Editor's note

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has launched a new political party in Ethiopia. Called the Prosperity Party, it’s brought together three of the four members that formed the governing Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and five regional parties. Yohannes Gedamu writes that the new political formation has potential to unite the country. But it won’t be easy.

Technology is often held up as the panacea for struggling smallholder farmers. But is it? David Harris explains how his research shows that farmers need a lot more than technological support and innovation to help them out of poverty.

Julie Masiga

Peace + Security Editor

Top Stories

Prime minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa. EPA-EFE/STR

Ethiopia’s new party is welcome news, but faces big hurdles

Yohannes Gedamu, Georgia Gwinnett College

Ethiopia's new political outfit could bring minority groups into the centre of power.

Hard work and poor prospects for smallholder farming households in Africa. Swathi Sridharan (formerly ICRISAT, Bulawayo)

Can African smallholders farm themselves out of poverty?

David Harris, Bangor University; Jordan Chamberlin, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT); Kai Mausch, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)

Smallholder farming might not be able to generate enough value on its own, but farmers still need support.

Politics + Society

BBC caught in the crossfire: why the UK’s public broadcaster is becoming a big election story

Richard Thomas, Swansea University; Declan McDowell-Naylor, Cardiff University

The BBC is looking exposed after a campaign in which it has taken fire from all sides.

Boris Johnson’s Brexit policy explained

Oliver Patel, UCL

Boris Johnson wants to leave by the end of January 2020 and hopes to have a trade deal agreed within a year.

Business + Economy

Paul Volcker helped shape an independent Federal Reserve – a vital legacy that’s under threat

Michael Klein, Tufts University

Volcker's legacy involves more than fighting inflation – he showed why central banks need to remain free of meddling from politicians, including the president.

A useful guide for CEOs on how to make ethical decisions in business

Kenneth Amaeshi, University of Edinburgh

What happens when a leader's beliefs and decisions have an indirect negative impact on the business?

Health + Medicine

Understanding autism: new research dispels common assumptions

Ruth Byrne, Trinity College Dublin; Kinga Morsanyi, Queen's University Belfast

Our new book explores the autistic mind -- and shows that we're not as different as we might think.

Antibiotic resistance and cancer: six surprising places scientists are looking for new drugs

Linamaria Pintor Escobar, Edge Hill University; Alba Iglesias Vilches, Newcastle University

Leafcutter ants, Komodo dragons and even your nose are potential sources of new antimicrobial compounds.