperation with Israeli institutions. Similar protests were held in Tampere, Turku, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Rovaniemi, marking one of the largest student mobilizations in Finland this year. Organized by the Students for Palestine movement, protesters called for universities to sever all institutional ties with Israeli partners, particularly those under the EU’s Horizon Europe research program. Demonstrators gathered at the University of Helsinki’s main building at 13:00, with participants arriving from all campuses as…
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog welcomed a delegation of Imams and Muslim community leaders from Senegal, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday. The visit, facilitated by the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to foster peace, coexistence, and partnership between Muslims and Jews, as well as strengthen ties between Africa and Israel. During the meeting, President Herzog highlighted the importance of the delegation witnessing the realities on the ground in Israel, contrasting them with widespread misinformation circulating internationally. He emphasized Israel’s commitment to building strong relationships with African nations, referencing his recent visits…
Israeli intelligence has warned that Syria could descend into chaos controlled by extremist groups if President Ahmad al-Sharaa is assassinated by opposition factions. A senior Israeli official described the situation as “highly likely,” highlighting the risk of a power vacuum that could be exploited by jihadist organizations, including ISIS. “If al-Sharaa is taken out, extremist groups like ISIS could seize control of Syria,” the official said, underscoring the potential regional security implications. The warning comes amid ongoing instability in Syria, where opposition forces and militant groups continue to challenge government authority. Israeli authorities have urged close monitoring of the situation,…
In a revelation of decades-long intelligence work, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu detailed the sophisticated operation that incapacitated Hezbollah’s communication network using sabotaged devices. The plan, years in the making, targeted the terror group’s walkie-talkies and pagers with hidden explosives. Netanyahu recounted how Mossad demonstrated the devices to him months before the Lebanon campaign, initially raising his skepticism. After testing one himself, he acknowledged their destructive capability. The devices were engineered to look ordinary, with explosives concealed inside batteries and other components, making detection virtually impossible. Mossad quietly supplied tens of thousands of these modified walkie-talkies to Hezbollah through seemingly…
The Israel Defense Forces have issued an update on what officials describe as an ongoing and intensive operation inside the underground tunnel network beneath eastern Rafah, where an estimated 200 Hamas fighters were previously reported abandoned. According to the IDF Spokesperson, forces from the Nahal and Golani brigades, supported by Yahalom combat engineers, continue to advance through the subterranean system. Military officials say nine additional Hamas operatives were identified and killed during the latest sweep. The operation is being supported by a combination of targeted airstrikes and specialized engineering equipment designed to collapse and block tunnel routes. More than 30…
Israeli defence officials have warned that the country is preparing a far more aggressive response against Iran than seen in previous confrontations, as military planners anticipate a prolonged period of hostilities. Senior sources say preparations underway in Jerusalem indicate that any forthcoming engagement could extend well beyond the 12-day exchanges witnessed in earlier rounds. The escalation follows heightened tensions across the region and growing concerns over Iran’s strategic posture. Officials suggest Israel’s response framework has shifted significantly in recent weeks, with the security establishment bracing for a sustained campaign should hostilities ignite. The developments mark a sharp rise in regional…
London’s architectural creativity took a festive turn this week as the Museum of Architecture opened its annual Gingerbread City exhibition, showcasing edible interpretations of the capital’s most recognisable landmarks. This year’s standout attraction is a meticulously crafted gingerbread version of Big Ben, created by architects at Purcell the same firm responsible for the tower’s recent real-world restoration. The team sculpted the iconic clockface using clear sugar, allowing it to glow from within, a delicate detail that required precision and patience. Hosted at Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross, the exhibition brings together design teams from across the city to reimagine…
