Congo and Togo record Africa’s highest increase in happiness levels

Congo and Togo record Africa’s highest increase in happiness levels

By Conrad Onyango, bird story agency The Republic of Congo and Togo are amongst the countries that have seen happiness levels amongst their citizens increase the most over the past 12 years. The two African countries are listed among seventeen countries globally that recorded increases in average life evaluations of a full point or more. The World Happiness Report 2024 ranks the Republic of Congo in […]

March 26, 2024 39

South Africa

South Africans fighting for Israel in Gaza: what does the law say?

By Michelle Nel, Stellenbosch University South Africa’s foreign minister, Naledi Pandor, said the country’s citizens fighting for the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza faced prosecution upon their return. This statement followed tension between South Africa and Israel amid the “humanitarian catastrophe” resulting from Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. There is a history of South African citizens of Jewish descent fighting for Israel, but the number fighting […]

March 26, 2024 24

Africa

Africa’s promising sports future evident at the 13th Africa Games in Accra

By Bonface Orucho, bird story agency After three weeks of intense field and track event actions across multiple venues in Accra, the 13th edition of the Africa Games came to a close this past weekend. The pan-African sporting event has, yet again, showcased Africa's rich and diverse sports talent, with more than 35 countries participating across 23 sports disciplines. Egypt led with 107 gold, 47 silver, and 42 […]

March 25, 2024 13

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Africa

Largest frog in more than 100 years discovered in Africa

By Bertie Jacobs A new species of African bullfrog has been discovered in northeastern Namibia, southern Angola, southwestern Zambia and northwestern Botswana. It is the largest frog species discovered in more than 100 years. The largest specimen found is 210 millimetres long and weighs 1 kilogram. Once there were three, now there are four. Professor Louis du Preez, from the North-West University (NWU) in South Africa, and […]

March 25, 2024 117 2

Lifestyle

Parents who believe their children can have a better future are more likely to read and play with them – South African study

Both children and parents benefit from daily play and reading activities. iThemba Projects, Author provided By Kendra Thomas, Hope College Every day, a small group of women make their way through the community of Sweetwaters, near the South African city of Pietermaritzburg, with bags of toys and books. They work as home mentors supporting families who signed up for an early childhood development intervention. They swap puzzles and […]

March 25, 2024 27

Entertainment

This is how President Ramaphosa got to the 25% figure of progress in land reform in South Africa

By Johann Kirsten, Stellenbosch University and Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University Nearly three decades into democracy, land reform remains central to South Africa’s transformation policies and agricultural policy. We have over the years pointed out that the progress on land reform has been incorrectly reported. It’s been consistently understated. We have argued that, if the statistics are treated carefully, the progress has been much better than politicians […]

March 22, 2024 25

South Africa

SA Speaker takes special leave following corruption allegations

Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says that “given the seriousness of allegations [made against her] and the attendant extensive media speculation, [she] has decided to take special leave [from her role]”. News24 reports that the move comes after heavy backlash following the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate's raid at her Johannesburg home, linked to a probe into alleged corruption during her time as defence minister.

March 22, 2024 33

Business / Economics

Steinhof CEO dies by suicide

Former Steinhoff CEO Markus Jooste died by suicide in Hermanus on Thursday, a day before he was told to hand himself over to law enforcement. News24 reports that Jooste told his wife he was going out for a walk, and it was during his walk that he shot himself. According to local police, Jooste “was still alive at the time [they reported to a beach in Hermanus, where a 63-year-old man […]

March 22, 2024 156

Business / Economics

Morning Biznews update – 22 March 2024

With South Africa’s annual consumer price inflation increasing to 5.6% in February, exceeding economists' expectations, and rising closer to the top of the central bank's 3% to 6% target range, all hopes of an interest rate cut before the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in July have fallen. A number of economists are in fact now looking at September as the first opportunity for any easing of the country’s 8.25% repurchase rate. […]

March 22, 2024 8