Blog - The African Mirror

May

2024

Brazil’s bid to host the Women’s World Cup tops European rival

BRAZIL'S bid to host the 2027 Women's World Cup scored higher than its rival, a joint bid from Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, in a FIFA evaluation report released. The world soccer governing body bid report came ahead of the vote at the 74th FIFA Congress in Bangkok on May 17, which will decide where the next Women's World Cup will be held. Last week, Mexico and the United States withdrew from the 2027 race to focus their efforts on hosting the 2031 tournament. Based on the results of the technical evaluation, the Brazil bid received the highest overall average score…

May

2024

By MASHUPYE HERBERT MASERUMULE

South Africa elections: Zuma’s MK Party has hit the campaign trail with provocative rhetoric and few clear policies

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma surprised many in December 2023 by declaring he’d canvass for a new rival to the African National Congress (ANC), the party he used to lead. The new uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) is on the ballot papers in the upcoming national election and provincial elections. Opinion polls suggest that the upstart will worsen the electoral woes of the ruling ANC in Zuma’s heartland, KwaZulu-Natal province. The ANC, which has governed the country since 1994, goes into the elections uncertain about securing the more than 50% majority needed to form a government. We asked political…

May

2024

By DANNY BRADLOW

South Africa will be president of the G20 in 2025: two much-needed reforms it should drive

SPECIAL FEATURES: ANALYSIS

SOUTH Africa will play an important international role in 2025 as president of the G20. The G20 is a group of 19 countries as well as the African Union and the European Union. Between them they represent 85% of the global economy, 75% of world trade and 67% of the global population. The G20 defines itself as the premier multilateral forum for international economic cooperation. During its G20 presidential year, South Africa will host a summit of heads of state and government. It will also be responsible for organising and chairing about 200 meetings of ministers and officials. These will…

May

2024

By NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI, STEVE HOLLAND and MOHAMMAD SALEM

U.S. pauses some weapons to Israel as battles rage around Rafah

WORLD

HAMAS said it was battling Israeli troops on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip's crowded southern city of Rafah after a U.S. official said Washington had halted a shipment of powerful bombs that Israel could use in a full-scale assault. The United States, which is seeking to stave off an Israeli invasion of Rafah, said it believes a revised Hamas ceasefire proposal may lead to a breakthrough in an impasse in negotiations, with talks resuming in Cairo on Wednesday. Israel has threatened a major assault on Rafah to defeat thousands of Hamas fighters it says are holed up there, but Western nations…

May

2024

By LUC COHEN

Stormy Daniels’ testimony at Donald Trump’s trial: Five takeaways

WORLD

STORMY Daniels took the witness stand at Donald Trump’s criminal trial and described in lurid detail her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with the former U.S. president. Trump has pleaded not guilty to Manhattan prosecutors’ charges he falsified business records to cover up his former lawyer’s $130,000 payment to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, for her silence before the 2016 election. Here are five takeaways from the first day of Daniels’ testimony: * Daniels testified confidently Daniels appeared at ease in recounting for the jury her story of a sexual encounter with Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel room in 2006. She spoke in…

May

2024

By ASIF SHAHZAD

Wife of Pakistan’s Imran Khan moved to jail on her request, lawyer says

WORLD

A court in Pakistan granted a request by the wife of former Prime Minister Imran Khan to be moved to jail, her lawyer said, instead of the house arrest ordered by the government. In her petition to the Islamabad High Court, Bushra Bibi had accused authorities of violating her privacy and serving contaminated food in her home cell, which she and her lawyers said was dominated by men, a charge the prison staff has denied. Bibi says she has been detained in one room at Khan's hilltop mansion in Islamabad since the couple's January conviction on charges of illegally selling state gifts. Through…

May

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa, Botswana relay athletes qualify for Olympics in speed and style

ATHLETICS

IN the crucible of competition, amidst the fervor of the World Athletics Relays, a tale of Southern African prowess unfolded, etching itself into the annals of sporting legend. In Nassau, The Bahamas, the thundering strides of Botswana's men's 4x400m relay team echoed through the stadium, their determination a beacon of excellence. Led by the seasoned Isaac Makwala, they blazed a trail of speed and precision. Letsile Tebogo, a sprinting sensation, ignited the track as he surged from fifth position to snatch the lead, passing the baton with a flourish to Leungo Scotch. Amidst the relentless pursuit of world-class athletes, including…

May

2024

By The African Mirror

Zimbabwe says new gold-backed currency now the official unit

BUSINESS

ZIMBABWE'S treasury said that the newly introduced gold-backed currency is the official unit of exchange for transactions and that it would soon introduce regulations to ensure businesses stick to the official rate. Although it has remained stable on the official market since its launch in early April, the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) has been off to a nervy start on the parallel market, with traders charging a premium of 65% to the official rate to obtain dollars. Some supermarkets are also charging a premium above the market rate, which is set at ZiG 13.6 per U.S. dollar, for customers paying in…

May

2024

By KYLIE MACLELLAN, STEPHEN FARRELL, BARBARA LEWIS, VIN SHAHRESTANI and FAROUQ SULEIMAN

Israel-Gaza Live: Israel takes control of Rafah Crossing aid route

WORLD

The day so far A Palestinian man watches as smoke rises in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip May 7, 2024. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled Israel's military seized control of Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt The crossing, a vital route for aid into the devastated enclave, was closed Israeli tanks and planes attacked several areas and houses in Rafah overnight Israel said its operation was meant to kill fighters and dismantle Hamas infrastructure Egypt and Hamas said the Israeli operation threatened ceasefire efforts The offensive took place as mediators struggled to secure a ceasefire agreement Hamas said on Monday it…

May

2024

By The African Mirror

Death toll from strikes on eastern Congo camps rises to 18

NEWS

EIGHTEEN people were killed and 32 wounded when at least five rockets fell on camps sheltering displaced people around the eastern Congolese city of Goma, the U.N. humanitarian agency OCHA said, updating an earlier death toll of 12. The deaths illustrate the worsening humanitarian fallout from the two-year conflict between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23, which has moved closer to Goma in recent months, prompting thousands to seek refuge in the city. Democratic Republic of Congo and the United States have said the attacks were launched from territory held by Rwandan troops and M23. Rwanda, which denies backing M23, has blamed militias…