South Africans plagued by spam calls will have to wait another seven months to use the government’s new National Opt-Out Registry, despite its launch in Pretoria on Wednesday. The marketing industry’s own do-not-contact list, which the regulator says it won’t recognise, isn’t going anywhere. The National Consumer Commission (NCC), which runs the free registry, said…
Twenty-five African and African-diasporan faith leaders, theologians, scholars and constitutional thinkers have launched the African Democratic Covenant, calling on African governments to pause legislation that criminalises sexual minorities and open broader dialogue on democracy, human dignity, sovereignty and constitutional rights. The Covenant was launched on Monday during a virtual press convening attended by journalists across…
After six days of speeches from the UN General Assembly podium, one word rose above all others: peace. This final edition of The Takeaway distils the messages he said reverberated through the Assembly Hall and looks at where the 193-member body goes from here. Closing the annual general debate on Monday, General Assembly President Khalilur…
World Patient Safety Day 2026 · 17 September 2026 Joseph Rukelibuga experienced a stroke at his home in Kigali. His wife took him to the nearest referral hospital soon after his symptoms began. Like many stroke patients, however, his diagnosis still took several hours, narrowing the treatment options available to him. Today, Joseph is the…
Pope Leo XIV meets with France bishops. PHOTO/VATICAN By PATRICK MAYOYO Catholic churches today are placing repentance, humility and faithful action at the centre of the liturgy, as worshippers are reminded that what ultimately matters is not what people say, but whether their lives reflect God’s will. The readings for today’s Mass present a consistent…
Nairobi — President William Ruto has challenged the post-World War II global order, arguing that the institutions created in 1945 no longer reflect the geopolitical realities of the modern world and must be reformed to give Africa a permanent voice in decisions on war, peace and global economic governance. Addressing the 81st United Nations General…
This initiative proposes restricting the veto for permanent members of the Council in cases involving genocide, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law. The United Kingdom has joined France and Mexico’s push for restrictions on the use of the UN Security Council veto in cases involving genocide and crimes against humanity….
The Middle East stands once again at the edge of a dangerous precipice. What began as a targeted military strike on an airport runway has rapidly evolved into a wider regional confrontation, threatening global energy markets and exposing the vulnerability of economies far beyond the Gulf. On July 14, Saudi Arabian forces reportedly struck the…
Washington, DC — The AGOA Civil Society Organization (CSO) Network welcomes the U.S. Congress’s decision to extend the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through December 31, 2028. This extension ensures continued duty-free access for thousands of African products and strengthens one of the continent’s most important trade frameworks. Africa’s exports under AGOA exceeded US$30…
The Please Call Me legal bill ran into hundreds of thousands. (Image created with GenAI) In October 2024, as Please Call Me inventor Nkosana Makate prepared for what would become his final court battle, three senior and three junior advocates prepared his Heads of Argument – potentially costing between R90 000 and R145 000 a…
