In the news

Tanzania has culled millions of quelea birds to prevent them from destroying rice fields, using drones and planes to monitor commercial farms. The Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA) which is also responsible for controlling desert locusts, killed five million quelea birds in the northern region of Manyara where …

The Ukrainian Football Federation (AUF) has announced its intention to boycott European competitions in which Russian teams will be involved. This announcement comes the day after UEFA’s decision to reinstate Russian teams under the age of 17. The AUF “strongly condemns” this decision, according to a press release published on …

Namibia has suspended imports of live poultry, birds and poultry products from South Africa following the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the neighbouring country, Reuters reported. The suspension is in effect until further notice, the agriculture ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday. South Africa is …

Nigeria’s two largest unions, the National Labor Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have accused the government of failing to ease the financial burden on Nigerians and called for an indefinite strike to begin next Tuesday. Unions said the industrial action was a protest to the government’s response …

A 20-year-old man was found hanged in an abandoned government public toilet in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central region, Ghana. “A note was found inside the deceased’s pocket,” according to eyewitness. “However, the police did not allow them to read,” he said. “The body has been deposited …

At least 100 people died and 150 others were injured in a fire during a mega-wedding organized in a village hall in northern Iraq, according to a “preliminary assessment” announced Wednesday by the authorities. According to emergency services, “fireworks” and “highly flammable construction materials” were at the origin of the …

A landlord has poured hot water on an 11-year-old girl in Mowe, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, according to reports. “The landlord had made it a habit to beat the girl and her mother when the mother was still with him,” according to a tenant. “The …

The French ambassador to Niger, Sylvain Itté, left the country by plane this Wednesday morning, Reuters reported, citing security sources. The repatriation of Sylvain Itté takes place following a standoff with the military junta which seized power on July 26 in Niamey. The military ordered the expulsion of the diplomat …

Kenya says it is confident the deployment of hundreds of its police to Haiti by January will end gang warfare there. Last year Haiti’s government appealed for help because of the spiralling gang violence. Gangs have largely overpowered the police and now control more than three-quarters of the capital. Initially …

Russian authorities have issued a search warrant for Pole Piotr Hofmanskithe, President of the International Criminal Court without specifying the reason. “The Pole is wanted in connection with a criminal investigation,” the Interior Ministry said in its database of wanted persons, according to the state agencies Tass and Ria Novosti. …