News

A woman has been burnt to death by a mob in northern Nigeria’s Niger state after she was accused of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad, police have said. Police condemned the killing of the woman – identified in local media as a food vendor named Amaye – as “jungle justice”, saying that an investigation was under […]

Ukrainian forces have acknowledged that Russia’s military has crossed into the eastern industrial region of Dnipropetrovsk and is trying to establish a foothold. “This is the first attack of such a large scale in Dnipropetrovsk region,” Viktor Trehubov, of the Dnipro Operational-Strategic Group of Troops told the BBC, although he made clear their advance had […]

Russia has dangled the possibility of building a nuclear power plant in uranium-rich Niger – a vast, arid state on the edge of the Sahara desert that has to import most of its electricity. It may be deemed impractical and may never happen, but the concept is yet another move by Moscow to seek a […]

Botswana has declared a public health emergency as it faces a shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment. President Duma Boko made the announcement in a televised address on Monday, setting out a multimillion-dollar plan to rectify the supply chain involving military oversight. Managing the shortages would be “highly price sensitive due to our limited […]

The head of a Malagasy king killed by French troops during a colonial-era war has been formally returned to Madagascar. The handover of King Toera’s skull – and those of two other members of his court – took place at a ceremony at the culture ministry in Paris. The skulls had been brought to France […]

The South African government is warning young women not to fall for social media recruitment drives promoting job opportunities abroad. This comes as a number of online videos by South African social media influencers advertising jobs for young women in Russia have gone viral. The authorities are investigating one promotional video by influencer Cyan Boujee, […]

“It’s coming home!” – a phrase indelibly linked to English football fans – has now gained currency among some Zambians in the battle over what to do with the body of former President Edgar Lungu. The 68-year-old died two months ago in South Africa where he was being treated for an undisclosed illness. In the […]

Turkey’s first lady has urged Melania Trump to speak out for children suffering in Israel’s war in Gaza. Emine Erdogan praised the US first lady’s support for children affected by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, asking Trump to “extend the advocacy” to Palestinians. In a letter published by the Turkish presidency on Saturday, Mrs Erdogan […]

At least 15 people, including four journalists working for the international media, are reported to have been killed in an Israeli strike on a hospital in the southern Gaza Strip. A Reuters cameraman and an Associated Press journalist were among those killed in the attack at Nasser Hospital. Another journalist is reported to have worked […]

A leading conservationist in South Africa, charged with smuggling rhino horns worth $14m (£10m), has insisted he has “nothing to hide”. In a statement, John Hume, the former owner of what is thought to be the world’s largest rhino farm, denied allegations that he trafficked the horns from South Africa to South East Asia. The […]