insert_link Africa Who were the first Africans at the Olympics? The disturbing story of two 1904 marathon runners 1904 Olympic marathon participants Len Tau (left) and Jan Mashiani of South Africa. Missouri History Museum By Francois Cleophas, Stellenbosch University Who were the first Africans to compete in the modern Olympic Games? The answer to that question reveals the surprising story of a 1904 marathon – and exposes the history of racism and white supremacy that characterised the Olympics in its early days. The first modern […] todayJuly 22, 2024 10
insert_link Africa Tunisian President Announces Re-election Bid Amid Controversy Tunisian President, Kais Saied announced on Friday that he will run for another term in the upcoming October 6 elections, aiming "to continue the national liberation struggle." according to Reuters. Opposition parties, many of whose leaders are imprisoned, accuse Saied's government of pressuring the judiciary to suppress rivals ahead of the 2024 elections. On the same day, a court sentenced opposition leader Lotfi Mraihi to eight months in prison for […] todayJuly 22, 2024 8
insert_link Africa Nigeria Fines Meta $220 Million for Data Privacy Violations Nigeria has fined Meta Platforms $220 million for violating local consumer, data protection, and privacy laws, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission announced on Friday as per Reuters. The FCCPC found that Meta misappropriated Nigerian users' data without consent, abused its market dominance by imposing exploitative privacy policies, and treated Nigerian users discriminatorily compared to other jurisdictions with similar regulations. todayJuly 22, 2024 9
insert_link Africa Heavy Rains Cut Off Key Supply Route to Sudan’s Darfur Region A key supply route into Sudan's Darfur region, deemed at risk of famine by experts, has been cut off due to heavy rains, a World Food Programme official told Reuters. Another U.N. official reported that refugees had been driven to eating grass. WFP's Country Director Eddie Rowe told Reuters that thousands of tons of aid are stranded at the Tina crossing on the Chad border. This has prompted the WFP […] todayJuly 19, 2024 4
insert_link Africa Nigeria Agrees on New Minimum Wage Amid Cost of Living Crisis As per Reuters, Nigeria's main labor unions agreed on a new minimum wage of US$44 a month on Thursday after talks with the government, ending months of deadlock and the threat of strikes. Africa's most populous nation is grappling with the worst cost of living crisis in a generation, stoking fears of protests similar to those in Kenya. Nigeria's two biggest union federations, the Nigerian Labour Congress and the […] todayJuly 19, 2024 6
insert_link Africa Windhoek ranks 7th in Africa for high crime rates According to the latest crime index statistics by Numbeo, Namibia has the sixth-highest crime index in Africa as of mid-2024, with a score of 63.7. Windhoek ranks as the seventh highest city on the continent with a crime index of 67.6. Socio-economic challenges such as unemployment, inflation, and high living costs, combined with poverty and economic inequality, have contributed to the high crime rate. Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, the […] todayJuly 18, 2024 237
insert_link Africa ZAPU skeptical of Zimbabwe Government’s role in Gukurahundi hearings The Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) is skeptical of the government's involvement in the ongoing Gukurahundi hearings, citing concerns about transparency and impartiality. In a statement to Future Media, ZAPU spokesperson, Brian Ncube expressed reservations, pointing out the historical implications of current leaders in the atrocities under review. "As ZAPU, we view the government's role in the Gukurahundi hearings with skepticism," said Ncube. "We have consistently advocated for justice for […] todayJuly 18, 2024 33
insert_link Africa 7th SADC Industrialisation week to be held in Harare The 7th SADC Industrialisation Week, aimed at driving regional economic growth, is scheduled for 28 July to 2 August 2024 in Harare, Zimbabwe. This public-private engagement platform aims to foster new opportunities for intra-African trade, develop cross-border value chains, and identify investment prospects across Southern Africa. Elijah Mukubonda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade. todayJuly 18, 2024 31
insert_link Africa UN urges Central Africa to protect human rights in prison The United Nations has called on authorities in the Central African Republic to guarantee human rights in prisons, where torture and malnutrition are common, said a report published Thursday. Thousands of prisoners are currently being held in overcrowded places of detention across the country, with limited access to food, water, sanitation and basic healthcare, said the report. Some had been in pre-trial detention for nearly six years, the […] todayJuly 18, 2024 18
