Africa Niger The immediate release of the deposed President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was called for by the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, who emphasised that it was important for 'Niger to get back on the road to democracy'
Africa Niger Meteorite NWA16788, with 24,7kg the largest Martian rock ever found on Earth, discovered in the Agadez Region in 2023, was auctioned in New York for $4,3m; Niger’s government has launched an investigation into eventual illicit trafficking
Africa Niger The US embassy in Niamey is suspending all routine visa services until further notice; the pause covers all immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, citing "concerns with the Government of Niger"
Africa Niger Over 1.800 migrants were apprehended in Algerian cities, bused to a remote desert area known as “Point Zero” and left at the Nigerien border in a record expulsion earlier this month, according to Niger-based migrant rights group said and Alarmphone Sahara
Africa Niger Niger quit Multinational Joint Task Force, fighting armed Islamist groups in Lake Chad area, further splitting from former allies; the decision to exit the force was announced on state television as due to the intent to reinforce security at oil sites