1. Zambia sees a steady decrease in new cholera cases
The end is in sight. The Zambian government says it’s made progress in containing a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 70 people since October. According to the Ministry of Health, the number of new cholera cases has dropped by more than 50 percent. Schools and markets that had been closed to curb the disease are now starting to re-open.
The road to recovery has not been free from tension. Just last week the military entered a densely populated slum near the capital city of Lusaka after residents of protested the removal of market vendors, a measure intended to improve hygiene.
ActionAid Zambia reports that no cholera cases were recorded in the areas where they operate. Staff will continue to take precautions to help prevent the spread of disease.
2. Money transfers from US to Mexico reaches record high amid immigration crackdowns
Sending money home has taken on new meaning for many Mexicans living in the US. While these money transfers are helping families in Mexico make ends meet, growing concern over the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown is causing a spike in remittances. Some economists are saying “there is a fear among immigrants that the US government will take away what they have.” Last year, money sent from US to Mexico outdid all Mexican commercial exports combined (not including oil).
Economist or not, one need not look further than recent headlines to connect the dots. Just last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement swept through 98 7-Eleven stores. The agency said these types of immigration raids will likely continue in 2018.
3. Zimbabweans are connecting to Wi-Fi on their daily commute
In cities across the southern African country, public Wi-Fi is quickly becoming a standard feature on commuter minibuses called kombis. Given that kombis are a very common mode of transportation, tens of thousands of Zimbabweans are now able to connect to Wi-Fi every day on their commute – from checking Google Maps to chatting with friends and colleagues to streaming music. Some of the portable Wi-Fi routers can serve up to 32 devices at a time. As more Wi-Fi innovations roll out, both consumers and companies hope to increase public access to Wi-Fi.
