THIS WEEK
24: Fifa Women’s World Cup: Morocco v Germany (Melbourne)
24: International conference on Psychology and Allied Sciences (Constantine, Algeria)
25: Congress on Cell Science and Molecular Biology (Curepipe, Mauritius)
25: Connected Africa – Africa’s Premier Telecom Summit. The summit, back for its 3rd edition, is organised by The International Centre for Strategic Alliances and will focus on the theme ‘Transforming to Telco’s of the Future’ (Johannesburg)
26: International conference on Psychology and Allied Sciences (Bosaso, Somalia)
26: The parliamentary committee responsible for nominating a suitable candidate for the position of South Africa’s Public Protector will begin the shortlisting process. At least 70 candidates applied or were nominated for the crucial position, but only 38 have met the requirements to move forward in the selection process.
26: Fifa Women’s World Cup: Zambia v Spain (Eden)
26: Drug trafficker Nello Quagliani, who was based in SA, is to be sentenced in the US following his drug smuggling conviction. Quagliani was accused of being part of a European trafficking syndicate transporting ecstasy from the Netherlands to Miami between 1996 and 2000 (Miami).
27: Fifa Women’s World Cup: Nigeria v Australia (Brisbane)
27-28: Russia-Africa Summit. The summit, which aims to foster mutually beneficial co-operation and partnerships between Russia and the African continent, first convened in October 2019 with a commitment to continue meeting every three years. This 2nd Summit is expected to consider four declarations and a three-year Action Plan, which will be presented for consideration. These submissions will focus on strengthening cooperation between Russia and African states in politics, security, trade, science, IT, humanitarian support, education, culture, sports, youth and the environment (St Petersburg).
28: Fifa Women’s World Cup: South Africa v Argentina (Dundein)
28: World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology (Malindi, Kenya)
28-6: Netball World Cup (Cape Town)
29: The 95 000 capacity Soccer City Stadium is expected to be painted red next Saturday as the EFF celebrates its 10th anniversary. Its leader, Julius Malema, formed the party 10 years ago, following his expulsion from the ANC. Dubbed the ‘festival of the poorest of the poor’, the EFF will be celebrating a decade of ‘unbroken struggle’ (Johannesburg)
30: Fifa Women’s World Cup: Morocco v Korea Republic (Adelaide)
30: Several hundred ‘experienced’ Wagner fighters have arrived in the CAR to secure today’s referendum. The troubled nation, where Wagner mercenaries are already helping the government fight rebels, will vote on a constitutional change which could enable President Faustin Archange Touadera to seek a third term in office.
OTHER
* The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) has ordered the Tanzania Government to pay more than $109m to a group of companies fronted by Australian miner Indiana Resources Ltd in compensation for the controversial 2018 expropriation of a nickel mine project. Under ICSID rules, Tanzania has 120 days to file an application for annulment of the order.
* Kenyan cult leader Paul Nthenge Mackenzie who allegedly urged his followers to starve to death remains in custody after a Mombasa court extended his detention to 3 August pending investigations. Prosecutors have said he is facing terrorism or genocide-related charges, but he has not yet been required to enter any plea.
* The Comoros says it will resume accepting its nationals who are deported from the neighbouring French island of Mayotte as long as they are returning voluntarily. In recent weeks tension between the two Indian Ocean countries has been high after Paris started deporting undocumented migrants from Mayotte. About half of the 350 000 population is estimated to be foreign, most of them Comorian.
* A group of Ugandans has lodged a fresh lawsuit against oil giant TotalEnergies in Paris for reparations over alleged human rights violations at its mega projects in their country. Joined by five Ugandan and French aid groups, people from the affected communities say TotalEnergies caused ‘serious harm’, especially to their rights to land and food.