Reuters - At least 17 migrants died in the space of 24 hours while trying to cross the sea from North Africa to Spain, and rescuers picked up more than 100 others, the Spanish coast guard said on Monday.

APRNEWS - In a bid to secure its interests in West Africa, France on Monday gave the Gambia aid worth $34 million of aid, packaging it as support to the ongoing democratic transition.

Visiting French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian explained that it was important to ‘consolidate democracy and stability in Gambia’.

APRNEWS - According to a report by Spanish publication, Marca, a judge in Brazil has reportedly ordered for football legend Ronaldinho’s passport to be seized over unpaid debts of 0f 828 million naira [£1.75million].

APRNEWS - The Islamic State group left behind more than 200 mass graves in Iraq containing up to 12,000 victims that could hold vital evidence of war crimes, the UN said Tuesday.

APRNEWS - Alexis Sanchez has endured a torrid start to his Manchester United career but hinted at better things to come with an impressive display in a central role ahead of the Champions League match against Juventus.

APRNEWS - Cameroonian President Paul Biya will be sworn in for a seventh term amid heightened tensions on Tuesday, a day after 79 students were kidnapped from a school in the country’s restive English-speaking northwest region.

APRNEWS - The deadly Ebola virus has infected 300 people in Congo since an outbreak erupted almost two months ago in the country’s east, the health ministry said on Tuesday.

Ebola is a deadly disease caused by a virus, though there are five strains, and four of them can make people sick.

APRNEWS - Ethiopian president Sahle-Work Zewde was joined by top female government appointees to launch a nationwide peace campaign.

The crux of the Ethiopian Women’s Peace Conference a,d ‘Jegnit’ (heroine) Social movement Program, being to play crucial roles towards the success of ongoing reforms by the Abiy Ahmed government.

APRNEWS - In an interesting reversal of roles, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir will mediate peace talks between the government of neighbouring Sudan and rebels in the Blue Nile, South Kordofan and Darfur conflict zones.

APRNEWS - Gunmen kidnapped 79 school students on Monday in an English-speaking region of Cameroon where separatists are fighting an armed campaign for independence, security and government sources said.