Nick Cavell
BBC Africa Sport

Image source, Getty Images

This year’s transfer deadlines coincide directly with 2018 World Cup qualifiers with some players not playing for their national teams in order to sort out transfers.

One of those is Riyad Mahrez.

He has been given permission to leave the Algeria team that is preparing for crucial back-to-back games against Zambia, as he looks to complete a move away from Leicester City.

A few other Africans are set to move today, like Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier who is looking certain to join Tottenham Hotspur from Paris St-Germain.

His compatriot Wilfred Bony may well be returning to Swansea City after two years at Manchester City, including a loan period at Stoke City.

West Ham say that Senegal striker Diafra Sakho is not for sale despite him reportedly receiving interest from Premier League rivals Crystal Palace and a deal falling through with French club Rennes, who are likely to secure Tunisia’s Whabi Khazri on loan from Sunderland.

Follow the action during the day on the BBC Sport website.

James Robbins
Diplomatic Correspondent

We reported earlier on Britain's pledge to halve the amount of money it gives in humanitarian aid over the next few years to victims of terror attacks north-eastern Nigeria.

More than 1.5 million people have been driven from their homes, and farming has all but ceased in large parts of the Nigeria's north-east, creating food shortages and acute malnutrition. Tens of thousands of children are starving.

British International Development Secretary Priti Patel told the BBC that other countries need to do more to shoulder the aid burden:

"My job isn't just to give aid and to give money... but also to get others to contribute as well.

"We haven't seen enough activity from others.

"This is an international crisis... the international development community must come together. That's other donor countries."

Ms Patel, who is visiting north-eastern Nigeria alongside British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, also said Nigeria should do more to defeat the extremists:

"The Nigerian government needs to work with partners in the country right now... the bilateral partnership we have with them and NGOs, to make absolutely sure that others contribute."

Image source, AFP

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf stands down later this year, which leads to the question of where the next female leaders will come from.

Uganda's Finance Minister Anite Evelyn Kajik told Newsday that it’s a reminder not to become complacent.

She said, as one of the youngest ministers in Africa, ministers looked down at her.

"There is this African connotation that when women go into politics they only go in for prostitution," she said.

Listen to the full interview:

Catholic Bishop Juan Jose Aguirre Munoz of Bangassou in the Central African Republic (CAR) has told BBC Newsday that for the past three months he has been sheltering 2,000 Muslims, as the Christian Anti-Balaka militia waits for them outside the church compound.

Some of those seeking shelter told Newsday they had been shot at and a doctor for Medecins Sans Frontieres said they had to suspend their operation in Bangassou last week due to security problems.

Listen to the report:

The situation is reminiscent of events in 2013 when people sought refuge in churches to escape the battles between Muslim and Christian militias.

It comes as the UN Humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien has warned the UN Security Council of a genocide risk in the CAR.

Lesotho's former deputy Prime Minister Mothetjoa Metsing has fled to neighbouring South Africa after receiving death threats, reports SABC, external.

The news site says "close allies" of Mr Metsing revealed that he "feared for his life".

Tension is high in Lesotho, where Prime Minister Thomas Thabane's estranged wife was shot dead two days before his inauguration in June. Police say the motive is unknown and an investigation is continuing.

The BBC's Karen Allen reported at the time that a bitter power-struggle has been brewing in Lesotho, adding Mr Thabane still has enemies in the military.

Former defence minister, Tseliso Mokhosi, was also recently arrested over the killing of a policeman in 2016, SABC says.

His body was found earlier this month and the former minister has since been released, SABC adds.

Image source, Reuters

The UK is to halve the amount of money it gives in humanitarian aid to Nigeria over the next few years.

In 2016 the UK spent £100m ($129m). But for the next four years they have only pledged £200m. That’s £50m per year on average.

The money is aimed at victims of Boko Haram terror attacks in north-eastern Nigeria.

During a two-day visit to the country, the British International Development Secretary, Priti Patel, said the Nigerian authorities should do more to defeat the extremists.

She also added that other countries needed to share the aid burden.

Boko Haram attacks have displaced more than 1.5 million people - this has wiped out local farming, leading to acute malnutrition.

Image source, Libyan Interior Ministry

Hashem Abedi, the younger brother of Manchester bomber Salman Abedi, will be tried in Libya over his suspected role in the attack, the BBC has been told.

The 20-year-old was arrested in Libya shortly after the suicide attack in May that killed 22 people.

Libya's chief investigator in the case, Asadiq al-Sour, said Mr Abedi is suspected of having helped his brother and collected materials for the attack.

Their father Ramadan, who was also detained in Libya, has been freed.

Read more on the BBC News website.

Image source, AFP

Ethiopian Airlines is in talks to take over management of Nigeria's troubled Arik Air.

Nigeria’s government took over Arik Air early this year after it declared heavy losses.

Ethiopian Airlines’ head for international services, Esayas Woldemariam, told the Associated Press news agency that the negotiations follow a request by Nigeria’s aviation ministry.

“We definitely are willing and able to take over the management of Arik Air,” he told AP.

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's most profitable carrier, according to Business Daily, external.

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Image source, AFP

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