The park in the Democratic Republic of Congo is Africa's oldest nature reserve.

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Vodun is an animist religion rooted in the forces of nature and the connection with ancestors

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Switzerland held a national day of mourning for 40 people killed in a bar fire during New Year in Crans-Montana. Leaders including Macron attended the memorial.

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Thousands fled when the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces captured the city in late October.

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Switzerland paused to honor 40 victims of the Crans-Montana bar fire with a minute of silence. Residents gathered, and flowers were placed at a makeshift memorial.

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During an interview with the New York Times, US President Donald Trump threatened more US air strikes in Nigeria if Christians are killed. Abuja denies that Christians in the country face systematic persecution.

Ousmane Sonko said his government would not seek a deal to restructure its debt despite facing repayment difficulties

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Venezuela's government has started freeing detainees considered by rights groups as political prisoners, in what officials have referred to as a goodwill gesture. US president Donald Trump said the move came at the request of the United States.

The Ugandan presidential candidate known as Bobi Wine wears a flak jacket and helmet while campaigning to protect himself from gunfire. But the safety gear offers no protection from the stinging clouds of tear gas that often follow him on the campaign trail

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It said the capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife was a serious violation of international law.

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Somalia’s government insists Somaliland remains an integral part of the country and warns that international recognition could destabilise the Horn of Africa.

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Ukraine faced fresh damage in Kyiv on 9 January after a Russian air strike hit several districts, killing four and injuring at least 24. Emergency crews are working to clear debris and restore services.

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Twenty-two people died in the 2 January attack in Masisi which the rebels claim was carried out by the Congolese army.

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Somalia remains heavily dependent on international aid, with the U.S. providing $770 million in assistance last year, though only a small share went directly to the government. It remains unclear how much aid will be affected by Washington’s suspension.

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The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group held Thursday a symbolic burial for 22 civilians killed in a drone strike earlier this month in the North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

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Syria sees mass displacement in Aleppo as clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters intensify amid stalled political talks.

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After Renee Good was shot dead during an ICE operation, protesters took to the streets of Minneapolis to demand accountability and the withdrawal of federal agents.

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The shooting comes just a day after an ICE officer killed a driver in Minnesota, further intensifying tensions over President Donald Trump’s expanded immigration enforcement in U.S. cities, and sparking renewed protests in Portland, a city long at odds with the administration.

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The fighting comes amid stalled negotiations between Damascus and the Syrian Democratic Forces, despite a deal signed earlier this year to merge SDF forces into the Syrian army by the end of 2025.