Staff Writer

 A top livestock health problem in Africa that touches the lives of millions of people relying on small ruminants for income and food security is the battle against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), affecting small ruminants. Sheep and goats are important in Central Africa, where a diversity of animal species-from cattle to camels, aquatic animals to wildlife -and small ruminants exists. Most of the above are found in the arid […]

 The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its fifty-eighth regular session from 24 February to 4 April 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, starting with its high-level segment from 24 to 26 February, when dignitaries representing more than 100 Member States will address the Council. The session will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, 24 February under the Presidency of Ambassador Jürg Lauber of Switzerland. Delivering statements […]

 Egyptian authorities must immediately release dozens of people arbitrarily detained and prosecuted on terrorism-related charges, solely for posting online content supporting calls for an end to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s rule, Amnesty International said today. The crackdown took place ahead of the anniversary of the 25 January 2011 revolution, a time when authorities routinely escalate repression to prevent any peaceful protests. Since late December 2024, security forces have arbitrarily arrested […]

 Having been briefed on the important matter of moving social grant recipients from the South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA’s) Gold Cards to Postbank’s Black Cards, the Portfolio Committee on Social Development and the Portfolio Committee on Communication and Digital Technologies welcomed an undertaking that all beneficiaries will continue to receive their grants beyond the new deadline of 20 March 2025. However, those without Black Cards after the new deadline […]

 The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services has urged the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) to implement immediate strategies in place to curb the alarming rising tide of contraband in correctional facilities. The committee heard that to date more than 41 000 cellphones and well over 200 000 proceeds of illicit drugs have been confiscated, while 64 correctional services officials have been implicated in these illegal acts, according to the briefing […]

 The Portfolio Committee on Tourism and the Portfolio Committee Science, Technology and Innovation received a briefing yesterday from the departments of Tourism and of Science, Technology and Innovation on the National Astro-Tourism Strategy implementation plan. Outlining the purpose of the joint meeting, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Ms Tsakani Shiviti, said the portfolio committees are particularly interested on how the strategy will bring communities […]

 Speaking at the pass-out ceremony for 98 officers (including 14 females) who completed a six-month Sub-Unit Commanders Course at the Airborne Training School-Amilcar Cabral (ATSAC) in Nakasongola yesterday, Maj Gen. Mugisha re-echoed the words of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who said, “Training is the backbone of a military. Without training, you can never have a competent force. A modern army is built on ideology, discipline and skills.” Maj Gen. Mugisha […]

 Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan will make a Working Visit to Johannesburg, South Africa from 20 to 21 February 2025 to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. This is at the invitation of South Africa’s Minister ­of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, in South Africa’s capacity as the 2025 G20 Presidency. Singapore has been consistently invited to the G20 meetings, including as Convenor of the Global Governance […]

 HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi met on Wednesday with HE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba, who is currently visiting the country. During the meeting, they reviewed the cooperation between the two countries and ways to support and develop it, in addition to a number of topics of mutual interest.Distributed by APO […]