Burma’s neighbours appeared to have reached a compromise with the regime on Monday that would finally allow significant amounts of international aid to reach the survivors of the deadly cyclone, more than two weeks after it struck. An Asian-led task force will be formed to help funnel relief into the isolated country.
President Thabo Mbeki on Monday reiterated his call for an immediate end to attacks on foreign nationals in Gauteng, which have left 22 people dead and up to 10Â 000 seeking refuge in shelters. ”Citizens from other countries on the African continent and beyond are as human as we are and deserve to be treated with respect,” the president.
It was touted to be a friendly, "inquisitorial" forum, but had all the elements of a bitter family feud where old comrades squared up in new battles. On the one side: the mandarins of the state and the political party that brought liberation, fighting to protect old networks of solidarity.
As the global community marked World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, an eight-country African research network was launched with a mandate to investigate the relationship between copyright and education in African countries. The network, called the African Copyright and Access to Knowledge network is a multidisciplinary team of researchers from several African countries.
Higher Learning speaks to Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University human resources boss, Gary Paul, about addressing salary disparities after the merger of the University of Port Elizabeth, Vista University and PE Technikon.
While valuable research is taking place at South Africa’s universities, the challenge is to ensure that it occurs within a culture of respect for human rights, while universities need to ensure that they monitor research practices in accordance with their ethics protocol.
The High Court in Malawi granted bail on Tuesday to eight suspects accused of plotting to overthrow the minority government of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Judge Elton Singini ruled the eight, who have all been charged with treason and conspiracy to murder, be freed because he could not ”trust” documents tendered in court by prosecutors.
South African and Japanese universities are embarking on exciting joint research projects that will benefit both countries, especially in the areas of science and technology. The South Africa Japan Universities’ Forum was formed after an exploratory meeting in May 2007 when a delegation of deputy vice-chancellors met their Japanese counterparts at Hiroshima University.
Global information company Thomson Reuters plans to cut 140 editorial jobs by the end of the year as its Reuters news service absorbs Thomson Financial News. More than half the cuts will be in Europe, while the rest will be scattered, editor-in-chief David Schlesinger wrote in a memo to employees on Monday.
A leading human rights group accused the international community on Monday of not doing enough to deter Sudan from new attacks in Darfur, where it cited a return to ”scorched-earth” policies. Human Rights Watch said the United Nations Security Council should impose sanctions on Sudanese officials behind attacks on civilians in Darfur in February.