Republic in West Africa, a stable democracy with growing economy.
The UN General Assembly has adopted a non-binding resolution encouraging governments, schools and tech firms to use the Equal Earth projection rather than the Mercator map. The vote passed 164–1 with six abstentions; the United States voted against. Several countries have since raised concerns about how the new projection depicts disputed territories.
Zoox has received a temporary NHTSA exemption that allows it to charge fares for its purpose-built robotaxis and will start paid rides in Las Vegas on Aug. 10. The company can deploy up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years under enhanced federal oversight while state and local approvals remain required for expansion.
A wave of xenophobic protests in South Africa has intensified, targeting undocumented migrants and fueling violence, looting, and displacement. Governments are coordinating repatriation, while discussions on formal migration policy and regional dialogue are accelerating ahead of local elections.
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.
An international trial shows weekly HIV medication is as effective as daily doses, potentially reducing stigma and treatment burden. In Ghana, authorities reassure continued ARV availability amid distribution concerns. Nigerian and Ugandan health updates highlight high suppression rates and ongoing prevention efforts.
The global football federation is confronting a fracturing alliance as three major confederations call for a review of Gianni Infantino’s leadership amid a shelved plan to sell World Cup commercial rights; New Zealand withdraws support, while Caf and Conmebol back Infantino for a fourth term. The next months will determine Infantino’s fate at the Rabat congress.
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.
Arsenal have begun the season with a string of wins, including a hard-fought Champions League victory over Napoli decided late by Martin Odegaard, and sit among early title favourites. Manchester United have opened their Champions League campaign with a 4-0 win at Old Trafford, while Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also taken strong early European results.
A landslide at an artisanal gold mine in Zamboye, CAR, near the Cameroon border, has killed more than 100 miners and left many others missing. Authorities fear the toll will rise as rescue teams continue operations; several Cameroonian workers are among the dead. An investigation has been opened into the incident.
The first 20 people have arrived at Roberts International Airport under the Liberia–U.S. third-country deportation arrangement. Liberia is set to receive up to 1,200 people within a year, with most transfers involving nationals from Africa and the Western Hemisphere who have been medically cleared. Deportees can seek asylum or leave under Liberian law; the U.S. will facilitate transfers and provide support.
Leicester City is under pressure as owner King Power seeks to sell amid a poor start to the season, a heavy losses year, and managerial scrutiny. The club has drawn 1-1 and lost 2-1 in its opening League One fixtures, while questions mount over funding, strategy and future ownership.
Liberia’s former vice president has denied involvement in a transnational cocaine-trafficking network. Police accuse her of meetings and payments linked to the operation; she has been detained, hospitalized for a medical emergency, and court appearances have been disrupted as the investigation broadens to include foreign suspects and multiple charges.
The Trump administration has expanded third-country deportations, sending thousands to several countries, including Liberia, Equatorial Guinea and Uganda. Deportees report harsh conditions, with some arriving in chains. Liberia will host up to 1,200 migrants over the next year under a new arrangement, while critics call the move a loophole that bypasses due process.
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.
The administration has ended Temporary Protected Status for Haiti and other nations, and deportations are expanding. ICE has shifted from criminal targeting to people in limbo, asylum seekers, and long-term residents, with thousands already detained or facing removal as flights increase and new detention capacity is built.
Major U.S. medical societies have published coordinated guidance for flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations after the FDA approved updated COVID and flu shots. The American Medical Association and partner groups have compiled evidence and tailored recommendations for age and risk groups while the CDC advisory process remains delayed by political and legal disputes. Enhanced and mRNA flu options are available for older adults.
Barcelona has opened its Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord; PSG has beaten Slovan Bratislava 6-1 as Ousmane Dembélé and Torres scored early and Torres completed a hat-trick; Real Betis has beaten Lille 3-2 with Donald Parrott scoring the winner on his Champions League debut and Lille finished with ten men after Ethan Mbappé’s red card.
The Scotsman reports that Erskine Stewart Melville schools have merged into a single institution for ages 3–18, consolidating the Mary Erskine School, Stewart's Melville College, and ESMS Junior School. The move brings substantial investment in facilities and a shared curriculum, with new wellbeing, gym, and science spaces. The change follows financial pressures in the independent sector.
The latest deportation flights have carried Afghans, Iranians and others to the Central African Republic as part of a broader U.S. crackdown on asylum seekers. Returnees face risks and uncertain futures amid ongoing legal and diplomatic efforts.
The UK has announced more than £100m in support for malaria, dengue, HIV, TB and pre-eclampsia research through ten partnerships from 2024/25 to 2027/28, while warning that aid cuts by wealthy nations threaten progress. The plan includes diagnostic tools from King’s College London and the TB Alliance, and builds on prior malaria vaccine work. The package comes as aid budgets face reductions and foreign policy shifts.
CERD has published a fresh interpretation of the rights convention, saying states must implement comprehensive reparatory measures for people of African descent, covering all remedies. The guidance, approved last week and published today, frames reparatory justice as a present legal obligation with monetary, non-monetary and structural remedies. The UN watchdog adds that transformative actions include truth commissions and revised memorials.
Monaco has kept both Folarin Balogun and Lamine Camara amid deadline‑day drama as clubs negotiate and financial rules pressure the French side. Balogun has remained with Monaco, while Camara has not been transferred; the window closed with no deals for either star.
Nomba has committed 2 billion naira to scale direct financing for SMEs to acquire solar energy equipment, building on a year-long collaboration with Synafare to ease up-front costs and accelerate renewable energy uptake in Nigeria.
Uber has winded down its operations in Nigeria and Uganda after a thorough review, effective September 2, 2026. The move comes as part of a global restructuring that includes cutting about 3,300 jobs. The company remains committed to sub-Saharan Africa but is refocusing investments on growth, automation and markets with stronger opportunities.
Carlos Queiroz has been re-appointed head coach of the Ghana Black Stars, returning to lead the team for the next phase of its programme. He takes charge after a period of upheaval, aiming to guide Ghana into Afcon qualification and beyond.
The UN General Assembly has endorsed a non-binding move to shift from the Mercator projection to the Equal Earth map to better reflect continental sizes. The vote saw 164 members in favour with the United States abstaining or opposing; several countries express concerns about disputed territories and implications for regional shading.
China’s official manufacturing data and oil imports show the economy rebounding from the energy shock, with a wider recovery in crude purchases and exports lifting growth expectations while warnings grow that sustained high prices could drag on global demand.
Namibia has reached an agreement with the United States to phase out the US-AIDS funding for HIV programs starting in 2027, with Namibia taking over financing through a technical cooperation model as the US reduces its aid. The deal follows Namibia’s rejection of the US data-sharing provisions and surpasses UNAIDS targets on testing and treatment. The transition will integrate HIV response into Namibia’s national health system.
Jamaica has filed a petition asking King Charles to refer three questions about transatlantic slavery to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The move, backed by Caribbean leaders, seeks to determine the legality of slavery under English law, whether it constituted a crime against humanity, and whether Britain has a duty to provide redress. The petition follows a long-running campaign for reparations and artefact repatriation.
A weekend of dramatic results has reshaped the early-season landscape. Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool all feature in standout performances as results ripple through the table ahead of the international break.
A technical fault in the UK air traffic control provider NATS has caused widespread cancellations and delays at major airports on 8–9 September 2026, disrupting hundreds of thousands of passengers. NATS has fixed the flight processing error and apologised; Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has ordered an independent review and given CEO Martin Rolfe a week to report. Airlines and passengers are still clearing a backlog.
Gloucestershire and Forestry England are surveying for a potential beaver reintroduction in the Severn Vale. Defra says beaver reintroduction could boost nature recovery, with beavers already in Greathough Brook since 2018. A licence would be required, and consultations with landowners are underway.
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.
The flame for the Youth Olympic Games has left Athens and begun a 3,600-kilometre tour of Senegal. Dignitaries and a crowd in Dakar welcomed the flame, carried by women known as lingeer, as the IOC leader calls the ceremony a proud moment for Africa.
Two people have died in separate boating incidents around Lake Havasu and nearby Shasta County waters. Deputies and dive teams located victims after crashes and drownings. Authorities urge life jackets and caution on the water as investigations continue.
A consortium-led investigation shows the US has struck third-country deportation deals with states and UN agencies to move undocumented migrants out of the US. By early 2026, thousands have been deported to countries like Cameroon, Eswatini, and Ghana, with hundreds of millions allocated to signatories and to UN agencies. Critics warn of coercion and opaque negotiations.
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.