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Daily podcast – June 7, 2013.

7th June 2013

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June 7, 2013.
From Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Motshabi Hoaeane.
Making headlines:

The World Bank says it will boost spending on nutrition for poor nations in Africa and Asia.

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The US quietly allows military aid to Egypt despite rights concerns.

And, a United Nations report reveals that fighting between the Sudanese army and rebels has uprooted 60 000 people.

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The World Bank said on Thursday that the world's poorest nations are set to nearly triple spending on nutrition programmes for mothers and children over the next two years to help cope with volatile food prices.

The Washington-based global development lender said its direct funds for nutrition programmes should rise to $600-million for 2013-14 from $230-million in 2011/12, while 90% of those funds would be disbursed through the World Bank's fund for the poorest, the International Development Association, and go largely to Africa and South Asia.

Worldwide, about 165-million children below the age of 5 are malnourished. Malnutrition is the single biggest cause of child mortality, contributing to a third of all child deaths. The World Bank's nutrition programmes focus especially on children 2 years old or younger, when nutrition interventions can have the biggest impact.

 

US Secretary of State John Kerry quietly acted last month to give Egypt $1.3-billion in US military aid, deciding that this was in the national interest despite Egypt's failure to meet democracy standards.

However, Kerry made the decision well before an Egyptian court this week convicted 43 democracy workers, including 16 Americans, in what the US regards as a politically motivated case against pro-democracy and non-governmental organisations.

Under US law, for the $1.3-billion to flow, the secretary of state must certify that the Egyptian government "is supporting the transition to civilian government, including holding free and fair elections, implementing policies to protect freedom of expression, association and religion, and due process of law."

Rights groups believe that Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi is retreating from democratic freedoms, notably in a new civil society law and in proposals for judicial reform that critics see as a way to purge judges perceived as hostile to the government.

 

The United Nations said in a report on Thursday that more than 60 000 people have fled a town in Sudan's main oil region since it was attacked by insurgents in April.

The UN report said the fighting in Abu Kershola has displaced 63,000 people. Some 8 000 people have fled to Khartoum, more than 600 km (370 miles) away, while 44 000 were seeking shelter in the neighbouring state of North Kordofan.

The report said the security situation in the country remained fragile.

Meanwhile, the unrest is a sensitive topic in Khartoum, where a journalist working for the daily al-Sudani newspaper was arrested after the army accused him of damaging its reputation.

 

Also making headlines:

Energy multinational GDF SUEZ finally concludes a deal for 1 005 MW peaker projects with Eskom. 

Malian troops advance towards the rebel-held town of Kidal ahead of a possible assault on the last stronghold of the Tuareg separatist MNLA.

South African Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus says the effect of the depreciation of the rand on inflation is relatively constrained.

And, leaders of five major political parties in Zimbabwe reject the 31st election deadline.

 

That's a roundup of news making headlines today.

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