Mozambique: Authorities burn 45,000 hens as bird flu spreads from South Africa

More than 45,000 hens have been slaughtered, burnt and buried in southern Mozambique to prevent the spread of bird flu, officials say. The birds had been imported from neighbouring South…

Uganda: MPs reject birth control for 15-year-old girls

Ugandan lawmakers have rejected a government proposal to allow 15-year-old girls to access birth control pills to reduce high levels of pregnancy. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa called the idea “devilish”,…

France: Bedbug panic sweeps Paris as infestations soar before 2024 Olympics

A plague of bedbugs has hit Paris and other French cities, provoking a wave of insectophobia and raising questions about health and safety during next year’s Olympic Games. That’s broadly…

Greenland: Women seek compensation over involuntary birth control

A group of 67 women from Greenland are seeking compensation from the Danish government over a campaign of involuntary birth control. At least 4,500 women, some teenagers, were fitted with…

Namibia: Authorities ban SA chicken imports in response to bird flu

Namibia has suspended imports of live poultry and poultry products from neighbouring South Africa because of a severe bird flu outbreak. The suspension was prompted by the “alarming spread” of…

South Africa: Lethal bird flu outbreak kills 2.6 million chickens

The South African authorities are intensifying bio-security measures to control a severe avian influenza outbreak that has so far killed 2.6 million chickens across the country. Five of the country’s…

South Africa: Space-cookies pupils discharged from hospital

Eighty-seven primary school pupils in South Africa have been discharged from hospital a day after eating biscuits laced with cannabis, known locally as “space cookies”. Three of the students from…

Kenya: $20,000 for forced sterilisation damages

A Kenyan court has awarded four women living with HIV – who were then sterilised without their consent – about $20,000 (£16,000) each as damages. The judge ruled that the…

South Africa: Authorities to clear Covid lockdown criminal records

South Africa’s parliament has passed a bill which would expunge criminal records for those convicted of breaching Covid-19 lockdown laws. South Africa had some of the world’s toughest restrictions, which…

South African: Pupils in hospital after eating marijuana muffins

90 primary school students are in hospital after eating muffins suspected to be laced with cannabis in South Africa. The incident, which took place in Soshanguve township, north of Pretoria,…