Australia

African Union Condemns Guinea-Bissau Military Coup Amid Electoral Unrest The African Union (AU) has issued a strong condemnation of the November 26 military coup in Guinea-Bissau, occurring just as the nation was poised to announce the results of Sunday’s presidential election. This sudden upheaval has raised significant concerns about the stability and democratic processes in the West African nation. In a statement released shortly after the coup, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf emphasized the…

Europe-Africa Summit: Leaders Seek Revitalized Partnership Amid Global Challenges Scores of African and European leaders are gathered in Luanda, the capital of Angola, for the seventh edition of the Europe-Africa Summit. This year's summit arrives at a critical juncture, characterized by "fraying" relations between these historic trading partners, as the influence of Russia, China, and the United States continues to expand across the region. Experts emphasize the necessity of re-evaluating the relationship between Europe…

India offers aid as Botswana confronts acute medicine shortages India has offered to assist Botswana in addressing a severe shortage of essential medicines, officials said during a visit by Indian President Droupadi Murmu. The offer was announced by Botswana President Duma Boko at a joint media briefing, underscoring the urgency of the country’s health supply crisis. President Boko announced the offer while briefing the media alongside visiting Indian President Droupadi Murmu. Available reports put the stock of essential…

Overview: Asbestos contamination in children's play sand forces school checks Authorities in New Zealand and Australia are investigating decorative play sand found to contain asbestos, prompting dozens of school and daycare closures as officials trace affected batches. The disruption has focused attention on imported classroom materials and the potential health risk to children and staff. Forty schools and daycare centres in New Zealand closed temporarily while decorative sand was located and removed. More than 70 schools…

In Mogadishu, a small but determined push against a tide of falsehoods MOGADISHU — For three days in late October, a conference room in the Somali capital hummed with the sort of quiet urgency that has come to define journalism in fragile states: laptops open, phones muted, trainers and trainees leaning into the same problem — how to stop lies from becoming news. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), with funding from the Australian government via its High Commission in Nairobi, brought 32 reporters, editors…

Wild spring heat and gale-force winds spark fires and chaos across Australia and New Zealand Immediate impact Wild, hot winds sweeping from Australia's interior into the southeast fanned dozens of bushfires and pushed spring temperatures to record highs in parts of Sydney, authorities said, as New Zealand faced rare "red" wind warnings and fires of its own across the Tasman. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said a powerful plume of hot air that built over the outback on Monday was moving across the southeast, producing a…

Benin Faces Growing Security Threats: A Call for Collective Action In a somber moment for a nation typically celebrated for its stability, Benin has found itself reeling from a deadly attack on a police station near its border with Nigeria. The incident, which took place on October 5, resulted in the tragic loss of several members of the security forces and sent ripples of fear and uncertainty through communities already grappling with rising violence. From Stability to Strain For decades, Benin has stood as a beacon of…

In a poignant turn of events, a remarkable Australian crocodile, measuring an impressive five and a half meters (or 18 feet) long, has passed away, as confirmed by a renowned wildlife sanctuary. This majestic creature, known as Cassius, previously held the title of the largest crocodile in captivity. Estimates suggest that Cassius was over 110 years old, a remarkable lifespan for a saltwater crocodile. His passing comes after a period of declining health that became apparent on October 15, as reported by Marineland…

The Taiwanese government has firmly declined South Africa's request to shift its representative office from Pretoria to Johannesburg. This demand followed pressure from China, which had urged the South African administration to complete the relocation by the end of October. Speaking on behalf of Taiwan, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung emphasized the importance of honoring a 1997 agreement. That year marked a significant turning point; Pretoria officially severed diplomatic ties with Taipei but allowed Taiwan to retain its…

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the extension of the Grand Inga Dam in the Goma region could finally see the light of day. On Sunday the 14th, President Félix Tsishekedi took the floor to announce the name of the partner chosen for this project, estimated at 80 billion dollars (US). This is the Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest, who after making his fortune mining iron ore wants to become a…