Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday offered free grain to six African countries as he launched a summit with leaders from the continent days after withdrawing from the Ukraine grain export deal.The two-day summit in Putin’s native Saint Petersburg is being scrutinised as a test of his support in Africa, where he retains backing despite …

Putin promises free grain at Africa summitThu, 27 Jul 2023 18:14:06 GMT Read More »

More than 900 migrants have drowned off Tunisia’s coast so far this year as they tried to reach Europe by boat, the North African country’s government said Thursday.In a warning of further tragedy, the United Nations said it was deeply concerned for the safety of hundreds of migrants stranded in Tunisia following their removal to …

Tunisia says 900 migrants drowned off its coast this yearThu, 27 Jul 2023 16:34:22 GMT Read More »

Niger’s armed forces chief on Thursday declared his support for troops who said they had overthrown the government, despite a defiant stand by the country’s elected president and an outcry from the world community.The latest target of a coup in the turbulent Sahel, President Mohamed Bazoum has been confined at his residence since Wednesday by …

Niger military chief backs coup leaders, but president defiantThu, 27 Jul 2023 16:14:33 GMT Read More »

The United Nations said Thursday it was deeply concerned for the safety of hundreds of migrants stranded in Tunisia following their removal to remote parts of the North African country. The UN said an “unfolding tragedy” was taking place with migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers surviving in dire conditions near the frontiers with Libya and Algeria, while …

UN warns of ‘unfolding tragedy’ as migrants dumped by Tunisia bordersThu, 27 Jul 2023 15:34:58 GMT Read More »

Rockets pummelled the Sudanese capital on Thursday, witnesses said, as paramilitaries attacked a key air force base north of Khartoum and claimed to have killed and wounded “dozens” of soldiers.Residents reported “heavy artillery shelling” and fighter jets overhead the northwest of the city, while drones belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces attacked the Wadi …

Rockets hit Khartoum, air force base attackedThu, 27 Jul 2023 14:49:18 GMT Read More »

British professor Jim Skea told AFP on Thursday he will bring “a judicious blend of realism and optimism” to his leadership of the UN’s climate expert panel, including a firm belief that humanity is not powerless to confront global warming. Skea takes charge of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in a crucial decade which …

Humanity ‘has agency over future’: new head of UN climate panelThu, 27 Jul 2023 13:49:32 GMT Read More »

Almost 800 irregular migrants drowned off Tunisia in the first half of this year as they tried to reach Europe by boat, a National Guard spokesman told AFP Thursday.”789 bodies of migrants were recovered from the sea, including 102 Tunisians, the others foreigners and unidentified people,” said Houcem Eddine Jebabli, adding that more than 34,000 …

Almost 800 migrants drowned off Tunisia in six months: National GuardThu, 27 Jul 2023 11:08:23 GMT Read More »

From Tunisia to Morocco, sun-baked North Africa has embarked on a building spree of plants that purify sea and wastewater as climate change intensifies droughts in the water-scarce region.Across the Maghreb region, which takes in parts of the Sahara desert and is plagued by scorching summer heat, countries are banking on new desalination plants and …

Drought-hit N.Africa turns to purified sea and wastewaterThu, 27 Jul 2023 09:32:16 GMT Read More »

Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum on Thursday defiantly vowed to protect “hard-won” democratic gains after he was detained by elite troops who declared they had taken power in the troubled West African nation.Bazoum was confined in Niamey on Wednesday by members of his presidential guard, who hours later announced that “all institutions” in the country would …

Detained Niger president defiant after coup bidThu, 27 Jul 2023 07:51:12 GMT Read More »