Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · 13d

Remember "Day Zero" in Cape Town a few years ago? It is and has been everyday for many African cities. #Water youtube.com/shorts/unMgi...

Africans Are Living Past Cape Town Type Day Zeros #NoWater #Sanitation

YouTube video by DARE

youtube.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Sep 16

The payments from 2021 to 2024 were just one example of "grand corruption" in the impoverished nation, according to the report by the U.N. Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan, where average gross domestic product per capita is now a quarter of what it was at independence in 2011.

1

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Sep 16

U.N. investigators on Tuesday accused South Sudanese authorities of plundering their country's wealth, including by paying $1.7 billion to companies affiliated with Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel for road construction work that was never done. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

UN report details 'systematic looting' by South Sudan's rulers as citizens went hungry

U.N. investigators on Tuesday accused South Sudanese authorities of plundering their country's wealth, including by paying $1.7 billion to companies affiliated with Vice President Benjamin Bol Mel for road construction work that was never done.

www.reuters.com

1

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 20

Belated Breaking News: DC Metro now accepts tap to pay!

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 17

Do you have an opinion too?

1

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 8

FYI: Middle Eastern and North Africans (MENA) are considered white (race) in America.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 8

NEPA turned its coal mines into warehouses.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 6

"Gentrification is a step too close to colonization", heard in Mexico City.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jul 6

What a rebuke from the Economist! William Ruto is taking #Kenya to a dangerous place! www.economist.com/leaders/2025...

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jun 13

Farmers. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/12/u...

Trump Tells Farmers ‘Changes Are Coming’ to Immigration Crackdown

www.nytimes.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jun 12

Throwback to the teargas days!

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jun 12

Gives me the creeps. Praying for the families and friends. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06...

Live Updates: Over 200 Dead in Air India Crash, Official Says

www.nytimes.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jun 10

The Opinion pieces keep coming, keep missing -- just like they did in "Africa".

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · Jun 5

A few years ago I had a Google alert for Chad (for obvious reasons) and I kept getting articles about drunk young men in America. #Tchad, however, works great.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 29

The Growing Scandal of $Trump www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/o...

Opinion | The Growing Scandal of $Trump

www.nytimes.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 23

One great thing about this list is seeing a couple of startups tackling post harvest losses. www.bloomberg.com/features/top...

25 African Startups to Watch in 2025

These solutions-oriented companies are focused on tackling regional challenges including health care, food storage, and banking services.

www.bloomberg.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 17

A little reflection: A colony gate in New Delhi reveals more about India’s economy than most headlines: technology is here—but so are three guards managing a sensor that doesn’t need them. #India #Jobs #Technology samuelgebre.substack.com/p/where-tech...

EXTRA: Where Tech Meets the Watchmen

A colony gate in New Delhi reveals more about India’s economy than most headlines: technology is here—but so are three guards managing a sensor that doesn’t need them.

samuelgebre.substack.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 16

Tchad.. www.reuters.com/world/africa...

Chad's former PM taken into custody, party official says

Chad's former prime minister and opposition leader Succes Masra was abducted by security forces from his home on Friday morning, a member of his party said, though the reason was not immediately clear.

www.reuters.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 16

I have a confession. I can't stop buying books and I need your help. Please recommend your all time must reads in non-fiction. Thank you in advance.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 14

The White House National Security Council has ordered U.S. agencies and departments to suspend work with the Group of 20 conference set to be hosted by South Africa this year.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

White House bans U.S. agencies from all work on G-20 in South Africa

President Donald Trump previously suggested a boycott of the G-20 convention over South Africa’s “land confiscation” law.

www.washingtonpost.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 14

“It will absolutely [happen] this year, on the theme of trade and investment,” [said] Fitrell. “It won’t be a summit to talk solely about politics and war, and such. It will prioritise exchange between partners and relations between equals.”

www.theafricareport.com/383817/trump...

Trump expected to host US-Africa Leader’s Summit in New York - The Africa Report.com

State Department’s acting Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Troy Fitrell lays out a six-point trade engagement plan with the continent.

www.theafricareport.com

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 14

AI is so existential that the West/East have thrown all manner of norms out the window, yet basic food security in third world countries registers so little that we force countries to end direct food support to poor households as pre-conditions for ‘life-saving’ loans.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 13

Two stories about refugees on WashPo. Irony is alive and well.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 11

I love to see passive aggressiveness on Delhi roads.

Samuel Gebre @habesha.bsky.social · May 11

Great timing on this piece, Ken.

1