Google has agreed to provide South African news organizations with R688 million in financial support over the next five years. This commitment follows a Competition Commission inquiry that found major digital platforms dominate online advertising, negatively impacting traditional publishers' revenue. The funding package will be distributed through licensing agreements and grants to support national, community, and local language media outlets.
The initiative aims to create a more equitable relationship between global technology companies and local news producers. It mirrors similar frameworks established in countries like Australia and Canada, where legislative efforts compelled tech firms to share advertising revenue with news...
South Africa's mining production increased by 1.2 percent year-on-year in September, signaling a recovery for a vital economic sector. This rebound was primarily driven by stronger outputs of platinum group metals, manganese ore, and coal. The data also indicated a 2.2 percent rise in seasonally adjusted production from August to September.
For the entire third quarter, seasonally adjusted mining production grew by 2.5 percent compared to the previous quarter. The sustained performance of platinum group metals, which are essential for green technologies, and the consistent export demand for coal were highlighted as major contributors to this positive trend. The sector's improved operational environment has been supported by a more...
South Africa's Constitutional Court has refused an application for direct access from ANC member Mapo Blessings Pitjadi, requiring him to begin his legal challenge in a lower court. Pitjadi's case targets decisions made by several ANC committees in Limpopo concerning branch leadership and membership verification in the Sekhukhune region. The court determined his application did not meet the exceptional standard required to bypass the standard judicial process.
The dispute centers on internal party conflicts within the ANC's Lawrence Phokanoka Branch, alleging mishandling of electoral and membership verification processes. Such internal disagreements have previously resulted in numerous court cases within the province, reflecting...
Amnesty International has condemned the continued use of Colombia's military justice system to handle grave human rights abuses, labeling it a structural engine of impunity. In a new report, the organization stated that the Justicia Penal Militar, or JPM, systematically claims jurisdiction over cases involving homicide, torture, and enforced disappearances by soldiers and police. Ana Piquer, the group's Americas director, asserted that this practice is a deliberate obstacle to justice, not a simple error.
The rights group highlighted that this problem persists despite constitutional court rulings requiring such cases to be tried in ordinary civilian courts. Its analysis of hundreds of jurisdictional conflicts revealed that both...
The United Nations Human Rights Council has mandated an independent fact-finding mission to investigate alleged atrocities in the Sudanese city of El Fasher. The resolution, adopted without a vote, orders a probe into reports of ethnically motivated killings, sexual violence, and other human rights violations committed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the atrocities were foreseeable and preventable, criticizing the international community for its insufficient response. The session also heard from the African Union's Adama Dieng, who urged an immediate halt to the flow of weapons and fighters into Sudan, warning that it exacerbates the systematic targeting of...
England's High Court of Justice has ruled that BHP Mining is liable for the catastrophic failure of the Fundão Dam in Brazil, an event considered the country's worst environmental disaster. Justice Finola O’Farrell found the collapse, which killed 19 people, was reasonably foreseeable, rejecting BHP's claim that it was a sudden accident. The court noted the dam showed clear signs of distress, including seepage and cracking, more than a year before its 2015 rupture.
The ruling applied Brazilian environmental law, which imposes strict liability on polluters. The court determined that BHP, which owned half of the operating company Samarco, fell within Brazil's broad legal definition of a polluter due to its control, economic benefit, and...
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly called upon the Department of Justice to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s connections with Bill Clinton and other prominent individuals. In a social media post, he characterized recent Democratic criticisms as a deflection from other political issues, framing the matter as a problem for the Democratic Party. He specifically named figures like Larry Summers and Reid Hoffman, as well as J.P. Morgan Chase, for scrutiny.
This request followed the release of emails by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, which suggested Trump himself had awareness of Epstein's criminal actions. The documents indicated that various political figures continued their associations with Epstein even after his 2008...
Human Rights Watch has urged the Tanzanian government to initiate an independent investigation into alleged killings and disappearances by security forces following a disputed election. The organization warned that the serious violations could constitute crimes. Tensions escalated after the government imposed a nationwide internet blackout on election day, which the African Commission stated violates the right to receive information. Security forces reportedly responded to large-scale protests with a harsh crackdown, including the use of live ammunition.
The reported abuses occurred within a broader context of pre-election repression. Opposition leader Tundu Lissu faced treason charges, and his party was sidelined, while another...
A severe financial crisis threatens to close the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education's district and provincial offices across Zimbabwe, according to internal sources. The suspension of the Better Schools Project Zimbabwe, or BSPZ, which reportedly funds all operational costs beyond teacher salaries, has halted office functions. Sources indicate that rents and utility bills have gone unpaid since the suspension, risking service disconnections, while a lack of fuel has prevented school inspectors from traveling.
Ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro denied any planned closures, asserting that the government provides the ministry's primary funding. Internal sources, however, contend that the government long ago ceased funding these...
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