Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Horn of Africa
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.
Drought and rising malnutrition have prompted the government to distribute relief food across Karamoja, amid warnings of a renewed hunger crisis. Authorities say 1.5 million people are affected, with children and the elderly most at risk. Emergency aid aims to reach vulnerable households within days, while long-term resilience measures are promised.
Since late July, US and Iranian forces have resumed strikes across the Middle East after a brief pause. The US and Saudi Arabia have carried out airstrikes on pro‑Iran militias in Iraq; Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; regional actors including the Houthis are expanding pressure on Red Sea routes. Diplomatic talks remain fragmented.
The UK has announced a substantial reduction in overseas development aid to Africa, with direct support projected to fall by up to 90% in some countries by 2029 as the government reallocates funds to defence. The plan covers multiple nations, including Malawi, Mozambique and DRC, sparking criticism from development groups about heightened risk to health, education and humanitarian programs.
Climate models have shown an unusually powerful El Niño forming in the tropical Pacific that has a high chance of peaking this year or into 2027. Forecasts have indicated record ocean temperatures, widespread risks to food and water supplies across Africa and Latin America, and added pressure on prices and supply chains already strained by conflict and heatwaves.
The Trump administration has broadened restrictions on U.S. funding for overseas organizations that address abortion-related issues, potentially affecting up to $30 billion in aid. The move builds on years of activism by U.S. anti-abortion groups, with Africa receiving the most attention as reports detail increased harassment of reproductive-rights workers and rising fears of unsafe abortions.
Lindsay Clancy's trial opens in Plymouth as prosecutors argue premeditated killings of her three children, while her defense contends postpartum psychosis. Jurors will weigh mental state against intent amid extensive testimony and competing medical expert views.
The latest SOFI report shows 645 million people faced hunger in 2025, a drop from 2024 but still above prepandemic levels. Africa now hosts the most hungry people in absolute terms, with 309 million, while Africa and other regions face rising food insecurity driven by conflict, climate extremes and higher costs. Nutrition indicators remain poor, with stunting, obesity and low diet diversity continuing to challenge progress.
The UK has faced global aid cuts affecting disabled children, eye health partnerships, and youth mental health initiatives. International cooperation is framed as essential to security and development ahead of the G20 presidency. The piece links funding reductions to impacts on programmes and vulnerable groups.
Donor contributions to HIV programmes have declined, with the 2025 funding level the lowest since 2007. The US remains the largest donor but has reduced its support, while total resources for HIV response have fallen 18% across all sources. UNAIDS warns that declining funding could jeopardise gains in prevention and treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dubai has launched the 'A Dubai Invite' scheme to pay residents' friends and family who visit, offering packages worth over AED 3,000 ($816). Eligible visitors must be non-UAE residents arriving on a valid tourist visa, with benefits including hotel stays, dining deals and attraction tickets. The program runs from 20 July to 31 October, with redemption until December.
The FAA has issued a final airworthiness directive requiring visual inspections of a forward "bear strap" and fuselage skin on certain Boeing 737 Max models. The rule, effective Sept. 10, covers about 471 U.S.-registered Max jets and mirrors inspections already mandated for older Next-Generation 737s after reports of cracks in that part.
The International Organization for Migration says scam centres employing up to 300,000 workers across Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos lure victims through fake job ads, seize documents, and force participation in online scams. Victims come from over 80 countries and include graduates with strong English. IOM has assisted thousands and is calling for cross‑border action and awareness.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC has intensified, with WHO confirming rapid spread across 48 health zones in five provinces. WFP warns that food assistance is frontline in containment, while UN agencies scale flights, meals, and rations to affected communities amid rising hunger and movement restrictions.
At AIDS 2026 in Rio, a State Department slide showing Africa mislabels countries, carrying an AI watermark. Reuters and others report the error, with the State Department taking responsibility. The issue comes as donor funding for global HIV programs has fallen, prompting questions about sustained commitments and effective aid delivery.
TPS protections for Haitians and other countries are being rolled back by a Supreme Court decision that leaves hundreds of thousands at risk. Work permits have expired or are in jeopardy, forcing employers to suspend workers as courts navigate the policy’s end.
Drones have targeted civilian sites in Darfur amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF. Emergency Lawyers report casualties at a customary court in Garra al-Zawaya, North Darfur, while authorities warn of mass atrocities and widespread displacement across the region.
Clashes have intensified between Ethiopian federal forces and the TPLF in western Tigray near the Sudan border. Civilians are fleeing, and both sides accuse the other of violating the Pretoria peace deal. The fighting follows months of deteriorating relations since the Pretoria agreement and raises fears of a wider conflict in the region.
A week of developments in Ethiopia shows a surge in climate resilience and digital security. The Green Legacy Initiative plants hundreds of millions of trees, while the government tightens cyber-security rules to protect critical infrastructure amid its digital expansion.
Independent Truth Commission hearings have begun to examine extrajudicial killings tied to Duterte’s drug crackdown. Families of victims testify as the panel seeks information, with rights groups citing tens of thousands killed and the government contrasting figures.
Independent Ethiopian outlets face escalating government pressure. Journalists detained or harassed, offices raided, and licenses revoked as authorities push for tighter control over reporting on unrest and elections. CPJ urges due process and the protection of press freedom.
A continental push to industrialise the textile and manufacturing sectors is accelerated by investment in long-term funding, high-value processing, and regional value chains. Across Africa, governments and investors are turning cotton, textiles, and infrastructure into job-creating industries to retain value at home.
A protocol establishing a Sudanese-Turkish University strengthens higher education ties, expands scholarships, and lays groundwork for joint academic work between Sudan and Turkey. The agreement aims to develop capacity, support research, and foster mutual expertise, signalling a new phase in bilateral academic collaboration.
Warfare in Blue Nile State has escalated as RSF fighters and allied SPLM-N forces seize Kurmuk while the army withdraws. Drones and artillery have battered the town, causing new displacements as the conflict widens along border routes with Ethiopia.
Iran seeks membership in BRICS’ New Development Bank to diversify funding amid sanctions and war pressures. Tehran aims to use regional currencies for trade and to secure financing for infrastructure as it faces economic strain.
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.
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.
Kenya has directed Tata Chemicals Magadi to leave Lake Magadi as it pursues a local manufacturing push, citing long-running operations without sufficient local value. Government aims to bring in a new investor to build local factories, including a glass plant in Kajiado and a chemical processing facility.