Author: kajarbi54

Egypt’s House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a major cabinet reshuffle aimed at accelerating economic recovery, as the country grapples with years of financial strain. The changes, endorsed by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, introduce 13 new ministers to key economic portfolios, including housing, higher education, planning, investment, and foreign trade. A new position of deputy prime minister for economic affairs has also been created to coordinate economic reforms. Key ministries such as foreign affairs and defence remain unchanged, signaling continuity in Egypt’s core strategic positions. The reshuffle comes against the backdrop of a strained economy, affected by a decade of…

Safiya Mohammed Bello At least 55 people, including two babies, have been declared dead or missing after a rubber migrant boat capsized off Libya’s central Mediterranean coast. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that the vessel, carrying 55 people, overturned north of the coastal city of Zuwara, in northwestern Libya, on February 6. Libyan authorities rescued two women over the weekend. One survivor said her husband had drowned, while the other revealed that she had lost her two babies. Both women reported that the overcrowded vessel was carrying migrants and refugees from several other African countries. According to the…

The Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has indicated that discussions on reparations for the transatlantic slave trade are moving forward, with expectations that member nations will begin formal negotiations. A vocal supporter of reparations from Great Britain, the Commonwealth leader and a former foreign minister of Ghana, said there’s some movement toward bringing parties together to decide on the path forward. “My understanding is that there’s some movement in terms of having parties around the table to decide on the way forward, and the different forms of reparations, how to deal with it going forward will be discussed,” she said She…

Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters says troops under Operation Hadin Kai have killed more than 30 militants and facilitated the return of over 700 Nigerian refugees within the past week. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, disclosed this to reporters on Monday, noting that the successes followed intensified, intelligence-driven ground and air operations targeting Boko Haram, ISWAP, and JAS fighters. According to Onoja, the operations were conducted jointly by ground forces, air components, and local security groups as part of a broader military push across Nigeria’s northeast. He said troops carrying out clearance operations in the Timbuktu Triangle around…

The United Nations has called on all parties involved in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region to de-escalate hostilities, warning of a worsening human rights and humanitarian crisis. In a statement, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said the situation remains highly volatile and could further deteriorate the region’s already fragile humanitarian conditions. According to the UN human rights office, recent clashes between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) and regional forces have heightened humanitarian risks, with civilians once again caught amid escalating tensions. Türk said both the Tigray Security Forces (TSF) and the ENDF are reportedly carrying…

The Congress of South African Students (COSAS) has urged the Gauteng Department of Education to temporarily shut down schools across the province as a scholar transport strike continues to leave thousands of learners unable to attend classes. The strike stems from an ongoing dispute between learner transport operators and the provincial education department over outstanding payments, according to the Gauteng Small Bus Operators Council. Several operators affiliated with scholar transport services have halted operations, significantly disrupting learning activities. The transport shutdown comes amid growing public concern over learner safety following a fatal crash in Vanderbijlpark that claimed the lives of…

At least 21 people have been killed in a series of attacks carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, authorities confirmed on Monday. The latest assault struck Friday in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, targeting the residential Bapakombe grouping. Boniface Kanyamulamba, head of the Bapakombe group, said the death toll had risen from an initial 14 after additional bodies were recovered on Sunday. The rebels reportedly set fire to multiple homes across three villages – Boti, Isigo, and Mambimbi – while several residents remain unaccounted for. Local media reports indicate the attacks have…

Insecurity has forced about 1,000 residents of Koro town in Ekiti Local Government Area, Kwara State, North-Central, Nigeria, to flee their homes following an incident involving suspected armed bandits last Sunday. Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident to reporters, clarifying that Koro community was not directly targeted. He explained that forest guards and local vigilantes had received reports of suspected gunmen in the bush, reportedly accompanied by cattle, which led to an exchange of gunfire in which one person was killed. Residents recounted a chaotic scene as heavily armed assailants fired sporadically, causing mass panic. Many…

Five people were killed on Monday after a military medical helicopter crashed at Libya’s Al-Sarra base while returning from an evacuation mission, according to local media reports. The crash occurred approximately 300 kilometres (186 miles) from the southeastern city of Kufra. Those killed included two members of the military transport service and a hospital nurse from Kufra. The remaining victims were foreigners, identified as the pilot and his assistant, the report said. Local aviation outlet Aviation Today reported that the helicopter had been conducting a medical evacuation after a soldier sustained serious injuries in a traffic accident in a remote…

Eritrea has dismissed allegations from Ethiopia that its troops were operating inside Ethiopian territory, calling the claims “false and fabricated.” Tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations have been longstanding, but recent months have seen Addis Ababa accuse Eritrea of backing insurgent groups on Ethiopian soil – a charge Asmara firmly denies. On Saturday, Ethiopia called for the “withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopian territory.” In response, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said on Monday that the accusations were “astounding in tone and substance” and part of “a pattern of hostile campaigns against Eritrea” spanning more than two years.…