AfrikTimes

11/17/2025

Dozens killed in DR Congo after bridge collapses at copper, cobalt mine

At least 32 people have been killed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after a bridge at a copper and cobalt mine collapsed due to overcrowding, officials said.

The incident occurred on Saturday at the Kalando mine in southeastern Lualaba province, according to the province’s interior minister, Roy Kaumbe Mayonde.

Mayonde said wildcat miners forced their way into the quarry despite a formal ban on access because of heavy rain and the risk of a landslide. The makeshift bridge, which was used to cross a flooded trench, gave way under the weight of the crowd.

A report by the DRC’s Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Support and Guidance Service (SAEMAPE) added that gunfire from soldiers at the site triggered panic among the miners. In the chaos, many rushed toward the bridge, causing a mass fall in which people became “piled on top of each other,” leading to multiple deaths and injuries.

While Mayonde put the death toll at at least 32, the SAEMAPE report said no fewer than 40 people may have lost their lives.

Video credit: Al Jazeera.

10/29/2025

THE US FEDERAL RESERVE HAS CUT INTEREST RATES FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowered interest rates for the second time this year in a continued bid to prevent unemployment from surging.

Fed officials voted for another quarter-point rate cut, lowering their benchmark lending rate to a range between 3.75% and 4%, the lowest in three years.

It is the first time since the Fed’s rate-setting committee was established in the 1930s that officials have set monetary policy while lacking an entire month of crucial government employment data due to a government shutdown.

—SENATOR WARREN RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT FED LACKING SUFFICIENT DATA DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren expressed concern that the ongoing government shutdown is limiting the availability of economic data, making it harder for the Federal Reserve to make informed decisions on interest rates.

“I think it is right for the Fed to cut rates, but doing so accurately, knowing how much to cut, depends on the data,” Warren told reporters Wednesday ahead of the Fed’s decision. “The whole point of an independent Fed is that they look through the numbers, they’re boring nerds, and then make the best decision for the economy.”

Warren also criticized President Donald Trump for the shutdown, which has halted the release of key government-produced economic data.

“This isn’t about Democrats. It’s bad for everyone, Democrats, Republicans, independents. This is a really bad move,” said Warren, the ranking member of the Senate Banking Committee.

STOCKS RISE AHEAD OF TECH EARNINGS AS NVIDIA HITS $5 TRILLION VALUATION

Enthusiasm about AI has propelled the market higher this year, though the rally increasingly hinges on the performance of a handful of massive tech companies.

Wall Street’s focus this afternoon is on quarterly earnings from Alphabet (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META), with Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) reporting on Thursday.

These five companies, along with Nvidia (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), have contributed roughly 46% of the S&P 500’s gains this year, according to Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Nvidia leads the pack with shares up 54% year-to-date, followed by Alphabet at about 43%.

“They’ve gone up so much,” said Peter Ricchiuti, senior professor of finance at Tulane University. “They’re very ripe for disappointment.”

US stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision. The Dow rose 132 points (0.28%), the S&P 500 gained 0.17%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite climbed 0.53%.

“This week’s big tech earnings may be the most important in recent memory, as many investors remain skeptical about the stock market’s rally over the past two months,” said David Laut, CEO of KERUX Financial.

10/28/2025

A review of Nigeria’s 2024 budget performance document for the fourth quarter has shown that only 36 percent of the Ministry of Health’s capital expenditure budget was utilized, despite the budget year being extended to June 2025.

According to the document, ₦543 billion was appropriated as capital expenditure for the health sector in the 2024 fiscal year. However, only ₦174.9 billion had been spent as of June 2025.

Only 36% Of Nigeria’s 2024 Health Budget Spent Despite Extension To June 2025 A review of Nigeria’s 2024 budget performance document for the fourth quarter has

10/28/2025

An aircraft carrying 12 people crashed just minutes after takeoff from Diani airstrip in Kenya’s coastal Kwale region early Tuesday, bursting into flames and leaving all onboard feared dead, authorities confirmed.

An aircraft carrying 12 people crashed just minutes after takeoff from Diani airstrip in Kenya’s coastal Kwale region early Tuesday, bursting into flames and le

10/28/2025

Multiple security sources confirmed on Tuesday that the Nigerian Army raided the Abuja home of a former governor and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in connection with an alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).

According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked the “former South-South governor” to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers.

ABUJA —Multiple security sources confirmed on Tuesday that the Nigerian Army raided the Abuja home of a former governor and former Minister of State for Petrole

10/24/2025

BREAKING: Tinubu Sacks Service Chiefs, Appoints Oluyede, Shaibu in Major Shake-Up

President Bola Tinubu has approved sweeping changes in Nigeria’s military leadership.

In a statement released on Friday by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Tinubu appointed Olufemi Oluyede as the new Chief of Defence Staff, replacing General Christopher Musa.

Until his new appointment, Oluyede served as the Chief of Army Staff.

Major General Waidi Shaibu has been named the new Chief of Army Staff, while Air Vice Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke takes over as Chief of Air Staff. Similarly, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas has been appointed as the new Chief of Naval Staff, while E.A.P. Undiendeye retains his position as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

According to Dare, the appointments take immediate effect, underscoring Tinubu’s renewed push to reposition the military and strengthen coordination among the various branches of the Armed Forces.

“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses his profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, and the other service chiefs for their patriotic service and dedicated leadership,” the statement read.

“President Tinubu charges the newly appointed service chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them by further enhancing the professionalism, vigilance, and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

This marks the second major reshuffle of the military command under President Tinubu’s administration since he assumed office in May 2023.

10/17/2025

Madagascar has sworn in army leader Colonel Michael Randrianirina as president, just days after a military takeover on the back of a popular rebellion that sent President Andry Rajoelina fleeing into exile.

10/15/2025

Nigeria is struggling with a silent epidemic that threatens the heart of its youth. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 14.3 million Nigerians—nearly three times the global average—are actively using psychoactive substances. Among them, close to three million people suffer from severe drug dependence that requires urgent treatment.

Nigeria is struggling with a silent epidemic that threatens the heart of its youth. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approxima

10/15/2025

An army commander who led a mutiny in Madagascar said on Tuesday the military had taken power after President Andry Rajoelina was impeached by lawmakers and forced to flee the country following weeks of youth-led protests.

Rajoelina had refused to step down despite escalating Gen Z demonstrations demanding his resignation and widespread defections in the army. “We have taken the power,” Colonel Michael Randrianirina declared on national radio, adding that the military would dissolve all institutions except the lower house of parliament, or National Assembly.

Summary Army mutiny leader says military takes over nation Defiant Rajoelina refuses to step down after fleeing island Lower house of parliament votes to impeac

10/14/2025

This is how a dramatic 24 hours unfolded in Madagascar, where the head of an elite army unit says the military is now in charge after the president fled and the parliament voted to impeach him.

10/13/2025

BREAKING: Hamas begins to release Israeli hostages.

10/13/2025

Israel has declared a controversial “victory” in its protracted conflict with Hamas, setting the stage for a major hostage-for-prisoner exchange just hours before a high-stakes peace summit, to be hosted by US President Donald Trump in Egypt.

The planned exchange, a key component of the proposed US roadmap, involves Hamas releasing its surviving hostages in return for Israel freeing approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees. However, last-minute friction marred the final arrangements late Sunday, with Hamas sources informing AFP that the militant group was demanding the inclusion of seven senior Palestinian leaders on the release list, a sticking point for Israeli negotiators.

Israel has declared a controversial "victory" in its protracted conflict with Hamas, setting the stage for a major hostage-for-prisoner exchange just hours befo