Kenya: Illegal sand mining threatens environment

Burnt cars and vans were strewn across the site of a blast on Sunday which occurred at an illegal oil refinery depot on the border of Nigeria’s Rivers and Imo states.

At least 80 people have died in an explosion at an illegal oil refinery in southeastern Nigeria, emergency officials say. The disaster highlights the country's problems with oil theft amid high levels of poverty.

Dozens of charred bodies were buried in mass graves on Tuesday (April 26) in Nigeria's Imo state as the stench of decomposing flesh hung in the air after more than 100 people were killed during a weekend explosion at an illegal oil refinery. A group of men, some bare-chested and without shoes, used shovels to dig three graves at the site of the explosion, a swampy open space surrounded by burnt out cars and palm trees.

The drought in Kenya threatens the survival of Turkana communities. Many children suffer from malnutrition and dehydration. NGOs call for increased funding for aid and a quick response to the humanitarian disaster.

Worsening violence in parts of the Haitian capital has renewed fears of a loss of access to the northern part of the country. The violence comes as local gangs fight for power.

Marchers around the world have used May Day to hold rallies to voice dissatisfaction with their governments. There were mass arrests in Turkey, as well as violence in the French capital, Paris.

In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the Lwiru Primates Rehabilitation Centre gives chimpanzees and monkeys a safe place to recover after they are rescued from the hands of poachers or illegal owners who tried to domesticate them.

Romania's capital is buried in smoke from burned trash that comes from all over Europe. The dubious business is being investigated. Prosecutors and activists are sounding the alarm about organized crime structures.

Kenya's new 12% minimum wage increase comes amid soaring prices. But only a few of the country's poor will end up with more in their pockets at the end of the month.

East Africa is suffering a serious drought. According to authorities, at least 3.5 million people in Kenya are affected by the severe shortage and need drinking water. This has even led to armed conflict in the region.

Papers in Spain brace for the first visit of former king Juan Carlos since he went into exile amid investigations of tax evasion. In France, a parliamentary candidate from Emmanuel Macron's party who was convicted of domestic violence has been forced to withdraw after the controversy overwhelmed the party. Papers in the US hail the landmark equal pay deal agreed between the men's and women's football teams. Plus, should elephants be considered human?

Clashes between the Congolese armed forces and the M23 militia group have sent thousands of people over the border to Rwanda seeking shelter. Meanwhile, the UK and Rwanda are to settle 50 undocumented migrants who arrived on British shores in the Rwandan capital Kigali; we take a closer look. And Zimbabwe wants to sidestep international conventions to sell its $600 million stockpile in black market ivory – not without controversy.