WORLD

Experts gathered in Nigeria’s capital on Monday to discuss ways to stop Africa’s Lake Chad from drying up, after years of environmental decline that has hit livelihoods and security. The two-day conference, organised by the government in Abuja and the Lake Chad Basin Commission, aims to “save the lake from extinction”, according to UNESCO, which is backing the talks. A ...

A Tanzanian legislator has been handed a five month jail term for defaming President John Pombe Magufuli in a ‘hate speech’ delivered while addressing a rally on December 30, last year. The Senior Resident Magistrate at Mbeya Resident Magistrate Court, Michael Mteite delivered the ruling against the member of parliament for Mbeya Urban, Joseph Mbilinyi, popularly known as ‘Sugu’. Mbilinyi, ...

LIVERPOOL attacker Roberto Firmino is underrated. That’s according to his Anfield team mate Trent Alexander-Arnold who has praised the forward after bagging his 22nd goal of the season in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over West Ham. Mohamed Salah has received most praise on Merseyside this season, the Egyptian bagging himself 31 goals this campaign. But Alexander-Arnold believes Brazilian Firmino should gain ...

ROMELU LUKAKU insists he deserves more respect for his goal-scoring consistency. But the Belgium striker admits he will only silence his critics when he wins trophies with Manchester United. Lukaku has been labelled a ‘flat-track bully’ for scoring the bulk of his goals in his career against lower placed teams. His strike against Chelsea in United’s 2-1 win yesterday was ...

An opposition leader in the Democratic republic of Congo DRC under prosecution for “insulting the head of state,” was tried in his hospital room on Tuesday. Gérard Mulumba was arrested in November 2017 at the Kinshasa airport, and then transferred later on January 19 to a clinic in Kinshasa because of the deterioration of his state of health. A prosecution ...

BARCELONA star Lionel Messi has reportedly told Ernesto Valverde the five games he wants to miss this season. Messi has been in fine form for Barcelona this term, driving Valverde’s men towards the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid trailing in their wake. However, with the World Cup in Russia looming large, Messi may now start to ...

Majority of countries are making little or no progress in ending corruption, while journalists and activists in corrupt countries are risking their lives every day in an effort to speak out. This is according to anti corruption watchdog Transparency International. Publishing its 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index transparency international says there’s been a surge in the corruption burden in more than ...

A South Sudan court on Friday sentenced a South African ex-colonel to be executed by hanging, a Reuters witness said, after he was convicted of conspiracy and attempting to overthrow the government. Retired colonel William Endley, 55, had been providing advice to former-vice-president-turned-rebel-leader Riek Machar, whose forces have been fighting a civil war since 2013. Incidentally, Machar is currently exiled ...

The national chairman of the main opposition party in Cameroon, Ni John Fru Ndii, has declared that he will ‘not be presenting his candidature for the 2018 presidential elections’. The veteran politician founded the Social Democratic Front (SDF) in 1990 and has led the party since then. Speaking at the special congress of the party held in Bamenda, 77 year ...

Pope Francis has declared a a day of fasting and prayer for crisis-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Both countries have been dogged by security and humanitarian crisis over the past few years. The Holy Father has thus called for spiritual intervention asking the faithful to fast and pray on February 23 for peace. The event is also ...