AFP Africa

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit will captain understrength world champions South Africa in a one-off Test against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.The 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup winner got the nod head of fellow forwards Bongi Mbonambi and Eben Etzebeth for the Springboks’ first match since winning the World Cup in France last October.Du Toit …

Du Toit to captain weakened Springboks against WalesTue, 18 Jun 2024 11:41:14 GMT Read More »

Kenyan police fired tear gas and arrested at least a dozen demonstrators Tuesday as hundreds of people gathered near parliament to protest tax hikes, according to AFP journalists at the scene.The East African economic powerhouse has struggled with a cost-of-living crisis, which critics say will only worsen under the levies laid out in a bill …

Kenya police arrest demonstrators as hundreds protest new tax hikesTue, 18 Jun 2024 11:27:17 GMT Read More »

Saudi Arabia on Monday warned of a temperature spike in Mecca as Muslim pilgrims wrapped up the hajj in searing conditions, with more than a dozen heat-related deaths confirmed.One of the world’s largest religious gatherings unfolded during the oven-like Saudi summer again this year, and authorities recorded more than 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on …

Hajj pilgrimage ends amid deadly Saudi heat spikeTue, 18 Jun 2024 00:15:31 GMT Read More »

France is planning to reduce its military presence in West and Central Africa to around 600 troops in line with President Emmanuel Macron’s plans to limit the French military footprint in the region, three sources told AFP.In February 2023, Macron announced a “noticeable reduction” of French troop presence in Africa, as anti-French sentiment is running …

France cutting troops in West, Central Africa to 600: sourcesMon, 17 Jun 2024 15:46:36 GMT Read More »

More than one billion dollars will be pledged towards ramping up vaccine production in Africa at a summit held in Paris later this week, France said on Monday.A “new mechanism to accelerate the financing of vaccine production on the African continent” will be launched during the summit on Thursday, which will be attended by several …

Over $1 bn to be pledged for Africa vaccine sovereignty: FranceMon, 17 Jun 2024 13:14:25 GMT Read More »

In the Libyan village of Kabaw in the Nafusa Mountains, M’hamed Maakaf waters an ailing fig tree as climate change pushes villagers to forsake lands and livestock.Once flourishing and known for its figs, olives, and almonds, fields around Kabaw, located some 200 kilometres (124 miles) southwest of Tripoli, are now mostly barren and battered by climate …

Once fruitful, Libyan village suffers climate crisisMon, 17 Jun 2024 07:14:06 GMT Read More »

Pilgrims on Sunday performed the last major ritual of the hajj, the “stoning of the devil”, in western Saudi Arabia as Muslims around the globe celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday.As one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings wound down, authorities from multiple countries said at least 22 people had died, many of them from …

Hajj pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Muslims mark Eid al-AdhaMon, 17 Jun 2024 02:04:55 GMT Read More »

War, climate change and man-made shortages have brought Sudan — a nation already facing a litany of horrors — to the shores of a water crisis.”Since the war began, two of my children have walked 14 kilometres (nine miles) every day to get water for the family,” Issa, a father of seven, told AFP from …

Water crisis batters war-torn Sudan as temperatures soarSun, 16 Jun 2024 20:53:08 GMT Read More »

South African former president Jacob Zuma said Sunday his new party would join an opposition alliance to coordinate resistance to the government, while maintaining its challenge to the general election results.The MK said it would join a newly formed parliamentary grouping includes several mostly leftist opposition parties represented in parliament.Called the “Progressive Caucus” it is …

Zuma’s party joins S.African opposition allianceSun, 16 Jun 2024 20:11:43 GMT Read More »

South African former president Jacob Zuma said Sunday his new party would join an opposition alliance to coordinate resistance to the government, while maintaining its challenge to the general election results.”The 2024 elections were rigged” the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela said, reading out a statement on behalf of the 82-year-old ex-leader.”We have …

S.Africa Zuma vows to continue to fight ‘rigged’ electionsSun, 16 Jun 2024 19:05:52 GMT Read More »