(2024-02-14). First evidence of human drug use dates back thousands of years(Photo). albawaba.com 
ALBAWABA The unearthing of an ancient bone, meticulously hollowed out and sealed with birch tar, has unveiled a fascinating insight into the practices of ancient Europeans. Dated back thousands of years, this bone, initially thought to be from a sheep or goat, harbored a cache of seeds from the black henbane plant, Hyoscyamus niger. This discovery marks the earliest concrete evidence of humans in Europe collecting and preserving this potent and perilous substance.t.co/oQ7xxO1wRr— ScienceAlert (@ScienceAlert) (2024-02-14). Morocco: journalist gets 'suspended jail' over FB post. newarab.com 
A Moroccan court has sentenced journalist Hanane Bakour to "suspended jail" over a social media post critical of the ruling party the journalist shared two years ago. | On Monday, 12 February, the Court of First Instance in Sale, next to Rabat, sentenced Bakour to one month of suspended imprisonment and fined her 500 dirhams (about US$50), with compensation of one dirham in favour of the current ruling party, the National Rally of Independents (RNI). | According to the Moroccan penal code, "suspension of execution" means that the convicted will not serve a prison sentence unless they commit a crime punishable…
(2024-02-14). Shifting Global Alliances: The Strategic Expansion of BRICS. infobrics.org The bloc's recent expansion to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could represent a complex and multifaceted shift in global power structures, transcending simplistic views of it as merely a challenge to Western dominance…
(2024-02-14). At least 1,300 migrants dead or missing off Tunisia in 2023. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – A Tunisian rights group said on Tuesday that at least 1,300 illegal migrants have died or went missing in 2023 trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe seeking asylum. The United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM) said 2,498 people died or went missing while trying to cross the central Mediterranean last year, rising 75% more than in 2022.Tunisia and Libya are the primary north African departure destinations for thousands of illegal migrants who risk their lives each year in the hope of finding better lives in Europe.More than 1,300 irregular migrants died at sea or wen…
(2024-02-14). Libya's polluted coastline is a symptom of state failure. newarab.com 
In the 13 years since the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has become a byword for the perils of Western military intervention. | The country's political dysfunction and on-and-off civil war have consumed most of the attention that the international community dedicates to Libya, even as the environmental issues that stem from these problems grow worse and go all but unaddressed. | Libya's hundreds of kilometres of coastline — the launchpad for boats carrying African migrants to Europe and Libyan oil to the rest of the world —offers a prime example. | "Amid the countless immediate political challe…
(2024-02-14). A new wave of land grabs strikes Tanzania. cadtm.org
(2024-02-14). Internet connectivity improves. sanews.gov.za Internet connectivity improves | Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele, says that internet connectivity and penetration has improved greatly. | According to the Minister, internet connectivity and penetration has improved from a mere 21.1% in 2011 to a staggering 79% in 2022, elevating citizens in a rapidly changing world that is driven by digital technologies. | The improvement is due to work being done through the SA Connect broadband connectivity project, which is dedicated to bridging the digital divide by providing Wi-Fi access to communities and ensuring universal access to t…
(2024-02-14). Namibian president sets vision for 2024 at Cabinet opening amid national mourning. independent.co.ug 
WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA | Xinhua | Namibia's economy is recovering in various sectors, including agriculture, mining, fisheries, tourism, oil and gas, and green energy, Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba said on Tuesday. Mbumba made the remarks on the occasion of the official opening of the Cabinet in the national capital of Windhoek amid a pivotal moment for …
(2024-02-14). Gov't drops charges for regular renewal of National IDs. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Citizens will be spared from paying Shs50,000 to renew their National Identity Cards (IDs) save for those interested in express service, Members of Parliament (MPs) have been assured. The assurance was made by the Minister of State for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi in a statement to the House on …
(2024-02-14). Recovery plan for power outages in Karoo underway. sanews.gov.za Recovery plan for power outages in Karoo underway | Eskom says its electricity supply recovery plans for towns in the Karoo, which lost power due to severe damage to infrastructure during inclement weather, are progressing well. | The damage cut electricity supply to Sutherland, Roggeveld, Laingsburg, Ladismith, Leeu Gamka, Swartberg, Merweville, Matjiesfontein, Prince Albert, Fraserburg and the surrounding areas. | "Eskom's recovery plan to repair the infrastructure… is making significant progress with the electricity restoration date (ETR) in sight. The ETR remains this Thursday, even though teams are pushing…
(2024-02-14). Siyonist Bakan Gazze'ye un sevkiyatƒ±nƒ± engellemeye devam edeceƒüini sà∂yledi. yenisafak.com ƒ∞srail Maliye Bakanƒ± a≈üƒ±rƒ± saƒücƒ± Bezalel Smotrich, X sosyal medya hesabƒ±ndan ƒ∞srail'in insanlƒ±k felaketine yol aàßtƒ±ƒüƒ± Gazze'de un sevkiyatƒ±nƒ± durdurmasƒ±na ili≈ükin payla≈üƒ±mda bulundu. | Gazze'ye ula≈ütƒ±rƒ±lacak un yardƒ±mƒ±nƒ±n Birle≈ümi≈ü Milletler (BM) Yakƒ±n Doƒ…
(2024-02-14). COSASE orders audit into gorilla trekking permit scam. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) has ordered a forensic audit into the 500 million Shillings gorilla trekking permit scam at the Uganda Wildlife Authority-UWA. Medard Lubega Ssegonna, the COSASE Chairperson issued the directive on Tuesday while probing UWA officials led …
(2024-02-14). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |
(2024-02-14). Fort Portal leaders demands transfer of RCC after Mayor verbally assaulted. independent.co.ug 
Fort Portal, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fort Portal city council authorities are demanding the immediate transfer of the Resident City Commissioner, Hellen Kamwine, and her two deputies following a heated standoff between the mayor, Edson Asaba Ruyonga, and the Fort Portal City North Division Deputy Resident City Commissioner, Andrew Ntange, on Friday. The city …
(2024-02-14). SIU welcomes arrest of allegedly corrupt former Eskom officials. sanews.gov.za SIU welcomes arrest of allegedly corrupt former Eskom officials | The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has welcomed the arrest and appearance in court of two former Eskom officials on charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. | The two employees, Thandi Magagula and Nontuthubo Mahweliri, were employed at the Hendrina Power Station and were arrested by the Hawks last week and have appeared in different courts. | "The court appearance is part of the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption strategy by law enforcement agencies to strengthen its fight against corruption, especially when such crimes are…
(2024-02-14). María Corina Machado and the Betrayal of Venezuela. orinocotribune.com Atilio Borón — 11 Feb, 2024 | Senility is not only a problem for President Joe Biden but for the empire as a whole. Days ago, the United States government announced new sanctions against Venezuela following the decision of Venezuela's Supreme Court of Justice to ratify the disqualification of Mrs. María Corina Machado from running as a candidate in the next presidential elections. | It was enough for the news to be known for the media sewer—the one that completely silences the ongoing genocide in Gaza or the Dina Boluarte massacres in Peru—to immediately lose its temper and begin to launch all ki…
(2024-02-14). South Africans, Namibians remind Germany of genocidal past. newarab.com 
Hundreds of activists from South Africa and Namibia staged protests outside German institutions in Cape Town and Johannesburg to protest The ICJ on January 26 issued provisional orders compelling Israel to halt attacks on Palestinian civilians and rul…
(2024-02-14). Egypt to broker Hamas-Israel peace talks amid rising tension. newarab.com 
A high-level Israeli delegation and another from the The two warring sides are expected to discuss amendments to
(2024-02-14). Unemployed doctors to be placed by April, says Minister Phaahla. sanews.gov.za Unemployed doctors to be placed by April, says Minister Phaahla | Government is working tirelessly to ensure that unemployed doctors who want to join the public service are placed by 1 April this year, Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla has announced. | This follows an ongoing public outcry over doctors who have completed statutory community service programmes but remain unemployed. | "I am, therefore, happy to announce that working with the Minister of Finance we have a solution to address the current challenge of doctors who want to stay in the public service but could not be offered funded posts," said the Minis…
(2024-02-14). SANRAL notifies motorists about blasting along the N2. sanews.gov.za SANRAL notifies motorists about blasting along the N2 | The South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) has advised road users that the N2 will be intermittently closed between Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) and the Fish River Pass due to blasting operations taking place this month. | Blasting operations started on Monday and will end on 26 February 2024. | Motorists are notified of the following dates: | Thursday,15 February 2024 | Monday,19 February 2024 | Thursday, 22 February 2024, and | Monday, 26 February 2024. | "The road will be closed on these days from 3pm, for a maximum period of three hours, up to 6…
(2024-02-14). Mpilisweni School of Specialisation officially launched in Gauteng. sanews.gov.za Mpilisweni School of Specialisation officially launched in Gauteng | Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC, Matome Chiloane, officially launched the Mpilisweni Maths, Science & ICT School of Specialisation, with a focus on Manufacturing and Logistics in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, on Tuesday. | This public secondary school specialises in Manufacturing and Logistics because of the Economic Development Corridor in which it is located. | The GDE said it intentionally streamlines its schools to match the focuses of each of the schools' Economic Development Corridors, thus responding to the skills gap of each corrido…
(2024-02-14). Resmi Gazete'de yayƒ±mlandƒ±: Türkiye'deki mal varlƒ±klarƒ± donduruldu. img.piri.net 
Hazine ve Maliye Bakanlƒ±ƒüƒ±, terà∂r à∂rgàºtlerine finansman saƒüladƒ±ƒüƒ± yà∂nàºnde makul sebeplerin varlƒ±ƒüƒ±na istinaden, terà∂r à∂rgàºtleri PKK/KCK, DEA≈û, DHKP/C ve TKP/ML ile baƒülantƒ±lƒ± 11 ki≈üinin Türkiye'de bulunan mal varlƒ±klarƒ±nƒ±n dondurulmasƒ±na karar verdi. Bakanlƒ±kàßa hazƒ±rlanan "Mal Varlƒ±&f…
(2024-02-14). Jubilee Life — Uganda pursues new clients through agents. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Jubilee Life Insurance Company Uganda anticipates a significant expansion in the insurance market in Uganda, relying on its agents to effectively promote and sell its policies. Last Friday (Feb. 9) at the Sheraton Hotel, Kumar Sumit Gaurav, the Chief Executive Officer of the insurer, led a rewarding event honoring …
(2024-02-14). Eastern Cape welcomes newly appointed Deputy Provincial Commissioner. sanews.gov.za Eastern Cape welcomes newly appointed Deputy Provincial Commissioner | Eastern Cape Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Zithulele Dladla, on Tuesday welcomed the newly appointed Deputy Provincial Commissioner: Support Services, Major General Nolitha Tito, to the provincial police service. | Tito is the newest addition to the province's leadership team. She is a seasoned public servant since 2002, with a career spanning over 20 years in the public service in strategic senior management positions in different provinces across the country. | She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the support en…
(2024-02-14). PostBank partners with Airtel. independent.co.ug 
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | PostBank Uganda has partnered with Airtel Money to foster financial inclusion by eliminating charges on all transfers made from…
(2024-02-14). Normalizing mass infection and death, CDC to scrap COVID-19 isolation guidelines. wsws.org This policy change is the latest in a continuous stream of attacks on science and public health by the CDC, which has wholly discredited itself over the course of the pandemic after once being the world's preeminent public health agency.
(2024-02-14). Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum, 24, killed in car crash. ecns.cn Marathon world record-holder Kelvin Kiptum and his Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana were killed in a car crash along with his coach at around 11 p.m. Sunday local time in Kenya, according to the Associated Press.
(2024-02-14). Presidente Lula da Silva asistirá a encuentro de Unión Africana. telesurtv.net Brasil y África comparten una herencia cultural común, dijo el vicepresidente brasileño Geraldo Alckmin.
(2024-02-14). Realizan protestas por aplazamiento de elecciones en Senegal. telesurtv.net Las marchas se realizaron a pesar de las prohibiciones de las autoridades de Dakar (capital).
(2024-02-14). Friday 2/23: UCSC's African American Theater Arts Troupe Presents: "Clyde's" indybay.org UCSC Theater Arts Main Stage…
(2024-02-14). Thousands in Morocco protest ties with Israel. presstv.ir Thousands of Moroccans again took to the streets of their capital to call for an end to their country's ties with Israel.
(2024-02-14). South Africa calls for ICJ intervention over Israel's ground invasion of Rafah. presstv.ir South Africa makes urgent request to International Court of Justice against Israeli ground offensive in Rafah.