2024: The headlines that shaped the year
2024 threw a lot at us — dramatic sports moments, tense court battles, political shakeups and sudden tech outages. On this page you'll find the key stories we covered that grabbed attention across Africa and the world. Want quick entry points? Pick a headline below and jump to the full report.
Fast sports round-up
Sport dominated many front pages. Ben Shelton stormed into the National Bank Open final after beating Taylor Fritz, signalling a career jump for the young American. In club football, Arsenal edged AC Milan in a Singapore friendly with Bukayo Saka shining, while Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool all had big league moments that matter for the title race. On the international stage, the USA beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Gold Cup, and Portugal’s clubs and smaller sides kept fans talking in domestic leagues.
Playoffs and cups had their drama too. The Warriors stunned the Timberwolves in Game 1 without Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield stepped up, and LeBron delivered a buzzer-beater to seal a thriller against the Pacers. Jamie Vardy headlines transfer rumour mills with a possible move to Wrexham — a story mixing sport and pop culture that fans love.
Politics, courts and local impact
Political moves and court cases shaped public debate. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to remove DA deputy minister Andrew Whitfield stirred coalition tension. Major legal trials drew heat: Advocate Malesela Teffo spoke out amid threats while exposing alleged police corruption tied to the Senzo Meyiwa case, and Judge Selby Mbenenge faced a tribunal over harassment claims with key hearings set for October.
Across Africa, governance and budgets mattered. Kenya’s MPs approved county allocations in the 2025/26 budget framework, a big fiscal step affecting services and local projects. Clubs and federations also had to manage fan behaviour — FAR Rabat urged supporters to stop using flares after a costly CAF fine.
Tech and travel put unusual items on the map. A fire at an Oregon data centre caused a worldwide outage of X, showing how a single incident can freeze global platforms. Meanwhile, Europe’s tourism jumped by nearly 5% early in 2025, led by Spain and Eastern Europe — a sign the travel rebound kept rolling into 2024 and beyond.
Human rights and social issues kept headlines sharp. A Human Rights Watch report detailed how China’s passport rules make travel harder for Tibetans and Uyghurs, highlighting bureaucratic hurdles that affect everyday movement for whole communities.
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