Nigeria, Russia seek to strengthen trade ties

We take a look at the tributes and the criticism of Colin Powell following his passing on Monday. We also look into why the coronavirus may be surging in Russia. Finally, the press is discussing the upsides and downsides of artifacts: namely a rock that’s managed, as Le Monde puts it, to “piss” off a French town.

US federal authorities have searched the home of Putin ally and billionaire Oleg Deripaska, in what the FBI described as court authorized "law enforcement activity."

Africa's glaciers could all be gone by 2040. The UN forecasts a grim toll for Africa from climate change. It has also warned that massive displacement, hunger and extreme heat are in store for over 100 million of the continent's poorest. And October 19 marks Breast Cancer Awareness day, In Tunisia campaigners are ramping up efforts to get more people in for screenings on time.

Officials from 10 different countries, including China and Pakistan, are attending the meeting with representatives from the Taliban. The talks come after Putin warned that IS fighters were converging in Afghanistan.

Sendbox, a Nigeria-based e-commerce platform, has secured $1.8 million from a seed round led by 4Dx Ventures, Enza Capital, FJLabs, and Golden Palm Investments, bringing its total investment to $2 million.

Experts question whether Google's planned $1 billion investment in Africa stands to benefit the continent in the long term. Instead, some see it as another avenue for big tech companies to acquire budding start-ups.

Russian President Vladimir Putin orders a nationwide week-long paid holiday starting on October 30 to curb Covid infections amid record coronavirus deaths.

It has been five years since the German government enacted the prostitution protection act. Lawmakers say it protects vulnerable people; many sex workers say it is discriminatory, stigmatizing and has increased risks.

The US president has voiced his concern over China's missile capabilities as his nominee to be the next ambassador to the country said "we certainly cannot trust the Chinese" over the issue of Taiwan.

Ghana's smock garment used to be reserved for royal use. These days, a flood of imported yarn has opened the market to near universal use, and the smock has become a Ghanaian clothing icon. Yet the country's collapsed cotton industry has left the financial fortunes of weavers and smock makers hanging by a thread.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces a comprehensive in-principle free trade agreement with the UK, arrived at after 16 months of talks. London said the deal ends tariffs on British exports such as clothing, footwear, ships and bulldozers. It estimated that trade between the two countries last year was worth £2.3 billion ($3.2 billion, 2.7 billion euros).

Blast and fire kill 16 at Russian chemicals plant