AFP Africa

Nearly 11,000 people in jihadist-hit southwestern Niger have fled their homes this month, the United Nations  and local authorities said Wednesday.”These people are running from violence perpetrated by suspected armed non-state groups found in the Tillaberi region and the tri-border zone,” where Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali meet, the UN Office for the Coordination of …

Thousands flee homes in jihadist-hit NigerWed, 12 Jul 2023 14:39:29 GMT Read More »

World hunger stopped rising in 2022 after growing for seven years but remains above pre-pandemic levels and far off track to be eradicated by 2030, UN agencies said Wednesday.Between 691 million and 783 million people faced hunger last year, with a midrange of 735 million, the five agencies said in a report.The proportion of people …

World hunger stops rising but remains elevated: UNWed, 12 Jul 2023 14:16:24 GMT Read More »

Spain’s coastguard temporarily suspended Wednesday a search for three migrant boats reported lost off the Canary Islands after poor weather prevented a plane from being deployed to the area.”Meteorological conditions are currently unfavourable to carry out a search with aircraft,” a coastguard spokeswoman said, without giving further details.The situation will be reassessed later to see …

Search for migrant boats off Canary Isles temporarily suspendedWed, 12 Jul 2023 14:06:44 GMT Read More »

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Kenya and Uganda on Wednesday on a mission to strengthen ties as he embarked on the first trip by an Iranian leader to Africa in 11 years.The visit comes as the Islamic Republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation, with Raisi due to travel to …

Iran’s president in Kenya and Uganda to deepen tiesWed, 12 Jul 2023 13:26:38 GMT Read More »

Kenyan officers on Wednesday fired tear gas on protesters who defied a police ban to join an anti-government demonstration called by opposition leader Raila Odinga against tax hikes.Major roads in several cities in western Kenya, where Odinga commands significant support, were deserted as protesters took to the streets.Shops were shut and security was tight in …

Kenya police fire tear gas as protesters defy banWed, 12 Jul 2023 12:53:45 GMT Read More »

Double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya Wednesday hailed the decision of the European Court of Human Rights which ruled her human rights were violated by Swiss courts.”Justice has spoken but this is only the beginning,” she said in a statement released by her lawyers a day after the ruling.The 32-year-old South African appealed to the Strasbourg-based …

Caster Semenya says rights court ruling is ‘only the beginning’Wed, 12 Jul 2023 11:21:13 GMT Read More »

South Africa’s two-time Rugby World Cup winner Francois Steyn said on Wednesday he was lucky to have such a long career after announcing his retirement.Steyn, 36, who could play across the back-line, has been forced to end his time as a player due to a knee injury.After lifting the World Cup in 2007 he was …

Retiring double World Cup-winner Steyn ‘blessed’ with long careerWed, 12 Jul 2023 10:57:43 GMT Read More »

The leaders of Iran and Kenya pledged to strengthen ties as their governments signed a raft of trade agreements Wednesday during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s maiden visit to the East African nation.The visit comes as the Islamic republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation, with Raisi also due to travel …

Iran and Kenya leaders vow to deepen tiesWed, 12 Jul 2023 07:59:33 GMT Read More »

Just a month in power, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already received foreign entrepreneurs and investors at his villa, telling them Nigeria is open for business after a flurry of surprise economic reforms.The former Lagos governor added a diplomatic step this week, becoming  chairman of the West Africa bloc ECOWAS, with a call for more …

Nigeria’s new leader pushes regional role and domestic reformWed, 12 Jul 2023 06:22:28 GMT Read More »

Iran President Ebrahim Raisi held talks with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto on Wednesday as he kicked off the first Africa tour by an Iranian leader in 11 years.The visit, which was delayed by a day, comes as the Islamic republic tries to shore up diplomatic support to ease its international isolation, with Raisi also …

Iran president holds talks with Kenya’s RutoWed, 12 Jul 2023 05:30:09 GMT Read More »