This year, Africa showed a modest improvement in its performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics compared to Tokyo 2020. There were remarkable achievements that showcased incredible grit and resilience.

Africa's Great Improvement at the Paris Olympics

22 Elections were held in African countries, spanning Presidential, legislative, and local levels. These elections showcased a mixture of continuity, change, and the complexities of governance in the region. Watch in for more details!

Elections Were A Test For Democracy, Institutional Capacity

On World Of Africa with Eric Njoka:

We recap the year #2024 and the events that defined, transformed the continent. 



Africa 2024: The Year Of Change | World Of Africa | WION Rewind 2024

On World Of Africa with Eric Njoka: We recap the year #2024 and the events that defined, transformed the continent.

Creation of the alliance of Sahel states has enabled these military regimes to at least partially insulate themselves from outside pressure for a return to civilian rule. The three regimes say they want to eradicate terrorism, assert their sovereignty and defend their territory against foreign threats. Watch in for more details!

ECOWAS Feud With Sahel Alliance Persists At The 66th Summit

Creation of the alliance of Sahel states has enabled these military regimes to at least partially insulate themselves from outside pressure for a return to civilian rule. The three regimes say they want to eradicate terrorism, assert their sovereignty and defend their territory against foreign threats. Watch in for more details!



Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9.

According to the report, drylands now make up 40 per cent of the world’s land, excluding Antarctica. Those areas have turned from humid regions to arid ones, where agricultural activities are no longer possible.

Drylands are regions where most of the rainfall water is lost to evaporation, while only a small 10 per cent is left for the vegetation. According to the study, two-thirds of the land on earth will retain less water by midcentury.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asteroid-that-hit-us-had-a-surprising-effect-on-earth-study-finds-781661">Asteroid that hit US had a surprising effect on Earth, study finds</a>

The scientists discovered that the growing aridity between the years 1990 and 2015 in Africa has resulted in a 12 per cent loss in its GDP. In particular, some crops like maize are significantly affected, with yields projected to be halved in Kenya by 2050.

It is predicted that in the next half decade, Africa will see a decline of 16 per cent of its GDP while Asia will witness about 7 per cent.

“Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD).

“Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost. The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-discover-abnormally-large-skull-of-lost-human-species-in-asia-781439">Scientists discover abnormally large skull of 'lost' human species in Asia</a>

A global conference under the UNCCD in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh that will conclude on Friday, December 13, is halfway through. Despite being one of the world’s most arid countries and a driving force for desertification across the world, Saudi Arabia has shown reluctance till now, including at the UN framework convention on climate change conference of the parties (Cop) in Azerbaijan the previous month.

According to the report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought, human-caused climate change is the primary driver of this shift as the world fails to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions, intensive agriculture, and other human activities. This leads to warming of the planet and affects the rainfall, plant life, and evaporation, leading to increased aridity.

As of 2020, about 30 per cent of the world’s population, which is 2.3 billion people, lived in dryland areas, according to UN SPI. By 2100, the number is expected to double if the carbon emissions are not controlled.

(With inputs from agencies)

Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9.

Three-quarters of Earth’s land has become permanently drier in the last three decades, according to a recent research by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which was published on Monday, December 9. According to the report, drylands now make up 40 per cent of the world’s land, excluding Antarctica. Those areas have turned from humid regions to arid ones, where agricultural activities are no longer possible. Drylands are regions where most of the rainfall water is lost to evaporation, while only a small 10 per cent is left for the vegetation. According to the study, two-thirds of the land on earth will retain less water by midcentury. Also read | Asteroid that hit US had a surprising effect on Earth, study finds The scientists discovered that the growing aridity between the years 1990 and 2015 in Africa has resulted in a 12 per cent loss in its GDP. In particular, some crops like maize are significantly affected, with yields projected to be halved in Kenya by 2050. It is predicted that in the next half decade, Africa will see a decline of 16 per cent of its GDP while Asia will witness about 7 per cent. “Unlike droughts—temporary periods of low rainfall—aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD). “Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost. The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.” Also read | Scientists discover abnormally large skull of 'lost' human species in Asia A global conference under the UNCCD in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh that will conclude on Friday, December 13, is halfway through. Despite being one of the world’s most arid countries and a driving force for desertification across the world, Saudi Arabia has shown reluctance till now, including at the UN framework convention on climate change conference of the parties (Cop) in Azerbaijan the previous month. According to the report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought, human-caused climate change is the primary driver of this shift as the world fails to tackle the greenhouse gas emissions, intensive agriculture, and other human activities. This leads to warming of the planet and affects the rainfall, plant life, and evaporation, leading to increased aridity. As of 2020, about 30 per cent of the world’s population, which is 2.3 billion people, lived in dryland areas, according to UN SPI. By 2100, the number is expected to double if the carbon emissions are not controlled. (With inputs from agencies)

Three-quarters of the Earth’s land has become permanently drier, says UN report

A mysterious illness has surfaced in the Central African country of Congo. The flu-like ailment has killed dozens of people over a span of two weeks and is now spreading in Southwestern Congo. The deaths were reported in the Panzi health zone of Kwango province. Watch in for more details!

Mystery Disease Sparks Fear In Congo; Over 140 Dead In Central-African Nation

Joe Biden arrived in Angola Monday on the first and only trip to sub-Saharan Africa of his presidency which intended to underline US ambitions in Africa amid significant investment from China.

The US leader, who hands over to Donald Trump on January 20, is due on Tuesday to meet Angolan President Joao Lourenco in the capital Luanda and to deliver remarks at the National Slavery Museum.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to travel to Lobito, a port city about 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of Luanda, to highlight US investments in the region.&nbsp;

The port is at the heart of the Lobito Corridor, a massive infrastructure project which has received loans from the United States, the European Union and others.&nbsp;

In anticipation of Biden's visit, the Angolan government declared December 3 and 4 public holidays and deployed heavy security across Luanda, a city of some 9.5 million people.&nbsp;

"It's a historic visit, not just because he's the first time a US President has visited Angola, but because it's really emblematic of President Biden's priority to strengthen global alliances and partnerships, and really of our strategic approach when it comes to US-Africa policy," John Kirby, the White House national security communications advisor, told reporters Monday. &nbsp;

With Biden carrying little political weight so close to the end of his term, the trip risks being overshadowed by his pardon on Sunday of his son Hunter on criminal cases related to tax evasion and the purchase of a firearm.

The pardon shocked Washington as Biden entered the White House in 2021 vowing to restore the "integrity" of a justice system that Democrats said had been corrupted by Trump, and because he had specifically vowed not to reprieve his son.

The president, 82, instead issued a "full and unconditional" pardon on Sunday, absolving 54-year-old Hunter Biden of any wrongdoing over the last decade, charged or otherwise, just ahead of his looming sentencing over gun and tax convictions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-elect-trump-to-attend-notre-dames-grand-reopening-in-paris-780983">US President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame’s grand reopening in Paris</a>

<h2>Flagship Lobito project&nbsp;</h2>

By visiting Angola, Biden is fulfilling a promise made in late 2022 to visit the oil-rich Portuguese-speaking nation of 37 million people.

It is Africa's second-largest crude oil exporter with the oil industry making up about 90 percent of its exports. But many of its people are poor and jobless, with the youth unemployment rate at 58 percent in 2023, according to World Bank figures.

Biden's trip is focused on the Lobito corridor, a multinational project to rehabilitate a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) railway connecting the mineral-rich inland countries of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia with Angola's Atlantic seaport of Lobito.

Biden called it "the biggest US rail investment in Africa ever" when he met Lourenco at the White House in December 2023.

The project is a piece in the geopolitical battle between the United States and its allies and China, which owns mines in the DRC and Zambia among an array of investments in the region.

It is "a real game changer for US engagement in Africa", Kirby said.&nbsp;

"It's our fervent hope that as the new team comes in and takes a look at this, that they see the value too, that they see how it will help drive a more secure, more prosperous, more economically stable continent."

Since Lourenco's election as president in 2017, US-Angola relations have warmed significantly in a turnaround from the Cold War years when the US funnelled covert aid to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the country's second-largest party.

But rights groups and opposition activists are accusing Angola's authorities of growing repression, including by clamping down on protests.

Human rights NGO Amnesty International said in a report released last month that Angolan police had killed at least 17 protesters between November 2020 and June 2023 as part of a long-running crackdown on dissent.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Joe Biden arrived in Angola Monday on the first and only trip to sub-Saharan Africa of his presidency which intended to underline US ambitions in Africa amid significant investment from China.

Joe Biden arrived in Angola Monday on the first and only trip to sub-Saharan Africa of his presidency which intended to underline US ambitions in Africa amid significant investment from China. The US leader, who hands over to Donald Trump on January 20, is due on Tuesday to meet Angolan President Joao Lourenco in the capital Luanda and to deliver remarks at the National Slavery Museum. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to travel to Lobito, a port city about 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of Luanda, to highlight US investments in the region. The port is at the heart of the Lobito Corridor, a massive infrastructure project which has received loans from the United States, the European Union and others. In anticipation of Biden's visit, the Angolan government declared December 3 and 4 public holidays and deployed heavy security across Luanda, a city of some 9.5 million people. "It's a historic visit, not just because he's the first time a US President has visited Angola, but because it's really emblematic of President Biden's priority to strengthen global alliances and partnerships, and really of our strategic approach when it comes to US-Africa policy," John Kirby, the White House national security communications advisor, told reporters Monday. With Biden carrying little political weight so close to the end of his term, the trip risks being overshadowed by his pardon on Sunday of his son Hunter on criminal cases related to tax evasion and the purchase of a firearm. The pardon shocked Washington as Biden entered the White House in 2021 vowing to restore the "integrity" of a justice system that Democrats said had been corrupted by Trump, and because he had specifically vowed not to reprieve his son. The president, 82, instead issued a "full and unconditional" pardon on Sunday, absolving 54-year-old Hunter Biden of any wrongdoing over the last decade, charged or otherwise, just ahead of his looming sentencing over gun and tax convictions. Also read: US President-elect Trump to attend Notre Dame’s grand reopening in Paris Flagship Lobito project By visiting Angola, Biden is fulfilling a promise made in late 2022 to visit the oil-rich Portuguese-speaking nation of 37 million people. It is Africa's second-largest crude oil exporter with the oil industry making up about 90 percent of its exports. But many of its people are poor and jobless, with the youth unemployment rate at 58 percent in 2023, according to World Bank figures. Biden's trip is focused on the Lobito corridor, a multinational project to rehabilitate a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) railway connecting the mineral-rich inland countries of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia with Angola's Atlantic seaport of Lobito. Biden called it "the biggest US rail investment in Africa ever" when he met Lourenco at the White House in December 2023. The project is a piece in the geopolitical battle between the United States and its allies and China, which owns mines in the DRC and Zambia among an array of investments in the region. It is "a real game changer for US engagement in Africa", Kirby said. "It's our fervent hope that as the new team comes in and takes a look at this, that they see the value too, that they see how it will help drive a more secure, more prosperous, more economically stable continent." Since Lourenco's election as president in 2017, US-Angola relations have warmed significantly in a turnaround from the Cold War years when the US funnelled covert aid to the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), the country's second-largest party. But rights groups and opposition activists are accusing Angola's authorities of growing repression, including by clamping down on protests. Human rights NGO Amnesty International said in a report released last month that Angolan police had killed at least 17 protesters between November 2020 and June 2023 as part of a long-running crackdown on dissent. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Biden in Angola for first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president

Food scarcity and habitat decline has seen a drastic fall in numbers of the African Penguin, putting it on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's critically endangered list. Watch this report for more details!

Africa: Critical Food Scarcity Devastates Penguin Colonies

South Africa's new high commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, has said his mandate in India will be to "build on that very strong foundation" and to "expand exponentially this relationship on all fronts of cooperation".

Africa my Janmabhoomi, India now my Karmabhoomi, says new South African envoy Anil Sooklal 

#Modiinafrica: Indian PM Modi’s upcoming visit to Nigeria marks a historic moment in the relationship between the two nations. He will leave on Nov 16th on his way to brazil for the g20 summit, PM Modi will spend a day in Nigeria which is a part of Global south. The visit underscores India’s growing focus on deepening its strategic partnership with Africa's most populous nation.

Bridging Continents: Indian PM Modi Relations Boosting Trip to Africa

With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populated country on the African continent. The OPEC country was invited as one of the guest countries during the Delhi G20 summit in 2023.

The Indian Prime Minister will then travel to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from November 17th to 19th for the annual G20 summit, a group of 20 leading economies of the world. India is part of the G20 troika, along with Brazil and South Africa, which is a transition governance structure in grouping. Last year, India hosted the summit in Delhi, during which the G20 Presidency gavel was handed by PM Modi to Brazilian President Luiz da Silva. 
 
PM Modi travelled to Brazil in 2014 for the 6th BRICS Summit and in 2019 for the 11th BRICS Summit. In 2020, the then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited India, during which he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations.

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On the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The summit will see the attendance of several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. This will be the last major global summit President Biden attends ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on January 20th, 2025.

The last leg of PM Modi's visit will be to Guyana from the 19th to 21st of November. During the visit, PM will hold talks with President Irfaan Ali. India has significantly increased ties with the country in several domains, including defence, and energy. Delhi has been reaching out to Guyana with credit facilities for agriculture, information technology, and capacity building via the ITEC programme.

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The Indian diaspora in Guyana, known as Indo-Guyanese, is a significant part of the country, and, at 40 per cent, it constitutes the largest ethnic group in the South American country. Most of them trace their origin to the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. President Ali himself is of Indian ancestry and was invited as the Chief Guest for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India last year. The first group of Indians are known to have arrived in the country in 1838, over 180 years ago, to work in sugarcane plantations.

During the visit to Guyana, PM Modi will also chair the India CARICOM, or Caribbean summit. The summit is part of India's outreach to the Caribbean nations. The inaugural summit took place in 2019 in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Focus during the summit will be on trade, investments, and India's support for infrastructure projects in these countries.

With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

With focus on Africa, South America and the Caribbean, Indian Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana starting November 16th. The first stop of the three-country tour will be the oil-rich West African country Nigeria, where PM Modi will be focusing on strengthening ties and will hold a meeting with President Bola Tinubu. Nigeria has the largest economy and is the most populated country on the African continent. The OPEC country was invited as one of the guest countries during the Delhi G20 summit in 2023. The Indian Prime Minister will then travel to Brazil's Rio de Janeiro from November 17th to 19th for the annual G20 summit, a group of 20 leading economies of the world. India is part of the G20 troika, along with Brazil and South Africa, which is a transition governance structure in grouping. Last year, India hosted the summit in Delhi, during which the G20 Presidency gavel was handed by PM Modi to Brazilian President Luiz da Silva. PM Modi travelled to Brazil in 2014 for the 6th BRICS Summit and in 2019 for the 11th BRICS Summit. In 2020, the then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited India, during which he was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations. Also read | BJP worker found dead inside party office in India's West Bengal, woman arrested On the sidelines of the G20 summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. The summit will see the attendance of several world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden. This will be the last major global summit President Biden attends ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President on January 20th, 2025. The last leg of PM Modi's visit will be to Guyana from the 19th to 21st of November. During the visit, PM will hold talks with President Irfaan Ali. India has significantly increased ties with the country in several domains, including defence, and energy. Delhi has been reaching out to Guyana with credit facilities for agriculture, information technology, and capacity building via the ITEC programme. Also read | Two encounters break out in India's Jammu and Kashmir within hours. Know more The Indian diaspora in Guyana, known as Indo-Guyanese, is a significant part of the country, and, at 40 per cent, it constitutes the largest ethnic group in the South American country. Most of them trace their origin to the North Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand. President Ali himself is of Indian ancestry and was invited as the Chief Guest for the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in India last year. The first group of Indians are known to have arrived in the country in 1838, over 180 years ago, to work in sugarcane plantations. During the visit to Guyana, PM Modi will also chair the India CARICOM, or Caribbean summit. The summit is part of India's outreach to the Caribbean nations. The inaugural summit took place in 2019 in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Focus during the summit will be on trade, investments, and India's support for infrastructure projects in these countries.

PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month

The UK government announced sanctions on Thursday against three private mercenary groups operating in Africa with links to the Kremlin, including Wagner group successor Africa Corps.

"These sanctions will bear down on Russian malign activity in Libya, Mali, and CAR (Central African Republic), exposing and combatting Russia's illicit activity in Africa," a government statement said, announcing its latest package of measures against Russia.

The UK government said the measures were the first direct sanctions against Africa Corps by a G7 country.

Moscow was a key player in Africa during Soviet times and has been boosting its influence on the continent again in recent years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-questions-why-west-can-support-kyiv-but-north-korea-cant-back-moscow-772177">Also read:&nbsp;Russia questions why West can support Kyiv but North Korea can’t back Moscow</a>

Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group or its successor, Africa Corps, now support several African governments, and Russian "advisers" work with local officials.

The British sanctions come before Russia holds a large gathering of African foreign ministers in Sochi, southern Russia, this weekend.

As well as Africa Corps, the private military group Espanola and the Bears Brigade organisation are also being sanctioned.

London accused the three groups of "widespread human rights abuses" across the African continent, adding that they had "threatened peace and security in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic".

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: US Has Been An Ally Of Ukraine In Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War

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Punitive measures&nbsp;

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctions would continue the UK's "pushback on the Kremlin's corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia's attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin's war machine" in Ukraine.

The punitive measures are part of the UK's biggest package of sanctions against Russia since May 2023.

Others targeted include suppliers of machine tools, components for drones, ball bearings and other goods that support Russia's military.

Also being sanctioned is GRU Russian intelligence agency agent Denis Sergeev.

London believes Sergeev was involved in a chemical weapon attack on the UK city of Salisbury in 2018 against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.&nbsp;

Both survived but a local woman who came into contact with the weapons-grade nerve agent Novichok died.

UK counter-terrorism chiefs in 2021 said there was enough evidence to charge Sergeev with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm, and possession and use of a chemical weapon.

The UK has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour, committing to delivering £3.0 billion ($3.9 billion) of military aid every year for as long as needed.

"Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom," Lammy said.

Other sanctions packages last month took aim at Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers, used to sidestep a Western embargo on oil exports after its invasion of Ukraine.

In October, Britain also sanctioned the chemical and biological arm of Russia's armed forces and its commander, Igor Kirillov, over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Russia was hit with a first wave of sanctions following its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The West tightened the screws after Moscow launched a full-fledged invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.

But Russia's economy has withstood the shock, growing 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year as its trade relations with Asia and the Middle East soared.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

The UK government announced sanctions on Thursday against three private mercenary groups operating in Africa with links to the Kremlin, including Wagner group successor Africa Corps.

The UK government announced sanctions on Thursday against three private mercenary groups operating in Africa with links to the Kremlin, including Wagner group successor Africa Corps. "These sanctions will bear down on Russian malign activity in Libya, Mali, and CAR (Central African Republic), exposing and combatting Russia's illicit activity in Africa," a government statement said, announcing its latest package of measures against Russia. The UK government said the measures were the first direct sanctions against Africa Corps by a G7 country. Moscow was a key player in Africa during Soviet times and has been boosting its influence on the continent again in recent years. Also read: Russia questions why West can support Kyiv but North Korea can’t back Moscow Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group or its successor, Africa Corps, now support several African governments, and Russian "advisers" work with local officials. The British sanctions come before Russia holds a large gathering of African foreign ministers in Sochi, southern Russia, this weekend. As well as Africa Corps, the private military group Espanola and the Bears Brigade organisation are also being sanctioned. London accused the three groups of "widespread human rights abuses" across the African continent, adding that they had "threatened peace and security in Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic". Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: US Has Been An Ally Of Ukraine In Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War × Punitive measures British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the sanctions would continue the UK's "pushback on the Kremlin's corrosive foreign policy, undermining Russia's attempts to foster instability across Africa and disrupting the supply of vital equipment for Putin's war machine" in Ukraine. The punitive measures are part of the UK's biggest package of sanctions against Russia since May 2023. Others targeted include suppliers of machine tools, components for drones, ball bearings and other goods that support Russia's military. Also being sanctioned is GRU Russian intelligence agency agent Denis Sergeev. London believes Sergeev was involved in a chemical weapon attack on the UK city of Salisbury in 2018 against former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. Both survived but a local woman who came into contact with the weapons-grade nerve agent Novichok died. UK counter-terrorism chiefs in 2021 said there was enough evidence to charge Sergeev with conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm, and possession and use of a chemical weapon. The UK has been one of Ukraine's biggest backers in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour, committing to delivering £3.0 billion ($3.9 billion) of military aid every year for as long as needed. "Putin is nearly 1,000 days into a war he thought would only take a few. He will fail and I will continue to bear down on the Kremlin and support the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom," Lammy said. Other sanctions packages last month took aim at Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers, used to sidestep a Western embargo on oil exports after its invasion of Ukraine. In October, Britain also sanctioned the chemical and biological arm of Russia's armed forces and its commander, Igor Kirillov, over the alleged use of chemical weapons in Ukraine. Russia was hit with a first wave of sanctions following its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The West tightened the screws after Moscow launched a full-fledged invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. But Russia's economy has withstood the shock, growing 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of this year as its trade relations with Asia and the Middle East soared. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UK sanctions Russia-backed mercenaries, including Wagner group successor Africa Corps

Africa is bearing the brunt of climate change even though it only contributes about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is according to a recent report by the World Meteorological Organization. Experts are saying that these extreme weather events are due to climate change but across vast areas of Africa climate change has thrown weather patterns into disarray and made flooding much more severe. Watch in for more details!

Climate Change Causing Extreme Weather Events In Africa: Experts

A pride parade in Johannesburg was an effort by members of the LGBTQ plus Community to raise a voice against discrimination. Watch the glimpses of the parade.

Johannesburg: Hundreds Gather For Colourful Pride March

China’s influence in Africa continues to expand, especially in the pharmaceutical sector across multiple countries under the ‘Health Silk Road’ project, part of Beijing’s larger Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The expansion is not just about addressing the continent's healthcare needs but also, about solidifying China's economic interests.

China Builds 'Health Silk Road' In Africa

A canine unit that detects illegal wildlife and wildlife products was launched at the bole international airport. Wildlife trafficking in ethiopia has been so rampant that the government looks defeated in handling the menace

Ethiopia: Troubling Trend in Efforts to Combat Wildlife Crime

Rare rainfall has hit some of the most arid places on Earth. Southeastern Morocco Sahara Desert known for its frequent drought is experiencing floods. Watch in for more details!

Rare-Flooding Hits Drought Hit Sahara Dessert, Creating Lagoons Amid The Sand Dunes

Malawi's government has launched a food distribution drive, For over five million hunger-stricken people impacted by a drought exacerbated by climate change and the El Nino weather phenomenon.

Drought-Hit Malawi Offers Food Relief

A Bloomberg report quotes sources showing Kenya is in talks for a 1.5 billion dollar loan from Abu Dhabi. This is to help bridge the east African nation's budget-financing gap. Watch to know more.

Kenya in Talks for $1.5 Bn Abu Dhabi Loan

India is reportedly in talks with several countries across Africa and south America to help them build digital payment systems modelled after unified payments interface, or, upi. The national payments corporation of India’s international arm, npci international payments limited, is leading the effort.

India in Talks to Export Upi Blueprint

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Africa's Great Improvement at the Paris Olympics

Elections Were A Test For Democracy, Institutional Capacity

Africa 2024: The Year Of Change | World Of Africa | WION Rewind 2024

Africa 2024: The Year Of Change | World Of Africa | WION Rewind 2024

ECOWAS Feud With Sahel Alliance Persists At The 66th Summit

ECOWAS Feud With Sahel Alliance Persists At The 66th Summit

ECOWAS Feud With Sahel Alliance Persists At The 66th Summit

ECOWAS Feud With Sahel Alliance Persists At The 66th Summit

Three-quarters of the Earth’s land has become permanently drier, says UN report

Mystery Disease Sparks Fear In Congo; Over 140 Dead In Central-African Nation

Biden in Angola for first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as president

Africa: Critical Food Scarcity Devastates Penguin Colonies

Africa my Janmabhoomi, India now my Karmabhoomi, says new South African envoy Anil Sooklal

Bridging Continents: Indian PM Modi Relations Boosting Trip to Africa

PM Modi to travel to Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana this month

UK sanctions Russia-backed mercenaries, including Wagner group successor Africa Corps

Climate Change Causing Extreme Weather Events In Africa: Experts

Johannesburg: Hundreds Gather For Colourful Pride March

China Builds 'Health Silk Road' In Africa

Ethiopia: Troubling Trend in Efforts to Combat Wildlife Crime

Rare-Flooding Hits Drought Hit Sahara Dessert, Creating Lagoons Amid The Sand Dunes

Drought-Hit Malawi Offers Food Relief

Kenya in Talks for $1.5 Bn Abu Dhabi Loan

India in Talks to Export Upi Blueprint