Category: Int’l News
Former Nigerian minister sentenced to 75 years in rare corruption verdict
Saleh Mamman, a former Nigerian power minister, has been sentenced to 75 years in prison for laundering 33.8bn naira ($24.7m; £18.5m), a rare conviction against corrupt officials in the West African nation. Last week, Mamman was found guilty of 12 counts, including using private firms to funnel money linked to government-funded power plants. The 68-year-old…
How worried should we be about hantavirus?
Passengers from the cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak are being evacuated and sent to their home countries to isolate and receive medical treatment if necessary. Some other passengers from MV Hondius left on earlier flights or connections and their contacts are now being traced as a precuation. Officials say the risk of the…
South Africa president faces call to resign after court ruling
Leading South African opposition figure Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign after the Constitutional Court ruled parliament had violated the constitution by blocking moves to impeach him in 2022. The judgement follows a legal challenge by Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and others, and could result in fresh impeachment proceedings. Ramaphosa’s…
Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship not start of pandemic, UN health agency says
An outbreak of hantavirus on board a cruise ship is not the start of a pandemic, the UN health agency has said. Maria van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO), told a news briefing that it was not the same situation as six years ago with Covid-19, because hantavirus spreads…
Rwandan singer dies as he was being released from prison
Rwandan singer Aimable Karasira has died as he was being released from prison in Kigali, according to the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS). The RCS said he had died at Nyarugenge Hospital after he had allegedly overdosed on his prescription medication. RCS spokesperson Hillary Sengabo later said Karasira was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and poor…
Trump’s hopes for an Iran peace deal come with caveats
Donald Trump’s pause on a short-lived “Project Freedom” to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as he claimed progress had been made towards clinching a “Complete and Final Agreement” with Iran, soothed oil markets and sent hopes soaring of a breakthrough. But expectations were soon tempered by the US president himself. Iran said on…
Sudan accuses Ethiopia and UAE of orchestrating drone attacks on airport
Sudan has accused neighbouring Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of orchestrating drone strikes on its main airport, describing the assault as “direct aggression”. The international airport, located in the capital, was hit on Monday, along with military installations in the Greater Khartoum area. Recent drone strikes have shattered a period of relative calm…
William and Catherine share new photo to mark 15th wedding anniversary
The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared a new family portrait as they mark 15 years of marriage. In the photo, William and Catherine are seen lying in the grass, smiling, with their children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and their dog during the Easter break. It was taken by…
Robert Mugabe’s son to be deported from South Africa over firearms offence
The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former leader Robert Mugabe is to deported from South Africa immediately, a court in Johannesburg has ordered. Bellarmine Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and illegally being in the country earlier this month after he was arrested following the shooting of a 23-year-old man at his home. The 28-year-old has…
Trump says King will be ‘very safe’ during US visit after security talks
Donald Trump has said King Charles III will “be very safe” during his state visit to the US, which began later on Monday. Further security talks took place between the White House and Buckingham Palace after a gunman gained access to an event attended by Trump in Washington DC on Saturday. Asked about the security…