Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | Horn of Africa, landlocked
Protests have surged nationwide after the eviction of 87-year-old Maricarmen Abascal from a Madrid flat amid a sharp rent rise by an investment fund. Activists demand stronger tenant protections as government weighs measures ahead of elections.
The Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign has begun with Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal and other leading teams chasing early points as coaches shuffle squads and aim for strong starts. The field includes co-hosts Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, with nine groups determining the 24-team finals in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Sudan's army-backed authorities are promoting a national dialogue while critics demand a ceasefire and addressing root causes. The AU and regional actors are intensifying mediation efforts, with civilians calling for guarantees, justice, and inclusive participation. The landscape remains fragmented as fighting continues.
Meta has agreed to paid settlements in the US totaling up to $16.68-18 billion and to implement stricter controls on Facebook and Instagram, including two-hour daily limits for under-18s and nighttime blocks. The deal, which still requires court approval, marks a rare regulatory constraint on a major platform, with debates extending globally as other jurisdictions consider similar rules.
The IOM and other agencies warn that Sudan's displacement crisis is worsening as conflict, infrastructure damage, and flooding compound humanitarian needs. Power cuts, disrupted water and health services, and rising prices are affecting millions, with hundreds of thousands displaced in Kordofan, Blue Nile, Darfur and Khartoum. Aid access remains fragile amid supply-chain delays.
The Sudanese war enters a new phase as SAF advances in key fronts, RSF defections rise, and regional powers face ongoing calls for a humanitarian truce. Drones and long-range strikes continue to target civilians and critical infrastructure, prompting fresh international concern.
Audrey Werro leads as the Diamond League heads to Zurich, with Keely Hodgkinson withdrawing due to readiness concerns. Dos Santos and Russell have set world-leading times, while Duplantis and Karalis push for 6.32m in pole vault.
South Africa is experiencing intensified xenophobic protests and a large-scale migrant repatriation, with political and diplomatic tensions rising as regional governance faces scrutiny. The protests, repatriations, and international responses are shaping the country’s stability amid upcoming local elections.
Journalists and worshippers have been locked inside Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre overnight, witnessing a rare, shared space among Armenian, Catholic and Greek Orthodox traditions. The experience highlights centuries of custody arrangements and ongoing religious ritual.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Cairo for a state visit, his first to Egypt in a decade, to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties and sign economic and security agreements. Talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will focus on Gaza, Red Sea shipping, the Nile dam dispute, AI and expanded Chinese investment in the Suez Canal zone.
Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion and to change Facebook and Instagram defaults for US users under 18. The deal ends a federal trial and requires age verification, a two-hour daily cap, night blocks, muted school-hour notifications, removal of visible like counts and limits on cosmetic filters.
Six Frankfurt Airport employees have contracted malaria since early July; two have died and four are recovering in hospital. Officials have placed mosquito traps and sent captured insects to Antwerp for genetic testing. Authorities say the infections have been linked to Anopheles mosquitoes likely transported on aircraft; they say the public risk is low.
Athletes face a late setback as Sawe withdraws from the BMW Berlin Marathon with an unspecified injury, while contenders in Sydney and London push toward potential records. The Berlin race remains a marquee event, with a women’s field led by Tigist Assefa and a reshaped men’s lineup after Sawe’s withdrawal.
In Zurich, Dos Santos and Russell set world records in sprint hurdles, with Werro nearing a 800m world record. Duplantis clears 6.25m in a high-stakes pole vault, as Wanyonyi claims a world-leading 800m time; crowd witnesses multiple all-time moments.
Blackheath captain Peter Melhuish is aligning a wedding in North Wales with a villages final at Lord’s as his team aims for glory in the Cawston Press Village Cup. Supporters have raised funds to fly him to London if necessary.
The Shin Bet has confirmed a significant threat to Yair Netanyahu and has extracted him and his security team from Florida, returning them to Israel. Netanyahu has claimed Iran targeted one of his sons, prompting international security actions and ongoing scrutiny of the case.
Gobena has broken the Sydney Marathon course record with a 2:04:42 win, while Peres Jepchirchir sails to a women’s title in 2:18:31, as Sydney hosts its second World Marathon Major with 40,000 runners on a scenic Harbour Bridge course.
A set of recent reports shows farmers adapting to increasingly unpredictable weather through drought-tolerant crops, smarter irrigation, and climate-smart farming. From Wales and Scotland to Africa and East Africa, communities are expanding local cultivation, improving soil health, and building resilience against droughts, floods, and rising temperatures.
Meta has agreed to an $18 billion settlement with 48 states to strengthen age-verification and safety tools on Instagram and Facebook. The deal does not admit liability and carves out ongoing oversight, with audits and time-bound improvements. Other platforms like YouTube and TikTok are urged to follow suit.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has visited Cairo for the first time in a decade and has met President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi. The two governments have signed new economic deals, launched a third phase of the Suez Canal industrial zone and discussed cooperation on artificial intelligence, defence and maritime security as regional trade routes face disruption from the US‑Israel war with Iran.
The Kenyan government has directed Tata Chemicals Magadi to leave the Lake Magadi area, arguing the century-old operation has not delivered enough local industrial development or jobs. Officials plan to replace it with investors who will establish local factories, including a glass plant in Kajiado and a chemical processing facility. The move is drawing mixed reactions as talks continue.
The UN General Assembly has voted 164–1 to encourage use of the Equal Earth projection instead of the Mercator map. The non‑binding resolution, led by Togo and backed by the African Union, has prompted objections from the United States and concerns from countries including Ukraine, Japan and India over how disputed territories appear.
A Paris court has opened a three-week trial for 14 men linked to the 2021 Channel crossing disaster in which 27 to 31 people died. Prosecution says the defendants helped launch a substandard boat; defendants deny responsibility and some are being tried in absentia. Victims’ families attend the proceedings.
Leaders from BRICS and newly admitted members have arrived in New Delhi for a two-day summit beginning Sept. 12. Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Masoud Pezeshkian have travelled to India; Narendra Modi has held bilateral talks with several visitors. Delegates are confronting the US‑Israel war on Iran, the Ukraine conflict, trade tensions and energy security.
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 new wave of US third-country deportations has expanded to several African states, including Liberia and Equatorial Guinea. Dozens of migrants, many with long ties to the U.S., are facing detention and uncertain legal status as flights push them to new destinations.
A collection of Scottish housing initiatives faces scrutiny as funding gaps and delays threaten delivery. BBC reports wind-down of Highlands housing trust; Scotsman covers new Orchard Park development and SNIB-backed rental housing. Veterans and housing strategies also come under government review as officials promise action.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi as Xi, Putin, Pezeshkian and others meet India for a pivotal summit. The talks focus on expanding trade in national currencies, energy cooperation, and reforms to global institutions, with tensions over the Ukraine war, Middle East conflicts, and US-dominated financial systems at the forefront.
Leaders from BRICS, including Modi, Putin, Xi and Pezeshkian, gather in New Delhi as the bloc weighs economic reforms, currency diversification, and responses to global conflicts. The summit faces pressure from Ukraine, the Middle East, and rivalries with Western powers.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi amid tensions from the US–Iran war, amid broader global upheaval. The expanded bloc faces divisions over how to respond to Middle East conflicts, energy markets, and trade wars, while stressing a Global South-led reform agenda.
A BRICS summit under India’s presidency has endorsed the New Delhi Declaration, pledging resilience, cooperation and sustainable development. Leaders highlight Africa engagement and private-sector role, while Bilateral talks explore investment, technology transfer and regional integration.
BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and nuclear facilities, and opposing unilateral trade measures. The statement has avoided naming the US, Israel or Iran and authorised a payments task force to ease local‑currency settlements among members.
Djibouti is grappling with a surge in arrivals of Yemen-bound refugees, with thousands arriving by sea as fighting in Yemen drives displacement. Officials warn the pace risks straining the Horn of Africa nation’s limited resources while international agencies mobilise aid and support.
China will lead a BRICS open-source AI community to support development of large language models, host seminars, and build an open AI ecosystem. Xi also proposes a BRICS digital cloud platform, digital-skills training, and youth exchange programs as the bloc expands its tech footprint.
A series of articles shows how tree-planting and forest management are reshaping climate resilience, biodiversity and policy. From Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative to debates over biodiversity net gain in the UK and sustainable timber in Brazil, the coverage reveals both progress and persistent challenges in sustaining green growth.
World Athletics has awarded Nairobi the 2029 World Championships, marking Africa’s first hosting of the event. Munich will stage 2031, while London and Rome miss out. Kenya touts upgrades to Kasarani Stadium and infrastructure as a historic milestone for African sport.
The government has opened the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) but the budget has run out within hours, leaving thousands of farmers unable to apply. The next window is in 2027, while officials and farmers warn of environmental and economic consequences.
Yemen's civil conflict has intensified along the western coast, with Houthis seizing key ports and the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Displacement has surged inside Yemen and across the Red Sea to Djibouti, straining scarce resources as international aid amid rising funding shortfalls.
A global report shows 2025 was among the driest years for river flows in 35 years, with groundwater and glaciers dwindling. Major river systems are under stress from drought, pollution and overexploitation, prompting calls for action and data-sharing to protect communities and economies.
Eritrea has welcomed the lifting of U.S. sanctions, saying the move removes a political impediment to investment and broader cooperation. Officials cite a shift in U.S. policy and ongoing regional security concerns as drivers for renewed engagement, including talks on trade, Egypt relations, and Red Sea security.
The BRICS bloc has expanded to include new members and partners, and its leaders are pursuing deeper practical cooperation across politics, economy, and security. Xi and Modi are signaling a push for a multipolar world, with open-source AI, special zones, and service-trade forums on the agenda. The summit in New Delhi is framed as a step toward a broader Global South alliance.
A coalition including the TPLF, Amhara Fano and OLA has declared the Alliance for Survival to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and establish a transitional government. Fighting is intensifying across Tigray, Amhara and Oromia as both sides mobilize and regional powers weigh in. Flights to Tigray have been canceled as Mekelle’s airport is seized, and tensions with Eritrea and Sudan are rising.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have seized the Red Sea coast, tightening their hold on Bab al-Mandeb and triggering a humanitarian crisis. Displacement inside Yemen has surpassed 100,000, with thousands fleeing by sea to Djibouti. UNHCR and IOM warn of severe funding gaps as civilian needs rise.
Tigrayan rebels have seized Mekelle’s airport and a regional hub, triggering flight suspensions and signaling renewed instability in northern Ethiopia as rival forces align against the government. Flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire are halted while authorities assess next steps.
A coalition of seven armed groups has formed to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. After gains in Mekelle and other fronts, flights to Mekelle have been suspended amid the current security situation as clashes widen in Afar and Amhara. The Pretoria peace framework remains challenged as parties accuse one another of violations.
The Central African Republic figures said to be by ICC: Said has been found guilty on four counts including torture and persecution, linked to a Bangui prison where Bozizé supporters were beaten. Witnesses described windowless cells, walls with bullet holes, and detainee abuse. The verdict follows years of fighting after Muslim Seleka rebels ousted Bozizé in 2013, with anti-Balaka militias opposing them. Justice minister Abaz ne welcomes accountability.
Palestinian President Abbas has addressed the UN via a pre-recorded video, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is delivering a live address. Abbas has called for ending the war in Gaza, a withdrawal from Gaza, and a political process toward an independent Palestinian state. Netanyahu is focusing on Israel's security concerns and Iran, with some world leaders planning protests in New York.
Since Wednesday, fighting between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the federal government has intensified. The TPLF and allied groups have seized airports and moved into Afar and Amhara, raising fears of a return to the 2020–22 civil war. The government reports heavy casualties on both sides and international concern grows over civilian harm and regional stability.
The UN reports escalating hostilities in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region as TPLF forces seize airports and widen attacks into Afar and Amhara. Internet outages worsen civilian risk as airstrikes hit schools and civilians, prompting calls for de-escalation and safe humanitarian access.
Fighting in Tigray has intensified, with rebels seizing airports and clashing across Afar and Amhara. NetBlocks reports internet disruptions in northern Ethiopia as the government and allied forces push back, raising fears of a repeat of the 2020-2022 crisis that left hundreds of thousands hungry. The US has lifted some sanctions, while Eritrea’s role remains contested.