Category: News

IN a significant acknowledgment of historical responsibility, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal issued a call for reparations for crimes committed during the transatlantic slavery and colonial era. Speaking at an event late on Tuesday, President Rebelo de Sousa highlighted the need to confront Portugal’s past and address the enduring impacts of transatlantic slavery.…

IN a major crackdown, German police announced the arrest of 11 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group allegedly involved in a large-scale dating scam. The apprehensions shed light on the Black Axe gang’s international criminal activities, with a focus on romance scams and money laundering. Bavarian police revealed that the Black Axe gang operated…

A RECENT UN report unveiled alarming trends of escalating drug seizures in the West African Sahel region, highlighting the area’s growing significance as a key route for drug trafficking. Released on Friday by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the report underscores the profound implications of this illicit trade on regional stability and…

A COALITION of churches in Botswana has raised its voice against parliament’s recent move to amend the constitution to incorporate gay rights, sparking a contentious debate over the intersection of religious beliefs and human rights. Botswana’s Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng, presented a constitutional amendment bill for its first reading on Wednesday, proposing several…

RWANDA’S drug regulator has taken precautionary action by recalling a batch of Johnson & Johnson’s children’s cough syrup following concerns raised by Nigerian health authorities regarding high levels of toxicity. This move aligns Rwanda with Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, all of which have recalled the same batch of syrup. The batch in question, manufactured…

SOMALI pirates have released the hijacked ship MV Abdullah along with its crew of 23 following the payment of a $5 million ransom, as confirmed by two pirates involved in the operation. Abdirashiid Yusuf, one of the pirates, disclosed to Reuters that the ransom was delivered two nights prior, adhering to the customary procedure. ‘The…

KENYA’S Pharmacy and Poisons Board (PPB) has issued a recall for a batch of Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup amidst concerns over safety. This move follows a similar recall by Nigeria’s health regulator for the same batch sold under the Benylin Paediatric brand. The decision to recall the cough syrup comes after laboratory tests…

NIGERIA’S National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken a decisive step in public health safety by issuing a recall for a batch of Johnson & Johnson’s children’s cough syrup. The recall comes following the detection of alarmingly high levels of diethylene glycol, a potentially fatal toxic substance, as announced on…

ALMANEH Gibba, a lawmaker in Gambia, has ignited a contentious debate by campaigning to overturn the country’s ban on female genital mutilation (FGM). Gibba’s initiative comes in response to the imposition of fines on individuals found guilty of practicing FGM, marking the nation’s first tangible legal action against the controversial tradition. Last year’s convictions, though…

EDUCATION and immigration advocates are raising concerns over the significant hurdles African students encounter when seeking visas to study in the United States, as they face markedly higher denial rates compared to students from other regions. A report from the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, released in July 2023, highlighted the severity of…