Once dismissed as inedible 'dog fruit' left for dogs to scavenge, avocados in India began gaining popularity after actress Shilpa Shetty publicised using them for skincare around 2011, sparking demand and rising prices. Plantations like Cottanad in Kerala's Wayanad region, which initially grew avocado trees only for shade, have since expanded cultivation to 40 acres, with output expected to grow fourfold within a few years.
bbc.co.uk
· 2026-09-04
Researchers led by Brown University analyzed whole genomes from 157 malaria parasite samples collected in Uganda between 2016 and 2024 and found a cluster of mutations, dubbed PIN, in a previously overlooked gene called px1. This cluster—three amino acid changes plus two deletions—appears to be spreading rapidly through parasite populations and is likely driving reduced sensitivity to the main antimalarial drug used across sub-Saharan Africa.
wired.com
· 2026-08-26
Interpol coordinated a multinational law enforcement effort, codenamed Jackal IV, targeting the infrastructure that enables crime-as-a-service operations across West Africa. The operation specifically aimed at organizations linked to groups like Black Axe, which have been tied to fraud, cybercrime, and other illicit activities spanning multiple countries.
darkreading.com
· 2026-08-26
Nigeria has introduced a set of financing, procurement, and infrastructure measures aimed at establishing a sovereign cloud computing capability. The initiative is designed to keep more government and citizen data within national borders while building up local technical expertise.
darkreading.com
· 2026-08-26
Pan-African venture firm Ventures Platform has closed an oversubscribed $83 million Fund II, nearly double its $46 million debut fund from 2022. The firm will now invest across Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt in addition to Nigeria, writing checks up to $3 million in fintech, healthcare, SaaS, and AI-driven startups over the next three to four years.
techcrunch.com
· 2026-08-26
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