Africa: Foreign Minister Meets Russian Special Envoy for Middle East and Africa

Somalia's national football team, currently ranked 201st globally, has struggled historically on the continental stage, never advancing past the preliminary rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations and achieving only one World Cup qualifying win. Djibouti has served as their primary venue for nearly four decades due to ongoing military requisitions of their Mogadishu stadium. The Djibouti Football Association's president, Souleiman Waberi, envisions a return to hosting international matches in Somalia, following a recent legends...

Uche Akolisa & Kelechi AnoziaBBC News, LagosIn Lagos, Nigeria, rising living costs have led to an increase in abandoned pets, as seen in the case of Preye Maxwell, who reluctantly surrendered his dog Hanks due to financial strain after losing his job. The inflation rate, which peaked at 35% in December 2024, has drastically raised expenses for pet care, prompting many owners to abandon pets rather than seek new homes. Activists report that shelters now...

At least 151 people have died in central Nigeria due to flash floods that devastated Mokwa, with the death toll rising from 115, according to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (Nsema). Over 500 households were affected, with families losing multiple relatives, and local authorities reported 11 rescues. As the community struggles for support and recovery, President Bola Tinubu has ordered intensified search and rescue operations amidst warnings of ongoing heavy rain across the country...

World Boxing has announced a new policy requiring athletes to undergo PCR tests to determine their biological sex for competition eligibility. Athletes deemed male at birth, indicated by the presence of the SRY gene, can compete in the male category, while those deemed female at birth, indicated by XX chromosomes, can compete in the female category. National federations must provide certification of chromosomal sex, with failure to do so resulting in ineligibility; additional screenings will...

The former head of Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development, Matilda Matozi Gasela, is barred from accessing her pension fund of approximately R3.3 million pending the resolution of legal proceedings related to her alleged involvement in the mismanagement of the controversial 2018 Enviro Mobi tender. This legal situation highlights the ongoing scrutiny over the handling of government tenders and the accountability of public officials. Gasela's case underscores the potential repercussions of mismanagement within public sector contracts....

Former public works minister Sihle Zikalala minimized the implications of an investigation he initiated, which facilitated the appointment of Tebogo Malaka as the chief executive of the Independent Development Trust (IDT). This decision comes despite Malaka's involvement in a controversial R45-million lease scandal, raising concerns about her suitability for the role. Zikalala's actions suggest a disregard for accountability in the context of significant financial misconduct linked to the IDT. Full Article