Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday as they reviewed progress in their bilateral cooperation, anchored in historical and strong people-to-people ties. Modi also thanked him for the relocation of 12 cheetahs to India earlier this year, according to a statement.

Indian PM Modi, South African President speak on  phone, discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine

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<p>Sandesara brothers, currently on the run from the Indian government on charges of multiple frauds are having a party in Nigeria. A recent report by Bloomberg highlights that the African nation has become a safe haven for the fugitives who have the full backing of newly-elected President Boa Tinubu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nitin and Chetan Sandesara left India in 2017 and deny allegations of cheating, saying they are the victims of political persecution. However, it matters little now as the brothers are flourishing in the country. Nigeria has refused India's requests to extradite them saying the allegations "appeared to be political in nature".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Having ventured into the oil industry almost 20 years ago, the brothers are currently the state's partner in multi-billion dollar oil projects. Last year, the Nigerian government celebrated the discovery of as many as 1 billion barrels of oil in the country’s arid northeast, almost 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) away from the crude-rich Niger Delta. The Sandesara brothers and their companies will be pumping out this oil - giving further incentive to the Nigerian government to shield them from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-africa-calls-for-extradition-of-gupta-brothers-583777"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;South Africa calls for extradition of Gupta brothers</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to the publication, the group’s subsidiaries — Sterling Oil Exploration &amp; Production Co. and Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd. at the moment, pump about 50,000 barrels of crude a day in the delta. The Sandesara family is also the top exporter of oil from Nigeria while contributing two per cent to the Nigerian government’s revenue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With the likes of Shell and ExxonMobil Corp retreating from the West African country, the&nbsp;Sandesara brothers have only strengthened their hold over the bureaucracy.</p>

<h2><strong>$1.7 billion fraud by&nbsp;Sandesara brothers</strong></h2>

<p>India's Enforcement Directorate, during the investigation found that several companies promoted by the Sandesara brothers, had fraudulently obtained credit facilities worth billions from various banks, which subsequently turned into Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). India's premier investigation agency CBI told the Supreme Court last year that the group owed $1.71 billion to public lenders such as State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Union bank of India</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ed-files-chargesheet-against-sterling-biotech-director-152752" target="_blank"><strong>Also read | ED files chargesheet against Sterling Biotech director</strong></a></p>

<p>The probe revealed that the brothers set up more than 300 shell and benami companies in India and abroad to divert and misuse loan funds, manipulate balance sheets and fudging other documents to inflate turnovers and insider shares trading. The Sandesaras reportedly controlled these shell and benami companies through dummy directors, who were shown as employees of various companies of the Sterling Group</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

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Sandesara brothers, currently on the run from the Indian government on charges of multiple frauds are having a party in Nigeria. A recent report by Bloomberg highlights that the African nation has become a safe haven for the fugitives who have the full backing of newly-elected President Boa Tinubu.

Sandesara brothers, currently on the run from the Indian government on charges of multiple frauds are having a party in Nigeria. A recent report by Bloomberg highlights that the African nation has become a safe haven for the fugitives who have the full backing of newly-elected President Boa Tinubu. Nitin and Chetan Sandesara left India in 2017 and deny allegations of cheating, saying they are the victims of political persecution. However, it matters little now as the brothers are flourishing in the country. Nigeria has refused India's requests to extradite them saying the allegations "appeared to be political in nature". Having ventured into the oil industry almost 20 years ago, the brothers are currently the state's partner in multi-billion dollar oil projects. Last year, the Nigerian government celebrated the discovery of as many as 1 billion barrels of oil in the country’s arid northeast, almost 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) away from the crude-rich Niger Delta. The Sandesara brothers and their companies will be pumping out this oil - giving further incentive to the Nigerian government to shield them from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. WATCH | South Africa calls for extradition of Gupta brothers × According to the publication, the group’s subsidiaries — Sterling Oil Exploration & Production Co. and Sterling Global Oil Resources Ltd. at the moment, pump about 50,000 barrels of crude a day in the delta. The Sandesara family is also the top exporter of oil from Nigeria while contributing two per cent to the Nigerian government’s revenue. With the likes of Shell and ExxonMobil Corp retreating from the West African country, the Sandesara brothers have only strengthened their hold over the bureaucracy. $1.7 billion fraud by Sandesara brothers India's Enforcement Directorate, during the investigation found that several companies promoted by the Sandesara brothers, had fraudulently obtained credit facilities worth billions from various banks, which subsequently turned into Non-Performing Assets (NPAs). India's premier investigation agency CBI told the Supreme Court last year that the group owed $1.71 billion to public lenders such as State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda and Union bank of India Also read | ED files chargesheet against Sterling Biotech director The probe revealed that the brothers set up more than 300 shell and benami companies in India and abroad to divert and misuse loan funds, manipulate balance sheets and fudging other documents to inflate turnovers and insider shares trading. The Sandesaras reportedly controlled these shell and benami companies through dummy directors, who were shown as employees of various companies of the Sterling Group (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Sandesara brothers: Wanted in India, flourishing with state-backed support in Nigeria

South Africa is the latest country in the African continent to fall prey to Cholera, a disease that has killed thousands over the past two years. The disease has been declared as a global threat by the World Health Body.

Cholera reaches South Africa | World of Africa

<p>Police and protesters in Senegal clashed for a second day which resulted in death of one more person on Friday (June 2). The protests and clashes have erupted after sentencing of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko. The violence is one of the deadliest in recent memory.</p>

<p>Nine people died in clashes between police and Sonko supporters on Thursday after he was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of corrupting youth. The opposition says the verdict, which could prevent Sonko from running in elections next year, was politically motivated.</p>

<p>Crowds of protesters in face covers, some with spades, set tires and debris alight. They squared up to the police in various districts of Dakar, capital of Senegal.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Senegal: Riots break out in Dakar, violence erupts at central university campus</strong></p>

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<p>Supermarkets, shops, banks and even police stations have been attacked by mobs.</p>

<p>Similar scenes were reported in other parts of the country on Friday. Interior ministry spokesperson Maham Ka said another person was killed in the southern town of Cap Skirring, where protesters targeted a gendarmerie, bringing the death toll up to 10.</p>

<p>Riot police and soldiers have been deployed to control the mobs. They have cracked down using tear gas, which wafted through the Senegalese capital on Friday. Loud bangs rang out in several neighbourhoods.</p>

<h2><strong>Social media restricted</strong></h2>

<p>Restrictions have been put on several social media and messaging platforms in order to limit online communication.</p>

<p>Thursday and Friday's riots were the latest bout in months of violence in Senegal, long considered one of West Africa's strongest democracies, sparked by Sonko's court case as well as concerns that President Macky Sall will try to bypass a two-term limit and run again in February elections.</p>

<p>Sall has neither confirmed nor denied this.</p>

<p>The violence has been condemned by the United Nations, the African Union and West Africa's main regional bloc. France, the former colonial power in Africa, has urged restraint and dialogue.</p>

<p>Amnesty International has meanwhile called on the government to investigate Thursday's deaths and avoid using force disproportionately.</p>

<p>(With inputs from agencies)</p>

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Police and protesters in Senegal clashed for a second day which resulted in death of one more person on Friday (June 2). The protests and clashes have erupted after sentencing of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko.

Police and protesters in Senegal clashed for a second day which resulted in death of one more person on Friday (June 2). The protests and clashes have erupted after sentencing of opposition politician Ousmane Sonko. The violence is one of the deadliest in recent memory. Nine people died in clashes between police and Sonko supporters on Thursday after he was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of corrupting youth. The opposition says the verdict, which could prevent Sonko from running in elections next year, was politically motivated. Crowds of protesters in face covers, some with spades, set tires and debris alight. They squared up to the police in various districts of Dakar, capital of Senegal. Watch | Senegal: Riots break out in Dakar, violence erupts at central university campus × Supermarkets, shops, banks and even police stations have been attacked by mobs. Similar scenes were reported in other parts of the country on Friday. Interior ministry spokesperson Maham Ka said another person was killed in the southern town of Cap Skirring, where protesters targeted a gendarmerie, bringing the death toll up to 10. Riot police and soldiers have been deployed to control the mobs. They have cracked down using tear gas, which wafted through the Senegalese capital on Friday. Loud bangs rang out in several neighbourhoods. Social media restricted Restrictions have been put on several social media and messaging platforms in order to limit online communication. Thursday and Friday's riots were the latest bout in months of violence in Senegal, long considered one of West Africa's strongest democracies, sparked by Sonko's court case as well as concerns that President Macky Sall will try to bypass a two-term limit and run again in February elections. Sall has neither confirmed nor denied this. The violence has been condemned by the United Nations, the African Union and West Africa's main regional bloc. France, the former colonial power in Africa, has urged restraint and dialogue. Amnesty International has meanwhile called on the government to investigate Thursday's deaths and avoid using force disproportionately. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Senegal: Death toll rises to 10 as clashes continue

India and China have unleashed their hunger for Russian oil, sending import levels skyrocketing to unprecedented levels. the oil-hungry Asian giants are gobbling up discounted supplies, leaving West Asia and Africa in the dust. A Reuters report suggests India, has taken its hunger for Russian oil to the next level. It has bought a jaw dropping record of 66.7 million barrels in may alone!

India's oil purchase from Russia breaches new high

<p>Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Zimbabwe gears up for national elections</strong></h2>

<p>The announcement of the dates was made by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a government gazette, on Wednesday, which also set the date October 2 as a potential presidential runoff vote. Mnangagwa, who was elected president in 2018, replaced his predecessor Robert Mugabe who led the country for nearly four decades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mugabe was ousted in 2017 after a military coup. The 80-year-old incumbent is already facing allegations of violence and intimidation from the opposition, while human rights groups have said that the Zimbabwe president is silencing criticism. Mnangagwa took office in 2018 following the general election a year after the coup.</p>

<p>In addition to the presidential election, the country will also vote for the 300-seat parliament and close to 2,000 local council positions. The southern African nation has only had two leaders since it gained independence in 1980.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Mnangagwa was a close ally of Mugabe and has attempted to present himself as a reformer. However, he has been accused of being more repressive than his predecessor who he helped remove from power.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the upcoming election, Mnangagwa will compete with the 45-year-old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, party leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The announcement of the election also comes amid the ongoing parliamentary debates over electoral reforms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per reports, Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa, in 2018 while his claims of election rigging were dismissed by the country’s Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, political analysts have said that the failure to implement electoral reforms may lead Zimbabwe up for another disputed election, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The southern African nation is also in the midst of an economic crisis which has been attributed to Mugabe’s leadership. The opposition parties have reportedly also blamed the current government for corruption and economic mismanagement while Mnangagwa defending his ZANU-PF-led government blamed Western sanctions for the country’s financial and economic woes.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>US deputy ambassador summoned by Zimbabwe's foreign ministry</strong></h2>

<p>The election announcement came a day after Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry summoned the US Deputy Ambassador Elaine French, for a meeting with the country’s foreign affairs acting permanent secretary Rofina Chikava for “election-related social media posts bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs,” reported the Associated Press.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US embassy, took to Twitter, on May 26 posted an image and called for Zimbabweans to “Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard.” The foreign ministry said the tweet was against diplomatic protocols. However, US Embassy spokeswoman Meg Riggs said that they stand by their message of calling for peace during the election season and called the process a part of a “functioning democracy.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election.

Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23, the country’s president announced on Wednesday (May 31). The southern African country, which has a history of violent and disputed elections, summoned the United States deputy ambassador over a series of tweets which called for a peaceful election. Zimbabwe gears up for national elections The announcement of the dates was made by Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa through a government gazette, on Wednesday, which also set the date October 2 as a potential presidential runoff vote. Mnangagwa, who was elected president in 2018, replaced his predecessor Robert Mugabe who led the country for nearly four decades. Mugabe was ousted in 2017 after a military coup. The 80-year-old incumbent is already facing allegations of violence and intimidation from the opposition, while human rights groups have said that the Zimbabwe president is silencing criticism. Mnangagwa took office in 2018 following the general election a year after the coup. In addition to the presidential election, the country will also vote for the 300-seat parliament and close to 2,000 local council positions. The southern African nation has only had two leaders since it gained independence in 1980. Notably, Mnangagwa was a close ally of Mugabe and has attempted to present himself as a reformer. However, he has been accused of being more repressive than his predecessor who he helped remove from power. In the upcoming election, Mnangagwa will compete with the 45-year-old lawyer and pastor Nelson Chamisa, party leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). The announcement of the election also comes amid the ongoing parliamentary debates over electoral reforms. As per reports, Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa, in 2018 while his claims of election rigging were dismissed by the country’s Constitutional Court. Meanwhile, political analysts have said that the failure to implement electoral reforms may lead Zimbabwe up for another disputed election, reported Reuters. The southern African nation is also in the midst of an economic crisis which has been attributed to Mugabe’s leadership. The opposition parties have reportedly also blamed the current government for corruption and economic mismanagement while Mnangagwa defending his ZANU-PF-led government blamed Western sanctions for the country’s financial and economic woes. US deputy ambassador summoned by Zimbabwe's foreign ministry The election announcement came a day after Zimbabwe’s foreign ministry summoned the US Deputy Ambassador Elaine French, for a meeting with the country’s foreign affairs acting permanent secretary Rofina Chikava for “election-related social media posts bordering on activism and meddling in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs,” reported the Associated Press. The US embassy, took to Twitter, on May 26 posted an image and called for Zimbabweans to “Register to vote and make sure your voice is heard.” The foreign ministry said the tweet was against diplomatic protocols. However, US Embassy spokeswoman Meg Riggs said that they stand by their message of calling for peace during the election season and called the process a part of a “functioning democracy.” (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Zimbabwe to hold general elections in August; summons US ambassador over ‘meddling’ tweets

Today on World No Tobacco Day, our next report gives you a glimpse of the growing tobacco crisis in Africa.

2023: World No Tobacco Day

<p>Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. Lavrov claims that because of it, “everything Russian” would be destroyed in east Ukraine and Crimea.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, top Ukrainian presidential aid in a recent interview said Kyiv is&nbsp;no longer interested in a ceasefire and&nbsp;Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war.</p>

<h2><strong>What did Lavrov say?</strong></h2>

<p>The Russian foreign minister during a press conference with his Burundian counterpart said, “The conclusion is very simple - the West directly supports genocide.” This comes as Moscow has long accused the West of what it calls Ukrainian persecution of Russian language speakers in the eastern Donbas region and elsewhere.</p>

<p>The peace plan proposed&nbsp;by Zelensky late last year calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory including the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow&nbsp;annexed in 2014. In the context of the recent drone attacks in Moscow, Lavrov also accused the West of directly helping Kyiv conduct such “terrorist” strikes by providing it with military equipment.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The statement of the West that the weapons it is supplying (to Ukraine) must not be used against the territory of the Russian Federation is just another lie,” said the Russian foreign minister. Notably, Moscow has also claimed that US-provided armoured vehicles were used during the border incursion in Russia’s Belgorod&nbsp;earlier this month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>US Army General Mark Milley, addressing Moscow’s accusations of pro-Ukrainian militia using armoured vehicles to carry out the border incursion, said Washington has long asked Kyiv not to use US-provided military equipment for attacks inside Russian territory.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Russia blames the West for Kyiv's 'reckless'&nbsp;drone attacks on Moscow</strong></h2>

<p>The Russian foreign ministry in a statement, on Tuesday, blamed Western support of&nbsp;Ukraine and said that it was “pushing” Kyiv towards “increasingly reckless” behaviour in reference to the recent drone attacks in Moscow. They also went on to say that these attacks are designed to spread “panic”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Western support for the Kyiv regime is pushing the Ukrainian leadership towards increasingly reckless acts, including terrorism”. Russia has also said that it intercepted all eight of the Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow and said there were no deaths but two injuries were reported. Moscow said that it has launched a probe into the incident.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid “the new reality”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv’s involvement in the attack.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ukraine’s peace plan the only way to end conflict: Zelensky’s aide</strong></h2>

<p>In an interview with Reuters, chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine is no longer interested in a ceasefire and said that Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. Zhovkva also said that the time for mediation efforts has passed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Ukrainian presidential aid also pushed back on multiple peace plans pitched by China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa over the past couple of months and told Reuters, “There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also spoke about how Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan received an extremely positive reaction&nbsp;at the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Japan, earlier this month, which was also attended by Zelensky. “Not a single formula (point) had any concerns from the (G7) countries,” said Zhovkva, as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The presidential aide also said Ukraine wants G7 leaders to help bring as many Global South leaders as possible to a Ukraine-proposed ‘peace summit’ this summer. Japan, which currently holds the G7 presidency&nbsp;also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is in the midst of a visit to Africa, on Tuesday (May 30) accused the West of “supporting genocide” in Kyiv over its backing of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan. Lavrov claims that because of it, “everything Russian” would be destroyed in east Ukraine and Crimea. Meanwhile, top Ukrainian presidential aid in a recent interview said Kyiv is no longer interested in a ceasefire and Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. What did Lavrov say? The Russian foreign minister during a press conference with his Burundian counterpart said, “The conclusion is very simple - the West directly supports genocide.” This comes as Moscow has long accused the West of what it calls Ukrainian persecution of Russian language speakers in the eastern Donbas region and elsewhere. The peace plan proposed by Zelensky late last year calls for the withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory including the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. In the context of the recent drone attacks in Moscow, Lavrov also accused the West of directly helping Kyiv conduct such “terrorist” strikes by providing it with military equipment. “The statement of the West that the weapons it is supplying (to Ukraine) must not be used against the territory of the Russian Federation is just another lie,” said the Russian foreign minister. Notably, Moscow has also claimed that US-provided armoured vehicles were used during the border incursion in Russia’s Belgorod earlier this month. US Army General Mark Milley, addressing Moscow’s accusations of pro-Ukrainian militia using armoured vehicles to carry out the border incursion, said Washington has long asked Kyiv not to use US-provided military equipment for attacks inside Russian territory. Russia blames the West for Kyiv's 'reckless' drone attacks on Moscow The Russian foreign ministry in a statement, on Tuesday, blamed Western support of Ukraine and said that it was “pushing” Kyiv towards “increasingly reckless” behaviour in reference to the recent drone attacks in Moscow. They also went on to say that these attacks are designed to spread “panic”. “Western support for the Kyiv regime is pushing the Ukrainian leadership towards increasingly reckless acts, including terrorism”. Russia has also said that it intercepted all eight of the Ukrainian drones aimed at Moscow and said there were no deaths but two injuries were reported. Moscow said that it has launched a probe into the incident. Russian lawmaker Maxim Ivanov called it the most serious assault on Moscow since the Nazis, saying no citizen could now avoid “the new reality”. Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak denied Kyiv’s involvement in the attack. Ukraine’s peace plan the only way to end conflict: Zelensky’s aide In an interview with Reuters, chief diplomatic adviser Ihor Zhovkva said that Ukraine is no longer interested in a ceasefire and said that Zelensky’s peace plan is the only way to end Russia’s war. Zhovkva also said that the time for mediation efforts has passed. The Ukrainian presidential aid also pushed back on multiple peace plans pitched by China, Brazil, the Vatican and South Africa over the past couple of months and told Reuters, “There cannot be a Brazilian peace plan, a Chinese peace plan, a South African peace plan when you are talking about the war in Ukraine”. He also spoke about how Ukraine’s 10-point peace plan received an extremely positive reaction at the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in Japan, earlier this month, which was also attended by Zelensky. “Not a single formula (point) had any concerns from the (G7) countries,” said Zhovkva, as per Reuters. The presidential aide also said Ukraine wants G7 leaders to help bring as many Global South leaders as possible to a Ukraine-proposed ‘peace summit’ this summer. Japan, which currently holds the G7 presidency also invited leaders from the so-called Global South to Hiroshima for talks including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indonesian President Joko Widodo. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘West directly supports genocide’ in Ukraine: Russia's Lavrov on Zelensky's peace plan

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has signed one of the world's toughest anti-LGBTQ laws that includes the death penalty for aggravated homosexuality. The move has drawn Western condemnation and risks sanctions from eight donors.

Africa: Uganda enacts tough anti-LGBTQ law, move draws western condemnation

Perils faced by the LGBTQ community in Africa

<p>In the small village of Ololosokwan, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park live the centuries-old Maasai people of East Africa who have for over a decade now been pushed out of their land for a “game reserve,” while the government says it is to help protect the environment.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who are the Maasai people?</strong></h2>

<p>The pastoralist Maasai is said to be among one of the most vibrant indigenous societies on the continent who have lived and managed alongside other native communities for more than two centuries now in the Great Rift Valley located in Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The herders are known for their beaded jewellery and plaid shawls draped over their shoulders and wrapped around their waists.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They live in the Ngorongoro district after British colonial authorities in 1951 declared the Serengeti area a national park and relocated the communities within its borders. Since then, living in small clusters of bomas (traditional Maasai houses), the nearly 7,000 semi-nomadic pastoralist ethnic group of people are being forced to relive the woeful echoes of their colonial past.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Previous attempts at ‘forced’ evictions</strong></h2>

<p>The Tanzanian government plans to displace about 150,000 pastoralists for its conservation initiatives in two areas in the Ngorongoro district &nbsp;– Loliondo Game Controlled Area and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), reported Human Rights Watch (HRW). However, it was not even close to the first time that it has moved to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Joseph Oleshangay, a lawyer with the Tanzania-based Legal and Human Rights Centre,&nbsp;the government has made multiple attempts to push the Maasai people out of their lands since 2003. In 2017, government security forces allegedly burned 185 Maasai houses, a move which has been dubbed as a forced act of eviction by rights groups.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the time, the government had claimed that the houses in question had been built inside the park, a claim which was also upheld in an East African court. Another incident of violence took place last year when the people from the Maasai community in Loliondo protested against the police&nbsp;demarcating 1,500 square kilometres for the “game reserve”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A report by The Guardian, citing eyewitnesses, said that the police opened fire, stole cattle, and destroyed property.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per the HRW, security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained 10 community leaders and even fired teargas and rubber bullets. This clash also led to the death of one police officer and left over 30 Maasai, women, children, and older people&nbsp;injured, while thousands fled to Kenya.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Speaking about the incident to Bloomberg, a man who was only referred to as ‘K’, recalled that some 200 police, military and park rangers faced off against around 500 locals at the village office. According to K, while officials were trying to push past the crowd, shots were fired. Meanwhile, the local men pulled out their wooden bows from their backs and unleashed a number&nbsp;of arrows which hit an officer in the eye, who later died.&nbsp;</p>

<p>K said the officials had responded by firing into the crowd when he suddenly fell and was wounded by a gunshot before he passed out into the nearby forest. He has since fled Ololosokwan and had been living across the border in Kenya.</p>

<h2><strong>So-called quieter approach</strong>&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This also came after the government opted for a quieter approach to the relocation, as per rights groups. In 2021, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, which manages the land, issued a 30-day eviction notice to 45 people in the area, which was in addition to 166 others who were identified as illegal “immigrants”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The agency also ordered the destruction of over 100 homes, churches, schools, medical dispensaries, police stations, and administrative offices within the 30-day period claiming that they had been built without permits, reported The Guardian. The orders were suspended following protests from locals who say that the structures had been there for decades now.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<br />
A report by HRW,&nbsp;citing residents, said that since February 2022, the government had begun downsizing essential services in the area. This included health, education, and emergency services after the officials had grounded Flying Medical Services, while the area’s main hospital was downsized to a dispensary from a staff of 64 to two.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
The Ngorongoro district authorities, in March 2022, sent two notices seen by The Guardian to six public schools ordering them to transfer some 200 million Tanzanian shillings ($ 84,744) in COVID-19 relief funds to the Handeni resettlement site.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this year, the local media reported that some 500 residents and 2,000 livestock have been moved to Msomera village in Handeni district, which is hundreds of kilometres away, since the beginning of the relocation back on June 16, 2022. Rights groups have alleged that this downsizing directly hinders the community’s ability to live there.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was after the land demarcation exercise which&nbsp;restricted people’s access to water sources, and grazing sites, and even cut through some of the houses, reported HRW. “The government is trying to suffocate the communities and make the situation uncomfortable for them,” said human rights lawyer, Denis Moses Oleshangai, as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this year, William Ole Seki, a Maasai elder spoke to the United Kingdom-based newspaper and spoke about how the government has banned imports of building materials into the area, the region’s only hospital was under threat of closure, and two villages to the north which had no water for weeks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Experts from the United Nations have called on the Tanzania government to halt forced evictions and relocation and urged them to work towards conservation with the local community. It is not just the locals, as officials from the European Union, UN, and international non-governmental organisations have also accused the government of pushing the Maasai off their lands.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is all of this for?</strong></h2>

<p>Last year, Tanzania’s tourism ministry decided to convert 1,500 square kilometres around Ololosokwan from a “game-controlled area,” where residents are permitted to live, farm and graze livestock, to a “game reserve,” reported Bloomberg. The so-called game reserve would be turned into a wildlife habitat as well as used for safari tourism and people with the right licence can also hunt.</p>

<p>The price of the game reserve is being paid by the Maasai who as per the locals, UN Human Rights Council and the European Parliament,&nbsp;have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, torture and beatings, in addition to the aforementioned hindrances to their livelihoods. Notably, the plans for the so-called game reserve have been in the works for three decades now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the UN, 82,000 Maasai risk being pushed out of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo reported Bloomberg. However, Tanzania’s Natural Resources and tourism ministry has asserted that Ololosokwan “has no settlements.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Addressing the conservation efforts the government has alleged that the Maasai and their herds are expanding and now represent a threat to conservation in Ngorongoro and the wider Serengeti ecosystem.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The national park is home to several endangered species including the black rhinoceros, elephant, wild dog and cheetah. However, the Maasai assert that they live harmoniously with wildlife, which scientists have agreed with as nearly 300 researchers from around the world signed an open letter and called for a halt to eviction efforts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meanwhile, rights groups have said Tanzania is pushing Maasai out of the region in a bid to expand its lucrative tourism sector supposedly under the guise of conservation efforts. “It’s all about money. Dirty money,” Ole Seki told The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In 2019, the tourism sector brought in $6.6 billion and made up 11 per cent of the country’s GDP. According to an analysis by HRW, satellite images of the region show in July 2022 about 90 homesteads and animal enclosures were burned within the demarcated area.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The UAE connection</strong></h2>

<p>A report by Bloomberg alleges that in 1992, the Ngorongoro district council granted a 10-year hunting permit to a man named Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Ali for areas including Ololosokwan and five other villages. He is currently said to be the chairman and owner of the Al Ali Group, a major property developer in the United Arab Emirates.</p>

<p>Citing the findings of a Tanzanian investigative reporter who has since been arrested, the media report says that millions of dollars in donations were also made from Dubai’s royal family to Tanzania’s ruling party. However, the UAE government has since denied these allegations and said it was “committed to preserving the rights of indigenous peoples”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Maasai delegation to meet European leaders</strong>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this week, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) said that a high-profile delegation of Maasai representatives will meet European governments, EU institutions and NGOs like Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), in May, for what they have described as the government’s “brutal campaign against Maasai in Tanzania.”&nbsp;<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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In the small village of Ololosokwan, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park live the centuries-old Maasai people of East Africa who have for over a decade now been pushed out of their land for a “game reserve,” while the government says it is to help protect the environment.

In the small village of Ololosokwan, adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site and Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park live the centuries-old Maasai people of East Africa who have for over a decade now been pushed out of their land for a “game reserve,” while the government says it is to help protect the environment. Who are the Maasai people? The pastoralist Maasai is said to be among one of the most vibrant indigenous societies on the continent who have lived and managed alongside other native communities for more than two centuries now in the Great Rift Valley located in Southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. The herders are known for their beaded jewellery and plaid shawls draped over their shoulders and wrapped around their waists. They live in the Ngorongoro district after British colonial authorities in 1951 declared the Serengeti area a national park and relocated the communities within its borders. Since then, living in small clusters of bomas (traditional Maasai houses), the nearly 7,000 semi-nomadic pastoralist ethnic group of people are being forced to relive the woeful echoes of their colonial past. Previous attempts at ‘forced’ evictions The Tanzanian government plans to displace about 150,000 pastoralists for its conservation initiatives in two areas in the Ngorongoro district – Loliondo Game Controlled Area and Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), reported Human Rights Watch (HRW). However, it was not even close to the first time that it has moved to do so. According to Joseph Oleshangay, a lawyer with the Tanzania-based Legal and Human Rights Centre, the government has made multiple attempts to push the Maasai people out of their lands since 2003. In 2017, government security forces allegedly burned 185 Maasai houses, a move which has been dubbed as a forced act of eviction by rights groups. At the time, the government had claimed that the houses in question had been built inside the park, a claim which was also upheld in an East African court. Another incident of violence took place last year when the people from the Maasai community in Loliondo protested against the police demarcating 1,500 square kilometres for the “game reserve”. A report by The Guardian, citing eyewitnesses, said that the police opened fire, stole cattle, and destroyed property. As per the HRW, security forces arbitrarily arrested and detained 10 community leaders and even fired teargas and rubber bullets. This clash also led to the death of one police officer and left over 30 Maasai, women, children, and older people injured, while thousands fled to Kenya. Speaking about the incident to Bloomberg, a man who was only referred to as ‘K’, recalled that some 200 police, military and park rangers faced off against around 500 locals at the village office. According to K, while officials were trying to push past the crowd, shots were fired. Meanwhile, the local men pulled out their wooden bows from their backs and unleashed a number of arrows which hit an officer in the eye, who later died. K said the officials had responded by firing into the crowd when he suddenly fell and was wounded by a gunshot before he passed out into the nearby forest. He has since fled Ololosokwan and had been living across the border in Kenya. So-called quieter approach This also came after the government opted for a quieter approach to the relocation, as per rights groups. In 2021, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, which manages the land, issued a 30-day eviction notice to 45 people in the area, which was in addition to 166 others who were identified as illegal “immigrants”. The agency also ordered the destruction of over 100 homes, churches, schools, medical dispensaries, police stations, and administrative offices within the 30-day period claiming that they had been built without permits, reported The Guardian. The orders were suspended following protests from locals who say that the structures had been there for decades now. A report by HRW, citing residents, said that since February 2022, the government had begun downsizing essential services in the area. This included health, education, and emergency services after the officials had grounded Flying Medical Services, while the area’s main hospital was downsized to a dispensary from a staff of 64 to two. The Ngorongoro district authorities, in March 2022, sent two notices seen by The Guardian to six public schools ordering them to transfer some 200 million Tanzanian shillings ($ 84,744) in COVID-19 relief funds to the Handeni resettlement site. Earlier this year, the local media reported that some 500 residents and 2,000 livestock have been moved to Msomera village in Handeni district, which is hundreds of kilometres away, since the beginning of the relocation back on June 16, 2022. Rights groups have alleged that this downsizing directly hinders the community’s ability to live there. This was after the land demarcation exercise which restricted people’s access to water sources, and grazing sites, and even cut through some of the houses, reported HRW. “The government is trying to suffocate the communities and make the situation uncomfortable for them,” said human rights lawyer, Denis Moses Oleshangai, as quoted by The Guardian. Earlier this year, William Ole Seki, a Maasai elder spoke to the United Kingdom-based newspaper and spoke about how the government has banned imports of building materials into the area, the region’s only hospital was under threat of closure, and two villages to the north which had no water for weeks. Experts from the United Nations have called on the Tanzania government to halt forced evictions and relocation and urged them to work towards conservation with the local community. It is not just the locals, as officials from the European Union, UN, and international non-governmental organisations have also accused the government of pushing the Maasai off their lands. What is all of this for? Last year, Tanzania’s tourism ministry decided to convert 1,500 square kilometres around Ololosokwan from a “game-controlled area,” where residents are permitted to live, farm and graze livestock, to a “game reserve,” reported Bloomberg. The so-called game reserve would be turned into a wildlife habitat as well as used for safari tourism and people with the right licence can also hunt. The price of the game reserve is being paid by the Maasai who as per the locals, UN Human Rights Council and the European Parliament, have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, torture and beatings, in addition to the aforementioned hindrances to their livelihoods. Notably, the plans for the so-called game reserve have been in the works for three decades now. According to the UN, 82,000 Maasai risk being pushed out of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Loliondo reported Bloomberg. However, Tanzania’s Natural Resources and tourism ministry has asserted that Ololosokwan “has no settlements.” Addressing the conservation efforts the government has alleged that the Maasai and their herds are expanding and now represent a threat to conservation in Ngorongoro and the wider Serengeti ecosystem. The national park is home to several endangered species including the black rhinoceros, elephant, wild dog and cheetah. However, the Maasai assert that they live harmoniously with wildlife, which scientists have agreed with as nearly 300 researchers from around the world signed an open letter and called for a halt to eviction efforts. Meanwhile, rights groups have said Tanzania is pushing Maasai out of the region in a bid to expand its lucrative tourism sector supposedly under the guise of conservation efforts. “It’s all about money. Dirty money,” Ole Seki told The Guardian. In 2019, the tourism sector brought in $6.6 billion and made up 11 per cent of the country’s GDP. According to an analysis by HRW, satellite images of the region show in July 2022 about 90 homesteads and animal enclosures were burned within the demarcated area. The UAE connection A report by Bloomberg alleges that in 1992, the Ngorongoro district council granted a 10-year hunting permit to a man named Mohammed Abdulrahim Al Ali for areas including Ololosokwan and five other villages. He is currently said to be the chairman and owner of the Al Ali Group, a major property developer in the United Arab Emirates. Citing the findings of a Tanzanian investigative reporter who has since been arrested, the media report says that millions of dollars in donations were also made from Dubai’s royal family to Tanzania’s ruling party. However, the UAE government has since denied these allegations and said it was “committed to preserving the rights of indigenous peoples”. Maasai delegation to meet European leaders Earlier this week, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) said that a high-profile delegation of Maasai representatives will meet European governments, EU institutions and NGOs like Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), in May, for what they have described as the government’s “brutal campaign against Maasai in Tanzania.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | How Tanzania’s Maasai are being 'forcefully relocated' for a 'game reserve'

Horn of Africa faces the worst drought in 40 years. aid agencies back the UN's $7 billion appeal for devastating crisis.

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According to a recently completed annual assessment by IMF staff, growth in the democratic republic of the Congo (DRC) sharply rebounded from 1.7 percent in 2020 to an estimated 6.2 percent in 2021, well above the 4.5 percent rate in sub-saharan Africa. The strong recovery was driven by the country’s mining and services sector performance. Even though the country is doing great on one end, that has not trickled down to the citizens who are outraged by the rate of insecurity, living conditions, and cases of sexual abuse in the east.

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Not many 3-year-olds can read and identify letters and shapes, but Lethukuthula is one who can. She first came into the limelight in 2022 when her mother, created a TikTok account and used it to share videos of her, reading words and sentences, or sounding out letters. She is now a prodigy.

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The 54 member nations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be divided into nine groups of six for the 2026 World Cup qualifying competition, the organisation said on Friday.

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<p>A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito,&nbsp;believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally&nbsp;impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Loonkiito, who was 19 years old,&nbsp;died in the&nbsp;Olkelunyiet village, located in southern Kenya, bordering Amboseli National Park, while preying upon livestock. The village is famous for being the best place in Africa where tourists can get close to freely roaming wild elephants and other wildlife species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lion Guardians, a Maasai-operated conservation group, took to Instagram and informed about&nbsp;Loonkiito's demise, referring to him as the "oldest male lion in their ecosystem and possibly in Africa".</p>

<p>"It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004-2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old," read the caption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy. In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito’s life with the world."</p>

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<p>The king of the jungle was killed because he ventured too close to human settlement. A combination of factors, primarily the drought and lack of food in the forest led the lion to hunt livestock as a last resort.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In desperation, lions often turn to take livestock," the group added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-climate-tracker-south-african-rhino-poaching-drops-conservation-efforts-are-paying-off-509865" target="_blank"><strong>WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: South African Rhino poaching drops; conservation efforts are paying off</strong></a></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-indian-state-is-opening-up-another-sanctuary-for-asiatic-lions-as-numbers-grow-exponentially-572574#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></p>

<h2><strong>Loonkiito was an aberration&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>According to experts, most lions do not live beyond 13 years in the wild, which made&nbsp;Loonkiito an anomaly. Though it is not confirmed by the Kenyan government if he was the oldest lion on the continent, his death has certainly made an impact and shows the increasing friction between man and animals.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/this-indian-state-is-opening-up-another-sanctuary-for-asiatic-lions-as-numbers-grow-exponentially-572574"><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;THIS Indian state is opening up another sanctuary for Asiatic lions as numbers grow exponentially</strong></a></p>

<p>Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, told BBC she was pained by the death of&nbsp;Loonkiito.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction," said Kahumbu.</p>

<p>Notably, apart from Africa, the majestic big cats are only found in India's Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito, believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials.

A Kenyan lion named Loonkiito, believed to be the world's oldest, has died after he was brutally impaled by Maasai morans (warriors) on Wednesday (May 10) night, according to local wildlife officials. Loonkiito, who was 19 years old, died in the Olkelunyiet village, located in southern Kenya, bordering Amboseli National Park, while preying upon livestock. The village is famous for being the best place in Africa where tourists can get close to freely roaming wild elephants and other wildlife species. Lion Guardians, a Maasai-operated conservation group, took to Instagram and informed about Loonkiito's demise, referring to him as the "oldest male lion in their ecosystem and possibly in Africa". "It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Loonkiito (2004-2023), the oldest male lion in our ecosystem and possibly in Africa. He died yesterday, on the 10th of May 2023 at 19 years old," read the caption. "He was a symbol of resilience and coexistence. We at Lion Guardians feel privileged to have borne witness to his life and his legacy. In the following weeks and months, we hope to share the extraordinary story of Loonkiito’s life with the world." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lion Guardians (@lionguardians_) × The king of the jungle was killed because he ventured too close to human settlement. A combination of factors, primarily the drought and lack of food in the forest led the lion to hunt livestock as a last resort. "In desperation, lions often turn to take livestock," the group added. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker: South African Rhino poaching drops; conservation efforts are paying off × Loonkiito was an aberration According to experts, most lions do not live beyond 13 years in the wild, which made Loonkiito an anomaly. Though it is not confirmed by the Kenyan government if he was the oldest lion on the continent, his death has certainly made an impact and shows the increasing friction between man and animals. ALSO READ | THIS Indian state is opening up another sanctuary for Asiatic lions as numbers grow exponentially Paula Kahumbu, a wildlife conservationist and chief executive officer of WildlifeDirect, told BBC she was pained by the death of Loonkiito. "This is the breaking point for human-wildlife conflict and we need to do more as a country to preserve lions, which are facing extinction," said Kahumbu. Notably, apart from Africa, the majestic big cats are only found in India's Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Wild lion Loonkiito, believed to be world‘s oldest, impaled to death in Kenya

Researchers in Senegal have begun the harvest of home-grown experimental wheat which will help reduce the country's reliance on imports.

Experiments to reduce reliance on imports

India is on its way to cement stronger ties with foreign nations around the world. It is trying to prove its mettle in the global arms trade. For this, India plans to carry out a major change in the deployment of defence attaches overseas. The move is seen as a bid to boost exports of made in India weapons.

What is India's new plan to boost exports of MADE IN INDIA weapons to Africa, West Asia?

<p>Gunmen abducted 40 people from a church in a remote village in northern Nigeria, a local Christian group said on Monday, in the latest attack against worshippers.</p>

<p>Armed gangs, known locally as bandits, have been abducting people from villages, schools and highways mostly in the northwest of the country, where government security is thin.</p>

<p>Reverend Joseph John Hayan, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna state, said the attack took place on Sunday when gunmen attacked worshippers during a service at Bege Baptist Church, in Madala village, in Chikun local government area.</p>

<p>Chikun is among two districts in Kaduna where ransom-seeking armed gangs are most active.</p>

<p>Hayan, however, said 15 of those kidnapped escaped from their captors on Sunday night.</p>

<p>"We have not heard any contact for ransom or anything from them (gunmen) concerning the remaining people and we pray that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families," Hayan said.</p>

<p>A Kaduna police spokesperson did not respond to calls and messages to their mobile phone.<br />
<br />
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Gunmen abducted 40 people from a church in a remote village in northern Nigeria, a local Christian group said on Monday, in the latest attack against worshippers.

Gunmen abducted 40 people from a church in a remote village in northern Nigeria, a local Christian group said on Monday, in the latest attack against worshippers. Armed gangs, known locally as bandits, have been abducting people from villages, schools and highways mostly in the northwest of the country, where government security is thin. Reverend Joseph John Hayan, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Kaduna state, said the attack took place on Sunday when gunmen attacked worshippers during a service at Bege Baptist Church, in Madala village, in Chikun local government area. Chikun is among two districts in Kaduna where ransom-seeking armed gangs are most active. Hayan, however, said 15 of those kidnapped escaped from their captors on Sunday night. "We have not heard any contact for ransom or anything from them (gunmen) concerning the remaining people and we pray that the abductors would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families," Hayan said. A Kaduna police spokesperson did not respond to calls and messages to their mobile phone. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnap 40 worshippers from church

Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida’s one-week diplomatic tour of Africa — his first trip to the continent since assuming office — is seen as a chance to reaffirm Japan’s role in the region and stimulate private investment amid growing Chinese and Russian influence. The prime minister will deepen discussions with each leader in the continent, confirm cooperation and connect this to the g7 Hiroshima summit, which japan is Charing. Earlier Kishida had visited Ukraine and the U.S. Amid the war. What is japan looking to gain from Kishida's outreach program? WION's Eric Njoka talks to dr. Satoru Nagao, a fellow at Hudson institute for more perspective.

PM Kishida reaches out to Ukraine & now Africa

The death toll is rising in the Kenyan cult deaths. More mass graves have been discovered. How many more cults does Kenya have? Will the police discover more mass graves? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: The Kenya Christian cult deaths

Leaders of the Yoruba language in Nigeria urge stakeholders to rise up as language and culture declines due to western influence.

Western influence erodes language

<p>Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said that it has agreed to a 72-hour “humanitarian truce” from 6:00 (local time), on Friday (April 21) coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. This comes as the United Nations refugee agency UNHRC and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people have taken refuge in neighbouring Chad.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Announcement of the ceasefire</strong></p>

<p>“The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr...to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” said the RSF, on Twitter. This comes as the Sudanese capital of Khartoum&nbsp;continued to be rocked by&nbsp;bombing and shelling&nbsp;on Friday, reported Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At this moment, when citizens are preparing to receive the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the neighbourhoods of Khartoum are waking up to the bombings of aircrafts and heavy artillery in a sweeping attack that is directly targeting residential neighbourhoods,” said RSF, in a previous statement on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The fighting which began nearly a week ago between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary has since led to the death of at least 350 people, as per reports, as conflicting accounts from both sides continue. The RSF said that it acted in “self-defence” to repel a supposed coup attempt and is committed to a “complete ceasefire” during the armistice period.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, the army chief,&nbsp;General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has not mentioned anything about a ceasefire, as of now. Burhan who had&nbsp;posted a statement on Friday&nbsp;to&nbsp;mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. "We mourn all the victims of my country and pray for the recovery of those injured and pray to God that this occasion of Eid returns in safety and peace," said the army chief, in a pre-recorded&nbsp;statement posted on Facebook.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, he had earlier told Al Jazeera that he would support a truce if citizens are allowed to move freely, something that he said was being prevented by the RSF.&nbsp;Notably,&nbsp;the&nbsp;RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has said that he would agree to&nbsp;short ceasefires but they have previously failed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Thousands flee to Chad</strong></p>

<p>According to UN agencies, about 10,000 to 20,000 people have taken refuge in villages along the border inside neighbouring Chad. This comes as gunfire and explosions sounded across Khartoum, on Thursday. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for a three-day ceasefire to allow civilians to reach safety.</p>

<p>“There was a strong consensus on condemning ongoing fighting in Sudan and calling for cessation of hostilities as an immediate priority,” said Guterres, following a meeting with the heads of the African Union, the Arab League and other organisations on Thursday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said that it has agreed to a 72-hour “humanitarian truce” from 6:00 (local time), on Friday (April 21) coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said that it has agreed to a 72-hour “humanitarian truce” from 6:00 (local time), on Friday (April 21) coinciding with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. This comes as the United Nations refugee agency UNHRC and World Food Programme (WFP) said that between 10,000 to 20,000 people have taken refuge in neighbouring Chad. Announcement of the ceasefire “The truce coincides with the blessed Eid al-Fitr...to open humanitarian corridors to evacuate citizens and give them the opportunity to greet their families,” said the RSF, on Twitter. This comes as the Sudanese capital of Khartoum continued to be rocked by bombing and shelling on Friday, reported Reuters. “At this moment, when citizens are preparing to receive the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the neighbourhoods of Khartoum are waking up to the bombings of aircrafts and heavy artillery in a sweeping attack that is directly targeting residential neighbourhoods,” said RSF, in a previous statement on Friday. The fighting which began nearly a week ago between the Sudanese army and its paramilitary has since led to the death of at least 350 people, as per reports, as conflicting accounts from both sides continue. The RSF said that it acted in “self-defence” to repel a supposed coup attempt and is committed to a “complete ceasefire” during the armistice period. Meanwhile, the army chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has not mentioned anything about a ceasefire, as of now. Burhan who had posted a statement on Friday to mark Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. "We mourn all the victims of my country and pray for the recovery of those injured and pray to God that this occasion of Eid returns in safety and peace," said the army chief, in a pre-recorded statement posted on Facebook. However, he had earlier told Al Jazeera that he would support a truce if citizens are allowed to move freely, something that he said was being prevented by the RSF. Notably, the RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo has said that he would agree to short ceasefires but they have previously failed. Thousands flee to Chad According to UN agencies, about 10,000 to 20,000 people have taken refuge in villages along the border inside neighbouring Chad. This comes as gunfire and explosions sounded across Khartoum, on Thursday. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged for a three-day ceasefire to allow civilians to reach safety. “There was a strong consensus on condemning ongoing fighting in Sudan and calling for cessation of hostilities as an immediate priority,” said Guterres, following a meeting with the heads of the African Union, the Arab League and other organisations on Thursday. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

RSF fighters agree to 72-hour ceasefire for Eid; thousands flee from Sudan to Chad

Africa in space? I am sure you have not heard that before, but it seems it is going to be a term that we will be getting used to in the near future. Did you know that South Africa, Angola, and Algeria, have a satellite in space, and now Kenya has entered the race with the blasting off, of its taifa-1, or one-nation rocket.

Africa's space venture | World Of Africa

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Indian PM Modi, South African President speak on phone, discuss bilateral ties, Ukraine