German authorities have returned to Nigeria the first two of more than 1,100 priceless sculptures known as the Benin Bronzes that were looted by Europeans in the 19th century.

Germany to return trove of looted African artefacts

Spain is shifting its foreign policy towards Africa while lobbying the EU and NATO for support to address migration from the continent, aggravated by the Ukraine invasion.

Spain lobbies NATO, allies over Ukraine-driven migration

Scientists say they have found the origins of the black death, the health catastrophe that killed tens of millions in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa in the 14th century. What did the researchers find and where did they find it?

Did scientists find origins of black death, bubonic plague after 675 years?

Pope has apologised for cancelling his Africa trip due to his walking problem. Pope Francis is having an issue with his knee. The trip was scheduled between June 2-7.

Pope Francis apologises for missing the Africa trip due to a walking problem

In a bizarre diktat, Ryanair is forcing South Africans to prove nationality before flying by taking a language test in Afrikaans.

A test in Afrikaans before flying: Ryanair forces South Africans to prove nationality before flying

Tensions over abortion rights are soaring in the United States after the leaked draft of Supreme Court opinion hinted that the landmark Roe vs Wade 1973 ruling that has kept abortion legal for the last 50 years may now be living on borrowed time, the tremors are being felt thousands of miles away in Africa, our next report tells you why!

How will US abortion ban affect Africa?

Amid unreasonable weather conditions occurring around the world. African countries Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia were hit by an unprecedented drought which has left millions facing starvation.

20 million Africans to suffer from famine by September

At least nine people have died of monkeypox in Congo in 2022 and Nigeria has recorded its first death from the disease, as more than 20 countries struggle with the recent disease outbreak.

 
Dr Aime Alongo, chief of the Sankuru health division in Congo, said Monday that 465 cases of the disease have been confirmed in the nation, making it one of the worst-hit in West and Central Africa, where the disease is endemic.

 
The persistence of the disease in Congo is due to the consumption of dead monkeys and rodents, Dr Alongo said.

 
"The residents enter the forest, pick up the corpses of monkeys, bats and rodents which are the reservoirs of monkeypox," the official added, urging those with monkeypox symptoms to visit a health centre to isolate themselves.

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Fully agree with this! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/monkeypox?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#monkeypox</a> is not mild, we don’t understand why there’s such a large outbreak. It’s also too early to do exclude a different biological trait in this strain: not a lot of sequences, not enough knowledge what the observed mutations mean. <a href="https://t.co/1N83t2DhYb">https://t.co/1N83t2DhYb</a>
— Isabella Eckerle (@EckerleIsabella) <a href="https://twitter.com/EckerleIsabella/status/1530575147077451777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced that in 2022 it has confirmed 21 out of 66 suspected cases of the disease, which is usually endemic in Nigeria and other parts of West and Central Africa.

&nbsp; 
A spike in monkeypox cases reported in Europe and the U.S. has generated concerns among those countries, many of whom have not recorded a single case of the disease in years. Over 250 cases of the disease have been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks, the World Health Organization said.

Monkeypox has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks beyond Africa, where it is endemic.

 
"The biggest challenge that you have with a disease such as monkeypox is that it is uncommon and the perceived risk by the population about how dangerous this condition is has been very low ... that is why ... we have conducted awareness training and advocacy training to increase the level of awareness of health care workers," Adetifa said. 
&nbsp;

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At least nine people have died of monkeypox in Congo in 2022 and Nigeria has recorded its first death from the disease, as more than 20 countries struggle with the recent disease outbreak.

At least nine people have died of monkeypox in Congo in 2022 and Nigeria has recorded its first death from the disease, as more than 20 countries struggle with the recent disease outbreak. Dr Aime Alongo, chief of the Sankuru health division in Congo, said Monday that 465 cases of the disease have been confirmed in the nation, making it one of the worst-hit in West and Central Africa, where the disease is endemic. The persistence of the disease in Congo is due to the consumption of dead monkeys and rodents, Dr Alongo said. "The residents enter the forest, pick up the corpses of monkeys, bats and rodents which are the reservoirs of monkeypox," the official added, urging those with monkeypox symptoms to visit a health centre to isolate themselves. Fully agree with this! #monkeypox is not mild, we don’t understand why there’s such a large outbreak. It’s also too early to do exclude a different biological trait in this strain: not a lot of sequences, not enough knowledge what the observed mutations mean. https://t.co/1N83t2DhYb — Isabella Eckerle (@EckerleIsabella) May 28, 2022 × The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention announced that in 2022 it has confirmed 21 out of 66 suspected cases of the disease, which is usually endemic in Nigeria and other parts of West and Central Africa. A spike in monkeypox cases reported in Europe and the U.S. has generated concerns among those countries, many of whom have not recorded a single case of the disease in years. Over 250 cases of the disease have been reported in more than 20 countries not usually known to have outbreaks, the World Health Organization said. Monkeypox has not previously triggered widespread outbreaks beyond Africa, where it is endemic. "The biggest challenge that you have with a disease such as monkeypox is that it is uncommon and the perceived risk by the population about how dangerous this condition is has been very low ... that is why ... we have conducted awareness training and advocacy training to increase the level of awareness of health care workers," Adetifa said. 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.

Monkeypox: 9 dead in Congo, first death in Nigeria in 2022

Senegalese artist Omar Ba is the new rising star in the world of contemporary African art. He explores colonialism, violence & hope through his art.

Omar Ba is a Senegalese art sensation who explores colonialism, violence & hope

Worsening outdoor air&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;and toxic lead poisoning have kept&nbsp;global&nbsp;deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday.

Air&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;from industry processes along with urbanization drove a 7 per cent&nbsp;increase in&nbsp;pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on&nbsp;global&nbsp;mortality and&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;levels.

"We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the&nbsp;global&nbsp;nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or HIV, "we haven't given (environmental&nbsp;pollution) much focus."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/reducing-harmful-air-pollution-can-lead-to-a-greater-number-of-hurricanes-study-finds-478408">Reducing harmful air pollution can lead to a greater number of hurricanes, study finds</a>

An earlier version of the work published in 2017 also estimated the death toll from&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;at roughly 9 million per year — or about one of every six deaths worldwide — and the cost to the&nbsp;global&nbsp;economy at up to $4.6 trillion per year. That puts&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;on par with smoking in terms of&nbsp;global&nbsp;deaths. COVID-19, by comparison, has killed about 6.7 million people&nbsp;globally since the pandemic began.

For their most recent study, published in the online journal Lancet Planetary Health, the authors analyzed 2019 data from the&nbsp;Global&nbsp;Burden of Disease, an ongoing study by the University of Washington that assesses overall&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;exposure and calculates mortality risk.

Also watch |&nbsp;Study: Pollution decreases hurricanes

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The new analysis looks more specifically at the causes of&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;– separating traditional contaminants such as indoor smoke or sewage from more modern pollutants, like industrial air&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;and toxic chemicals. Here are some of the key takeaways:

WATER AND INDOOR AIR

Deaths from traditional pollutants are declining&nbsp;globally. But they remain a major problem in Africa and some other developing countries. Tainted water and soil and dirty indoor air put Chad, the Central African Republic and Niger as the three countries with the most&nbsp;pollution-related deaths, according to data adjusted for population.

State programs to cut indoor air&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;and improvements in sanitation have helped to curb death tolls in some places. In Ethiopia and Nigeria, these efforts brought related deaths to drop by two-thirds between 2000 and 2019. Meanwhile, the Indian government in 2016 began offering to replace wood-burning stoves with gas stove connections.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ivory-coast-artist-recasts-old-mobile-phones-into-art-478876">Ivory Coast artist recasts old mobile phones into art</a>

MODERN POLLUTANTS

Deaths caused by exposure to modern pollutants such as heavy metals, agrochemicals and fossil fuel emissions are "just skyrocketing", rising 66% since 2000, said co-author Rachael Kupka, executive director of the New York-based&nbsp;Global&nbsp;Alliance on Health and&nbsp;Pollution.

When it comes to outdoor air&nbsp;pollution, some major capital cities have seen some success, including in Bangkok, China, and Mexico City, the authors said. But in smaller cities,&nbsp;pollution&nbsp;levels continue to climb.

HIGHEST&nbsp;POLLUTION-RELATED DEATHS

The study offered a list of the 10 countries most affected by&nbsp;pollution-related deaths, based on their findings on mortality adjusted for population.

1. Chad; 2. Central African Republic; 3. Niger; 4. Solomon Islands; 5. Somalia; 6. South Africa; 7. North Korea; 8. Lesotho; 9. Bulgaria; 10. Burkina Faso

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&nbsp;

Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday.

Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industry processes along with urbanization drove a 7 per cent increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on global mortality and pollution levels. "We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the global nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or HIV, "we haven't given (environmental pollution) much focus." Also read | Reducing harmful air pollution can lead to a greater number of hurricanes, study finds An earlier version of the work published in 2017 also estimated the death toll from pollution at roughly 9 million per year — or about one of every six deaths worldwide — and the cost to the global economy at up to $4.6 trillion per year. That puts pollution on par with smoking in terms of global deaths. COVID-19, by comparison, has killed about 6.7 million people globally since the pandemic began. For their most recent study, published in the online journal Lancet Planetary Health, the authors analyzed 2019 data from the Global Burden of Disease, an ongoing study by the University of Washington that assesses overall pollution exposure and calculates mortality risk. Also watch | Study: Pollution decreases hurricanes The new analysis looks more specifically at the causes of pollution – separating traditional contaminants such as indoor smoke or sewage from more modern pollutants, like industrial air pollution and toxic chemicals. Here are some of the key takeaways: WATER AND INDOOR AIR Deaths from traditional pollutants are declining globally. But they remain a major problem in Africa and some other developing countries. Tainted water and soil and dirty indoor air put Chad, the Central African Republic and Niger as the three countries with the most pollution-related deaths, according to data adjusted for population. State programs to cut indoor air pollution and improvements in sanitation have helped to curb death tolls in some places. In Ethiopia and Nigeria, these efforts brought related deaths to drop by two-thirds between 2000 and 2019. Meanwhile, the Indian government in 2016 began offering to replace wood-burning stoves with gas stove connections. Also read | Ivory Coast artist recasts old mobile phones into art MODERN POLLUTANTS Deaths caused by exposure to modern pollutants such as heavy metals, agrochemicals and fossil fuel emissions are "just skyrocketing", rising 66% since 2000, said co-author Rachael Kupka, executive director of the New York-based Global Alliance on Health and Pollution. When it comes to outdoor air pollution, some major capital cities have seen some success, including in Bangkok, China, and Mexico City, the authors said. But in smaller cities, pollution levels continue to climb. HIGHEST POLLUTION-RELATED DEATHS The study offered a list of the 10 countries most affected by pollution-related deaths, based on their findings on mortality adjusted for population. 1. Chad; 2. Central African Republic; 3. Niger; 4. Solomon Islands; 5. Somalia; 6. South Africa; 7. North Korea; 8. Lesotho; 9. Bulgaria; 10. Burkina Faso WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit, says study

UN agencies have warned that price hikes fueled by the Russia-Ukraine conflict will worsen the food crisis in Africa. Millions of African people are already going through extreme poverty due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, armed conflicts, climate shocks and economic turmoil, more in our next report take a look!

Russia-Ukraine conflict to fuel food crisis in Africa

In a push toward eco-friendly tourism, Soyasambu Conservancy in Kenya is ditching jeeps and electric vehicles to use Camels for safari. The tourists could be seen riding on camelbacks to observe the wildlife in it untamed form.&nbsp;

This step is sure to reduced levels of pollution in conservancy as smoke emitting vehicles will be less and less.&nbsp;

"I choose this eco-tourism method over other methods of toourism over other options because even though electric vehicles are good, you are still leaving (Carbon) footprints," said Adrien Allan. He added that not all areas of the safari were accessible by vehicles while riding camels or walking on foot did not throw up any such challenges.

This mode of transport may be a win-win for tourists and wild animals. Animals may get scared or even aggressive towards vehicles perceiving them to be foreign objects. Proximity to camels is not likely to elicit such a response from them. This in turn, may allow tourists to go nearer to animals and observe them in their habitat.

Conservationists are welcoming the step.

Another argument in favour of use of camels is that camels do not step on small animals like rabbits when they move around. This may not be true in case of vehicles which may result in loss of wildlife.

However, use of camels may also draw the ire of animal rights activists who may call such use of camels 'cruelty to animals'.

Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

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In a push toward eco-friendly tourism, Soyasambu Conservancy in Kenya is ditching jeeps and electric vehicles to use Camels for safari. The tourists could be seen riding on camelbacks to observe the wildlife in it untamed form.

In a push toward eco-friendly tourism, Soyasambu Conservancy in Kenya is ditching jeeps and electric vehicles to use Camels for safari. The tourists could be seen riding on camelbacks to observe the wildlife in it untamed form. This step is sure to reduced levels of pollution in conservancy as smoke emitting vehicles will be less and less. "I choose this eco-tourism method over other methods of toourism over other options because even though electric vehicles are good, you are still leaving (Carbon) footprints," said Adrien Allan. He added that not all areas of the safari were accessible by vehicles while riding camels or walking on foot did not throw up any such challenges. This mode of transport may be a win-win for tourists and wild animals. Animals may get scared or even aggressive towards vehicles perceiving them to be foreign objects. Proximity to camels is not likely to elicit such a response from them. This in turn, may allow tourists to go nearer to animals and observe them in their habitat. Conservationists are welcoming the step. Another argument in favour of use of camels is that camels do not step on small animals like rabbits when they move around. This may not be true in case of vehicles which may result in loss of wildlife. However, use of camels may also draw the ire of animal rights activists who may call such use of camels 'cruelty to animals'. Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Kenya: Eco-friendly tourism sees tourists riding camels when on safari

A troop camp belonging to African Union mission came under attack in the Shabelle region in Somalia and according to a resident, three individuals lost their lives in the crossfire.

The attack targeting a camp with Burundian troops near Ceel Baraf village about 160 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu was carried out by heavily armed Al-Shabaab jihadist fighters.

"We were awoken by huge blasts early in the morning. The blasts were at the African Union mission base. Heavy exchange of gunfire followed," local elder Mohamed Nur told Reuters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sense-of-urgency-us-says-russia-is-planning-to-annex-ukraines-donetsk-luhansk-regions-475904" hreflang="en">'Sense of urgency': US says Russia is planning to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions</a>

The local military authorities said that the Al-Shabaab group has taken responsibility of the attack.

“The terrorists attacked the Burundian army base outside Ceel Baraf early this morning, there was heavy fighting and casualties inflicted on both sides, but we don’t have more details about this incident so far,” local military commander Mohamed Ali told AFP by phone.

“They launched the attack with a car bomb blast before a heavy exchange of gunfire broke out.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-draft-shows-us-court-set-to-strike-down-abortion-rights-politico-475914" hreflang="en">Leaked draft shows US Supreme Court will strike down abortion law: Politico&nbsp;</a>

Following the attacks, Al-Shabaab also released a statement. "The Mujahideen launched a pre-dawn raid on an ATMIS (African Union Mission) military base in El Baraf, middle Shabelle region," it read.

"After a fierce firefight, the Mujahideen managed to overrun the base and are now in complete control of the entire military base, " the statement further added.

The attack on Tuesday was one in a long line of bombings initiated by the extremist group against the peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu who are looking to topple the central government.

WATCH |&nbsp;US says Russia plans to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-conflict-us-says-russia-plans-to-annex-ukraines-donetsk-luhansk-476006/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">&nbsp;</div>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo">(With inputs from agencies)</div>

A troop camp belonging to African Union mission came under attack in the Shabelle region in Somalia and according to a resident, three individuals lost their lives in the crossfire.

A troop camp belonging to African Union mission came under attack in the Shabelle region in Somalia and according to a resident, three individuals lost their lives in the crossfire. The attack targeting a camp with Burundian troops near Ceel Baraf village about 160 kilometers northeast of Mogadishu was carried out by heavily armed Al-Shabaab jihadist fighters. "We were awoken by huge blasts early in the morning. The blasts were at the African Union mission base. Heavy exchange of gunfire followed," local elder Mohamed Nur told Reuters. Also read | 'Sense of urgency': US says Russia is planning to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions The local military authorities said that the Al-Shabaab group has taken responsibility of the attack. “The terrorists attacked the Burundian army base outside Ceel Baraf early this morning, there was heavy fighting and casualties inflicted on both sides, but we don’t have more details about this incident so far,” local military commander Mohamed Ali told AFP by phone. “They launched the attack with a car bomb blast before a heavy exchange of gunfire broke out.” Also read | Leaked draft shows US Supreme Court will strike down abortion law: Politico Following the attacks, Al-Shabaab also released a statement. "The Mujahideen launched a pre-dawn raid on an ATMIS (African Union Mission) military base in El Baraf, middle Shabelle region," it read. "After a fierce firefight, the Mujahideen managed to overrun the base and are now in complete control of the entire military base, " the statement further added. The attack on Tuesday was one in a long line of bombings initiated by the extremist group against the peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu who are looking to topple the central government. WATCH | US says Russia plans to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk (With inputs from agencies)

Three killed as Al-Shabaab militants attack African Union camp in Somalia

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has triggered a global surge in food and fuel prices. It has driven up the cost of living across countries and now the International monetary fund report says that the economic spillover of the Russia Ukraine war may likely result in social unrest in Africa.

Ukraine-Russia war: Rising food prices stoke the risk of unrest in Africa

It is just the beginning for the video gaming market in Africa. The number of gamers has increased in recent years and the market's untapped potential is immense with many expecting it to explode as the continent produces more content.

Experts expect videogame market to boom in Africa as gaming content grows

Ugandan filmmakers are looking to change Africa's narrative. They're changing the story of Africa in Disney movies. Take a look at the story of an African filmmaker.

Uganda: Changing the story of Africa in Disney Movies

Conflict and climate change compounded with rising fuel and food prices have now pushed about a quarter of Africans towards hunger. The international committee of the Red Cross has warned that an estimated 346 million people are affected by food insecurity in the continent.

Africa: 346 million facing food insecurity; hunger crisis surge due to conflict, climate

More than 13 million people have been affected in the horn of Africa and as per reports, the number could grow to 20 million if the rainy season that began this month does not improve the situation.

Drought crisis in the horn of Africa, 13 million people face severe hunger

Made of out clay, laterite, & other local building materials, here’s the Opera Village in Africa. The village was designed by Burkina Faso-born architect Francis Kere. The village was built on 20 hectares of granite plateau. The Opera village is shaped like a spiral. The village has 26 buildings including workshops, health center, guest houses & a school.

Inside ‘Opera Village’ in Africa’s Burkina Faso

Amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, and sanctions by the West on Russia, prices of many commodities are surging globally. Now, African nations are feeling the impact of the conflict.

Ukraine crisis impacts African nations as it reports spike in oil, grain prices

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year.

The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit.

The Commonwealth is a group of 54 nations which were once part of the British Empire and are connected to each other on the historic ties.

Rwanda's High Commissioner to India Mukangira Jacqueline earlier this week said, “The commonwealth family gives an opportunity to Rwanda to share its knowledge and experience with other member states. CHOGM 2022 is a special occasion for Rwanda as host and incoming chair in the office.”

&nbsp;The key focus areas at the summit will be governance and rule of law, sustainability (economy and environment), health, technology &amp; innovation and youth.

CHOGM summit was due to take place in Rwanda's capital Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking at the British High Commission’s celebration of the Commonwealth Day, the high commissioner highlighted, "Rwanda’s COVID-19 response has been swift and robust. Since the vaccination campaign started in late March 2021, over 95per cent of the adult population has been vaccinated in Kigali and 60 per cent across the country."

The official opening ceremony will be held on June 24 at the Kigali Convention Centre, followed by Heads of Governments Retreat is on the next day at Intare Conference Arena.

Welcome dinner is scheduled on June 26, which will be hosted by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame.

Work is on full swing for the summit. Preparatory meetings have taken place and a protocol guide was shared before the Liaison Committee Meeting that took place on February 22. &nbsp;There are three advance visits organised in March, both physically and virtually.

The last summit of the Commonwealth took place in London in 2018, in which PM Modi had participated. That was the first time that an Indian PM attended such a summit.

Prince Charles had personally visited India to extend an invite to PM Modi for the summit that year. There is no confirmation of PM's participation at the summit this year, but there is an indication that Indian participation could be at a different level.

The UK will be represented by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. For the UK, the group is important in a post-Brexit world, while for India it is the platform to reach out to Africa.

Around 19 members of the group are from African countries.&nbsp;Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 and will be hosting the summit first time.

High Commissioner Jacqueline said, “Although the youngest member of the family, Rwanda’s accession to the Commonwealth in 2009 was an indicator of the appreciation of the progress that Rwanda has made and strides it continues to make towards meeting its development goals, in line with the objectives set out in the Charter of the Commonwealth."

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year. The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit.

Thirty-four countries, including India, have confirmed their presence at the Commonwealth Summit that will take place in Rwanda later this year. The CHOGM or Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting has been scheduled to start in the third week of June with President of Rwanda Paul Kagame being the host of the summit. The Commonwealth is a group of 54 nations which were once part of the British Empire and are connected to each other on the historic ties. Rwanda's High Commissioner to India Mukangira Jacqueline earlier this week said, “The commonwealth family gives an opportunity to Rwanda to share its knowledge and experience with other member states. CHOGM 2022 is a special occasion for Rwanda as host and incoming chair in the office.” The key focus areas at the summit will be governance and rule of law, sustainability (economy and environment), health, technology & innovation and youth. CHOGM summit was due to take place in Rwanda's capital Kigali in June 2020 but has been postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the British High Commission’s celebration of the Commonwealth Day, the high commissioner highlighted, "Rwanda’s COVID-19 response has been swift and robust. Since the vaccination campaign started in late March 2021, over 95per cent of the adult population has been vaccinated in Kigali and 60 per cent across the country." The official opening ceremony will be held on June 24 at the Kigali Convention Centre, followed by Heads of Governments Retreat is on the next day at Intare Conference Arena. Welcome dinner is scheduled on June 26, which will be hosted by Rwanda President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame. Work is on full swing for the summit. Preparatory meetings have taken place and a protocol guide was shared before the Liaison Committee Meeting that took place on February 22. There are three advance visits organised in March, both physically and virtually. The last summit of the Commonwealth took place in London in 2018, in which PM Modi had participated. That was the first time that an Indian PM attended such a summit. Prince Charles had personally visited India to extend an invite to PM Modi for the summit that year. There is no confirmation of PM's participation at the summit this year, but there is an indication that Indian participation could be at a different level. The UK will be represented by The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. For the UK, the group is important in a post-Brexit world, while for India it is the platform to reach out to Africa. Around 19 members of the group are from African countries. Rwanda joined the Commonwealth in 2009 and will be hosting the summit first time. High Commissioner Jacqueline said, “Although the youngest member of the family, Rwanda’s accession to the Commonwealth in 2009 was an indicator of the appreciation of the progress that Rwanda has made and strides it continues to make towards meeting its development goals, in line with the objectives set out in the Charter of the Commonwealth."

34 countries, including India, confirm presence at Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda

The issue of animal poaching and trafficking is an ongoing challenge for Wildlife conservation. In the whole of Africa, cheetah smuggling has become rampant.

Cheetahs unsafe in the horn of Africa; Less than 7,000 cheetahs are alive in the wild | WION

Mountain Bongos are poached for their meat and are on the verge of extinction. Kenya wildlife conservancy has 56 Mountain Bongos.

Poached for their meat, mountain Bongos are on the verge of extinction

The number of Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 11,146,001 on Wednesday evening, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). 
 
The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union, said the overall death toll of the continent stands at 247,783. A total of 10,311,143 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease, so far.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/for-some-in-england-end-of-virus-rules-threatens-more-isolation-455797">&nbsp;For some in England, end of virus rules threatens more isolation</a>

South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases in the continent, Xinhua news agency reported citing Africa CDC. 
 
South Africa has recorded the most Covid-19 cases in Africa with 3,662,032 cases, while the northern African country Morocco reported 1,159,584 as of Wednesday evening.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/africa-transitioning-from-pandemic-will-have-to-manage-virus-who-452312">Africa transitioning from pandemic, will have to 'manage' virus: WHO</a> 
 
In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected in the continent, according to the CDC.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 11,146,001 on Wednesday evening, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union, said the overall death toll of the continent stands at 247,783.

The number of Covid-19 cases in Africa reached 11,146,001 on Wednesday evening, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The Africa CDC, the specialised healthcare agency of the African Union, said the overall death toll of the continent stands at 247,783. A total of 10,311,143 patients across the continent have recovered from the disease, so far. Also read | For some in England, end of virus rules threatens more isolation South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia and Ethiopia are among the countries with the most cases in the continent, Xinhua news agency reported citing Africa CDC. South Africa has recorded the most Covid-19 cases in Africa with 3,662,032 cases, while the northern African country Morocco reported 1,159,584 as of Wednesday evening. Also read | Africa transitioning from pandemic, will have to 'manage' virus: WHO In terms of the caseload, southern Africa is the most affected region, followed by the northern and eastern parts of the continent, while central Africa is the least affected in the continent, according to the CDC.

Africa's Covid-19 cases pass 11.14 million

Benin bronzes are set to return to their home in Nigeria. Over 90% of African artefacts are in Europe and United States.

Benin bronzes return to Nigeria: Over 90% of African artefacts are in Europe & US

In Africa, the population of Elephants has drastically declined due to poaching. They are the main targets of the illegal ivory trade in the country. But now, the DNA in their tusks could map the trafficking network pointing towards the very criminal groups that poached them.

Africa: Researchers tracing tusk DNA of Elephants to reveal trafficking networks

Paris hosts an Africa summit ahead of expected Mali withdrawal. French President Emmanuel Macron has hosted several African leaders in Paris.

Paris hosts Africa summit ahead of expected Mali withdrawal

European Commission announces mega-investment plan in Africa to counter China and the region. European Union pledged 171 billion dollars investment in Africa as part of Europe's global gateway infrastructure initiative.

EU unveils 171-bn-dollar investment plan for Africa

Madagascar authorities said Wednesday that the death toll from Tropical Cyclone Batsirai rose to 92. The cyclone had hit the country on Saturday night on the sparsely populated and agricultural eastern coastal area.

Madagascar struggles as death toll from Cyclone Batsirai nears 100

The East African country of Uganda has relaxed COVID-19 restrictions. The government says strict curbs stemmed COVID spread.

The East African country of Uganda relaxes COVID-19 restrictions

At least 60 people were killed in a militia attack early on Wednesday at a displaced persons` camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the head of a local humanitarian group and a camp resident.

Both sources told Reuters that the CODECO militia was responsible for the killings at about 0200 GMT at the Savo camp in Ituri province.

Ituri army spokesman Jules Ngongo confirmed the attack by CODECO and gave a provisional toll of about 20 dead.

Congolese troops came into contact with the militia Tuesday night but the assailants changed direction and got past them to reach the camp, he said.

CODECO is one of an array of militias operating in eastern Congo amid longstanding tensions over land and resources. Its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations.

In recent months it has targeted displacement camps, where some people had settled after fleeing other attacks by CODECO.

"I first heard cries when I was still in bed. Then several minutes of gunshots. I fled and I saw torches and people crying for help and I realized it was the CODECO militiamen who had invaded our site," said Lokana Bale Lussa, a camp resident.

"We have counted more than 60 dead and (more) seriously injured," he said. "We really need security because we can`t access our farms and now we`re pursued even in our camps."

Charite Banza Bavi, president of the humanitarian group for the Bahema-North area, put the death toll at 63.

"Initial reports indicate that as many as 59 civilians were killed and a further 40 injured," the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a statement. Two students at a school supported by the NRC were among the dead, it added, and the assailants had used both guns and machetes.

Before Wednesday, the NRC said, about 68 people had been killed in attacks on five different camps in the same area since November.

CODECO`s fighters are drawn mainly from the Lendu farming community, which has long been in conflict with Hema herders.

The Savo displacement site is home to 24,000 people, among 1.7 million displaced in Ituri province, the NRC said. At least 1,200 civilians were killed in Ituri province in 2021.

At least 60 people were killed in a militia attack early on Wednesday at a displaced persons` camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the head of a local humanitarian group and a camp resident.

At least 60 people were killed in a militia attack early on Wednesday at a displaced persons` camp in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the head of a local humanitarian group and a camp resident. Both sources told Reuters that the CODECO militia was responsible for the killings at about 0200 GMT at the Savo camp in Ituri province. Ituri army spokesman Jules Ngongo confirmed the attack by CODECO and gave a provisional toll of about 20 dead. Congolese troops came into contact with the militia Tuesday night but the assailants changed direction and got past them to reach the camp, he said. CODECO is one of an array of militias operating in eastern Congo amid longstanding tensions over land and resources. Its fighters have killed hundreds of civilians in Ituri and forced thousands to flee their homes, according to the United Nations. In recent months it has targeted displacement camps, where some people had settled after fleeing other attacks by CODECO. "I first heard cries when I was still in bed. Then several minutes of gunshots. I fled and I saw torches and people crying for help and I realized it was the CODECO militiamen who had invaded our site," said Lokana Bale Lussa, a camp resident. "We have counted more than 60 dead and (more) seriously injured," he said. "We really need security because we can`t access our farms and now we`re pursued even in our camps." Charite Banza Bavi, president of the humanitarian group for the Bahema-North area, put the death toll at 63. "Initial reports indicate that as many as 59 civilians were killed and a further 40 injured," the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a statement. Two students at a school supported by the NRC were among the dead, it added, and the assailants had used both guns and machetes. Before Wednesday, the NRC said, about 68 people had been killed in attacks on five different camps in the same area since November. CODECO`s fighters are drawn mainly from the Lendu farming community, which has long been in conflict with Hema herders. The Savo displacement site is home to 24,000 people, among 1.7 million displaced in Ituri province, the NRC said. At least 1,200 civilians were killed in Ituri province in 2021.

At least 60 people killed in militia attack in eastern DR Congo

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