Top Stories

Top Stories
Businessinsider.co.za | A Lesotho dagga grower just landed Africa’s first approval to sell to the EU
A cannabis company based in the high mountains of Lesotho will begin exporting their produce to Germany in June.
Top Stories
California student body demands ban on caste-based discrimination
‘Historic’ California State University student association resolution wants caste added to anti-discrimination policy.
Top Stories

South Africa
LIVE | Judicial Service Commission interviews, day 5
The Judicial Service Commission continues with interviews to fill vacancies in the judiciary. The focus of the interviews on Friday is to fill vacancies in the Northern Cape Division of the High Court.

South Africa
Eastern Cape police allegedly shoot murder suspect in self-defence
The man allegedly killed his wife in Lusikisiki and fled the scene.
South Africa
Leading the fight against corruption
By More Matshediso
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is committed to increasing efforts to fight against corruption in South Africa, not only in terms of prosecutions but also in ensuring that earnings of crime are recovered.
South Africa
Registration for COVID-19 vaccine now open for those over 60
Government has officially launched the COVID-19 vaccine online registration for the public as the Department of Health gears up for phase two of the country’s vaccine rollout.

World
Titanic: Searching for the ‘missing’ Chinese survivors
When the Titanic sank, six Chinese men were rescued – but their ordeal didn’t end there.

World
India’s desperate Covid-19 patients turn to black market for drugs
Amid a punishing third wave, people across India are finding drugs, oxygen and beds in short supply.

World
Chile sees Covid surge despite vaccination success
The country’s vaccination rollout is one of the fastest in the world, so why are Covid cases surging?

World
Jimmy Lai: The Hong Kong billionaire risking it all by speaking out
Opposition newspaper owner Jimmy Lai was arrested under Hong Kong’s new national security law.

Africa
Africa could produce a Covid-19 vaccine sooner than you think
In mere months, Moderna transformed an old Polaroid factory in America into a state-of-the-art vaccine-production centre. Why can’t we do the same?

Africa
Malawi opposition party calls for President to vacate office
Malawi’s once-ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Thursday called for President Lazarus Chakwera’s election to be annulled after the country’s electoral commissioners were removed from office.

Africa
Lesotho the first in Africa to legally export medical weed
Fewer than 20 companies worldwide have been able to achieve becoming aligned with the EU’s Good Manufacturing Practice standards.

Africa
Africa CDC says cannot predict when second Covid-19 shots will arrive
Many Africans who have received their first Covid-19 vaccine do not know when they will get a second shot because deliveries are delayed, the continent’s top public health official said on Thursday.

Business
Property owners in South Africa to be hit by price increases in the next few months
Record fuel price increases are grabbing headlines at the moment, but home sellers should be even more concerned about the increases in municipal tariffs that will be implemented in just a few months’ time, says Gerhard Kotzé, managing director of the RealNet estate agency group.

Business
SA business group to help vaccinate 160 000 a day
SA had vaccinated 292 623 health-care workers as of April 15.

Business
South Africa’s tourism businesses need to change their models: minister
Tourism minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says that South African tourism businesses have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic because of their focus on international travellers.
Business

Politics
Cyril & co rise as Ace’s plot bombs
Magashule’s group and ANC outsiders have made moves to get the president and others to also stand aside

Politics
Ramaphosa expected to lead by-election campaign in Hammersdale, west of Durban
African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to lead a by-election campaign in Hammersdale in the west of the eThekwini municipality later on Thursday.

Politics
City of Tshwane to continue efforts to restore its financial health: Mayor
City of Tshwane Mayor Randall William says the city will continue with efforts to restore its financial health. The City is currently operating on a deficit of over R4 billion.
Politics
Mashaba sets his sights on eThekwini, willing to work with DA to oppose ANC
Herman Mashaba announced outside the Durban City Hall that Action SA will — in addition to Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni — also contest for power in eThekwini.

Sport
Argentine artist channels ‘hand of God’ with Maradona portrait
Maxi Bagnasco says he knows Diego Maradona’s features by heart after painting portraits of the soccer star almost daily since the Argentine World Cup winner died last November.

Sport
Aussie Smith leads PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage with sizzling 62
Cameron Smith blitzed Harbour Town Golf Links for a nine-under par 62 to grab a one-stroke lead in the RBC Heritage over former British Open champion Stewart Cink.

Sport
AB de Villiers remains on Proteas radar for T20 World Cup
Proteas coach Mark Boucher has given every indication that superstar batsman AB de Villiers could still be central to his T20 World Cup plans.

Sport
Nathan Redmond: Southampton winger targeting FA Cup final
As he prepares for Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final against Leicester, Southampton winger Nathan Redmond tells BBC Sport about the role his mother has played in his career.
Education
Kenya: All Teachers, Support Staff to Take Covid-19 Jabs in a Bid to Sacure School Calendar
[Capital FM] Nairobi — President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday directed that all teachers and support staff be allowed to take the COVID vaccine initially ring fenced for groups most at risk due to age and other health factors.
Education
Kenya: KCPE Exam Cheats to Receive Results, Colluding Tutors to Carry the Cross
[Capital FM] Nairobi — President Uhuru Kenyatta has allowed the issuance of results for KCPE candidates caught up in exam cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha said on Thursday.
Education
Tanzania: TPB Bank Boosts Academic Camps
[Daily News] TPB Bank has donated food stuff, hygiene products to girls and stationeries valued at 4.5m/- to support special academic camps in Bariadi District, Simiyu.
Education
Kenya: Public Schools Shine in 2020 KCPE Exams
[Nation] Girls led the pack as public schools performed better than 2019, producing 10 out of the top 15 candidates.
Lifestyle
Lifestyle

Lifestyle
J.Lo and A-Rod split because “we are better as friends”
Lopez and Rodriguez said they would largely remain mum about the split out of respect for their children from previous relationships.
Lifestyle
Prince Philip’s funeral: Let’s leave Meghan Markle out of it, shall we?
Toni Jaye Singer weighs in on the debate about Duchess of Sussex missing out on this solemn event
Entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment
How Thuli Phongolo shook off Generations setback
Thuli Phongolo thought her acting dreams were being cut short when the “Generations 16” was axed in September 2014, but a higher power had bigger plans for her.
Entertainment
‘I’m a mother of two living in a world filled with bullies’
“Forgive me for not being the celebrity that you think I should be. I am the mother I want to be,” the ‘Idols SA’ judge said.

Science/Tech
Uncapped broadband from Afrihost for R297 per month
Afrihost has slashed the price of its Pure DSL packages with uncapped, unshaped broadband prices now starting at R297 per month.

Science/Tech
Get the latest tech on contract with Incredible Connection
Get the latest tech on contract! With incredible MTN, Telkom and Vodacom deals for you, we’ve made it easier to stay in touch, stay productive and stay entertained with your favourite Tech on contract.
Science/Tech
Massachusetts Wants To Pull the Plug On Robinhood
Regulators in Massachusetts are seeking to revoke Robinhood’s broker-dealer license in the state, after accusing the company of failing to properly account for fractional shares traded by customers on its platform. They also say the company “continues to entice and induce inexperienced customers into risky trading.” CNN reports: The battle began in December when regulators in Massachusetts...

Science/Tech
Turkey bans cryptocurrencies for payments
Turkey’s central bank has banned the use of cryptocurrencies and crypto assets to purchase goods and services, citing “irreparable” possible damages and significant risks in such transactions.
Motoring
Motoring
Motoring
Motoring

Health
Families need cannabis prescriptions support, say MPs and peers
Politicians complain that only three NHS scripts have been issued since the law changed in 2018.

Health
States Struggle With Vaccine Pause as Federal Officials Reassure Public
Dr. Anthony S. Fauci said he hoped for a decision “quite soon” on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, as local governments shifted to more complicated two-dose vaccines for marginal populations.

Health
Puberty blockers: NHS to set up independent review group
The group will assess the prescription of puberty blockers for under-16s, NHS England says.

Health
Vaccines Won’t Protect Millions of Patients With Weakened Immune Systems
Many cannot produce enough infection-fighting cells to fend off the coronavirus. But researchers are testing one therapy that may help: monoclonal antibodies.
Nature
Sour fig harvesting provides income for communities
CapeNature celebrates International Plant Appreciation Day this year by highlighting the important role that indigenous plants play in the livelihood of communities. The special calendar day falls on 13 April every year and is aimed at highlighting the importance of plants in our daily lives. Much of human nutrition depends on land plants, either directly […]

Nature
Rare footage captures fight between two wild pandas
Some rare footage of two wild pandas having a fierce fight has been captured by researchers in China.
Nature
Schools gifted with seedlings for food gardens this International Plant Appreciation Day
CapeNature and the Western Cape Government celebrate Plant Appreciation Day together by gifting 12 schools across the Western Cape with seedlings and seeds for their food gardens. The special calendar day falls on 13 April every year and is aimed at highlighting the importance of plants in our daily lives. With 52% of South […]

Nature
Yuri Gagarin: Sixty years since the first man went into space
The BBC speaks to the woman who, as a child, witnessed Yuri Gagarin’s return to Earth 60 years ago.