[allAfrica] For decades, many health programmes across sub-Saharan Africa have relied on a familiar model: donors fund disease-specific projects, parallel delivery structures are built around them, and services expand or contract with the funding cycle.

[allAfrica] Mombasa, Kenya -- As funding shrinks, civic space narrows and opposition to sexual and reproductive rights grows across Africa, advocates are gathering in Mombasa with a simple message: progress cannot be taken for granted.

The Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) has emphasized the need for increased private sector education and stronger regional collaboration to encourage more companies, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to list on stock exchanges and access long-term capital. The remarks were made during an engagement between BSE officials and a delegation of Malawian business journalists on […] The post BSE calls for regional collaboration to boost SME listings appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

South Africa has sparked a diplomatic storm after formally demanding that Malawi, Nigeria and Ethiopia reimburse part of the R292 million (about K29 billion) it has spent this year deporting undocumented migrants — with Malawians making up the largest share of those removed. The explosive request follows a briefing to South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee […] The post Diplomatic tension erupts as SA tells Malawi to reimburse deportation costs appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

Mzuzu City Council has been forced to suspend its controversial new road-user fee programme, just one day after the scheme launched, following a chaotic first day marked by network failures and lengthy traffic congestion at checkpoints. According to Mzuzu City Mayor Chiyembekezo Moses, the decision to pause the scheme was taken specifically to address problems […] The post Mzuzu’s new toll scheme collapses within 24 hours amid chaos at checkpoints appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

Student leaders from across Malawi’s public universities have formed an unprecedented unified coalition to negotiate directly with government over proposed hikes to higher education tuition fees, as resistance mounts nationwide against the controversial policy. The joint effort, spearheaded by student leader Yatuta Edwell Mulungu, saw Students’ Representative Council (SRC) presidents and general secretaries from institutions […] The post Mulungu leads student coalition in fight against university fee hikes appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

The Scorchers’ WAFCON campaign moves to Aero Lounge in Lilongwe today, where fans will gather for a National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc watch party as the national women’s team faces Algeria this evening in the semi-finals. The event follows watch parties in Lilongwe and Mzuzu that saw Malawi’s 2-1 victory over Ghana turn into […] The post Aero Lounge hosts latest Scorchers watch party as Malawi rallies behind team appeared first on Malawi News | Breaking News, Politics, Business & Sports | Nyasa Times.

SINGAPORE — A doctor and an acquaintance were each sentenced to a year in jail on Aug 12 for consuming MDMA, also known as Ecstasy.The doctor, Rayson Lee Rui Sheng, 36, and Tan Li Ming, 29, were among 49 men arrested in a police raid during a party held at a villa at the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa hotel on Aug 9, 2023.Following a trial, each man was convicted of one count of drug consumption in June.In earlier proceedings, the court heard that Lee was at the villa to attend another acquaintance’s birthday party.He arrived at around 8pm on Aug 8, 2023, mingled with friends, and then left for a club in Clarke Quay, where he was introduced to Tan.The two men went to the villa separately in the wee hours the next day.Police, acting on information, conducted checks at the hotel shortly after 5.30am and found substances believed to be controlled drugs.The Central Narcotics Bureau were alerted.During the operation, the authorities also found several substances suspected to be controlled drugs, including Ecstasy and ketamine, and drug paraphernalia.

An orchid-themed park, an activity promenade and more recreational spaces are possible features in National Parks Board's (NParks) plans to rejuvenate the Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut area. These updates were announced by Minister of State for National Development Alvin Tan at an event held at Temasek Shophouse on Wednesday (Aug 12). Under the plan, the current Istana Park will be merged with the existing Dhoby Ghaut Green and Penang Road Open Space, along with the 500m stretch of Orchard Road between Buyong Road and Handy Road that will be pedestrianised. This will create a new park more than three times the size of the existing Istana Park.«The significantly larger space will allow for a refresh of the area with new attractions and offerings, possibly including more family-friendly features, greenery and flexible spaces for activities and programmes,» NParks said. 

This year's Hungry Ghost Festival begins on Aug 13 (Thursday), and many Chinese are expected to make offerings of candles, food, joss sticks and others from Wednesday night onwards.Over the years, this practice has sometimes caused neighbourly disputes and even resulted in fire.It has also caused cleanliness and hygiene-related concerns with food offerings attracting animals and pests such as rats.In an advisory posted on its social media on Wednesday, the National Environment Agency (NEA) urged members of the public to be considerate and to keep shared spaces clean while paying respects.It also sought the public's cooperation not to toss or scatter joss paper, and to clear offerings after prayers.«Leaving items behind may constitute littering,» it added.An infographic shared by the agency suggested that those burning offerings can do so based on sincerity, burning smaller amounts of joss paper to reduce smoke and ashes. 

Two of the NRL's most successful modern coaches weigh into the debate about the concessions afforded to the league's forthcoming PNG franchise.

Anna Turley said there needed to be a 'fair and equitable system' for distributing asylum seekers across the country.

Tonight, millions of Britons will witness the best solar eclipse in a generation - and you will not want to miss out.

[UN News] Local officials in the DR Congo (DRC) reported on Tuesday that deaths from the Ebola virus disease have surpassed 2,000, with half of that number in the last 20 days.

[Maka] Neide dos Santos, 24, was sitting in a bus parked near UNITA's provincial headquarters in Uíge at about 2pm when stones began striking the vehicle. Another activist and the driver were with her.

[New Times] Rwanda is targeting the interruption of transmission of leprosy and onchocerciasis (river blindness) by 2030, under a new five-year plan to tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Former Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud will serve as Russia's arbitrator in a dispute. This arbitration concerns Ukrainian bank Oschadbank's claims regarding lost assets in four regions. The dispute arises from Russian military actions and follows an earlier Crimea-related arbitration. Justice Chandrachud previously declined similar appointments from Russia. A three-member tribunal will now hear this significant investment treaty case.

The Congress party spent Rs 248.6 crore on recent assembly elections across five states. Its total receipts during this period amounted to Rs 207.1 crore, showing a deficit. General party propaganda accounted for Rs 143 crore of the total expenditure. The party allocated Rs 105.6 crore towards its candidates and their campaigns. After the polls, the party's cash in bank balance significantly decreased by 45 percent.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah offered an extended parliamentary discussion on student protests. He proposed sitting in Parliament from today until tomorrow to address concerns. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi rejected the offer, demanding accountability for alleged police actions. Rahul stated the opposition seeks answers, not lectures from the home minister.

Two people were killed and a dozen others wounded in a Ukrainian drone raid on Krasnodar Region, the local governor has said Read Full Article at RT.com

Lamenting that allegations surrounding the operations of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) have become “fodder” for those opposed to the regional court, veteran attorney Bert Samuels yesterday argued that the claims have no bearing on the court’s integrity. Speaking during a press conference, Samuels said the allegations do not concern the delivery of judgments, the credibility of the CCJ’s president, or its judges.

As the busiest stretch of the hurricane season approaches, some residents living near the banks of Sandy Gully are worried that floodwaters could rise rapidly and destroy their homes because of the large amount of debris, displaced surfaces, and collapsing walls along the waterway. Sandy Gully is the largest conduit for carrying stormwater to the sea in the Corporate Area. The Gleaner yesterday visited two communities along the waterway where residents are increasingly anxious about the condition of the gully and the potential threat of flooding.

WESTERN BUREAU: A 33-year-old British man sought refuge inside the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, on Monday night after gunmen fired shots into the vehicle he was driving, injuring him. About 9:30 p.m., the man – a forex trader of a Valley Mill address in the United Kingdom – was travelling with his partner and two Jamaican relatives along Queen’s Drive, near the airport, when the attack occurred. According to police reports, after the vehicle stopped at a traffic light, a motor car pulled up alongside it, and the occupants opened fire.

The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings that could result in the dismissal of a St Elizabeth case-management officer over her alleged involvement in partisan political activity ahead of the general election last year. The stay bars the Office of the Services Commission and the Attorney General’s Department from taking further action against the officer, Toni Bailey-Cowan, while she challenges the constitutionality of the proceedings.

More than $75 million in cash and thousands of pieces of counterfeit merchandise carrying the labels of globally recognised brands were seized by law-enforcement authorities during multiple operations on the weekend. The counterfeit merchandise, which includes more than 300 pairs of ‘Nike Air Force One’ sneakers as well as ‘Gucci’, ‘Polo’, ‘Reebok’, ‘Crocs’, and ‘Jordan’ apparel, has an estimated value of $4 million.

Sailors aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln reportedly tried to go overboard as families raised concerns about the conditions on the ship Read Full Article at RT.com

A child has been killed and eight people wounded in a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Krasnodar Region Read Full Article at RT.com

After spending a lot more time with the celebrity TV chef in recent months amid his fallout from his own family, Adam Ramsay-Peaty has picked up Gordon's recognisable mannerisms.

Chef Jamie Oliver's plush lawns are rather lusher than most, and the secret it easy to spot - a large personal lake just a stone's throw from the back of his Essex mansion.

Workers at Parliament Hill Fields Lido in leafy Hampstead Heath have told how break-ins, brawls and boozing have forced the spot into closure twice this summer.