Politics

The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on Sunday called on Hamas to release all Israeli “civilian hostages”, while declaring himself “very concerned” about Israeli bombings against “Palestinian civilians” in the Gaza strip. “Innocent civilians and children are paying the price,” he warned from Manila, at the …

At least four children have died in Burundi after a church collapsed during a storm, state media reported. According to state media, 15 others were injured in the incident early on Sunday. The south of the country – where the church is located – had been hit by strong winds …

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to mutually abolish visa requirements to allow visa-free travel between each country, local media reported. The agreement is aimed at easing the movement of people and strengthening trade between the two countries. The agreement follows recent talks between the two countries’ …

Two South Africans have been killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has announced. Dirco announced the news on Friday, but did not reveal the identity of those who had died. “The Department of International Relations and Cooperation can …

Al-Qaeda’s West African branch has announced the death of a Malian hostage in its custody, naming him as Idriss Sanogo, and saying he died of an unspecified illness. The Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group extended its condolences to the man’s family. JNIM also laid the blame on the Malian …

Kenya’s interior minister has said that the country will send assessment delegations to Haiti before deploying police officers to address gang violence there. “There will be other pre-mission visits to Haiti by different players before our officers set foot there,” Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told a parliamentary committee on Thursday. …

The International Olympic Committee suspended the Russian National Olympic Committee (NOC) this Thursday “with immediate effect” for having placed several organizations in occupied Ukrainian regions under its authority, the organization’s spokesperson announced. This decision automatically deprives the Russian body of Olympic funding, but has no consequences on the possible presence …

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo announced that it has suspended some of its peacekeepers. “This is in response to reports of serious misconduct,” it said in a statement, adding that it had “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse”. It did not say how many peacekeepers …

The wife of Gabon’s ousted president Ali Bongo has been jailed, the AFP news agency said in a post on social media platform X, citing a lawyer. The military regime accuses Sylvia Bongo of alleged embezzlement of public funds. Gabon army officers seized power on Aug. 30, annulling an election …

Kenyan authorities have announced plans to end a six-year agreement allowing more than 100 Cuban doctors to work in Kenyan hospitals. Health Minister Susan Nakhumicha said on Wednesday that the move will help address challenges faced by Kenyan health workers, including the lack of employment opportunities. “We have decided not …