As we wrap up the week, here are the top stories from Africa: Burkina Faso has banned pornography to align with President Ibrahim Traoré’s policies.
The Naira has been named the worst-performing currency in the first half of 2024. Burna Boy made headlines by selling out London’s 80,000-capacity stadium for the second time. In Nigeria, the death toll from a suicide bombing has risen to 32.
Additionally, content creators in Nigeria and Ghana can now monetize their content on Facebook and Instagram, marking a significant step in digital entrepreneurship in the region.
Check out all the top stories below:
PORNOGRAPHY BANNED IN BURKINA FASO
Capt Ibrahim Traoré | Reuters
President Ibrahim Traoré has banned pornography in Burkina Faso.
The government of Burkina Faso is restricting access to pornographic materials and websites as part of an initiative by President Ibrahim Traoré, a populist military officer who came to power in a 2022 coup.
MR IBU FINALLY BURIED! THREE MONTHS AFTER HIS DEATH
Nollywood actor John Ikechukwu Okafor famed Mr Ibu was finally buried (on Friday 28th June 2024) in his lounge – three months after his death.
Veteran Nollywood actor and comedian passed away on 2 March 2024 at the age of 62 due to a heart attack. He was laid to rest on Friday, 28 June 2024, in his hometown of Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State.
NAIRA NAMED WORST-PERFORMING CURRENCY IN FIRST HALF OF 2024
Nigeria’s currency-Naira has been the world’s weakest currency in the first half of 2024.
Bloomberg recently reported (on Friday, 28th June 2024) that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s attempts to stabilize the naira were hampered by devaluation, a lack of dollar availability, and market instability.
Alongside the naira, Egypt’s pound and Ghana’s cedi also ranked among the worst-performing currencies in the first six months of the year.
A Bloomberg report attributes the naira’s 0.2% drop to 1,510 per dollar by Thursday (27th June 2024) marking its longest losing streak since July 2017 and a 40% decline since the beginning of the year.
BURNA BOY SELLS OUT 80,000-CAPACITY LONDON STADIUM FOR 2ND TIME
Nigerian superstar Burna Boy has sold out West Ham United’s 80,000-capacity stadium in London for the second time.
With this milestone, Burna Boy continues to hold the title of the first African artist to headline a UK stadium solo for the second time.
He first sold out the London Stadium in 2023.
NIGERIA: SUICIDE BOMBING DEATH TOLL RISES TO 32
On Saturday, June 29th, multiple suicide bombings in Gwoza, a town in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state, caused at least 32 deaths and over 100 injuries, with 26 victims still hospitalized, the country’s vice president Kashim Shettima said Monday.
3 female suicide bombers targeted a wedding reception, a burial ceremony, and a hospital, resulting in casualties that included children, men, women, and several pregnant women.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced that his administration will intensify its efforts “to ensure that those who trouble the nation, dispatching precious lives, and disrupting law and order are completely removed.”
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, while the military has imposed a curfew.
CONTENT CREATORS IN NIGERIA AND GHANA CAN NOW MONETIZE THEIR CONTENT AND EARN ON FACEBOOK + INSTAGRAM
Content creators in Nigeria and Ghana now have the opportunity to earn revenue from advertisements on Facebook and Instagram, as both countries have gained eligibility for monetization.
Meta, the parent company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, announced a policy change on Thursday, June 27. Before this update, content creators with Nigeria + Ghana addresses were not able to monetize their content on Facebook unless they managed a page from an eligible country.
This means content creators can now monetize their content and earn money through Facebook in-stream ads, live ads, ads on reels, bonuses, and subscriptions.
9.7 MILLION PEOPLE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN UPCOMING RWANDA ELECTIONS
The National Electoral Commission of Rwanda announced that 9.7 million people are eligible to participate in the upcoming presidential and legislative elections scheduled for July, covering all 30 districts within Rwanda.
The elections are set to take place over a three-day period from 14 to 16 July 2024.
2,591 polling stations have been set up to ensure a fair and accessible election process.
“All Rwandans aged 18 years and above with national identification cards appear on the list. Voters will be required to present their national identification cards to polling officials to be allowed to vote unlike previously when a voter’s card was used,” the commission chairperson Oda Gasinzigwa told national television on Sunday.
SOUTH AFRICAN CREATORS WILL SOON BE ABLE MONETIZE THEIR REELS AND EARN
Meta is expanding its offerings for Instagram Reels, and creators in South Africa will soon be able to monetize their Reels through ads coming in the next few months.
YOMZANSI learned this during Meta’s Creators event on Thursday, July 4, 2024. This means creators will be able to earn money from their Reels content on Instagram.
Meta hasn’t provided the exact rollout date, but it’s coming soon!
MORE THAN 9-HOUR RAINFALL HITS BUSINESSES AND HOUSES, CAUSING FLOODS IN LAGOS
A 10-hour heavy rain on Wednesday paralyzed business activities in Lagos and Ogun states, leading to widespread flooding that collapsed a two-story building in Lagos’s Mushin area.
In a statement signed by the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, he explained that Lagos experienced about nine hours of non-stop rainfall Wednesday.
In some parts of the state, several sources report that the rain lasted for more than 9 hours.
The downpour also disrupted traffic and forced schools to close, affecting thousands of residents across the region.
Houses and roads in affected flooded areas such as Iyana-Oworo, Agege, Ijegun-Isheri Osun, Gbagada, and Lagos Island in Lagos State were submerged due to the prolonged downpour, while other places like Eredo, Bojije, Epe, Sangotedo, Ibeju-Lekki, Awoyaya, Labora, and Abijon also experienced significant flooding.
Speaking with Channels TV on Thursday, Wahab described the flood as “nature taking its full course.”
MARRIAGE INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS UNDER 18 NOW CLASSIFIED AS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE IN SIERRA LEONE
On Tuesday, Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio announced that he had approved a new law banning child marriage, marking a significant step toward protecting the rights and welfare of young girls.
Marriage involving individuals under the age of 18 is now classified as a criminal offense under the law, with severe penalties such as imprisonment for up to 15 years and substantial fines for offenders.
Furthermore, the law stipulates that parents or individuals involved in ceremonies that facilitate child marriages may face financial penalties.
NAMIBIA DROPS FUEL PRICES IN JULY
This week, Namibia implemented a reduction in petrol prices by 80 Namibian cents per liter (approximately 0.044 U.S. dollars), diesel 50ppm by 60 Namibian cents per liter, and diesel 10ppm by 70 Namibian cents per liter, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) announced that petrol in Walvis Bay will now cost 22.20 Namibian dollars per liter, with diesel 50ppm at 21.57 Namibian dollars and diesel 10ppm priced at 21.67 Namibian dollars per liter; adjustments will be made nationwide.
Additionally, the ministry pointed out that from June 1 to June 25, 2024, the Namibian dollar experienced a slight 0.1 percent decline against the U.S. dollar, which had minimal influence on the overall decrease in oil prices.
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Publish date : 2024-07-05 05:15:19
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