Nigeria Moves to Decriminalize Attempted Suicide
Nigeria's federal government plans to decriminalize attempted suicide, currently punishable by up to a year in prison, as part of an amendment to the National Mental Health Act. Health Minister Ali Pate said the country records about 300,000 suicide attempts and at least 7,000 deaths annually, and the reform aims to cut those numbers by 15% by 2030 by shifting the response from punishment to care.
Ecuador's Intelligence Chief and Wife Among 7 Killed in Kenya Helicopter Crash
Ecuador's intelligence chief, Michele Sensi-Contugi, and his wife, fashion designer Stephany Hollihan, were among seven people killed when their helicopter crashed at Mount Ololokwe in Kenya's Samburu county yesterday, Wednesday, August 19. The other victims included several Americans, among them an NBCUniversal journalist and a Miami restaurateur.
At Least 40 Dead, Mostly Children, After Boat Capsizes in Nigeria's Sokoto State
At least 40 bodies, mostly children, have been recovered after an overloaded boat capsized near Gorau in Nigeria's Sokoto state, officials said today, Thursday, August 20, with a local lawmaker putting the death toll at 43 and 16 rescued. Residents said the boat was carrying farm workers hired to harvest rice, with estimates of those on board ranging from 57 to more than 70.
HRW: Russian Paramilitaries Killed 9 Civilians, Including 4 Children, in Mali
Human Rights Watch says Russian paramilitaries from Africa Corps, working alongside Malian soldiers, killed nine civilians — including four children — during a July 10 raid on the village of Bombori in central Mali. The fighters reportedly rounded up dozens of men and boys, beat and interrogated them, then shot six people who tried to flee and executed three others, one by beheading, according to HRW's interviews with witnesses and community members.
Rescue Hopes Fade at Central African Republic Mine Collapse as Death Toll Set to Rise
Hopes of finding survivors are fading two days after a gold mine collapse in Central African Republic's Zamboye village killed more than 100 people, with rescuers recovering more bodies each hour. Local workers say the rescue effort lacks the equipment needed for a disaster this size, and an investigation is underway to determine why the tunnels caved in and who may be criminally responsible.
DR Congo Prosecutors Seek 15 Years for Ex-Justice Minister Over $20 Million Fraud
Prosecutors in the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking 15 years of hard labor for former Justice Minister Constant Mutamba, accusing him of orchestrating the fraudulent disbursement of about $20 million meant to compensate Congolese citizens harmed by Uganda's military interventions. Mutamba, already serving a three-year sentence for embezzlement, denies the charges; the Court of Cassation will rule on September 2.
Tunisian Opposition Group Plans Protest Amid Water, Power Shortages
A new opposition coalition called Nafas was set to protest in Tunis today, Thursday, August 20, tapping into growing anger over utility cuts, medicine shortages, and rising living costs under President Kais Saied. The protest comes amid a brutal heat wave that pushed electricity demand to record highs and forced rationing that also disrupted water pumping and bottled water supplies.
NIH Lifts 17-Month Ban on Funding South African Research
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has ended a 17-month funding freeze on South African research projects, reversing a policy triggered by a 2025 executive order halting U.S. aid to the country. The disruption had threatened major HIV and TB research programs, though South African scientists remain barred from certain NIH training programs, and new funding will still require review under U.S. rules.
