Politics and society

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law on Monday July 24 banning sex change operations, local media reported. The text prohibits “any medical intervention” for gender reassignments, including surgical operations and hormonal therapies. Changing the gender designation in identity documents will also be prohibited. The bill had passed …

At least 80,000 people have been displaced over the past three months in central Nigeria, the scene of bloody inter-communal violence where the army has sent reinforcements, a local official said. Northwestern and central Nigeria are regularly the scene of tensions and deadly conflicts around the exploitation of land and …

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country is capable of replacing exports of grain to Africa from Ukraine after he withdrew from a deal allowing their safe shipment across the Black Sea. Kremlin said in a statement that Moscow could provide the grain on a commercial and free-of charge basis. …

A teachers’ union in Nigeria said its members will only work two days a week, unless the government addresses the rising cost of living, the BBC reported. The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union – the third largest in Nigeria – is demanding a 200% rise in salaries to meet …

Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sissi has pardoned jailed rights activist Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohammed al-Baqer, state media reported. The news comes a day after an emergency court found Mr Zaki guilty of “spreading false news” and sentenced him to three years in prison. The judgement, based on an article …

South African authorities have adopted sign language as the country’s 12th official language, local media reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa formally approved the Sign Language Bill into law during a ceremony in Pretoria. Some of the country’s other languages are Afrikaans, English, Xhosa and Zulu. South Africa is the fourth country …

Nigeria is gearing up to stop the spread of anthrax after cases were reported at a livestock farm north-west of the capital, Abuja. The outbreak was confirmed by the agricultural ministry after symptoms of the disease were discovered at a farm in Gajiri, along the Abuja-Kaduna motorway, in Niger state. …

The United States authorized this Thursday the sale without a prescription of a contraceptive pill, a first in the country, which hopes to facilitate its access. The pill concerned, Opill, will be available in pharmacies, neighborhood shops and supermarkets as well as online on the internet, announced the American Medicines …

A court in Libya has jailed 37 people convicted of human trafficking – following the deaths of 11 migrants who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, local media reported. Five members of the criminal gang were sentenced to life in prison – others received between one and 15 years. All had …

South Africa’s health authorities are urging residents of the province of Gauteng to be vigilant about the liquids they consume as the death toll from a winter outbreak of cholera rises to nearly 50, local media reported. Unions and community groups have demanded more government intervention to improve water quality. …