In the news

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said the United States will not dictate Africa’s choices, despite having sought support from the continent’s 54 countries in efforts to isolate Russia over its Ukraine invasion. Mr Blinken was presenting a new strategy document for sub-Saharan Africa at the University of …

Militants killed 17 Malian soldiers and four civilians in an attack near the town of Tessit on Sunday, Reuters reported, citing army source. Nine soldiers were also reported missing and vehicles and equipment were destroyed, it said in a statement released late on Monday, adding that it suspected an Islamic …

Belgians traveled to France in order to get vaccinated against monkeypox, as there is a lack of doses in their country, RTBF reported. Faced with the lack of available doses, conditions for access to the monkeypox vaccine are restricted in Belgium. Sex workers, people who contracted two sexually transmitted infections …

Nigeria is threatening to withdraw from the regional group, Ecowas, following allegations that Nigerian candidates are being sidelined for jobs and promotions. Some in Ecowas have also complained of nepotism – alleging that relatives and cronies are sometimes selected for posts. Sidie Tunis, the Ecowas parliamentary speaker, has ordered all …

UN secretary-general, Antonio Guterres on Monday called any attack on nuclear power plants “suicidal” and called for a halt to military operations around that of Zaporizhia, Ukraine, so that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can access it. According to the UN head, any attack on nuclear power plants is …

Nigerian army announced on Sunday that it killed the leader of the Boko Haram militant group, Alhaji Modu, alias Bem Bem, last week, the BBC reported. The army said 28 militants were also killed in the airstrike carried out on 3 August in the north-western Borno State. Modu allegedly coordinated …

A radio presenter with Ke FM at Kpasa in the Oti Region, Ghana, together with his five friends has sustained varying degrees of injuries after a gas cylinder in their room exploded, citinewsroom reported. Three of the injured are said to be in critical condition and on admission at the …

Transitional authorities in Chad signed peace agreement with rebel groups in Qatar’s capital, Doha on Monday ahead of a broad national reconciliation dialogue to take place later this month. A signing ceremony for the agreement, which included the parties agreeing to take part in a national, inclusive dialogue, was attended …

One of the UN investigators apologized on Thursday for having spoken of the “Jewish lobby” in an interview, remarks which had been strongly denounced by Israel and Western diplomats in Geneva. In an interview published on July 25 on the Mondoweiss website, Miloon Kothari said: “We are very discouraged by …

At least 13 people died in Thailand in the fire of a nightclub near the tourist city of Pattaya (east) on the night of Thursday to Friday, authorities said on Friday. This drama is one of the deadliest disasters since 2009. A report from local relief reported 13 dead – …