New Post Africa

Category: Europe-Asia

  • Three years of war in Sudan, EU calls for immediate ceasefire

    Three years of war in Sudan, EU calls for immediate ceasefire

    AFRICA/INTERNATIONAL (NPA) — The European Union has renewed its call for peace in Sudan as the country enters its third year of war, warning that the conflict continues to devastate lives and undermine the aspirations of the 2018/19 revolution.

    In a statement on 21 April 2026, the EU High Representative reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to Sudan’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity, rejecting unilateral attempts to establish parallel governance that could risk partition. Preventing escalation into a full‑scale regional war, the EU stressed, remains paramount.

    The statement highlighted the Sudan Conference in Berlin held on 15 April, which demonstrated international resolve to pressure the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and affiliated militias to end hostilities.

    Recalling the October 2025 Council Conclusions, the EU urged all actors to engage in negotiations towards an immediate and lasting ceasefire. It expressed readiness to support credible peace initiatives, including international monitoring mechanisms, and called on external actors to stop fuelling the war.

    Sudan’s humanitarian crisis is worsening, with civilians targeted, famine conditions persisting, and mass displacement destabilising communities and the wider region. The EU condemned attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities, aid workers, and humanitarian convoys, stressing that obstruction of relief efforts may constitute war crimes.

    At the Berlin Conference, donors pledged €1.5 billion in aid, including €812 million from the EU and its Member States, to support humanitarian response and protect critical infrastructure.

    The EU also denounced grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including systematic sexual and gender‑based violence, with rape used as a weapon of war. It pledged support for accountability mechanisms such as the UN Fact‑Finding Mission and the ICC, noting that sanctions targeting the war economy remain under consideration.

    Reaffirming support for Sudanese aspirations for democratic governance, the EU welcomed the Joint Call to End the War and Advance a Sudanese‑Owned Political Process, agreed by civilian actors at the Berlin Conference under the AU‑led Quintet. The statement concluded: “It is long overdue to bring this devastating conflict to an end.”

  • EU imposes sanctions on Russia over hybrid threats

    EU imposes sanctions on Russia over hybrid threats

    BRUSSELS, Belgium (NPA) — The European Union has announced new sanctions targeting individuals and entities linked to Russia’s hybrid campaigns against the EU and its member states, condemning what it described as persistent attempts to undermine democracy, security, and critical infrastructure.

    In a statement, the EU said Russia’s hybrid activities — including sabotage, cyberattacks, disinformation, and interference in electoral processes — have intensified since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. These actions, it noted, form part of a broader, coordinated campaign aimed at destabilising the EU, its partners, and neighbouring states such as Ukraine and Moldova.

    The sanctions regime, first adopted in October 2024 and expanded in May 2025, allows the EU to target individuals and entities engaged in destabilising activities. Measures include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on financial transactions, as well as prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available to those listed.

    Currently, 69 individuals and 19 entities are sanctioned under this framework. Those affected include propagandists, media figures, influencers, and companies such as the state-owned Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network and the BRICS Journalists Association.

    The EU stressed that it remains determined to expose and counter Russia’s hybrid threats, pledging to use “the full range of tools available” to protect its democratic institutions and hold perpetrators accountable.

    In addition to hybrid-related sanctions, the EU has imposed sweeping measures in response to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, including economic restrictions, diplomatic measures, visa bans, and the suspension of broadcasting licences for Russian state-controlled media outlets accused of spreading disinformation.

  • Philippines, China trade claims over West Philippine Sea operations

    Philippines, China trade claims over West Philippine Sea operations

    INTERNATIONAL — 14 April 2026 (NPA) — The Philippine Coast Guard and China’s Foreign Ministry have issued conflicting statements regarding recent activities in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

    Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela rejected remarks by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, insisting that cyanide testing in the area was conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation using established forensic protocols. Tarriela said the results, based on samples recovered from vessels, were credible and transparent.

    He further noted that Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, citing the 2016 Arbitral Award under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). According to Tarriela, the Philippines has sovereign rights to protect marine resources and enforce its laws in those waters.

    Tarriela also pointed to environmental damage in the region, attributing it to large-scale reclamation and construction activities by China. He said the Philippines’ presence at Ayungin Shoal, maintained by the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, was defensive, while alleging that Chinese actions posed risks to the marine ecosystem.

    China has consistently asserted sovereignty over much of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines. The dispute remains one of the most contentious issues in regional maritime security, with both sides continuing to defend their positions under international law.

  • Macron meets AU Commission President, calls for stronger partnership amid Strait of Hormuz crisis

    Macron meets AU Commission President, calls for stronger partnership amid Strait of Hormuz crisis

    PARIS, France, 13 April 2026 (NPA) — French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday received the President of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

    Macron said he was delighted to welcome Youssouf at what he described as a time of increasing global turbulence, stressing that the African Union remains an essential partner for France, the European Union, and the international community in advancing development, peace, security, and the protection of global public goods across Africa.

    On diplomatic and partnership fronts, Macron pledged that France intends to be a reliable and steadfast partner of the African Union. He highlighted the upcoming Africa Forward Summit, scheduled for Nairobi on 11–12 May, as a major opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Europe and Africa.

    Turning to the Middle East, Macron emphasized that no effort should be spared in pursuing a strong and lasting diplomatic settlement. He said such a settlement must address core issues, including Iran’s nuclear and ballistic activities, its destabilizing actions in the region, the urgent need to restore free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Macron pledged France’s readiness to play its full part in these efforts, noting that Paris has consistently sought to contribute since the onset of the conflict. He announced that France, together with the United Kingdom, will organize a conference in the coming days with countries willing to contribute to a peaceful multinational mission aimed at restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that the mission would be strictly defensive and separate from the warring parties, to be deployed as soon as conditions permit.

    Earlier, Newpost Africa reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had also announced a summit of 40 nations to address the ongoing Strait of Hormuz standoff.

  • UK’s Starmer warns Strait of Hormuz closure deeply damaging as Trump orders naval blockade

    UK’s Starmer warns Strait of Hormuz closure deeply damaging as Trump orders naval blockade

    INTERNATIONAL, 13 April 2026 (NPA) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is severely damaging global trade, stressing that restoring freedom of navigation is vital to easing cost-of-living pressures worldwide.

    Speaking on Monday, Starmer said the United Kingdom has convened more than 40 nations committed to restoring safe passage through the strait, which has become the epicenter of military confrontations involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. He emphasized that securing international shipping lanes is critical to stabilizing global markets.

    Looking ahead, Starmer revealed that the UK and France will co-host a summit this week to advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard shipping once the conflict subsides. “Getting global shipping moving again is essential to protect households and economies from further shocks,” he said.

    As of press time, it remains unclear whether the United States is among the 40 nations convened, given Washington’s unilateral actions in the strait. President Donald Trump recently announced a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, ordering the Navy to intercept vessels paying tolls to Iran.

  • UN reveals organized child trafficking networks in South Eastern Europe

    UN reveals organized child trafficking networks in South Eastern Europe

    INTERNATIONAL, 12 April 2026 (NPA) — The United Nations has raised alarm over the growing exploitation of children in South Eastern Europe, citing harrowing cases of forced begging, sexual abuse, and coerced labour. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that children now account for nearly a quarter of all detected trafficking victims in the region, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated action.

    Recent cases illustrate the scale of the crisis: in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a married couple forced their four children to beg daily for over a year; in Slovenia, a father sold his teenage daughter into an abusive marriage; and in North Macedonia, a 12‑year‑old girl was forced to drink alcohol, dance in bars, and endure sexual exploitation. “These cases illustrate how children, including migrants and refugees, are being cruelly exploited by human traffickers,” said Davor Raus, a UNODC crime prevention expert.

    At a regional meeting in Skopje, more than 60 anti‑trafficking specialists from 20 countries discussed strategies to combat organized crime networks. Romanian prosecutor Dan Alexandru Popa warned that traffickers are increasingly sophisticated, citing an ongoing trial of 14 defendants accused of exploiting German teenagers under the guise of rehabilitation programmes in Romania. The group allegedly abused minors while misappropriating state funds meant for their welfare.

    Links between migrant smuggling and trafficking were also highlighted. In Bosnia, two Afghan nationals stand accused of luring unaccompanied children from refugee camps with false promises of free passage into the EU, only to subject them to forced criminality and sexual exploitation.

    Experts stressed the devastating impact of trafficking on child victims, including long‑term trauma, mental health issues, and disrupted education. “The impact on children is magnified due to their vulnerability and dependency on caregivers, who in some cases are the exploiters,” said Stojne Atanasovska Dimishkovska, UNODC’s National Programme Officer in North Macedonia.

    The meeting, co‑organized by France’s Permanent Mission to the UN, concluded with calls for stronger victim protection, compensation, and efforts to dismantle cultural prejudices that enable practices such as forced marriage and begging. “Traffickers are becoming more professional and organized,” said French expert Elodie Goyard, urging immediate and lasting safeguards to prevent revictimization.

    The UN stressed that tackling child trafficking requires sustained international cooperation, robust prosecution of perpetrators, and comprehensive support for victims to rebuild their lives.

  • Indian Prime Minister Modi mourns legendary singer Asha Bhosle Ji

    Indian Prime Minister Modi mourns legendary singer Asha Bhosle Ji

    INTERNATIONAL, 12 April 2026 (NPA) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has mourned the passing of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle Ji, who died on 12 April 2026 at the age of 92 in Mumbai.

    In a tribute message on Sunday, Modi expressed deep sadness over her death, describing Bhosle as one of the most iconic and versatile voices India has ever known. He noted that her extraordinary musical journey, spanning decades, enriched India’s cultural heritage and touched countless hearts worldwide.  

    “Be it her soulful melodies or vibrant compositions, her voice carried timeless brilliance. I’ll always cherish the interactions I’ve had with her,” Modi said. He extended condolences to her family, admirers, and music lovers, adding that her songs will continue to inspire generations and echo in people’s lives.

    Asha Bhosle, widely regarded as one of the most prolific voices in Indian cinema, died at Breach Candy Hospital after being admitted with exhaustion and a chest infection. Doctors confirmed her death was due to multi-organ failure.  

    Beginning her career in 1943 with a song for the Marathi film Majh Bal, she went on to record more than 12,000 songs in multiple Indian languages, becoming a defining voice of Bollywood through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Known for her ability to sing across genres—from classical to pop, cabaret, ghazals, and folk—she earned global recognition, including two Grammy nominations, and influenced generations of singers.  

    Tributes have poured in from across India and beyond, with leaders, artists, and fans mourning her passing while celebrating her unmatched contribution to music and culture. 

  • Philippines condemns China’s ‘reckless’ flare attack, rejects sovereignty claims in West Philippine Sea

    Philippines condemns China’s ‘reckless’ flare attack, rejects sovereignty claims in West Philippine Sea

    INTERNATIONAL, 9 April 2026 (NPA) — The government of the Philippines has accused China of aggression and deliberate bullying after Chinese forces fired flares directly at a Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft conducting routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flights over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

    According to Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson on West Philippine Sea concerns, the provocative incidents occurred specifically at Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef, where Coast Guard aircraft were peacefully monitoring maritime activities to ensure the safety of Philippine waters.

    Tarriela stated: “This afternoon, in a clear and deliberate act of bullying, Chinese forces fired flares directly at Philippine Coast Guard Caravan aircraft while we were conducting routine Maritime Domain Awareness flights over the Kalayaan Island Group. The provocative incidents occurred specifically at Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef, where our aircraft were operating peacefully to monitor maritime activities and ensure the safety of our waters.”

    These actions, described by the Philippines as reckless and aggressive, were said to represent yet another escalation in China’s campaign of intimidation and harassment. By targeting unarmed Coast Guard aircraft with flares, Manila accused Beijing of violating international aviation safety norms, undermining regional peace, and endangering the lives of personnel on board.

    The statement further noted that Chinese forces issued radio transmissions during the incidents, asserting “indisputable sovereignty” over the areas — claims linked to China’s reclaimed and militarised bases in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines argued that these assertions have no basis in international law, as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, and characterised them as part of Beijing’s expansionist agenda and repeated violations of international norms.

  • Kharkiv under attack again as Russian drones hit civilian areas  

    Kharkiv under attack again as Russian drones hit civilian areas  

    INTERNATIONAL, April 6, 2026 (NPA) — The State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) has reported new Russian drone strikes on Kharkiv, leaving at least five people injured and causing widespread damage to civilian infrastructure.  

    According to SES, in a statement released on Telegraph today, the Kyivskyi district of the city, the upper floor of a nine-story residential building was destroyed, and several cars parked nearby were damaged. In another incident, a drone exploded in an open area near a public transport stop, damaging a bus.  

    The attacks also sparked fires. One blaze ignited dry vegetation across 100 square meters, which firefighters quickly extinguished. However, during the response to the first strike, emergency crews themselves came under attack from enemy drones. Fortunately, no personnel were injured.  

    Further strikes shattered windows at an educational institution and triggered additional fires in Kharkiv and its suburbs, burning dry grass across areas of 800 and 500 square meters respectively.  

    On March 25, a hospital in Al-Kurmuk, Blue Nile State, was looted, equipment destroyed, and staff and patients forced out. One health worker was critically injured.  

    Despite the ongoing threat of repeat strikes, SES units, National Police officers, medical teams, and municipal services continue to operate at the sites of impact.  

    The SES condemned the attacks, stressing that targeting healthcare facilities, residential buildings, and public infrastructure demonstrates a blatant disregard for civilian life.

  • Kemi Badenoch vows to restore church funding, defend Britain’s Christian heritage

    Kemi Badenoch vows to restore church funding, defend Britain’s Christian heritage

    INTERNATIONAL, April 5, 2026 (NPA) — Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Conservative Party, has declared that Britain is a Christian country, pledging that her party will continue to honour the nation’s Christian heritage through concrete action rather than words alone.

    In her Easter message, Badenoch announced plans to restore funding for the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, which had recently been capped by the government. She emphasized that local churches must be properly maintained and repaired, underscoring their role not only as places of worship but also as vital centres of community life.

    “Churches matter,” she said, noting that in towns and villages across the United Kingdom, they stand as symbols of pride and history, often stretching back centuries. Badenoch warned that neglecting them risks losing irreplaceable heritage.

    She reiterated that the Conservative Party believes it has a responsibility to safeguard churches for future generations. “What are we for if not to conserve the very best of our country and our society for those yet to come?” she asked. Her statement concluded with a pledge: “Conservatives will protect our heritage and build a stronger country.”