Author: Ohene Anochie

The Nigerian government has condemned the killing of two of its citizens in South Africa, calling for a swift investigation amid renewed concerns over xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals. In a statement issued on Sunday, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the two men were killed on 28 June during heightened tensions linked to protests by anti-illegal immigration groups, which had set an unofficial end-of-month deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa. According to the ministry, one of the victims was allegedly killed by police officers in Pretoria, while the other was reportedly attacked and killed by unidentified assailants…

As the long-running corruption trial involving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues, renewed commentary has highlighted concerns over the role of political discourse, media coverage and public institutions in shaping perceptions before the court reaches a final verdict. The commentary argues that while the outcome of the case rests solely with the judiciary, years of intense political and media debate have contributed to deep divisions within Israeli society. It contends that many political figures and sections of the media publicly portrayed Netanyahu as guilty well before the judicial process had concluded, raising broader questions about the balance between public scrutiny…

A punishing heatwave sweeping across Europe has left millions exposed to dangerous temperatures, with authorities warning of rising health risks as the extreme weather pushes deeper into the continent. Forecasts showed that at least 101 million people across Europe were expected to face temperatures above 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday, while more than 380 million were projected to experience temperatures exceeding 30C. France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom were among the countries hardest hit, with emergency services on alert as the human toll of the heat continued to mount. In France, most of the mainland remained under extreme…

African economies are once again confronting mounting debt pressures despite decades of debt relief initiatives, structural adjustment programs and support from the International Monetary Fund, as governments across the continent struggle to finance infrastructure, energy and climate priorities without deepening fiscal vulnerability. The renewed concern comes as the Paris Club marks another anniversary, reviving debate over why debt distress continues to resurface across Africa even after repeated rounds of relief and policy reform. In an interview with Business Africa, Zeine Zeidane, the newly appointed Director of the IMF’s African Department, said the picture is more complex than a simple cycle…

A Paris court has ordered French energy giant TotalEnergies to disclose the environmental consequences of emissions linked to its oil and gas products and explain how it intends to address them, in a ruling that intensifies legal pressure on one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel producers. The decision follows a civil case brought by environmental groups and several French cities seeking to force the company to align its operations with global warming targets set under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The ruling adds to a growing list of legal challenges facing TotalEnergies, including a separate case involving allegations by…

Three Lesotho nationals have been charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with a deadly mass shooting at an informal settlement east of Johannesburg that left 13 people dead and 14 others injured, South African authorities said on Thursday. The suspects, aged between 26 and 34, appeared before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court following their arrest earlier this week. Prosecutors say they are among those believed to have participated in the late-night attack, which has been linked to violent turf battles among illegal mining groups operating around abandoned mine shafts in the area. According to South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority…

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, bowing out after less than two years in office following months of mounting political pressure, policy reversals and declining public support. In an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he would step down as leader of the Labour Party but remain prime minister until a successor is chosen, with the leadership contest expected to begin in July and conclude before Parliament returns from its summer recess in September. “Every decision I have taken has been about putting the country I love first. That is why I will resign…

Much of Europe is preparing for an already severe heatwave to intensify further in the coming days, with several countries rolling out emergency measures as soaring temperatures disrupt daily life, strain transport systems and raise fears of more deaths and wildfires. France is among the worst affected, with more than half of the country placed under red weather alerts as temperatures in some areas climbed above 40 degrees Celsius — unusually high for this time of year. Authorities in the southwest Gironde region said three deaths have been linked in part to the extreme heat, while emergency services and military…

More than 3,500 Malawian nationals have been repatriated from South Africa as authorities in both countries respond to rising anti-immigration tensions and growing pressure over undocumented migration. The latest figures were confirmed by Malawi’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Stella Ndau, who said thousands of Malawians have either already returned home or are currently in transit as the repatriation exercise continues. “Since the repatriation started, we have 1,549 that have arrived in Malawi. We have about 1,260 that are en route, and we also have 700 that were deported, so in total we have 3,509 Malawians that have been repatriated,”…

Israel has appointed Major General Roman Gofman as the new director of the Mossad, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that the intelligence agency will remain at the forefront of efforts to counter Iranian influence and prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The change of command ceremony was held at Mossad headquarters in the presence of senior government officials, military leaders, security chiefs and intelligence personnel. Gofman succeeds David Barnea, who led the agency through a period marked by heightened regional tensions and intelligence operations. Addressing the gathering, Netanyahu praised Gofman’s leadership qualities and experience, describing him as a strategic…