How Russian mercenaries have become Putin’s ‘coercive tool’ in Africa for ‘uprooting of democracy’
When abuses were reported in recent weeks in Mali – fake graves designed to discredit French forces; a massacre of some 300 people, mostly civilians – all evidence pointed to the shadowy mercenaries of Russia’s Wagner Group. Even before these feared professional soldiers joined the assault on Ukraine, Russia had...
Crime and punishment: In South Africa, crime rises like inflation with 93 per cent of Blacks steeped in poverty
Vumacam, an international technology company, is now building out more applications on Proof 360 for the South African market, including a system to detect license plate cloning – when two cars show up in different locations with identical plate numbers. It’s also opening up the platform for third-party developers to...
Technology colonialism: How AI is stripping South African police of legal authority to enforce law and order
Private security companies in South Africa currently dominate duties usually associated with policing, even though they don’t have the same legal powers. Whereas South Africa has just over 1,100 police stations with just over 180,000 staff members, there are 11,372 registered security companies and 564,540 actively employed security guards, more...
Sportsmanship: Man United hail Arsenal fans for standing with Cristiano Ronaldo after loss of son
Manchester United have thanked Arsenal fans for their show of support for Cristiano Ronaldo following the tragic death of his baby son. The United striker and his partner Georgina Rodriguez were expecting twins, but announced earlier this week that their baby son had died during childbirth, while their daughter survived....
Protection for women fleeing gender-based violence in Afghanistan has vanished under the Taliban reign
“It’s been closed for months now,” said Zahra, a former employee, as she walked through empty rooms once used to shelter women fleeing gender-based violence in this city in central Afghanistan. The safehouse for women has been shut since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan last August. Utensils were abandoned on...
Players rated as Ronaldo hits landmark goal but is outshone by Arsenal star as Man Utd lose again
Cristiano Ronaldo reached 100 goals in the Premier League but was outshone by Arsenal star Bukayo Saka as the Gunners beat Manchester United 3-1 at home. Arsenal took the lead just three minutes in. Raphael Varane and Alex Telles failed to deal with a cross, allowing Saka to force a...
Arsenal fans give CR7 moving tribute as he returns after son’s tragic death to lead Man United vs Gunners
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action for Manchester United following the heart-breaking death of his new-born son by starting Saturday’s early kick-off against Arsenal Cristiano Ronaldo received a warm reception from Arsenal fans as he returned to action for Manchester United following the devastating death of his baby son. The Portuguese...
EU adds Russian founder and financier of private military Wagner Group to sanctions blacklist
The founder of a notorious Russian mercenary force has been added to a European Union sanctions blacklist. Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, who is closely linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian defence ministry, was added to the list of individuals sanctioned by the EU on Thursday this week for...
Tennis legend Serena Williams and rallying speedster Lewis Hamilton bid for Chelsea excites Stamford Bridge
Imminent acquisition of London glamour football club Chelsea by a group that comprises African-America tennis legend Serena Williams and motorsport speedster Lewis Hamilton is attracting interest at Stamford Bridge as current owner Roman Abramovich prepares to offload reigning European champions. The interest is being felt at club level, with Chelsea...
FAO warns Ukraine war will plunge more than 800 million people into malnutrition in one year
As the devastation in Ukraine continues to unfold, many of the warnings about the global food crisis precipitated by the war have focused on the risks of famine and severe food insecurity. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, for instance, projected last month that between eight...
