The World Health Organization has spent $5 billion over the last 20 years to immunize more than two billion children around the world against polio. Yet the deadly and crippling disease still poses a risk in four countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria, with Nigeria accounting for more than 50 percent of new cases.
VOA's Brian Padden recently visited the northern Nigerian state of Kano where polio is common and officials struggle to convince the local population to immunize their children.
The World Cup football tournament kicks off in one week, and host South Africa is busy putting on the finishing touches. But not everyone is looking forward to the tournament. Authorites in cities including Cape Town are being accused of clearing the poor from the streets - to create a good impression for visiting fans. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa has more.