US starts winding down military bases in Niger after ruling junta demanded exit of foreign armies
A US official said there was no timeline for withdrawal besides talks set to start in the coming days about next steps. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to detail the private diplomatic discussions. An American delegation to coordinate the details of the withdrawal process will be dispatched soon.
South African police accused of helping criminals register security companies to access firearms
Naidoo told the court Gounden allegedly had the Verulam Police Station under his control and some detectives were on his payroll.
West African Sahel has become a drug smuggling corridor, UN warns, as seizures skyrocket
Cocaine is the most seized drug in the Sahel after cannabis resin, the report said. The analysis comes as Senegal, which borders on the Sahel, announced Sunday a record-breaking cocaine seizure of 1,137 kilogrammes – the most ever intercepted on land and valued at $146 million – near an artisanal mine in the east of the country.
Gang violence kills 2,500 in Haiti in four months as international support takes a backseat
Gang violence, which has worsened for years, escalated on February 29 when unelected Prime Minister Ariel Henry travelled to Kenya to fast-track a planned international security support mission, but days later he resigned under US pressure.
Israeli drone strikes on Tehran stoke fears of a surge in Middle East crisis as Iran says it won’t hit back
Israel said nothing about the incident. It had said for days it was planning to retaliate against Iran for Saturday’s strikes, the first ever direct attack on Israel by Iran in decades of shadow war waged by proxies which has escalated throughout the Middle East through six months of battle in Gaza.
Israel retaliatory strikes on Iran rattle stocks but US Treasuries report recovery after attacks
Oil prices jumped $3 a barrel on concern that Middle East oil supply could be disrupted, but later pared some of the gains after Iran said it has no plans for an immediate retaliation, denying that any attack had taken place.
India’s sitting PM Modi’s quest for a third term put to test as world’s largest democracy votes
Most polls predict a win for Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, who are up against a broad opposition alliance led by the Indian National Congress and powerful regional parties. It’s not clear who will lead India if the opposition alliance, called INDIA, wins the election. Its more than 20 parties have not put forward a candidate yet.
Death-row inmates, terminally and elderly among 4,000 prisoners freed on Zimbabwe Independence Day
All death row prisoners who have been in jail for at least 10 years had their sentences commuted to life in prison under the amnesty. Zimbabwe has more than 60 inmates on death row. It wasn’t immediately clear how many of those had their sentences commuted to life under the amnesty.
UN approves simplified, cheaper version of cholera vaccine expected to reduce surge in cases
WHO’s approval means donor agencies like the vaccines alliance Gavi and UNICEF can now buy it for poorer countries. Leila Pakkala, director of UNICEF’s supply division, said in a statement that the agency will be able to boost supplies by more than 25 per cent.
Politics or banditry: Speculation rife as Kenya’s military chief dies in suspect helicopter crash
Gen Ogolla, 61, was on a tour of the country’s troubled western region that has seen frequent attacks by local bandits. He was appointed Kenya’s Chief of Defence Forces in April last year after Gen Robert Kibochi retired.
