Africa

Irish trainee field guide rescued by helicopter as deadly floods swamp Kruger National Park PHALABORWA, South Africa — In the pitch black and pouring rain on a hillside above the Olifants River, Kim McNaughton waited for the thump of rotor blades. The trainee field guide from County Monaghan had scrambled to higher ground with colleagues after floodwaters cut off their safari lodge in South Africa’s Kruger National Park, washing away a nearby bridge and turning escape routes into impassable mud. “Survival mode just kicked…

Gunmen Kidnap Worshippers from Churches in Kaduna State, Nigeria Authorities in Nigeria's Kaduna State have confirmed that gunmen kidnapped scores of worshippers from three churches on Sunday, reversing an earlier denial of the incident. This distressing event has sparked outrage and fear within the local communities, highlighting ongoing security challenges in the region. The Kaduna Police Commissioner initially dismissed the reports of the kidnappings as "falsehoods peddled by conflict entrepreneurs" seeking to "cause…

Former First Lady's Foundation Ordered to Surrender Records Amid Investigation A court has ordered the Clar Hope Foundation, owned by former First Lady Clar Marie Weah, to surrender its administrative and financial records concerning the construction of the foundation's massive complex outside Monrovia. The order follows a request from the government's Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT), which is investigating allegations that illicit funds were used to finance the sprawling facility—a claim the…

Mozambique floods: UNICEF warns “deadly threat” to children as rains swell rivers Maputo, Mozambique — Severe flooding sweeping southern and central Mozambique poses a “deadly threat” to children, the U.N. children’s agency warned Monday, as heavy rain and rising rivers strain already swollen dam systems and authorities brace for more water to arrive from neighbouring countries. UNICEF’s warning comes as rescue and relief needs grow in parts of the country hit by what local media described as floods as severe as those…

Former President Lazarus Chakwera accused his successor, Peter Mutharika, on Thursday of overseeing a campaign of intimidation and “unlawful arrests, and the abuse of due process” aimed at silencing opposition figures, calling the pattern a “dangerous collapse” of the rule of law. In a formal statement, Chakwera said he has notified President Mutharika of what he described as politically motivated actions against leaders of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). “This includes individuals whose only crime is exercising their…

South African officials say the school taxi driver involved in the Vanderbijlpark crash did not have a valid operating licence, authorities announced Wednesday. The disclosure, made by provincial transport officials, raises immediate questions about the legal status of the vehicle and the oversight of school transport in the area. Officials did not provide further details about the driver’s identity, the nature or severity of casualties, or exactly when the licence lapsed. Vanderbijlpark, an industrial city in Gauteng…

Israel wary of Egypt’s expanding role in Somalia and Horn of Africa TEL AVIV — Israel is watching with growing unease as Egypt deepens its political and security footprint in Somalia and across the Horn of Africa, a volatile corridor that funnels global trade through the Red Sea and toward the Suez Canal. Israeli broadcaster i24 News, citing Israeli security sources, reported that Cairo has intensified its backing for Somalia’s federal government and is closely scrutinizing Israel’s reported move to recognize North Western…

DHS Targets Liberian Immigrants with "Worst of the Worst" Label In a significant escalation of immigration enforcement, more than 40 Liberians residing in the United States have been designated as part of a "worst of the worst" list by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This initiative, instigated by President Donald Trump's administration, comes amidst a broader crackdown on illegal immigration and follows the recent suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals from 74 countries, including Liberia. The…

Concerns Rise as DHS Labels Liberians as "Worst of the Worst" In a controversial move reflecting the intensifying crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed over 40 Liberians living in the United States on a "worst of the worst" criminal list. This development comes in the wake of a suspension on immigrant visa processing for nationals from 74 countries, including Liberia. The offenses leading to this designation encompass a range of serious crimes,…

Senegal erupted in celebration after a dramatic, controversy-flecked final in which the Teranga Lions edged hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye moved quickly to declare a public holiday, turning a late-night sporting triumph into a national moment of pride and communal relief. The match — described by observers as one of the most explosive finals in African football — produced raw emotion on the pitch and on the streets. While details of the controversy have drawn intense attention, it was…