Africa & World

American R&B singer Chris Brown has been granted bail by a UK court in connection with an assault case, on the condition that he posts a £5 million guarantee.

The court ruling, issued on Wednesday, allows the 36-year-old singer to proceed with his upcoming international tour, which is scheduled to begin on June 8 in Amsterdam.

As part of the bail conditions, Brown must return to the United Kingdom for a series of concerts starting on June 15. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the £5 million guarantee.

Brown, a former partner of pop star Rihanna, has not publicly commented on the case.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, his personal office announced on Sunday.

According to the statement, the 82-year-old was recently evaluated by doctors after presenting with urinary symptoms and a detected prostate nodule. Biden and his family are currently reviewing treatment options with his medical team.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” the office said.

Biden’s condition was further detailed with a Gleason score of nine — a high grade on the scale used to assess the severity of prostate cancer — indicating a particularly aggressive form of the illness.

Former President Donald Trump, Biden’s predecessor and successor, extended his well-wishes on his Truth Social platform, writing, “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to [former first lady] Jill Biden and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Vice President Kamala Harris also expressed support on X, formerly Twitter, stating that she and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were “saddened” by the news. “Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” she said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined international voices wishing the former president well, expressing hope for a “swift and successful treatment.”

The United Kingdom is set to end the recruitment of care workers from abroad as part of a sweeping crackdown on immigration, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Cooper revealed that care worker visas will be scrapped later this year, compelling employers in the sector to prioritize hiring UK residents or extend the stay of foreign staff already in the country.

The move comes ahead of new immigration policy changes expected to be unveiled on Monday. Government sources say the upcoming reforms aim to curb net migration significantly, with projections suggesting a reduction of up to 50,000 care and lower-skilled workers entering the UK over the next 12 months.

“This is the moment to bring overseas recruitment in the care sector to a close,” Cooper said, noting that the reforms will focus on promoting local employment rather than relying on international labour.

While the Home Office has yet to release the full contents of its long-awaited immigration White Paper, Cooper indicated that the broader plan includes raising the threshold for skilled worker visas from A-level to graduate-level qualifications. In addition, the list of industries eligible for temporary visa exemptions will be tightened.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised the measures, calling them insufficient and renewing calls for a fixed annual cap on migration.

Net migration has remained a politically sensitive issue in the UK, with figures peaking at 906,000 in the year to June 2023 before dropping to 728,000. Despite repeated pledges by previous administrations to reduce the numbers, efforts have so far failed to produce lasting results.

Cooper said while the government is pursuing a “substantial reduction” in migration, it will not commit to specific numerical targets, arguing that past targets have damaged the credibility of migration policies.

The African Union (AU) has lifted sanctions imposed on Gabon, the continental body announced on Wednesday, following what it described as significant progress in the country’s political transition.

In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the AU’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department said the Peace and Security Council had reviewed developments in Gabon and found the transition process to be “generally successful.”

As a result, Gabon is now permitted “to immediately resume her participation in the activities” of the AU, the statement said.

Gabon was suspended from the AU in August 2023 after a military coup led by General Brice Oligui Nguema ousted President Ali Bongo, whose family had ruled the country for more than five decades.

Following the coup, Nguema pledged to return the country to civilian governance after a two-year transitional period. In April 2025, he was elected president with 94 percent of the vote under a new constitution that grants the presidency expanded powers.

The AU’s decision to lift the suspension comes months after a diplomatic appeal by Nguema during a visit to Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, where he sought support for the easing of sanctions.

Despite its oil wealth, Gabon—home to approximately 2.3 million people continue to grapple with high unemployment, frequent power and water shortages, and mounting public debt.