South Africa: National airline privatisation deal collapses

South Africa has cancelled a deal to sell a stake in its national airline after failing to agree on the value and other terms with a consortium of private investors.…

Algeria: Contracts to boost energy production with new solar plants signed

Algeria, a major oil and gas exporter, has signed agreements with national and international companies to develop two solar energy projects with a total capacity of 3,000 MW. Given the…

Australia: Farm grows world’s biggest blueberry

An Australian farm has broken the record for the world’s largest blueberry with a fruit the size of a ping pong ball. Harvested in November and stored in the freezer…

Somalia: Paris Club creditors cancel $2bn of Somali debt

Several countries have agreed to forgive more than $2bn (£1.5bn) of Somalia’s debt. The Paris Club, which includes the United States, Japan and Russia, has written off almost all outstanding…

Kenya: Agency denies hiring TV anchor cleared of murder

Kenya’s Civil Service Personnel Authority has denied reports that it has hired a popular former television presenter who was recently acquitted of murder charges. Civil Service Minister Moses Kuria told…

SA: Citizens fighting in Israel will be arrested – minister

South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said South African nationals who fought with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza would be arrested upon their return, according to the Associated…

Uganda: $800m budgeted to teach Ugandans Kiswahili

The Ugandan government has allocated $800m (£625m) to the promotion and education of Swahili in the country as part of efforts to promote regional integration. Uganda’s East African Affairs Minister…

UK: Authorities to ban foreign state ownership of newspapers

Foreign governments will be prohibited from owning British newspapers and news magazines, the government said. This follows criticism of the planned takeover of the Daily Telegraph and Spectator newspapers by…

USA: Marlboro cigarette maker sells $2.2bn stake in Bud Light beer owner

Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group has announced it will sell more than $2.2bn (£1.7bn) of its stake in AB InBev, which owns the Bud Light and Stella Artois beer brands.…

Netherlands: Anti-Islam populist Geert Wilders abandons PM bid

Dutch anti-Muslim populist leader Geert Wilders has abandoned his candidacy for prime minister despite his party’s dramatic victory in the 2023 election. “I can only become prime minister if ALL…