Maghreb state, Africa's largest by area, a pivotal North African actor
Iran has closed a French-language centre affiliated with Paris’s embassy, citing security concerns and alleged violations of diplomatic norms. France says the action is unjustified and will take appropriate measures as tensions rise ahead of UN meetings.
Airspace has reopened between Mali and Algeria and ambassadors are to resume duties after a year-long diplomatic rift triggered by a drone incident. Mali says its airspace is open to all civilian and military flights; Algeria confirms the move as ties thaw in a volatile Sahel.
France and Morocco have strengthened their security, defence and energy cooperation during a high-level two-day visit, as both nations push for closer economic ties while facing fresh allegations that Morocco used Pegasus spyware against French officials.
France and Morocco are expanding security, energy and investment cooperation amid Pegasus spyware allegations. Lecornu’s visit signals a renewed strategic partnership as Paris seeks stability in North Africa and Rabat presses economic and technological collaboration.
A fire at a childcare facility in Mohammedia, near Algiers, has killed several children and injured many others as authorities battle blazes amid a severe heat wave. President Tebboune has expressed condolences; intervention teams evacuated children with disabilities and treated burn injuries, with investigations underway into the cause.
Uganda is reviewing and tightening safety rules for school transport after a spate of deadly crashes linked to educational trips and daily learner transport. A cross-government committee will enforce vehicle inspections, driver qualifications and safer routes, with color-coding of school vehicles as an immediate step. Kenya’s 2025 school-transport rules are a benchmark.
Spain has reached the World Cup final after a 2-1 win over France, setting up a final against Argentina. Argentina has secured a dramatic comeback win over England, keeping alive their title defence. The Guardian notes Spain’s control and Porro’s impact, while SBS and The Independent highlight Messi’s form and the tension around the knockout stage.
A fire at a children's care facility in Mohammadia, Algiers, has killed 11 people and left 19 injured as firefighters battle flames amid a heatwave. Authorities say the blaze originated from an air conditioner that ran continuously; investigations and national fire-fighting efforts are ongoing.
Muslims mark the Grand Mosque of Paris’s 100th anniversary as debates over Islam’s place in France intensify. Officials highlight interfaith dialogue and national unity, while concerns about rising anti-Muslim sentiment and the political climate ahead of next year’s election persist.
ECOWAS members have endorsed the Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a 6,800-km conduit linking 13 West African states with potential to export 30 bcm of gas annually. The project aims to diversify energy supplies, boost regional integration and support electricity generation, while weighing security and financing risks as construction eyes 2028 start.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is underway in Morocco with 16 teams, 34 matches, and a new qualification tie to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Morocco hosts; Nigeria defends the title as several debutants join the field. Kick-off times start at 17:00 GMT across venues, with the final on Aug. 16.
Opposition figures in Tunisia remain in deteriorating health under a heatwave in overcrowded prisons. Families report extreme conditions as authorities refuse information, while protests mark five years since the emergency rule crystallizing tensions between Saied’s government and opponents.
Since late July 2026, fast-moving wildfires have forced more than 200,000 people to flee across southwestern France and central Spain. Fires have scorched tens of thousands of hectares, pushed toward Bordeaux and towns west of Madrid, injured firefighters and prompted France to deploy soldiers while Spain has declared a national emergency.
Protests across western Libya intensify as heatwaves push outages to new highs. Demonstrators demand accountability and the dissolution of fractured authorities after massive power cuts disrupt daily life and energy supplies.
Migrant arrivals at Ceuta from Morocco have surged, with authorities reporting thousands crossing the Tarajal breakwater by sea and on foot. Spain vows an immediate response as the border comes under pressure, with discussions of deploying more police and possibly the army to restore order.
Thousands of migrants crossing from Morocco have overwhelmed Ceuta’s border, prompting security reinforcements. The surge follows a recent Supreme Court ruling and has drawn European and regional leaders to respond. At least 18-19 people have died as chaos unfolds near Tarajal beach, with families and children among those affected.
Ceuta remains in crisis as thousands more migrants have arrived and EU partners call for swift action. Spain is coordinating a response with Morocco while deploying security forces to the enclave. Unaccompanied minors and humanitarian concerns are mounting as shelters fill and authorities assess reception options.
Since Thursday, tens of thousands have crossed into Ceuta, triggering a cross-border crisis. Spain reports dozens of deaths and ongoing efforts to account for victims as migrants return to Morocco. The political fallout involves Spain, Morocco, and wider EU concerns about migration policy and regional stability.
A mass crossing at Ceuta’s border with Morocco has drawn intense EU scrutiny as tens of thousands sought entry last week. While most migrants have returned, Spain has installed a 500-meter floating barrier and vowed tighter border controls as EU governments call for a coordinated response.
Leaders across Europe have faced a sharp, unfolding disaster at the Ceuta border. A surge of migrants has overwhelmed coastal towns, intensifying tensions over migration policy. Spain is pushing back against criticism while calls grow for a coordinated EU response. The event unfolds today as officials assess humanitarian and strategic implications.
South Korea is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave. Yangsan records 42.5C, the hottest on record; Seoul and other cities face severe heat warnings. Authorities have activated new disaster measures, deploy cooling efforts, and warn residents to stay indoors and hydrate as power demand and health risks rise.
OPEC+ has decided to increase output by 188,000 barrels per day from September 2026, a move designed to stabilise markets and compensate for past overproduction. Nigeria remains under its DoC allocation and will not see changes to its targets as it seeks to raise crude output. The group will meet again on Sept. 6 to review conditions and consider further adjustments.
Migrant crossings at Ceuta, spurred by viral social-media posts, have drawn tens of thousands to the Spanish enclave. Reports indicate at least dozens died or were injured as crowds overwhelmed border controls; many have since returned, but the event exposes the role of online misinformation in mass migration flows.
A massive wildfire in southwest France has forced more than 220,000 people to evacuate in the Gironde region, with authorities expanding evacuations as flames threaten communities near Bordeaux. Across Europe, thousands have fled, and regional shelters are operating to support displaced residents.
Europol-led operations have arrested dozens in Spain and Ecuador in a drug-smuggling ring linked to Dubai investors. The crackdown targets a network moving South American cocaine and MDMA into Europe, with shipments hidden in commercial containers and bananas. The operation has involved dozens of raids and the seizure of vessels, cash, and weapons.
Moroccan forces have detained scores of people near Fnideq after social media calls encouraged a repeat mass crossing toward the Spanish exclave of Ceuta. Security services have used tear gas and set up checkpoints; Spain has kept extra police, soldiers and a maritime barrier in place while several news agencies were ordered to leave the Moroccan border town.
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s father and long‑time agent, has died in Rosario at 68 after a long illness. Clubs from Inter Miami to Barcelona and Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys have held moments of silence and issued tributes. Lionel Messi has travelled home and missed Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup match while teammates and fans paid tribute.
British engineering firm JCB has set a new FIA-recognised land-speed record for a hydrogen internal-combustion vehicle. On 11 August at Bonneville Salt Flats, driver Andy Green has averaged 406.320 mph in the 32ft Hydromax powered by two hydrogen engines adapted from JCB machinery, more than doubling the prior hydrogen-combustion mark and showcasing JCB’s hydrogen programme.
Traders have participated in Tuesday’s tenders with Bunge, CHS and Olam. A new wheat tender is expected to close on August 18, with shipments planned for September-October. Russia’s export tax changes and congestion at Black Sea ports have shaped a cautious market, while forecasts point to a potential fall in August grain exports.
Tens of thousands of people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July. Spanish and local officials have said roughly 70,000 returned but Ceuta’s leader estimates 3,000–11,000 remain, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions. The influx has provoked EU diplomatic rows and temporary border checks.
Inter Miami star Lionel Messi has returned to the field after his father Jorge’s funeral as he contemplates retirement. His father, who served as his agent, has died aged 68. Messi has expressed uncertainty about continuing to play, while teammates and opponents offer support as Miami exits the Leagues Cup group stage.
Lionel Messi has publicly mourned the loss of his father Jorge, who served as his agent and business manager. The Argentina great has hinted at possible retirement and is dealing with personal tragedy while continuing his MLS commitments.
Mali has granted clemency to Yann Vezilier, a French agent accused of destabilising the government, amid ongoing security battles and a deteriorating relationship with France. Paris denies involvement, while Bamako says the act is compatible with adversarial judgments and will see the agent removed from Mali. The move comes as Mali faces renewed jihadist and separatist assaults and as Franco-MMali tensions deepen.
The Malian Armed Forces have announced that freed soldiers are safe and being cared for by authorities after a series of attacks on April 25 by al-Qaeda-linked groups and Tuareg separatists. The release is framed as humanitarian; at least several soldiers were killed during operations to retake Bamako and surrounding areas.
Cameroon has won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations after defeating Malawi 3-0 in Rabat, ending a history of three previous final defeats. Marie Ngah Manga scored twice and Naomi Ndjoah Eto added the third as Cameroon secure their first continental title.
A gun attack has struck an outdoor techno event in Aarau, Switzerland, in the early hours of Sunday, killing a woman in her 20s and wounding others. Police have launched a large-scale manhunt, cordoned off wide areas and appealed for images and footage as investigators analyse cartridge evidence and video. Security has been increased across cantons.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez has said no institution has provided "solid proof" that Morocco planned or carried out the late‑July mass crossing into Ceuta. He has defended co‑operation with Rabat, blamed traffickers and online disinformation, pledged extra funding and urged a royal visit to Ceuta as thousands remain in the enclave and protests continue.
Algeria is confronting a severe heatwave that has intensified wildfires across the northern provinces, causing multiple deaths and injuries. Officials report dozens of blazes, with Bejaia, Jijel and Tizi Ouzou among the hardest hit; hundreds have been evacuated as firefighting efforts continue.
Soldiers have attacked Base 101 at Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport and fired on sites near the presidential district overnight, triggering hours of clashes with forces loyal to junta leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani. State television briefly went off air. Authorities have said security forces are regaining control after Russia’s Africa Corps intervened and dozens of mutineers were killed or detained.
Algeria's president has ordered amendments to the penal code to allow capital punishment for those convicted of intentionally starting forest fires, as wildfires continue to devastate the northeast. The changes follow days of national mourning and authorities’ promises of compensation and restoration efforts. The government says several arson suspects have been arrested as the process moves toward legislation.
The World Food Programme has reduced aid in the West Bank from 400,000 to 200,000 and cut cash support to Gaza by 40%, warning that further cuts will be unavoidable without new funding. Other UN and aid groups report similar funding constraints as Western donors tighten budgets.
OPEC+ has kept October output targets unchanged while it reviews capacity and sets 2027 baselines, amid Iran disruption and discussions on unwinding current cuts. The group plans to pause further increases in Q4 as it evaluates members' capacity and future quotas.
More than 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco on July 30-31 in an unprecedented surge, leaving scores dead and prompting EU friction over migration. Spain’s government faces mounting scrutiny over handling; declassified intelligence warns of prior alerts, while Morocco denies involvement. EU pledges emergency aid to bolster borders and returns.
Overasselt gunfight shocks a Dutch town as police crack down on international crime networks. Dozens are detained, a 51-year-old security guard is killed, two officers are wounded, and authorities warn the operation may be connected to a broader underworld battle surrounding cocaine trafficking.
Algeria has severed diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi of repeated "provocative and hostile" actions and giving the UAE ambassador 48 hours to leave. Algeria has closed its airspace to UAE-registered aircraft while allowing commercial flights to and from Algiers until the end of 2026. The UAE has said it hopes the move will be temporary.
A fire at Furaha and Ujamaa schools in Bukavu, DR Congo, has killed at least 24 children with many more injured. The blaze destroyed roughly 300 homes in Kadutu; authorities say the cause remains unknown amid Congo’s security challenges and a new spike in Ebola cases.
Spain has approved a bill to grant Spanish citizenship to Sahrawis born in Western Sahara before 1977, with descendants eligible by naturalisation. The measure, backed by the government, faces Senate approval and could affect 70,000–120,000 people. The move follows Spain’s shift in Western Sahara policy in 2022 and comes amid ongoing Ceuta migrant tensions and Franco-Merman diplomacy.
The U.N. Security Council has extended the Darfur arms embargo for one month as negotiations continue on potential changes. The United States is pushing for a countrywide ban and tougher sanctions on arms flows and aid workers, while Russia and others push back. The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.
Africa’s richest man has opened the Dangote Petroleum Refinery IPO to retail investors, aiming to democratise ownership and expand Africa’s largest refinery. The sale has drawn massive demand, with minimums as low as 10 shares, but analysts warn of currency headwinds, volatility, and the risk of overvaluation as the offer runs through October.
Khalil and the Palestine Working Group have filed a civil rights lawsuit in New York federal court against Columbia University, its trustees, and SIPA dean over allegations of deliberate indifference, doxing, and harassment tied to pro-Palestinian advocacy. The suit seeks to restore Khalil’s campus access, lift the suspension on the Palestinian group, and damages to be determined at trial. Khalil spent 104 days in ICE detention and missed the birth of his child; Columbia defends its campus safety and anti-harassment policies.