Author: Ewang Johnson

With Child Deaths Projected to Rise for the First Time This Century, Gates Foundation Urges Global Leaders to Target Scarce Resources Where They Save the Most LivesNew Goalkeepers Report models impact of global health funding cuts, offers roadmap of best buys and most effective investments to slow this reversalThe number of children dying before their 5th birthday is projected to rise for the first time this century, reversing decades of global progress, according to new data published today in the Gates Foundation’s 2025 Goalkeepers Report.In 2024, 4.6 million children died before their 5th birthday. According to modeling in the report, conducted by…

This week, Valérie Fayolle meets comedian, actor and director Kheiron. He gives us a tour of the Apollo Theatre, where he has two shows playing: “Dragon” and “Alba and Sadaf”. Next, we go backstage with Orchestra Baobab, as the legendary Senegalese band celebrates five decades of Afro-Cuban, Wolof, Serer and Congolese sounds. Plus we get a private view of Albane Herrgott’s very personal ceramics, at her art gallery in the Marais neighbourhood.  Source link

South Africa’s economy exceeded expectations in the third quarter, posting 0.5% growth from the previous quarter and 2.1% year-on-year, marking the country’s longest growth streak since 2021. Analysts credit the performance to reduced power outages, improved efficiency at state logistics company Transnet, and robust mining and domestic consumption. Razia Khan of Standard Chartered described the growth as “almost heroic” and noted a more positive outlook for the nation’s economy, while Goldman Sachs indicated it would revise full-year projections upward. Despite this strong showing, recent surveys revealed declining sentiment among manufacturers due to weak export sales, highlighting that challenges remain even amid the…

British photographer Martin Parr, famed for his iconic depictions of British life, has died at 73, his studio announced on Sunday. Source link

Nigeria has finalized a major partnership with Boeing and the UK’s Cranfield University to establish certified aircraft maintenance facilities on home soil. The agreement, announced at the inaugural Nigerian International Airshow, aims to reduce the $200 million that Nigerian airlines spend on overseas aircraft maintenance every year. The partnership, led by local operators Aero Contractors and XEJet, will lead to the development of new maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hubs in Lagos and Abuja. This infrastructure push capitalizes on Nigeria’s robust aviation growth, where passenger traffic is projected to surge to 25.7 million by 2029. The deal builds upon a 2024 memorandum…

Hollywood unions and theatre owners sounded the alarm on Friday over Netflix’s proposed $72 billion takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, warning the deal would cut jobs, concentrate power and reduce theatrical movie releases if the deal passes regulatory review. Details and analysis with Michael Wayne, assistant professor at the department of Media and Communication at Erasmus University. Source link

Born just a year apart (Turner in sooty London in 1775, Constable in a serene Suffolk village in 1776), the two were, from the first, “fire and water” opposites, as another reviewer in 1831 would describe them. Turner, whose father was a barber, was just 14 when he began studying art, while Constable, born into an affluent family of corn merchants, didn’t commit to painting until he was in his 20s. Their profoundly divergent temperaments and perspectives on life would not only inflect their respective styles, but would become a source of constant fascination for critics, who never tired of…

In Sudan, the same grassroots networks that organized protests to topple a dictator are now providing a lifeline during civil war. These neighborhood committees, originally formed as underground cells during the 2013 anti-austerity protests, evolved to spearhead the mass demonstrations that overthrew Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Their unique strength lies in a “political togetherness” that bridges class and ethnic divides. Following the outbreak of war in 2023, these adaptable structures transformed into Emergency Response Rooms, delivering critical healthcare, food, and water where international aid often cannot reach. This demonstrates the remarkable resilience of informal, youth-led networks in filling the void left by…

The groundbreaking architect Frank Gehry, who passed away Friday at the age of 96, was renowned for designing some of the most imaginative buildings ever constructed. Throughout his career, he was awarded every major prize in architecture, including the field’s highest honour, the Pritzker Prize, for work described as “refreshingly original and totally American”. Source link

In a striking move, South Africa broke ranks with its BRICS partners to support a UN General Assembly resolution demanding Russia return thousands of Ukrainian children abducted during the war. The resolution, backed by 91 countries, calls for the “immediate, safe, and unconditional return” of all forcibly transferred Ukrainian children. It also urges Russia to halt further deportations and family separations. South Africa’s ambassador to the UN explained that the vote was rooted in the nation’s unwavering commitment to children’s rights and international law, emphasizing that children should never be politicized. This stance builds on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s direct appeals to Vladimir…