Lead-acid batteries contain several kilogrammes of lead, a potent neurotoxin that is estimated to affect almost 24 million children in DR Congo. Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Crouching outside his home in Kinshasa, Deguache Siwambanaza pulls out a handful of lead sheets from a broken car battery. Nearby, his colleague melts a small chunk…
More than 160 former world leaders and global figures have called on the UK and other rich countries to immediately airlift millions of surplus Covid vaccines to less developed nations. They say it would be unethical for doses to be wasted while thousands are dying with the virus every day. The call comes in a…
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has claimed that most of the country’s problems, including the importing of diseases, stem from foreign wheat aid. “Ethiopia’s problem is wheat aid. With wheat aid comes diseases,” said Mr Abiy. “If we stop it, many of the problems will be solved.” So is Mr Abiy right to associate wheat…
The Sudanese army in cooperation with the police have reopened on Thursday some bridges and streets in the sudanese capital, Khartoum. Roads had been closed by barriers set up by protesters in the wake of the military coup last Monday. The reopening of bridges and streets was closely monitored by the armed forces; some streets…
A senior delegation of ECOWAS arrived on Thursday at Guinean capital, Conakry, for a three day visit. The visit comes almost two months after ECOWAS suspended Guinea’s membership following a coup in the country in early September. The delegation is led by Commission President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou. “The transition has produced a charter, important appointments…
The Nigerian separatist Nnamdi Kanu has pleaded not guilty to charges of terrorism and treason levelled against him by the authorities. Kanus presence in court on Thursday was the first time he had been seen in public since he was repatriated from abroad in June. One of his Lawyers Ifeanyi Ejiofo, say. “He took plea…
Eswatini banned protests amid violence. Jeff Radebe described the situation in the country as disturbing. The internet has been shut down. Africa’s last absolute monarchy Eswatini on Thursday banned protests as regional mediators landed in the kingdom amid rumbling pro-democracy demonstrations. A demonstrator died in hospital on Thursday from gunshot wounds sustained the day before…
Fatu, daughter of 32-year-old Najin, is now only donor left in programme aiming to implant artificially developed embryos into another more abundant rhino species. One of the world’s last two northern white rhinos is being retired from a breeding programme aimed at saving the species from extinction, scientists have said. Najin, 32, is the mother…
UN agency steps up calls for governments to do more to protect and support workers as the pandemic continues to grow. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated between 80,000 and 180,000 healthcare workers have died worldwide due to COVID-19, warning of the danger of burnout, anxiety and fatigue as the virus continues to spread…
South Africa’s ex-president Jacob Zuma on Thursday made his first public appearance since his release from prison on medical parole last month, to lay charges against a chief state prosecutor in his corruption trial. Zuma went to the Pietermaritzburg’s Loop Street Police Station in the eastern city of Pietermaritzburg, where he is on trial for…