Media Statement: Committee on Social Development Resolves to Refer Children’s Amendment Bill to Department of Social Development for Re-Drafting

The Portfolio Committee on Social Development has resolved to defer the Children’s Amendment Bill to the Department of Social Department to allow it to redraft the 126 clauses the previous committee did not process. That previous committee passed only 12 foster care-related clauses so that Parliament and the department could meet a North Gauteng High Court deadline. The department will redraft these clauses, taking into consideration the substantive submissions and […]

August 29, 2024 3

APO International

Media Statement: Universities Need to Apply More Scrutiny when Appointing Vice Chancellors and Council Members

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has called upon universities to apply greater scrutiny when appointing vice chancellors and council members and should ensure that appointees have a high regard for ethics. The committee was briefed today on progress made by the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in dealing with various administrative challenges. The briefing concerning the state of affairs at Vaal […]

August 29, 2024 4

APO International

Silver Jubilee Anniversary of Eritrean Community in Wiesbaden

The Eritrean community in Wiesbaden and its environs, Germany, celebrated the Silver Jubilee anniversary of its establishment on 24 August. At the celebratory event, which was attended by Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, Eritrea’s Consul General in Frankfurt, Mr. Simon Yakob, chairman of the Eritrean community, provided an extensive briefing on the objectives of establishing the community and its journey over the past 25 years. The occasion featured a photo exhibition, as […]

August 29, 2024 8

Africa

Africa records nearly 1 million new cancer cases annually

The CEO of the Cancer Association of Namibia, Rolf Hansen, is attending the 74th Session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa in Congo Brazzaville. Hansen highlighted the urgent cancer crisis in the region, noting that over 900,000 new cancer cases and 586,000 cancer deaths occur annually in Africa. In response, the UICC community has welcomed the proposed framework as a crucial step forward. To maximize […]

August 29, 2024 18

Namibia

Late release of political party manifestos risks voter confusion

Following the release of a media monitoring report on election coverage by the Office of the Media Ombudsman on Wednesday, 28 August 2024, Dr. Wanja Njuguna, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Journalism and Media Technology at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), raised concerns about the timing of political party manifestos. She pointed out that releasing these documents late in the election cycle could negatively impact […]

August 29, 2024 86

World

EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels

European foreign ministers are meeting in Brussels today, kicking off key discussions as the EU returns from its summer break. This meeting was supposed to happen in Budapest, but the EU boycotted it due to frustrations with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's self-declared "Peace Mission" earlier this year. Pablo Gutierrez reports.

August 29, 2024 47

Health / Medical

WHO calls for greater access to assistive tech

As the 2024 Paralympic games get underway in Paris, the head of the World Health Organisation has urged greater access to the so-called assisted technology that many people with disabilities rely on. WHO director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the devices which include running blades, wheelchairs, and prosthetic limbs are important for the Paralympians. However, around the world, many still do not have access to these technologies due to the […]

August 29, 2024 21

Business / Economics

New Bank of Namibia bonds expected to improve financial access

The Bank of Namibia is preparing to introduce the country’s first retail bonds, allowing low to medium-income earners to invest in government debt. According to Max Rix, Head of Investments at Simonis Storm Securities, this initiative could broaden financial inclusion and promote financial literacy among Namibians.

August 29, 2024 97

World

UN suspends Gaza staff movement after attack

The United Nations World Food Programme has temporarily suspended the movement of its staff in the Gaza Strip. This comes after its team came under fire near an Israeli checkpoint while two of its armoured vehicles were escorting a convoy of lorries with humanitarian aid. UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, says increasing violence compromises the ability to deliver life-saving assistance. The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Wednesday condemned […]

August 29, 2024 16