AfrikTimes

10/07/2025

Announcing his bid for an eighth term in July, Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, said he was responding to “numerous and insistent” calls to remain in office. But this year’s election cycle has also featured growing appeals for him to step aside.

The first came from Catholic Archbishop Samuel Kleda, who said on French radio last Christmas that it was “not realistic” for Biya to continue leading the country. Then followed the defections of two cabinet members from Cameroon’s vote-rich northern regions, both of whom openly questioned Biya’s fitness to govern.

YAOUNDE, Oct. 6 (AfrikTimes) — Announcing his bid for an eighth term in July, Cameroon’s 92-year-old president, Paul Biya, said he was responding to “numerous a

10/07/2025

Barring any last-minute changes, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu is expected to nominate Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to succeed Professor Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following Yakubu’s 10-year tenure spanning two terms.

AfrikTimes learned that to formalise the appointment, the President has scheduled a meeting of the Council of State for this Thursday. Amupitan is both a kinsman and longtime legal counsel for Senator Dino Melaye.

AfrikTimes has learned that President Bola Tinubu has scheduled a meeting of the Council of State this Thursday to formalize the appointment of a new National C

10/07/2025

Two years ago today, on October 7, 2023, the world was plunged into a new, brutal chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Two years since the initial, barbaric attack by Hamas claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and tore 251 hostages from their homes. And two years since the start of an Israeli military campaign that has rendered the Gaza Strip unrecognizable, burying a generation under layers of rubble, grief, and despair.

Two years ago today, on October 7, 2023, the world was plunged into a new, brutal chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Two years since the initial, barb

10/06/2025

The Dangote Group, led by President/Chief Executive Aliko Dangote, has officially broken ground on a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia.

The project, a partnership with Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), is designed to be one of the world’s largest, with an annual production capacity of three million metric tonnes of urea.

The complex, located in Ethiopia’s South-East region, will leverage the country’s abundant natural gas reserves to boost agricultural output, create jobs, and enhance food security across the Horn of Africa.

The Dangote Group, led by President/Chief Executive Aliko Dangote, has officially broken ground on a $2.5 billion fertiliser plant in Gode, Ethiopia. The proje

10/06/2025

Arsenal have made an impressive start to the season, winning eight of their first ten games, but new striker Viktor Gyökeres has found life in North London a little more challenging.

After scoring three goals in his first four appearances, the £64 million summer signing has now gone six matches without finding the net. Manager Mikel Arteta revealed he gave the Swedish forward a hug after Saturday’s 2-0 win over West Ham, praising his effort and attitude.

Arsenal have made an impressive start to the season, winning eight of their first ten games, but new striker Viktor Gyökeres has found life in North London a li

10/06/2025

Oil prices rose about 1% in early trade on Monday after OPEC+ announced a more modest monthly increase in production than expected, easing some concerns about a potential supply surge.

Brent crude futures rose 63 cents, or 1%, to $65.16 a barrel by 2310 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $61.46, up 58 cents, or 1%.

SINGAPORE, Oct 6 (AfrikTimes) – Oil prices rose about 1% in early trade on Monday after OPEC+ announced a more modest monthly increase in production than expect

10/05/2025

“Whether you believe it was justified or not, right or not, you cannot ignore the impact that this has had on Israel’s global standing,” Rubio said in an interview with CBS News’ Face the Nation.

He was responding to a question about remarks by President Donald Trump to Israel’s Channel 12 in an interview published on Saturday: “Bibi (Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) has gone too far in Gaza and Israel has lost a lot of support in the world. Now I will return all that support.”

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 5 (AfrikTimes) — The United States cannot overlook the toll that the Gaza war has taken on Israel’s international reputation, U.S. Secretar

10/05/2025

Barcelona suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season as Sevilla claimed a memorable win at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Ronald Araújo, one of two changes from the midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain, was involved in the key moment that led to Sevilla’s opener. He was judged to have fouled Isaac Romero inside the penalty area, and after a VAR review, the decision stood. Former Barcelona forward Alexis Sánchez converted the resulting spot-kick to put the hosts ahead.

Barcelona suffered their first La Liga defeat of the season as Sevilla claimed a memorable win at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Ronald Araújo, one of two changes f

10/05/2025

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut in Portland is a setback for Trump as he seeks to dispatch the military to cities he describes as lawless over the objections of their Democratic leaders. Immergut, who was appointed by Trump during his first term, blocked the Republican president from sending troops at least until October 18, saying there was no evidence that recent protests rose to the level of a rebellion or seriously interfered with law enforcement. While Trump described the city as “War ravaged,” lawyers from the Oregon attorney general’s office have said that protests in Portland were “small and sedate,” resulting in only 25 arrests in mid-June and no arrests in the 3-1/2 months since June 19.

Summary Judge blocks National Guard deployment to Portland until at least October 18 Oregon lawsuit claims Trump's deployment violates state rights Trump's port

10/05/2025

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed media reports that he implied the late former President Muhammadu Buhari had any association with the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The controversy arose following a speech Jonathan delivered at the book launch for former Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor. Jonathan’s office says his remarks were taken out of context by some news outlets.

In a clarification issued by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan stressed the reports were completely misleading.

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed media reports that he implied the late former President Muhammadu Buhari had any association with the

10/04/2025

Japan’s ruling party picked conservative nationalist Sanae Takaichi as its new head on Saturday, putting her on course to become the country’s first female prime minister.

The Liberal Democratic Party elected Takaichi, 64, to regain trust from a public angered by rising prices and drawn to opposition groups promising big stimulus and clampdowns on foreigners.

Summary Conservative nationalist, 64, picked to lead ruling party Investors wary of spending designed to win back voters She defeated moderate Koizumi, a politi

10/04/2025

Tanker resumes voyage after French navy raid – maritime tracker
A vessel linked by President Macron to drone sightings in Europe has apparently been released

An oil tanker detained by the French Navy while sailing from Russia in what President Vladimir Putin denounced as an “act of piracy” has resumed its journey, according to maritime tracking data.

According to MarineTraffic, the Benin-flagged ‘Boracay’ is now crossing the Bay of Biscay on its way to the Suez Canal after apparently being released on Thursday evening. The vessel is blacklisted by the EU for allegedly belonging to the so-called “Russian shadow fleet,” a group of tankers Western governments claim Moscow uses to skirt their attempts to throttle its crude exports, including through a price cap.

Putin denounced the interception of the vessel during his remarks at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi on Thursday. He argued that France had neither jurisdiction nor justification to seize the ship and dismissed claims of Russian ownership as dubious.

Putin further suggested that President Emmanuel Macron was exploiting anti-Russian rhetoric to distract from domestic issues. The French leader is seeking “to provoke us into some actions and then tell the French: ‘Rally around me, I’ll lead you to victory’. Like Napoleon,” Putin explained.

Macron linked the tanker to sightings of mystery drones over Denmark, noting that its voyage from the Russian port of Primorsk took it past the Nordic country. Putin rejected the allegation, asserting that the vessel could not be transporting military cargo.

Brightly lit drones have been reported recently over sensitive sites in Denmark, Germany, and Norway. This week, EU leaders met in Copenhagen to discuss the so-called “drone wall” initiative, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen endorsed in her State of the Union speech last month.

News reports indicate the proposal quickly ran into skepticism over feasibility and funding – or “crashed into EU reality,” as Politico put it.

Moscow has accused Brussels of resorting to fearmongering to justify militarization and to sustain aid for Ukraine at the expense of member states’ domestic priorities.