On September 5, 2026, a Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death after convicting them of involvement in an organised criminal network that imported materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs and trafficked the finished narcotics. Nine other defendants received life sentences, while seven were acquitted.

Prosecutors said the organisation operated through different roles involving the importation of raw materials, drug manufacturing and distribution. Investigators reportedly seized more than 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and related materials, while the prosecution relied on witness testimony as well as digital evidence including messages, photographs and videos.

But Khalifa has consistently denied involvement. During the proceedings, she maintained her innocence and said she had never encountered drugs before the case.

She broke down in court, exclaiming that she has never smoked cigarettes or ever seen drugs in her life until she was photographed standing next to a pile when she was arrested.

Her defence has also challenged aspects of the proceedings and is moving to appeal the death sentence. Under Egypt's judicial process, the criminal court judgment can be appealed, meaning the September ruling does not necessarily represent the final legal outcome.

What makes the story particularly striking is the contrast between Khalifa's public persona and the crimes for which she was convicted. She had worked as a presenter and producer and was associated with Mission Impossible , a programme dealing with crime and security issues.

And this is where Sarah Khalifa’s story gets even more interesting because a death sentence in Egypt does not necessarily mean the case is over.

Before a death sentence is finalised, Egyptian law requires the case to be referred to the Grand Mufti for a religious opinion. His recommendation is not legally binding, meaning the court still has the final say. But history shows that this stage can coincide with dramatic changes in a defendant's fate.

Take what happened in 2014. A court in Minya initially sentenced 529 alleged supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood to death following violence surrounding an attack on a police station. After the sentences were referred to the Grand Mufti, the court ultimately upheld the death penalty for only 37 of the 529, while 492 had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment.

And then there was Mohamed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Guide. In a separate 2014 case, Badie and several others were facing death sentences.

The Grand Mufti rejected the death recommendation, reportedly questioning whether the evidence relied too heavily on investigations that were insufficient on their own. Badie's sentence in that case was subsequently reduced to life imprisonment, along with those of five other defendants.

So when Sarah Khalifa's case reaches this stage, the Grand Mufti will not personally decide whether she lives or dies. But his assessment could become an important part of what happens next.

Because as Egypt's own recent legal history shows, a death sentence before the Mufti's review and the court's final judgment is not always the sentence a defendant ultimately receives.

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That is the case now surrounding Jewel Howard-Taylor, who served as Liberia’s vice president from 2018 to 2024 under former President George Weah. In August 2026, authorities arrested her at Roberts International Airport as she attempted to leave the country.

She has since been charged in connection with an alleged international drug trafficking network tied to a 4.2-ton cocaine bust worth an estimated $317 million. The charges include drug trafficking-related offences, criminal conspiracy, facilitation, solicitation and money laundering.

Howard-Taylor denies the allegations. Her law yers have described the case as politically motivated and say they will challenge it in court. Former President Weah has also defended her, arguing that the rule of law is being undermined.

But the allegations themselves are striking because of what prosecutors claim happened while Howard-Taylor was still one of the most powerful political figures in Liberia.

According to the government’s case, Howard-Taylor was introduced in 2022 to two alleged members of the trafficking network: Ukrainian nationals Mihovil Vrovac, also known as Michael, and Taras Zadereiko, also known as Tony. Investigators say the meeting was arranged through her close associate, Sheikh Kante Bashiru, and took place at her residence in Congo Town.

Prosecutors allege that this was only the beginning.

They claim Howard-Taylor later travelled to Dubai, where she met Nikola Ivancic, a Croatian national described by authorities as the alleged leader of the network. The meeting reportedly took place at the H Hotel near the Trade Centre Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road.

According to the charge sheet, the group discussed using Liberia as a transit point for cocaine shipments destined for Europe. Prosecutors allege that Howard-Taylor agreed to support the arrangement.

The money trail is now one of the central parts of the case. Investigators claim Ivancic gave Howard-Taylor US$45,000 in Dubai, described as shopping money. They also allege that US$75,000 was later provided through Kante for the Jewel Starfish Foundation, an organisation associated with Howard-Taylor. A further US$15,000 payment was allegedly made in August 2026, bringing the total cited in the government’s case to US$135,000.

The three foreign nationals — Ivancic, Vrovac and Zadereiko — have been charged in absentia because they are not currently in Liberian custody.

What makes the case especially significant is the office Howard-Taylor once held. She was vice president when Liberia passed the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act in 2023, the same legal framework now being used against her. Under that law, cocaine falls under the highest tier of illicit drugs, with punishment of up to 25 years and no possibility of bail.

The case has not gone to trial, and prosecutors still have to prove their claims. But for now, the central allegation is clear: that an alleged cocaine network did not simply seek to move drugs through Liberia, but sought political access and protection at the highest levels of the state.

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Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry has proposed a major change to the country’s drug laws that could remove criminal liability for some offences involving drugs intended for personal use rather than sale. The proposal is contained in a regulatory policy consultation document published on August 14, 2026 and opened for public discussion until September 8. It concerns amendments aimed at decriminalising certain forms of illegal handling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their analogues when there is no intention to sell them. The ministry is proposing that parts 1 and 2 of Article 296 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code be repealed or substantially reworked. Under the current law, part 1 covers non-medical drug consumption in public places, while part 2 covers illegal manufacture, processing, acquisition, possession and transportation without intent to sell. The latter can currently result in a fine of up to 160 monthly calculation indices, corrective labour, up to 160 hours of community service or arrest for up to 40 days. This does not amount to legalising drugs. The ministry is considering several models, including decriminalising possession without intent to sell when quantities remain within legally established limits, retaining criminal liability for manufacturing and processing, and introducing administrative penalties that could escalate for repeat offences.

New Taldykorgan–Ust-Kamenogorsk highway shows signs of deterioration after costing more than 180bn tenge

A highway between Taldykorgan and Ust-Kamenogorsk that cost more than 180 billion tenge is already showing signs of deterioration , prompting activists to demand further inspections and a longer warranty period. The road was constructed between 2018 and 2025 using borrowed funds from China’s Export-Import Bank. But an inspection conducted on August 21, 2026, by a group of activists led by Rollan Mashpiyev found numerous areas where the asphalt appeared to be peeling, cracking or deteriorating. In some locations, the problems appeared to extend beneath the asphalt to the road foundation. Mashpiyev said the group travelled from Semey to the Ayagoz area to examine the road and found that damage had become noticeably worse. The activists argue that the problem may extend beyond the quality of the asphalt itself. Mashpiyev said cracks had reappeared even in areas where asphalt had already been replaced, suggesting that defects could exist in the lower layers of the road.

Kazakhstan builds $78.6bn pipeline of investment projects targeting more than 88,000 jobs

Kazakhstan has assembled a portfolio of 215 investment projects worth $78.6 billion , as the government seeks to shift foreign and domestic capital towards manufacturing, advanced processing, technology and higher-value industries. The portfolio managed by KAZAKH INVEST is expected to create more than 88,000 jobs. Of the 215 projects, 93 worth $32.2 billion are already being implemented, while another 122 worth $46.4 billion remain under development. The strategy follows President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s 2025 address, Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Current Tasks and Solutions Through Digital Transformation. Rather than focusing solely on attracting larger amounts of capital, the government says it wants to change the structure of investment by prioritising manufacturing, deep processing, high-tech production and the localisation of goods with greater added value. Since rules governing investment agreements were introduced, Kazakhstan has signed 66 agreements worth more than 17.8 trillion tenge. Six were concluded in 2024, followed by 30 agreements worth around 11.2 trillion tenge in 2025.

Kazvodkhoz returns to profit after overhaul cuts receivables by 90%

Kazakhstan’s state water-management company Kazvodkhoz has returned to profitability after a restructuring programme that included management reforms, digitalisation, asset transfers and tighter financial controls. The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said the state enterprise had eliminated its losses and ended 2025 with a profit, while its accounts receivable fell by 90%. One major change involved merging the Nurinsky Group Water Pipeline state enterprise with Kazvodkhoz. The government has also approved a roadmap to transfer non-core assets, including group water pipelines, into municipal ownership so Kazvodkhoz can concentrate more closely on its core water-management responsibilities. Financial management has also been digitalised. Since the beginning of 2026, Kazvodkhoz has completely stopped accepting cash payments for irrigation water. All contracts with water users are now concluded electronically through a new billing system. Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Zhandos Salimov said the transformation includes redesigning and automating business processes, creating systems for planning and assessing the performance of branches, centralising revenue and expenditure management and introducing project-management principles.

More than 283,000 cameras installed as Kazakhstan strengthens security in 7,656 schools

Kazakhstan has installed more than 283,000 surveillance cameras across 7,656 general education schools , as authorities strengthen security measures ahead of the new academic year. The Interior Ministry has declared 2026 the Year of Children’s Safety within the ministry, with measures focused on protecting children not only at school but also on streets, in public places and online. Of Kazakhstan’s 7,656 schools, 7,159, or 93.5%, are directly connected to police operational control centres or duty units, allowing law-enforcement agencies to respond more quickly when security incidents are detected. The ministry said its approach goes beyond surveillance. Preventing juvenile offences remains a priority, with authorities focusing on legal education, identifying problems at an early stage and providing individual support to children and families. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has also emphasised the importance of developing what authorities describe as a law-abiding generation, arguing that respect for the law and Constitution is important both to young people’s individual well-being and to Kazakhstan’s broader development.

"It seems to me that the DEA has a lot of work in the United States. Normally the DEA devotes most of its work outside the United States, but within the United States it has a lot of work and should be dedicated to work mainly within its own country," she said.

Sheinbaum cited the television series Breaking Bad, arguing that it reflects a real problem in the United States, which she described as the world's largest drug market.

"The largest drug market in the world is in the United States. Who sells it? How do they sell it, how do they distribute it, how do they launder the money? That is something the DEA should be investigating," she said.

She also referenced former senior DEA official Nicholas Palmeri, who was removed over improper contacts with lawyers representing drug traffickers, saying the agency should focus on issues within its own organisation rather than making political statements.

Despite rejecting the allegations, Sheinbaum said Mexico remained committed to cooperating with the DEA in combating cross-border drug trafficking .

He also claimed that some of these weapons had surfaced in conflict zones across Africa and the Middle East . The meeting focused on rising extremist threats and international co-operation, according to the CIS Anti-Terrorism Centre.

Petro further alleged electoral fraud and said he does not recognise the preliminary vote count, while de la Espriella, who led the first round with 43.74% of the vote, called on him to accept the result. Ivan Cepeda secured 40.90%, forcing a second round scheduled for 21 June, when voters will decide the country’s next president after no candidate achieved an outright majority.

Authorities in Paraguay are continuing investigations into the death of a young man who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest in the city of Ñemby, a case that has intensified public concern over violent crime and urban insecurity. The incident reflects broader anxieties surrounding public safety in parts of Paraguay where violent crime, armed confrontations, and street-level insecurity have increasingly drawn national attention. Fatal shootings involving young people often generate strong public reactions because they highlight both the vulnerability of youth and the limitations of local security responses. The death has also renewed debate around crime prevention policies and the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies in rapidly growing areas surrounding the capital region.

Paraguay opens renewable energy sector to private sales and tenders

Paraguay has regulated its renewable energy law , allowing private firms to generate, sell, and export clean energy, including solar and wind power. The reform opens the door for ANDE to launch international tenders, including a delayed 140 MW solar project in Chaco Central, with contracts lasting up to 30 years. President Santiago Peña called it “a decisive step” to attract investment, diversify energy sources, and meet growing electricity demand, while a new state-backed trust aims to reduce payment risk for private investors.

Paraguay expects 800 MW of new energy capacity led by the private sector

Paraguay plans up to 800 MW of new energy capacity as rising demand pushes the government to attract private investment through long-term contracts and its first 140 MW solar tender in Chaco Central. Officials say electricity demand grew by 18% in 2024 and 12.5% in 2025, well above historical levels, with Vice Minister Mauricio Bejarano stating: “The private sector will be the major player going forward in Paraguay.”

Paraguay traces Marset cocaine route from Bolivia to Europe

Paraguayan prosecutors have indicted Gianina García Troche , former partner of Uruguayan trafficker Sebastián Marset, outlining a drug network that moved cocaine from Bolivia to Europe through Paraguay. According to El País, the operation involved nearly 1,000 clandestine flights across the Paraguayan Chaco and the export of 17,340 kilos of cocaine seized in Belgium and the Netherlands, with an estimated European market value of up to USD 434 million.

According to IMF data compiled by African business intelligence platform Intelpoint and visualised by World Visualized, Nigeria achieved a GDP above $100 billion in 1994, just 34 years after independence in 1960.

The ranking tracks how long African countries took to surpass the $100 billion GDP mark between 1988 and 2025, revealing significant differences in growth trajectories across the continent.

Angola ranked second, reaching the milestone 36 years after independence, while Algeria followed at 43 years. Morocco, Kenya and South Africa also featured prominently among Africa’s fastest-growing economies by long-term GDP expansion.

The findings highlight how resource wealth, population growth, industrialisation and economic reforms have shaped Africa’s emergence as one of the world’s most dynamic economic regions.

Nigeria’s rise to a $100 billion economy was driven largely by oil exports, rapid urbanisation and its growing population, which is now estimated by the United Nations to exceed 220 million people.

As Africa’s largest oil producer for decades, Nigeria benefited heavily from petroleum revenues during the late 20th century, helping finance infrastructure, banking expansion and import-driven consumer growth.

Economic analysts say Nigeria’s large domestic market also gave it advantages unavailable to many smaller African economies.

Despite repeated currency crises, inflation shocks and governance challenges, the country remains one of Africa’s largest economies by nominal GDP alongside South Africa and Egypt.

The International Monetary Fund has projected continued medium-term growth for Nigeria, supported by services, telecommunications, financial technology and a fast-expanding digital economy.

Angola reached the $100 billion threshold in 2011, approximately 36 years after independence from Portugal in 1975.

The country experienced one of Africa’s fastest economic expansions during the 2000s, largely due to booming crude oil exports and rising Chinese investment after the end of its civil war in 2002.

At its peak, Angola became one of China’s largest African oil suppliers, helping fund large-scale infrastructure reconstruction projects including roads, railways and housing developments.

However, economists note that Angola’s heavy dependence on oil left the economy vulnerable to global commodity price swings, particularly during the 2014 oil market collapse.

Algeria and Morocco both ranked among the continent’s fastest economies to surpass a $100 billion GDP.

Algeria crossed the mark in 2005, driven largely by hydrocarbon exports. The country possesses some of Africa’s largest natural gas reserves and remains a major energy supplier to Europe.

Morocco reached the milestone in 2008 after decades of gradual industrial diversification and export-oriented growth.

Unlike several oil-dependent economies, Morocco expanded sectors including automotive manufacturing, phosphates, renewable energy and tourism.

The country has increasingly positioned itself as a manufacturing and logistics hub connecting Europe and Africa through major infrastructure projects such as the Tangier Med port complex.

Kenya became one of the newest African economies to exceed a $100 billion GDP, reaching the threshold in 2019.

The East African nation has built a reputation as one of the continent’s leading technology and financial centres, anchored by Nairobi’s role as a regional commercial hub.

Kenya’s economy has benefited from growth in mobile banking, agriculture, transport and digital services .

Ghana reached the $100 billion benchmark in 2025, according to the IMF-based Intelpoint analysis, highlighting the growing economic significance of West Africa beyond Nigeria.

The country has expanded rapidly over the past two decades through gold production, oil exports, cocoa trade and services growth.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia crossed the threshold in 2022 after roughly 81 years, despite never being formally colonised apart from a brief Italian occupation during the 1930s and 1940s.

Ethiopia recorded some of the world’s fastest growth rates during the 2000s and 2010s, powered by state-led infrastructure investment, manufacturing expansion and agricultural reforms.

However, conflict, debt pressures and foreign exchange shortages have recently slowed momentum in Africa’s second-most populous country.