AFRICA

The authorities in Libya are still recovering the bodies of those who drowned after their boat sunk in the Mediterranean Sea, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Tarik Argaz told the BBC’s Newsday programme. He added that, according to some survivors, there were between 250 and 300 migrants and refugees on board …

Up to 150 people may have drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, the UN refugee agency says. A further 150 people were rescued by fishermen and returned to Libya by coastguards, the UNHCR said. It is not clear if the migrants were on one or two boats …

Two Gambian soldiers working for a hit squad controlled by former President Yahya Jammeh on Monday admitted to participating in the 2005 execution of 56 West African migrants, including 44 Ghanaians on the orders of Jammeh. Lieutenant Malick Jatta and Corporal Omar A. Jallow revealed to Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation and …

The Edo State Police Command, on Monday, announced the death of two armed robbery suspects in a gun duel with its men during an operation in Benin. Two teenage car snatchers were killed in a similar circumstance last week. Monday’s incident took place at the Ekehuan community near the Asoro …

Kenya’s finance minister has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption in court, after spending the night in police custody. Henry Rotich is accused of flouting procurement procedures in awarding a contract worth more than $450m (£405m) for the construction of two dams to an Italian firm, CMC de Ravenna. …

The researchers for StatsSA have been busy crunching the numbers again this month, and they’ve detailed a comprehensive picture of all the visitors to Mzansi between May 2018 – May 2019. Overall, it’s good news for tourism in South Africa, which shows foreign arrivals are up by 1.5% within the …

The anti-insurgency military operations in the North-east have suffered a setback with the attacks on troops in Borno and Yobe States in which a total of two officers and 26 soldiers were killed. An army commander, of the rank of Colonel and 20 soldiers were reportedly killed in an ambush …

Suspected armed bandits attacked some villages in Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State on Wednesday night and killed more than 20 persons. A source in the LG said the assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons stormed the villages at night and started shooting indiscriminately. He said, “More than twenty villagers …

There was palpable anxiety at the Lagos Airport on Friday when an unknown man carrying a bag climbed the fuselage of the aircraft. The aircraft which had passengers on board was parked at the apron preparatory for taxing through the taxiway into the runway for take-off. Apparently beaten security on …

Former president Jacob Zuma will no longer take part in the commission of inquiry into state capture. Zuma’s lawyer, Muzi Sikhakhane, made the announcement on Friday morning to the commission after letters were sent between his legal team and that of the commission on Thursday. When Zuma took to the …