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Month: April 2020

Development Health Advice 

How can schools open up again safely? The UN has some new guidelines

Global Author
Launched in March by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Bank, the Coalition works to foster inclusive learning opportunities. “Rising inequality, poor health outcomes, violence, child labour and child marriage are just some of the long-term threats for children who miss out on school”, said UNICEF Executive Director… Read More
Africa 

South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg dies

Village Reporter,
South African anti-apartheid activist Denis Goldberg has died at his home near Cape Town, aged 87. Goldberg was a prominent member of the ruling African National Congress and stood trial alongside Nelson Mandela. He spent 22 years in prison for his involvement with the ANC’s fight against apartheid, the racist system of oppression imposed by the white minority government. When… Read More
OP-ED Opinions 

Mubarak Bala: Death Threats, Blasphemy And Police Investigation In Kano By Leo Igwe

Leo Igwe,
Two days ago, the police arrested Mubarak Bala, President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria, in Kaduna. Detectives from the Kano State Police Command went to his residence, arrested and later detained him at Gbabasawa police station. According to local sources, the police were planning to transfer him to Kano where some lawyers had lodged a petition against him. They… Read More
Africa 

DRC:4 militiamen killed at Kahuzi Biega National Park

Village Reporter,
Four militiamen were killed and four wounded in the Kahuzi Biega National Park (PNKB) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo during an operation against a group engaged in illegal activities. A park guard was injured in the thigh during the joint operation conducted Monday and Tuesday by PNKB guards and the Congolese army, a park spokesman said. The operation, which… Read More
Africa 

UN prepares for potentially devastating COVID-19 outbreak in conflict-ravaged northeast Nigeria

Village Reporter
Displaced people there already face outbreaks of several deadly diseases, including cholera, malaria and measles, and fighting has severely weakened the health system: more than a third of facilities have been destroyed in attacks, and there is limited access to drinking water and sanitation infrastructure.  IOM fears an outbreak of COVID-19 would exacerbate the current situation, placing further stress on… Read More
Africa 

Standard and Poor’s downgrades S. Africa’s credit ratings

Village Reporter,
Standard and Poor’s on Wednesday lowered the credit rating for South Africa by one notch to “BB-” due to the “significant adverse implications” of the coronavirus pandemic on the country’s already-weakened economy. “South Africa’s already contracting economy will face a further sharp COVID-19-related downturn in 2020,” after contracting in the second half of 2019 due partly to the severe rolling… Read More
Africa 

Ivory Coast withdraws from African Human Rights and Peoples Court

Village Reporter,
Ivory Coast withdrew from the African Human Rights and Peoples Court, a week after the tribunal ordered the West African nation to suspend an arrest warrant against presidential hopeful Guillaume Soro, who on Tuesday was sentenced to 20 years in jail. The decision to pull out was taken at a weekly cabinet meeting, government spokesman Sidi Toure told reporters on… Read More
Africa 

COVID-19: US criticises South Africa for accepting Cuban doctors

Village Reporter,
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday criticised South Africa and Qatar for accepting doctors from Cuba to battle the coronavirus, accusing the communist island of profiting from the pandemic. Cuba’s globe-trotting doctors have long been a source of diplomatic soft power and pride for Havana, but the US says the medical workers only benefit their government and has… Read More