The party of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has reversed a controversial proposed value-added-tax (VAT) rise that had threatened the country’s coalition government. The hike was proposed by the African National Congress (ANC) but was strongly opposed by the Democratic Alliance (DA), its main coalition partner in the unity government, which had even asked the … Read more
Benin’s government has admitted that 54 soldiers were killed by suspected jihadists in the country’s north last week near the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger. The authorities had previously said that only eight soldiers were killed. The revised figure makes it the deadliest known attack since insurgents began operating in northern Benin at the … Read more
Nine Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a police station in northern Gaza, health officials and first responders say. Several other people were also wounded when missiles hit the market area of Jabalia town. Video footage showed crowds gathered around the remains of a flattened building. The Israeli military said it … Read more
Getty Images Kieran lost his car in the southern suburbs of Cork City Typically, a sore head the day after a friend’s stag party is par for the course – but completely forgetting where you parked in an unfamiliar city can cause a different kind of headache. That’s what happened to one man from County … Read more
K-pop group Just B’s member Bain has revealed to fans he is “proud to be part of the LGBT community” – a rare move in an industry known for its tight control over artists’ behaviour, where stars typically keep details of their their personal lives private, particularly relationships. The star, 23, is now among only … Read more
Tanzania has banned all agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi in the latest episode of a growing trade row. “We are taking this step to protect our business interests. This is business – in business, we must all respect each other,” Tanzania’s Agriculture Minister Hussein Bashe said on Wednesday, while confirming the move. South … Read more
Crowds are continuing to gather to pay their respects to Pope Francis. The late pontiff, who died on Monday, is currently lying in state in an open coffin in St Peter’s Basilica. He will remain there until his funeral on Saturday. The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford said mourners were taking their chance “to say goodbye”.
An Australian politician has been convicted of supplying drugs after he initially dismissed a video showing him snorting a white substance as a “deepfake”. Former South Australian Liberal party leader David Speirs was fined A$9,000 (£4311; $5,720) and ordered to complete 37.5 hours of community service by an Adelaide court on Thursday. Speirs was arrested … Read more
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have agreed to halt fighting in the east of the country until peace talks mediated by Qatar reach their “conclusion”. It is the latest truce deal since the rebels stepped up an offensive in eastern DR Congo where authorities say 7,000 people have been killed since … Read more
Paul Adams BBC News, Jerusalem Getty Images Public criticism of Hamas is rare, with protests violently dispersed and opponents jailed, tortured and killed “Out! Out! Out!” The voice in the Telegram video is insistent. Loud. Sometimes musical. And the message unambiguous. “All of Hamas, out!” On the streets of Gaza, more and more Palestinians are … Read more