AFRICA

Global economic growth could rebound next year but the number of people living in extreme poverty is expected to remain unchanged after a huge surge this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank warned Tuesday. The bank said three countries (India – 24%, Nigeria – 12%, DR Congo …

Ballito mom Fungai Nyamadzawo, who is accused of murdering her six-year-old daughter Alexia, has a history of mental illness. This emerged when the 42-year-old appeared for the second time in the Umhlali Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday. An anticipated bail application was abandoned. Prosecutor Sanesh Rambaran told Magistrate Blanche van Eeden …

Some 663 new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Nigeria. According to the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), the new cases have increased Nigeria’s tally to 13,464. In a tweet on Tuesday night, June 9, 2020, the Center reported that deaths related to the virus have …

South Africa’s Health Minister Zweli Mkhize has said Cuban doctors brought in to fight the coronavirus outbreak will cost the country $14m (£11m). The minister said the 187 specialists – including biostatisticians, epidemiologists, family physicians and health technologists – will be accommodated until 2021. Dr Mkhize said the medics were …

In our series of letters from African journalists, Joseph Warungu captures the frustrations of Kenyans who have been pleading with the government to ease the measures taken to curb the spread of Covid-19. “Mr President, we beg you – please, please set us free!” These are not the words of …

The health authorities in Malawi’s northern city of Mzuzu say 158 people have received treatment for various injuries they suffered following a stampede that ensued when thousands of mostly young people reported for government job interviews. The health ministry announced that it was hiring hundreds of health workers to go …

A 32-year-old man was sentenced to a 42-year prison term by the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court for his role in the hijacking of an abalone truck in the Western Cape in 2017. According to a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Zukisa Sibango was convicted of two counts of attempted …

Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza, aged 55, has died after suffering a cardiac arrest, the government says. He was admitted to hospital on Saturday after feeling unwell, his condition improved but on Monday he had a cardiac arrest and efforts to revive him were unsuccessful, officials say. After 15 years in …

A Nigerian man has been arrested after allegedly raping a pregnant woman in Ryom local government area of Plateau State. The man identified as Nura Umaru confessed raping the woman because her husband killed his cow. According to a report by naijapledge.ng, Nura was arrested by Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the …

The African Court on Human and Peoples’ Right has started its 57th Ordinary Session through a virtual platform with affirmation that nothing should stop justice even as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic. The court said at the heart of the COVID-19 turmoil, justice must take resolute steps because it is the keystone of …