JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — September 11, 2026: Two Nigerian nationals, including Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle, have been killed in separate incidents in Johannesburg, raising fresh concerns among Nigerians living in South Africa about their safety.

According to reports, Fakunle was killed at his home on September 4 after allegedly receiving a series of threats. He was reportedly shot by unidentified individuals who went to his residence.

The second victim, identified as James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, was reportedly killed on September 5. Former Nigerian Aviation Minister and ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said Nwankwo died following what he described as alleged “gruesome interrogation techniques” by members of the South African Police Service.

Fani-Kayode said the deaths have heightened concerns within the Nigerian community in South Africa. He called on the South African authorities to investigate both incidents and ensure that anyone responsible is brought to justice.

He also claimed that Fakunle and Nwankwo were the seventh and eighth Nigerians killed in South Africa in 2026, and alleged that some of the deaths involved South African security personnel. These claims have not been independently verified.

The killings have renewed wider concerns about the safety of Nigerian nationals in South Africa, where tensions involving foreign nationals and allegations of xenophobic violence have periodically strained relations between the two countries.

Fani-Kayode urged the South African government to take stronger measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.

Authorities are expected to face increasing pressure to clarify the circumstances surrounding both deaths and establish whether the incidents are connected.

The circumstances surrounding the two deaths remain under investigation, and allegations against any individuals or authorities have yet to be established in court.

HONG KONG — Several prominent Hong Kong activists connected to efforts to preserve public memory of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown have been sentenced to prison terms of up to seven years. The case marks another significant development in the territory’s long-running crackdown on pro-democracy and civil society groups.

The three former leaders of the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance were convicted under the Beijing-imposed national security law on charges of inciting subversion. The group had organised annual candlelight vigils commemorating those killed during China’s 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in and around Tiananmen Square.

Chow Hang-tung received the longest sentence of seven years and three months, while Lee Cheuk-yan was sentenced to seven years. A third activist, Albert Ho, who pleaded guilty, received five years and two months in prison. The Hong Kong Alliance was also fined HK$1.5 million.

For decades, Hong Kong hosted one of the largest annual public commemorations of the Tiananmen crackdown. The gatherings became a symbol of the city’s freedoms and were attended by thousands of people before authorities moved to halt them following the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020. The Hong Kong Alliance later disbanded amid increasing pressure on civil society organisations and pro-democracy groups.

The prosecution focused in part on the activists’ longstanding call to “end one-party dictatorship,” which the court found amounted to an effort to undermine the leadership of China’s Communist Party. Lee and Chow had pleaded not guilty and are expected to challenge their sentences.

The case has drawn criticism from rights advocates and supporters of the activists, who argue that the convictions further restrict freedom of expression and political activism in Hong Kong. Authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing, however, maintain that the National Security Law is necessary to safeguard national security and restore stability following the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019.

The sentencing is among the most prominent recent cases involving Hong Kong’s former pro-democracy movement and underscores the continuing impact of the national security legislation on political and civic activity in the territory.

By Angel No Lie | KPD Online | September 13, 2026
DUBLIN, Ireland — September 12, 2026: Irish authorities have seized approximately 5kg of cocaine, estimated to be worth about €500,000, after the drug was allegedly concealed inside packets of lollipops at Dublin Airport.

The seizure was made on Thursday when officers from Ireland’s Revenue service searched a passenger’s baggage and discovered cocaine hidden among confectionery.

The discovery triggered follow-up searches by An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police service. During those searches, officers also recovered approximately €16,000 in cash and additional controlled drugs with an estimated value of €14,500.

A man in his 60s was arrested in connection with the investigation. He was subsequently charged and appeared before a court on Friday morning, according to authorities.

The case underscores the efforts of Irish law-enforcement agencies to intercept illegal drugs entering the country through international travel routes. Authorities continue to investigate the suspected trafficking operation and the intended destination of the drugs.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the accused is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed claims that his government plans to introduce Arabic and Chinese languages into the curriculum of all public schools in Ghana.

According to the President, no such policy has been approved by Cabinet, which he chairs, and urged the public to disregard reports suggesting otherwise.

President Mahama made the clarification during a citizens’ engagement as part of his #ResettingGhana Tour in the Upper West Region.

“I want to say with all emphasis as President of the Republic of Ghana that no such policy has been approved by the Cabinet that I chair. So let’s put that matter to rest once and for all,” he said.

The President questioned the rationale behind introducing Chinese into public schools when Ghana was already facing challenges in providing adequate French language teachers.

“We are surrounded by French-speaking countries. We are not even getting a handle on the teaching of French. Why would we go and introduce Chinese?” President Mahama asked.

He further questioned where the country would obtain the teachers required to implement such a policy, stressing that Ghana was already struggling to recruit sufficient French teachers.

“Where are we going to get Chinese teachers? Even French teachers are hard to find,” he said.

Addressing concerns about the training of Arabic teachers, President Mahama explained that the practice was linked to the establishment of English-Arabic schools to encourage Muslim communities to enrol their children in formal education.

He said the initiative dates back to the era of former President Jerry John Rawlings, when concerns were raised that some Muslim families were reluctant to send their children to school due to fears that they could be converted to another religion.

“Rawlings introduced English-Arabic schools. You all know about these English-Arabic schools and so they allowed Arabic to be taught in those schools,” he explained.

According to President Mahama, the training of Arabic teachers is therefore intended to support the teaching of Arabic in these existing English-Arabic schools and does not constitute a new policy to introduce the language across all public schools.

He reiterated that there has been no Cabinet approval for a curriculum that would introduce Arabic and Chinese as languages in Ghana’s public schools.

“But there’s no new policy to introduce Arabic and Chinese in all public schools in Ghana. I’m saying it for the last time for emphasis,” President Mahama stressed.

“I’m President of Ghana. I chair Cabinet. There’s been no approval of any curriculum that is introducing Arabic and English language in our public schools,” he added.

President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghana’s economy has become significantly more resilient to external shocks, arguing that the country can now withstand global economic disruptions without suffering the severe setbacks experienced in the past.

According to him, Ghana’s economy previously lacked the strength to absorb shocks, likening its foundations to “broomsticks” that could easily collapse whenever there was instability in the global economy.

He said the situation has changed under his administration, describing the current economy as standing on “concrete pillars.”

President Mahama made the remarks during a citizenship engagement in Wa as part of his two-day Resetting Ghana Tour of the Upper West Region.

“In the past, Ghana’s economy used to stand on broomsticks. As soon as something happens in the world, it comes crashing down. Today, Ghana’s economy is standing on concrete pillars, so even when there’s an earthquake, the country is still standing,” he said.

The President cited the ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States as an example of the kind of external shock that could previously have triggered a major economic crisis in Ghana.

He said despite the impact of the global conflict, Ghana’s economy has remained stable, attributing the resilience to what he described as prudent management of the economy.

“In the past, this Iran-Israel-U.S. war, maybe that happened some years back. By now, the economy would have come crashing down, but happily, it’s been well managed,” President Mahama said.

He expressed optimism about Ghana’s economic prospects, indicating that the country would have recorded stronger growth this year if not for the impact of global developments.

“We would have made more progress this year than even last year. I’m sure the growth would have hit 7%. But of course, we live in this world, and we can’t help but be affected,” he added.

President Mahama nevertheless maintained that the fundamentals of the Ghanaian economy remain strong, insisting that the country is better positioned to absorb external shocks than it was in previous years.