Africa: America Can’t Be First If Africa Is Always Put Last

The Western Cape High Court has rejected Stellenbosch Municipality's request to force a property owner on Bird Street to restore a water-filled hole where a teenage couple tragically drowned. The couple's vehicle was discovered submerged in the vacant plot in October 2022. This ruling underscores the court's stance on the municipality's inability to impose rehabilitation obligations on private property owners in this case. Full Article

The Herds, an ambitious public art initiative featuring hundreds of life-size animal puppets, has commenced a 20,000km journey from central Africa to the Arctic Circle, aiming to raise awareness of the climate crisis. Created by the team behind Little Amal, it will visit 20 cities over four months, beginning with events in Kinshasa and Lagos, and will involve local communities in puppet-making. The project emphasizes the emotional aspect of the climate emergency, encouraging community engagement...

Summary In hindsight, the impasse regarding the now-canceled VAT increase of 0.5 percentage points, which caused a fallout between the DA and ANC, the largest partners in the GNU, could have been averted, according to DA leader and Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen. The disagreement highlights the complexities of political negotiations within the coalition. Steenhuisen's remarks suggest that better communication and collaboration might have prevented the conflict over the VAT increase. Full Article

The MK Party is raising a critical issue regarding the recent reversal of the VAT increase, questioning how Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and his department will manage the administrative challenges that have emerged due to their delayed decision-making. This "million-dollar" question highlights concerns about the impact on businesses facing complications from the government's actions. The party seeks clarity on strategies to mitigate the "nightmare" that has resulted from the late reversal, emphasizing the need for...

The Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwanda-backed militia M23 announced a joint commitment to cease hostilities and seek a lasting peace agreement, surprising observers given prior statements from President Felix Tshisekedi about not negotiating directly with M23. The United States and the UN have accused Rwanda of supporting M23, which claims to defend the interests of Kinyarwanda-speaking communities in Congo. Despite the announcement and ongoing negotiations in Qatar, skepticism remains about the potential for...

Summary of Carthaginian Demographics and Identity Research indicates that while Phoenicians traveled to Carthage, they likely represented only a small fraction of its population, as evidenced by the lack of Phoenician women for male colonists. Marriages between Carthaginian nobles and regional princes suggest local partnerships, correlating with a demographic shift around the sixth century B.C. that saw cultural changes and a new dialect emerge. The findings emphasize that Carthaginian identity was complex, intertwined with myths...