AFRICA

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In a solemn declaration, Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced a public holiday to mourn the 238 lives lost to the catastrophic floods that have ravaged the nation. The floods, stemming from torrential rains since March, have left a trail of destruction, displacing over 235,000 people and wreaking havoc on infrastructure.

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Mobile banking in Kenya has experienced significant growth and innovation over the past decade, largely driven by the widespread adoption of mobile technology and the success of Safaricom's M-PESA platform. M-PESA launched in 2007, has become a global leader in mobile money transfer and financial services.

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South Korea's K-rice belt initiative is aimed at providing farmers in eight African nations, including Kenya, with quality rice varieties and sharing top-notch farming know-how.

The initiative is part of Seoul's official development assistance (ODA) and calls for supplying high-yield rice varieties and agricultural machines, helping Africa build irrigation and other necessary facilities, and sharing experiences and technologies regarding crop cultivation and distribution. The project is expected to take center stage at the planned South Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul from June 4 to 5, which Kenya's President William Ruto has confirmed attendance.

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Russian troops have been sent to an airbase in Niger where American soldiers are located, US officials say. This comes after Nigeria's military rulers ordered the US to withdraw troops who had been countering Islamic insurgents in the region.

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Burkina Faso is currently under the rule of a military junta that came to power through a coup in 2022. Their aim was to put an end to the Islamist insurgency in the country. However, the violence has not ceased and instead, it has intensified. At present, more than a third of Burkina Faso is under the control of jihadist groups.