AFRICA

South Africa has terminated a national state of disaster that was declared to mitigate the effects of a severe drought, even though some areas haven’t had sufficient rain for more than seven years. The decision not to extend the four-month state of disaster beyond July 4 was taken after “reassessing …

Two babies were found dumped in a dump site in Calabar.   The corpse of the babies, believed to be twins, was discovered early today, Friday, July 17, at a dump site at Mayne Avenue Extension, Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Nigeria.   Identity of the perpetrator and …

Dozens of pro-Sharia supporters have protested in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, over recent government reforms that allow non-Muslims to drink alcohol, and scrap the apostasy law and public flogging. The reforms come after long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was ousted last year following massive street protests. The protesters, who oppose any easing of …

A human rights lawyer in Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Ojeh, on Friday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take steps to remove Mr. Godswill Akpabio as Minister of Niger Delta.   ‘’We passionately appeal to Your Excellency to curb the excesses of Mr. Akpabio by relieving him of ministerial duties of the …

A man is behind bars after being found with two bags containing what he says was his dead father’s bones that he had dug up from his grave site, North West police have said. Fikille Modukanele, 28, appeared in the Molopo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on a charge of violation …

A man who allegedly stabbed his mother to death is expected in the dock of a Cape Town court on a murder charge on Friday. The 26-year-old suspect was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly fleeing the scene in Gugulethu on Tuesday, police spokesperson Captain Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi confirmed. “The 67-year-old deceased …

The US is willing to consider lifting an arms embargo and targeted sanctions against Sudan Sudan if a number of conditions are met, its outgoing ambassador Thomas Hushek has said. The conditions include a “reduction in level of violence and corruption” in the system. The UN Security Council renewed the arms …

Repentant bandits in Nigeria’s north-western state of Zamfara are being offered two cows for every AK-47 they surrender. It is an attempt to encourage them to give up a life of crime and live a normal life as responsible citizens, Zamfara Governor Bello Matawalle says. Motorcycle-riding armed bandits operating out …

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa has lauded the Mandela family for publicly disclosing that Zindzi Mandela, the country’s ambassador to Denmark, lost her life due to complications related to Covid-19. Ramaphosa was paying tribute to the daughter of anti-apartheid stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, affectionately known as “Mazet”, during a …

Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize says there have been 13 172 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours to take South Africa’s confirmed infections to a total of 324 221. Mkhize also said the country had recorded an additional 216 deaths, with the death toll now nearing the 5 000 mark. As …