A massive explosion has rocked Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, causing many casualties, damaging buildings and shattering windows. The blast, which flattened much of the capital’s port, was felt across the city as a giant mushroom cloud rose above it. Lebanon’s health minister said “hundreds” of people were wounded as witnesses said many were injured by flying glass and debris.  Kilometres from …

Africa’s biggest grocery retailer, Shoprite, is exiting the continent’s most populated country, Nigeria, after 15 years. The Cape Town-based retailer has started a formal process to consider the potential sale of all or a majority stake in its supermarkets in Nigeria, it said in a trading statement for the 52 weeks to end June released on Monday. South African retailers have …

Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo on Monday unveiled Volkswagen vehicles assembled in the West African country for the first time. The cars were assembled in VW assembly plant established in Ghana this year. The investment was announced during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s official visit to Ghana in August 2018. During the announcement the Government of Ghana and Volkswagen signed a Memorandum of Understanding …

Former junior featherweight world champion Isaac ‘The Royal Storm’ Dogboe made a triumphant return to boxing after an eighth round technical knock-out to Mexican-American Chris Avalos. It was a featherweight bout at the MG Grand in Las Vegas, USA on Tuesday night. The former WBO champion has been out of boxing since losing his title reclaim bout to Mexican Emanuel …

The Alliance for Change in Ghana Music (AFGHAM), a group of Ghanaian musicians who have come together to help fellow musicians enjoy their copyrights in royalties recently shed light on the International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) in a tweet by its interim Chairman — Mark Darlington Osae. Mark Darlington Osae of AFGHAM The July 2020 tweet which forms part of …

The first Ghanaian–American candidate for a seat in the US Congress Kojo Asamoa-Caesar says he will continue to be a champion of Ghana even if he becomes a US legislator after the November elections. He says his life has been shaped greatly by his Ghanaian heritage and he is very proud of that. “I got my values from Ghana. My formative years …

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu on charges of embezzlement. Magu was on Monday invited to appear before a Presidential Panel that reviews the agency’s activities. His summons is believed to have been the result of a recent petition from Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Abubakar …

Ivory Coast’s PM Amadou Gon Coulibaly has died after falling ill at a ministerial meeting. The 61-year-old had been chosen as the ruling party’s candidate for October’s presidential election, after Alassane Ouattara said he would not seek a third term in office. Mr Gon Coulibaly had only just returned from France where he had received two-months’ heart treatment. President Ouattara …

Kenya’s education ministry has said that all primary and secondary schools will reopen next year. The ministry said all students would resume studies in their current classes. Education Minister George Magoha said no final-year national examinations would be held for primary and secondary pupils this year. Pupils from Nairobi primary school sit for their exams at the start the Kenya …

Music and video streaming service Apple Music has launched a new artist discovery program in Africa called Africa Rising. Every two months through the program, Apple Music’s editorial team will select one artist from the continent and amplify their music to its users in 167 countries. The Africa Rising initiative also includes an accompanying playlist featuring songs in different genres …