Reformed poacher offers hope for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry and endangered wildlife species

Reformed poacher offers hope for Zimbabwe’s tourism industry and endangered wildlife species

Tembanechako Mastick and a group of men scanned bushes near their village in southeast Zimbabwe, on the hunt for the den of hyenas that had recently attacked livestock. Scattered fragments of goat bones showed the way, and Mastick peeped cautiously into a deep hole in the earth. “They are probably...

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Russia tightens hold on Sahel region and Africa’s west coast as US scrambles to retain disgruntled allies

Russia tightens hold on Sahel region and Africa’s west coast as US scrambles to retain disgruntled allies

Niger’s closer ties with Russia come a month after senior US officials visited Niger and expressed concern over the country’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran. Following the meeting, a spokesperson for Niger’s military, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, criticised the “condescending attitude” of the Americans for denying the Nigerien people the right to choose which countries they partner with.

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Supermarket redlining: Why Black families in American pay more for food than Whites

Supermarket redlining: Why Black families in American pay more for food than Whites

Experts say Black households, on average, pay disproportionately higher prices than whites at the checkout line, with few options for bargain-hunting in food deserts and less access to fresh, nutritious food. Coupled with chronically high, post-pandemic inflation and food producers’ continued price spikes, they say, Black households are at greater risk of food insecurity than whites.

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Drunk with power and booze-driven state-funded Wazalendo militias, DRC army accused of same crimes M23 rebels commit

Drunk with power and booze-driven state-funded Wazalendo militias, DRC army accused of same crimes M23 rebels commit

Outside of Goma, Wazalendo groups have used their newfound legitimacy to increase their revenue-raising activities, setting up roadblocks in the areas they control where trucks, motorbikes and pedestrians must pay taxes to get through.

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Irony of DR Congo turning to abusive Wazalendo militias to help national army to fight M23 rebels

Irony of DR Congo turning to abusive Wazalendo militias to help national army to fight M23 rebels

Increasing Rwandan support has allowed the M23 to massively expand its footprint this year, overshadowing other insurgencies in the east and raising the risk of a major regional conflagration between Rwanda and DRC and its allies.

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Taliban took my life: No respite for scientists and researchers during three years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

Taliban took my life: No respite for scientists and researchers during three years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

More than 15 million people in Afghanistan needed emergency food or cash assistance in 2023, according to the World Food Programme. Women’s rights have deteriorated and girls are banned from education once they reach 12, albeit with some recent exceptions made for medicine. Female university staff are restricted from teaching.

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Israeli whistleblowers expose the horror Palestinian prisoners live in at Sde Teiman military base

Israeli whistleblowers expose the horror Palestinian prisoners live in at Sde Teiman military base

Since October 7, the number of imprisoned Palestinians has nearly doubled, from 5,192 before the war to 9,623 as of early July, exacerbating a preexisting issue of overcrowding, according to human rights group HaMoked, which tracks Israel’s prison population and was among the groups who petitioned to close Sde Teiman.

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Irony: US asks Israeli military to investigate itself after video evidence of rape of Palestinians in Sde Teiman prison

Irony: US asks Israeli military to investigate itself after video evidence of rape of Palestinians in Sde Teiman prison

While rights groups inside Israel moved aggressively to protect the rights of Palestinians detained in both its military camps, as well as prisons within its official government prison system, the United States showed little urgency around the issue.

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Press Freedom fears emerge as New York police charge journalist with hate crime for recording Gaza protest

Press Freedom fears emerge as New York police charge journalist with hate crime for recording Gaza protest

No one is suggesting that graffitiing private property is legal under New York law. Seligson is not accused of spray-painting or vandalising any property. He is nonetheless facing charges for criminal mischief enhanced as a felony hate crime; one other person alleged to have driven participants to and from the executives’ homes is also facing criminal mischief hate crime charges. The police are still looking for four alleged participants.

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Why Bamasaba king in eastern Uganda faces rebellion over Imbalu, generations-old tradition of circumcision of boys

Why Bamasaba king in eastern Uganda faces rebellion over Imbalu, generations-old tradition of circumcision of boys

The king, known as the Umukuuka, had his way ahead of the August 3 ceremonial inauguration at a park in the town of Mbale, arguing for a traditional festival that also looked attractive to visitors. The organisers of Imbalu received over $120,000 in financial support from the Ugandan government and a corporate sponsor.

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