
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>The price of Bitcoin crossed $100,000 for the first time and hit an all-time high of nearly $104,000 late on Wednesday, as the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency continued its post-election bull run as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to embrace crypto-friendly policies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $103,900 on Wednesday night before settling at around $103,100 just before midnight, up 7.62% in the past 24 hours.</p>



<p>The $100,000 mark was breached for the first time late on Wednesday evening after the token’s price hovered just under $98,000 for nearly two weeks in what initially appeared to be a flattening of the post-election bull run.</p>



<p>Bitcoin’s price has risen more than 36% since election day, when it was valued at around $75,600.</p>



<p>Ether, the second most valuable crypto token, also appeared to be buoyed by Bitcoin’s surge and rose to $3,870 on Wednesday night, up more than 5.4% in the past 24 hours.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-news-peg">News Peg</h2>



<p>Earlier on Wednesday, Trump announced Paul Atkins as his pick for the Securities And Exchange Commission’s chair role. Trump alluded to his pro-crypto view in his&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113595807734621827" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announcement</a>, describing Atkins as someone who “recognizes that digital assets &amp; other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Last month, current SEC Chair Gary Gensler&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024-182" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;his plans to step down in January. The crypto world reacted to the news of Gensler’s exit with&nbsp;<a href="https://decrypt.co/292941/crypto-industry-bids-farewell-gary-gensler" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">relief and joy</a>&nbsp;as the SEC under his leadership had undertaken several enforcement actions against crypto companies—including major exchanges.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



<p>133.41%. The rise in Bitcoin’s price since the start of this year, when it was at $44,200.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>The post-election surge in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency prices has come as Trump has vowed to be the “crypto president,” and move away from the Biden administration’s regulatory actions against the industry. The president-elect has promised to transform the U.S into the “crypto capital of the planet,” and has vowed to “keep 100% of all the bitcoin the U.S. government currently holds or acquires into the future.” The pro-crypto embrace is a major shift in stance for Trump who previously&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-57392734" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">expressed skepticism</a>&nbsp;about the industry and called it a “scam” and a disaster waiting to happen.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/11/13/bitcoin-price-crosses-90000-for-first-time-ever-amid-trump-crypto-surge/">Bitcoin Price Crosses $90,000 For First Time Ever Amid Trump Crypto Surge</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/12/02/ripples-xrp-is-now-the-fourth-largest-cryptocurrency-after-100-billion-post-election-surge/">XRP Is Now The Fourth Largest Cryptocurrency After $100 Billion Post-Election Surge</a> (Forbes)<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/"></a></p>


Mid-section of young Asian woman using smartphone in city at night, against illuminated street lights bokeh, working with Bitcoin technologies, investing or trading Bitcoin on cryptocurrency. Business on the go

Bitcoin Surges Past $100,000 For The First Time


<p>In a move to strengthen South Africa-Nigeria ties, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa announced last night that efforts to create a favorable environment will include a simplified visa process for travelers coming in to South Africa from the West African nation.</p>



<p>With Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is in South Africa for the 11<sup>th</sup> session of the South Africa-Nigeria Bi-National Commission in Parliament in Cape Town, Ramaphosa added in his opening remarks: “Qualifying Nigerian business people can be granted a five-year multiple entry visa. In addition, tourists from Nigeria can now apply for a visa without submitting a passport.”</p>



<p>That the visa process, previously, has been cumbersome, has been widely reported.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">South Africa&#39;s President Ramaphosa: We want to see Nigerian products on the shelves of South African shops&#8230; Nigerian tourists can now apply for a visa without submitting a passport.&quot;<br><br>MXM <a href="https://t.co/4PLI7lJrb4">pic.twitter.com/4PLI7lJrb4</a></p>&mdash; Jonathern Thom 🇿🇦 (@JonathernThom) <a href="https://twitter.com/JonathernThom/status/1863991288649130038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>A <a href="about:blank">2024 report</a> by the Centre for Human Rights (University of Pretoria) stated that South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has a list of countries exempted from needing a visa for a 30- to 90-day stay in the country, but countries such as Nigeria, Senegal, The Gambia, Cameroon, Sudan, Somalia, to name a few, are not on the list.</p>



<p>“Despite Ramaphosa’s emphasis on immigration and tourism, the first year of his presidency saw 7,000 Nigerians get their visas rejected,” Mamadou Saidou Bah and Marie Rebecca Jolicoeur wrote in the report. “It is indeed true that South Africa is largely closed to other Africans but more welcoming to the wider world. When it comes to Africans, the visa regime of South Africa is applied rigidly and that is a contributing factor to the high rejections of visa applications by Africans.”</p>



<p>The president’s announcement garnered mixed reactions on social media.</p>



<p>“We already have a problem with these nationals in our country, now we further relaxing visa laws. Please make it make sense,” one user said on Instagram.</p>



<p>Another on <a href="about:blank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X said</a>: “The damage done by some Nigerians is hard to overlook. However, should we look into the business side of things? We can both benefit. Africa is our home. Let&#8217;s find a way to work towards making it a great continent.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">At this rate, the plan of ANC is to destroy South Africa. How does strengthening our relationship with Nigeria secure comfortable future of South Africans? 😩😭</p>&mdash; Oracle (@Oracle5152) <a href="https://twitter.com/Oracle5152/status/1864019886093062538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">South Africans we are on our own!!!!<br><br>We want to see Nigerian products on the shelves of South African shops&#8230; Nigerian tourists can now apply for a visa without submitting a passport.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/HrBttGavw5">pic.twitter.com/HrBttGavw5</a></p>&mdash; Sir Cabonena Alfred (@Lebona_cabonena) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lebona_cabonena/status/1863942923806818371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Trade between Nigeria and South Africa is significant, with Nigeria being South Africa&#39;s largest trading partner in Africa. Crude oil from Nigeria constitutes a major portion of this trade. With recent agreements focusing on easing visa restrictions for Nigerian businesspeople…</p>&mdash; People (@MadawaMan_) <a href="https://twitter.com/MadawaMan_/status/1864270349287768511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2024</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Ramaphosa also stated in his address that he would like to see more Nigerian products on the retail shelves in South Africa. Nigeria is South Africa’s largest trading partner in West Africa. He wishes to see more robust trade between the two countries.</p>



<p>“Nigeria and South Africa enjoy strong diplomatic ties and expanding trade and investment flows,” Ramaphosa said. “The strategic positioning of both countries in their respective regions presents enormous opportunities for collaboration.”</p>



<p>According to <a href="about:blank" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Africa Check</a>, in 2016, there were 30,000 Nigerians living in South Africa.</p>



<p>“The outcome of this 11th session of the Bi-National Commission reaffirms our commitment to strengthening existing ties and deeper collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa towards a future of shared prosperity, security, and progress for our people,” Tinubu wrote on X. “As two of Africa’s leading economies, Nigeria and South Africa must keep working together to ensure shared prosperity for our countries and Africa.”</p>


Nigeria-South Africa bi-national Commission held in Cape Town

South Africa To Ease Visa Rules To Strengthen Ties With Nigeria; Both Countries To Work Collaboratively To Boost Trade


<p>Namibia’s ruling party, the South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO), will retain its status as woman leader, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah secures the Presidency, a first for the country.</p>



<p>According to reports, the current Vice President secured 57% of the votes.</p>



<p>Namibia, which has a population of about three&nbsp;million, as per 2024 figures from the World Bank, initially went to the polls on November 27. However, the elections had to be extended until November 29-30 at some stations, reportedly due to technical challenges, including a shortage of ballot papers.</p>



<p>This has contributed to a dispute of the results by opposition parties, who have claimed the extension was illegal.</p>



<p>Opposition leader Panduleni Itula, of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), which secured 25.5% of the votes, was quoted as saying that the “IPC shall not recognize the outcome of that election”, and that the party would fight “to nullify the elections through the processes that are established within our electoral process”.</p>



<p>According to reports, President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah commented on the results on Tuesday, stating, “The Namibian nation has voted for peace and stability”.</p>



<p>Fellow female leader, Samia Suluhu Hassan, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, commented on the appointment on X.</p>



<p>“On behalf of the Government and the People of the United Republic of Tanzania, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, President-elect of the Republic of Namibia, on your historic victory in the 2024 Namibian general election. I am looking forward to working with you in strengthening the all-weather fraternal bonds and historical ties between Tanzania and Namibia.”</p>



<p>The World Bank’s economic outlook for Namibia indicates that its recent economic performance was stronger than expected. The economy grew by 4.2% in 2023, partly due to the mining sector, which included investments in oil exploration.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Furthermore, the World Economic Forum&#8217;s <em>Global Gender Gap Index 2024</em> ranks Namibia eighth with a score of 0.805, with 1 equaling parity. It is the only sub-Saharan African country in the Top 10.</p>


Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of

Namibia Makes History As It Elects First Woman President


<p><strong>South African businesses and consumers alike could reap the rewards during November and, possibly, long after, as retailers look to take advantage of increased consumer confidence before the festive season (officially) begins.</strong></p>



<p>Seen as ‘the largest trading weekend on the Retail Calendar’ for some, the knock-on effect of Black Friday and Cyber Monday can be used to create economic movement over a longer period.</p>



<p>Reports online recently forecasted consumer spend of ZAR3 billion ($164.7 million) over the Black Friday weekend, according to First National Bank (FNB), partly due to an increase in consumer purchasing power and the fact that it fell after payday.</p>



<p>Further to this, research commissioned by&nbsp;Capital Connect, a platform that offers financing for retailers, indicated that South Africa’s wholesale, retail and fuel sectors were forecasted to generate more than ZAR88 billion ($4.8 billion) in additional economic value for the economy as a whole during November 2024.</p>



<p>Udhveer Sookraj, Data Integration Specialist at Insight Consulting, emphasizes to FORBES AFRICA that Black Friday is not just a retail event but rather an important stimulus of the economy.</p>



<p>“There is a very widespread impact to the economy in general from this boom. This is as simple as driving the need for the transportation to stores and delivery logistics, to the impact to manufacturing, supply chain and marketing, positively impacting direct participants and indirect participants.</p>



<p>“Black Friday could in fact be seen as one of the most important economic events in the country.”</p>



<p>The knock-on effect of these retail days could, equally, be seen in other sectors of the economy.</p>



<p>“With consumers focusing largely on retail on Black Friday, this puts more focus on the social industry – holidays, restaurants and entertainment – in the festive season as consumers feel less pressured with the traditional festive shopping, moving more towards social experience,” Sookraj explains.</p>



<p>“In other instances, there is an increased focus in preparing for the new year – back to school, a new car – thus in turn stimulating these industries. This pattern of economic activity results in increased consumer confidence, and creates the important knock-on effect that results in active economy well&nbsp;into the new year.”</p>



<p>Steven Heilbron, CEO of Capital Connect, explained, in a statement in October, that the positive outlook for&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;2024&nbsp;indicates that “the tide is turning for South African retailers after a long period of economic and retail stagnation”.</p>



<p>In a thought leadership piece on the frenzied festive shopping season, Ulana van Biljon, Chief Operating Officer of Emira Property Fund, states that consumers are more likely to spend during seasonal shopping peaks when they perceive their financial situation as stable or improving.</p>



<p>Following the announcement from Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago of a rate cut of 25 basis points, with the repo rate falling from 8% to 7.75%, consumers may feel more confident about their spending power.</p>



<p>However, van Biljon did caution that, for the 2024 festive season overall, consumers would remain cautious and focus, primarily, on essentials.</p>



<p>Sookraj believes that Black Friday has truly been adopted as a mainstay event by South Africans.</p>



<p>“It’s an event that is so focal to South Africans that budgeting and saving for this event happens months in advance, firmly underlining the joy this event brings,” he says.</p>



<p>“South Africa’s rise in the technology space has also seen [an] incredible increase in online sales participation. For a larger number of retailers, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have become the highest trading days in the retail calendar, with some retailers doing over half the annual turnover in that single weekend than in the entire year.”</p>


Shoppers In Manhattan On Black Friday

Stimulating Consumer Spending In South Africa: Could ‘Black Friday’ Become The Gift That Keeps On Giving?


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>Donald Trump announced Saturday he would impose a 100% tariff on BRICS nations if they try to replace the dollar in international trade, impacting a group of major developing economies whose members include Russia, India, China and Iran, among others, marking the latest threats by the president-elect to impose tariffs on imports from several countries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113573130299319701" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;on Truth Social, Trump said the 100% tariff would affect all BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates—until they commit to not creating a new BRICS currency or back another currency that could replace the “mighty” dollar.</p>



<p>Brazilian President Inacio Luiz&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-13/lula-supports-brics-currency-to-replace-dollar-in-foreign-trade?leadSource=uverify%20wall" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">called on</a>&nbsp;BRICS nations to develop an alternative to the dollar in foreign trade last year, arguing countries that don’t use the dollar should not be forced to use the currency, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/what-is-brics-currency-could-one-be-adopted-2023-08-23/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">suggesting</a>&nbsp;a new BRICS-supported currency “increases our payment options and reduces our vulnerabilities.”</p>



<p>There is “no chance” BRICS could replace the dollar in international trade, and any country that tries to do so should “wave goodbye to America,” Trump said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



<p>“The idea that the BRICS countries are trying to move away from the dollar while we stand by and watch is OVER,” Trump wrote, adding the nations “should expect to say goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. economy.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2183216841.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63584" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2183216841.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2183216841-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2183216841-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>Trump’s proposed tariffs on imports from BRICS nations is his latest economic threat in recent weeks. BRICS was founded as an informal international group in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, though its membership&nbsp;<a href="https://infobrics.org/page/history-of-brics/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">expanded</a>&nbsp;to more nations with “reflecting common stances on topical global development issues,” according to the organization. The group has increasingly called for reduced dependence on the U.S. as it aims to establish new financial organizations. Earlier this month, Trump announced a 10% tariff on Chinese goods and a 25% tariff on all products from Mexico and Canada, which he said would remain until the three nations curb the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and migrants. Trump has claimed the tariffs would protect American jobs, though&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/09/10/will-trumps-tariffs-raise-prices-what-to-know-as-kamala-harris-slams-policy-at-debate/">experts</a>&nbsp;have claimed his proposed tariffs could substantially raise prices for American consumers. During his first administration, Trump launched a trade war with China after imposing tariffs that targeted $200 billion worth of Chinese imports.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">Tangent</h2>



<p>Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Saturday he had an “excellent conversation” with Trump after he threatened Canada with tariffs. The pair had a “positive wide-ranging dinner” with topics that included trade, border security, Ukraine and China, among others, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trudeau-trump-canada-tariffs-mexico-border-e0ee7f9b3dddc80d1260585c11869fff" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according</a> to the Associated Press. President Claudia Sheinbaum <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/11/26/mexico-could-hit-us-with-tariffs-in-retaliation-for-trumps-threats-president-suggests/">suggested</a> earlier this week Mexico would impose tariffs on the U.S. in response to Trump’s tariff proposals. Sheinbaum said she would be meeting with Trump “soon.”</p>


Brics Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa August 22-24, 2023

Donald Trump Threatens BRICS Countries—Including Russia, India—With 100% Tariffs


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>A ban on social media for children under 16—which drew criticism from social media companies and leaders—passed the Australian senate on Thursday, poising it to become the world’s first law designed to keep young children off of social media.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>The ban—which would allow Australia to fine companies for not preventing children younger than 16 from having accounts—passed 34 to 19 on Thursday after passing the House 102 to 13 on Wednesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-children-ban-safeguarding-harm-accounts-d0cde2603bdbc7167801da1d00ecd056" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>It’s expected to quickly become law, when it will give social media companies one year to prevent those under the age limit from having accounts or otherwise risk being fined $33 million.</p>



<p>Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised the law in an opinion piece Tuesday, positioning “Australia to lead the world” in the safety of young people.</p>



<p>Critics of the bill in the government expressed concerns it was rushed, and one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-law.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">independent lawmaker said</a>&nbsp;it was a “blunt instrument” that would not actually hold social media companies accountable.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-crucial-quote">Crucial Quote</h2>



<p>“This Bill puts the onus on social media companies—not young people, not their parents,” Albanese wrote in his opinion piece. He added the bill is about “making it clear that social media companies have a social responsibility. And sending a message to all those Mums and Dads who are worried about the impact that social media is having on their children&#8217;s wellbeing, their mental health, their confidence and sense of self.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critics">Chief Critics</h2>



<p>Earlier this week, social media companies filed submissions with the Australian government urging it to delay the bill. Google and Meta asked them to wait until they complete an age-verification trial and said without more information on how to enforce such an age cutoff the “bill is inconsistent and ineffective,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-meta-urge-australia-delay-bill-social-media-ban-children-2024-11-26/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Reuters</a>&nbsp;reported. TikTok said in a statement it saw “a range of serious, unresolved problems” with the bill that could have “unintended consequences for all Australians.” Last Thursday, X’s owner Elon Musk&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1859479797329535168" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;on the platform the bill “seems like a backdoor way to control access to the Internet by all Australians.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>The legislation was introduced just last Thursday, with Albanese&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/australia-launches-landmark-bill-ban-social-media-children-16-rcna181130" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">saying</a>&nbsp;at the time it was “landmark reform” and while they expected some kids to find “workarounds,” the government was “sending a message to social media companies to clean up their act.” Though Australia’s law would be the strictest yet to limit social media use for teens, it’s not the only: a number of countries have tried to implement similar limits.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-else-are-there-limits-on-children-using-social-media">Where Else Are There Limits On Children Using Social Media?</h2>



<p>The U.S. has the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/01/11/2023-28569/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule#:~:text=The%20COPPA%20Rule%20imposes%20certain,to%20participate%20in%20such%20activities." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Children&#8217;s Online Privacy Protection Rule that requires</a>&nbsp;children under 13 to provide parental consent in order for technology companies to collect data, and the European Union passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act_en" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Digital Services Act</a>&nbsp;last year that attempted to give kids more protection online and prevented platforms from targeting minors with personalized ads. Earlier this year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that prohibited children under 14 from having social media accounts, though that law is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/groups-challenge-floridas-law-keeping-kids-off-social-media/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">legal challenges</a>. In March, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox&nbsp;<a href="https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0194.html" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">signed laws</a>&nbsp;that require social media companies to verify users’ ages and disable features, including autoplay and notifications, on youth accounts—though the law was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-tiktok-social-media-youth-b678ed7c9bcc1ea0b72f8b320b5f26fa" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">temporarily blocked</a>&nbsp;in October because of legal challenges.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-judge-blocks-ohio-law-restricting-childrens-use-social-media-2024-02-12/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Ohio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/judge-blocks-arkansas-law-that-would-have-placed-unconstitutional-age-verification-and-parental-consent-requirements-on-social-media-users" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Arkansas</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/09/18/california-online-child-safety-law/?itid=lk_inline_manual_8" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">California</a>&nbsp;and more have introduced or passed similar legislation, but they have all faced legal challenges from groups alleging the child safety laws violate constitutional rights.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">What We Don’t Know</h2>



<p>Details of implementation. Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is tasked will sorting out its implementation of an age-verification system that may use biometrics or government identification to verify users’ ages—a method some critics have said raise privacy concerns, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/australia-passes-landmark-social-media-ban-children-16-rcna181124" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NBC News</a> reported. Inman Grant <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/28/world/asia/australia-social-media-ban-law.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told The New York Times</a> age verification technology is advancing quickly and said she believes tech companies will find a way to comply, noting, “If they can target you for advertising, they can use the same technology and know-how to identify and verify the age of a child.”</p>


Social networks

No Social Media For Anyone Under 16: What To Know About Australia’s New Ban


<p>Since its inception in 2014 – with Checkers (Shoprite Holdings) becoming the first official retailer to introduce Black Friday in South Africa – the appetite and uptake for what is arguably one of the biggest shopping days in the world has grown.</p>



<p>But consumers tend to amp up their spending on this day in particular, ahead of the festive season, which experts feel can be avoided.</p>



<p>“Black Friday is a great time to really set yourself up in some instances,” Ester&nbsp;Ochse, Product Head at FNB Integrated Advice, tells FORBES AFRICA. “But it&#8217;s also a very quick way to set yourself up to a very long January. If you do tend to overextend yourself at this moment in time, when are you going to pay the price? You&#8217;re going to pay the price after the festive season.”</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-1807427908.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63801" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-1807427908.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-1807427908-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-1807427908-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>A sign that announces a price discount for Black Friday in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Wang Xi/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>Ulana van Biljon, Chief Operating Officer of Emira Property Fund, wrote in her thought leadership piece that the condensed festive season may actually lead to higher spending in January. “This year, fewer shopping days between&nbsp;Black&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;and Christmas Eve, could signal lower sales over the festive period, even with a surge in shopping as consumers scramble to make purchases,” van Biljon said.</p>



<p>To curb this, Ochse recommends that shoppers plan by budgeting their purchases to ensure they do not find themselves in any debt.</p>



<p>“Before you even think about buying anything, set up a discretionary budget on how much you want to spend for Black Friday.”</p>



<p>Furthermore, Ochse recommends that although the festive season is a great time to pick up bargains, make a list during this time as well and avoid just walking around the shopping aisles “aimlessly” as there will be temptations to “just buy.”</p>



<p>However, extended campaigns may actually work in consumers&#8217; favor, according to van Biljon, which could allow for them to “feel more secure in their purchasing decisions as they have longer to evaluate deals and sales”.</p>



<p>FNB’s stats have shown that the major purchases consumers make during Black Friday are groceries (specifically non-perishables), clothing, home buys (such as for home improvements) and travel. What is a surprise for Ochse, however, is how people budget their Black Friday money for medical bills.</p>



<p>“Medical, interestingly enough, is a category that&#8217;s come up. I&#8217;m not quite sure if there are some doctors running specials out there.”</p>



<p><strong>Limit chances for fraud</strong></p>



<p>The key ‘do’ for Black Friday is for consumers to continue to rely on digital payments as opposed to using their actual cards. This will ensure cyber-criminals have less access to fraud.</p>



<p>“This shift towards digital payment technology is crucial during events such as Black Friday,” Norman Nyawo, the Head of Merchant Solutions for Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank South Africa, says in a statement. “When long queues and transaction delays can make or break sales success.”</p>



<p>“Virtual cards are vitally important,” Ochse adds. “The reason why you want to use virtual cards – and there&#8217;s been a significant uptake in this – is you want to make sure that by using it, you&#8217;re protecting yourself. Because as much as we think it&#8217;s a great time to go out and do some extra shopping, the scammers and the fraudsters are out there as well, and by using things like your virtual card, you&#8217;ve got that little bit of an extra protection and layer as well.”</p>



<p>It’s all about smart planning and doing the math, so if the discount is not that significant, it is not a bargain. But it’s also about spotting the real deals and the scams that consumers just don’t see coming.</p>



<p>“For instance, a very popular outdoor warehouse store [stated that they] now suddenly having things like 90% off,” Ochse said. “Now you know that a store in South Africa will not do 90% off, and if you click through – not that I am encouraging anyone to click through – what happens is it takes you to a sort of duplicate site or scammer site.”</p>



<p>In the United States, where Black Friday reigns supreme, <em>US Today</em> reported that 131.7 million people (72%) shop on the day. &nbsp;</p>



<p>In South Africa, the stats are no different, as in 2024, a Capital Connect report found that retailers in could generate ZAR22 billion ($1.2 billion) in additional direct revenues due to Black Friday sales this year, as well as generate ZAR28 billion ($1.5 billion) in indirect economic impact. In this same period, the wholesale sector will gain additional sales of ZAR32.1 billion ($1.7 billion).</p>



<p>The study finds that consumer interest in Black Friday looks to be higher in 2024 than any of the past three years.</p>



<p>“Black Friday, obviously, as you know, is an American concept. It&#8217;s the first Friday after Thanksgiving there, so you can get up to 70%-80% off,” Ochse adds. “In South Africa, because we do everything [differently], we have made it a month-long thing because we already start getting Black Friday deals [from] the first week in November.</p>



<p>“But is it really good? You&#8217;re going to have to hunt for those bargains.”</p>


Black Week Sale

Preparing For Your Black Friday Bargains In South Africa And What You Must Not Do


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>Spotify&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4Jv6SJjhg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">teased</a>&nbsp;the release of its highly anticipated 2024 Spotify Wrapped on Wednesday and&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-11-27/are-you-wrapped-ready-first-make-sure-your-spotify-app-is-up-to-date/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reminded</a>&nbsp;users to make sure their apps are up-to-date so they can access the playlists when they’re released—though the company stopped short of sharing the release date.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>The platform suggested Wednesday that Wrapped is coming soon by&nbsp;<a href="https://mashable.com/article/spotify-wrapped-coming-soon" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">showing</a>&nbsp;users a reminder to listen to their past years’ Spotify Wrapped and saying “the best time of year is right around the corner.”</p>



<p>Spotify also put out a&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2024-11-27/are-you-wrapped-ready-first-make-sure-your-spotify-app-is-up-to-date/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;Wednesday encouraging users to ensure their apps had the latest update so they don’t miss any features included in the Wrapped package.</p>



<p>Spotify teased its upcoming Wrapped package earlier in the year with a Halloween-themed&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SpotifyNews/status/1852006409090535754" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post on X</a>, formerly known as Twitter, that confirmed data collection would continue past Oct. 31 to an unspecified date.</p>



<p>The Spotify Wrapped packages, customized graphics that tell a Spotify user their top five most-streamed songs and artists in a calendar year—and their top 100 songs—used to stop data collection on Oct. 31,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/11/01/spotify-wrapped-2022-music-data/10659843002/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">USA Today</a>&nbsp;reported in 2022.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2024/10/24/spotify-wrapped-2024/75828894007/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify told users</a>&nbsp;in an in-app pop-up message last week that “2024 is almost a wrap,” urging users to update the app so they can access their Wrapped packages when they arrive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-when-will-spotify-wrapped-2024-release">When Will Spotify Wrapped 2024 Release?</h2>



<p>No release date has been announced, but Spotify Wrapped has typically dropped at the end of November or early December. Spotify released its Wrapped packages on Nov. 29 last year, one day earlier than the previous year, when the packages were released on Nov. 30. Users are typically given access to Spotify Wrapped through an in-app pop-up, and the package is formatted as a slideshow with Instagram Story-ready graphics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-there-be-a-new-spotify-wrapped-feature">Will There Be A New Spotify Wrapped Feature?</h2>



<p>It’s not clear. In some past years, Spotify has included new elements to its Wrapped package. Last year it matched users to a “Sound Town” based on their “most-streamed artists of the year, and the way in which those artists are streamed in other cities.” And in 2019, Spotify gave users a look back at their trends over the&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.spotify.com/2019-12-05/spotify-wrapped-2019-reveals-your-streaming-trends-from-2010-to-now/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">decade</a>. In an Instagram&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC4Jv6SJjhg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, Spotify shared a video of its logo changing to represent various albums released this year and said: “This year contained multitudes. So will your Wrapped. Coming Soon.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tangent">Tangent</h2>



<p>Social media users have frequently joked they wait until Spotify stops tracking their data so they can safely listen to music they’d be embarrassed by if it ended up in their Spotify Wrapped. More than 200,000 users liked an&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/INDIEWASHERE/status/1849090072307491082" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">X post</a>&nbsp;last week from a user who said her Spotify Wrapped is “going to be so embarrassing this year,” and last year, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2023/10/27/spotify-wrapped-tracking-end-october/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>&nbsp;referred to November and December as “cheat months” where users can listen to holiday music and show tunes safely without fear of them popping up on Spotify Wrapped.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>Spotify began its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/28/spotify-wrapped-2023-comes-soon-heres-how-it-became-a-viral-and-widely-copied-marketing-tactic/">Wrapped marketing campaign</a>&nbsp;in 2016, and began issuing Instagram Story-shareable graphics to users as part of their Wrapped packages in 2019. The Wrapped campaign has been a huge marketing hit for the streaming platform:&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/6340656/spotify-wrapped-guide-2023/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Spotify said</a>&nbsp;more than 156 million users accessed their Wrapped package in 2022, up from 120 million the year prior. Social media analytics company&nbsp;<a href="https://sproutsocial.com/insights/spotify-wrapped/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">SproutSocial</a>&nbsp;found 400 million posts had been made about Spotify Wrapped on X in the three days following its 2022 release, up 15% from the year before. Spotify typically unveils new features for the Wrapped campaign each year. In last year’s edition, each user was assigned a “<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/29/spotify-wrapped-sound-towns-social-media-has-theories-about-why-you-got-assigned-berkeley-or-burlington/">sound town</a>,” a city that matches their music taste, leading to viral jokes on social media that Burlington, Vermont, and Cambridge, Massachusetts, may be home to large communities of queer artists and LGBTQ listeners. In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23484880/spotify-wrapped-2022-music-personality-bad-bunny-harry-styles-joe-rogan" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">listeners</a>&nbsp;were assigned listening personality types based on the Meyers-Briggs personality test.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2023/11/28/spotify-wrapped-2023-comes-soon-heres-how-it-became-a-viral-and-widely-copied-marketing-tactic/">Spotify Wrapped 2023 Comes Soon: Here’s How It Became A Viral And Widely Copied Marketing Tactic</a>&nbsp;(Forbes)</p>


Music And Sound Streaming Platforms Stock Photos

Spotify Wrapped Is Coming Soon—What We Know About This Year’s Iteration


<p>Eleven-year-old Nigerian-American Eniola Shokunbi has written to Nigerian authorities, requesting an invitation and security support to discuss how do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan filters — known as Corsi-Rosenthal boxes — could benefit Nigerian schools.</p>



<p>This initiative follows the recent approval by the State of Connecticut Bond Commission of $11.5 million for the construction and installation of these filters in schools across the state.</p>



<p>The project, led by Eniola as a fifth grader, aims to improve air quality in educational settings.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="566" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Corsi-Rosenthal-Air-Filter-Image-supplied-by-Funmike-Shokunbi-1024x566.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-63795" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Corsi-Rosenthal-Air-Filter-Image-supplied-by-Funmike-Shokunbi-1024x566.jpeg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Corsi-Rosenthal-Air-Filter-Image-supplied-by-Funmike-Shokunbi-300x166.jpeg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Corsi-Rosenthal-Air-Filter-Image-supplied-by-Funmike-Shokunbi-768x425.jpeg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/The-Corsi-Rosenthal-Air-Filter-Image-supplied-by-Funmike-Shokunbi.jpeg 1232w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>The Corsi-Rosenthal Air Filter (Image supplied by Funmike Shokunbi)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<p>“I want to share this with the world, including Nigeria, where my parents are from,” says Eniola, who will turn 12 on December 12, during a virtual call with FORBES AFRICA from her home in Middletown, Connecticut, accompanied by her mother, Funmiké.</p>



<p>In 2022, while attending Macdonough STEM Academy in the Middletown Public School District of Connecticut, Eniola was inspired by an article about scientists bringing an air filter to the White House.</p>



<p>Aspiring to become the first African-American female president of the U.S., she was captivated by the idea.</p>



<p>“I learned that this was an inexpensive DIY air filter, something you can make with just $60. That’s a really small price to pay for the benefits and protection it provides,” she explains.</p>



<p>Determined to improve air quality in her aging school, Eniola collaborated with Marina Creed, Director of the University of Connecticut’s Indoor Air Quality Initiative, to build Corsi-Rosenthal air filters with her classmates.</p>



<p>The project quickly gained traction, eventually attracting the attention of Connecticut’s legislature and securing statewide funding.</p>



<p>“I’ve been mocked for putting my career aside, but seeing Eniola achieve this makes every sacrifice worthwhile,” says Funmiké, an accountant and businesswoman.</p>



<p>She continues: “Parents need to listen to their kids, encourage them, and make sacrifices when necessary. I never thought the world would know me through my child, but here we are.”</p>



<p>Eniola says to her peers: “Don’t let age, gender, or background stop you from making a difference. Believe in yourself and stay determined.”</p>


Eniola at the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA); Image supplied by Funmike Shokunbi

11-Year-Old Innovator Writes To Nigerian Authorities For Invitation To Present Air Filter Project That Secured $11.5 Million Approval In Connecticut


<p><em>The following article was first published <a href="https://www.forbesafricalusofona.com/magnata-nigeriano-em-angola-para-oficializar-investimento-na-refinaria-do-lobito/">here</a>, by Forbes Africa Lusofona and has been translated and republished with permission. </em></p>



<p>The tycoon and president of Dangote Industries, Aliko Dangote, Africa&#8217;s richest man, arrived in Luanda on Tuesday for a brief visit to officially open his company&#8217;s subsidiary in Angola, according to the Angolan Embassy in Nigeria.</p>



<p>“The businessman and his executives aim to formalize their participation in the construction of the Lobito Refinery, within the framework of investments in the Lobito Corridor, the direct acquisition and operation of oil blocks in Angola’s onshore and offshore areas, as well as the acquisition or management of cement factories,” the embassy confirmed.</p>



<p>Aliko Dangote was received by Angolan President João Lourenço and will hold working meetings with ministerial entities, Sonangol, the National Oil, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), and heads of public institutions.</p>



<p>The Nigerian billionaire’s first step is to open a subsidiary of Dangote Industries in Angola to consolidate his investment intentions in various sectors.</p>



<p>In a recent meeting with Ambassador José Bamóquina Zau to finalize the Luanda agenda, Aliko Dangote expressed his enthusiasm and commitment.</p>



<p>“I appreciate the attention of His Excellency João Lourenço at this moment when Africa must become increasingly united with its people,” the billionaire stated, adding, “It’s true that the situation in Angola has changed significantly; we hear good news from friends who visit, which increases my satisfaction and desire to invest.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-aliko-dangote">About Aliko Dangote</h2>



<p>Aliko Dangote, 67 years old, is the first individual to build a private refinery in Nigeria. He is Africa&#8217;s richest man and ranks 211th globally, with a net worth estimated at $27 billion (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).</p>



<p>In 1977, Dangote started as a small trading company in Kano, later expanding to Lagos. With a loan of ₦500,000 (Naira) from his uncle, Dangote built one of Africa&#8217;s largest conglomerates, with international operations in Benin, Togo, Ghana, Gabon, Congo, DRC, South Africa, Zambia, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and now Angola.</p>



<p>With 11,000 employees in West Africa, the Dangote Group has evolved from a trading company to Nigeria’s largest industrial group, encompassing divisions such as Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Cement, and Dangote Flour.</p>



<p>The group dominates Nigeria’s sugar market and refinery business. Its beverage, brewery, and confectionery companies cover nearly 70% of the market. It also has substantial investments in real estate, banking, transportation, textiles, and agro-industry.</p>



<p>In 2022, Dangote completed the assembly of the Peugeot Nigeria factory after partnering with the Stellantis Group. The new automobile company, Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), headquartered in Kaduna, began operations with the launch of models such as the Peugeot 301, 508, 3008, 5008, and Landtrek.</p>


Key Speakers and Interviews at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum

Nigerian Tycoon in Angola to Formalize Investment in the Lobito Refinery


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gov.il/en/pages/spoke-statement261124" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;Tuesday he will recommend the Israeli cabinet approve a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon-based Hezbollah—marking the potential for an agreement that will put an end to more than a year of fighting between the two countries, but that is unlikely to impact Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>The U.S. and France reportedly played a key role in brokering the ceasefire agreement, which would begin a 60-day process in which both sides would stop fighting and Israel would withdraw from Lebanon,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/26/world/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-cease-fire/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-lebanon?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>Netanyahu&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/26/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-lebanon-netanyahu-00191709" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;said the main reasons for a ceasefire with Hezbollah now are to isolate Hamas and allow Israel to refocus its efforts on Iran and Hamas.</p>



<p>An official cabinet vote on the ceasefire is expected later on Tuesday, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-ceasefire-updates#00000193-69bc-dff7-a7f7-69fe20460000" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>&nbsp;reported.</p>



<p>Mahmoud Qamati, deputy chair of Hezbollah’s political council,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-ceasefire-updates#00000193-69d9-d71b-a3b3-ffd9e1600000" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">reportedly</a>&nbsp;told Al Jazeera that Hezbollah has not seen the final ceasefire agreement and hopes to “end the aggression … but not at the expense of the sovereignty of the state.”</p>



<p>Before Netanyahu said he would recommend the agreement, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/26/world/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-cease-fire/2f960901-de1d-5591-8d70-1704fb1b97ba?smid=url-share" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">told reporters</a>&nbsp;Tuesday he expected a conclusion “very soon,” adding the agreement would “make a big difference in saving lives and livelihoods” in Israel and Lebanon and allow people to return to their homes.</p>



<p>President Joe Biden is expected to comment on the ceasefire agreement at 2:30 p.m. EST.</p>



<p><em>This story is breaking and will be updated.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>Israel and Lebanon have been fighting since Oct. 8, 2023—one day after Hamas attacked Israel—when Lebanon fired rockets at Israel in support of Gaza-based militant group Hamas. Israel recently started attacking Hezbollah and Lebanon with more frequency, though, after&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/IsraeliPM/status/1835890307763757535" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">declaring</a>&nbsp;in September that a new objective of the war was “returning the residents of the north safely to their homes.” In September Israel blew up handheld radios and pagers that had concealed explosives and were used by Hezbollah members in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/09/18/walkie-talkies-reportedly-explode-across-lebanon-one-day-after-hezbollah-pager-explosions/">attack</a><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/27/middleeast/israel-pager-attack-hezbollah-lebanon-invs-intl/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&nbsp;that killed nearly 40</a>&nbsp;people and injured thousands. As recently as Tuesday, while reports of a potential ceasefire circulated, Israel was launching strikes into Beirut and Hezbollah-dominated areas in Lebanon and advising towns to evacuate,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/26/world/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-cease-fire" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;reported. The escalated fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, which is also still warring with Hamas, heightened concerns of a broader conflict expanding in the Middle East.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-big-number">Big Number</h2>



<p>1.2 million. That’s at least how many people have been displaced in southern Lebanon, which borders northern Israel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-netanyahu-war-lebanon-gaza-hamas/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CBS News</a>&nbsp;reported. About 60,000 Israelis have been displaced from towns and villages on the Israeli side of the border.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-we-don-t-know">What We Don’t Know</h2>



<p>If the ceasefire agreement will make any difference in Israel’s war with Hamas. Blinken said Tuesday it has the potential to pave the way for the war with Hamas to end, noting the agreement will show Hamas “it can’t count on other fronts opening up in the war.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-further-reading">Further Reading</h2>



<p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-lebanon-hezbollah-11-26-2024-aa165645d900a3d681ad127e05b0c561" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AP News<strong>Israel bombards central Beirut as its leadership prepares to vote on ceasefire with Hezbollah</strong></a></p>



<p><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-netanyahu-war-lebanon-gaza-hamas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cbsnews<strong>Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire deal to halt war in Lebanon expected within hours</strong></a></p>


World Leaders Speak At The 79th Session Of The United Nations General Assembly In New York

Netanyahu Will Ask Israeli Cabinet To Approve Ceasefire With Hezbollah


<p>South Africa’s ongoing battle with gender-based violence (GBV) has received a boost with the release of the first national study on the subject. Conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), the report goes beyond statistics to expose the structural and behavioral factors fueling this epidemic. At its core, the study reveals the interconnectedness of mental health crises, entrenched societal norms, and systemic inequalities. The report, first commissioned in 2022, was released during a press conference earlier this week.</p>



<p><strong>Women Most at Risk</strong></p>



<p>The study estimates that more than 7.8 million South African women have experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual violence, said Dr Nompumelelo Zungu, Deputy Executive Director at the HSRC, announcing the report in Pretoria.</p>



<p>While all women are vulnerable, those with disabilities face heightened risks. Women living with disabilities are twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to those without. “For a lifetime, this report shows that all forms of abuse are very high for women living with disabilities,” Zungu explained. These women face unique challenges that demand urgent, tailored interventions, including their reliance on others for daily needs, which leaves them more exposed to abuse.</p>



<p>Black African women also bear the brunt of physical violence. “Lifetime physical violence was significantly higher among Black African women with 35.5%, compared to women of other race groups,” said Zungu.</p>



<p><strong>A Broader Crisis in Masculinity</strong></p>



<p>The study highlights the mental health struggles faced by men, particularly those who perpetrate violence. Early childhood trauma, substance abuse, and socioeconomic pressures emerge as recurring themes among perpetrators. These issues underscore the need for targeted mental health services and programs aimed at dismantling harmful gender norms.</p>



<p>The findings show how deep-rooted societal norms perpetuate violence. Patriarchal beliefs, such as those normalizing men’s control over women, remain prevalent, contributing to a toxic environment. According to the study, nearly a quarter of men believe women cannot refuse sex with their husbands, and 8% believe there are times when women deserve to be beaten.</p>



<p>The Covid-19 pandemic amplified these vulnerabilities, with intimate partner violence (IPV) surging during lockdowns. Economic strain and isolation left many women trapped with their abusers, further underscoring the link between systemic inequalities and GBV.</p>



<p>The HSRC study presents a range of recommendations to tackle GBV, including community interventions to challenge harmful norms, enhanced support systems for survivors, and economic empowerment initiatives.</p>


South Africa : Illustration

Study Reiterates Hidden Drivers Of South Africa’s GBV Crisis


<p>South African literary giant and anti-apartheid activist Breyten Breytenbach died peacefully in Paris on Sunday at the age of 85, with his wife Yolande by his side. Known for his fearless criticism of apartheid and innovative contributions to literature and the arts, Breytenbach&#8217;s work resonated deeply both locally and internationally.</p>



<p><strong>A Voice Against Injustice</strong></p>



<p>Born on September 16, 1939, in Bonnievale, Western Cape, Breytenbach emerged as a formidable poet, novelist, painter, and activist. Fellow poet Antjie Krog remarked: &#8220;He was a phenomenon within Afrikaans literature. Breyten&#8217;s writing was radical, but he was the first poet, I almost want to say writer, who also lived radically. Breyten confronted us with that thing of, &#8216;Okay, you&#8217;re against apartheid, but how are you living against apartheid?'&#8221;</p>



<p>His 1962 marriage to Yolande Ngo Thi Hoang Lien from Vietnam defied apartheid laws prohibiting interracial unions, marking the beginning of his lifelong resistance against oppression.</p>



<p><strong>Exile and Imprisonment</strong></p>



<p>Breytenbach&#8217;s outspoken opposition to apartheid led him to join Okhela, a separate ideological wing of the African National Congress in exile. In 1975, during a clandestine return to South Africa, he was arrested and charged with treason under the Terrorism Act. Sentenced to nine years in prison, he continued to write prolifically while incarcerated, producing works that would cement his status as a leading literary figure.</p>



<p>&#8220;Our sadness affords us another opportunity to pay tribute to Breyten Breytenbach for the bravery and perseverance with which he stood up to his persecution and prosecution by the apartheid state,&#8221; stated President Cyril Ramaphosa. &#8220;Fearful of his influence on the minority electorate in South Africa and on world opinion, the apartheid regime imprisoned him for opposing the system and channelling through his diverse art forms and political and fraternal affiliations the militancy, tragedy and resilience of our liberation struggle.&#8221;</p>



<p><strong>A Legacy of Literary Excellence</strong></p>



<p>After his release in 1982, Breytenbach returned to France, where he continued his activism and writing. His notable works include <em>The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist</em>, an account of his imprisonment, and <em>A Season in Paradise</em>. His writings explored themes of exile, identity, and justice, influencing a generation of writers and activists.</p>



<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have the words. I don&#8217;t yet have the words to say everything he was. He leaves a huge void. He was the most exceptional being I have ever known. I am immensely proud to call him my father,&#8221; said his daughter, Daphnée Breytenbach, a journalist based in France. She shared cherished family moments, highlighting his role as a father and grandfather.</p>



<p><strong>Global Tributes</strong></p>



<p>The French presidency under Emmanuel Macron honored Breytenbach as a &#8220;ferryman of freedom,&#8221; acknowledging his deep connection to France and his role in awakening global consciences. &#8220;The President of the Republic salutes the figure of a great craftsman of human rights and freedom, who will always be a link between France and South Africa,&#8221; the statement read.</p>



<p>Author Justin Fox also remembered him fondly: &#8220;Breytie was witty, gentle, entertaining and a formidable intellect. He has been a part of my life since childhood. I&#8217;ve always looked up to Breyten as a kind of honorary uncle, an anchor in my life. So long, dearest Breytie; thank you for your generosity, kindness &#8230; and your brilliance.&#8221;</p>



<p><strong>A Life That Inspired</strong></p>



<p>Despite spending much of his life abroad, Breytenbach remained deeply connected to his South African roots. South African writer Antjie Krog emphasized his profound influence: &#8220;Breyten confronted us with that thing of, &#8216;Okay, you&#8217;re against apartheid, but how are you living against apartheid?'&#8221;</p>



<p>Breytenbach is survived by his wife Yolande, daughter Daphnée, and two grandsons. His passing marks the end of an era, but his legacy endures through his profound contributions to literature and human rights.</p>


Authors by Ulf Andersen – Breyten Breytenbach

Remembering Breyten Breytenbach: The South African Poet Who Challenged Apartheid


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>A DHL cargo plane crashed near the Vilnius Airport in Lithuania’s capital city on Monday, killing at least one person and injuring two others, although the cause of the accident remains unknown.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="694" src="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2185884823.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-63772" style="width:810px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2185884823.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2185884823-300x203.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/GettyImages-2185884823-768x521.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><strong><em>&#8220;Cargo plane crashes near Vilnius airport&#8221; (Photo by Elif Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)</em></strong></figcaption></figure></div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2422029/lektuvo-katastrofa-vilniuje-zuvo-ispanijos-pilietis-trys-suzeisti-vienas-ju-lietuvis" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">According to</a>&nbsp;Lithuanian state broadcaster LRT, one crew member was killed in the crash, while three others were injured—including one who is in critical condition.</p>



<p>The plane crashed into a residential building near the airport, although none of its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lrt.lt/naujienos/lietuvoje/2/2422145/apie-lektuvo-avarija-vilniuje-is-pirmu-lupu-eikit-kur-nors-nes-tuoj-viskas-sprogs" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">12 residents</a>&nbsp;were injured in the crash, police said.</p>



<p>DHL Flight 18D, operated by Spanish carrier Swiftair, was flying from Leipzig to Vilnius, and the plane appeared to have been attempting a landing when the crash took place,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-mfe#381bbfbf" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">tracking data</a>&nbsp;on FlightRadar 24 showed.</p>



<p>Local investigators have not yet been able to determine the cause of the crash.</p>



<p>Swiftair&nbsp;<a href="https://www.swiftair.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;the plane involved in the accident was an older Boeing 737-400, and four people were onboard.</p>



<p><em>This is a developing story.</em></p>


Cargo plane crashes into Lithuanian home, killing one and injuring two

DHL Cargo Plane Crashes In Lithuania—At Least One Dead And Three Injured


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-topline">Topline</h2>



<p>The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant and a high-ranking Hamas official, accusing the three leaders of war crimes during Israel’s war with the militant group.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-facts">Key Facts</h2>



<p>The ICC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-state-palestine-icc-pre-trial-chamber-i-rejects-state-israels-challenges" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;it found “reasonable grounds” that Netanyahu and Gallant “bear criminal responsibility” for using starvation as a method of warfare in Israel’s war with Hamas, alleging the leaders “created conditions of life” intended to “bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza.”</p>



<p>The court accused Hamas leader Mohammed Deif—who Israel said was killed in an airstrike in July—of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including murder, torture, rape and hostage-taking related to the group’s attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.</p>



<p>Israel’s foreign ministry challenged the ICC’s jurisdiction in September, arguing the Hague-based court didn’t provide Israel adequate time to investigate the court’s allegations before arrest warrants were issued, though the ICC rejected Israel’s challenge.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chief-critic">Chief Critic</h2>



<p>Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/IsraelMFA/status/1859586821258178909" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">condemned</a>&nbsp;the ICC for the arrest warrants, saying the court had “lost all legitimacy for its existence and actions” and acted as a “political tool serving the most extreme elements working to undermine peace, security and stability in the Middle East.” Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s national security minister,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/itamarbengvir/status/1859574591363891678" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">called</a>&nbsp;the arrest warrants an “unparalleled disgrace, though not surprising at all.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-will-netanyahu-be-arrested">Will Netanyahu Be Arrested?</h2>



<p>The ICC, which works in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/crimes-against-humanity.shtml" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">cooperation</a>&nbsp;with the United Nations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/how-the-court-works#:~:text=The%20judges%20can%20sentence%20a,order%20reparations%20for%20the%20victims." rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">relies</a>&nbsp;on other countries that recognize its jurisdiction to carry out its arrest warrants. Several countries, including the U.S. and China, do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and would not be asked to arrest Netanyahu, who spoke to Congress in July. Even if a country does recognize its jurisdiction, it doesn’t indicate the arrest warrants will be carried out: Mongolia&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-mongolia-icc-court-arrest-e0b583253a481b106092897a44c0c249" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">did not arrest</a>&nbsp;Russian President Vladimir Putin—who was accused of war crimes in Russia’s war with Ukraine—when he visited the country in September.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-background">Key Background</h2>



<p>The ICC <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/05/20/icc-seeks-arrest-warrants-for-benjamin-netanyahu-and-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar/?sh=149e51285815">signaled</a> in May it was seeking arrest warrants for several Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu, over alleged war crimes committed on Oct. 7 and during the conflict in Gaza. Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, said Israel’s prime minister and Gallant were facing charges of “causing extermination” in Gaza. The court, founded in 2002, has jurisdiction to prosecute cases of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, though it does not have the power to enforce those warrants. The U.S. previously warned against the ICC issuing warrants for Netanyahu, saying it would derail peace negotiations in the Middle East. President Joe Biden claimed it was “outrageous” for the court to seek warrants for both Israel and Hamas leaders that accuse them of similar crimes, <a href="https://x.com/albamonica/status/1792596707751948395" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">saying</a> there was “no equivalence—none—between Israel and Hamas.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken also <a href="https://x.com/JakeSherman/status/1792593904316854742" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">criticized</a> the ICC’s decision, suggesting it would “jeopardize ongoing efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement that would get hostages out.”</p>


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