Afghanistan

Putin: Forming ‘Truly Inclusive Afghan Govt’ is Priority: Tolo News

Russian President Vladmir Putin said that the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan is a priority for Russia and the countries of the region.Vladmir Putin at the Collective Security Treaty Organization meeting held on Wednesday in Yerevan, Armenia, said that Russia will cooperate to stabilize Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Pakistan to Begin Registration of Afghan Refugees: Tolo News

The Minister for States and Frontier Regions of Pakistan, Talha Mahmood, announced a registration drive for unregistered Afghan refugees in the country, Pakistani media reported. According to Pakistani media reports, the minister said the move will ensure the compilation of complete data of registered and unregistered Afghan refugees as well as those who have gone back to Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Dutch Airstrike of Afghanistan in 2007 Ruled ‘Unlawful’ by Court in the Netherlands: The Khaama Press

A Dutch court found on Wednesday that the bombing of a civilian complex in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan by Dutch forces in June 2007 was “unlawful” and that the Netherlands should compensate for the victims’ losses. Click here to read…

14 People Received Lashes in Eastern Afghanistan for ‘Moral Crimes’: The Khaama Press

The Taliban Head of Information and Culture for the province of Logar, Qazi Rafiullah Samim, told Agence France Presse (AFP) on November 23 that “14 people were sentenced to corporal punishments, 11 of them were men and three were women.” Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Work together to keep 1971 legacy alive: Indian envoy – The Daily Star

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay K Verma has said it is important to work together to keep the legacy of 1971 alive, especially among the younger generations. “That’s a very important task. We should not forget our history,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the “Maitri Alumni Reunion 2022” held at Old India House yesterday evening. Click here to read…

The Assam factor – Dhaka Tribune

On November 19, 2022, a 55-member parliamentary delegation of Assam arrived in Bangladesh on a four-day visit; Assam Legislative Assembly Speaker Biswajit Daimary led the group. The visit aimed to improve trade and connectivity between Bangladesh and the northeastern states of India. Bangladesh welcomed the delegation team with warm hospitality. This visit enhanced the “Assam Factor” of India-Bangladesh relations. In parallel, Assam’s chief minister again lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for showing zero tolerance against terrorism and extremism. These two gestures again indicated the consolidated India-Bangladesh relations. These incidents have significant implications for both Bangladesh and India as it is an inevitable fact that Assam is a key factor in India-Bangladesh relations. Click here to read…

China ships first batch of coaches for Padma Bridge Rail Link Projec – The Business Standard

The first batch of Chinese-made passenger coaches for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project was shipped on Thursday (24 November). The shipment was an initial batch of 15 out of the 100 coaches made by CRRC Tangshan Co, and it departed from the Port of Tianjin, reports the Global Times citing China’s Heibei Daily. The coaches, designed to run at a speed of 120 kilometres per hour and with a broad gauge of 1,676mm, will be used in the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project. The 172-kilometre Padma Bridge Rail Link Project is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Passing through the Padma Bridge, the rail link is a vital channel that connects the trans-Asian railway network, and it is expected to greatly promote regional connectivity and the economic development of Bangladesh. Click here to read…

Bhutan

NC adopts UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime – Kuensel Online

The National Council unanimously adopted the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children (TIP) yesterday. All 23 Members of Parliament present in the House voted in favour of the Bill. UNTOC is considered the main international instrument in the fight against transnational organised crimeClick here to read…

Maldives

Maldives to put forward candidatures to the UNSC and ECOSOC – Raajje

Maldives is to put forward candidatures for membership as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2033-2034 and for membership of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), for the term 2027-2029. This decision was announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday. As such, the ministry revealed that it would be the first time Maldives becomes a member of both principal organs of the UN if successful. Click here to read…

NCGG Receives High Praise From Maldives Government For Its Capacity Building Programme For Maldivian Civil Servants – Orissa Dairy

The Indian delegation led by the Director General of NCGG, Shri Bharat Lal, accompanied by senior officials of the Govt of India, visited the Republic of Maldives from the 19th to 21st of November 2022. They reviewed the ongoing cooperation with the Civil Service Commission of Maldives based on the MoU signed during the State visit of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2019. As per MoU, in 2019-2024, 1,000 civil servants of Maldives were to be trained. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, a total of 534 civil servants of Maldives were trained in India. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar, a country in turmoil, emerging as key transit hub for wildlife trade – Down To Earth

It is a worrying new development for those engaged in wildlife conservation. Myanmar, a country at the crossroads of south, southeast and east Asia and for long rocked by political turmoil, may be emerging as a key transit hub for illegal wildlife trade (IWT), according to a new report. Live, exotic animals are being smuggled from the country to India’s Northeast for supply to the “growing and thriving exotic pet trade in India”, the report, by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), has said. Click here to read…

Technical Problems Ground Myanmar’s JF-17 Fighter Jets Bought From China

Most of the newly acquired Chinese and Pakistan-made JF-17 fighter jets that the Myanmar regime has taken delivery of have been grounded due to technical malfunctions, according to analysts and former Myanmar Air Force pilots who monitor the junta’s air capabilities. The JF-17 fighters—lightweight multi-role combat aircraft jointly manufactured by China and Pakistan—that the Myanmar Air Force has added to its fleet have structural cracks and other technical issues, they told The Irrawaddy. Click here to read…

Religious Intolerance in Myanmar – World Religion News

Along the Bay of Bengal and wrapping around the Andaman Sea is the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. It is home to 54 million, with 135 ethnicities. In 2017, there were widespread, well-planned, coordinated and violent attacks against the Rohingya perpetrated by the Burmese military. The military violence continues today and earlier this month extended to the Christian population with the bombing of a Baptist seminary. Click here to read…

Over 370 Indian victims of job rackets rescued from Myanmar – Free Press Journal

Over 370 Indians, who were victims of job rackets, have been rescued from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Indian mission in Yangon, Bangkok and Consulate in Chiang Mai have been actively pursuing these cases of Indians trapped in fake job rackets in Myanmar. “People from India and other places have got lured, got stuck in Myanmar and some in Laos and Cambodia also,” Bagchi said at a media briefing. Click here to read…

India’s Disturbing Ties with Myanmar Junta – The Irrawaddy

On November 22, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) put out a short, three-point press release announcing the working visit of foreign secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, to Myanmar. Without saying too many things, it revealed one thing very unambiguously – as far as the relationship between the Indian government and the junta is concerned, it is business as usual. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal reviewing import ban after IMF prodding – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal is reviewing its seven-month-old import ban on certain products after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) questioned the wisdom of lengthening it since it was hurting trade and the economy. The Washington-based organisation has delayed the second instalment of a $400 million loan to Nepal till February 2023, stating that it had not fulfilled the conditions. Nepal has received $110 million as the first instalment. Click here to read…

Vote count update: NC wins 40 seats; UML 26 and Maoist 12– Khabarhub

Nepali Congress (NC) is still leading as the counting of votes is underway throughout the country. In the initial vote count of the election held on Sunday, Nepali Congress (NC) has taken the lead followed by CPN-UML so far. Till now, NC has won 40 seats and the UML 29. As of now, NC is still leading in 12 constituencies followed by UML, which is leading in 19 constituencies. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has won seven seats, is leading in one constituency. Likewise, the Unified Socialist Party led by Madhav Kumar Nepal has won 10 seats. Click here to read…

Early trends in Nepal polls project ‘absolute hung’ Parliament

There are indications that none of the existing pre-poll alliances will cross over 50 per cent or 138-benchmark required to form the government in a House of 275. Normally, any two of the three parties —UML, Nepali Congress and the Maoist Centre — together would have formed an alliance to form a government. But this time around, the projection does not seem to be heading in that direction as the UML and Nepali Congress forming a coalition looks unlikely. The Maoist Centre, which has alternatively aligned with these two poles, may not have the decisive size to add to form the majority. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Govt goes by seniority principle for change in command: The Express Tribune

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday approved a summary sent by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the appointment of Lt-Gen Syed Asim Munir as the next army chief and Lt-Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza as the new Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC), ending days of speculations. Click here to read…

PTI dials down rhetoric, hails top military appointments: The Express Tribune

Hailing the appointments of the next army chief and chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, the PTI on Thursday hoped that the new leadership of the armed forces would play its role to strengthen the constitutional rights and democracy in the country. Click here to read…

PM Shehbaz leaves for Turkiye on two-day official visit: Dawn

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday left for a two-day official visit, from November 25 to November 27, to Turkiye at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Click here to read…

‘Fiscal constraints hurting Pakistan’s telecom sector’: The News

Pakistan’s telecom sector has been passing through a difficult patch of fiscal constraints, including one of the highest taxation burdens, devaluation of the exchange rate, withdrawal of Direct Carrier Billing (DCB) and other problems, visiting GSMA head of Asia Pacific said on Thursday.
Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Those who cause violence in the name of human rights cannot be protected – President – Daily News

President Ranil Wickremesinghe emphasized that he will never allow violence and anarchy to prevail under the guise of human rights, adding that if any party engages in such an attempt, the security forces will be used to suppress it completely. Under such circumstances, the President emphasized that everyone from the lower officer of the Army to the rank of Field Marshal is obligated to fulfill their responsibility. President Ranil Wickremesinghe said this delivering a special statement in Parliament yesterday (24). The President further said, “Before I talk about this subject, I must remember two things that I mentioned yesterday. MP Mujibur Rahuman said that three fears have arisen in the President’s mind. I want to tell you that a person cannot have three fears. The three fears occurred in Vishal Mahanuwara. Fear of disease, fear of inhumanity, and fear of death can occur in a group of people. I ask him to listen to the Ratana Sutra to clarify that point. A person never has three fears. Even if there is fear of Marikkar, even if there is fear of Hirunika, and even if there is fear of Rosy, it is not three fears. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka committed to safe, secure Indian Ocean – Minister – Daily News

Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, PC yesterday said Sri Lanka remains committed to safe, secure Indian Ocean and sustainable use of its maritime resources. He said that the X-Press Pearl incident is the worst maritime disaster that Sri Lanka has confronted in modern times. “The vessel was carrying a total of nearly 1,500 containers that included cargo with hazardous substances, in addition to about 325 metric tons of fuel on board. The said disaster is now considered as the largest ship disaster involving plastic pellets, hazardous and noxious materials, in the world”, the Minister said while addressing the 22nd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers in Dhaka yesterday. Click here to read…

Export-oriented Market Economy, the Way Forward – Daily News

Glancing through the biography of T. S. Jinasena, the founder of the Jinasena Empire, showed that he hinged his life and his success on disciplined adherence to some simple idioms. This article takes three of TSJ’s idioms and applies them to Sri Lanka and our economic development. ‘You must make hay whilst the sun shines’, ‘You must cut your coat according to your cloth’, Beggars can’t be ChoosersClick here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

The returning of Africa and Europe’s ghosts

The time has come for the restitution of African art and artefacts looted in the colonial era and selfishly kept in Europe’s museums and universities. Click here to read…

A moment of opportunity: Can the UN’s new special representative for Libya break the country’s cycle of devolution?

While a precarious ceasefire has uneasily prevailed in Libya since the end of its third bout of civil war in 2020, the country is increasingly showing signs of an eventual relapse into conflict today. Click here to read…

NEWS

Trudeau at French-speaking summit in Tunisia amid ‘battle of influence’ for Africa

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began a brief visit to Africa on Saturday as part of what his foreign affairs minister described as a fight for power on the continent between democratic and authoritarian statesClick here to read…

Leaders of French-speaking countries hold summit in Tunisia

Leaders of French-speaking countries gathered Saturday on a Tunisian island to discuss debt relief, migration, food and energy shortages amid a soaring cost-of-living crisis across Africa, Europe and the Middle East due to Russia’s war on Ukraine. Click here to read…

Thousands displaced as M23 rebels near key DRC city of Goma

Fighting between the M23 and the DRC army has led to a looming humanitarian crisis as thousands have been displaced in the country’s volatile east. Click here to read…

Kenya sends 1st batch of troops to rebel-hit eastern Congo

Kenyan troops deployed under the banner of a regional bloc arrived Saturday in troubled eastern Congo, where government forces are battling a violent rebel group that now controls some territory. Click here to read…

UN extends Somalia arms embargo amid government dissatisfaction

The United Nations Security Council has voted to maintain an arms embargo on Somalia over strong objections from its government, saying al-Shabab still seriously threatens peace and stability in the region and sanctions are needed to degrade its activities. Click here to read…

Angry protesters try to storm French Embassy in Burkina Faso

Police in Burkina Faso fired tear gas on Friday to disperse angry protesters who attempted to storm the French embassy in the capital Ouagadougou, local media reported. Click here to read…

Sudan’s difficult path to democratic transition

Over the past few weeks, the calls from protesters in Sudan have become louder. Carrying signs that say “Volker out!” and “No to foreign interference,” thousands of Sudanese people have indicated that they would like to see the back of German diplomat Volker Perthes, who heads the United Nations’ Integrated Transition Assistance Mission Sudan (UNITAMS). Click here to read…

Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang: World’s longest-serving president eyes re-election

The world’s longest-serving president is seeking re-election to continue his 43-year rule in Equatorial Guinea. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 80, has presided over a regime marked by alleged human rights abuses including torture and disappearances. Click here to read…

First international aid arrives in Ethiopia’s Tigray since ceasefire

Ethiopia’s Tigray region on Tuesday welcomed the first international aid delivery since a truce to end fighting, with the International Committee of the Red Cross driving two medical trucks to the capital of the war-ravaged area.Click here to read…

Ethiopia govt says aid flowing to Tigray but rebels deny

The restoration of desperately needed humanitarian assistance to the region is one of the key planks of a peace deal between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to end two years of brutal war in northern Ethiopia. Click here to read…

UK withdraws troops from Mali early blaming political instability

The UK is withdrawing troops from Mali earlier than planned due to political instability in the country, Defence Minister James Heappey has said. Click here to read…

Germany deliberates pulling out of UN’s Mali mission

Germany’s government is heatedly debating whether to withdraw troops from the United Nation Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Click here to read…

Libya risks partition amid delayed elections: UN envoy

There is a risk that Libya may be partitioned almost a year after the postponement of elections, the country’s U.N. envoy warned Tuesday. Click here to read…

Somalia: Overcoming Somaliland’s Worsening Political Crisis

Somaliland is going through considerable political turmoil. The government and opposition disagree over the sequencing of two forthcoming high-stakes elections, and both sides are digging in. International partners should push the two sides to reach consensus, while standing by to mediate if talks fail. Click here to read…

EU Eyes ‘Military Partnership Mission’ for Niger

The European Union aims to set up a “military partnership mission” in the coming months to help bolster Niger’s forces as they battle jihadists, a senior EU official said Friday. Click here to read…

UN extends Central African Republic peacekeeping mission

The UN Security Council extended the nearly 17,500-strong UN peacekeeping mission in the troubled Central African Republican for a year on Monday, with Russia, China and Gabon abstaining. Click here to read…

Ivory Coast to withdraw from UN peacekeeping mission in Mali

Ivory Coast will gradually withdraw its troops from the United Nations peacekeeping force in Mali by August 2023, according to an official letter seen by AFP Tuesday. Click here to read…

Nigerian soldier kills aid worker, injures UN helicopter pilot

A Nigerian soldier has shot and wounded a United Nations helicopter co-pilot then killed a humanitarian worker and a fellow soldier at a military base in northeastern Nigeria. Click here to read…

Seven terrorists killed in Niger, 18 hoodlums arrested

The Niger State Police Command said it has killed seven terrorists in a joint effort with some vigilantes in the Kumbashi town of Mariga Local Government Area of the state. Click here to read…

US Africa Command Carries Out A Strike In Somalia; 17 Al-Shabaab Terrorists Eliminated

US Africa Command has released a statement saying that US military conducted a strike on Wednesday to neutralise Al-Shabaab terrorists in Somalia. Click here to read…

Kenya’s mounting Chinese debts causing serious consequences: Report

Kenya is going through an economic emergency due to mounting Chinese debts leading many to believe that the successive Kenyan governments have over-borrowed for over-priced projects. Click here to read…

China’s Xi says wants to strengthen solidarity, cooperation with Senegal, Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China will continue to support Senegal’s infrastructure construction, Chinese state media reported. Click here to read…

China is willing to continue to work hand in hand with Senegal: Xi

China is willing to continue to work hand in hand with Senegal on the road toward development and revitalization and support each other on issues involving each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests, said Chinese President Xi Jinping. Click here to read…

South Africa: Ramaphosa panned as Beijing grabs lion’s share of major road deal

Three Chinese corporations, two of which are state-owned, have just bagged the lion’s share of South Africa’s coveted road construction deal, which prompted domestic local bidders to demand that President Cyril Ramaphosa explain why they were given the cold shoulder. Can their reaction be dismissed as sour grapes, or do they have justified suspicions? Click here to read…

Tunisia, France ink financing agreement worth 200 mn euros

Tunisia and France have signed a 200-million-euro (about $206.9 million) deal to meet Tunisia’s financing needs on the sidelines of the 18th summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie. Click here to read…

Belarus views Sudan as gateway to other African countries

Belarus has been actively developing relations with African countries in recent years, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko said. Click here to read…

Chad agrees debt plan with creditors, including Glencore

Chad has reached an agreement with its creditors, including Swiss commodities trader Glencore, paving the way for more funding from the International Monetary Fund, but stopping short of reducing the central African country’s $3 billion in external debt. Click here to read…

IMF says Chad debt deal cuts risks, protects against oil price fall

The head of the International Monetary Fund on Sunday welcomed a long-awaited debt deal by Chad’s creditors and said it would reduce the African country’s risk of debt distress while guarding it against downside risks, including lower oil prices. Click here to read…

South Africa’s Ramaphosa focuses on the poor as he seeks ANC re-election

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the plight of poor South Africans left out of nearly three decades of post-apartheid prosperity, he promised on Sunday ahead of a governing party election that will decide if he can run for a second term. Click here to read…

Interpol issues arrest warrant for Angola’s Isabel dos Santos, Lusa reports

Global police agency Interpol has issued an international arrest warrant for Angolan billionaire and daughter of the country’s former president Isabel dos Santos, Portugal’s Lusa news agency reported on Friday. Click here to read…

Ethiopia is now the largest Economy in East Africa : Abiy

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday alleged that Ethiopia has managed to become the largest economy in the East Africa region and the third giant in sub-Saharan Africa. Click here to read…

Ghana president fires junior finance minister over mining expose

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has sacked Charles Adu Boahen, the minister of state for finance, the presidency said on Monday. Click here to read…

Zambia seeks answers from Russia after national dies in Ukraine war -foreign minister

Zambia has asked Russia to explain how one of its citizens who had been serving a prison sentence in Moscow ended up on the battlefield in Ukraine, where he was killed, Zambia’s foreign affairs minister said on Monday. Click here to read…

Uganda’s President Museveni slams ‘Western double standards’ over coal mine plans

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has slammed Western countries over what he calls a “reprehensible double standard” in their response to the energy crisis brought about by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Click here to read…

British ship brings first gas exports from Mozambique to Europe

BP has begun shipping liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Mozambique’s vast new reserves, opening up supplies that could help ease Europe’s energy crunch. Click here to read…

Military Drills in Gas-Rich Algeria Put Focus on Russian Ties

Algeria and Russia began their first joint military exercises on Algerian soil amid Western concerns over Moscow’s deepening ties with the North African nation that’s a key energy supplier for Europe. Click here to read…

Nigeria-Morocco sign gas pipeline deal

A new energy-supply route for West Africa and Europe is on the horizon as Nigeria and Morocco sign an agreement that inches a long-standing proposal for a gas pipeline between the two countries closer to reality. Click here to read…

Benin tests power of a rural mini-grid with 1.7 MW solar project

Together they will work on a mini-grid project to provide electricity in 12 rural localities, including 3 MWh of battery capacity that will supply more than 5,000 homes and businesses with electricity and that should be completed within a year. Click here to read…

Africa Primed to Become Global Green Hydrogen Leader, Landmark Masdar Report Finds

Africa could capture as much as 10 percent of the global green hydrogen market, helping to create up to 3.7 million jobs and adding as much as US$120 billion to the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a landmark report issued jointly by Masdar. Click here to read…

UN plans further Russian fertiliser exports to Africa, upbeat on ammonia pipeline

A U.N. official on Friday said she hoped that a shipment of Russian fertiliser exports to Malawi would lead to a further easing of a 300,000 tonne backlog in European ports, as the global body works to address Russian concerns that have threatened a Black Sea grains export deal. Click here to read…

Morocco, Djibouti to bolster cooperation in merchant marine

Morocco and Djibouti signed, Monday in Rabat, a cooperation agreement aimed at developing maritime relations between the two countries and at ensuring better coordination of bilateral maritime traffic and related maritime transport. Click here to read…

Orange launches 5G in Botswana

Orange has announced that its Botswana affiliate is the first on the African continent to offer 5G services. Orange Botswana launched 5G on November 11, 2022 with coverage in grater Gaborone and Francistown, offering 30% of the population with coverage. Click here to read…

Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone signs $500 mln contract for container handling terminal

Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone has signed a $500 million contract with the Suez Canal Container Company (SCCT) to establish a second container handling terminal in East Port. Click here to read…

The first satellites launched by Uganda and Zimbabwe aim to improve life on the ground

When Uganda’s very first satellite was launched into space last week on Nov. 7, Bonny Omara, the lead engineer on the satellite development team, was filled with emotion. Click here to read…

Air Zimbabwe Hopeful of Getting Back Into IATA

Officials at Air Zimbabwe remain optimistic about a possible return to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which imposes industry policies and standards that promote safe, secure, and economical air travel operations. Click here to read…

Rwanda Secures €46 Million to Implement Climate Pledges

Rwanda has launched a €46 million facility that will finance government institutions working to implement Rwanda’s climate action plan, also known as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement.Click here to read…

Cameroon celebrates the legacy of cotton

In Cameroon, fashion week has kicked off in Yaoundé with an urban parade dedicated to the celebration of cotton. Click here to read…

Will cooperation between Israel and Morocco make world greener?

For years, Morocco has worked to become an international leader in renewable energy. Click here to read…

COP27 | India, China, Brazil, South Africa oppose ‘carbon border tax’

With the 27 th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP) in Sharm El Sheikh nearing its final stages and efforts being ramped up to arrive at a conclusive agreement, a consortium of countries that includes India has jointly stated that carbon border taxes, that could result in market distortion and aggravate the trust deficit amongst parties, must be avoided. Click here to read…

Gabon Targets a Huge Payday With Carbon Credits

The African nation of Gabon, one of the most densely forested on earth, is launching the world’s biggest sale of carbon-offset credits. The plan could net the country billions of dollars and upend the fast-growing market for carbon credits. Click here to read…

Germany complains to Egypt over COP27 snooping: report

The German embassy in Cairo accused Egyptian security officials of monitoring and filming events at the German pavilion in the climate conference venue. Berlin has used its presence to highlight human rights issues.Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Coherent response required to defeat terrorism in Africa: India at UN

India on Thursday, reiterated that a strong response reflecting the international community’s collective commitment is required for defeating terrorism in Africa. Click here to read…

ISA launches Solar X Grand Challenge in Africa to ease deployment

Through this, ISA seeks to create a group of entrepreneurs who will create locally relevant business models and a pipeline of projects. Click here to read…

Beta Group to invest $100 million in Guinea-Bissau in cashew biz

Beta Group, the Kerala-based food company, which owns the Nut King brand, will be setting up an industrial unit in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau for cashew business. Click here to read…

India promises to deepen cooperation with Seychelles, says diplomat

Connectivity, trade and cooperation between Seychelles and India will be taken further, the newly accredited Indian High Commissioner said on Tuesday. Click here to read…

Nigeria, India plan Jt fight against drugs

As many as 798 Nigerian nationals have been arrested across India in 2021 for their involvement in drug trafficking, cheating, forgery, violation of Foreigners Act among other crimes in India. The highest number of cases at 245 were related to drug trafficking, as per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 2021. Click here to read…

Mauritius-Hong Kong tax deal signed: HK funds may come to India via Mauritius

Hong Kong-based entities that put money into India may take an alternative route to invest into the country if a double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) between Mauritius and Hong Kong comes through. Click here to read…

India and France carry out joint surveillance mission in Mozambique

India and France have jointly carried out a maritime surveillance mission in the Mozambique Channel using P-8I Poseidon and Falcon 50 aircraft. Click here to read…

Dharmendra Pradhan to inaugurate UNESCO India Africa Hackathon on Nov 22

The Ministry of Education, Ministry of External Affairs, UNESCO and AICTE will jointly organize a four-day UNESCO India Africa Hackathon starting November 21 at Gautam Buddha University in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Click here to read…

Ship Carrying Detained Indian Sailors Handed Over To Nigeria, Says Minister

Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said that information received is that the ship has been handed over to Nigerian authorities and request will be made for consular access once it reaches the port. Click here to read…

Thanks to Namibia for cheetahs? India abstains on ivory trade vote

For the first time since joining the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 1976, India did not vote against a proposal seeking to re-open the ivory trade. Click here to read…

After India, Google Launches Crackdown on Illegal Loan Apps in Africa

After launching a crackdown on illegal loan apps in India, Google is looking to replicate the same in Kenya. The tech giant has ordered loan apps in Kenya to submit licenses for operations or get banned on the Play Store. Click here to read…

India-made Nissan Magnite Red Edition launched in South Africa

Three months after being launched locally, the India-made Nissan Magnite Red Edition has been launched in South Africa. It is available there only in the top-spec Acenta trim level with both MT and CVT transmission options. Click here to read…

How Indian Food Made A Place For Itself In Kenya

Indian traders have been living along the east coast of Africa for centuries. When Vasco da Gama was on his voyage to discover a sea route to India, he encountered Indian traders in Malindi, a coastal town in present day Kenya.Click here to read…

Indian-origin minor girl abducted in S Africa’s Cape Town, triggers protests by residents

The abduction of an eight-year-old Indian-origin girl in South Africa’s Cape Town and the alleged inaction of the police in probing the case has triggered protests by the residents of the city. Click here to read…

South African Indian-origin abducted girl found safe and unharmed

Cops could not confirm some reports that five suspects had been arrested during search operation which came after residents in the Cape Town suburb protested demanding action. Click here to read…

Narayan Murthy says death of Gambia children due to Indian cough syrup shameful

Infosys founder, Narayan Murthy says that the death of children in Gambia due to Indian cough syrup brings shame to the country. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Envoys of Over 10 Countries Discuss Afghanistan at Moscow Format: Tolo News

Representatives and officials from more than 10 countries exchanged views on the Afghan situation in the “Moscow Format” meeting on Afghanistan that began on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Doha Office Says Gaining Recognition Takes Time: Tolo News

The Islamic Emirate’s Political Office in Qatar said it considers the recognition of the Islamic Emirate by the international community to be a process that will take time, and that efforts are ongoing to achieve recognition. Click here to read…

SIGAR Assesses Factors Behind the Collapse of Afghan Gov’t: The Khaama Press

The US Special Inspector for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) in a recent report assessed the underlying factors behind the collapse of former Afghan government in 2021, listing at least nine factors that led to Taliban’s regime in Afghanistan. Click here to read…

Russia’s Multilateral Talks on Afghanistan Opens without Taliban: The Khaama Press

Sputnik reported that there are 11 countries represented at this meeting, including Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. At a news conference in Moscow, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that the discussion will center on the military-political, socioeconomic, and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan as well as coordinating measures to bolster regional security. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Lavrov’s Dhaka visit: Dhaka to focus on food, energy supply, Rohingya crisis – The Daily Star

Lavrov will visit Bangladesh to attend the 22nd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting on November 23-24 to be held at Hotel InterContinental at the invitation of Bangladesh, the current chair of IORA. Lavrov, who happily accept the invitation, will also be meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, officials have confirmed. International relations analysts said Russia faces global isolation. The UN General Assembly has adopted several resolutions since March this year demanding end to the war, territorial integrity of Ukraine and Russia’s reparation for the damages caused by attacks in Ukraine…Bangladesh has abstained from voting in two UNGA resolutions and voted for Ukraine in one…The US and European Union are Bangladesh’s major export destinations and they are supporting Bangladesh in the Rohingya crisis, politically and financially. Click here to read….

Bangladesh seeks Singaporean investment to become ‘connectivity hub’ – The Daily Star

Decribing Singapore as a “connectivity hub” for distribution of services as well as trade, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam yesterday shared the aspirations of Bangladesh to emerge as a facilitator of regional connectivity for the land locked countries and regions of South Asia. Highlighting the need for more investment in infrastructure development, including sea ports and air ports, he sought more Singaporean investments to facilitate Bangladesh’s transition as a regional connectivity and manufacturing hub. Click here to read…

Shahriar Alam: Dhaka, Tokyo relations to be strengthened through PM-level talks – Dhaka Tribune

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Wednesday expressed his optimism that Bangladesh-Japan relations would further be strengthened through the upcoming prime ministers-level meeting in Tokyo. The prime minister is scheduled to pay the official visit to Japan from November 29 to December 1 at the invitation of her Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. Click here to read…

Dhaka to warn diplomats against commenting on internal matters – Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh will warn diplomats stationed in Dhaka against making remarks on the country’s internal matters, Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque has said. “We will not tolerate any ambassador’s interference; they will be cautioned again,” the minister said while responding to questions from reporters in Meherpur on Wednesday morning. “Bangladesh is a sovereign nation; we liberated this country through a bloody war. We will not make any concessions when it comes to maintaining the dignity of our country.” The minister’s comments came in light of Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki’s statement on Monday that he had heard about “ballot stuffing” and that some police officers had stuffed ballot boxes the night before the last general election, which was something he had never heard about happening in any other country. Click here to read…

Bhutan

RBI provides an additional currency swap facility of USD 200M to RMA – Kuensel online

RBI and RMA signed an agreement to extend the validity of the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement signed on January 31, 2020 and also to provide additional swap support to Bhutan, yesterday. This agreement enables the RMA to avail an additional swap amount of up to USD 200M or equivalent in Nu 16.57B from the RBI. This support of USD 200M INR equivalent is in addition to the existing currency swap support of USD 200M INR equivalent extended by the RBI. This agreement was facilitated by the government of India at the request of the government of Bhutan. The agreement will be valid till June 30, 2023. Click here to read…

Japan, Bhutan sign technical cooperation project on digital health – Kuensel online

To improve healthcare services, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) signed a record of discussions in Thimphu for implementation of the project “Strengthening government capacity for using digital technology and data” yesterday. Representatives from the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), which will implement the project, attended the signing ceremony. Click here to read…

Bhutan at risk of dropping to Tier 3 of Trafficking in Persons Report – Kuensel online

Since 2020 Bhutan was ranked on Tier 2 Watch List in the Trafficking in Persons Report. This means that the country is not fully compliant but making significant efforts to be compliant to eliminate the severe forms, nature and scope of trafficking. The ranking also risks the country losing loans or aid from multinational financial institutions, according to Home Minister Ugyen Dorji who introduced the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) to the members of the National Council (NC) on November 14. Click here to read…

Maldives

New type of drug smuggled into Maldives – The Edition

Maldives Customs Service seized a new type of drug smuggled into Maldives. Customs found the drug; methorphan while inspecting a box posted through courier from Bahrain. Officials claim that after finding a suspicious substances within the package, they conducted a more thorough investigation. The substance found inside the package were inspected on September 17 and had tested positive for Methorphan, according to Customs. Click here to read…

Myanmar

Myanmar releases ex-U.K. ambassador, Australian aide to Suu Kyi from prison

Myanmar’s junta released four foreign prisoners including an Australian aide to Aung San Suu Kyi and a former British ambassador to the Southeast Asian country, according to state media, in what authorities described as an amnesty to mark a national holiday on Thursday. The military government, which took power in a 2021 coup that deposed Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government, will free Australian economist Sean Turnell, Briton Vicky Bowman, Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota and American Kyaw Htay Oo, the state-run MRTV News channel said. The four will reportedly be deported. Click here to read…

Detained Japanese documentary-maker to return from Myanmar, sources say – Japan Times

A Japanese documentary filmmaker detained in July in Myanmar’s largest city, Yangon, was set to return to Japan Thursday after being released, according to sources familiar with the matter. Toru Kubota was sentenced last month to a total of 10 years in prison for violating the immigration law and for sedition and electronic communications-related violations. Click here to read…

Myanmar Will Not Hold an ‘Election’ in August 2023 – The Irrawaddy

An election is understood to mean “a formal and organized choice by vote of a person for a political office or other position.” Myanmar’s junta has claimed it will organize an ‘election’ for August 2023. Don’t call it what it isn’t. The junta’s event, whatever it is and looks like, will in no way be an election. If analysts, media, and diplomats use the term ‘election’, the onus is on them to justify and prove why and how exactly it wasn’t legitimate when in fact it wasn’t even what happened. Click here to read…

Vice President Harris Heads to Asia, Will Discuss Myanmar, South China Sea Disputes – VOA News

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris heads to Thailand this week to promote U.S. economic interests at a regional summit and discuss concerns over an ongoing military crackdown in Myanmar. Harris will deliver remarks at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering that includes 21 members who push for increasing economic integration and prosperity. Click here to read…

B’desh intelligence officer shot dead by Rohingya drug smugglers on Myanmar border – Hindu Post

An Bangladesh Air Force officer, working at the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), was killed in a gunfight with drug traffickers along the Myanmar border in Bandarban’s Naikkhyangchhari, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Tuesday. RAB constable Sohail Barua, who was injured in the firing, has been admitted to the Neurosurgery Department of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital DMCH and has already undergone head surgery, he added. Click here to read…

Nepal

Exports may fall slightly after LDC graduation, report says – The Kathmandu Post

Nepal will be stepping into uncharted territory after it is inducted into the company of middle-income developing countries in 2026, and exporters are beginning to worry about the higher tariffs and stricter rules of origin provisions that will follow. Being a least developed country (LDC) meant Nepal got preferential treatment; but after 2026, it will have to hold its own. And the thought disconcerts many. Click here to read…

Nepal closes Uttarakhand border for three days ahead of polls – Times Now

The Nepal-India border will be closed for three days in advance of the federal and provincial assembly elections in the Himalayan nation on November 20. A meeting of Nepalese and Indian security officials in Rupandehi on Saturday decided to beef up border security and seal the border for three days beginning November 18Click here to read…

‘

Shape up, or ship out’—why Nepal’s young politicians are challenging an ageing establishment – The Print

The current crop of top leaders is quite exceptional in that each has allied with their opponent in the past. Chances are that if neither the Nepali Congress-led coalition—led by Sher Bahadur Deuba and Maoist politician Pushpa Kamal Dahal, or Prachanda—nor the United Marxist Leninist (UML) party of K.P. Oli and Madhesi leader Upendra Yadav’s grouping get a majority, then one or the other weak link in any of the chains may snap and new chains may be created. Click here to read…

Pakistan

Default risk soars amid political turmoil, delay in IMF talks: Dawn

The country’s default risk as measured by five-year credit-default swaps (CDS) — insurance contracts that protect an investor against a default — rose sharply overnight amid political turmoil and uncertainty about talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Click here to read…

Pakistan floods ‘10th costliest disaster’ in a decade: Dawn

THE calamitous Pakistan floods of 2022 were the tenth most expensive climate disaster to have buffeted a nation over the last decade, according to risk modelling firm RMS. The floods inflicted an estimated loss of $3 billion on the country, caused over 1,700 deaths and displaced eight million people. Click here to read…

PTI ‘steps back’ from next COAS appointment issue: The Express Tribune

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Wednesday indicated that his party has now taken a ‘hands-off’ approach to the imminent appointment of a new army chief, saying that it has “taken a step back” on the matter. Click here to read…

Govt lambastes Imran for selling Toshakhana gifts: The Express Tribune

As PTI chief Imran Khan faces fresh allegations of unlawfully selling state gifts, volley after volley of statements from the ruling coalition called out the former prime minister for the abuse of Toshakhana, hinting that criminal proceedings would be initiated as per the Election Commission of Pakistan’s order. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka abstains from UN vote seeking Russian reparations to Ukraine – Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka abstained in the UN General Assembly on a draft resolution calling for Russia to be held accountable for violations of international law by its invasion of Ukraine and requiring Moscow to pay reparations to Kyiv for damages, loss and injury resulting from the war. The draft resolution, ‘Furtherance of remedy and reparation for aggression against Ukraine’, introduced by Ukraine was adopted Monday in the 193-member UN General Assembly by a recorded vote of 94 in favour, 14 against and 73 abstentions, including by India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Israel, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Those voting against the resolution were Belarus, China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Russia and SyriaClick here to read…

President directs immediate implementation of FTA with Singapore – Daily FT

President Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday instructed the relevant officials to implement the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA) immediately. He issued these instructions during the discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on the implementation of the Singapore-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. The existing problems in this regard were discussed at length and the President highlighted the need to provide quick solutions to all the existing problems. Click here to read…

Special Envoy of South Korean Foreign Minister pays courtesy call on Speaker – Daily News

Special Envoy of South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Han Dongman and his delegation paid a courtesy call on Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana on Tuesday. Dongman whilst thanking the Speaker for being a host during the visit of South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-Seug, extended an invitation to him to visit South Korea in 2023. During the cordial discussion between them focusing on several matters of mutual interests, the Speaker expressed the intentions of the Government to encourage electric cars and renewable energy sources as a policy. Dongman acknowledging that the world is heading towards renewable energy and environmentally friendly methods stated that the two nations could look into future prospects on the matter in future. Further discussions also looked at future investment opportunities and increasing the quota for Sri Lankans who wish to be employed in South Korea. Click here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

India-Africa Defence Dialogue- A positive step towards strengthening the defence diplomacy

The DefExpo 2022 was held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, from October 18 to 22, 2022. During the meeting, the grandiosity of India’s flagship Land, Naval, and Homeland Security Systems exhibition ensured that DefExpo 2022 remains Asia’s most prominent defence exhibition. Click here to read…

Rishi Sunak’s Tanzanian roots amid post-independence ambitions in EA

The rise of Rishi Sunak as British Prime Minister ends as a beautiful story that started with political rejection in East Africa. Click here to read…

NEWS

New round of peace talks between Ethiopia, Tigray envoys

A new round of talks began Monday between Ethiopia’s government and Tigray regional representatives to work out military and other details of last week’s signing of a “permanent” cessation of hostilities in a two-year conflict thought to have killed hundreds of thousands of people. Click here to read…

Ethiopia and Tigray rebels sign peace deal roadmap

Commanders of both Ethiopian and Tigrayan forces reach agreement on how to implement a peace deal. It will allow for aid deliveries and the disarming of rebels within the coming days. Click here to read…

Niger: Opposition, civil society groups welcome end of French Barkhane operation

In Niamey, the Nigerien capital, reactions are mixed after the official announcement of the end of the operation of the French anti-jihadist Barkhane force, part of which has redeployed to Niger after leaving neighbouring Mali. Click here to read…

Central African Republic: MINUSCA Mandate Renewal

Tomorrow afternoon (14 November), the Security Council is expected to vote on a draft resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for another year, until 15 November 2023. Click here to read…

Pro-Coup Coalition Forms in Sudan, Hopes to Break Country’s Political Stalemate

In Sudan, armed groups and supporters of the military’s coup last year have formed a new political coalition to appeal to marginalized groups. Calling itself the “Forces for Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB),” the pro-coup group wants to replace the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) group, which has opposed military rule. Click here to read…

Fighting picks up between M23 and Congolese army in eastern Congo

Fighting picked up on Friday in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between the M23 rebel group and the Congolese army, a rebel leader, military sources and civilians told Reuters. Click here to read…

Tunisia: Ennahda condemns official ‘courtesy’ towards Israel at COP27

Tunisia’s Ennahda movement has criticised the “courtesy” shown by Tunisian officials towards Israel, with some calling for normalisation of relations, Al-Quds Al-Arabi has reported. This, said Ennahda, confirms the “insincerity” of President Kais Saied’s oft-repeated slogan that “normalisation is high treason”.Click here to read…

Rising tensions between Rwanda and DRC jeopardise prospects for peacebuilding in the Great Lakes region

The province of North Kivu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is facing significant instability due to the resurgent March 23 Movement (M23), which has resumed clashes with the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) in the territories of Rutshuru and Nyiragongo since June 2022. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s new transitional legislature takes office

The 71 deputies appointed to Burkina Faso’s new Transitional Legislative Assembly (TLA) took office on Friday, more than a month after the coup d’etat that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power. Click here to read…

El Burhan Speech to Sudan Military Dubbed ‘Political Posturing’

Chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Commander-in-Chief of the Sudan Armed Forces and leader of the October 2021 coup d’état, Abdelfattah El Burhan, confirmed that meetings about a new political framework for the country are being held on Sunday, provoking strong reactions. Click here to read…

France calls time on anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane in Sahel

President Emmanuel Macron has formally ended France’s decade-long operation to fight Islamist insurgents in the Sahel. Click here to read…

US offers $10 million reward for leads on Somalia’s Al-Shabaab leaders

The United States said Monday it was increasing its reward for information about key leaders of Somalia’s Al-Shabaab to $10 million apiece, a move that follows a spate of deadly attacks by the jihadist group. Click here to read…

Ghana’s finance minister set to present budget despite calls for dismissal

Ghana’s embattled finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta plans to present his 2023 budget statement this month, a ruling party official said on Friday, despite demands by ruling party and opposition figures that he resign. Click here to read…

World leaders expected in Tunisia for 18th Francophonie Summit

World leaders are expected to start arriving in Tunisia’s southern island of Djerba for the 18th Francophonie Summit, which will be held from November 19-20. Click here to read…

Mozambique Exports First LNG to Help Ease European Crunch

Mozambique flagged off its first shipment of liquefied natural gas, exports that could help ease Europe’s energy crunch as Russia squeezes supplies. Click here to read…

Tanzania to Sign Key $40 Billion LNG-Project Accords Next Month

Tanzania will sign key agreements with oil majors including Equinor ASA and Shell Plc next month to pave the way for a planned $40 billion liquefied natural gas export project Click here to read…

Why Washington Needs A Friendlier Approach To This Major Gas Producer

In September, a bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives called on the U.S. Secretary of State to impose sanctions on the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (“Algeria”), claiming that a $7 billion arms deal with Russia violated the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Click here to read…

Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 to Unlock the Potential of Angola’s Deepwater Basins

Angola’s deepwater market success continues to shine a spotlight on the country’s untapped oil and gas potential. Click here to read…

Nigeria: 26 sailors charged for attempting to steal crude oil, vessel seized by Navy

26 crew members including 16 Indian and eight Sri Lankan sailors of an oil vessel have been detained and handed over to the Nigerian Navy for alleged oil theft. Click here to read…

Uganda Says Airforce Destroyed Islamic State-Linked Rebel Camp

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said his nation’s airforce had attacked and destroyed a camp in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo that was housing Islamic State-linked Allied Democratic Forces. Click here to read…

ACP-EU Partnership: EU and Togo talk economic governance and security, among others

On Monday, November 7, 2022, Lomé hosted the first session of the partnership dialogue between Togo and the European Union (EU) within the framework of the new Partnership Agreement between the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) and the European Union (OACPS-EU). Click here to read…

Togo: In 2023, the government will pay special attention to inflation

The government of Togo will keep paying special attention to inflation in the coming months. The authorities said this last Friday, November 11, after the council of ministers held that day. Click here to read…

Italy: Refugee camps can be set up in Libya similar to ones in Turkey

Refugee camps, similar to the ones in Turkey, could also be in Libya and other countries where migrants leave for European shores, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the press on Sunday. Click here to read…

Commonwealth Secretariat mission to visit Zimbabwe

The delegation’s visit is a part of the informal process of assessment regarding Zimbabwe’s request for re-admission into the Commonwealth. Click here to read…

Kenyans to enter South Africa visa-free from January

The presidents of South Africa and Kenya said Wednesday they have resolved a long-standing visa dispute and Kenyans will be able to visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days in a calendar year. Click here to read…

Lesotho Names First Female Central Bank Head as Finance Minister

Lesotho’s former central bank governor, Retselisitsoe Matlanyane, was appointed finance minister in the southern African nation’s new government. Click here to read…

Amnesty: Egypt has days to save jailed activist’s life

Amnesty International’s head on Sunday warned that the proceedings of COP27 in Egypt could be stained by the death of one of the country’s leading rights activists from a hunger and water strike in prison if Egyptian authorities do not release him within days. Click here to read…

Zambia plans to establish climate financing vehicle

Zambia plans to establish a robust national climate financing vehicle aimed at supporting the process of institutionalizing a climate resilient economy, a government official said on Saturday. Click here to read…

Africa launches new framework to support growth of carbon credits production, create jobs, protect biodiversity

Africa launched a new framework to support growth of carbon credits production, create jobs and protect biodiversity in the continent – the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI). Click here to read…

Uganda confirms Ebola case in country’s east as outbreak expands

An Ebola case has been confirmed in Jinja in eastern Uganda, the country’s health minister said on Sunday, the first time the outbreak has spread to a new region of the country from central Uganda where cases have been confined so far. Click here to read…

Last apartheid leader De Klerk’s Nobel Prize stolen in South Africa

The Nobel Peace Prize medal awarded to South Africa’s last apartheid president, FW de Klerk, was stolen from his Cape Town home six months ago. Click here to read…

Digital Benin project reunites bronzes looted by British soldiers

Cheerfully gnashing their magnificent fangs as they stand side by side, the two bronze leopards look back on a journey that was as adventurous as it was cruelly absurd. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Balasubramanian accredited as India’s permanent representative to economic community of West African states

G. Balasubramanian has been concurrently accredited as the next Permanent Representative of India to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Click here to read…

South African Customs Union emerges as key trade partner for India: Report

A Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) between India and the South African Customs Union countries will enhance future partnerships as the region has emerged as an important partner for India, both as an export destination and an import source, according to a report from the India Exim Bank. Click here to read…

India Deploys P-8I Aircraft At France’s Reunion Island For Third Time In Three Years As China Increases Presence In Western Indian Ocean

An Indian P-8I aircraft has been deployed to the island for the third time ifour years. A P-8I aircraft of the Indian Navy participated in a joint patrol with France from Réunion Island in 2020. Click here to read…

India has an invite to mine natural resources from oil-to-gold in Central African Republic

Landlocked in the heart of Africa, Central African Republic that is comparable to the size of Ukraine has the largest reserve of iron ore in the world and the best quality of rare wood and timber across the globe. Click here to read…

Wipro appoints Warren Zambelli as MD for Africa, Simmi Dhamija as COO for APMEA

Wipro, on Wednesday, announced the appointment of Warren Zambelli as Managing Director for Africa, and Simmi Dhamija as the Chief Operating Officer for APMEA (Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa). Click here to read…

A New Era of India-Africa Defense Cooperation

As India moves towards becoming a major exporter of defense products, achieving the target of exporting $5 billion by 2025, Africa will play a crucial role in realizing this goal. Click here to read…

India calls for early resolution as detained ship with 16 Indian sailors onboard reaches Nigeria

Days after 16 Indian sailors in the custody of Equatorial Guinea’s navy appealed to the Indian government to help them return home, Equatorial Guinea’s neighbour Nigeria released a detailed statement with fresh allegations and counter-clarifications. Click here to read…

Vijayan writes to Modi for help in releasing Indians held hostage in Africa

Some of the hostages have sent desperate videos home saying they were herded into a small room and regular food and water have become a luxury for them. Click here to read…

16 Indian sailors detained in Equatorial Guinea cry for help, send out SOS

A crew of 16 Indian sailors, who are stuck in Equatorial Guinea, have flagged an SOS for help. The crew have been detained in the region for over 80 days and they fear arrest by the Nigerian Navy. Click here to read…

Senior Chinese lawmakers meet to deliberate draft laws: Xinhuanet

November 9, 2022

The Council of Chairpersons of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee discussed draft revisions to an existing law and the draft of a new law at a Wednesday meeting. The meeting, which was presided over by Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, heard reports on changes made to a draft revision of the Wildlife Protection Law and a draft of the reservist law. Click here to read…

China aims to foster digital transformation of SMEs: Xinhuanet

November 9, 2022

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has recently released a guideline to facilitate the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The guideline calls for the creation of digital applications for instant communication, long-distance collaboration and project management in order to better meet the needs of such companies during the transformation. Click here to read…

Airshow China displays manned rocket for moon landing: Xinhuanet

November 9, 2022

Space-savvy audiences at this year’s Airshow China can catch a glimpse of the model of the country’s next-generation manned rocket for a moon landing. With a takeoff weight of 2,100 tonnes, the new launch vehicle is 90 meters long. It has a lunar-transfer-orbit capacity of 27 tonnes and a near-Earth orbit capacity of 70 tonnes. Click here to read…

Xi inspects CMC joint operations command center, stressing troop training, combat preparedness: Qiushi

November 9, 2022

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the joint operations command center of the Central Military Commission (CMC), demonstrating the stance of the new CMC on implementing the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and enhancing troop training and combat preparedness. Click here to read…

Investigators probe mysterious death: China Daily

November 9, 2022

Investigators are looking into the unexpected death of a resident in Korla, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, who died at hospital on Nov 2 after medical treatment, according to a statement by the city’s anti-epidemic work group on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Campaign foils fraudsters targeting seniors: China Daily

November 9, 2022

Procuratorates nationwide approved the arrests of 7, 594 people and filed public lawsuits against 8,516 others accused of being involved in fraud targeting the elderly from April through September this year, according to the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. Click here to read…

Beijing, Guangzhou airports see large-scale flight cancellations amid surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide: Global Times

November 9, 2022

Airports across the country saw widespread flight cancellations on Wednesday, with some airports even reaching a flight cancellation rate of 98 percent, according to flight information provider Flight Master. The local health authorities also announced that eight districts in Guangzhou will temporarily suspend offline classes. The measures are seen as a response to the mounting pressure of COVID-19 cases nationwide. Click here to read…

China unveils largest solid-fueled commercial rocket at Airshow ahead of maiden flight: Global Times

November 9, 2022

China unveiled the Smart Dragon-3, the country’s largest solid-propellant launch vehicle to provide commercial services for global clients, at the ongoing 14th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province, ahead of the launcher’s maiden flight. Click here to read…

Chinese arms firm offers army brigade combat team solution: Global Times

November 9, 2022

China’s leading arms producer exhibited its new-generation army brigade combat team for the first time at this year’s Airshow China, which kicked off on Tuesday in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong Province, reflecting the latest achievements of the integrated development of mechanization, information technology and intelligence of the Chinese army, and the concepts of manned-unmanned coordination and air-ground coordination. Click here to read…

New rifle series named Type 20, to improve military’s combat capability: Global Times

November 9, 2022

The Chinese military’s next-generation service rifle, which used to be called the QBZ191 series, has been formally named the Type 20 series, and the spokesperson of the manufacturer said at the Airshow China 2022 that this shows that the new rifles are just like the 20 aircraft family, which include the J-20 stealth fighter jet, Y-20 transport aircraft and Z-20 helicopter. They will become the next-generation firearms to greatly improve the Chinese military forces’ combat capability. Click here to read…

Chile vows to enhance cooperation with China in lithium sector: Global Times

November 9, 2022

Chile’s consul general in Chengdu, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Gustavo Díaz Hidalgo on Wednesday vowed to further enhance cooperation with China in the lithium sector, in a bid to stabilize the global supply of the vital mineral for making batteries, Chinese media outlet thepaper.cn reported on Wednesday. Click here to read…

Chinese copper companies say more mining is needed to boost supply: Reuters

November 9, 2022

China’s top copper producers are urging the government to mine more of the metal, at home and abroad, as concerns grow about disruptions to global supplies, the state-backed China Nonferrous Metals News reported on Wednesday. Jiangxi Copper Co Ltd , Zijin Mining , Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Co Ltd (000630.SZ) and others urged relevant authorities in a meeting on Tuesday to launch a new round of ore prospecting as soon as possible and open a new batch of mines for development, the newspaper reported. Click here to read…

Suspected Chinese rocket debris found off Philippines: Kyodo

November 9, 2022

Debris likely from a Chinese rocket has been retrieved off the Philippines for a second time this year, its authorities said Wednesday, fueling criticism that China is not taking sufficient steps to reduce the risk of accidents. China said Friday the wreckage of its Long March 5B rocket re-entered the atmosphere and fell into the sea the same day, underscoring that most of it burned up on reentry. The rocket was launched last month to transport a module to the country’s space station. Click here to read…

China seeks upgrade of massive trade zone with Southeast Asian nations amid US hostility: South China Morning Post

November 10, 2022

China is expected to start talks with Southeast Asian nations about an upgrade to their giant free-trade zone in a potential boost to the stability of Beijing’s manufacturing supply chains amid mounting rivalry with the United States. Officials in Beijing have told state-run media they will approach leaders in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc this week about accelerating negotiations for what they call the Asean-China Free Trade Area “Version 3.0”. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is in Phnom Penh this week to meet with the bloc’s 10 members during a series of summits. Click here to read…

China’s economic tsar sends rare public message, warnings to future policymakers : South China Morning Post

November 10, 2022

Fresh calls by China’s economic tsar – including for continued supply-side reform and closer economic connections with the rest of the world – are not only a testament to his own legacy, they may also serve to muffle expectations for a quick and impactful stimulus.
Vice-Premier Liu He’s comments came as the market has been anticipating expansionary measures in the first year of President Xi Jinping’s third term, with a shift away from the current preoccupation with debt curbing, financial de-risking, and the removal of obsolete industrial capacity. His assessment serves both as a reflection of his 10 years in the economic policymaking arena, and as a rare public message to future economic policymakers – potentially Li Qiang and He Lifeng. Click here to read…

Chinese premier holds talks with Cambodian PM on strengthening bilateral cooperation: Xinhuanet

November 10, 2022

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen here on Wednesday on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation. Li noted that China and Cambodia enjoy a deep traditional friendship, a high degree of political mutual trust, and fruitful practical cooperation in various fields. Click here to read…

Chinese mainland reports 1,133 new local confirmed COVID-19 cases: Xinhuanet

November 10, 2022

The Chinese mainland on Wednesday reported 1,133 locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the National Health Commission said Thursday. Altogether 7,691 local asymptomatic carriers were newly identified. A total of 343 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the mainland on Wednesday, said the commission in its daily report. Click here to read…

Anti-sub drones up for sale at air show: China Daily

November 10, 2022

Detecting, tracking and hitting submarines are tough challenges for any navy because such tasks require sophisticated, expensive hardware and well-trained, experienced personnel. For most militaries around the world, anti-submarine operations are too difficult to carry out due to the lack of affordable weapons. Click here to read…

Russian businesses ink more deals at CIIE, as close ties boost consumer demand: Global Times

November 10, 2022

At the ongoing 5th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, more Chinese and Russia companies are engaging in two-way trade and investment, reflecting growing bilateral economic and trade cooperation between China and Russia. Click here to read…

Germany blocks Chinese stake in two chipmakers over security concerns: Reuters

November 10, 2022

The German government on Wednesday blocked prospective Chinese investment in two domestic semiconductor producers after the moves raised concerns over national security and the flow of sensitive technological know-how to Beijing. The government said it had vetoed the takeover of the chip factory of the Dortmund-based company Elmos (ELGG.DE) by Silex, a Swedish company that is a subsidiary of Chinese group Sai Microelectronics (300456.SZ). Click here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

DefExpo 2022 paves the way for a new golden era of India-Africa defence cooperation

The DefExpo 2022 took place in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, between 18 and 22 October 2022. Initially scheduled to take place in March 2022, it was postponed due to logistic challenges. Click here to read…

In Zambia’s Reform Process, Political Parties Remain a Weak Link

In Zambia’s August 2021 elections, Hakainde Hichilema defeated then-incumbent President Edgar Lungu by a margin of over twenty percent. Lungu’s defeat and timely commitment to ensuring an orderly transition of power. Click here to read…

Thomas Sankara’s ghost haunts Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso, like the rest of West African countries lately, is becoming a geopolitical dilemma for Paris. As ex-President Thomas Sankara put it, ‘We must choose either champagne for a few or safe drinking water for all’Click here to read…

NEWS

Ethiopia Peace Deal Hailed as First Step to End Africa’s Deadliest Conflict

World leaders are reacting with cautious optimism after the announcement of a peace deal and a cease-fire between warring parties in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Click here to read…

Ethiopia: Peace agreement between Government and Tigray ‘a critical first step’: Guterres

A peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) signed on Wednesday in South Africa, represents “a critical first step” towards ending the brutal two year war, said the UN chief. Click here to read…

Guinea: Junta gives order to prosecute ex-president Alpha Condé

Guinea’s ruling junta on Thursday ordered prosecutors to take legal action against former president Alpha Conde (who was overthrown in a 2021 coup) and over 180 other officials and ex-ministers, notably for alleged corruption. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe: How Mnangagwa ‘crushed’ Chiwenga’s dream of becoming president

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has outmanoeuvred his deputy Constantino Chiwenga in the fierce battle to be the 2023 presidential candidate for the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (Zanu–PF). Click here to read…

Biden confirms that Burkina Faso is now on Russia’s side

The West’s attempt to hurt the economy of an African country just got unmasked with its sinister motives coming out in the open. The west is so blind in it obsessive fear of losing Africa to its nemesis, that it is willing to cause destruction. Click here to read…

US to Cut Burkina Faso from Africa Trade Program After Counter-Coup

The US said it will end Burkina Faso’s access to a preferential trade program for African countries, citing concern about unconstitutional changes in the nation’s government. Click here to read…

Pro-Coup Coalition Forms in Sudan, Hopes to Break Country’s Political Stalemate

In Sudan, armed groups and supporters of the military’s coup last year have formed a new political coalition to appeal to marginalized groups. Calling itself the “Forces for Freedom and Change – Democratic Bloc (FFC-DB),” the pro-coup group wants to replace the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) group, which has opposed military rule. Click here to read…

Sudan’s Burhan says political talks ongoing but Bashir loyalists not welcome

Sudan’s military leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan confirmed on Sunday that talks on a new political framework for the country were being held, but he warned the former ruling party in harsh words not to interfere with the military or in politics. Click here to read…

E.Guinea accuses France, Spain, US of election ‘interference’

Equatorial Guinea on Sunday accused Spain, France and the United States of “interference” in its presidential and legislative elections scheduled for November 20. Click here to read…

Russia to send $100m in food and fuel to Mali, minister says

Mali expects Russia to send shipments of fuel, fertiliser and food worth around $100 million to Mali in the coming weeks, the West African country’s economy minister, Alousseini Sanou, says. Click here to read…

Burkina junta chief holds talks in Mali on first foreign trip

Burkina Faso’s new military leader on Wednesday visited Mali for his first foreign trip since taking power, holding what his Malian counterpart hailed as “fruitful” exchanges on peace and security. Click here to read…

Crisis in South Africa Shakes Up Politics Before Party Election

The economy is shrinking, power cuts are at a record, unemployment is close to an all-time high, living costs have surged, towns are falling apart and there are sporadic outbreaks of xenophobic violence. Click here to read…

800 schools forced to close in Niger

Hundreds of children, with their blue Unicef-stamped school bags on their backs, walk down small sand dunes to study on the outskirts of Ouallam, a town in southwestern Niger that has been plagued by jihadist violence for five years. Click here to read…

South Africa vows to support Western Sahara

South Africa has for decades been supporting the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara, a move that continues to anger Morocco which views this region as part of its territory. Click here to read…

Congo and Rwanda hold talks to resolve conflict in eastern Congo

Officials from Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda held talks on Saturday aimed at ending a political stand-off between the two countries caused by widespread conflict near their shared border. Click here to read…

Congolese diaspora in Rwanda backs ‘sincere dialogue’ to end tensions

The Congolese community living in Rwanda say they support peaceful means to the end of the conflict between the M23 rebels group and the Kinshasa government. Click here to read…

Cameroon’s Paul Biya marks 40 years as president

When Paul Biya first took the helm of Cameroon, Ronald Reagan was in his second year of presidency, Madonna had not yet made the charts and the Soviet Union was still nearly a decade away from break-up. Click here to read…

Sam Matekane – can a diamond magnate help Lesotho to sparkle?

Sam Matekane has taken many chances in his life – it is how he has been able to build a multimillion-dollar mining empire and become one of Lesotho’s most formidable businessmen. But those close to him say entering politics is by far his biggest gamble. Click here to read…

Leaders head to Algeria for first Arab League summit in two years

The first Arab League summit since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is set to begin in Algeria, but political divisions continue to rankle among the regional organisation’s members. Click here to read…

Arab Tourism Organization honors Algerian leader for supporting industry

The Arab Tourism Organization has honored Algeria’s president for his country’s role in supporting the tourism industry in the Arab world. Click here to read…

New Tunisia electoral law ‘eliminates’ gender parity: HRW

New electoral changes, including ending public financing of campaigns, will make it difficult for women to run for office, critics say. Click here to read…

Turkey looks to sell armed drones to Libya

Ankara’s new deals with one of Libya’s rival premiers have inflamed the country’s internal rows, bringing the north African nation closer to acquiring armed drones. Click here to read…

Angola: The end of Isabel dos Santos at Unitel

The nationalisation of Unitel, the country’s main telephone operator, as decided by president João Lourenço, signals the exit of Isabel dos Santos and the general ‘Dino’ from a pillar of the Angolan economy. Click here to read…

Chinese builder completes US$1.5 billion deep water port in Nigeria

About 60km (37 miles) east of Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city, China Harbour Engineering has finished building the US$1.5 billion Lekki Deep Sea Port. Click here to read…

UK agrees to negotiate with Mauritius over handover of Chagos Islands

The UK has agreed to open negotiations with Mauritius over the future handover of the Chagos Islands, in a major reversal of policy following years of resistance and legal defeats in international courts. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe teachers hits back at Zanu-PF

TEACHERS unions have hit back at the ruling Zanu-PF’s accusations that they were being funded by “hostile” embassies to destabilise the country’s education system. Click here to read…

Oil theft: Vessel arrested in Equatorial Guinea is on its way back to Nigeria, says navy

The Nigerian Navy says it is conducting an investigation into the activities of MV HEROIC IDUN, a supertanker, arrested by Equatorial Guinea forces over alleged crude oil theft in Nigeria. Click here to read…

Mozambique to Export First Gas to Europe in November

Mozambique’s petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Institute (INP), says the country is set to ship its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to the European market from the Coral Sul floating LNG facility by the end of October or early November this year. Click here to read…

After six years, UN climate summit returns to Africa

The 27th annual Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – better known as COP27 – will be held in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt and begins next week. Click here to read…

COP27 shines spotlight on Egypt’s rights abuses

From a small blue tent pitched outside the UK’s Foreign Office, Sanaa al-Seif has been leading a one-woman protest in a bid to secure her brother’s release from an Egyptian jail as the Arab state prepares to host global leaders at the COP27 summit. Click here to read…

Egypt Eyes Diplomatic Payoff From Hosting COP27 Climate Summit

Authorities want to show “that Egypt is not an irrelevant country, that Egypt has the prowess, the diplomatic clout and the power, the security presence to be a pivotal figure”, a scholar said. Click here to read…

Two Million People Are Demanding Payment for Forest Preservation

Right now, countries and companies can get paid for all kinds of pollution-reducing initiatives, including lowering historic rates of deforestation or planting new trees. Click here to read…

Afreximbank plans $1.5 billion economic package for Botswana

The African Import and Export Bank (Afreximbank) plans a $1.5 billion economic package for Botswana to support key economic sectors such as mining, manufacturing, transport and agricultureClick here to read…

South Africa says it needs $84bln for energy transition in next 5 years

South Africa needs about 1.5 trillion rand ($84 billion) over the next five years for its plans to cut carbon emissions, harness economic opportunities from the energy transition and support affected communities. Click here to read…

EU signs six financing agreements with Mozambique

The European Union has signed six financing agreements with Mozambique. They are worth more than 148 million euros for development programs in the country. Click here to read…

Xi exchanges congratulations with Madagascar’s president over 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday exchanged congratulatory messages with President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Click here to read…

Pakistan’s economic tilt towards Africa

AFRICA spreads over 30 million km2 which makes it the second largest continent of the planet earth. Africa is also the second most populous continent. The continent sits at the intersection of international commerce and is adjacent to critical sea lanes of communication. Click here to read…

Passengers stranded as Kenya Airways’ pilots strike

Kenya Airways (KQNA.NR) on Saturday warned its striking pilots they could be dismissed if they do not return to work immediately as industrial action led to the cancellation of dozens of flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. Click here to read…

15 People Killed In Alleged Suicide Bombing At Military Base In Somalia’s Capital

A sucide bomb killed over a dozen on 5 november at Somalia Military Base named General Dhagabadan militarya training facility. 15 people dead. Click here to read…

Somali Government Says 21 Al-Shabab Militants Killed

The Somali government Sunday said its elite soldiers have killed 21 al-Shabab militants and wounding 10 others in an operation in the country’s lower Shabelle region. Click here to read…

Police: 21 bodies found at mine in South Africa

South African police are investigating the discovery of at least 21 bodies suspected of being illegal miners that were found near an active mine in the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. Click here to read…

Hundreds of elephants, wildebeests and zebras dead in Kenya amid prolonged drought

Hundreds of elephants, wildebeests, and zebras have died across Kenya amid the nation’s longest drought in decades. Click here to read…

Tanzanian plane crash-lands into Lake Victoria, 19 passengers dead

A Precision Air flight, carrying 43 persons, made a crash-landing into Lake Victoria on Sunday while attempting to reach a nearby airport in Bukoba, Tanzania. Click here to read…

World’s largest uncut emerald unearthed in Zambia, reminds people of kryptonite

Guinness World Records (GWR) regularly keeps people updated about different amazing and extraordinary things. The latest inclusion in their list of things that may make your jaw drop in wonder is a piece of uncut emerald. Click here to read…

Uganda extends lockdowns as Ebola spreads

Uganda on Saturday extended a three-week lockdown on two districts at the center of an Ebola outbreak which has claimed over 50 lives, curbing travel and closing public places. Click here to read…

Africa lost its largest female Elephant

Wildlife authorities have confirmed Dida, Africa’s giant female elephant, died between 60 and 65 years old on Tuesday at a national park southeast of the Kenyan capital Nairobi. Click here to read…

South Africa throws mega party as new Zulu king crowned

South Africa’s new Zulu King was formally declared the head of the country’s most influential traditional monarchy at a colorful ceremony presided over by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Indian Exim Bank Inks Pact With Southern Africa’s Leading Bank to Boost India-Africa Trade

Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) has concluded a Master Risk Participation Agreement for supporting trade transactions with FirstRand Bank (FRB) Limited. The agreement was signed in Johannesburg on the sidelines of the India – Southern Africa Regional Conclave. Click here to read…

India Could Emerge As Major Supplier Of Africa’s Defence Requirements: Report

The report by India Exim Bank released on Tuesday talks about various major areas of defence like aerospace, defence, maritime equipment and boats which can safeguard the security and boost Africa’s technological capability while accelerating India’s defence export target of USD 5 billion by 2025. Click here to read…

India could fulfill Africa’s maritime, aerospace and defence requirements: Exim Bank report

The report by India Exim Bank, titled ‘Reinvigorating India’s Economic Engagements with Southern Africa’, was released at the inauguration of the CII-Exim Bank Regional Conclave on India-Southern Africa Growth Partnership, where government officials and captains of business and industry are meeting on Tuesday to discuss a wide range of areas of potential cooperation. Click here to read…

Africa ‘major buyer’ of Indian arms

India has emerged as a leading defence exporter in recent years and could fulfil Africa’s maritime, aerospace and defence requirements, with Mauritius, Mozambique and Seychelles becoming the major buyers of Indian arms during 2017-2021, according to a research report released here. Click here to read…

Bharat sharpens focus on East Africa with new round of naval exercises

As it ended Saturday, the first-ever India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral (IMT TRILAT) maritime exercise began a new chapter in the Indian Navy’s growing efforts to enhance the security of the east coast of southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Region as a whole. Click here to read…

First India-Africa trilateral naval exercise ends

India has held its first-ever trilateral Navy exercise with Africa as part of initiatives to expand defence partnership with the continent. The Trilateral exercise comprising the Navies of India, Tanzania and Mozambique was held late last month. Click here to read…

4th India-Namibia Foreign Office Consultations

India and Namibia held the 4th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) on 3rd November 2022 in Windhoek, Namibia. Click here to read…

IFS Rajesh Ranjan named as next Indian envoy to Ivory Coast

Indian Foreign Service officer, Dr Rajesh Ranjan has been appointed as the next Indian Ambassador to the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire or Ivory Coast. Click here to read…

Stalled gas supplies may be part of EAM’s Russia agenda

Mint reported earlier that India is in talks with Angola and Algeria to procure liquefied natural gas on long-term contracts and that it has also reached out to the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq at a government-to-government level to secure additional spot LNG cargoes at affordable prices. Click here to read…

Two Kochi natives and Vismaya’s brother among 16 ship crew detained by Guinea

Concerted efforts for the release of the 16 Indian crew of a ship detained by the Navy of Guinea, a West African nation, are on. Click here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

A new chapter in India-Africa relations?

The size and health of India’s US$3.5 trillion economy have made the country a force to be reckoned with in global affairs. It has surpassed the United Kingdom in size and looks set to outstrip Germany by 2028, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Click here to read…

Kenyan politics, hit squads and Indians gone missing: The story so far

After having a blast of a lifetime at a popular club in a posh residential neighbourhood of Nairobi, the duo came out and got into a cab. Minutes later, a vehicle, the ones used by the now disbanded Directorate of Criminal Investigations’ (DCI) Special Service Unit (SSU), blocked the cab.
Click here to read…

Turkey deepens its defence diplomacy in Africa

Sales of drones and other arms to African nations are booming after Turkey signed military cooperation deals with dozens of governments on the continent. DW examines why so many countries are turning to Turkey for arms.
Click here to read…

NEWS

Diamond magnate Sam Matekane takes over as Lesotho’s prime minister

Sam Matekane officially became Lesotho’s new prime minister on Friday, vowing to make the small southern African state “great again.” 64-year-old businessman formed his political party just 6 months before winning October elections.
Click here to read…

Burkina Faso: Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla, Captain Traoré’s surprise prime minister

A popular polemicist and convinced Sankarist without claiming it, Apollinaire Kyélem de Tambèla is known for his outspokenness and iconoclastic positions.
Click here to read…

US is now at Burkina Faso’s mercy in the Sahel region

There have been worries that Burkina Faso could follow the example of its neighbor Mali, which late last year hired mercenary fighters from the Russian Wagner organization to support its army’s efforts to combat Islamist insurgents.
Click here to read…

Burkina Faso not planning to hire Russia’s Wagner mercenaries like Mali

Burkina Faso’s interim President Ibrahim Traore has assured US diplomats that he has no intention of inviting mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group to fight militants in the country.
Click here to read…

US blames Russia’s Wagner Group for worsening security in Mali

Mali’s security situation has become “significantly worse” due to the ruling junta’s choices, including an alleged decision to partner with Wagner, a Russian private security firm, a senior US official said Wednesday.
Click here to read…

Sudan Islamists protest UN post-coup mediation, call for religious rule instead

Some 3,000 protesters in Khartoum on Saturday rejected UN mediation efforts between civilian and military leaders as “foreign interference” and called for religious rule in Sudan.
Click here to read…

US orders families of embassy employees to depart Nigeria due to heightened risk of terrorism

The State Department has ordered non-emergency US embassy employees and their family members in Abuja, Nigeria to leave the country “due to the heightened risk of terrorist attacks there.”
Click here to read…

Arab League seeks new start for joint Arab action, says Algerian foreign minister

The Arab League is seeking a new start for joint Arab action and global developments should not affect the pursuit of solving Arab issues
Click here to read…

Senegal: NGOs urge Macky Sall to give up 3rd mandate

Several Senegalese organisations on Thursday urged President Macky Sall to dispel any doubts and openly declare that he would not run for his own succession in 2024, a candidacy they say could spread “chaos”.
Click here to read…

Ethiopia peace talks start in South Africa

The first formal peace talks aimed at ending two years of war between the Ethiopian army and forces from the country’s northern region of Tigray started in South Africa.
Click here to read…

Witnesses allege deadly abuses by Eritrean forces during Ethiopia peace talks

Even as Ethiopia’s warring sides attend their first formal peace talks in a devastating two-year conflict, witnesses in the country’s embattled Tigray region tell The Associated Press that forces from neighboring Eritrea are killing some civilians and looting as they and allied Ethiopian forces head for the regional capital.
Click here to read…

Western Sahara: Morocco Welcomes Adoption of Resolution 2654

Morocco welcomed on Thursday the adoption of Resolution 2654 by the Security Council, which renewed the mandate of peacekeeping operation MINURSO in Western Sahara to one year.
Click here to read…

Madagascar minister fired for voting against Russia’s Ukraine annexation

Madagascar’s president has fired his foreign affairs minister for voting at the United Nations to condemn Russian-organised referendums to annex four partially-occupied regions in Ukraine.
Click here to read…

Zimbabwe President Gets Ruling Party’s Backing for Another Term

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa secured his party’s backing to be its candidate in next year’s elections.
Click here to read…

Seychelles: President Ramkalawan Announced Members of the New Defence Forces Council

President Wavel Ramkalawan today announced and convened the first meeting of the Defence Forces Council, at State House. The new Council has been set up following the promotions and restructuring of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).
Click here to read…

UN Security Council to receive report on Abyei region

The United Nations Security Council will on Thursday receive a briefing on the Secretary-General’s most recent report on the world body’s peacekeeping force in Abyei (UNISFA), covering the period from 15 April to 3 October.
Click here to read…

US Embassy issues demonstration alert for Port Louis, Mauritius, Oct. 29. Increased security likely.

The US Embassy in Port Louis issued a security alert Oct. 28, warning of a demonstration in the city Oct. 29. The purpose of the action is to demand justice for the killing of a local politician. Organizers plan protests at Place d’Armes, near Rogers House, from 14:00.
Click here to read…

Ramaphosa Criticizes US Over South Africa Terror Warning

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa criticized the US for failing to discuss a terror alert issued by the American Embassy with local authorities.
Click here to read…

Uganda: Keep Private Sector Money Out of Politics, Govt Asked

Stakeholders have raised concern over the increased financing of politics by the private sector that they said in turn kills the public interest of service delivery.
Click here to read…

Rice shipment brings relief to shortage-hit Comoros

It’s late in the evening in the Comorian capital of Moroni but the city’s port is filled with eager faces. An 800-tonne rice shipment docked in the Indian Ocean archipelago and was offloaded on October 3.
Click here to read…

President of Guinea-Bissau visits Kyiv after trip to Moscow

President of Guinea-Bissau and Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Umaro Sissoco Embalo arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Click here to read…

French-Australian veterinarian kidnapped in Chad

Jérôme Hugonot, a conservationist with dual French and Australian citizenship, has been kidnapped in north-eastern Chad and a search and rescue mission is under way, the Chad government has said.
Click here to read…

Two car bombs set off outside education ministry in Somalia; 100 dead, says President

Two car bomb explosions outside Somalia’s education ministry in its capital Mogadishu on Saturday left at least 100 people dead and 300 injured
Click here to read…

DR Congo expels Rwandan ambassador as M23 rebels seize towns

The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s government has ordered Rwandan Ambassador Vincent Karega to leave the country within 48 hours after accusing Kigali of supporting M23 rebels, who have seized two towns in the DRC’s east, raising tensions between the two countries.
Click here to read…

Burkina Violence Displaces 4,000 in Togo

More than 4,000 people have been displaced this year in northern Togo after the security climate worsened following jihadist attacks in neighboring Burkina Faso, the government said.
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Al-Qaeda Claims Deadly Attack In Burkina Faso

A powerful jihadist group has claimed responsibility for an attack Monday on an army base in northern Burkina Faso, adding it had also freed scores of prisoners in addition to killing 10 soldiers.
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Niger Lists 15 Anti-rebel Operations With French Forces

Nigerien and French forces staged 15 “joint operations” seizing arms and ammunition from jihadist insurgents along the African country’s volatile border with Mali from July to October, Niger’s army said Saturday.
Click here to read…

Saudi Fund for Development helps Comoros with $5m water project

A Saudi Fund for Development delegation laid the foundation stone for a $5 million water project in Moroni, Comoros.
Click here to read…

World Bank approves $275 million in development support for Zambia

The World Bank has approved US$275 million in assistance to help Zambia recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and deal with the fallout from the war in Ukraine.
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Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 to Examine Best Approaches for Angola to Achieve Fuel Self Sufficiency

The upcoming Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2022 conference and exhibition (https://bit.ly/3sButIz) which runs from November 29 – December 1, will explore the best approach Angola should implement to ensure fuel self-sufficiency.
Click here to read…

Guinea’s Colonel Doumbouya visits Sierra Leone

The leader of Guinea’s ruling junta, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, was greeted in Freetown during a visit to neighbouring Sierra Leone.
Click here to read…

Tanzanian President to visit China with focus on cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania, will pay a state visit to China from November 2 to November 4.
Click here to read…

Turkey looks to sell armed drones to Libya

Ankara’s new deals with one of Libya’s rival premiers have inflamed the country’s internal rows, bringing the north African nation closer to acquiring armed drones.
Click here to read…

Burundi declares border with Rwanda open more than 5 years after closure

Burundi’s foreign affairs minister officially declared that the border between the East African country and Rwanda has been reopened.
Click here to read…

Tunisia could lose its World Cup spot weeks ahead of 2022 kick off

FIFA has sent a warning to the Tunisian Football Federation (TFF) stating that its participation at the World Cup could be threatened if government interference is found within the organisation
Click here to read…

Saudi, Algerian ministers discuss bilateral ties

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji met Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra in Algiers, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Click here to read…

Ivory Coast and Ghana join hands to destroy western chocolate industry and reclaim the cocoa throne

There is a famous saying that ‘God helps those who help themselves’. Two African countries have after years of exploitation decided to catch the devil by its horns in order to do something against the injustice being done to their farmers at the hands of the western multinational corporations.
Click here to read…

Gas, the new deal for Mauritania

In just a year, production is due to commence on the $4.8bn Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas platform. It will be operated by the British oil giant BP and Kosmos Energy of the US.
Click here to read…

Biden to visit Egypt, Cambodia and Indonesia for COP27, Nov summits

US President Joe Biden, as part of his North Africa and Asia visit, will attend the UN Climate Change Conference COP27 in Egypt and other November summits in Cambodia and Indonesia.
Click here to read…

Greenpeace accused of greenwashing Egypt’s image ahead of Cop27

Greenpeace has been accused by human rights defenders of “greenwashing” the Egyptian government’s image and discouraging other activists from forcefully raising the country’s abysmal human right record ahead of Cop27.
Click here to read…

Nearly 200 dead as Niger flooding death toll rises

Flooding caused by torrential rain in Niger has left 195 people dead and affected more than 322,000, an official toll showed on Saturday.
Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

India-COMESA Trade Council office opened

The launch was announced in a release on the first India – COMESA trade conference here on Thursday, an event in which Ambassadors of Ethiopia, Malawi, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Sudan participated.
Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets his UK, Ghana, UAE counterparts, discusses ways to boost bilateral ties

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday met his UK, Ghana, and UAE counterparts – James Cleverly, Shirley A Botchwey and Reem Al Hashimy respectively.
Click here to read…

MoS Muraleedharan underscores policy to deepen engagement with Africa

Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan underscored India’s policy to intensify and deepen its engagement with Africa at the Dakar Forum held in Senegal.
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India stands ready to support Africa on its developmental priorities: MoS V Muraleedharan

Mr Muraleedharan was on a two-day visit to Senegal from 24th of this month to participate in the 8th edition of the Dakar International Forum on Peace and Security. Click here to read…

Indian Navy’s Goa Maritime Symposium to commence from Monday

The fourth edition of the Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) is being conducted by the Naval War College (NWC) at Goa from 31 October to 1 November 2022.
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India Takes Part in Maiden Trilateral Maritime Exercise With Mozambique And Tanzania

The 1st edition of India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise between the navies of the respective countries commenced at Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on Oct 27.
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Navy holds drill with Mozambique,Tanzania

The first edition of the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), a joint maritime exercise, concluded at Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam on Saturday.
Click here to read…

INS Tarangini Departs Djibouti

INS Tarangini visited Port of Djibouti from 23 to 25 October 2022 as part of Lokayan 2022. High level interactions were undertaken with Djibouti Coast Guard during stay. The ship was also open to visitors and a guided tour of ship was organised to help visitors understand the nuances of life onboard a ‘Tall Ship’.
Click here to read…

With India’s generous help, Morocco will be providing “green energy” to Europe

Indian business tycoon Gautam Adani is holding talks with the Moroccan government to develop its renewable energy projects which will be used to supply electricity and hydrogen to Europe.
Click here to read…

Exports to African and Latin American countries on the rise

Exports to African and Latin American countries have jumped in the first five months of the fiscal compensating to an extent diminished opportunities in the US and Europe because of a global slowdown.
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‘Global interest in India-modified M4’ — South African defence firm wants to manufacture in India

South African defence major, Paramount Group — which has a tie-up with India’s Kalyani Group for the joint production of M4 armoured vehicles for the Army here — wants to expand its Indian manufacturing presence to cater to its global clients.
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India’s G20 Presidency and the next phase of industrial growth

India will assume the Presidency of the Group of Twenty (or G20) for one year from 01 December 2022 to 30 November 2023 and this is expected to be a turning point for further deepening India’s global footprints.
Click here to read…

Bug diplomacy: Parasitoid from Africa’s Republic of Benin comes to aid of India’s tapioca

India is the number one producer of tapioca (fresh tubers) in the world with 35.0 tonnes/hectare as against the world average of 10.76 tonnes/hectare.
Click here to read…

EAM @DrSJaishankar Met FM of Ghana, Shirley A. Botchwey; Thanked Her for Participation in … – Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services

The latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services states, ‘EAM @DrSJaishankar met FM of Ghana, Shirley A. Botchwey; thanked her for participation in UNSC special meeting.
Click here to read…

UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon 2022 From November 22 For Students, Teachers; 23 Nations To Participate

The UNESCO India – Afrika Hackathon scheduled to be held between November 22 and 25, is an annual event that brings together students, educators, teachers and the research community of India.
Click here to read…

Why two Indians disappeared on a July night in Kenya

Two Indian tourists and their local driver disappeared in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on a July night. More than two months after the incident, nine policemen have been arrested in connection with the case, which India says it is “closely watching”.
Click here to read…

Deaths of Gambian children cast dark shadow over India’s drugs industry

The tragic demise of 66 children in the West African nation of Gambia as a result of the use of suspect cough remedies has brought into focus a dangerous aspect of India’s massive pharmaceutical industry.
Click here to read…

Airtel Africa profit after tax down 17.2% at $180 mn in Sept quarter

Airtel Africa’s revenue grew 12.7 percent on a reported basis and 18.5 percent in constant currency, to $1,308 million in Q2 September 2022.
Click here to read…

Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations, Lusaka, Zambia

More than 8,800 visitors, including 1,500 students, from all over Zambia and Malawi, visited the seven-day Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations organized by BAPS at the six-acre Pramukh Swami Nagar set up on the CPS Ground in the Kamwala area of Lusaka.
Click here to read…

Welcome to Africa Now your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Indo-Africa: The Rising Relationship

The foreign policy of India is visible from the increasing number of high-level visits from both the sides, which primarily concerns areas related to cooperation in various fields. Today, the bilateral trade between the two has increased from $34 billion in 2009 to $69 billion in 2019. Click here to read…

Raksha Mantri’s Visit to Egypt: Significance for India–Africa Defence Cooperation

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s visit to Egypt from 18 to 20 September 2022 has opened new avenues for defence cooperation. The visit signifies India’s growing defence ties with the African region. Click here to read…

Africa’s next wannabe third-term presidents must be stopped

If the presidents of Senegal and the Central African Republic are planning constitutional coups, the AU must step in. Click here to read…

NEWS

Lesotho election body says it made a mistake over parliament seats

Electoral authorities in Lesotho have said they incorrectly allocated parliamentary seats after an Oct. 7 election, asking the country’s top court to amend the allocations and halt the legislature’s first sitting, court papers showed on Saturday. Click here to read…

Tigray peace talks to start on Monday, says Addis Ababa

The African Union (AU) has set October 24 as a new date for the start of direct talks between Tigray and the Ethiopian government. Click here to read…

Ethiopia, seeking to control Tigray airports, takes a town

Ethiopian authorities said Monday they are aiming to get immediate control of airports and other infrastructure in Tigray, a statement of their war intentions that was followed by the capture of a town in the embattled northern region. Click here to read…

Ibrahim Traore sworn in as Burkina Faso interim president

Ibrahim Traore has been sworn in as interim president of Burkina Faso, several weeks after Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba was removed in a coup. Click here to read…

Sudan’s civilian coalition presents vision for military exit from politics

Sudan’s main political coalition on Monday presented its vision for a fully civilian-led authority to lead a transition to elections; following stepped up efforts to end an 11-month-old stalemate between the ruling military and pro-democracy forces. Click here to read…

South Africa vows ‘unapologetic’ support for Western Sahara independence from Morocco

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his government’s “unapologetic” backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara. Click here to read…

Western Sahara: Morocco Hits Back at South Africa’s Hostile Position

The Moroccan FM recalled that half of African countries have opened representations in the southern provinces, reflecting their unwavering support for the country’s territorial integrity. Click here to read…

Guinea junta agrees return to civilian rule in two years

West African leaders had last month suspended Guinea from the bloc and imposed sanctions on a number of individuals following a military coup. Click here to read…

Tripoli-based PM Dbeibah rejects ‘sovereign positions’ deal in Libya

Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, the prime minister of Libya’s Tripoli-based unity government, rejected a deal with the east Libya-based parliament on changing the heads of the country’s sovereign positions. Click here to read…

Tunisian protesters denounce ‘coup’, demand president steps down

Thousands of Tunisians have demonstrated in the capital Tunis, denouncing President Kais Saied’s moves to consolidate political power and demanding accountability for the country’s long-running economic crisis. Click here to read…

Togo’s flag raised at Marlborough House to mark admission into the Commonwealth

The flag of Togo was raised for the first time at the Commonwealth Headquarters in London, formally marking the country’s entry into the 56-member association. Click here to read…

Attack on hotel in Somalia’s Kismayo ends with 9 civilians dead

An attack on a hotel in the centre of the port city of Kismayo in southern Somalia killed nine civilians on Sunday before security forces killed the gunmen. Click here to read…

Several killed in suspected ‘insurgency attack’ in western Niger

An attack on three Lorries and a motorcycle in western Niger near the border with Mali has killed 11 people, local sources have said, calling it a suspected insurgency attack. Click here to read…

DR Congo troops clash with M23 rebels, 4 civilians killed

Fresh clashes between the army and M23 rebels have erupted in eastern DR Congo, officials said Sunday, with at least four civilians killed and dozens more wounded in the fighting. Click here to read…

60 killed as anti-government protests intensify in Africa’s Chad

At least 60 people were killed in Africa’s Chad after security forces opened fire on anti-government demonstrators. This came amid demonstrations in the central African nation against interim leader Mahamat Idriss Deby’s two-year extension of his power. Click here to read…

Hundreds Flee Attacks in Mozambique’s Ruby Mining Region

This week, suspected Al-Shabab fighters attacked precious gem-rich areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, closing at least two mining operations and causing hundreds of people to flee villages in Ancuabe and Montepuez districts. Click here to read…

US hits al-Shabab finance facilitators with sanctions

The Treasury Department said Monday that it has sanctioned a group of high-ranking members of the Somalia-based al-Shabab militant group, who act as key middle men between the group and local companies in Somalia. Click here to read…

Saudi Arabia and South Africa sign 17 MoUs worth more than $15 billion

On the occasion of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the Kingdom, both countries agreed to strengthen their bonds in several fields by signing MoUs worth above 15 billion. Click here to read…

At least 150 killed in two days of fighting in Sudan’s Blue Nile

At least 150 people were killed during two days of fighting in the latest ethnic clashes over land disputes in Sudan’s southern Blue Nile state. Click here to read…

Walmart doubles down on Africa despite a decade of frustration`

The strategy – according to nine analysts, investors and sources with direct knowledge of Walmart’s plans – is firstly to build Massmart into a force able to see off its brick-and-mortar rivals and then win a looming battle against Amazon for the future of African e-commerce. Click here to read…

Ethiopia, Djibouti eye strong electricity connectivity

The governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti have expressed the need to augment electricity connectivity to spur socio-economic ties among the two neighboring countries. Click here to read…

Ghana and Zambia race to secure IMF bailouts

Runaway inflation and soaring food prices have compelled Ghana and Zambia to seek bailouts from the International Monetary Fund. This week, traders across Ghana closed shop to protest the worsening economy. Click here to read…

Germany Allocates €38 Million For Morocco’s First Green Hydrogen Plant

Germany has vowed to allocate €38 million (MAD 408 million) to support the construction of Morocco’s first green hydrogen plant amid bilateral efforts to consolidate diplomatic and economic ties between Rabat and Berlin. Click here to read…

Burundi: $23 million from the African Development Bank Group to Develop the Agro-Pastoral Sector for the Youth and Women

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has greenlighted the award of a $23.26 million grant to Burundi to implement the Agro-Pastoral Entrepreneurship and Professional Development Project for the Youth and Women. Click here to read…

China may seize Kenyan assets, external debt reaches more than USD 36 billion

The default occurred a year after Kenya requested a six-month extension of the debt repayment moratorium from bilateral lenders, including China. However, the lenders, particularly the Exim Bank of China, refused to consider Kenya’s application. Click here to read…

China launches first-ever intermodal service to Africa

China set in motion a new intermodal service connecting the country with Africa via Europe. The rail part of the service will run between Chengdu, in southwest China, with Hamburg, in Germany, via the China-Europe Railway Express. From there, goods are shipped to Casablanca, in Morocco, by sea. Click here to read…

Cop 27: Uganda-Tanzania oil pipeline sparks climate row

Uganda and Tanzania are set to begin work on a massive crude oil pipeline a year after the International Energy Agency warned that the world risked not meeting its climate goals if new fossil fuel projects were not stopped. The two East African countries say their priority is economic development. Click here to read…

Fire breaks out at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, locals help firefighters tackle blaze

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro that was spread due to heavy winds overnight. They were assisted by the police and the locals. Click here to read…

UN Agencies Say Rains Have Flooded Two-Thirds of South Sudan

The United Nations refugee agency says that South Sudanese flood victims are in desperate need of international support. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

MoS V Muraleedharan to visit Senegal 24-25 October

V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, will visit the Republic of Senegal during 24-25 October. Muraleedharan will participate in the Dakar Forum on Peace and Security. Click here to read…

India-Africa Defence Dialogue held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat

The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD) was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on October 18, 2022. The dialogue successfully brought out various aspects of the IADD’s theme ‘Adopting Strategy for Synergizing and Strengthening Defence and Security Cooperation’. Click here to read…

Rajnath Singh meets African counterparts ahead of India-Africa Defence Dialogue

Ahead of the India-Africa Defence Dialogue which is scheduled for Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held fruitful discussions with defence ministers of various African nations. Click here to read…

India committed to provide all-round support to African nations: Defence Minister

Addressing the delegates from 43 African countries during ‘India-Africa Defence Dialogue’ (IADD) in Gandhinagar today, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh put forth India’s stand as committed partner to provide support in all arenas to African countries, for fulfilling their aspirations for peace and stability in the region. Click here to read…

India to showcase arms to Africa, Indian Ocean Region nations

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is holding bilateral talks with his counterparts from several African nations including Mauritania, Gambia and the Central African Republic (CAR) at the sidelines of the show, said India’s target is to achieve exports worth ‘35,000 crore by 2025, up from last year’s Rs 13,000 crore. Click here to read…

To counter China’s influence, India seeks to boost defence cooperation with African countries

Underlining that India does not believe in making another country a “client” or “satellite state”, New Delhi is aspiring for deeper defence cooperation with African countries in the form of training and sale of equipment like attack choppers, drones, missiles, patrol vessels and small arms, among others. Click here to read…

‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ at MP-IDSA launched during India-Africa Defence Dialogue on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022

During the IADD, in keeping with the new proposals of the Gandhinagar Declaration, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the ‘India-Africa Security Fellowship Programme’ and released its brochure by handing it over to Director General, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). Click here to read…

India remains steadfast in supporting people of Mali in seeking peace

India remains steadfast in supporting the people of Mali in their quest for seeking enduring peace, security and development. Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets Botswana’s Foreign Minister

In a continuation of India’s deepening engagement with Africa, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Lemogang Kwape, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation of Botswana on 19 October 2022. Click here to read…

International Solar Alliance approves funding facility

The payment guarantee mechanism is expected to stimulate investments into solar projects through two financial components — a Solar Payment Guarantee Fund and Solar Insurance Fund. Click here to read…

INS Tarkash Arrives for IBSAMAR-VII in South Africa

INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea (also known as Port Elizabeth) in South Africa to participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise among Indian, Brazilian and South African Navies from October 10-12. Click here to read…

Mudurunu receives an order in Gabon

Mudunuru has received orders worth US$355,395 for a project to implement the SmartPort solution for the mining port of Gabon (Central Africa). According to the filing, the order was received from Owendo Mineral Port (OMP). And it concerns the people and resources monitoring and management system for the Owendo mining port. Click here to read…

Billionaire Adani to Target Europe with Huge Morocco Clean Energy Project

Gautam Adani, Asia’s richest person, is in exploratory talks for a giant renewables project in Morocco, which would aim to supply electricity and emissions-free fuel to Europe. Click here to read…

The importance of the India-Africa defence dialogue

India is taking steps to increase its defence exports and emerge as a hub of defence production in the Indo-Pacific region. It is useful for building up a domestic defence-industrial-technological base, creating local capabilities and, in the long run, will reduce weapons imports. Click here to read…

2 missing Indians part of Kenyan President’s campaign killed: Report

A close aide of Kenyan President William Ruto has claimed that the two Indians, who went missing in July, have been killed. Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan and his friend Mohammed Zaid Sami Kidwai were part of President Ruto’s digital campaign team. Click here to read…

Ekta Kapoor contacts Ministry of External Affairs and Kenya Red Cross to find the ex-COO of Balaji Telefilms after he goes missing in Nairobi

The owner of Balaji Telefilms, Ekta Kapoor recently took to social media to share a post regarding one of her friends and her colleagues who went missing during a recent trip. Zulfikar Ahmad Khan, who was the COO (Chief Operating Officer) of Balaji Telefilms and also a former journalist, recently took off to Nairobi and has been missing since the past three months. Click here to read…

Africa Now – Weekly Newsletter (Week 42, 2022)Welcome toAfrica Now, your weekly newsletter for Africa, presenting the most important developments in the continent – news that matters.

COMMENTARY

Harnessing the Trade Winds: History of Indian Traders in Eastern Africa

Imagine someone telling you, Indians knew the monsoon winds much before European sailors. Imagine someone claiming that Indians started sailing long before the European explorers of the 14th century; even before Hippalus.Click here to read…

How death of Gambian children will affect India’s African outreach

FROM THE INDIAN perspective, Bangladesh and The Gambia may be worlds apart. But, there are a couple of commonalities between the western African country and India’s eastern neighbour. First is India’s diplomatic outreach. Click here to read…

Why Russia is cheering on the Burkina Faso coup

The latest coup in Burkina Faso saw young people waving Russian flags in the streets of the capital, Ouagadougou – something that must have warmed hearts in the Kremlin. Click here to read…

NEWS

Millionaire businessman turns tables to win Lesotho polls

Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), a party set up only six months ago by a 64-year-old businessman Sam Matekane, won 56 out of 120 seats in parliament. Click here to read…

Lesotho populist party wins most seats in election, falls short of majority

A Lesotho party led by a diamond magnate won the most seats in last week’s election, but fell short of an overall majority, the election commission said on Monday, raising the prospect of more political gridlock. Click here to read…

Lesotho’s RFP party forms coalition government with other opposition after election win

Lesotho’s newly formed party Revolution for Prosperity (RFP), which won the most seats in last week’s election but fell short of an overall majority, has formed a coalition government with two other opposition parties. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso geared for political change following coup unrest

Political parties, social and religious groups and representatives of the security forces gather Friday to chart the next phase in Burkina Faso’s future after the country’s latest coup. Click here to read…

Burkina Faso’s latest coup leader named transition president

Burkina Faso’s latest coup, announced on September 30 on state television, has raised fears that the country’s political chaos could result in more violence from the region’s Islamic extremists. Click here to read…

Sudan ‘close’ to a national consensus: army chief

Head of Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah al Burhan, has said the country’s political groups are close to reaching a national consensus. Click here to read…

Mali’s new draft constitution bolsters president’s power

The draft of a new constitution handed to Mali’s military ruler bolsters the powers of the future president and rules out extensive autonomy for the country’s north. Click here to read…

Chadian prime minister resigns to pave way for new government

Chad’s Prime Minister, Albert Pahimi Padacke, has resigned to pave the way for a new government after the Central African country pushed back elections by two years. Click here to read…

Chad names opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo as new PM

Chad’s transitional government on Wednesday named opposition politician Saleh Kebzabo as the new prime minister after the former prime minister resigned to pave way for a new administration. Click here to read…

Tunisia: Thousands from rival political parties protest against President Kais Saied

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tunisia’s capital to demonstrate against the president. Parallel demonstrations by political movements who are deeply opposed to each other were held in Tunis. Click here to read…

Angola’s President gives first National Assembly speech since re-election

Angolan President Joao Lourenço delivered his first speech before the National Assembly since his re-election admitting to devoting all his strength and attention to the search for the best conditions for the population. Click here to read…

Botswana President reaffirms continuous support to Sahrawi people right to self-determination and independence

President of Botswana, Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, has reaffirmed his country’s historical position in support of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, liberation and independence. Click here to read…

Somalia Warns Traders Not to Pay off Islamist Militants

Somalia’s government Saturday threatened to sanction businesses that pay extortion money to al-Shabab, looking to choke a lucrative cash pipeline the Islamist militants use to fund a deadly insurgency. Click here to read…

China’s CRRC Qiqihar branch exports largest railway flat wagon to Tanzania

A railway flat wagon, with a maximum capacity of 200 tons, which will be exported by CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co. has been loaded for shipment to Tanzania at Tianjin port, North China, on Saturday. Click here to read…

Kenya denies defaulting on China railway debt

Kenya on Thursday denied it had defaulted on interest repayments on a loan advanced by China for the construction of a railway line from the port city of Mombasa that opened in 2017. Click here to read…

Zambia finance minister eager to renegotiate debt, awaits China’s team

Zambia’s finance minister said on Saturday it is still unclear who will be leading talks for renegotiating its nearly $6 billion debt with China, the largest bilateral creditor of the first African sovereign default in 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Click here to read…

Palestinian factions sign reconciliation agreement in Algeria

Rival Palestinian factions meeting in Algiers for talks mediated by the Algerian government have agreed on a reconciliation deal that aims to resolve 15 years of discord through new elections in the occupied Palestinian territories. Click here to read…

Nigeria election: Dangers of being religious in a religious nation

Religious intolerance – in one of the most religious countries in Africa if not the world – is one of the issues dominating debate ahead of next year’s elections. Click here to read…

Inter-Parliamentary Union condemns coups in Africa

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Tuesday condemned the increasing coups on the African continent. Much of Africa’s Sahel region has been battling growing unrest which has prompted a spate of coups in Mali, Guinea and Chad since 2020. Click here to read…

‘Our problems are our problems,’ South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique have sent a strong message to the West

African countries have decided that their internal security crisis can be resolved only by them and not by any external player.Click here to read…

Sudan, Ethiopia agree to resolve border issues peacefully

The head of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council and the country’s de-facto leader Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed agreed to resolve border issues peacefully, the office of the Sudanese leader said on Saturday. Click here to read…

Nigeria dismisses terrorism charges against separatist leader

Charges against a Nigerian separatist leader accused of terrorism and instigating violence in the country’s southeast have been discharged by a local court, his lawyer told The Associated Press. Click here to read…

Ethiopia restricts use of foreign currency

Ethiopia has ordered banks to deny foreign currency to businesses importing non-priority goods, in an effort to shore up dwindling foreign reserves in one of Africa’s major economies. Click here to read…

With the help of Israel, Morocco is the first African country to enter the drone manufacturers club

Morocco has entered the club of drone manufacturers by virtue of the recent deal it concluded with Israel, according to which Morocco will manufacture Israeli war drones. Click here to read…

Zimbabwe inks deal to manufacture lithium-ion batteries

Zimbabwe entered into a deal with an unnamed foreign investor to manufacture lithium batteries, Deputy Mines Minister Polite Kambamura said on Sunday. Click here to read…

New commercial shipping service between France, Spain and Morocco

The French company CMA-CGM will put into service the transport of containers between France, Spain and Morocco with a stopover in Algeciras and Barcelona Click here to read…

Europe turns to Africa in bid to replace Russian natural gas

A new liquefied natural gas project off Africa’s western coast may only be 80% complete, but already the prospect of a new energy supplier has drawn visits from the leaders of Poland and Germany. Click here to read…

Mauritania boosts its industrial investments after finding new gas reserves off the country’s coasts

The Mauritanian country has accelerated the pace of awakening gas reserves on its Atlantic coast with the award of new exploration contracts, under the watchful eye of the European Union. Click here to read…

A $1 billion investment by Google in Africa is rooted in the ‘spirit of Ubuntu’

Pan-Africanism was meant to be centred on the Ubuntu principle, but it has been difficult to implement because some African nations are pushing for protectionist policies even under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (Afcfta.) Click here to read…

Botswana’s first indigenous bank to launch in early 2023

Botswana’s BBS Limited will launch as the country’s first indigenous commercial bank early next year after the central bank issued it a full banking licence. Click here to read…

6th Africa Agri Expo to kick off in Kenya next year in February!

Africa’s rich agribusiness, fertile untapped land, and enormous underlying prospects have always paved the way for such events that connect the continent’s agribusiness to the rest of the world – while also providing exclusive networking and brand-building opportunities for global agricultural industry players. Click here to read…

Africa’s longest oil pipeline takes shape in Niger

With a projected length of nearly 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) – including 1,250 km in Niger itself – the pipeline will connect oil wells in the eastern region of Agadem, a zone troubled by deadly jihadist incursions, with the Beninese port of Seme. Click here to read…

Africa’s airline industry to return to profit in 2024, IATA official says

Those problems were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic as national airlines sought government bailouts while others were liquidated when passenger seats plummeted during strict lockdowns. Click here to read…

Mauritius becomes a model for innovation-driven development in Africa

Despite a turbulent year of inflation fuelled both by the war in Ukraine and the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mauritius has retained its crown as Africa’s most innovative country, besting the likes of South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal. Click here to read…

Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia on edge as Africa fraught with default risks

The months-long Ukraine war and other global headwinds have left Africa’s largest economies struggling with relentless fiscal pressures and default risks, with soaring yields on the continent barely reversing an exodus of non-resident investors to developed nations. Click here to read…

Africa’s Only G-20 Member Wants to Reform Its Debt Framework

Africa’s only member of the Group of 20 nations is working with its continental peers to propose reforms to the forum’s mechanism for countries to restructure unaffordable debt. Click here to read…

Turkish ship suspected of carrying weapons arrives in Misrata, 444 militia start movement south

The movement of the 444 militia south of Misrata to Bani Walid on Friday took place after the Turkish container ship MATILDE A docked at the Port of Misrata on Wednesday around 1:30 pm, which continued unloading its cargo until Friday. Click here to read…

Jihadis Kill 11 in Burkina Faso Ambush, Security Sources Say

Jihadi militants killed at least three soldiers and eight civilian auxiliaries in an attack Saturday in Burkina Faso’s volatile north, security sources told AFP. Click here to read…

Blast in Central African Republic kills 3 Bangladesh UN peacekeepers

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “conveys his deepest condolences to the families of the peacekeepers and the people in government of Bangladesh,” he added. Click here to read…

11 killed, dozens injured in bus blast in central Mali

The bus hit an explosive device while travelling the road between Bandiagara and Goundaka, in the Mopti area, known as a hotbed for jihadist violence. Click here to read…

Mozambique jihadi violence spreads despite military effort

The 5-year wave of jihadi violence in Cabo Delgado province has killed more than 4,000 people and scuppered international investments worth billions of dollars. Click here to read…

Villagers brutally massacred in DRC’s eastern Ituri province

Unidentified militants have killed 12 civilians in a village in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region which has been plagued by violence perpetrated by armed groups for years. Click here to read…

DR Congo colonels get death penalty for murder of Chinese workers

Six people, including two army colonels, sentenced to death while four others were jailed for 10 years in connection with the March killing. Click here to read…

Chinese investors dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations of Zimbabwean workers

Chinese-run companies in Zimbabwe have been dogged by controversy with gross human rights violations and safety norms for mining workers. Click here to read…

Chinese peacekeeper to South Sudan (Wau) awarded UN Peace Medals

An award ceremony was held on October 11 local time at the Chinese engineering camp in the Super Camp of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Wau. Click here to read…

Head of Africa CDC alleges mistreatment at German airport

The acting director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alleged he was “mistreated” upon his arrival at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport on Saturday and had decided to return to Africa. Click here to read…

Ebola in Uganda: Three-week lockdown announced for two districts

A three-week lockdown has been declared in two districts of Uganda as the country battles an Ebola outbreak. Bars, nightclubs, places of worship and entertainment venues will be closed in Mubende and neighbouring Kassanda, and a curfew will come into force. Click here to read…

From Shining Shoes in Africa to a Seat in Italy’s Parliament

When Aboubakar Soumahoro was a child in his West African home country of Ivory Coast, he cleaned people’s shoes to make money. He also had a dream to go to Italy. Click here to read…

INDIA IN AFRICA

Visit of External Affairs Minister to the Arab Republic of Egypt (October 15-16, 2022)

At the invitation of H.E. Mr. Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, will pay an official visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt from 15-16 October 2022. Click here to read…

Jaishankar begins his first bilateral visit to Egypt

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began his visit to Egypt visit in the capital city of Cairo on Saturday where he met eminent personalities in the field of foreign policy. Click here to read…

Jaishankar meets Egyptian president, says both countries promote global peace

India foreign minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday met the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Describing both the countries as “independent-minded” nations, in a series of tweets, Jaishankar said both the countries contribute towards global discourse and promote the cause of peace, progress and development. Click here to read…

In Egypt, EAM Jaishankar talks Ukraine, Indo-Pacific

External affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo on Saturday and the two leaders discussed regional developments and exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific. Click here to read…

India, Egypt to now explore opportunities in renewable energy, trade: Jaishankar

Addressing a joint news conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry following their meeting in Cairo, Jaishankar said bilateral trade had recorded the highest-ever figure of $ 7.2 billion last year. Click here to read…

India, Egypt to collaborate on premier higher educational institutes like IIT

A committee was constituted by the Union education ministry after IIT-Delhi submitted a proposal last year for opening centres in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Click here to read…

EAM Jaishankar thanks diaspora for shaping India’s image in Egypt

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar thanked the Indian business community in Egypt for advancing national interests and shaping the country’s image in the region. Click here to read…

Visiting Egypt very much on PM Modi’s mind: EAM Jaishankar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has very good personal relationship with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and he has been wanting to visit the key north African country for some time, but the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the travel schedule, India’s top diplomat has said. Click here to read…

Partnership with Africa a top priority for India: Ruchira Kamboj at UNSC

Ruchira Kamboj, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, held that terrorist outfits like armed groups merit the attention of the Council. While addressing the council meet on October 11, Ruchira Kamboj said, “Terrorist outfits like armed groups deserve the attention of the council in their response to addressing security threats confronting Africa today. Click here to read…

African defence ministers to attend India-Africa Defence Dialogue in Gujarat next week

As many as 13 African defence ministers will be travelling to India to participate in the India-Africa Defence Dialogue that will take place on October 18 on the sidelines of the 12th DefExpo in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Click here to read…

Defence exports to cross Rs. 13,000 cr, Gujarat to get 5th airbase

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will chair the second India-Africa defence dialogue and a conclave of defence ministers of over 25 countries during the DefExpo 2022, scheduled to begin in Gandhinagar on October 18. Click here to read…

Indian Naval Ship Tarkash Reaches South Africa for IBSAMAR VII

INS Tarkash reached Port Grequhrea which is also known as Port Elizabeth in South Africa. INS Tarkash will participate in the seventh edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise. Click here to read…

INS TARKASH PARTICIPATES IN IBSAMAR VII

The 7th edition of IBSAMAR, a joint multinational maritime exercise, among the Indian, Brazilian and South Africa navies was held at Port Gqeberha (also known as Port Elizabeth), South Africa from 10 to 12 Oct 22. The Indian Navy was represented in it by the guided missile frigate, INS Tarkash, a Chetak helicopter and MARCOS Special Forces. Click here to read…

Former media executive among 2 missing in Kenya for over 80 days, friends seek PM Modi’s help

An Indian national and former senior executive at Star and Balaji, Zulfiqar Khan, has been missing in Kenya since July 21 this year. His friends say that there has been complete silence since then. Click here to read…

India pushes for settlement of international trade in rupee with Sudan

India has reached out to Sudan towards settlement of international trade in rupee as part of its push towards internationalisation of the domestic currency. Click here to read…

Airtel and Cellulant Plan to Increase Their Customer Base in Zambia

In order to increase their position in the Zambian market, operator Airtel Africa and payments provider Cellulant have made announcements. The Lusaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Cellulant Zambia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide digital payments to the LCCI’s member companies. Click here to read…

From obscure bank to a fintech darling: The curious case of SBM

What do fintech competitors Slice, Uni and Lazypay have in common? And we are not talking of their ambition to outrace each other in the digital lending space. The answer: State Bank of Mauritius (SBM) India.Click here to read…

Doon School Srinagar bags award of excellence from Mauritius Govt

The Doon International School (DIS) Srinagar has received a prestigious award in excellence in School Education Awards- 2022. Click here to read…

Cough Syrup death case: Death toll rises to 70, Gambia begins probe

As the world turns their eyes tot he cough syrup deaths of children, the Gambian government has informed that the death toll has risen to 70 from a previous toll of 69. Click here to read…

Nigeria, Liberia flag Maiden syrups after Gambia deaths

The head of India’s apex pharma export promotion body warned of rising “negativity” over the Maiden Pharma controversy after Nigeria and Liberia issued alerts over four Maiden-manufactured cough syrups linked to the deaths of 69 Gambian children. Click here to read…

Jaishankar: Deepest condolences to Gambia over death of children

“In a telecon with Gambian FM Dr Mamadou Tangara, conveyed our deepest condolences on the deaths of young children recently. Underlined that matter is being seriously investigated by appropriate authorities; we agreed to remain in touch,” Jaishankar tweeted. Click here to read…

The Gambia deaths | India seeks more data

India has sought more information from the World Health Organization on the deaths in the Gambia linked to contaminated cough syrups made by Maiden Pharma in India. Click here to read…

The cough syrups linked to child deaths in Africa: a wake-up call for India’s drug regulators

The World Health Organisation says cough syrups supplied by an Indian company are linked to the deaths of 66 children in Africa’s Gambia. The incident puts the spotlight on India’s weak drug regulatory system, which experts say has acquired a reputation and has been often found lacking due to a history of corruption. Click here to read…

India halts production of cough syrups suspected of links to child deaths

Indian health authorities have halted production at a pharmaceutical company in New Delhi after the World Health Organization (WHO) said its cough and cold syrups may be linked to the deaths of dozens of children. Click here to read…

Murder charge against Indian-origin doctor in South Africa over patient’s death after surgery

35-year-old Dr Avindra Dayanand surrendered before the police after his patient died following gall bladder surgery, according to a report in the Sunday Times. Click here to read…

Of drug quality, Gambia and India: an interview with the authors of The Truth Pill

The Truth Pill, by Dinesh Singh Thakur and Prashant Reddy Thikkavarapu investigates the challenges of drug regulation in India. It looks at why enforcement by authorities is lax; and how this sows the seeds for incidents such as the deaths of 66 children in The Gambia. Click here to read…

India has great potential in athletics, a champion from the country will come soon: Haile Gebrselassie

New Delhi is hosting legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie. The Ethiopian won the 10,000m gold in successive Olympics and eight World Championships in his 25-year storied career. Click here to read…

Afghanistan

Uzbekistan President Suggests Forming Intl Group to Coordinate with Kabul: Tolo News

Speaking at the 6th CICA Summit Astana 2022, the president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, suggested the establishment of an international group to arrange and coordinate with the Afghan authorities. Click here to read…

Ministry Says Media Law is Essential, Urges Its Approval Be Expedited: Tolo News

The head of publications in the Ministry of Information and Culture said he considers the mass media law to be a necessity and that this law should be approved as soon as possible. The head of publications added that in a meeting of the Media Violations Commission there have been violations by eleven media outlets. Click here to read…

Bangladesh

Bangladesh defends latest UN resolution vote against Russia: Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh on Wednesday voted in favour of a UN resolution that condemned Russia’s “illegal” annexation of four Ukrainian regions last month, at the 11th emergency special session of the UNGA on the Russia-Ukraine war. Click here to read…

Bhutan

Local growers worried as Centre decides to import areca from Bhutan – The Hindu

Areca growers of Malnad region are up in arms over the recent Central government decision to import green arecanuts from Bhutan. The unconditional consent to import 17,000 metric tons of arecanuts will bring down the price in the local market, they fear. Growers, who are already facing difficulties due to yellow-leaf disease and leaf spot disease, that brought down the yield significantly in many parts of the region, are planning protests against the move. Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has called for a protest march in Shivamogga on October 14 on this issue. Click here to read…

Bhutan brings business back to Jaigaon – Telegraph India

The reopening of Bhutan’s land borders with India after a gap of two-and-a-half years has made Jaigaon — that sits on the international border — a bustling town once again. After March 2020, when the Himalayan kingdom had closed its land borders for passenger movement because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economy in Jaigaon took a hit as the town had flourished because of demand from Bhutan. Click here to read…

Maldives

Fitch Revises the Maldives’ Outlook to Negative; Affirms at ‘B-‘ – Fitch Ratings

The Outlook revision reflects our assessment that tightening global financial conditions are intensifying the Maldives’ external liquidity strains, even though tourism has made a remarkable recovery to pre-pandemic levels. A sharp decline in foreign-exchange buffers, if sustained, could complicate the government’s external debt-servicing and maintenance of the currency peg to the US dollar. Click here to read…

Maldives wins a seat at the UN Human Rights Council – Raajje

Maldives won in the voting held at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. The election saw 17 countries competing for 14 vacant seats. The Maldives competed in the Group of Asia-Pacific States, for one of the 4 vacant seats. The Maldives won with 154 votes, out of a total of 189 votes cast. Along with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Kyrgyzstan also won seats in the Asia-Pacific Group. Click here to read…

Myanmar

The Dominance Of The Myanmar Military Is Under Challenge Now – Eurasia Review

The Myanmar military seized power in a coup by toppling democratically elected government in February 1, 2021. In 2020 election, National League for Democracy had a landslide victory and was preparing to lead the democratic government for the second time in Myanmar’s recent history. People spontaneously came out to protest against military takeover. Myanmar is currently in a state of civil war and the army is desperate to control the conflict and has increased the level of torture and oppression on the people. Click here to read…

Challenges Await New Contractor as India Rejigs Plan for Completion of Kaladan Project in Myanmar – The Irrawaddy

The Indian government has fine-tuned plans to complete the delayed Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar, considered crucial for New Delhi’s ambitious Act East Policy. A corpus of 17.8 billion rupees (US$216.32 million) has been earmarked for completion of the stalled project in Myanmar’s troubled Chin State contiguous to the Indian border state of Mizoram. The estimated cost will be adjusted owing to fluctuations or change in the availability of essential commodities required for the project. Click here to read…

Nepal

Nepal votes in favour of UN resolution to condemn referendums in Ukraine – Kathmandu Post

Nepal on Wednesday voted in favor of a resolution condemning Russia’s attempted annexation of four Ukrainian areas by conducting a referendum within Ukraine, at the United Nations General Assembly. According to the United Nations news, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that condemns Russia’s “illegal so-called referendums” in regions within Ukraine’s internationally-recognized borders, and demands it reverses its annexation declaration. Click here to read…

Major changes unlikely in Nepal-China ties during Xi’s third term – Kathmandu Post

The 20th plenum of the Chinese Communist Party scheduled to begin on October 16 in Beijing is expected to give a third presidential term to the incumbent, Xi Jinping. Over 2,292 party delegates will also select the CPC’s Politburo Standing Committee (PSC) as well as a new Cabinet for the next five years. Click here to read…

Pakistan

IMF team due in November for next review: Dawn

The Inter¬national Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday that it would send a team to Pakistan early next month to start the process for the next review of their current programme. Click here to read…

US sees China, not Russia, as ‘biggest geopolitical challenge’: Dawn

The 48-page document, released on Wednesday evening, does mention terrorism and other geo-strategic threats in the South and Central Asian region, but unlike the recent past, it does not name Pakistan as an ally needed to tackle those threats. Pakistan was also absent from the 2021 strategy paper. Click here to read…

Sri Lanka

SL to set up climate change Uni – President Wickremesinghe: Daily Mirror

Sri Lanka is to set up a climate change university soon, President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. Speaking during an interview with Leader TV, the President said he will send former Maldivian President Mohamed Bashir as his convoy together with advisor on Climate Change Erik Solheim to a number of countries to get support from.various nations for the proposed university and to minimise effects of climate change. Click here to read…