A Sudanese court has sentenced six members of a paramilitary group to death for killing protesters during the 2019 demonstrations over fuel and food shortages.
The shooting of the six protesters, who included four schoolchildren, sparked days over violent protests across Sudan.
Judge Ahmed Hassan al-Rahma says the six members of the Rapid Support Forces used unnecessary and excessive force during the July 2019 protests.
The six are sentenced to be hanged, but under Sudanese law, they can appeal.
Another RSF member was referred to a juvenile court as he was below 18 at the time of the demonstrations.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere have reacted to the comment by a former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida that the next President of Nigeria should be less than 70 years and that the country’s corruption index is worse now than what it was when he was Nigeria’s military ruler.
The pan Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has also backed the former military president’s position on the age of the next president, citing the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo; and Chief Ladoke Akintola, who were in their 50s and 40s when they became premiers of the Western Region.
The socio-political group, however, argued that a president’s performance does not depend on his age but his vision and the country’s political structure.

The Former Director of the Department of State Service, Mr Dennis Amachree, has called on the federal government to do everything possible to stop ransom payment to kidnappers, saying the decision would be the solution to the nefarious activities of making money through kidnapping by bandits and others.
Amachree, says that bandits and others have found kidnapping very lucrative because they are paid the ransom, but this would stop if the federal government discouraged ransom payment and stopped negotiating with bandits when they kidnap persons.
He said that many bandits and terrorists had engaged in the illicit business because firm actions had not been taken to stop the kidnapping. When decisive actions are taken by stopping ransom payment, kidnapping would end in Nigeria.
He said that bandits and others who engage in kidnapping are largely located in the northwest and North-central, but insurgents like Boko Haram, who also engaged in kidnapping, stay in the northeast, noting that those are guided by different directions ideologies, including the condemnation of education.

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 has announced the postponement of the second batch of COVID-19 Moderna vaccines doses donated by the American government to intensify the battle against the virus.
The Director Press, PSC, on COVID-19 Mr Willie Bassey, says the PSC announced the second phase of vaccination against the virus having received four million doses of Moderna vaccines donated by the United States government through COVAX.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the exercise was earlier scheduled to commence tomorrow August 10, 2021, at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Bassey says the exercise was postponed due to some unforeseen circumstances.

The Senate has denied reports that the lawmakers have proposed the creation of 20 more states, saying the upper chamber was grossly misrepresented.
Senate spokesman Ajibola Basiru in a statement says the report is a misunderstanding of the decision reached by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution.
The statement says the report is a gross misrepresentation of the decision of the committee on the request for the creation of more states.
He says Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates the procedures for the creation of additional states adding that the Senate Committee is not in a position to propose the creation of any state as reported.

The Coalition of Northern Groups has kicked against the suspension of the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Abba Kyari following his indictment by a US Court.
Spokesman of the Coalition, Abdulazeez Sulaiman, noted that the Nigerian police authorities and the FBI breached Kyari ‘s fundamental rights by not allowing him to be heard before taking hasty actions against him.
They have, therefore, demanded an immediate review of the suspension and have also asked that the ongoing investigation with the FBI be transferred to the Nigerian Intelligence Agency.

Barcelona says Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will not sign a new deal with Barcelona, ending his two-decade stay at the Nou Camp.
The club says despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi has reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this cannot happen because of financial and structural obstacles.
The club added that FC Barcelona expresses its gratitude to the player for his contribution to the aggrandisement of the club and wishes him all the very best for the future in his personal and professional life.

The White says the United States will provide safe haven to citizens of the Chinese territory for the next 18 months, allowing thousands to extend their stays in the US.
President Joe Biden says China has continued its assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, undermining its remaining democratic processes and institutions, imposing limits on academic freedom, and cracking down on freedom of the press.
Biden says offering safe haven for Hong Kong residents who have been deprived of their guaranteed freedoms in Hong Kong furthers United States interests in the region.

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the African Union has started the distribution of 400 million Covid vaccines to member states.
He says several countries will receive the first of the monthly shipments on Thursday and the AU's aim is to deliver 25 million vaccines a month by January.
He says it is a momentous step forward in Africa’s efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of its people.
He added that this will provide impetus to the fight against Covid-19 across the continent and will lay the basis for Africa’s social and economic recovery.
The AU says the 400 million vaccines should be enough to immunise a third of the continent's population and bring Africa halfway towards the goal of vaccinating at least 60% of the people.

Mozambique’s former President Joaquim Chissano has told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio that the motivation behind the Islamist insurgency in northern Mozambique must be understood in order to pave the way towards a dialogue.
He says that while the priority would always be to protect the people, there is a need to engage with those causing the violence.
He says talking should not be ruled out because many groups using terrorism as a method of fighting have ended up with some dialogue with the authorities.
He says that it was sometimes impossible to insist that fighting should end before talking begins adding that it's better to find out how they can talk even if the fight continues.