insert_link World U.S. strikes approved in Iraq & Syria as response to deadly Jordan attack U.S. officials have confirmed to CBS News that plans are going ahead for strikes in Iraq and Syria, in retaliation for the drone attack that killed 3 personnel in Jordan. However, there are concerns that further violence may escalate a volatile region. Caroline Malone reports from Washington. todayFebruary 2, 2024 18
insert_link South Africa Eskom Extends Load-Limiting Project to Gauteng to Mitigate Load-Shedding Challenges In response to ongoing challenges posed by load-shedding, Eskom has expanded its load-limiting project to Gauteng following a successful pilot in Fourways. The initiative, designed to optimize electricity consumption during load-shedding stages one to four, focuses on areas equipped with smart meters, enabling remote control of electricity capacity. Eskom spokesperson Amanda Qithi explained that customers in these areas will receive prompts to reduce consumption an hour before load-shedding, ensuring continued […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 6
insert_link Namibia Alarming Surge in Gender-Based Violence: Over 380 Cases Reported in Six Namibian Regions In the past three months, a staggering 380 cases of gender-based violence have been reported in Namibia across six regions. The Zambezi, Oshikoto, Kavango, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Kunene regions collectively averaged over 100 reported cases per month. Namibian Police spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi disclosed that the Oshikoto region had the highest reported cases at 98, leading to 86 arrests. Omusati followed closely with 94 cases and 49 arrests, while […] todayFebruary 2, 2024 21
insert_link Namibia Ministry Prohibits Teachers from Charging Fees for Extra Classes The Education, Arts, and Culture ministry's Director for Programmes and Quality Assurance, Ayeesha Wentworth, emphasized that teachers are strictly prohibited from charging fees when conducting additional classes for their own students. Wentworth clarified that such sessions are integral to the school improvement strategy and should not incur any extra costs for the students or their parents. This statement comes in response to complaints from some parents who allege that certain […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 23
insert_link World Indian court allows Hindus to offer prayers at contested mosque Muslim petitions say they will file a challenge in India's Supreme Court, after a local Indian court allowed Hindu rituals and prayers to be performed inside a contested mosque.The Gyanvapi mosque has become the latest flashpoint between Muslims and Hindus. Right wing groups claim the mosque was built on the site of a razed Hindu shrine. Neha Poonia has more. todayFebruary 1, 2024 42
insert_link South Africa Independent Electoral Commission Firmly Denies Bias Allegations by Former President Jacob Zuma SA's Independent Electoral Commission emphatically refutes former president Jacob Zuma's allegations of bias toward the ANC, asserting that such claims are baseless. Zuma recently accused the commission of favoritism towards the ANC and suggested that certain IEC officials could be influenced with bribes to circumvent the commission's system. Janet Love, representing the IEC, urges political parties to collaborate with the commission to ensure the integrity of free and fair elections. […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 20
insert_link South Africa Firefighters Grapple with Intense Blazes Despite Marginal Nighttime Cooling in Cape Winelands While slightly cooler night temperatures provided some respite, firefighters continue to combat multiple blazes in Worcester, Wolseley, and Rawsonville within the Cape Winelands Municipality. Presently, nine firefighting vehicles with crews and an additional 65 ground crew members are on the scene. Jo-Anne Otto, the municipality's spokesperson, highlighted the challenging conditions, mentioning that the South African Weather Service predicts temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius today, posing additional hurdles for firefighting activities. […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 25
insert_link World India orders halt to much of Paytm’s business India's central bank has ordered Paytm Payments Bank - one of the leaders in the country's digital payments space - to halt a large part of its business. Indian regulators cited persistent non-compliance. Rebecca Bundhun reports from Mumbai. todayFebruary 1, 2024 29
insert_link Namibia MVA Fund Releases Alarming Road Safety Statistics citing 29 Fatalities in January 2024 In an announcement on Wednesday, the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund disclosed distressing year-to-date statistics, revealing a total of 158 road crashes, 335 injuries, and 29 fatalities during the period of 01-28 January 2024. The Chief Executive Officer of MVA Fund, Rosalia Hausiku, conveyed this information through a media statement, expressing condolences for the recent tragic incident near Okashandja village. In the past week alone, 89 individuals were injured, and 16 […] todayFebruary 1, 2024 83