reports

Security Concerns Mount Following Distressing School Abduction in Niger State Authorities in northern Niger State are grappling with the fallout from a "distressing" abduction of students and staff from a local school. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the community, underscores the increasing volatility in the region. A senior government official confirmed that the abduction took place after a violent attack in the area. This distressing event unfolded in the context of previously reported intelligence…

Ukraine says it struck a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow, a day after Russian strikes on Kyiv that left several dead. The moves come amid an unfolding corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector and continued frontline incidents with power infrastructure at risk. Attack near Moscow Ukrainian forces reported hitting a refinery in Russia’s Ryazan region, saying the strike aimed to reduce Moscow’s ability to launch missile and bomb strikes. Russian officials said air defences intercepted a large number…

Somalia says E-Visa has choked ISIS travel pipeline Somalia’s defense minister says a new national E-Visa system has sharply curtailed the movement of ISIS fighters into the country’s northeast, where the group has long maintained a foothold in the Calmiskaad mountains. Ahmed Moallin Fiqi said that since the digital visa rollout, no foreign ISIS members have entered Somalia to join militants in the remote range. The statement underscores Mogadishu’s bid to tighten border controls after years of porosity exploited by…

North Korea fires ballistic missile days before APEC leaders meet in South Korea North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, in a stark reminder that Pyongyang’s weapons programme remains central to regional security even as world leaders prepare to gather in South Korea for an APEC summit next week. What happened South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff described the projectile as an “unidentified” missile that flew eastward, saying it was North Korea’s first such launch…

Drone strike in Lower Shabelle underscores the moral and strategic dilemmas of remote warfare A reported drone strike this week in Akunji village, in Somalia’s volatile Janaale district of Lower Shabelle, has reopened painful questions about who bears the cost of a campaign fought mostly from the air. Local accounts and media reports say civilians may have been killed; authorities have not confirmed responsibility. The fog that surrounds the incident is familiar in Somalia — and emblematic of a broader global debate over…

Responding to Ebola's Echo: An Ongoing Battle in the Heart of Africa The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is no stranger to the ominous specter of Ebola. Its history with the virus has been marked by terrifying outbreaks and miraculous recoveries, and the latest resurgence underscores a vital truth: public health is an ongoing battle, deeply woven into the fabric of DRC's communities. Just as the Congo River winds through the nation’s landscape, so too do the somber realities of infectious diseases intertwine with the…

At Least 70 Dead in West Africa Migrant Boat Disaster; Dozens More Feared Missing Off Mauritania A migrant boat attempting the Atlantic crossing from West Africa to Europe capsized off Mauritania, killing at least 70 people and leaving many more missing, Gambia’s foreign affairs ministry said late Friday. The vessel, believed to have departed the Gambia and carrying mostly Gambian and Senegalese nationals, sank early Wednesday. Mauritanian authorities recovered 70 bodies by Thursday, and only 16 survivors were pulled from…

A Desperate Hunger: African Children Face a Nutrition Crisis In a landscape already marred by conflict, instability, and natural disasters, the looming shortage of life-saving nutritional aid in four African countries presents a new and urgent humanitarian crisis. The depletion of essential supplies threatens the survival of millions of children and puts a spotlight on the broader global challenge of funding cuts amid escalating needs. The Bitter Reality of Hunger Among the hardest hit are Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and South…

According to reports from government officials and research organizations, Russia has been supplying North Korea with oil, anti-aircraft missiles, and financial aid in exchange for military personnel to bolster Moscow's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both the United States and South Korea have leveled accusations against the nuclear-capable North for dispatching over 10,000 troops to assist Russia in its battle against Ukraine. Analysts suggest that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is keen on acquiring advanced military…

Mogadishu (AX) — In a revelation that can ruffle some feathers, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) brought to light that a hefty $950 million of airline moolah is stuck in African nations. This chunk represents a whopping 57% of the world’s aviation money that’s caught in a web due to scarce foreign exchanges. During a pow-wow at the African Airlines Association's big annual shindig in Cairo, IATA's head honcho, Willie Walsh, sounded the alarm, pleading for someone to get a move on and fix this jam!—astating…