Escalating hostilities between Malian forces and separatists have also spilt online as the rivals and their supporters battle to control the narrative via fake social media accounts and state-sponsored “fact-checking”.The army, Tuareg-dominated rebel groups and jihadists have been fighting for territorial control in the north since the summer when the ruling junta ordered UN peacekeepers to pull …

Malian rivals’ power struggle spills onto social mediaThu, 16 Nov 2023 07:53:02 GMT Read More »

Polls opened on Thursday in Madagascar’s presidential election, with the incumbent betting on re-election and most opposition candidates boycotting the poll over concerns about the vote’s integrity.The Indian Ocean island nation is the leading global producer of vanilla but also one of the world’s poorest countries, and has been shaken by successive political crises since …

Polls open in Madagascar presidential election hit by boycottThu, 16 Nov 2023 06:37:46 GMT Read More »

Vote counting was under way in Liberia on Wednesday, the day after a presidential run-off between football legend George Weah and ex-vice president Joseph Boakai, with the challenger taking a narrow early lead.The balloting passed peacefully on Tuesday, with more than 2.4 million voters called to choose between incumbent Weah, 57, who is seeking a …

Weah and Boakai in close race for Liberian presidency as vote count beginsThu, 16 Nov 2023 00:12:46 GMT Read More »

Madagascar is to hold presidential elections on Thursday that are being boycotted by most opposition candidates over concerns about the vote’s regularity amid high political tensions.The Indian Ocean island nation is the leading global producer of vanilla but one of the world’s poorest countries and has been shaken by successive political crises since independence from …

Madagascar votes for president amid boycott, tensionsWed, 15 Nov 2023 23:00:19 GMT Read More »

Former Zimbabwe goalkeeper George Chigova, 32, died after collapsing at his home in South Africa on Wednesday, Pretoria club SuperSport United said in a statement. He had collapsed while training with top-flight side SuperSport last July and was on leave, having been diagnosed with a heart condition. Highlights of his international career included helping Zimbabwe reach the …

Former Zimbabwe goalkeeper Chigova dies aged 32Wed, 15 Nov 2023 19:24:25 GMT Read More »

The UK government vowed Wednesday to persevere with a controversial plan to send migrants to Rwanda, despite the Supreme Court upholding a lower court ruling that it was unlawful and should not go ahead.In a major setback for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a five-judge panel at the UK’s highest court unanimously sided with an earlier …

UK govt doubles down on Rwanda migrant policy despite court defeatWed, 15 Nov 2023 17:35:55 GMT Read More »

Jubilant Malians have taken to the streets and the ruling junta issued triumphant statements saying the military’s takeover of a key rebel-held town validated its strategic choices.The capture of Kidal — a historic centre of independence insurgencies and a crossroads on the road to Algeria — is the most notable military success by the junta, …

Malians celebrate army’s taking of rebel stronghold KidalWed, 15 Nov 2023 17:09:00 GMT Read More »

The husband of slain Kenyan distance running star Agnes Tirop went on trial Wednesday over her murder two years ago, almost immediately after the court freed him on bail.Ibrahim Rotich had been in custody since his arrest in October 2021 over the killing of Tirop, whose body was found with stab wounds at her home …

Slain Kenyan athlete Tirop’s husband stands trial for murderWed, 15 Nov 2023 17:06:12 GMT Read More »

Nearly five times more people will likely die due to extreme heat in the coming decades, an international team of experts said Wednesday, warning that without action on climate change the “health of humanity is at grave risk”.Lethal heat was just one of the many ways the world’s still-increasing use of fossil fuels threatens human …

Heat projected to kill nearly five times more people by 2050Wed, 15 Nov 2023 15:44:45 GMT Read More »

Authorities in Madagascar on Wednesday imposed a curfew in Antananarivo on the eve of a presidential election that is being boycotted by most opposition candidates amid high political tensions.Angelo Ravelonarivo, the police prefect in the capital, said the measure will come into force at 09:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Wednesday and last until 04:00 am …

Madagascar imposes curfew in capital ahead of presidential voteWed, 15 Nov 2023 13:46:52 GMT Read More »