Global Pulse

标签： Africa

非洲

  • Is holding Afcon every four years ‘totally wrong’ or ‘good call’?

    Is holding Afcon every four years ‘totally wrong’ or ‘good call’?

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced revolutionary structural changes to its competition calendar, headlined by transitioning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from a biennial to a quadrennial event starting after the 2028 edition. The seismic shift, confirmed by CAF President Patrice Motsepe, coincides with the creation of an annual African Nations League set to debut in 2029.

    The decision, finalized after extensive consultation with FIFA, concludes the tournament’s 67-year history as a primarily two-year event. Motsepe defended the controversial move as essential for synchronizing with the global football calendar and serving “the best interests of African football.” The announcement has sparked vigorous debate across the continent’s football community, revealing sharp divisions between stakeholders.

    Mali coach Tom Saintfiet emerged as an early critic, labeling the change “totally wrong” and accusing CAF of prioritizing European club interests. This perspective finds support among active players, including Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who noted the biennial schedule had been “amazing for continental development.”

    Conversely, Ivory Coast manager Emerse Fae suggested the extended interval might benefit African football’s growth, while Burkina Faso captain Bertrand Traore acknowledged mixed reactions from players depending on career stages. The transition also signals the termination of the African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Motsepe described as a “spectacular money-loser” despite its role in developing local talent.

    Financial considerations appear central to CAF’s calculus. The organization reported substantial revenue growth from recent AFCON tournaments, with the 2025 edition forecast to generate $114 million—a significant increase from previous cycles. Motsepe indicated the Nations League would outperform AFCON financially, though specific projections remain undisclosed.

    The restructured calendar aims to address persistent scheduling conflicts with European leagues while creating more competitive opportunities through regionally-based Nations League divisions. This format promises to revive historic rivalries like Ghana-Nigeria, who’ve met only five times competitively in twenty years.

  • Emirates International School Jumeirah celebrates Winter Wonderland

    Emirates International School Jumeirah celebrates Winter Wonderland

    Emirates International School Jumeirah (EIS) is set to transform its campus into an enchanting Winter Wonderland on Saturday, January 31st at 4:00 PM, offering a complimentary afternoon of festive activities designed for families with young children aged 2-5 years. The event promises an immersive experience combining entertainment with educational insight.

    Beyond the seasonal festivities, the celebration serves as an open platform for prospective parents to explore the school’s educational philosophy and facilities. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the campus, interact with faculty members, and gain comprehensive understanding of EIS’s internationally-focused early years program that emphasizes play-based learning, creativity, and confidence development.

    The Winter Wonderland experience features an array of engaging activities including bouncy castles, creative face painting stations, interactive games, and craft workshops specifically designed to stimulate young minds and bodies. Culinary offerings and refreshments will be available throughout the event, ensuring a complete family experience.

    This community-oriented event represents EIS’s commitment to fostering connections between educators, parents, and children while demonstrating their approach to nurturing lifelong learning habits from early childhood. The school emphasizes creating a stimulating environment that balances academic foundation with creative exploration.

    Whether families are evaluating educational options or simply seeking a memorable winter outing, the event promises an afternoon of joyful discovery and community engagement at no cost to participants.

  • Death toll in South Africa school bus crash rises to 14 as the driver is charged with murder

    Death toll in South Africa school bus crash rises to 14 as the driver is charged with murder

    JOHANNESBURG — The death toll from Monday’s catastrophic school bus collision in Gauteng province has risen to 14 after two teenage girls succumbed to their injuries on Thursday, according to South African authorities. The devastating incident has prompted prosecutors to upgrade charges against the 22-year-old driver to multiple counts of murder.

    The tragic accident occurred during morning rush hour on Monday at approximately 7 a.m. when a privately-operated minibus transporting 16 students to various educational institutions in southern Johannesburg collided with a truck. The immediate impact claimed 12 young lives at the scene, creating one of the most severe school transportation disasters in recent memory.

    Medical authorities confirmed that seven individuals, including five students, the bus driver, and a truck passenger, sustained various injuries and were transported to medical facilities. Three of these patients have since been discharged following treatment. However, the Gauteng health department reported one teenage girl passed away Thursday morning while receiving intensive care at Sebokeng Hospital. Simultaneously, police Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed another female student died at a private medical facility.

    With these latest fatalities, two children remain hospitalized as the community grapples with the overwhelming loss. The legal proceedings have taken a significant turn as National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana announced the driver’s charges have been elevated from culpable homicide to 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and operating a vehicle without the required professional license.

    The accused, Ayanda Dludla, appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday where he voluntarily declined to seek bail. The case has been formally adjourned until March 5 to allow for comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking incident.

  • Indus Hospital gala dinner unites community in Dubai to support free healthcare in Pakistan

    Indus Hospital gala dinner unites community in Dubai to support free healthcare in Pakistan

    DUBAI – The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) achieved a remarkable philanthropic milestone during its UAE Gala Dinner 2026, held on January 10th. This prestigious gathering transformed into a powerful demonstration of cross-border solidarity as over 400 members of the Pakistani diaspora community convened to support free medical services for underserved populations in Pakistan.

    As one of Pakistan’s most extensive free healthcare providers, IHHN delivers critical medical treatment to approximately six million patients annually without financial burden. The gala served dual purposes: celebrating these monumental achievements while mobilizing resources to expand the network’s humanitarian mission.

    Celebrity engagement reached exceptional levels with acclaimed actors Nauman Ijaz and Mahira Khan lending their star power to the fundraising initiatives. Ms. Khan personally orchestrated a dynamic auction featuring items from her private collection, including an authentic sari and a cricket bat autographed by twelve national team players. The auction generated substantial contributions through enthusiastic participant engagement.

    Dr. Zafar Zaidi, Chief Executive Officer of IHHN, delivered a keynote address outlining the organization’s strategic vision. His presentation detailed ambitious plans to enhance medical education programs, broaden primary care accessibility, and develop sustainable healthcare models for grassroots communities.

    Proceeds from the event were specifically allocated to IHHN’s Emergency Department, which functions as a critical entry point for thousands requiring immediate lifesaving intervention. Beyond financial metrics, the evening highlighted profound human impact stories – narratives of families preserved from medical debt and patients receiving dignified emergency care.

    The gathering reinforced a fundamental principle echoed throughout the night: that healthcare accessibility represents not merely charity but fundamental human dignity. This successful event strengthened the enduring partnership between IHHN and its Gulf-based supporters, demonstrating how collective action can transform compassion into tangible healing outcomes across Pakistan.

  • Ajyal Al Falah’s bilingual literacy model shows strong early years success

    Ajyal Al Falah’s bilingual literacy model shows strong early years success

    A pioneering educational approach at Ajyal Al Falah International School in Abu Dhabi is transforming early childhood language acquisition through an innovative bilingual literacy framework. The institution’s methodology, which has garnered substantial parental endorsement, integrates a comprehensive Bilingual Literacy Curriculum with Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) principles and translanguaging pedagogy.

    This educational model enables young learners to develop simultaneous proficiency in both Arabic and English while engaging with academic content. Early-years educators have masterfully blended language instruction with play-based activities, creative construction, and subject-specific learning. The approach follows a constructivist pedagogical philosophy, recognizing that children learn most effectively through inquiry, peer interaction, and guided exploration.

    Principal Dr. Antoinette Brown, in collaboration with kindergarten teachers, developed a five-step language development strategy based on qualitative phenomenological research. Teacher reflections revealed their active involvement in curriculum design, incorporating technology, culturally responsive resources, and subject-specific vocabulary to support literacy development.

    Critical findings indicate that the CLIL and translanguaging methodology significantly enhanced student receptiveness and confidence in both languages. Children demonstrated improved vocabulary comprehension through peer dialogue, increased participation, and deeper engagement with children’s literature. The model successfully maintains Arabic’s academic and social prestige in alignment with UAE Ministry of Education standards, preventing marginalization of the native language.

    Classroom implementation strategies included:
    – Deployment of specialized bilingual resources and modeling of bilingual phrases
    – A “repair and talk” technique to scaffold student dialogue
    – Strategic technology integration
    – Cross-curricular vocabulary practice through meaningful play-based activities

    Researchers noted that emotional and social readiness substantially contributes to successful language acquisition. Teachers observed elevated levels of well-being, motivation, and self-expression during student-directed activities compared to teacher-centered instruction. Notably, Arabic-speaking students naturally employed ‘amiya (spoken Arabic) to support peers through translanguaging, fostering collaborative comprehension across languages.

    The school’s kindergarten program establishes that early investment in Arabic-English integration through play and dialogue creates essential foundations for advanced academic success. By embedding bilingual education, CLIL, and translanguaging into daily practice, Ajyal Al Falah sets a new standard for early childhood pedagogy while providing the cognitive and academic groundwork for future educational achievement.

    Admissions are currently available from Pre-KG through Grade 12 for the 2026–2027 academic year.

  • Ugandan MP and Bobi Wine ally arrested over election violence

    Ugandan MP and Bobi Wine ally arrested over election violence

    Ugandan authorities have taken into custody Muwanga Kivumbi, a prominent opposition parliamentarian and key associate of opposition leader Bobi Wine, regarding alleged involvement in recent electoral violence. The arrest intensifies political strains following President Yoweri Museveni’s controversial re-election to an unprecedented seventh term.

    Kivumbi, serving as deputy leader of Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP), faces accusations of orchestrating assaults on police facilities and vote-processing centers after his party’s electoral defeat—charges the NUP vehemently denies. The Uganda Police Force announced via social media platform X that Kivumbi would face judicial proceedings, characterizing his detention as connected to “recent incidents of political violence.”

    Conflicting narratives emerge regarding casualty figures. Official police reports indicate seven fatalities during the disturbances, while Kivumbi presents a contradictory account alleging ten individuals were killed at his residence while awaiting parliamentary election outcomes.

    President Museveni, during his victory address, specifically cautioned opposition elements including Kivumbi about alleged coordinated plans to target polling stations. He detailed that security forces neutralized seven individuals in Butambala district, outside Kampala, when groups reportedly armed with machetes attempted violent attacks.

    The political climate remains volatile with Bobi Wine—Museveni’s primary electoral opponent—currently in hiding after fleeing a post-election raid on his residence. Wine has repudiated the election results as fundamentally “fake” due to systematic electoral fraud, and alleges an ongoing “silent massacre” targeting political activists.

    Further complicating the situation, Uganda’s military commander General Muhoozi Kainerugaba—who is both Museveni’s son and presumed successor—disclosed that security forces eliminated 22 opposition supporters during election-related clashes. This contrasts with Wine’s unverified social media assertion of over 100 election violence fatalities.

    Authorities have reportedly detained dozens of youths in Kampala on various election-related charges, signaling a broader crackdown. Uganda, which has never experienced peaceful presidential transition since independence, continues under Museveni’s rule that began in 1986 and could extend to 45 years by 2031.

  • UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ hunger crisis in Nigeria as food aid funding runs out

    UN warns of ‘catastrophic’ hunger crisis in Nigeria as food aid funding runs out

    DAKAR, Senegal — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) issued an urgent warning Thursday that over one million vulnerable people in northeastern Nigeria face imminent loss of critical food and nutrition assistance due to severe funding shortages. This crisis emerges amid escalating violence and worsening hunger conditions in the conflict-ridden region.

    The UN agency announced drastic reductions in its emergency operations, projecting assistance for merely 72,000 individuals in February—a catastrophic drop from the 1.3 million people supported during last year’s lean season from May through October. This represents the most severe operational contraction since WFP initiated humanitarian operations in Nigeria in 2015.

    According to recently compiled data, approximately 35 million Nigerians are projected to experience acute hunger this year, marking the highest food insecurity rate on the African continent since WFP began systematic data collection in the country.

    David Stevenson, WFP’s Nigeria Country Director, emphasized the grave implications: ‘This funding collapse will produce catastrophic humanitarian, security and economic consequences for the most vulnerable populations who have been forcibly displaced from their homes in search of sustenance and safety.’

    The crisis has been exacerbated by renewed violence across northern Nigeria, where approximately 3.5 million people have been displaced in recent months. Widespread attacks by armed groups have devastated agricultural production, destroyed food supplies, and driven malnutrition to critical levels. Security concerns have prevented farmers from accessing their lands, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of food insecurity.

    The situation deteriorated further last week when gunmen abducted over 150 worshippers in coordinated attacks targeting three separate churches in northwest Nigeria, demonstrating the expanding security crisis.

    Compounding these challenges, Nigeria has been severely affected by the large-scale reduction of UN food assistance following structural changes to the United States Agency for International Development. Nigeria stands among several West and Central African nations where these funding cuts have significantly deepened preexisting food crises, prompting WFP to suspend assistance programs across the region since July.

  • After presidential election, Ugandan police detain a key ally of opposition figure Bobi Wine

    After presidential election, Ugandan police detain a key ally of opposition figure Bobi Wine

    Ugandan authorities have escalated their crackdown on opposition forces following last week’s contentious presidential election, detaining a senior ally of opposition leader Bobi Wine amid allegations of electoral violence. Muwanga Kivumbi, deputy president of Wine’s National Unity Platform party and a sitting lawmaker, was taken into custody Thursday for his purported involvement in deadly clashes within his Butambala constituency that resulted in seven fatalities.

    The detained parliamentarian, who recently lost his parliamentary seat, stands accused of instigating violence that prompted security forces to open fire on his residence. Kivumbi emotionally addressed the tragedy during victim funerals, maintaining that those killed were innocent casualties of state-sponsored aggression rather than perpetrators.

    President Yoweri Museveni, extending his 35-year rule with a declared 71.6% victory that opposition forces decry as fraudulent, has taken a confrontational stance against dissent. In a nationally televised address, the 81-year-old leader alleged opposition elements attempted to disrupt voting processes, claiming victims in Butambala had assaulted police officers with machetes. Museveni specifically urged religious leaders to intervene with youth he described as vulnerable to political manipulation.

    Despite police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke’s assurance that Bobi Wine (legally named Kyagulanyi Ssentamu) faces no current accusations and remains under state protection, the opposition leader reports being in hiding due to safety concerns. The electoral process itself faced widespread criticism following a multi-day internet blackout and technical failures in biometric voting systems that disproportionately affected opposition strongholds including the capital Kampala.

    International observers note this election continues Uganda’s six-decade absence of peaceful presidential transitions since independence. Museveni’s forthcoming seventh term will extend his leadership toward a half-century, cementing his dominance over a political landscape where no clear successors have emerged within his National Resistance Movement party.

  • Guinea-Bissau coup leaders set December election date

    Guinea-Bissau coup leaders set December election date

    Military authorities in Guinea-Bissau have officially scheduled presidential and legislative elections for December 6th, marking a critical development in the nation’s turbulent political landscape. The announcement comes despite mounting international pressure for an accelerated transition to civilian governance following last November’s coup that ousted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.

    Transitional President Horta N’Tam formalized the electoral timeline through a presidential decree on Wednesday after extensive consultations with the National Transitional Council, military representatives, government officials, and electoral commission members. N’Tam publicly affirmed that all necessary conditions for conducting free and fair elections had been satisfactorily established.

    The military junta has faced sustained pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which previously rejected the junta’s proposed one-year transition framework. The regional bloc had suspended Guinea-Bissau from its decision-making institutions and threatened additional sanctions unless a shorter transitional period was implemented. The international community now awaits ECOWAS’ formal response to the announced December timeline.

    The November 2025 power seizure occurred under controversial circumstances, with military leadership justifying their intervention as necessary to prevent alleged destabilization plots during the tense period preceding official presidential election results. Both incumbent President Embaló and primary opposition candidate Fernando Dias had declared victory simultaneously, creating a political impasse that the military cited as justification for their takeover.

    Notably, the transitional charter explicitly prohibits interim leader N’Tam and his appointed prime minister from seeking presidential office. However, regional observers remain skeptical given recent patterns across West Africa where military leaders have frequently extended transitional periods and consolidated political power. The international community continues monitoring whether Guinea-Bissau will break this regional trend and facilitate genuine democratic restoration through transparent electoral processes.

  • BRI activity hits record high in 2025

    BRI activity hits record high in 2025

    The Belt and Road Initiative achieved unprecedented momentum in 2025, reaching a record $214 billion in global engagement according to a comprehensive study by Fudan University’s Green Finance & Development Center and Australia’s Griffith Asia Institute. This remarkable growth represents China’s most active year since the initiative’s 2013 launch, driven primarily by massive renewable energy investments and strategic infrastructure development.

    Construction contracts accounted for $128.4 billion while investments exceeded $85 billion, with energy sector engagement surging to $94 billion—more than double the 2024 figures and the highest in BRI history. The scale of individual projects expanded dramatically, with investment deals over $100 million reaching $939 million and average construction project sizes nearly doubling to $964 million.

    Africa emerged as the primary beneficiary of construction activities, with Nigeria leading at approximately $25 billion, followed by the Republic of Congo at $23 billion. Middle Eastern nations also received significant attention, while Central Asia became the top investment destination with Southeast Asia and Africa following at $21 billion and $19 billion respectively.

    The renewable energy transition proved particularly noteworthy, with green energy investments hitting their highest level since 2013. Wind, solar, and waste-to-energy projects attracted over $18 billion, complemented by $3 billion in hydropower investments, bringing total green energy engagement to more than $21 billion.

    Aly-Khan Satchu, a prominent Kenyan investment banker, emphasized Africa’s strategic importance to China, noting that “China has been the cheerleader for Africa’s infrastructure investments—whether railways, roads or digital infrastructure—without which no jobs will be created.”

    However, experts caution that future growth may face constraints. Frederick Otieno, a China-Africa relations scholar, noted that financial risks, geopolitical concerns, and stricter lending regulations are prompting Chinese lenders to adopt more selective approaches. “BRI engagement might remain considerable but is likely to level off into a selective, risk-aware pattern,” he observed.

    The report anticipates continued Chinese engagement in energy, mining, and emerging technologies throughout 2026, though potentially with fewer megadeals as global trade volatility and supply chain considerations shape more targeted investment strategies.