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South Africa has declared the current foot-and-mouth disease outbreak a national disaster and will vaccinate 14 million cattle, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced, as the country confronts one of the worst outbreaks on record. "We have classified foot-and-mouth disease as a national disaster and will be mobilising all necessary capabilities within the state to deal with this crisis," Ramaphosa said, confirming the extensive vaccination campaign that authorities plan to roll out. The president's declaration elevates the…

Criticism Mounts Over Hepatitis B Vaccine Study in Guinea-Bissau A now-halted plan to test various hepatitis B vaccine schedules on newborns in Guinea-Bissau has drawn strong criticism from the World Health Organization (WHO), which labeled the study "unethical." The U.S. health department, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., had funded a trial involving 14,000 babies. This controversial study aimed to compare two groups: one received the proven birth-dose vaccine immediately, while the other was scheduled to receive the shot…

Deadly Attacks in Northwestern Nigeria Leave at Least 30 Dead Armed gunmen on motorcycles launched brutal assaults on three villages in northwestern Nigeria, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 30 individuals, according to police sources and local residents. The raids struck the villages of Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa in Niger State, a region already grappling with instability following a recent wave of violence that claimed the lives of over 160 people earlier this month. In addition to the fatalities,…

China Responds to US Lawmakers’ Allegations of Illegal Mining in Nigeria The Chinese government has vehemently rejected allegations made by five US lawmakers claiming that it sponsored illegal mining activities in Nigeria and provided financial support to militias for protection. The embassy in Nigeria characterized the accusations as baseless and unfounded. In a statement, the Chinese embassy expressed dissatisfaction with what it termed as false claims, underscoring that Chinese nationals are required to adhere to…

Opposition parties in Namibia on Thursday united in opposing a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer regulatory authority over oil and gas from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to the Presidency, saying the move risks political interference, corruption and weakened parliamentary oversight. The bill, tabled in the National Assembly by Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse, has prompted an acrimonious debate as lawmakers weigh whether control of the country’s hydrocarbon sector should be…

Opposition parties in the National Assembly have united to reject a petroleum amendment bill that would transfer oil and gas regulatory authority from the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy to the President, saying the change risks political interference, corruption and weakened parliamentary oversight. The move, tabled by Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse, prompted sharp objections from a cross-section of opposition groups. The Affirmative Repositioning movement, the National Unity Democratic…

Supreme Court Ruling Clears Path for Corruption Trial in Liberia The Supreme Court of Liberia has ruled that former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and several other former officials are not shielded from prosecution by claims of national security. This landmark decision effectively removes a major legal obstacle that had temporarily stalled one of the country's most politically sensitive corruption trials. The case centers around the former officials' assertion that those serving on or alongside the National Security…

Nigerians Identified Among Russian Forces in Ukraine Conflict Ukrainian military intelligence has reported the identification of two Nigerian nationals who died while fighting for Russian forces in the ongoing conflict. According to a statement released by the Ukrainian military, the bodies were recovered in the Luhansk region of Eastern Ukraine, a critical frontline area. The Ukrainians assert that the men were allegedly recruited in mid-2025, indicating a troubling trend of foreign fighters being drawn into the…

President Cyril Ramaphosa used his 2026 State of the Nation Address to present a cautiously optimistic picture of South Africa’s economy and to announce a series of urgent security and infrastructure measures, saying the country is “stronger than a year ago” after four consecutive quarters of GDP growth, two primary budget surpluses and the end of load‑shedding. Major executive moves included authorising the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to tackle rising gang violence in the Western Cape and…

US Troops to Train Nigerian Military Amid Islamist Threats The United States is set to deploy approximately 200 troops to Nigeria as part of a strategic initiative to bolster the Nigerian military's efforts in combating the growing menace of Islamist militants. This move marks the first confirmed US ground presence in Nigeria since the controversial Christmas Day airstrikes ordered by former President Donald Trump. Training Deployment Details The troops are expected to arrive within weeks and will focus on providing…