AFRICA

The United Nations’ Commission for Narcotic Drugs voted Wednesday to remove cannabis from the most tightly controlled drugs. Member nations of the Vienna based Commission voted 27-25 to remove it from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs that allows national bans for drugs with “particularly dangerous …

December 3 marks the annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to the UN, the day is set aside “to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with …

The Nelson Mandela Bay metro has become the first region in the country to be officially declared a Covid-19 hotspot, with the government imposing a stricter curfew and limiting alcohol sales to curb the spread of the killer disease. President Cyril Ramaphosa made the announcement in his address to the …

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation at 8pm on Thursday, as Covid-19 infections surge in two provinces. The address follows a special sitting of the cabinet that considered recommendations of the national coronavirus command council. Source: timeslive.co.za

Six people died and one has been critically injured after a multiple-vehicle crash in Mokopane, Limpopo on Wednesday night. According to the Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety, the crash involved a truck, five sedans and pedestrians. WATCH: TRUCK ON FIRE FOLLOWING LIMPOPO HORROR CRASH  Video: Limpopo Department of Transport …

Drought and human-wildlife conflict is forcing Namibia to auction off 170 “high-value” elephants. “Due to drought and an increase in elephant numbers, coupled with human-elephant conflict incidents, a need has been identified to reduce these populations,” an advert in the state-owned New Era newspaper on Wednesday noted. The advert placed …

At least four people have been killed by lightning strikes in Mozambique’s western province of Tete, which shares a border with neighbouring Malawi. Meanwhile, a rainstorm accompanied by strong winds has left a trail of destruction in southern Mozambique. Those killed by lightning strikes include an elderly woman and a …

The Commonwealth has deployed a team of election observers to Ghana to keep watch during the country’s General Election slated for Monday next week. The Commonwealth Observer Group is made up of politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender and election administration from across member countries. Commonwealth Secretary-General …

The ANC’s military veterans have warned that a coup d’etat could result should former president Jacob Zuma be arrested for leaving the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture. Leader of the Zuma-aligned Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, Kebby Maphatsoe, told News24 on Tuesday: “We are not saying Zuma …

A heartbreaking video making the rounds on social media shows the moment a poor mother griefs while carrying her dead child on her back after he was poisoned.   According to the grieving mother, her 5-year-old child was allegedly poisoned to death. In a viral video, the mother complained bitterly …