International news and updates on global affairs, politics, and events shaping the world.
Kinshasa, DR Congo Tragedy struck at a live concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday, leaving at least nine people dead and several others injured. Among the victims was a 10-year-old child, as confirmed by local media. Gospel singer and pastor Mike Kalambay was performing at the 80,000-seat Martyrs Stadium in Kinshasa when…
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the US Congress has stirred significant controversy and demonstrations. Netanyahu expressed optimism regarding efforts to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. According to a Reuters report, his speech received a mixed reaction. Many Democratic lawmakers boycotted the address, voicing concern over the high civilian casualties and…
An estimated 1.3 million people became infected with HIV in 2023, three times more than the target of fewer than 370,000 by 2025. While there has been marked progress in sub-Saharan Africa, for the first time, in 2023 more than half of the new HIV infections occurred outside of sub-Saharan Africa, a report released on…
The death toll from two landslides in southern Ethiopia has risen to 229 as rescue efforts continue to locate survivors and victims. The first landslide, triggered by heavy rains in the remote Gofa Zone, occurred on Monday. It was quickly followed by a second landslide that buried rescuers who had gathered to assist, state officials…
Fifty-eight out of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO) have expressed their support for a proposal from the African Group to endorse Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a second term as the organization’s Director-General. In a statement released by the WTO, the support was announced during the July 22 meeting of the WTO…
Democrats have poured more than $100m (£77m) in donations into Vice-President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on Sunday, her campaign says. The tally was boosted by what her team calls a record 24-hour period of fundraising – $81m raised. During that timeframe, more than 888,000 people donated…
At least 50 bodies have been recovered following two catastrophic landslides in southern Ethiopia, according to local officials. The landslides struck the Gofa district in the South Ethiopia regional state after heavy rainfall on Sunday night. Rescue efforts took a tragic turn when a second landslide hit on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of…
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump declared on Sunday that Vice President Kamala Harris would be easier to defeat in the upcoming November election compared to Democratic President Joe Biden, who announced earlier that day he would not seek re-election. Trump made these remarks on CNN shortly after Biden revealed his decision to step aside as…
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has annulled the majority of quotas for government jobs, following extensive student-led protests that escalated into violent clashes, resulting in at least 139 deaths. Attorney General Amin Uddin announced that the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division overturned a lower court decision, ruling that 93% of government jobs should now be allocated…
Bangladeshi soldiers imposed a curfew in Dhaka on Saturday, patrolling deserted streets and setting up roadblocks amid ongoing student-led protests against government job quotas. The unrest, which has resulted in at least 110 deaths this week, led authorities to suspend internet and text messaging services on Thursday, effectively cutting off the nation from global communications….
Spanish authorities have detained three individuals allegedly involved in cyberattacks targeting Spain and several NATO countries, purportedly for terrorist motives. The suspects, arrested for their suspected roles in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on public institutions and critical sectors, have not yet been publicly identified or formally charged, according to the Civil Guard. The…
Nigeria and South Africa have jointly called for an immediate ceasefire to halt the ongoing conflict in Sudan. Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, issued the call after meeting on the sidelines of the African Union Executive Council in Accra. A…
Vietnam’s long-serving leader, Nguyen Phu Trong, has passed away at the age of 80 after a prolonged illness, ending a significant political era. The announcement follows recent reports that Mr. Trong had stepped back to focus on his health, delegating his duties to President To Lam. Nguyen Phu Trong served as the general secretary of…
Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as president of the European Commission after securing a decisive majority in a secret ballot conducted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). The vote, held in Strasbourg on Thursday, saw von der Leyen receive the support of 401 MEPs, surpassing the required threshold by 41 votes. Following…
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has been re-elected for a fourth term in a decisive victory, extending his 24-year rule by another five years. With most of the votes from Monday’s election counted, Kagame has secured 99.15% of the vote, according to partial results announced by the electoral commission, with approximately 79% of ballots tallied. Kagame,…
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced Senator James Donald “J.D.” Vance as his choice for Vice President for the 2024 Republican ticket. Trump made this announcement on the opening day of the Republican National Convention. “After lengthy deliberation and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited…
A gunman and an audience member have died in a suspected assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The incident took place on Saturday evening. According to the Secret Service, the shooter fired “multiple shots” from an “elevated position outside of the rally venue.” The gunman was killed, and…
At least 71 Palestinians have been killed and over 289 injured following an Israeli air strike in the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis, Gaza’s health ministry reported. The health ministry stated that the targeted area had been designated as a humanitarian zone by the Israeli military. The Israeli military claimed the strike aimed at senior…
Meta announced on Friday that it is lifting certain restrictions previously imposed on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. The company stated that the decision was made to ensure that Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has equal access to the platforms as Democrat President Joe Biden. “Our responsibility to allow…
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday he was confident Ukraine would eventually join NATO after the alliance said the Russian-invaded country had an “irreversible” path to membership. “We have strong wording regarding the irreversibility of Ukraine’s movement towards NATO. Every step truly brings us closer to membership,” Zelensky told a news conference at a NATO summit…
The upcoming peace talks in South Sudan face significant challenges as opposition groups call for the repeal of a recently passed bill that allows detention without arrest warrants, a condition they insist must be met before any agreement can be signed. Since May, Kenya has hosted crucial meetings between South Sudanese government officials and rebel…
A United Nations human rights report has uncovered a mass grave of African migrants at the Libya-Tunisia border. On Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türkon stated that his office is investigating reports of a mass grave in the desert along the Libya-Tunisia border. This follows the discovery of at least 65 migrant…
The three West African nations—Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—currently governed by military regimes, have signed a treaty signaling their commitment to a unified path independent of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has been advocating for their return to democratic rule. The confederation treaty was finalized on Saturday during the inaugural summit…
The UK’s Labour Party is predicted to secure a landslide victory in Thursday’s general election, according to an exit poll. The poll indicates that Labour will win 410 seats, achieving a majority of 170, while the Conservatives are expected to drop to 131 seats, marking their worst performance ever. The Liberal Democrats are projected to…
The European Union has awarded postgraduate scholarships to 142 young Nigerians through its Erasmus educational program, according to the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi. During an orientation program in Abuja for the awardees, Ms. Isopi announced that the beneficiaries have been admitted to various European universities to study courses such as…
AEB is a global multilateral institution aimed at financing Africa’s hydrocarbon resources and supporting energy transition and net-zero commitments. This development is expected to reshape Nigeria’s oil and gas ecosystem and position the country as a key player in Africa’s energy landscape. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Oil, Heineken Lokpobiri, announced this in…
Justice Juan Merchan of a New York court has delayed the sentencing of Donald Trump to September 18, following a motion by Trump’s lawyers to contest his conviction. Initially, Trump was set to be sentenced on July 11. However, Justice Merchan announced on Tuesday that he would rule on the motions by September 6. Should…
The Israeli army has issued a mass evacuation order for Palestinians in much of Khan Younis, indicating a potential new ground offensive in Gaza Strip’s second-largest city. According to AP News, this move suggests that Khan Younis will become the latest focus of Israeli raids as they target regrouping Hamas militants in previously invaded areas…
President Joe Biden expressed confidence on Friday that he will defeat Republican contender Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election. Despite a lackluster debate performance that left many Democrats concerned, Biden remained resolute. “I may not walk as easily, speak as smoothly, or debate as well as I once did,” he admitted, as supporters…
The 2024 U.S. Presidential election season began last night with a highly anticipated debate between President Joe Biden, representing the Democratic Party, and former President Donald Trump, representing the Republican Party. This historic debate, the first where a sitting president faced off against a former president, was hosted by CNN in Atlanta. Voter Concerns Key…
A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck near Arequipa, Peru’s second most populated city, resulting in injuries but no reported fatalities. David Aponte, Chief of Disaster Risk Management and National Defense at the Ministry of Health, reported three minor injuries on local radio station RPP. Subsequently, the Ministry of Health confirmed that five additional injured individuals were…
